"Master!"
Xiao Bao heard a familiar voice and turned his head to see who else but Huai En's left-hand man, Zuo Ying.
Zuo Ying and the men he brought were engaged in a fierce battle with the men in black. It seemed that the fight had been going on for some time, as the ground was littered with bodies.
Huai En pulled Xiao Bao to their side, and immediately someone came over to apply medicine and bandage Huai En's wounds.
Xiao Bao still tightly held Huai En's hand, trembling uncontrollably. This was his first experience with such perilous circumstances, and he was truly frightened.
The young man had led his men out of the cave, soaked through, with his hair sticking to his face in a disheveled state. Seeing that neither side could determine a winner in a short time, and having achieved his goal, he did not linger for a fight. His malevolent eyes glared fiercely at Huai En before he led his men to retreat.
Zuo Ying had no intention of pursuing further and ordered his men to tidy up the aftermath, then knelt before Huai En to apologize.
"Master, I've arrived late again."
Huai En spoke solemnly, "It's not a problem." Then he turned to Xiao Bao, "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Xiao Bao shook his head, "I'm fine. Your…" Huai En moved his arm and said, "It's just some superficial wounds.
They'll heal in a few days. Were you scared?"
Zuo Ying was surprised by his master's gentle demeanor, staring blankly at the two of them.
Xiao Bao, still haunted by the sight of the impenetrable shadows and the sinister swordplay, tried to maintain a facade of bravado, "Scared? I've seen bigger spectacles than this; this is nothing."
Huai En couldn't help but laugh, causing Xiao Bao's cheeks to turn red with embarrassment. Just as he was about to argue, a loud shout suddenly
came from afar, "Young master!!!"
Xiao Bao, feeling guilty, broke out in a cold sweat and turned around, only to see Zhao Cai Jin Bao, his two attendants, running towards him in a rage, their speed so fast it seemed as if they were flying. He knew that his two little servants were truly angry.
Zhao Cai immediately pulled Xiao Bao away from Huai En's side and started checking him over, touching here and there while asking, "Young master, are you hurt? Do you have any injuries? Huh??"
Xiao Bao brushed his hands away, "I'm fine, really."
Jin Bao shouted, "Young master, you've gone too far! This is too irresponsible!! The lord and lady are almost dying of worry, the young lady cries every day, and the lord said he's going to lock you in the cellar when you return!!"
Xiao Bao shrank a little guiltily, "It's not… that serious, right? I'm fine, see?"
Zhao Cai pointed at Huai En angrily and said, "Good for nothing! The group of fierce and evil-looking people who came down the mountain just now, dare to say they weren't coming for him? He is a jinx, wherever he goes, disaster follows. If the young master follows him, it would be strange if anything good happens!"
Left Ying, upon hearing this, drew his sword and was about to charge forward but was stopped by a look from Huai En.
"Alright, alright, I'm fine now, and you've found me, let's not dawdle. I promise I won't do this again, okay?" He didn't like Zhao Cai speaking about Huai En this way, but since he was at fault, he couldn't flare up.
"Young master, if there's a next time, just kill us directly, please don't leave us alone to face the lord and lady." Jin Bao was both aggrieved and angry, awkwardly stretching his neck and pouting, refusing to look at Xiao Bao.
Xiao Bao pinched Jin Bao's face to comfort him a few words, and swore he would never sneak away again, then the two of them calmed down.
"Young master, the carriage is arranged at the foot of the mountain, let's head back to the mansion now."
"What? But I still need to go to Yu Xia."
"Why go to Yu Xia? The lord said to bring you back to the Jin mansion immediately, even if it means tying you up, he has already sent someone else."
"If sending someone else was effective, why would I go personally? You know how Dr. Zhang is so arrogant, sending a servant would surely be dismissed by him as insincere."
"The lord sent three large boxes of precious medicinal materials, considering the materials, he shouldn't make things difficult for us anymore."
Xiao Bao thought for a moment and found it reasonable, and after what had just happened, with Huai En injured, it really wasn't suitable to go any further.
"Then alright, since young master Huai En is injured, go and lay two soft quilts in the carriage." It's still summer now, so the carriage must be laid with bamboo mats.
"Young master!" Zhao Cai and Jin Bao exclaimed in dissatisfaction together.
"Enough with the nonsense, hurry up and go."
Zhao Cai glared at Huai En again and whispered, "Young master, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Let's go ahead, young master."
Xiao Bao thought for a moment, then turned back to Huai En and said, "Take your time, be careful not to split your wound. Zhao Cai and I need to discuss something; we'll wait for you at the foot of the mountain."
Huai En nodded, looking thoughtfully at Zhao Cai.
Seeing that they had distanced themselves from Huai En and the others, Zhao Cai spoke gravely to Xiao Bao, "Young master, on our journey here, did you notice anything amiss?"
Xiao Bao thought for a moment, "This place... Huai En has been here before... Also, those people came to steal a booklet. Do you know who those people are?"
Zhao Cai shook his head, "We don't know yet. Master Su's people have gone to investigate. They've also informed Master Su about you and Huai En sneaking out."
Xiao Bao widened his eyes, "Why did you tell Su Yin? This was my decision, not something Huai En forced me into."
"But the situation is too strange. On the day you left, all the shadow guards under Master Su were lured away by Left Ying."
"So what? Huai En promised to take me out, so naturally, you couldn't find out. Wait, Su Yin placed shadow guards at my house?"
Zhao Cai dodged Xiao Bao's question, "Not just that. After we lost track of you, we followed the trail, but there were always some inexplicable incidents that delayed us or led us in the wrong direction."
"This... Huai En just didn't want you to find us."
"He went through all this trouble just to seek medicine for the master?
And Zuo Ying's timely arrival, obviously following us all the way without our notice, setting obstacles at every turn, must have been their doing."
"And after you left, Young Master, that Right Shadow went out alone towards the north and has not returned to this day."
Xiao Bao frowned tightly; indeed, he found this series of events somewhat strange.
"Zhao Cai, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Young Master, I feel there's a conspiracy at play here, one we can't see through yet. But one thing I'm sure of is that Huai En's accompanying you was not just for seeking medicine for the old master."
Xiao Bao's heart skipped several beats, his mind filled with confusion.
There were too many mysteries surrounding Huai En, none of which he knew or dared to ask. Could there really be some conspiracy? Was his approach truly purposeful?
"Young Master, our worry stems from the fear that Huai En means you harm. His staying in the Jin residence definitely isn't with good intentions."
Xiao Bao shook his head; thinking of the sweet days spent with Huai En and their mutual affection, he refused to believe it was all an act, that Huai En could feign such closeness for some unspeakable secret.
"Zhao Cai, Huai En must have his difficulties, but I also believe one thing - he would never harm me."
"Young Master! You're being naive. From the beginning till now, too many things are unexplainable. Have you never wondered why? From his initial return with you to Suzhou, to staying in the Jin residence…" "Enough!" Xiao Bao shouted, "I will get to the bottom of this. Until then, do not slander Huai En."
Zhao Cai urgently said, "Young Master, you... are you and him..."
"Indeed, Huai En and I are now mutually in love. What about it?"
"Young Master! How could you trust him? His background is unclear, and you probably don't even know his surname..."
"Silence! Zhao Cai! Have you become too presumptuous today? I make my own decisions in my matters. When did it become your place to point fingers and make remarks? Do you still see me as your Young Master?"
Zhao Cai's lips quivered, and in the end, he didn't say anything, looking somewhat downcast. His furrowed brows made him look very uneasy.
Zhao Cai's words made Xiao Bao feel as if a miasma was gradually expanding inside his body, making him extremely restless.
Huai En's series of actions were indeed hard to explain, but he liked him so much. Seeing him made life seem beautiful, and he would automatically dismiss those doubts.
Moreover, today, Huai En had traded something very important for their safety. If Huai En wanted to harm him, he could easily leave him behind without lifting a finger himself.
From the initial disgust to acceptance, and then to the willingness to spend a lifetime together, every moment along the way was worth savoring.
Huai En had shown his true nature, and these could not be faked. He could not believe it, especially when there were no signs and no evidence. He could not doubt Huai En; it would be an insult to their feelings.
Xiao Bao calmed his mind and felt even more that his thoughts were correct. Since Su Yin's people had already gone to investigate, he would wait for the results. Before that, he could not doubt him just because of a few words from others and a few strange incidents.
Xiao Bao went down the mountain and discovered that Huai En had arrived even earlier, already waiting by the carriage.
Xiao Bao hurried over to support him, "How did you get here so quickly?
Didn't I tell you to be careful?"
"We took a different path. I've said it many times; I only suffered some superficial injuries, not that I can't move."
"But that's still an injury. You always act so carelessly, that's why old injuries get compounded with new ones. When will you ever heal?"
Huai En nonchalantly tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Xiao Bao lifted the curtain of the carriage, about to help Huai En on board, "I've laid a thick quilt inside, so the journey won't be too uncomfortable for you. Come, get in. We're heading back home now. I'll take good care of you and help you recover."
Huai En glanced at his hand and with a graceful movement, leaped onto the carriage, pulling Xiao Bao's hand to bring him up as well.
Xiao Bao, unprepared, fell directly onto Huai En. Before he could react, the world spun around as Huai En hugged him, rolled over, and pinned him down, their noses touching. In a low voice, he said, "I must make you realize who is the one that needs to recover."
Kipzi - IS HE A RABBIT WTFFF