Chapter 10
Both Duke and d.u.c.h.ess Bao knew that the remaining two are gone with the intention of searching for their missing daughter. Duke Bao has instructed his guards to search for all of five girls especially his daughter. But, none is forthcoming.
Both husband and wife have refused all visitors ever since their daughter has gone missing. Bao Residence's entrance gate has been closed to any outsiders as well.
Meanwhile, back in the imperial palace, the one who is sitting on the Dragon Throne is currently listening to his spy's report.
"Your Majesty, we have gone down the ravine to search for Eldest Miss Bao and her maidservants but we found nothing. Not a single trace of them can be found on the bottom of the ravine. We wanted to search further but the other part is Rumi Forest. No one wanted to enter the unknown forest. This servant is useless."
Emperor Li lifts his head up and stares at his spy kneeling before him, "This emperor understand. Due to the close proximity of Rumi Forest, their bodies might have been eaten by the wild spirit beasts. Just keep a close watch on Bao Residence."
The spy bows before he vanishes.
Emperor Li walks out of the Dragon Hall before he stops. From the place that he currently standing, Bao Residence is within his sight. He smirks and says, "Biming... How does it feel to lose a child? Does it hurt? That year, you've betrayed me. She is supposed to be mine!"
What no one knows is that a few minutes after Yangzi jumped down into the ravine, she floated herself by manipulating the air and stayed hidden inside the thick fog. Once she heard Bao Baiyu softly calling her name, she climbed up by using the long rope prepared by Diqiu. Once she is up, she immediately unties the hidden rope and takes it together with her before she ran to the nearby Rumi Forest. After all, Bao Baiyu reminded her not to leave any trace.
That was 3 days ago, now all 5 of them including Bao Laohu are staying in a small hut within the enchanted forest. The forest is indeed full of spirit beasts but this ordinary looking hut seems to be avoided by those spirit beasts. More like, none of the spirit beasts wanted to near the hut itself.
On the third day, Bao Baiyu is being confronted by a young man who is looking angry upon seeing her sitting outside the hut. She is all alone because her maidservants are out in search of more food. She just calmly sits on the wooden stool as she watches and listens to the young man as he keeps on ranting that she has trespa.s.sed into his hut.
"Young girl! Who are you? And, why are you trespa.s.sing into this old man's hut?"
Bao Baiyu tilts her head slightly when she heard that the young man is calling himself as "old man". Seeing him talking on and on while walking from side to side is giving her a slight headache.
"Older brother, I did not mean to trespa.s.s into your hut but I need a temporary place to stay."
The young man stops and turns his body to face her, "Little girl... Why are you here all alone? Where are your parents?"
"I am not alone... My older sisters are out to search for
"There is a news that the Eldest Miss Bao is currently nowhere to be found. That brat is so angry and storms into the imperial palace to demand for an answer. Poor Liang'er is so devastated upon knowing that her disciple has gone missing."
He then bent down to look at Bao Baiyu before he tries to touch her head but stops as he heard a stern voice from behind him.
"Stop! Do not touch her!"
Lu Huo and the others immediately surrounded Bao Baiyu as they glare at the stranger.
"Aiyah... Young girls. You nearly give this old man a heart attack. You must have been this little girl's older sister. Come, come. Take a seat. This hut belongs to this old man."
Yangzi looks at the young man and says, "Old man??? What are you? A pervert?"
The young man then stares at Yangzi and says, "Young girl, do not be rude. This old man is old enough to be your ancestor despite having a divine appearance. Be good to me... I might make you my disciple."
Yushui s.h.i.+vers in response, "No, thank you. You are too young to be my master."
"You, girls! This old man is telling the truth!"
The young man stomp on his feet in exasperation and this act of his is making them laughs. He then looks around as he mumbles to himself.
"This place is not suitable for young girls to stay. There will be a time a much more powerful spirit beast will roam around here. That's it! This old man has decided! All of you will be returning with me back to my home. My disciples will be more than happy to have young ones there. Except... Do not bother to be civilized with that stinky An Guang!"
Lu Huo turns her head and softly ask for Bao Baiyu's opinion, "Eldest miss..."
"Then this younger sister will do just that. Older brother, thank you for your kind offer."
The silly young man claps his hands excitedly before he runs towards Bao Baiyu, the others try to stop him but, before they can touch him, an invisible force causes all four of them to be thrown back onto the ground.
Lu Huo immediately warns Bao Baiyu, "Eldest miss! Be careful! He is not an ordinary person!"
Bao Baiyu just stands there calmly as she stares at the incoming figure, he then bent down slowly before grabbing onto her small hands. As soon as he grabs onto her hands, he no longer smiles and look into her eyes.
"It is indeed you. This old man is right after all. This is your choice then... Good. Good. Liang'er will be more than happy. I only hope that brat will not cause any blood shed due to your disappearance."
As Emperor Li sits on his Dragon Throne to listen to his ministers' reports, a loud sound of explosion suddenly can be heard coming from the outside of the Dragon Hall. A tall yet good looking man with enters the Dragon Hall without being announced. A group of soldiers try to stop him but, with just a flick of his fingers, each of them seems to be thrown back where some crushed onto the pillars and some on the walls. Everyone can see each of the are gravely injured because of this because some are unconscious while the others are bleeding from their mouths.
"How dare you enter the imperial palace!?!? Who are you!?!?"
One of the ministers shouted and pointed his finger at the man in black outfit. That man simply pa.s.ses by the minister and only stop once he is standing before the Emperor. His face is without any expression but everyone can feel the man's depressing dark flow of energy.
"Emperor Li... Where is my disciple? How could she be missing without a trace? Do enlighten me..."
Emperor Li sits with his back straight as he stares at the tall figure with dark yet powerful aura.
"Dark Lord An... Forgives this emperor for not recognizing you. Yes, Eldest Miss Bao has indeed not been found yet. Due to the fact that Duke Bao is not receiving any guests at the moment, nothing much is known about what had happened."
Dark Lord An then walks a bit further nearer the Dragon Throne which makes Emperor Li and his ministers more and more nervous. After all, the youngest Elder of Quanheng Sect is said to be a dangerous person and will simply takes a life if needed to without any second thoughts.
"Is that so... Maybe I should pay a visit to Bao Residence as well. Remember... If there is any foul play found to be involved in her being missinh, we will definitely destroy this Kingdom of yours."
Just as Dark Lord An turns and walks towards the door, a bright light suddenly appears within the Dragon Hall. As the light becomes dimmer, a beautiful woman in white outfit is smiling as she calmly walks towards Dark Lord An.
"Liang'er... Why are you here? You are crying when I left."
Emperor Li stares at her. Never did he thought that he will encounter a beauty such as the woman in white. Her beauty is not only ethereal but enchanting as well.
"Husband... Master has returned. We should return as well. There is an important matter to attend to."
Dark Lord An holds onto her hand as he nods his head before both of them disappears into thin air. No parting words whatsoever. He came uninvited. He left without any warning as well.
Emperor Li can only watches without being able to do anything. He did not have enough power nor resources to go against Quanheng Sect.
When Dark Lord An comes alone, his dark aura is too overpowering but, that beautiful woman is a stark contrast of the Dark Lord. Everyone inside the Dragon Hal can only a.s.sume that she is, in fact, Light Mistress Guang. Her aura is very soothing and calming. Seeing how Dark Lord An acts, they know that despite her enchantingly beautiful appearance and calm nature, her power is not far behind from the Dark Lord.
Later that day, the search for Bao Baiyu has gone a step further with the imperial edict for everyone within the kingdom to join the search as well.