Chapter 284: Right Away

Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales

Finally, Lu Mingshu took in a deep breath and sat down, putting the map aside. She buried her head in her hands as if she was resting.

Being on pins and needles currently, Xie Zhanghui pulled her sleeve and asked, “Miss Lu, what did you find?”

But Lu Mingshu didn’t respond. After a while, when Xie Zhanghui had given up on bugging her, she suddenly looked up. “What do you all think about this situation?”

Xie Zhanghui looked disappointed. He thought that she had some clues. “I have discussed it with Emissary Xiahou. We are sure that he has passed this route, and with Young Master’s ability, nobody would be able to kidnap him.”

Xie Lianzhen broke through to the Spirit Realm previously due to being incited. He then took it way too far and dropped back down to the Harmonization Realm. Now, he was fully recovered and was only a step away from breaking through again. Moreover, as the Alioth Star-Lord, he had many defensive items with him such that even a normal Spirit Realm couldn’t do anything to him. Thus, it was safe to say that nothing bad would have happened to him here.

“How complex the topography in Beiming is, I think Miss knows. The Ming River has many branches, and there are many ferocious beasts lurking around. If there’s fog, one might even go the wrong direction. So, we are all guessing that Young Master has lost his way.”

Getting lost in Beiming was not something new. If one was lucky, they would get out quickly and even find a new route. If not, it would be like the situation recorded in the books – being stuck for at least ten years and only getting out when a junior comes by. If one was extremely unlucky, they might not meet anyone for their whole life and disappear in the vast Ming River.

Xie Zhanghui looked at Lu Mingshu, but she seemed to disagree with his opinion.

“Miss Lu has another opinion?”

“I’m afraid you’re too positive about this.” Lu Mingshu nodded.

“Why is that?”

She stood up, and her fingers trailed from Zhongzhou to Jasper Sun Mountain. “Where is the most dangerous place among this route?”

“The latter half,” Xie Zhanghui replied instantly.

Lu Mingshu nodded. “From Zhongzhou to White Heron State, many people would take this route. The Jianghu people, businessmen, tourists, and so on, they all know this route like the palm of their hands. Whereas the latter half, because of the legends of Beiming and the ferocious beasts on the route, none have dared to venture there.”

“What Miss Lu means is that Young Master disappeared here?”

“No,” she answered confidently. “White Heron State belongs to the Ye Family. Even if the random passersby didn’t meet him, do you think the Ye Family would not have spotted him? From what I see, the Alioth Star-Lord never passed through the state.”

“So what does Miss mean?” Xie Zhanghui could no longer hold it in. Even though his young master went missing frequently, they could still roughly figure out where he went. But it was different this time; they had absolutely no confirmed clues.

“I don’t know if you have noticed it or not.” She then put her finger back on the map. “The traces that you have found, it’s here – the place where you could confirm that he wasn’t lost. As you said, he’s here to look for me. With such an aim in mind, there’s no way he would just wander around. This route is the fastest way to get to Jasper Sun Mountain.”

Xie Zhanghui looked at her, unable to register what she just said. “Miss Lu, so you mean that he’s not lost, but...”

“Let’s take away the impossible and leave the possible ones, even if it’s outrageous.” Lu Mingshu bit her lips. “I suspect he’s been kidnapped,” she whispered.

“...” Xie Zhanghui couldn’t imagine who would be able to do so. Even if the person was powerful, who would dare to touch the Alioth Star-Lord as he likes?

After some time, Xie Zhanghui accepted the fact. “So what shall we do now? Wait? Emissary Xiahou has already been searching for-”

“We’ll go,” Lu Mingshu cut him off. “Emissary may find something, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t search too. It would be better than staying here and just guessing.”

Xie Zhanghui originally thought that it wouldn’t be a serious matter since Xie Lianzhen would not face any dangers. But after hearing Lu Mingshu, he was now like a cat on hot bricks and would, of course, agree to any suggestion given. “Okay, let’s go right now.”

“A ship is too slow,” Lu Mingshu said. “This boat should have a rowboat, right? Take it out, we’ll go.”

“We?”

“Right. Us.” Lu Mingshu pointed at herself and him. “The more people, the more trouble. This isn’t a case where the more, the merrier.”

Xie Zhanghui looked at her for a moment before agreeing. True. If Young Master was kidnapped and even Xiahou Shan couldn’t find anything, there would be no point in bringing anyone else over.

“Miss, please wait a while, I’ll go instruct them now.”

Lu Mingshu nodded and watched Xie Zhanghui hurry out of the room.

She stared at the map and sighed.

...

Xie Zhanghui was an efficient guy; after an hour, he was back.

“Miss Lu, the rowboat has been prepared. We can pack up now.”

“I don’t have anything; we can leave right now.” Lu Mingshu stood up and walked out.

“Sure.”

They placed the rowboat down, and after biding the Bon Voyage Fleet members goodbye, both of them jumped down from the ship and went south.

Xie Zhanghui had never sailed a boat before, but luckily, one could control the rowboat with his or her mystic force.

What made Xie Zhanghui depressed was that, as soon as Lu Mingshu boarded the boat, she acted as if this situation was none of her business. Other than eating and resting, she cultivated the entire day.

Xie Zhanghui felt like skinning her. This bitch, she’s best at using others as her servants, huh? I’m the guardian of the Seventh Truth Platform’s fifth clan and a well-respected person, and yet you take me as a boatman?

But of course, that was all in his mind. He had first-hand experience of how important she was to his young master. If Young Master was here, he would be rowing the boat willingly and happily....

But how calm she was made Xie Zhanghui want to slap the daylights out of her.

“Miss Lu, aren’t you worried about Young Master?” Xie Zhanghui asked while she was resting.

“There’s no use in doing so,” Lu Mingshu answered after finishing her tea.

Xie Zhanghui looked at her in annoyance. “It’s common sense to be worried for someone. I doubt you even care about him, huh?”

“Am I here to hear you nag?” Lu Mingshu side-eyed him.

“You...!” Xie Zhanghui stared at her in anger.

historical

“I heard that Guardian Xie is someone cool-headed and reliable. Rumours are just rumours, I guess.”

“...” Xie Zhanghui forced out a smile and suppressed his urge to give her the middle finger. If it wasn’t for Young Master, why would I sit here and be degraded by you? Forget it, women and children are the most unreasonable, and she’s both.

With his grudges, Xie Zhanghui went back to rowing the boat.

Lu Mingshu shut her eyes. She looked like she was going back to cultivating, but in reality, she went into the Heavenly Wheel.

She didn’t have time to even worry about Xie Lianzhen being missing because, if she was right, then she would have to increase her ability – because someone who could kidnap Xie Lianzhen wasn’t someone she and Xie Zhanghui could fight even if they joined forces.