Chapter 158
"......" Xi Ning said a lot, but Yuan Heng seemed not to have listened to any of it. He was one moment tucking in the corners of the quilt for the ger on the bed, as if afraid he would sleep uncomfortably, and the next moment smoothing back a strand of the ger's hair, as if afraid the stray hair would disturb and wake the person on the bed.
"......" Xi Ning's eye twitched uncontrollably a few times.
I knew you care deeply for Yao'er, but... someone is speaking to you...
Forget it. Everything can wait until Yao'er wakes up.
Xi Ning flung his sleeve and walked straight out. The healer, seeing this, followed him out.
At the door, Cheng Bai immediately came forward.
"City Lord, what's wrong with the little delicate one?"
Xi Ning was startled, looking at Cheng Bai with a complicated gaze. Cheng Bai's face was still somewhat pale, his steps quite unsteady. His injuries weren't healed yet, but he had been guarding outside the whole time...
But...
"Cheng Bai, Yao'er... is fine," Xi Ning said.
Cheng Bai breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that he's fine. What illness is it? Why did he suddenly faint?"
The healer, hearing this, naturally began to speak: "The young master is..."
"He just caught a chill," City Lord Xi Ning interrupted the healer. The healer was startled, but then noticed the meaningful look Xi Ning gave him. Understanding the unspoken message, he quickly said, "I will take my leave now. The young master is fine. I will send the medicine prescription over later."
"Thank you, Healer," Xi Ning said, seeing him off.
Cheng Bai saw the healer leave and immediately turned to enter Wang Jin's room. Xi Ning, noticing this, quickly stopped him: "Wait, Cheng Bai."
Cheng Bai turned back with a questioning look. Xi Ning explained, "Yuan Heng is still in there with him."
Cheng Bai's expression darkened. "I am also the little delicate one's fiancé," he said coldly.
"......" Xi Ning fell silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words: "Do you remember what I told you before? They came back to get married."
"......" Cheng Bai lowered his head without speaking.
Xi Ning said, "You should let go, Cheng Bai."
"...City Lord, I hunted and brought back Haiqiong, but Yuan Heng brought back nothing. I am stronger than him!" Cheng Bai said: "You should choose me for the little delicate one's happiness! Moreover, without the little delicate one's personal rejection, I will not give up. Even you cannot decide everything for the little delicate one, right?"
"......" Xi Ning sighed, just about to speak, when Uncle Shan's announcement came from the door: "City Lord, Master Cheng and Young Master Pan Yue have returned and request an audience."
"Show them in quickly."
Uncle Shan retreated. Soon after, Cheng Li and Pan Yue walked in and bowed to the City Lord.
Cheng Bai bowed to Cheng Li: "Elder Brother."
"I heard the young master fell ill? Is it serious?" Pan Yue asked.
Xi Ning shook his head. Cheng Bai turned to go into the room again. Xi Ning stopped him once more: "Cheng Bai, I made myself very clear just now. Just... don't go in. If you want to go in, wait until Yao'er wakes up and agrees."
"......" Cheng Bai's fingers suddenly clenched tight: "Am I not even allowed to look at the little delicate one now?!"
"Meeting would only add to your troubles, why bother? Yao'er has already made his choice," Xi Ning said.
"But I am stronger than Yuan Heng! I hunted Haiqiong!" Cheng Bai said angrily.
"Cheng Bai!" Cheng Li called out sternly, angry: "Is that any way to speak to the City Lord?"
"Elder Brother..." Cheng Bai turned and bowed his head to Xi Ning: "My apologies, City Lord."
Xi Ning shook his head.
Cheng Li said to Cheng Bai, "From now on, you must never say you are stronger than Yuan Heng again. Yuan Heng also hunted Haiqiong, and it was eight adult Haiqiongs."
"!" Xi Ning and Cheng Bai looked up in astonishment. Cheng Bai murmured, "How is that possible?"
Xi Ning also looked incredulous.
That one adult Haiqiong had already killed his father. How could any beastman possibly hunt eight adult Haiqiongs at once?
Cheng Li, seeing their disbelief, nodded at them again in confirmation. Pan Yue also chimed in from the side: "It's true, City Lord. Elder Brother Cheng and I saw it with our own eyes. That time, the young master was almost attacked by a Haiqiong. Yuan Heng was enraged and killed all eight Haiqiong right then."
As if remembering something, Pan Yue waved to someone behind him. The person came forward holding something. Pan Yue took the item from his hand, dismissed him, then opened the bundle on the ground. Pan Yue said, "City Lord, look. We found this when we returned, by the shore when we ran into servants cleaning the beach. It was brought back by Yuan Heng. Inside there is preserved Haiqiong crescent meat. He probably originally intended to bring it for you to taste, City Lord. We returned and heard about the trouble that happened there. Probably, when all the chaos broke out, everyone forgot to go back for these things."
"......" Xi Ning stepped forward to look. Inside, there was indeed a large leaf wrapped around some fish meat, dried to a golden color. It smelled very fragrant. Next to it were dried fish fins. Looking at the size and shape of those fins... they were undoubtedly from an adult Haiqiong.
"So... I was the one who lost after all?" Cheng Bai took two steps back, the color draining completely from his face.
He had risked his life, yet he was no match for that man.
Cheng Bai, utterly defeated, turned to leave. Frowning, Xi Ning quickly called after him, worried the young man might fixate on this and recklessly try to hunt Haiqiong alone to prove himself against Yuan Heng: "Cheng Bai, it's not just about the Haiqiong that you have no chance. There is one more thing you should know."
This was something he hadn't originally planned to tell Cheng Bai right now, but... he would have to know sooner or later.
Xi Ning took a deep breath and said softly, "Yao'er... is pregnant. The child is Yuan Heng's."
"......" Cheng Bai's steps halted. His body swayed on the spot. Cheng Li, seeing his brother sway, rushed forward to support him. But Xi Ning raised a hand to stop him.
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