freenovelworld Chapter 169 Top-Tier Red Slaves
Chapter 169 Top-Tier Red Slaves
The next morning, the snow had stopped.
The sky remained overcast and gray.
After Jiang Mian and Wen Qian finished washing up, they opened the door and saw two men already waiting outside.
Xiao Hengzhi leaned against the door frame, and Jiang Wan almost bumped into him when she came out.
Duan Zhian stood under the eaves holding a cloak. When Wen Qian came out, he went over and draped it over her.
"Thank you, Uncle," Wen Qian said softly.
As Duan Zhian tied the tie around her neck, he asked, "You look so pale. Did you not sleep well last night?"
Wen Qian shook her head: "I slept soundly, but I always felt weak and my limbs were sore."
Duan Zhian glanced at her lower abdomen: "It must be because of the cold weather. Go back to the palace today and drink some nourishing medicine to replenish your qi and blood."
Wen Qian nodded.
Xiao Hengzhi, standing to the side, spoke leisurely: "Grand Tutor, how long are you going to keep whispering like this? Have you forgotten there are two living people right here?"
Duan Zhi'an glanced at him lightly: "Is Your Highness waiting for me? Or are we going to travel together today?"
"Let's skip it today. Even if you wanted to come together, I'm too busy today."
Jiang Wan didn't know why the two of them, who were joking around just yesterday, suddenly became so angry today.
She stepped forward to smooth things over: "Grand Tutor, Qianqian tossed and turned a bit last night, and she seems to be feeling unwell today. It would be best if you could take her back to the palace to rest."
Duan Zhian nodded.
The snow on the streets had been mostly cleared, and vehicles could now pass with difficulty.
He rented a carriage, and Wen Qian kept looking back, her eyes filled with worry and fear.
"Sister Mian," she approached, "I don't know when we'll see each other again after this trip back to the palace. Please take care of yourself."
"Okay, don't worry." Jiang Man nodded and saw her into the car.
The farewells were drowned out by the creaking of the wheels.
In the blink of an eye, only Jiang Mian and Xiao Hengzhi remained at the inn.
The waiter approached with a smile: "Sir, the snow has stopped, and our shop... still needs to be open for business. Are you booking the whole place today?"
"Today...is that unnecessary?" Jiang Mian glanced at Xiao Hengzhi.
He responded softly.
"Alright!" The waiter quickly ran to hang up the business sign.
However, just as the sign was hung up, a scream suddenly came from outside—
"Run-!"
"Run! A monster is coming!"
The sound grew louder and louder, spreading from the end of the street.
The waiter slammed the door shut.
"What happened?" Jiang Mian stood up.
"I don't know, let's not open the door yet!" The waiter quickly ran to close the window as well.
Jiang Mian approached and pressed herself against the crack in the door.
I saw people running and scrambling wildly in the streets.
Cries and screams mingled together, and panic spread at a visible speed.
Suddenly, a person ran in from the backyard and loudly ordered the waiter, "Go and lock the backyard gate! Hurry up!"
Judging from the man's attire, he must be the shopkeeper. Jiang Wan hurriedly asked, "Shopkeeper, what happened?!"
The shopkeeper was terrified: "A wild animal has come down from that mountain! It kills anyone it sees, and its strength is terrifying!"
Which mountain?
The shopkeeper pointed behind him.
Jiang Mian looked in that direction and was startled.
Isn't that the mountain over there, the one from A-Yun Manor? Where did this savage come from?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hengzhi frowned and instructed Jiang Wan, "Stay here and don't wander off."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the sound of things being smashed and broken came from outside, accompanied by a piercing scream.
"what--!"
Xiao Hengzhi peeked through the crack in the door and saw two tall figures charging around at the other end of the long street. They were wearing tattered black clothes, their exposed skin covered in filth and blackened bloodstains, their eyes were murky and wild, and they were barefoot, stepping on the cold, muddy snow.
Wherever it went, vendors' stalls were easily overturned, and goods were scattered all over the ground.
Jiang Mian also leaned over, took a look, and her throat tightened.
Those were... the Red Slaves she had seen at the manor!
The Red Slaves are all locked up in the manor, how could they appear on the street?
Suddenly, one of them lifted a terrified toddler with one hand, about to slam him hard to the ground!
"The child—!" she cried out in alarm.
Almost at the same instant her voice rang out, a dark figure darted out from beside her.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Hengzhi caught the child who had been thrown down and handed him to the still-shaken mother beside him.
The streets were filled with cries and screams.
The two men had red eyes and growled in their throats, as if they were about to pounce.
However, the moment they met eyes, both of them froze, their raised arms hanging in mid-air.
A hint of fear surfaced in those frantic eyes.
Xiao Hengzhi walked forward step by step without expression.
The cold wind after the snow whipped up the hem of his dark cloak, and with each step he took forward, the two men took a step back.
They bared their teeth and bulged their muscles, but made no move to attack.
The surrounding chaos subsided, and everyone stared in horror at the dark figure.
Xiao Hengzhi made no unnecessary movements.
He was just standing there, and the intense aura of menace emanating from him was enough to make people feel dangerous.
That was the absolute pressure of a top predator.
It is the instinctive awe of power inherent in the bloodline of the Red Slaves.
Upon witnessing this scene, the innkeeper couldn't help but ask, "Who is this person? How can he possess such terrifying abilities?"
Jiang Mian remained silent, pressed against the door.
She suddenly felt a chill.
Xiao Hengzhi is a top-tier figure among the Red Slaves.
Can she really fight him on her own...?
She withdrew her gaze and silently returned to her seat in the inn.
The commotion outside quickly subsided, and the inn door opened again. Xiao Hengzhi walked in, exuding a chill, and sat down opposite her.
The two remained silent.
Xiao Hengzhi called over the still-shaken waiter: "Hot tea."
The waiter hurriedly brought over a teapot, his voice trembling: "Sir, this is the best tea in our shop..." He then hastily retreated.
Xiao Hengzhi poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of her, holding her cold hand: "Your hands are so cold, drink something hot."
Jiang Man nodded and took a small sip.
"Were you scared?" he asked.
Jiang Mian gave a soft "Mmm".
She looked up at him, feigning ignorance, and asked, "Who...who are those people? Why did they all freeze up when they saw Your Highness?"
Xiao Hengzhi lowered his eyes and stroked her fingers: "They are just two madmen who have lost their minds. Perhaps they know they are no match for me and dare not act rashly."
A brief, understated explanation.
Jiang Wan's gaze dimmed, and the faint hope in her heart was extinguished.
He indeed wouldn't talk about the Red Slaves.
She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it even tighter.
"Where would you like to go today?" he changed the subject.
Jiang Mian composed herself and smiled, "Today is Your Highness's birthday, so naturally I will follow Your Highness's arrangements."
After lunch.
The two walked on the street, which was gradually becoming noisy again.
Jiang Mian saw a long queue in front of a pastry shop, with the aroma of pastries wafting out.
Xiao Hengzhi noticed her staring at him and said, "Want some? I'll go buy some."
“Your Highness,” Jiang Wan tugged at his sleeve, “Today is your birthday, I’ll go.”
She ran over and squeezed to the front of the crowd, only to find that there was only one box of the most delicious lotus flower pastries left.
"Help me wrap this up!" she said hurriedly.
Suddenly, a hand reached out and pressed down on the food box.
"I'll take this box."