Chapter Thirty-One: Continuing the Escape

Very soon, the young man delivered the letter into Xie Yingying’s hands.

Believing that salvation was at hand, Xie Yingying opened the letter with delight, only to find a few gentle words in a familiar hand—apologies, regret, and a warning not to run, for with his temperament, he might harm her.

Seeing such a letter, her hopes dashed, Xie Yingying’s eyes darkened and her heart filled with frustration.

The young man, noticing her distress, gently consoled her, “Though I don’t know what has been said between you, there’s no need to be so disheartened. After all, things often work themselves out in the end, and every problem finds its own solution.”

Grateful for his kindness, Xie Yingying replied, “Thank you. Sorry to trouble you with all this running back and forth.”

“It’s nothing at all,” the youth responded.

With that, he prepared to leave. Xie Yingying rose to see him out.

After the young man departed, Xie Yingying returned to her room, sat down heavily in her chair, and let out a long, helpless sigh.

If she didn’t escape soon, not only would she be utterly ruined by Bai Shengyun, but she might even lose her life!

She had no intention of meeting such a fate.

Having been transported into this novel, she was determined to seize her freedom before anything else.

This thought sparked a flicker of motivation within her. She remembered the topographical map of Gufeng Mountain she had drawn not long ago and began searching for it at once, but no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find it.

“How could it be missing?” Her frustration deepened, tinged now with irritation.

She searched every corner of the room, but it was truly gone. Exhausted, she collapsed into her chair.

Thankfully, she had drawn the map herself and still retained some memory of it. Before the details faded any further, she hurriedly found paper and ink and, relying on memory, sketched out a rough version.

After a long while, she stood with hands on her hips, looking at the new map she had drawn, her face brimming with satisfaction.

Thankfully, she hadn’t forgotten everything! Xie Yingying thought with relief.

She examined the map carefully, correcting a few omissions, but knew that it would be nearly impossible to leave the mountain on foot. So she tried to recall lower points along the mountain, wondering if she could use her spiritual power to fly down from one of them.

Tomorrow was to be her wedding day with Bai Shengyun. There was no way she would marry him.

Since death was inevitable sooner or later, Xie Yingying resolved to take her chances.

With that, she slipped out the window once more, not caring if she was seen, and strode straight toward the back mountain.

Even if she were discovered, what could they do? As long as she reached the top, she could leap down and use her spiritual power to land—no one could stop her!

She ran with astonishing speed, but the shadow guards followed closely, silent as ghosts.

Reaching the edge of a cliff, Xie Yingying fixed her eyes on a nearby peak. Yet, as she looked down into the abyss, her legs turned to jelly.

So be it—better to die than to marry Bai Shengyun!

She closed her eyes and leapt from the cliff.

At first, the shadow guards hadn’t believed she would really jump. Now, seeing her fall, they frowned and darted after her, but were still a step too slow.

In a flash, a streak of white plummeted, even faster than Xie Yingying’s descent.

The streak caught her in midair, dissolving to reveal Bai Shengyun’s cold, stern face.

He held her tightly, stepping through the air, his sharp eyes fixed on the shadow guards. Then, with a flick, he tossed Xie Yingying to the ground, brushed the dust from his clothes, and gave her a mocking smile.

Xie Yingying hit the ground hard. Opening her eyes, she realized she was still alive. The sight of the shadow guards kneeling and trembling beside the grim Bai Shengyun startled her.

She even noticed the guards were shaking all over.

Bai Shengyun ignored them, his gaze locked on Xie Yingying. Raising a hand, she suddenly felt an invisible force lift her by the throat, choking her breath.

“You’d rather throw yourself off a cliff than marry me?” Bai Shengyun’s grip tightened, veins bulging and twisting on his hand, savage in their intensity. “I told you not to run. What’s this? Healed already? Forgotten the pain?”

Xie Yingying couldn’t utter a word. Her recently healed throat bones began to crack once more.

This time, Bai Shengyun did not withdraw his demonic power for a long while. Xie Yingying thought she would truly die here, a bitter smile crossing her lips.

But suddenly, Bai Shengyun released her. She crashed to the ground, pain shooting through her spine.

He had not expected her to leap from the cliff. A strange, complicated feeling welled up inside him—an unfamiliar ache.

His expression was icy as he stared at her and said, “Did you really think I would let you die here?”

Xie Yingying dared not say a word.

“Even if you want to die, you won’t be able to.” He then turned on the kneeling shadow guards, his voice furious. “As for you, I’ll deal with you later. For now, take her back and watch her closely. Don’t let her escape again!”

The guards, relieved that his anger was not yet upon them, hastened to obey. “Yes, sir.” They hurriedly dragged Xie Yingying back to her quarters.

Returning once more to her courtyard, Xie Yingying gazed at the familiar trees and flowers, oddly relieved to have survived.

She hadn’t expected her desperate leap from the cliff to fail, only to be caught and nearly killed by Bai Shengyun instead.

A bitter smile crept onto her lips.

Dusk had fallen. The sun sank behind the western hills. On the emerald slopes of Gufeng Mountain, countless red banners fluttered, and a scarlet carpet stretched from the mountain’s foot to its peak, creating a festive scene.

Yet none of this could stir a smile from Xie Yingying.

Just then, a maid entered with her meal. Xie Yingying glanced at it and said nothing.

She had no appetite for food.

The maid, seeing this, left her alone.

Xie Yingying lay on her bed, staring out the window at the darkening sky. She watched the spirit cranes and birds returning to their nests, a sorrow swelling in her chest beyond words.

Her eyes grew misty. She longed to cry, but her throat ached so fiercely she could hardly make a sound, and she forced herself to hold back the tears.

“There’s always a way forward, and every bridge will bear its own load.”

—The words the young man had spoken suddenly echoed in her mind.

…

Night passed, and dawn broke.

Xie Yingying had not slept at all. Dark circles ringed her eyes.

Early in the morning, the maid and the old nurse came to help her dress. Seeing her poor condition, they said nothing, only applied her makeup more heavily than usual.

The old nurse placed a colorful bridal crown on her head. Noticing her lack of joy, she smiled at Xie Yingying’s reflection and said, “Miss, you look truly beautiful.”

Xie Yingying forced a smile, raising her eyes to her reflection, then to the two foxes entwined in love upon the crown, her gaze growing complicated.

“Miss, you’re even lovelier when you smile,” the old nurse said, adjusting the crown.

“Thank you,” Xie Yingying replied with a gentle smile.

Far off along the mountain road, a wedding procession approached, bearing the bridal sedan and playing bright, blaring horns, startling the swallows and finches from their morning meal.