29. Chapter 29: Mingxi Leaves Without Saying Goodbye

Ming Xi did not reply, remaining silent for a very long while.

Only after she had finished treating her wounds did she quietly return to her room, wide awake.

She could not sleep.

It was not merely because she was a nocturnal fox. More importantly, Shi Zhiyan’s attitude toward her had unsettled her—this was the first time he had refused to help her!

It could not exactly be called a refusal. Shi Zhiyan simply had no idea that when Ming Xi spoke of restoring her spiritual power, she meant recovering the five hundred years of cultivation she had possessed in her previous life!

That was not something that could be solved with information from a few books or several pills!

Therefore… if she wished to regain her five hundred years of cultivation, she could only rely on the power of the Snake King’s inner core.

But for her alone, seizing the inner core would indeed be extremely difficult. That was why she was so angry—how could that fellow Shi Zhiyan refuse to help her?

Was he really going to force her to reveal that she was a fox and that she needed the inner core to restore her full cultivation?!

…This was simply too much!

As these thoughts churned in her mind, Ming Xi suddenly sat up in bed. The more she thought about it, the more unwilling she became to accept defeat.

The next moment, Ming Xi quietly rose from the bed. Apart from five hundred taels in silver notes and Chiming, she took nothing with her. She went straight to Xiaotong’s room and gently shook him awake.

“Mother? Have you finished bathing? Xiaotong still wanted to bathe with you…”

“Shh! Don’t say anything. Come with me, quickly!”

Ming Xi said no more. She took Xiaotong by the hand and pushed open the main gate, with Bai Ling following close behind.

After closing the gate, Ming Xi hailed a carriage, picked up Xiaotong, and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage immediately set off.

Xiaotong rubbed his eyes, still heavy with sleep, and asked in confusion, “Mother, where are we going?”

“We’re going to take a look at the mountains nearby. We’re going to find the Snake King.”

“The Snake King? What do you want with it, Mother?”

“To restore my spiritual power, of course, you silly boy!”

“Oh. Then why didn’t you ask Godfather to come with us? He’s so powerful. He would definitely be able to help us.”

“Hmph! Don’t mention that man to me! He actually thinks I won’t come back alive? I’m going to bring the inner core back and show it to him! I, Ming Xi… am not that weak!”

The night was silent, save for the sound of hooves striking the road. Xiaotong did not understand what his mother meant. She had left without a word and had not even said goodbye to Godfather.

But Godfather’s words had not been without reason. The two of them were going into the mountains to steal some inner core… This was certainly no game!

Xiaotong sighed quietly. He felt that if Godfather did not accompany him and his mother, their efforts would most likely be twice as hard for half the result.

…Little did they know that after the carriage departed, Shi Zhiyan stood silently beside the main gate. He shook his head faintly and watched in silence as the carriage disappeared into the distance.

…That thieving girl was simply too stubborn!

In truth, according to Shi Zhiyan’s understanding, this girl was none other than Ming Xi, the seventh young lady of the Ming family.

Yet everything about her left Shi Zhiyan astonished… Was she truly the useless seventh young lady spoken of in the people’s idle gossip?

Why could he always detect a hint of defiance in her eyes?

…Unfortunately, if that thieving girl truly intended to go to the Snake King’s cavern, he was probably unable to accompany her. After all, given his current identity, he could not leave this town for an extended period.

As Shi Zhiyan pondered this, a white pigeon suddenly flew toward him. He caught it with perfect precision, removed the envelope from its leg, and read the message. His expression gradually turned solemn.

“…What does His Highness the Prince mean by this? Is he truly in such a hurry to make his move?” Shi Zhiyan clicked his tongue. He took out the writing brush he carried with him and wrote a reply on the back of the letter.

When he had finished, he placed the letter back inside the tube, then tossed the white pigeon into the air. Flapping its wings, it swiftly flew away.