Chapter 96: Good News and Bad News
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Roars echoed from all directions, sending shivers down Song Yu’s spine.
Fufeng Mountain, with its high terrain and dense forests, was especially eerie. Now, the anguished cries from everywhere made the atmosphere even more chilling.
Lu Chao Chao clapped her chubby hands, grinning. “They, so so happy, ya…” Her childish giggles sent a chill through Song Yu’s heart.
“Chao Chao, did you summon these creatures?” Song Yu crouched down and gently asked.
Chao Chao blinked innocently. “Friends. My friends.”
She patted her chest. “Birthday. Mine!”
Song Yu said nothing further, only picking her up and heading back. Earlier, beasts had attacked him on his way, but as soon as he held Chao Chao, even the most ferocious ones avoided him, bowing in silent submission.
Song Yu’s heart sank to the depths.
“Chief, bad news! The court has dispatched troops to eradicate us. They’re already at the foot of the mountain!” The messenger was out of breath, his face pale with worry.
Beasts rampaged within, and the imperial army loomed outside. What could they do?
“Chief! We’ve lost contact with our informant in the capital!”
Song Yu’s brow furrowed. He rubbed the jade thumb ring on his hand, his throat tightening.
“Was the informant discovered?” someone asked.
The messenger hesitated. “No. It seems he’s severed ties with Fufeng Mountain.”
“Last time we besieged the Second-Rank Official, he didn’t flinch. Why now? Is he afraid?”
No one spoke further.
What disaster had Fufeng Mountain caused this time? The tension among them was palpable.
“Is this batch of people to blame? I say we kill them all!” The Third Boss’s gaze was venomous, fixed on Lu Chao Chao.
“When they came up the mountain, the beasts went wild. Now, the creatures descend, and even the capital’s connection is lost. They must be the cause!”
At that moment, Yuan Man and three maids were also brought forward. Xuan Yin, calm and composed, stood silently beside Lu Chao Chao.
“Kill? And then what? Who knows if killing them will provoke the beasts further? Or escalate conflict with the court?” someone countered.
Everyone fell silent.
Song Yu, however, stared at Lu Chao Chao. “Little girl, you must have powerful backing.”
Lu Chao Chao looked up at the sky, confused, and shook her head. “Me no.”
Fufeng Mountain fell under Anning County’s jurisdiction, and the local magistrate was supposedly on their side. Yet the urgent message from him contained only one word: “Danger!”
As Song Yu rubbed his ring, he asked, “Chao Chao, what is your relationship to the Xu family?”
Lu Chao Chao replied in her soft voice, “Maternal grandfather.”
He had already sent someone overnight to investigate in the capital. Her words were confirmed.
Where did things go wrong?
“To think a little girl like you could cause so much trouble!” Song Yu’s frustration boiled over.
Mistaking it for a compliment, Lu Chao Chao blushed and smiled shyly. This only irritated him more.
“You have ties to the royal family? How unexpected,” Song Yu muttered under his breath. Clearly, the imperial family valued her greatly.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes lit up. “Emperor uncle…”
Song Yu froze. What?
What emperor?
“Uncle gave me jade.” Her eyes sparkled. “Call many many people for fighting…”
Song Yu was dumbstruck. Imperial jade pendants? Symbols of the emperor himself?
“Princess auntie, jade!”
“Grand Tutor grandpa, jade!”
“Empress grandma, jade!”
She stretched her arms wide, her face exaggeratedly animated. “So so many jades…”
“Don’t like. Chao Chao don’t like…” She waved dismissively.
Song Yu was speechless.
The leaders exchanged uneasy glances.
“What on earth did Sister Dong bring back? Even a princess isn’t this spoiled!” Second Boss hissed through clenched teeth.
“The troops are at our doorstep. Send her back immediately!” Third Boss growled, his face dark.
Yuan Man’s face lit up, but Lu Chao Chao pouted. “No no! I no go home!”
Her eyes reddened. “Don’t want! Don’t want!” she wailed, on the verge of tears. It was still her birthday celebration.
Song Yu, too, felt like crying. But with beasts and soldiers attacking, he was at his wit’s end. After great effort, he managed to drive the beasts from the camp. Yet, the troops remained at the mountain’s foot.
Song Yu had a table of food prepared—all dishes that children loved. He waved off the others, who reluctantly held back their tempers. All eyes watched as Song Yu patiently fed her, small bite by small bite. Her face lit up as she ate.
Before long, the little girl’s head drooped, her eyes fluttering shut. “Sleepy… so sleepy,” she murmured, dozing off at the table.
“Quickly, take her to the city gates!” Song Yu ordered, his voice sharp. He glanced at the others in the tent. “Send them all away too. I’m sick of looking at them.”
Exhausted, he assigned a trusted aide to carry Lu Chao Chao down the mountain. “Leave her at the gates and return immediately,” he instructed. With so many factions searching for her, she would be taken home soon enough.
Xuan Yin watched Chao Chao being carried away, a trace of worry in her eyes.
“You lot are lucky. Coming to Fufeng Mountain and leaving unscathed!” one man spat. “If not for those soldiers, we’d have dealt with you by now.”
Xuan Yin tensed but said nothing. Luckily, the urgency of the situation meant they were only shoved down the mountain without further harm.
As for Lu Chao Chao, she had been sent down a shortcut and arrived back at the city before the others. She stirred awake, shivering from the cold. “So cold… Chao Chao cold,” she whimpered, hugging herself. The icy ground beneath her and the towering city gates ahead made her surroundings even more daunting.
“Xuan Yin sis?” Her sleepy face bore a faint drool mark. Even her milk bottle was missing. In the pitch darkness, a faint light glimmered from the gate.
Groggily, she crawled to her feet, her mind slow and dazed. She was about to approach the gate when a woman’s voice called out behind her.
“Little girl, are you lost?”
The woman emerged from the shadows. “It’s freezing out here. How careless of your family. Come, come, follow auntie. Auntie will keep you warm and safe. Don’t be scared. I’ll take you home.”
The woman scooped her up, scrutinizing her face. A smile of delight spread across her own. Such a pretty child—she would fetch a good price.
Covering Chao Chao’s mouth, the woman swiftly carried her onto a bullock cart. Chao Chao blinked, confused, unable to react.
The cart sped away, creaking as the road became steeper. The scenery grew more familiar with each passing moment. Chao Chao’s expression fell.
Bad news: She had been kidnapped.
Worse news: They were heading back to Fufeng Village.
Meanwhile, Song Yu lay in his bed, muttering to himself, “By dawn, Fufeng Mountain will be back to its peaceful self, right?”
Probably he’ll educate the villagers about their kidnapping ways next lol
After this they will learn the hard way and stop kidnapping