Chapter 122: One Hundred and Eighteen: Star, Moon,
Coral, Rhinoceros
Translator: 549690339
Mi Bai didn’t know how he was brought back to Qingfeng Bank. Whether drunk or panicked, he staggered back to his room, a narrow space that could only accommodate a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.
His contract with Qingfeng Bank was not for life, implying he retained considerable freedom. However, due to his non-permanent status, he received the lowest salary among the scribes and enjoyed the poorest living conditions.
But he didn’t feel bitter about living in such a shabby shack for three years. For a child who had begun fending for himself at the tender age of ten, this small room with a bed and a desk was practically heaven.
But he knew this might be his last night here because he had already decided to
flee tonight.
He planned to take those children to another city to earn a living. Calligraphy and painting were his only means of survival. If he were to become a tool for producing replica artworks, he would rather die.
Lying on the bed, Mi Bai remembered the deceitful face of Feng Dezheng, regretting that he hadn’t seen through him earlier.
At midnight, the sleeping Mi Bai suddenly opened his eyes. Like an alert black cat, he rolled out of bed without making a sound.
He slung the pre-prepared package over his shoulder and embarked on his
escape.
His room was in the backyard of Qingfeng Bank, while the guards would be stationed at the gates of the front yard before midnight. Therefore, as long as he didn’t make any noise, he could easily leave.
Feng Dezheng would never suspect that the scribe, who had acted like a puppet at the dining table, would have the courage to escape that very night. The inebriated shopkeeper didn’t even leave a word for the guards, allowing him to quietly open the gate and slip out.
The streets were deserted at midnight, with only the bright moon hung up high. The chill wind blowing against Mi Bai’s face made him shudder. He pulled himself together, planning first to go to the deserted temple to gather the children, and then leave the city overnight.
As Mi Bai hurried along, he failed to notice the two pairs of eyes tracking him from the dark alley.
“Hey! Big brother really is a prophetic wonder,” Fat Gold Dragon exclaimed in admiration.
“Yes, indeed he is. A real prophetic wonder,” Zhang Kuo mumbled in agreement, his nasal voice altered by a bandaged nose.
Earlier at the banquet, Gong Zheng had noticed that Mi Bai was not someone easily manipulated. He thought that Feng Dezheng, as the steward of Qingfeng Bank, wouldn’t let someone slip away under his watch. Asking Zhang Kuo and Wen Wei to squat and keep an eye was merely for caution’s sake.
Unexpectedly, Feng Dezheng proved to be so incompetent that he couldn’t even keep an eye on a humble scribe.
“Boss, shall we go and grab him now?” Zhang Kuo asked Wen Wei, watching
the silhouette of Mi Bai disappear into the alley.
Recalling Gong’s instructions, Wen Wei sinisterly replied, “Gather our men.
We’ll deal with it once they leave the city.”
When Mi Bai, worn and dusty, reached the deserted temple, the children had already curled up in one corner and fallen asleep. Only Yang Fan, hearing the noise, alertly grabbed a wooden stick and hid behind the door.
Upon seeing Mi Bai, he hurriedly asked, “Big Brother Bai, what’s going on?”
He had never seen such urgency on Mi Bai’s face before.
“Little Fan, wake up your brothers and sisters. We are leaving the city tonight.” Even in such a critical situation, Mi Bai’s tone was still calm, though his words were slightly rushed.
Mi Bai and Yang Fan woke up the sleeping children. The older ones, suddenly awoken, didn’t cry or create any fuss. They helped wake the others and gathered whatever they could carry.
Carrying the dazed Little Ya, Mi Bai led a string of children, quietly sneaking
out of the city.
Thank goodness that Xiling was a trade city without fixed walls. Otherwise, how could this young man sneak out with eight children?
Mi Bai had already planned. He would bring the children through West City to Clear Water County. There was said to be a female Bodhisattva there who was altruistic and kind to the poor, especially fond of children.
He believed that once they reached Clear Water County, the children won’t have
to live in fear of being abducted every day.
The group snuck out of the city in the dark, and when crossing an old temple, about a dozen strong men rushed out with torches, surrounding them.
As he held Little Ya, Mi Bai’s heart tightened. He recognized Zhang Kuo, the gang leader whose nose he had broken. These people were undoubtedly members of the Righteous Gang.
He had managed to escape Qingfeng Bank but not the Righteous Gang.
■■You want me. It has nothing to do with these children,” Mi Bai said resolutely, locking his gaze with Zhang Kuo’s.
“Humph.” Zhang Kuo snorted coldly, making way for a burly figure behind him. Wen Wei glanced at the children huddled behind Mi Bai and instructed his subordinates, “Take them all.”
Children or adults, since they encountered them outside the city, they all belonged to the Righteous Gang. The person who was supposed to watch over Mi Bai had let him slip away. As soon as they asked around, they would find out that Mi Bai had escaped from the city. But who would know where he was headed?
With Mi Bai gone, the deal of splitting the profits with Shopkeeper Feng would naturally come to nothing. Although Wen Wei wasn’t very intelligent, he understood such a simple account.
After all, powerful city dwellers were just good at taking advantage of every opportunity, right?
Mi Bai laughed at himself and apologized to the children, “I’ve implicated all of you.”
He had seen too many children falling into the hands of the Righteous Gang over the years, which was why he took upon himself to hide and provide for these children.
Unfortunately, these children still couldn’t escape the clutches of the Righteous Gang. Mi Bai felt guilty for betraying their trust.
The burly gang members advanced, separating and subduing the children. In no time, the cries of the children rang out.
The children were no match for the robust gang members and were captured within a few breaths.
“Ah! My eyes!” A sudden scream drew everyone’s attention to a gang member rolling around in pain on the ground with a wooden stick embedded in his left eye.
When Yang Fan was grabbed, he clenched the wooden stick hidden in his sleeve and fiercely stabbed it into the man’s left eye.
“Good boy, quite ruthless,” Wen Wei praised Yang Fan, not minding his struggling subordinate writhing in pain on the ground.
Seeing Yang Fan fight back, Mi Bai realized the situation was hopeless. He rushed towards Wen Wei and shouted, “Run!”
Wen Wei nonchalantly watched the frail scholar rush towards him. With a flick of his leg, he unleashed a kick that sent Mi Bai flying and crashing to the ground.
“Big Brother Bai.”
“Brother Bai.” The children gathered around him upon seeing him fall, helping him sit up.
“Underestimating me.” Wen Wei coldly instructed his men, “Tie them all up.”
A regular person, relying on the power of the Mortal Realm, dared to charge at him. It was the stuff of dreams.
“Roar— Roar– ”
Just as Wen Wei gave the order, a roar echoed through the night sky causing the ground to tremble slightly and forcing everyone to turn around.
The rage-filled roar of the wild beast struck terror into the hearts of humans, leaving them stupefied, too scared to move as the beast neared.
Beneath the bright moonlight, a gigantic rhinoceros, seemingly adorned with jewels, charged towards them. The upright horn on its head glowed brilliantly like a star in the cosmos.
It was only when the beast was very close that they realized there was a person on its back, with mysterious peach blossom eyes, harrowingly staring down Wen Wei..
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