Chapter 40: The Road Home

  The days passed, and Sanbao had become familiar with every corner of the vil. At first, she had felt a sense of curiosity due to the unfamiliar environment, but now it was only repression and irritation.

  The vil was exquisitely decorated and spotless, with even the flower pots on the balcony arranged perfectly. However, this excessive cleanliness and orderliness only made Sanbao feel suffocated.

  Every day, Wang Suiyun would come home on time, bringing various fresh ingredients and gifts, caring for her with warmth and tenderness. Yet, whenever she requested to go out for a walk, Wang Suiyun would always smile and shake his head. “It’s not safe outside, and your body still isn’t fully recovered. Once you’re better, I’ll take you out to have some fun.”

  At first, Sanbao thought his reasoning made sense, but over time, the doubt in her heart grew. *I’ve already recovered, why won’t he let me go outside?*

  Early one morning, Wang Suiyun left again for work, reminding her, “Sanbao, rest at home today and don’t run around.”

  The door clicked shut, and the room fell silent again. Sanbao stood by the window, gazing at the vil with a complex look in her eyes.

  Taking a deep breath, she reached into her Seven Treasure Bracelet and pulled out a few Thunder Strikes, tossing them towards the vil’s walls.

  With a series of deafening explosions, the Thunder Strikes hit the walls, detonating with a violent bst. Fmes erupted like angry dragons, engulfing the entire building in fire. The gss windows shattered in the intense heat, and sparks flew into the air. The fire licked at the surrounding pnts, setting them alight as smoke billowed into the sky. The fmes spread wildly, and the vil was gradually consumed by the bze.

  Sanbao stood still, her gaze deep and focused, as though lost in endless memories. “The past has become a fleeting dream. Let those memories burn to ash along with this vil,” she murmured.

  The fmes flickered in her eyes, reflecting the past that had long since faded away. She did not turn back but slowly turned and walked toward the valley exit.

  Tang Mingli quietly followed behind her. After they exited the valley, he asked, “Where to next?”

  Sanbao replied calmly, “Take me home.”

  Tang Mingli nodded without asking further. The two continued walking along the winding path in the valley, the cool breeze carrying the lingering warmth from the fire, brushing their cheeks. Soon, the valley opened up before them, and the outline of Xinha Town appeared in the distance.

  “So the valley where the vil was located is just separated by a mountain ridge from the Medicine King Valley,” Sanbao muttered to herself.

  As they entered the town, Sanbao saw Yuyu and Xiao Lan anxiously scanning the entrance.

  “Miss!” Yuyu, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted Sanbao. Her eyes reddened, and she rushed forward to hug her. “You’re back!”

  “Miss!” Xiao Lan quickly followed, her face streaked with tears, her voice trembling with emotion. “We were so worried…”

  Sanbao gently patted their backs, offering a faint smile. “I’m back safe and sound.”

  Tang Mingli stood to the side, smiling faintly, silently stepping back to give the three women space.

  Leaving Xinha Town, the carriage rumbled along, heading toward Moling City. Inside the carriage, Sanbao, Yuyu, and Xiao Lan chatted incessantly.

  “How did you two manage to escape that night?” Sanbao asked, leaning against the carriage wall.

  Yuyu scratched her head nervously, her face filled with unease. “That night, Xiao Lan suddenly said she heard some noises outside. I didn’t think much of it and followed her out to check. But as soon as we reached the yard, I don’t remember anything after that.”

  “I felt something was off and tried to drag Yuyu away, but she fainted and I couldn’t move her. Suddenly, so many people in bck appeared, and they rushed to capture me,” Xiao Lan continued, her eyes filled with terror. “I turned and ran, wandering around the town, but they eventually caught me.”

  Sanbao looked at Yuyu and Xiao Lan, her gaze softening, though her heart remained filled with doubt. She asked softly, “What happened after you were captured? What did they do to you?”

  Xiao Lan shook her head, her voice trembling as she recalled, “After I was captured, they knocked me out. When I woke up, I found myself back at the Medicine King Valley. Yuyu was there too. But we were kept in separate cells. Later, Wang Suiyun came to interrogate me, asking if our family had any books on formations or any secret manuals on crafting fire weapons.”

  Sanbao furrowed her brow, deep in thought. “Why did he ask about those things?”

  Xiao Lan lowered her head, her voice shaking. “I don’t know. He seemed very interested in formations and fire weapons. I honestly told him I didn’t know anything about them, and after that, he never came back to ask.”

  Yuyu suddenly spoke up, looking a bit aggrieved. “When I woke up, Wang Suiyun was by my side. He told me he saved me. But when he tried to take me out, the people from the Medicine King Valley found us, and they dragged me back…”

  Sanbao nodded thoughtfully, her gaze shifting between Xiao Lan and Yuyu. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

  “So, you two were locked up in the Medicine King Valley the whole time?” Sanbao pressed further.

  Xiao Lan bit her lip and nodded. “Yes. We were always being watched and had no chance to escape. It wasn’t until recently when news came that something happened at the valley that the guards started panicking. In the chaos, Yuyu and I found an opportunity to escape.”

  Yuyu chimed in, “Yes, everything was in chaos, even the gates weren’t guarded. Xiao Lan and I managed to run out without anyone noticing.”

  Sanbao pondered for a moment, her face serious. “What exactly happened in the Medicine King Valley?”

  Tang Mingli, who had been silently listening, spoke up. “A few days ago, there was an incident in the Medicine King Valley. It seems someone forced their way into the valley and broke through the protective formation, causing chaos inside. I took advantage of that chaos to enter and search for you. Since you entered the Medicine King Valley, there had been no news of you. Later, my subordinates found me and told me where you were, and that’s when I went to the vil to rescue you. My subordinates also found Xiao Lan and Yuyu just outside the Medicine King Valley. As for what really happened inside, I haven’t been able to find out.”

  Sanbao nodded thoughtfully. She gently patted Xiao Lan and Yuyu on the shoulder. “Now that we’re back safely, don’t dwell on it too much. Let’s go home together.”

  The carriage continued along the mountain road, the wheels rolling steadily. Sanbao leaned against the carriage wall, her thoughts wandering. The road home seemed long and peaceful, but the doubts in her heart remained unresolved.

  The carriage stopped at an inn to change horses. Sanbao took the opportunity to step out for some fresh air. She stood under a maple tree by the roadside, gazing at the distant mountains, her mind in turmoil.

  Tang Mingli appeared at her side quietly and asked in a low voice, “Do you sense something is wrong?”

  Sanbao nodded slightly. “Is Wang Suiyun really the mastermind behind all this?”

  Tang Mingli thought for a moment and then asked softly, “Would you like me to investigate?”

  “No need,” Sanbao replied coldly. Inside, she thought, *If you investigate, even if he’s not the real culprit, he’ll become one.*

  Tang Mingli smiled slightly. “You’re even calmer than I expected.”

  Sanbao coldly smiled back. “I’m no longer the Sanbao I used to be.”

  The group continued their journey, the carriage rocking gently as they moved along the official road. Yuyu and Xiao Lan continued to chat in the carriage, while Sanbao responded occasionally, her expression calm, showing no signs of any unusual behavior. The wheels of the carriage rolled steadily, getting closer and closer to Moling City.