CHAPTER 604: CHAPTER 518: SHIFTING THE BLAME ONTO ME (FIRST UPDATE)

Tong Airui had just left, and Yi Luowa picked up the phone to call Youyou.

"Youyou, is anyone on your side injured?"

"No. Did my fourth brother come over?" Youyou asked urgently.

Yi Luowa frowned slightly, "Your fourth brother has already arrived."

"Good! Damn it, those bastards! They hit me so hard my hand’s swollen, but they refuse to say who sent them."

Yi Luowa frowned again, "Youyou, are you sure none of our people are injured?"

"If I’m lying, I’m a puppy! Sis, you go to sleep now. Tonight, no matter what, we’re prying their mouths open! These bastards ruined our good bonfire party by launching a sneak attack just as we were having fun."

"Where’s Danton? Have him take the call."

"Danton, my sis wants you on the phone."

Very soon, Danton’s laughter came through the phone, "Sis Luowa, this is thrilling! It’s my first time firing a gun at people, and while I didn’t hit anyone, it still felt amazing."

Yi Luowa, hearing his laughter, curled her lips faintly, "I thought you’d be scared out of your wits, but here you are laughing unexpectedly."

"I’m a man. How could I be scared of something so trivial? Sis Luowa, you rest early. We’ll wait for Duke Airui to deal with those bastards."

Yi Luowa’s lips twitched hard, "Danton, don’t learn these expressions from your Sister Youyou. If your mom hears them, she’ll be angry."

"Hehe... okay, I won’t say such things anymore... but if Sister Youyou, who’s a princess, can say them, why can’t I?"

"She’s a princess hidden among ordinary folks, with too many bad habits that I haven’t managed to straighten out yet. You’re not allowed to imitate her, got it?"

"The phone’s running out of battery, and you’re still talking! Give me the phone... beep beep..." Youyou hadn’t finished her sentence before the busy signal from the phone sounded.

Yi Luowa smirked, thinking to herself that Youyou hung up the call in annoyance over her critique.

This time, Yi Luowa wrongly accused Youyou.

The doctor was tending to Danton’s arm injury, and Youyou worried that if Yi Luowa stayed on the line too long, she might sense something amiss.

After hanging up, Youyou pouted and glared at Danton, "Troublemaker! If you’d followed instructions and not acted recklessly, would you be suffering now? Does it hurt?"

Danton grinned broadly, "Nope! If a man doesn’t have scars, he doesn’t count as a man!"

"Bullshit manhood! Grow some... oh, forget it—sit tight and let the doctor wrap you up. When my fourth brother arrives, we can all buckle in for a scolding."

"Duke Airui won’t reprimand you all. It’s just a scratch. When he arrives, I’ll explain myself."

Youyou sneered. In her eyes, whenever Tong the Fourth appeared, Danton behaved like a mouse encountering a cat—utterly terrified.

Once Danton’s wound was bandaged, he and Youyou walked out while Qiqi hurried over.

"What did the doctor say?"

"Just a scratch—nothing serious," Danton replied with a smile.

Qiqi looked toward Youyou, "Did the doctor really say that?"

Youyou nodded, "Did my older brother and Mi Chenxuan extract anything?"

"Probably not much. I just came back from checking on the injured clansmen with Hero and headed straight here. Honestly, I feel guilty that Danton got hurt while visiting here..."

"Sister-in-law, don’t blame yourselves. It’s my fault. If I hadn’t rushed out recklessly, I wouldn’t have been injured."

"Sigh... let’s stop shouldering blame ourselves." Qiqi frowned slightly. "Hero and Yi Fanyang have reset the defenses. This time, not even a fly could get in."

"If not even a fly can get in, how did I?" Tong Airui walked in, his expression sour.

"Airui..." Qiqi looked apologetically at him.

"Fourth brother, did you fly here?" Youyou asked excitedly.

Tong Airui shot her a glance, "I drove here—nearly till dawn! Is Danton seriously injured?"

Danton quickly shook his head, "Not serious, just a scratch. I applied some medicine, and the doctor said it’ll heal by tomorrow. Duke Airui, nobody is to blame today—it’s all on me for not listening. Please don’t blame the others. Plus, don’t tell my parents about my injury—they’re already stressed out enough. I don’t want to add to their worries."

Danton fired off his appeal in one go, then shrank behind Youyou like a deflated balloon.

Youyou shot him a glance and laughed, "All that courage, only lasts for a minute?"

Danton nodded.

Tong Airui scowled at him, "I’ll decide whether to tell your parents after I get to the bottom of this. You and my sister-in-law, along with Youyou, go rest."

"But I want to join the interrogation..." Danton balked as Tong Airui shot him a chilling glare.

Youyou pouted, "Let’s go. Once the results are out, you’ll hear about them anyway—you’re the involved party, after all."

Danton followed Qiqi and Youyou to the main house. As they entered, Qiqi sighed, "I feel like this place’s feng shui is cursed. No matter how much my brother and I tighten security, trouble always finds its way in whenever you’re here."

Youyou burst into laughter, "One time, it was even my doing! Want to know why?"

Qiqi looked at her. "Why?"

"Because this place has too many mountains—it’s perfect for hiding. Plus, it’s connected to Jin Chang State, making entry from Jin Chang incredibly convenient. And let’s not forget, Bazu is a tourist hotspot; too many visitors make it impossible to guard against everything."

"Sigh... then I need your expertise on how to prevent people like you from sneaking in."

"Flatten the mountains, cancel tourism, restrict entry! Hahaha..." Youyou laughed as she embraced Qiqi.

Qiqi smiled and gave her a playful swat, "You’re so unserious!"

"Sister-in-law, are the twins asleep? Were they scared?"

"Are you kidding? Those two little rascals scared? They’re already off hunting in the hills with the clansmen! I heard they’re even better shots than my brother. If not for someone keeping an eye on them earlier, they’d have run off to join the skirmish too."

"Haha... not bad! They’re like brave little warriors!" Youyou laughed and turned to Danton. "You should rest. I’m going to check on the black-and-white twins."

"I’ll go with you to see them," Danton said, inching closer to her.

Youyou glared at him, "Why are you so clingy? Step for step, you follow me like a shadow!"

"I’m just too excited to sleep," Danton replied.

Youyou rolled her eyes, then grabbed his uninjured arm and dragged him off to the twins’ room.

Qiqi chuckled helplessly and went into the kitchen. It looked like it’d be an all-nighter, so she started preparing some midnight snacks for everyone.

At 1 a.m., Tong Airui and his brothers returned. Youyou and Danton heard the noise and stepped out of the twins’ room.

Mi Chenxuan frowned slightly, "It’s so late—why haven’t you let the twins sleep?"

"The twins went to bed long ago. We were just playing their game console." Youyou pouted as she approached.

Mi Chenxuan reached out and tugged her ear, "How old are you, still playing stuff like that?"

Youyou tugged his hand away and howled, "We were waiting for you! I’m exhausted—just tell me the results so I can sleep."

"Kai Di’s people."

"Damn it, she’s already dead..." Youyou paused her rant, noticing Mi Chenxuan signaling her furiously with his eyes.

Danton’s eyes darkened slightly, "She wants me dead that badly... I’m going to bed."

Tong Airui grabbed his arm, "Danton, don’t let her mess with your emotions. You’re still recovering."

"... I understand everything, but she’s my aunt. I just don’t get why she thinks this way. Let’s forget about this—I don’t want my parents to know either; it’ll hurt them more than it hurts me."

"Danton, this is the last time Kai Di causes trouble. I guarantee you, these people infiltrated last time you and Luowa came here. When they arrived, they signed death warrants: either you die, or they do—if they fail, their families die instead."

"That woman is ruthless!"

Tong Airui raised his brows slightly, "She’s that ruthless, yet you still want to let her go?"

"..."

Tong Airui clapped Danton’s shoulder heavily, understanding this kid took after his dad. Sigh... Such kindness—hard to say if it was fortune or misfortune. Thinking of Nancy, a sharp pang tugged at his heart.

"Come for supper," Qiqi called out from the kitchen.

Lance and the others went to the dining room, but Tong Airui, feeling a knot in his heart and no appetite, stayed rooted in the living room.

Mi Chenxuan stood at the dining room door and turned to look at him, "Fourth brother, aren’t you eating?"

"No. I’m heading back; otherwise, your sister-in-law will toss and turn all night worrying." Tong Airui said, stepping out into the yard.

"Old Fourth!" Lance chased after him.

"Brother, go eat. No need to see me out."

"This matter can’t be left to Danton. You must inform Emperor Haotian."

Tong Airui smiled faintly, "I know. But this isn’t your burden. Don’t let it weigh on you—I’ve long planned for this mishap, though it turned out differently than expected."

Lance shook his head helplessly, "Don’t sugarcoat it for me. Danton got hurt, and I share responsibility."

Tong Airui laughed lightly, "Brother, Sangyu, Ziyan, and Pengpeng can handle this."

Lance chuckled and gave him a playful punch, "Youyou already told me. Don’t change the subject or pin the blame on me. I represent my tribe, but you carry responsibility for both Shen Ying and Xiawu."

"Brother, it’s not as serious as you think. I’m off." Tong Airui smiled and strode out the gate.