Bai Qingqing felt sick to her stomach from the sheer sleaziness in Chen San’s tone. Yet the more disgusted she looked, the more amused he seemed, taking another step toward her.

“You really think someone’s going to make it in time to save you?” he sneered. “These alleys in Pingzhou twist like a snake’s gut. Anyone unfamiliar will get lost in no time, so don’t hold your breath… Damn, you really are a beauty. I must be the luckiest bastard alive.”

His eyes lingered on Bai Qingqing’s face, drunk on his own delusions. The more he looked, the more pleased he became. He reached out a hand, aiming to touch her cheek.

A second later, a sharp crack rang out.

Chen San’s eyes went wide. His body shot backward like a kite with its string cut, and Bai Qingqing could swear she heard the brittle snap of bone.

She looked up and saw Ning Yan standing there. For a moment she was stunned, then quickly pointed behind her. “Hurry! Help him, he’s going to get hurt!”

Ning Yan wrapped an arm around her, calm and unhurried. “What’s the rush? A little lesson won’t kill him.”

“He’s just a child! And he didn’t mean to! My lord, Ning Yan…”

Bai Qingqing tugged at his sleeve, nearly in tears with worry. Only then did Ning Yan signal the Linjia Guards to step in. He lifted Bai Qingqing lightly and turned back the way they’d come.

On the walk back, Bai Qingqing was on her best behavior. Ning Yan hadn’t said a word yet, but she already started explaining herself in a rush. “Brother Wen said the Linjia Guards would be watching, so I thought it would be fine—I wouldn’t have believed them otherwise.”

From the start, Bai Qingqing had known she wouldn’t be in real danger. Wen Jiang had assured her the Linjia Guards would be protecting them at all times. Without that promise, she wouldn’t have taken a single step out of the inn.

But she hadn’t expected Ning Yan to come in person. “Didn’t you have other business to take care of? Is it already done?”

Ning Yan’s profile was cold and unreadable. Bai Qingqing puffed out her cheeks but fell silent, following him back to the inn without another word.

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Once inside the room, Bai Qingqing kept her head down, too afraid to speak. Wen Jiang and Mu Shu exchanged a glance and cautiously stepped forward to speak on her behalf.

“My lord, Qingqing didn’t mean any harm. She’s just too kind-hearted, always seeing the best in people. She’ll learn not to trust so easily in the future.”

Ning Yan gave a cold snort. “She’s not that naive. She only dared to go out because she knew the Linjia Guards were watching.”

Wen Jiang chuckled. “Then isn’t that smart of her? So why keep scaring her with that face?”

Ning Yan pressed his lips into a tight line. Just thinking of that hand reaching for Bai Qingqing made a surge of killing intent rise in his chest. Today’s events had left a bitter taste in his mouth—those men were dead for sure, but even that didn’t ease his fury.

Bai Qingqing inched closer to him and apologized softly, her voice gentle and meek. “Don’t be angry. It was my fault.”

No matter how confident she might be in the future, she swore never to take risks again. This wasn’t Xuancheng, and Ning Yan had every right to be angry.

“What exactly did you do wrong?” he asked coldly.

“I shouldn’t have trusted Chang’an so easily. I shouldn’t have left with him.”

“But you knew the Linjia Guards were there. Why shouldn’t you have gone?”

Bai Qingqing: ??

She sneaked a glance at Wen Jiang. What did that mean? Was she allowed to go or not?

“Why are you looking over there?” Ning Yan snapped. “You need someone else to explain your own mistake?”

Bai Qingqing quickly looked away, wracking her brain. “I—I mean, even with the Linjia Guards, I shouldn’t have taken unnecessary risks or caused extra trouble.”

Her tone was utterly sincere, but Ning Yan only grew more displeased.

“Oh? So now you’re doubting the Linjia Guards’ abilities? You think they can’t handle a bit of trouble?”

“That’s not what I meant!” Bai Qingqing cried out, alarmed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I was just… admitting fault…”

Her little brain was clearly not up for this battle. “Then what exactly was my mistake?”

Ning Yan tilted his chin slightly. “Wen Jiang, you tell her.”

“Ah?” said Wen Jiang.