Zhao Shuning, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly sneezed.
She opened her eyes.
Outside, the sky was just beginning to dawn.
"It's especially cold today," she murmured.
At this moment, Zhao Shuning noticed that the string of Soul - Condensing Pearls on her hand was shining. Among them, the purple one was particularly radiant.
She quickly sat cross - legged on the bed. Just as she was about to take a closer look, the light of the pearl faded away.
"What's going on?"
Zhao Shuning got out of bed, put on her outer clothes, and then went out.
It was still early, and none of the Zhao family members had gotten up yet.
Zhao Shuning gently closed her door and then walked to the adjacent courtyard.
This was the courtyard prepared for her elder brother, Zhao Huai. She had decorated it according to Zhao Huai's preferences. After a careful inspection, she found nothing amiss and was about to return to her own courtyard.
But just then, Zhao Shuning heard the sound of something heavy hitting the ground.
Then, a muffled groan came.
She became vigilant immediately and leaped to the wall.
The sight that greeted her made the things in her hand drop to the ground in shock.
A young man in white was lying under the courtyard wall.
There was an arrow sticking out of his chest.
Subsequently, Zhao Shuning heard rustling sounds outside. She didn't know what was going on, but she didn't want this young man to bring any trouble to the Zhao family.
She quickly walked over and turned the young man over.
This time, she was even more shocked.
She had met this person before.
When she first entered the Misty Rain Tower, it was this young man who had helped her out of a difficult situation.
He was the young master of the Lin family.
Zhao Shuning had a very poor impression of the Lin family. However, this young man gave her a very familiar feeling.
Her mind went blank for a moment. Hearing the footsteps getting closer outside, she gritted her teeth and carried the young man into the room prepared for Zhao Huai.
After that, Zhao Shuning went out, gently closed the door, and then leaped onto a towering tree in the courtyard.
She saw that many purple - clad people were rushing in their direction.
Purple clothes?
Were they from the Lin family?
Zhao Shuning was puzzled and quickly returned to Zhao Huai's room.
The young man's chest was rising and falling faintly, which showed that he was still alive.
Zhao Shuning asked, "Aren't you the young master of the Lin family? Why are you in such a state? And what's the relationship between those purple - clad people behind you and you?"
The only response she got was silence.
The young man on the bed had already fainted and had no energy to answer her.
This young man looked exactly the same as when Zhao Shuning had first seen him. But she could tell that he probably hadn't taken the Youth - Preserving Pill. So, was he poisoned, which had caused his body to remain at this stage?
Zhao Shuning sighed.
"I have a deep feud with the Lin family."
However, she still couldn't just stand by and watch him die.
Because this young man had once lent her a helping hand.
Outside, there was movement.
It seemed that those purple - clad people had already chased them to the Zhao family.
Sounds also came from outside.
The purple - clad people's purpose was clear. They were heading straight for the courtyard where Zhao Shuning was.
"Gentlemen, what urgent matter brings you to our Zhao family so early?"
It was the voice of her second uncle.
"We're looking for someone, a young man in white. He's a criminal from our Lin family. We suspect that he has entered the Zhao family."
Zhao Xue gave a soft laugh and then said, "Our Zhao family has a certain reputation in the Eastern Ze Wilderness. Your Lin family is also a noble family. If you want to come to our Zhao family, you should first send a visiting card. Only after our family head approves can you come to pay a visit. Like this noble young master, coming here with a group of people while our family members are still asleep and rushing into our Zhao Mansion, this doesn't seem right."
Zhao Shuning in the room could clearly hear the man on the other side snort.
Obviously, he didn't take her second uncle's words to heart.
"The Zhao family is a newly - rising family. Our Lin family naturally respects you very much. This time I come here out of desperation. Please let us through, Senior Zhao."
"Do you think our Zhao family is just a small, ordinary place? You can search it whenever you want?"
"Then what do you want us to do?"
"As I said before, follow the rules. Although our Zhao family was established not long ago, it doesn't mean that we will tolerate others stepping on us."
"Senior Zhao, your words are a bit harsh. Do you know who the young master leading us is?"
Zhao Xue casually asked, "Who?"
"He's the son of the head of the Lin family - Lin Siyuan."
Lin Siyuan?
The name sounded very familiar.
After some thought, Zhao Shuning finally remembered.
Wasn't he the son that the beautiful woman Xiao was so proud of?
They even sent Lin Siyuan out just to chase this young man in white in the room?
Surprised as she was.
But as Zhao Xue had said, the Zhao family had only recently been promoted to one of the four great families. If they brought misfortune to the Zhao family because of a young man, it would be really not worth it.
She could just wait for them to take the young man away and then disguise herself and rescue him on the way. In this way, she could repay the young man for his help back then.
Moreover, in this way, the Zhao family wouldn't have to offend the Lin family for the time being.
Just as Zhao Shuning had made up her mind, the person on the bed moved and let out a murmur.
Zhao Shuning didn't pay much attention at first.
But the young man seemed to be having a nightmare and started talking in his sleep.
Zhao Shuning quickly walked over, not wanting him to make a sound at this time.
But when she got to the bedside and heard what the young man was saying, she was completely stunned.
The young man's face was as white as a sheet, and big beads of sweat were constantly rolling down.
"Sister, I'm scared -"
"Sister, it's so dark -"
"Sister, don't leave me -"
In the past, when her younger brother was still young, he always followed behind Zhao Shuning, pitifully pulling at her ragged clothes and saying these words.
Zhao Shuning's steps froze, and her body couldn't move.
She looked at the person on the bed. The more she looked, the more familiar he seemed.
She walked towards the person on the bed with difficulty and then squatted down.
Was he really the young master of the Lin family? But as far as she knew, although Lin Feng had many descendants, the young man in front of her had excellent spiritual and mental power. It didn't make sense that the world didn't know about his existence.
A terrible thought flashed through Zhao Shuning's mind.
Zhao Shuning tentatively asked, "Sister will buy you something to eat. What do you want?"
"Candied haws. I want candied haws. Xingchen likes candied haws the most."
At that moment, Zhao Shuning's hands couldn't stop trembling.