“Hey little one, wake up and eat first, okay? I have something to tell you after dinner.”
Han Rubing gently shook the dozing Meng Xiaoyu nestled in her arms and spoke softly.
“Mm… what is it?”
Meng Xiaoyu, awakened by the shaking, heard that Han Rubing had something to say to her.
She rubbed her head lazily against Han Rubing’s chest and asked in a drowsy voice.
“Be good and eat first. I’ll tell you after dinner.”
Seeing the little one acting like a lazy kitten, Han Rubing spoke with a tone full of affection.
“Okay.”
Meng Xiaoyu obediently nodded at Han Rubing’s words, jumped out of her embrace, and sat down at the table laden with food.
She began to eat heartily, while Han Rushuang, sitting beside her, occasionally helped her with the dishes.
“Ugh… I’m so full!”
After quickly filling herself up, Meng Xiaoyu exclaimed in satisfaction.
“Are you full, little one?”
Han Rubing asked with amusement, seeing Meng Xiaoyu patting her belly contentedly.
“Yes, Sister Rubing, you said you had something to tell me. What is it?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked curiously.
“Do you still remember why we came to Fuyun City?”
Han Rushuang asked softly.
“Of course, it’s because of that Hero Conference!”
After answering Han Rushuang’s question, Meng Xiaoyu’s confusion deepened.
She didn’t understand why Sister Rushuang suddenly asked her this.
Seeing the confusion and questions in Meng Xiaoyu’s eyes, Han Rubing chuckled and said, “Do you remember how long it is until the Hero Conference?”
“Not long, I think!”
Meng Xiaoyu thought for a moment and replied.
“Yes, it’s less than seven days away,” Han Rubing said with a smile.
Then, her expression turned serious as she continued, “As the Hero Conference approaches, more and more Jianghu people are gathering in Fuyun City. Among them, there are many from the Demon Sect. My sister and I will be very busy with the conference preparations and won’t be able to look after you all the time. Since you are pure-hearted and not very skilled in martial arts, we have arranged for a guard to protect you. She will ensure your safety when we are not at the inn. During this time, she will also supervise your martial arts practice. You should stay at the inn and practice the sword techniques taught by Elder Mi and the ‘Lingfeng Palm’ techniques he left you. Alternatively, you can practice your Taiji Fist and Taiji Sword. The city is not safe these days, so you must stay at the inn, understand?”
Han Rubing finished and looked at Meng Xiaoyu.
Han Rubing’s lengthy explanation boiled down to two main points.
First, many Jianghu people, including some from the Demon Sect, are in Fuyun City because of the Hero Conference, so you need to be careful.
Second, my sister and I will be busy and can’t stay at the inn with you, so you must stay at the inn and practice your martial arts.
We have arranged for a skilled guard to protect and supervise you.
“Oh, I understand,” Meng Xiaoyu agreed obediently.
However, she had other plans in mind.
“If Sister Rubing and Sister Rushuang are busy and can’t stay at the inn with me, I can sneak out to ‘Wuchun Pavilion.’ As for the guard, I’ll find a way to shake her off. With my Light Skill, it should be easy.”
Thinking this, Meng Xiaoyu wanted to laugh out loud but held back to avoid suspicion.
“Do you really understand?”
Han Rubing asked, still doubtful of Meng Xiaoyu’s quick agreement.
“Yes, of course!”
Meng Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, trying to convince Han Rubing.
Seeing Meng Xiaoyu’s earnest nodding, Han Rubing sighed but said nothing more, trusting that Ye Han would keep an eye on her.
“Sister Rubing, where is the guard you mentioned?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked curiously when Han Rubing stopped talking.
“Do you want to meet her now?”
Han Rubing asked with a smile, seeing the little one’s curiosity.
“Yes, is that okay?”
Meng Xiaoyu replied uncertainly.
“Ye Han, come in,” Han Rubing called out in a low voice towards the door after hearing Meng Xiaoyu’s somewhat uncertain tone.
As soon as Han Rubing finished speaking, the door opened.
A woman dressed in black combat attire walked in, then knelt on one knee and respectfully addressed Han Rubing and Han Rushuang, “First Palace Master, Second Palace Master.”
“When the Second Palace Master and I are out handling matters and not at the inn, you are responsible for ensuring her safety and supervising her martial arts practice at the inn. Understood?”
Han Rubing instructed in a stern voice, exuding an air of authority.
“Yes,” Ye Han responded softly, still kneeling on one knee.
From the moment Ye Han entered, Meng Xiaoyu had been observing her.
The black combat attire, the slender figure, the indifferent voice, and the face Meng Xiaoyu hadn’t had a chance to see clearly.
“Hey, can you lift your head?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked sweetly, curious about Ye Han’s appearance.
Hearing Meng Xiaoyu’s request, Ye Han did not immediately lift her head.
She waited until Han Rubing gave a slight nod of approval before slowly raising her head.
As Ye Han lifted her head, Meng Xiaoyu carefully examined her features.
An oval face, heroic eyebrows, emotionless eyes, a not very prominent nose, slightly thin lips, and two very noticeable scars on her left cheek, likely caused by some sharp weapon, Meng Xiaoyu thought.
