Chapter 827: Wind and Rain in the Night

On her way back, Song Bao ran into Father Song, who had come out looking for her.

"Bao!"

Father Song had been searching the streets anxiously, knocking on neighbors' doors.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Uncle Eighteen, have you seen my Bao?"

"I haven't. It's the middle of the night, everyone's asleep..."

"I'll keep looking. I'll keep looking..."

Father Song ran back and forth, so frantic he was on the verge of tears.

Finally, just as he reached another door to knock, a voice called out behind him.

"Dad, I'm here."

Father Song spun around. Song Bao stood behind him, drenched from head to toe with her head bowed.

"Oh, thank goodness!"

The heavy stone in his heart finally dropped.

"You wretched girl!"

Father Song marched up and gave her a smack. "Running off like that! Where did you go in the middle of the night? If something happened to you, how is your father supposed to live?"

He had been scared out of his wits.

Song Bao kept her mouth shut, leaving her head down as she took the scolding.

Father Song sighed continuously, but then asked, "How did you get completely soaked? Where did you go? What happened?"

Song Bao pursed her lips. "I fell into the river by accident."

"What!"

Father Song gasped in shock. "You wretched girl, wandering so far away! You fell into the river! What if you had drowned! Aren't you afraid of water ghosts claiming your life? You, you, you..."

Song Bao hurriedly said, "Dad, I know I was wrong..."

Father Song fumed for a long moment before letting out a helpless sigh. "Just follow me back first and change your clothes."

On the way back.

A light rain began to fall.

The pitter-patter of drops echoed endlessly around them.

The blowing wind carried a biting chill.

Song Bao couldn't help but sneeze. It seemed she had caught a chill.

"Catching a cold?" Father Song asked.

Song Bao shook her head. "I'm fine, Dad."

"We need to hurry back."

Father Song quickened his pace.

The father and daughter hurried back to the inn.

When Mother Song saw Song Bao return, she stood up immediately. Seeing her daughter's miserable, soaked state, she merely gave her a look and said, "You're back?"

Song Bao pursed her lips and nodded.

Seeing his wife's icy expression, Father Song's face darkened. "Can you stop looking so cold? Go get the child a clean set of clothes. I'll go start a fire. She fell into the river and it's raining outside. She's freezing! She's going to catch a cold!"

Mother Song opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

She hurriedly took Song Bao into the back room to get her a clean set of clothes.

"So bold, daring to run all the way to the river," Mother Song muttered.

Song Bao simply replied, "I won't go there anymore."

Mother Song snorted softly. "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and take those wet clothes off."

Song Bao snapped out of her daze and quickly began undressing.

"Ugh," Mother Song sighed. "So clumsy, you wretched girl."

Saying this, Mother Song stepped in to help her undress, her hands moving swiftly.

As she worked, she continued to grumble.

"Might as well freeze to death."

"Running to the river in the middle of the night. I don't know who you learned that from."

"And drinking, too! Ugh!"

Mother Song nagged endlessly, not a single kind word leaving her lips, but her hands never slowed for a second, terrified that her daughter might freeze if she didn't get dressed fast enough.

Father Song had also lit some charcoal and carried the brazier out.

"Done!" Mother Song said. "Wretched girl, go out and warm up."

"Oh..."

Song Bao acknowledged and hurried out to the main room.

In the inn's common area, Father Song was chatting with Yunxiang.

"Sorry to have troubled you tonight, guest. I'm truly embarrassed," Father Song apologized repeatedly.

Yunxiang said, "It's fine as long as she's back."

Father Song turned his head and saw Song Bao standing to the side. "Here, sit down and warm yourself by the fire."

The charcoal in the brazier crackled and popped.

Song Bao sat down. A moment later, Mother Song emerged from the back room.

Mother Song scolded, "Why are you so foolish? Hurry up and let your hair down. If you don't dry your hair, you'll catch a cold and suffer for it."

Song Bao nodded and undid her hair as told.

As the warmth washed over her, she felt a little better.

But soon after, a dull ache started in her head.

Song Bao pursed her lips but stayed quiet, assuming the headache was just from the cold wind and would fade after a while by the fire.

Mother Song looked at Miss Yun and said, "We've made a fool of ourselves in front of you. It's getting late, and this girl is back now. Why don't you get some rest early, guest?"

Yunxiang replied, "I am waiting for my Mister."

Mother Song nodded, but then couldn't help asking, "That Mister is your..."

Yunxiang paused. "He is just my Mister."

She didn't know how else to explain it.

Yunxiang lowered her head, her gaze drifting to the glowing embers in the brazier.

For a moment, she felt a trace of helplessness.

But she also understood that some things simply could not be said.

"Then..." Mother Song was about to ask more when Father Song nudged her with his elbow.

Catching the hint, Mother Song shut her mouth.

Father Song asked instead, "Where did you travel from?"

Yunxiang answered, "We came all the way from Qingshan City."

Father Song gasped in surprise. "Qingshan City! That's not an easy journey. There are quite a few bandits around these parts. Did you run into any along the way?"

Yunxiang said, "We met quite a few, but they weren't exactly out for blood. We sent them off with some silver."

Father Song nodded. "That's fortunate. But you still need to be careful. I've heard from travelers passing through that it's terribly dangerous over there, and many have lost their lives."

The two continued chatting.

But off to the side, Song Bao was feeling increasingly unwell.

Her dizziness grew severe.

Her breathing turned sluggish.

"Mom..."

Song Bao called out weakly.

Sitting on the low stool, her body suddenly swayed.

"What's wrong? Hey—"

Song Bao slumped backward.

Mother Song jumped in alarm and rushed to catch her.

Song Bao's eyes lost focus. Before she could say another word, she fainted dead away.

"Her dad! Her dad!" Mother Song screamed.

Father Song hurried over and pressed a hand to Song Bao's forehead. "She's burning up!"

Yunxiang stepped forward and felt the girl's forehead as well. "Her fever is far too high. You need to fetch a doctor immediately."

"I'll go right now!" Father Song said.

"Her dad, the umbrella, take an umbrella!" Mother Song called out frantically.

But Father Song was so panicked he didn't hear her.

"Please look after her for a moment, Miss. We'll be right back, right back..."

Yunxiang nodded. "Rest assured."

Mother Song hastily grabbed a conical straw hat, put it on her head, grabbed an umbrella, and sprinted out the door.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Outside, the rain had suddenly grown into a heavy downpour.

As soon as Chen Changsheng returned, he saw the couple running out.

He paused, looking at Yunxiang inside the inn. "What happened?"

Yunxiang sighed. "The child has a terrible fever. The couple panicked and rushed out to fetch a doctor."

Chen Changsheng looked at the unconscious Song Bao and said, "This child only just lost her soul earlier. Now that her fever has spiked, her life might be in danger. It seems This Chen was careless..."

Yunxiang hesitated before saying, "Mister, please help them once more."

Chen Changsheng nodded. With a surge of Magical Power, he temporarily stabilized Song Bao's condition.