Chapter 635 - 638: I’ve Finally Found You

Chapter 635: Chapter 638: I’ve Finally Found You

Hua Manman thought the system was going to take her to the shore, but instead, it dove toward a large ship.

It was a merchant ship, and many people were standing on its deck.

After the system dropped the soaking-wet Hua Manman onto the ship, she, already utterly exhausted, collapsed directly onto the deck, like a puppet with its strings cut.

The next moment, someone rushed forward, pulled her up, and swept her into an embrace.

Hua Manman was startled and instinctively tried to push the person away. But when she smelled the familiar scent on him, she stopped, and her body relaxed.

Li Ji held her tightly. "I’ve finally found you."

Although they had only been separated for less than a night, to Li Ji, every second had felt like a year, an unbearable agony.

He had thought countless times, ’What if I can’t find Manman?’

He had already lost his parents, and there was no one left he could trust.

’If even Manman is gone, what else is there in this world for me to hold onto?’

Rather than live alone in this world, enduring the lies others had fabricated, he would rather give up everything to follow her in death.

Hua Manman reminded him weakly.

"My clothes are still wet."

She didn’t want to get his clothes wet.

But Li Ji thought she meant she was cold. He immediately took off his outer coat, wrapped her completely in it, then scooped her up into his arms and strode towards the cabin.

Everyone else on the ship tactfully stayed behind, leaving the young couple to themselves.

Only Yue Niang, being a more thoughtful woman, hurried off to boil water for ginger soup.

Li Ji placed Hua Manman on the bed and reached out to help her undress.

Hua Manman quickly said, "I can do it myself. Could you get me a set of clean clothes?"

The clothes were all in a chest.

As Li Ji turned to open the chest, Hua Manman quickly slipped out of her wet clothes and pulled the quilt over herself, covering her completely.

Li Ji selected a loose, comfortable dress and placed it in front of Hua Manman.

But Hua Manman didn’t put it on right away. Instead, she looked at Li Ji’s bloodshot eyes and asked.

"How did you find me?"

Because Li Ji hadn’t slept all night, compounded by the blow from his father, he looked haggard. There was an indescribable, hostile energy in his eyes.

But facing Manman, he hid that hostility and spoke slowly, his voice slightly hoarse.

"We have Little Flower to thank for this."

After he learned Manman had been taken, he immediately had his men follow the hoofprints left by the Xiliang Delegation.

But they lost the trail halfway.

Because Ah Qi had anticipated they would be followed, he had arranged for a clean-up crew to sweep away all traces of the hoofprints.

Having lost the direction of pursuit, Li Ji was frantic.

Fortunately, the system appeared in time. It used Li Ji’s Mind Reading Technique plugin to convey its thoughts to him.

As a system, the Three-colored Cat was just a simulated form it created from data. Besides a cat, it could also change into other things.

For example, a dog skilled at tracking, or a bird skilled at flying.

The system first used the keen sense of smell of a dog to follow the lingering scent of the Xiliang Delegation, with Li Ji and his men following close behind.

They arrived near a dock.

Li Ji knew the Xiliang Delegation’s destination was Tianjing, and there was only one route to get there from here.

Li Ji bought a merchant ship and had his men continue the pursuit by water.

Meanwhile, the system turned into an eagle and flew ahead along the river.

Luckily, it appeared just in time, otherwise Manman would have had to die all over again.

After Li Ji finished explaining the entire process of how he found Manman, he paused, then asked.

"After that Prince Xiliang captured you last night, did he hurt you?"

Hua Manman answered truthfully, "He tried to have someone force-feed me medicine. Luckily, I ran fast enough. I’m just a little tired now, but otherwise, I’m fine."

Li Ji’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’I’ve memorized today’s grievance. The next time I see Ah Qi, I will make him pay for what he did today.’

KNOCK, KNOCK.

A knock sounded at the door.

Yue Niang’s voice came through the door.

"Your Highness, My Lady, it’s me."

Li Ji got up, walked over to open the door, and looked at Yue Niang standing outside.

"What is it?"

Yue Niang was holding a bowl of steaming ginger soup.

"This is the ginger soup I specially prepared for Her Ladyship. It will help dispel the chill. I’ve also had someone heat water for her bath. After she finishes the soup and takes a hot bath, she should feel much more comfortable."

Li Ji reached out and took the ginger soup. "Have someone bring the hot water over."

Yue Niang replied, "Yes."

Li Ji showed no intention of letting her in, closing the door directly before turning and walking back to the bedside.

Hua Manman reached for the ginger soup, but Li Ji moved it away.

Li Ji: "I’ll feed you."

Hua Manman: "No, it’s okay. I can drink it myself."

Li Ji looked at her deeply.

"Ever since you were taken, I’ve been worried sick about you. So worried I couldn’t eat or sleep. Now that I’ve finally gotten you back, can’t I even feed you a mouthful of soup?"

Although his expression didn’t change, Manman could sense a strange sense of grievance from him.

It was as if she’d be branded a heartless woman if she dared to say no.

Hua Manman had no choice but to change her tune sullenly.

"I didn’t say you couldn’t."

Li Ji scooped up some ginger soup with a spoon and brought it to her lips.

She took several sips in a row, only to be taken aback when the man suddenly asked a question.

"Why did Ah Qi capture you? Did he recognize you?"

Hua Manman was so startled that the ginger soup went down the wrong pipe.

She started coughing violently.

Li Ji immediately put down the soup bowl. He patted her back to help her catch her breath while speaking.

"I was just asking casually. Why are you reacting so strongly? Don’t tell me I actually guessed right?"

Hua Manman hurriedly shook her head.

Once she had recovered, she spoke, her voice hoarse.

"He doesn’t know who I am."

Li Ji: "Then why did he capture you?"

Hua Manman’s eyes involuntarily darted to the side as she said guiltily, "Because he wanted to use me to threaten you."

Li Ji continued to press.

"Threaten me for what?"

Hua Manman didn’t dare answer that question.

She was afraid that if she told the truth, the dog of a man in front of her would be drowned in a vat of old vinegar.

Just as she was brainstorming how to bluff her way through, she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Yue Niang’s voice floated in like a sound from heaven.

"Your Highness, My Lady, the hot water has been brought."

Hua Manman, feeling as if she’d been granted a royal pardon, quickly said.

"Hurry and bring the hot water in. I want to take a hot bath. I’m so cold."

Li Ji seemed to see right through her little scheme, giving her a look full of deeper meaning.

The look made Hua Manman feel even guiltier, and she didn’t dare meet his gaze.

In the end, however, Li Ji didn’t expose her.

He stood up, opened the door, and declining the help of his trusted aides, personally carried the hot water into the room.

...

(Author’s Note: I have to travel for a medical appointment and need to get to bed early. Here’s this Chapter for now. Good night, everyone.)