Savage Wolf, Lotus Heart [Never Let You Go, Again: Book 4]

43: Drops of Doom

"HELP! SOMEONE!"

"Mistress!"

"Xiangxiang-jiejie!" Jiang Meilien wept and howled, clinging onto Xiao Xiang's red robes.

Her own were in tatters.

"Meilien?" Wen Ning knelt on one knee before her and held her arm. "What is it?"

Jiang Meilien was in tears and tatters, clearly having fought a furious fight just now. Xinqing lay on the grass, and somewhere near her flute...

"Wen Shushu..." Sniff! "A-Xuan..."

While Wen Ning picked Zhao Haoxuan up in his arms and laid the boy on his lap, Xiao Xiang questioned the weeping, terrified girl.

"Mistress, tell me exactly what happened."

"But- Could you save A-Xuan first? He was strangled..."

"Goodness, I can't even feel his pulse," Wen Ning shot up onto his feet. "Where's Senior Yunxi, Meilien?"

"Senior Yunxi's... I'll take you there! Xiangxiang-jiejie can come, the rest of Lotus Pier is asleep."

"It is past midnight," Xiao Xiang nodded and the three ran out with the lifeless Haoxuan. 

**********

"Nothing to worry, this should do the trick. Revives the circulation, works perfectly well on the mediocre people," Jiang Yunxi unplugged the bottle and dripped the potion down Zhao Haoxuan's throat. "He'll take some time to wake up, Wen Ning."

"That's fine, Jiang Yunxi. Thank you."

"No need for–"

"Past midnight and you still came, so thank you."

"My pleasure. You can leave him here till he wakes up... Meilien, what on earth happened? Why is Young Master Zhao like this?"

"He... erm..." Meilien snivelled and looked down at her feet. "He got into a fight."

"A FIGHT? With our Jiangs?"

"Oh no, they'll never dare lay a hand on him with me around. Some kids in town. He came to find me, weak... But collapsed."

"I see... these kids must be awful. Strangle another child's neck in what should just be a children's fight? Terrible indeed. Eh, right, remind me to tell Jiang Cheng of this when he gets back, Meilien. Jiang Cheng would know just how to put these idiotic children in their place. Talk to their parents. I mean, he does love Young Master Zhao after all. Meilien, we'll tell your father, yes?"

"Hm!" Meilien nodded, wiping her face on a hand towel Yunxi had handed her.

Wen Ning gulped.

Xiao Xiang looked at him in a side-glance, and saw him biting his lower lip.

Wen Ning glimpsed back at her and pursed his lips tight. 'Don't say a word.'

Xiao Xiang nodded imperceptibly.

"Then if Young Master Zhao will wake up... I'll return then. Lady Xiao stay with Meilien," Wen Ning inclined his head.

"Wen Shushu's going back? To the fight? Is it really the Qiong Qi? Are you going to kill it?"

"We'll have to," Wen Ning clenched his fist. "But first, we need to talk. Meilien, come with us," Wen Ning held her arm and dragged her out of the hall with a wave to Yunxi.

Once they were outside and safe, Xiao Xiang bent to her level. "Tell us what happened."

"These ghosts came into my garden out of nowhere. A-Xuan and I were chatting–"