103. Do Not Die Outside

You Er followed just a step behind You Hu. Glancing back and seeing that Duo Gula was no longer in sight, the foolishness that had always clouded his face vanished for the first time. Instead, he turned to You Hu and asked, “Young master, why did you bring along that barbarian? I could have easily dealt with those people myself.”

You Hu walked at a leisurely pace, as if strolling through his own backyard. “If you had intervened, it would have been like telling Moge Yi that the young lady has someone protecting her. That won’t do. She’s not yet strong enough; facing Moge Yi now would be unwise.”

“But Duo Gula is different,” You Hu said, a shadow of intrigue deepening at the corner of his mouth. “The fact that Gu Min brought back barbarians from the Southern Qi is still unknown in Yizhou. No matter how hard Moge Yi tries, he won’t be able to find out.”

Hearing this, You Er suddenly understood. He grinned, scratching the back of his head, and said sheepishly, “I see. You’re always so thoughtful, young master. But could you please tell the young lady not to have me hammer Mopi every day? That little thing makes me want to vomit.”

You Hu stomped his foot and glanced back, raising a long brow to give You Er a sideways look that made the tall man shiver involuntarily. The meaning behind it was clear.

“Young master, forget I said anything. Can’t I just keep hammering...?” You Er’s face fell. When young master looked like that, whoever caught his gaze was doomed. He didn’t want to become a burden or, worse, be sold out and still be grateful.

“You’re teachable. Even rotten wood can be carved. If you can learn even half of the young lady’s hammering skills, you could stand on your own feet one day.” You Hu’s phoenix eyes twinkled with a scholarly grace.

The two emerged from the path beside the official road, where a carriage awaited them. It was identical to the previous one, save for the Gu family emblem stamped on its side. You Hu climbed aboard while You Er resumed his role as the driver. Together, they made their slow way back to the Gu estate.

Along the way, they passed another unmarked carriage. You Hu, holding a scroll, lifted the curtain to glance outside. He saw the carriage turn into a side path, chuckled softly, then lowered the curtain again.

Meanwhile, Moge Yi, entering the same side path, was consumed by an unprecedented fury. He stepped down from his carriage and found a pool of unidentifiable blood and a bloodied skeleton lying on the ground. His face turned ashen.

“What happened here?” he demanded sharply.

“Please calm down, young master,” replied the coachman wearing a wide-brimmed hat. With a thud, he knelt on the ground, the hat slipping off to reveal a middle-aged man with streaks of gray at his temples. It was Ada, the servant who attended Yue Qingbo. “From what I know, the girl has a formidable old nanny skilled in hand-to-hand combat. This must have been her doing.”

Moge Yi sneered, folding his arms behind his back, his dignified features tinged with mockery. “Do you think I’m blind? That oldI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.