Time slowly passed, and the sky gradually darkened, but Shen Qingqing had not yet returned.
Fu Jingshu was getting anxious.
He stood on the small path where Shen Qingqing had initially walked, his tall figure in the cold night as steadfast as a rock waiting for his wife.
Eisen sighed as he watched, "Why are you so worried? If others don't know, fine, but don't you know your wife's capabilities?"
"You don't need to tell me."
Fu Jingshu cast a cold glance at him.
Knowing was one thing, worrying was another.
Eisen got nowhere and rubbed his nose, "Alright, I'll just shut up."
Not long after, someone returned.
This was one of the people who had gone to search for food. He ran back in a hurry, his steps faltering when he saw Fu Jingshu, a look of guilt on his face.
Fu Jingshu strode forward, "Where is she?"
So many people had gone, but only this one had returned. He was indifferent to the disappearance of the others, only caring about that one person.
The man swallowed, "She..."
He stammered, unable to speak, while internally cursing the others. If they hadn't been afraid to face Fu Jingshu's wrath, he wouldn't have had to face this terrifying man!
Before he could finish speaking, his collar tightened, and he was suddenly grabbed.
Fu Jingshu's furious face loomed before him.
"Speak clearly!"
"I'll speak, I'll speak!" He's going to kill me! At this moment, looking at Fu Jingshu's face, the man had no doubt, especially as he felt his breathing being cut off.
He was being choked to death!
He was truly terrified and quickly said, "We encountered several large beasts, and they wouldn't stop chasing us. Later, we ran to a cliff..."
"Ai Qi, Ai Qi almost fell. It was Shen Qingqing who saved her, but she herself..."
He paused for a moment, and the hand gripping his collar tightened even more. Now he couldn't breathe at all, and he kept swatting at those pincers-like hands.
Fu Jingshu loosened his grip slightly.
The man gasped for air with difficulty before he could speak again, his voice trembling, "...fell."
With a "thump."
Fu Jingshu released his hand. The man's legs were already weak, and he fell directly to the ground. He ignored his nearly split backside and kept patting his chest, gasping for air.
"Were you trying to choke me to death just now?" he asked, still shaken.
Fu Jingshu cast a cold glance at him, his impatience and anger instantly vanishing, his expression becoming incredibly calm.
"I'm going to find her."
His sudden words were like a bomb dropped among the crowd.
The people who had gone to search for food had also returned one after another, but when facing Fu Jingshu, their expressions were uniformly guilty.
Pei Ji's face was filled with sorrow, "I'm sorry."
"Does saying that now make any sense?" Fu Jingshu asked calmly, "You just need to tell me, how did she fall?"
"She fell saving someone." Pei Ji thought the first man who reported back hadn't explained clearly, so he simply recounted the incident of her saving someone.
It was the same story, saving Ai Qi.
Ai Qi had also returned, now protected by Ai Sen, wearing her brother's jacket. Her undershirt was torn and dirty.
Her hair was disheveled, her face streaked with tears, and her eyes were swollen like walnuts.
"It's all my fault..."
"I lost my balance. If she hadn't pulled me up, she wouldn't have fallen."
"It's all my fault. I harmed the beautiful sister."
Ai Qi cried, blaming herself, almost drowning in guilt. Yet, her tearful state was pitiable and garnered sympathy.
Fu Jingshu didn't even glance at her.
Only Ai Sen was there trying to comfort her. Although usually quick-witted, he didn't know what to say now. Even he couldn't defend his sister.
Although his sister hadn't done it on purpose.
But after all, this couple had been in trouble because of his sister. One went missing, and then the other disappeared.
However, his sister's crying flustered him, so he could only try to comfort her first.
"Okay, okay, stop crying. We will definitely find her."
"Brother..." Ai Qi sobbed.
If no one comforted her, being comforted only made her cry harder.
Everyone else also felt sympathetic and tried to console her.
"Don't cry. We all saw it. This isn't your fault."
"She just wanted to help you. To put it plainly, this was destined to happen."
"Yes, don't blame yourself. Since you feel so guilty, why don't we all work together to find her."
Fu Jingshu turned and walked away.
Ai Qi pushed Ai Sen aside and chased after him, "Brother Fu, where are you going?"
Fu Jingshu ignored her and kept walking.
Ai Qi took a few steps and her legs went weak, almost falling. Ai Sen caught her just in time, but she stared longingly at Fu Jingshu's retreating back.
"Brother Fu!"
"Ai Qi!" Even the slow-witted Ai Sen felt something was off with his sister. "He's going to look for his wife. You stay here obediently and don't go cause trouble."
"I won't!" Ai Qi said stubbornly, "The beautiful sister got into trouble saving me, so I have to go find her too. I'll never be at ease unless I find her!"
Ai Sen's face stiffened, "Ai Qi!"
But Ai Qi didn't listen at all, struggling desperately. She flailed her hands wildly in the air, accidentally scratching Ai Sen's face.
"Ai Qi!" The pain made Ai Sen wince and roar.
Ai Qi shivered and finally calmed down.
Pei Ji quickly caught up to Fu Jingshu and blocked him, "I know you're in a hurry, but you can't go alone. You don't even know where she fell off the cliff. I'll go with you."
As the leader, he hadn't been able to bring everyone back safely, and he felt responsible.
"Lead the way."
Fu Jingshu spoke only two words.
Just as Pei Ji was about to move, he was stopped by a group of people. They were the members of the food-searching team. They blocked Fu Jingshu and Pei Ji, preventing them from taking a single step.
"Don't go. Shen Qingqing is already missing, and it's getting dark. What if you go and don't come back?"
Both Fu Jingshu and Pei Ji were considered key figures among them. Losing either one would be disastrous. Therefore, even if it meant angering Fu Jingshu, they had to stop them!
Fu Jingshu looked at them calmly. Wherever his gaze fell, everyone avoided it, as if their dirty thoughts had been seen through.
"You're not worried about us; you're just afraid there'll be no one to lead you anymore."
A silent moment of awkwardness fell upon the crowd.
Fu Jingshu said coldly, word by word, "You are truly selfish."
His words stripped away the fig leaf of shame that everyone had painstakingly used to cover themselves, revealing the selfishness and coldness deep within their hearts.
"Get out of the way."
Fu Jingshu said coldly.
For some reason, the crowd didn't dare to object. They exchanged glances, and then actually moved aside, clearing a path. Fu Jingshu strode away.
"Brother Fu!"
Ai Qi wiped away her tears, flung Ai Sen aside, and chased after him.