Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 16 - Outsider

From the day Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing went missing, the Mercenary Group and Cheng Duo’s team have not stopped searching for them.

As time passed with no news of their whereabouts, people began to speculate as to whether the two had indeed met a grim fate, perhaps being fed to the sharks.

The secret base exuded an eerie atmosphere. On the surface, everything seemed calm, but no one could guarantee how many muzzles were aimed at anyone who dared to enter.

Having grown up here, Xian Cheng was quite familiar with the surroundings, yet he still felt somewhat anxious.

Taking large strides, he headed directly to the top floor balcony. Normally, Madam Li would be sitting there enjoying her coffee at this hour.

Despite Li Minchun’s disappearance affecting her mood, this habit of hers had never changed.

As soon as he stepped onto the balcony, he could vaguely see Madam Li sitting in the lounge chair with her back to him. Xian Cheng was stopped by a stranger: “Madam Li has given orders that no one is to approach her.”

“Who are you? Get out of the way!” Xian Cheng, having grown up in the organization, had never been stopped by anyone. He wondered where this unknown individual had come from to dare speak to him in such a manner.

Just as Xian Cheng was about to barge in, the stranger drew a handgun, pointing its dark muzzle at Xian Cheng’s head.

This guy must be tired of living, Xian Cheng thought, his eyes flashing with a fierce glare. With swift movements, he quickly subdued the reckless fellow.

Looking at the man he had tied up like a bundle, Xian Cheng sneered, “Having a gun doesn’t mean you have everything.”

However, the recipient of Xian Cheng’s “kind advice” was unappreciative and remained arrogantly defiant. Just as Xian Cheng contemplated teaching him further, Madam Li finally spoke from the lounge chair:

“Xian Cheng, come in!”

Releasing the man, Xian Cheng obeyed the command and entered.

Just as usual, Madam Li was entirely concealed, resting leisurely on the lounge chair while sipping coffee and watching the evening sunlight slanting into the room.

“Who was that person just now…” Xian Cheng couldn’t help but wonder about the unidentified man who dared to stop him earlier.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Now, have you found any news about Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing?” Madam Li’s voice was cold and commanding.

Xian Cheng’s spirits fell as he replied helplessly, “No, ever since what happened over a year ago, they haven’t reappeared.”

The already heavy atmosphere turned even more oppressive after those words.

Xian Cheng understood very well the significance of Li Minchun to Madam Li. Among so many mercenaries, she valued only Li Minchun the most, and everyone knew the reason for it.

Now that Li Minchun was in trouble, it undoubtedly left her without one of her mainstays.

Watching her remain silent, Xian Cheng continued, “Recently, Cheng Duo and Cheng Mo have started to take action.”

“Cheng Mo?” A sharp glint flashed through Madam Li’s eyes at this mention. That woman had repeatedly challenged her limits, pulling strings behind her back, thinking she was doing it without detection.

What was even more unforgivable was that Cheng Mo foolishly dared imagine overthrowing her control-an utter overestimation of her own abilities.

“Don’t concern yourself with Cheng Mo for now; finding Li Minchun is the priority.”

Madam Li ordered firmly, and then handed a piece of paper to Xian Cheng, saying, “Do as instructed here and don’t disappoint me.”

Upon unfolding the paper, Xian Cheng found it was a map detailing various locations around the Aegean Sea.

Most of the places on the map were locations Xian Cheng had already visited, all in the effort to find Li Minchun. However, one place marked as Zhenmu Island seemed particularly strange. To the best of his memory, he hadn’t come across an island called Zhenmu Island.

Anticipating Xian Cheng’s thoughts, Madam Li explained, “Zhenmu Island is a very peculiar place, full of natural dangers. You must be extremely careful if you go there, understood?”

Having already lost Li Minchun, she couldn’t afford to lose Xian Cheng as well.

“Yes!”

With the orders received, Xian Cheng set out once more.

This time, he meticulously studied any available information about Zhenmu Island, but frustratingly, the conclusions remained elusive.

Could it be that this island doesn’t even exist? It seemed impossible, for nothing from Madam Li’s hands would make such a basic error. Unless there were problems elsewhere?

…

As the two-year mark approached, Jian Yiqing’s health continued to deteriorate, resembling an ancient well running dry. Now, he no longer possessed the vitality he once had.

He even needed Li Minchun’s support to walk, as he could barely manage on his own, stumbling without her aid.

On the other hand, Jian Qingtian, standing by the bed, had started moving on his own and could sweetly call out “Mom” and “Dad.” Whenever they heard Jian Qingtian’s voice, it seemed to fill both Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun with boundless strength.

On this particular day, Li Minchun returned once again from the depths of the ocean, only to come back empty-handed as she had many times before.

She had considered taking Jian Yiqing away to seek external help in finding an antidote. Unfortunately, every attempt ended in failure. At first, people were curious about how they planned to leave, but eventually, they dismissed their efforts as mere jokes.

Dragging her weary body home, she saw Jian Qingtian crying beside the bed, while Jian Yiqing lay there with his eyes tightly shut.

Dropping everything she was holding, she rushed to Jian Yiqing’s side.

“Husband, what’s wrong? Husband?”

She called out several times without receiving any response in return.

Panic set in for Li Minchun; she had never felt such anxiety as she did now. The fear crept in-what would she do if Jian Yiqing truly left her?

Desperately, she began to feed Jian Yiqing various precious medicinal herbs she had managed to acquire until he slowly regained some consciousness, his eyes finally opening a little. Overjoyed, she held him tightly in her arms, tears streaming down her face.

“Stay strong for me and our son. I will find the antidote for you, I promise,” she said, her voice trembling with fear.

The happiness they had found together was so hard-won and fleeting, and Li Minchun could not allow this precious joy to simply slip away.

She had finally resolved to defy the world to be with this man, only to face the prospect of losing him so soon. How could Li Minchun accept this reality? How could she willingly face it?

“Long time no see, Li Minchun.”

As Li Minchun held Jian Yiqing and wept, a familiar voice sounded behind her, clear even though it trembled with emotion.

Setting Jian Yiqing down gently, Li Minchun turned around slowly to see a familiar face: “You finally found your way here.”

Whether it was praise or sarcasm was unclear, but Xian Cheng merely smiled and replied, “Yes, Madam Li wants me to bring you back.”

This peculiar exchange left Xiu’er and Xiao Ru’s mom perplexed.

Xiu’er had discovered Xian Cheng by the sea. When this outsider expressed his desire to find Li Minchun, she sensed an opportunity and unhesitatingly brought him to her.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ru’s mom, not wanting Xiu’er to go near them, tried to stop them as they approached. But with a mere wave of his arm, Xian Cheng had flung her aside, and only now had she managed to catch up.

“What are you talking about? Why do you call her Li Minchun?” Xiao Ru’s mom asked, puzzled.

Li Minchun glanced at her and said, “Xiao Ru’s mom, please leave us. I need to talk to him.”

Sensing the peculiarity of the situation, Xiao Ru’s mom reluctantly dragged a hesitant Xiu’er out of the room.

When it was just the two of them, a fierce gleam flashed in Li Minchun’s eyes. She lunged at Xian Cheng, a gleaming dagger now in her hand, aiming straight for his neck.

Yet Xian Cheng remained unmoved, showing no intention to resist.

Instead, he spoke calmly, “Do you really want to commit murder in front of your child?”

His words shattered Li Minchun’s defenses.

Turning to look at her innocent son, she reconsidered-such a bloodthirsty scene would indeed be inappropriate for him.

The murderous intent on her face gradually softened.

Xian Cheng continued, “You must realize that even if you kill me today, someone else will come looking for you tomorrow. There’s no place in this world that is absolutely safe.”

He felt a pang of sadness. The thought that Li Minchun, whom he had grown up with, would attack him again for that man was painful. Last time, she had left two scars on him. Was she planning to take his head this time?

Finally, Li Minchun lowered the dagger and said coldly, “What do you want?”

“I’m here under orders to bring you back!” Xian Cheng said directly, without any hesitation.

A cold smile appeared on Li Minchun’s lips as she looked at her son and husband. “Do you really think I can leave with you now? What about them if I go?”

“Perhaps I can send them on their way first!”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

Li Minchun would classify anyone who threatened her family as an enemy, regardless of their past relationship.

“I always knew that if you had to choose between him and me, you would choose him…”

His words, spoken in a barely audible voice, were still clear to Li Minchun. Sensing something ominous, Jian Qingtian tightly hugged his mother’s leg, looking up at her with innocent eyes.

Tears began to flow uncontrollably down Li Minchun’s cheeks.

She had no other choice; to save Jian Yiqing, she had to exchange her own life for his. Given the situation, she would rather see Jian Yiqing live a healthy and happy life.