Heaven and earth swayed in a haze.

Vaguely it was still that night’s snow, flying horizontally, backwards, against the wind like howling arrows, piecing together a chaotic world—one part endless pallor, one part eternal darkness. In that deep black hole, a face suddenly emerged, streaming with blood and tears, crying out to her for help. It was Cui Jie… Just as she was about to rush forward, another face suddenly appeared behind Cui Jie—pale and grinning maliciously, stretching out long fingers to viciously drag Cui Jie into the black hole. It was Jing Jun… She frantically lunged forward, but the black hole had already closed. The snow all over the sky suddenly solidified, transforming into that familiar face that shocked and pained her. A mouth on that face opened and closed, opened and closed. It took her a long time to make out those four ice-cold words: Prove it for me… Prove it for me… Prove it for me…

That snow seemed to suddenly condense into a beam, drilling into her body through her wrist meridians, directly reaching the extraordinary meridians and eight vessels. Her body suddenly became scorching hot, seeming to still be the feeling from last night’s pill—somewhat rough, somewhat swollen, burning through her meridians. She painfully waved her hands, half her spirit struggling in the nightmare, half fighting against the pill’s fierce power. Her fingers clawed weakly in the air, touching a patch of ice-cold air.

Half-dreaming, half-awake, she felt as if her mind had opened a third eye, vaguely able to see some indoor scenery, or perhaps not seeing but just sensing. The scenery was hazy as if covered by white gauze. In the haze, someone slowly walked out from behind a screen, snow-colored robes trailing across the bluestone floor like a silent cloud drifting down from snow-capped mountains.

Like a dream, arriving without any warning.

Her heart was panicked, instinctively rejecting yet uneasy. That cloud leisurely approached, surrounded by a misty aura and a cold fragrance.

Her hands waved more urgently, wanting to struggle out of the nightmare to strike the visitor. But her fingers suddenly touched a slightly cool, smooth object, brushing past it. Her fingertips seemed to have memory too, startled by this touch that seemed both familiar and strange, pausing in mid-air.

Just this pause, and her fingers were grasped, irresistibly guided slowly back to her front, her fingers manipulated to form a hand seal.

In this realm between reality and illusion, that person seemed to move very gently, like spring night wind, unwilling to disturb any budding flower.

When those fingers passed over the back of her hand, they paused slightly. She felt something on her finger being toyed with, thinking hazily in her mind—oh, it’s that ring.

Then she felt the ring being removed.

She felt somewhat uneasy, somewhat anxious. This thing belonged to Yelu Qi after all. She had planned to return it to him when she no longer needed it. To have it taken away like this?

That hand took away the ring, then she heard some faint sounds, unclear what was being done. But soon, her collar moved slightly, as if someone had placed something there.

The cold fragrance was overwhelming. Though this scent wasn’t familiar, her heart tightened in waves, almost unable to focus on studying the changes at her collar.

A clear stream suddenly flowed into her body, passing through her interior, filling the tiny wounds burned in her meridians by the fierce pill, brushing away the rough feeling caused by her inability to absorb the cinnabar’s properties, moisturizing, nourishing, healing, expanding. Wherever it passed, heaven and earth broadened. Within life’s channels, green grass grew everywhere, sprouting buds for next year’s spring growth.

The stored power within her body was awakened. In her dantian, a trace of purple qi and a trace of white qi swirled in response to each other, vigorous and ready to emerge.

Her restless expression gradually faded. Between her brows, purple and white qi appeared and disappeared, showing some breadth of heaven and earth, her skin radiating crystalline brilliance.

Those quiet, slightly cool hands hesitated slightly, slowly rising as if to caress her brow, but stopped in mid-air.

Jing Hengbo remained in a strange state throughout.

She could feel but couldn’t see. The surrounding aura was peculiar, like looking through a misty mirror, seeing blurred overlapping shadows of past and future lives.

She felt someone’s presence yet couldn’t touch them. In her confusion she felt it was just a dream—once she opened her eyes, that dream would dissipate like mist.

The qi in her body gradually calmed, her mind gradually cleared. Struggling out of the nightmare, she gathered her strength again and suddenly opened her eyes wide!

The room was empty and quiet.

She was still lying on the ground, hadn’t even moved locations. Turning her head, she saw the thin wire that had fallen to the floor.

She sat up and sniffed. The air was also quite ordinary. The cold fragrance, white shadows, the misty turbulent scenes, gentle and delicate gestures—all seemed to have truly been just a dream.

She tried circulating her qi. Recently she had been learning meditation and qi cultivation with the Seven Kills, knowing the methods of true qi cultivation and circulation. Though using the Seven Kills’ words, she had started learning martial arts too late and would never reach peaks in internal strength, it was still good for strengthening her body. At least she could live a bit longer.

While circulating qi, she discovered that after taking the pill last night, the slightly rough grinding sensation in her body had now disappeared. Her meridians had a particularly smooth and rounded feeling. When her small amount of qi circulated, she had a particularly fluid sensation.

But the poison in her body was still there. After practicing qi, she could feel a mass of black deeply entrenched somewhere in her body. Now that mass of black was still there, but seemed smaller and more compact. Outside that mass of black, she discovered her body now had two types of qi flow. She lacked the ability of inner sight and couldn’t see the qi’s form, but could feel the difference—one vast and heavy, one nimble and fierce. Additionally, there seemed to be a third type of qi flow, very little, almost imperceptible, but it seemed that this third qi flow was subtly helping her, who lacked any foundation in internal strength, to control and balance the somewhat chaotic qi in her body.

Thinking about it, she couldn’t be certain these qi flows had just appeared, because after being poisoned, she’d received quite a bit of internal energy cleansing and infusion from masters. Having others’ protective true qi in her body would be normal. Also because of these true qi’s existence, she couldn’t distinguish whether the disappearance of her body’s pill-grinding pain was due to others’ true qi taking effect and dissolving it, or the result of that bizarre dream just now.

Really… was it a dream?

Her expression was dazed as she slowly reached up to touch her collar. Somehow, there was now something like a clasp at her collar.

She removed the object and after seeing it clearly, immediately widened her eyes in bewilderment.

The thing before her was bronze-colored, inlaid with cat’s eye stone… elongated.

How familiar.

The ring had been cut apart, stretched into a long strip, both ends sharpened, threaded through both sides of her collar, becoming a semi-decorative collar ornament!

More miraculous was that the ring, after being modified, had its internal mechanisms completely unchanged. The hidden spike could still pop out, even the thin wire could be put back as before!

Jing Hengbo sat there stunned for quite a while, her mind clearly knowing yet unclear, confused yet awake, confused yet not wanting to wake up. She just felt her head was tangled like hemp, but her heart was beating like an unrestrained wild horse.

She touched and re-touched the “collar ornament,” her expression strange. After a long while she lightly slapped herself and stood up, deciding not to think about anything for now—business first.

She felt her spirits were quite good at the moment. Wondering how Hewan’s conversation with Gong Yin was going, since Hewan wouldn’t be in danger, she might as well just leave.

Her figure flashed and she was already out of this courtyard. The effect of this flash was unexpected—when she landed she was confused, not knowing where she’d landed. Then she recognized that the courtyard where she’d been confined was already far away. Her current position should be near the back door. One more flash should get her out.

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard low voices from the wall.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes… can you let me go now…”

Jing Hengbo never expected voices could come from walls. She hid behind a tree and saw that the wall making sounds was near a flower rack covered with vines.

The vines suddenly moved, and several heads poked through. Only then did she discover there was a very hidden small door there.

The people who came through wore clothing that startled her—they were dressed as Jade Zhao guards!

But looking carefully she noticed differences. The Jade Zhao Dragon Cavalry’s armor was very exquisite, with gold thread inlaid even in the sleeve seams. When they moved, it glinted faintly. That gold thread’s sewing technique was special and couldn’t be learned by ordinary people, so these people’s gold thread on their sleeves appeared crude. Moreover, these people looked furtive, obviously lacking the proud bearing of the Jade Zhao Dragon Cavalry imperial guards.

While observing, she suddenly heard a “tsk tsk.”

Seeming like a cold laugh, or perhaps mocking laughter.

Jing Hengbo was startled—there were still people nearby!

But looking left and right, the surroundings were empty. Where could anyone hide?

Auditory hallucinations again?

She looked up at the treetop. The tree shade was dense, making it unclear if someone was hidden there. But given this tree’s height, by the time an opponent came down from the treetop to attack her, three teleportations would be enough.

Besides, if this person could make sounds without anyone knowing and could catch her without anyone knowing, since they hadn’t acted, they had no hostility.

Jing Hengbo simply raised her dagger toward the top, waved it, indicating she also had no hostility—let’s each listen to our own business and go to our own homes.

Vaguely there was another soft laugh, as if finding her very amusing.

Jing Hengbo wrinkled her nose, feeling the air around seemed to have a bit more alcohol scent.

Jing Hengbo focused on watching the movements there. Several fake Jade Zhao guards entered, showing excellent qinggong with silent movements. As soon as they entered, they scattered toward the inner courtyard.

Assassins?

After whom?

Both Hewan and Gong Yin were possible targets.

Assassinating Hewan would get Gong Yin in trouble.

Assassinating Gong Yin would get a whole bunch of people in trouble.

Assassinating Hewan could be blamed on Gong Yin, causing conflict between him and Xiang Kingdom. Assassinating Gong Yin could be blamed on Xiang Kingdom, and also on people like Yong Xizheng and Ji Yifan from Xiang Kingdom. Today Hewan had schemed to intercept Gong Yin on the street—too many people saw it. Someone as shrewd as Yong Xizheng could almost immediately guess Hewan’s motive for intercepting the carriage. In extreme anger, he might well take action.

Once inside the Xiang King’s palace, assassination wouldn’t be so easy. But this temporary stop, with randomly chosen lodgings, was best for finding loopholes.

Thus, the real beneficiary would be Fei Luo.

Of course, it might also really be Yong Xizheng taking action. In any case, with a casual calculation, Jing Hengbo felt she could identify a whole bunch of potential culprits.

She watched these people’s movement trajectories—regardless of which direction they started from, they were all heading toward the courtyard’s center.

After thinking, she followed.

She still needed to care about Hewan’s life and death.

She followed one who was obviously the most skilled martially, discovering these people had scattered at the small door, blending into patrolling Jade Zhao guards, inconspicuously approaching the courtyard where Gong Yin was receiving Hewan.

Jing Hengbo used trees and buildings as cover, approaching all the way. She wondered how these people would get close to Gong Yin later. Infiltrating outer guards was possible, but only a few senior commanders could get near Gong Yin. With slightly unfamiliar faces, they’d be stopped two courtyards away.

Sure enough, two courtyards away, a patrol team suddenly burst into shouts.

“Who are you!”

The clang of unsheathing swords rang out. That patrol team had discovered the unfamiliar faces mixed into their formation, all drawing weapons. Then someone shouted, “His clothes are wrong—fake!”

A Jade Zhao squad leader raised his hand, and a string of fireworks shot out. Almost immediately, nearby patrol squads hurried over, and the number of people suddenly increased.

Jing Hengbo’s heart stirred. She shifted attention to the arriving crowd, and sure enough saw several of those fakes from earlier among the crowd—they had mixed in during this moment of chaotic gathering.

She vaguely understood what the opponents wanted to do.

The latecomers naturally immediately joined the team suppressing the assassin, especially those who had mixed in fought even more fiercely. The assassin was quickly wounded repeatedly under their hands, blood splattering all over their faces.

Just as the assassin was about to be killed, the seemingly exhausted assassin suddenly roared, leaped skyward, and charged toward the inner courtyard dripping blood.

This person seemed determined in will, wanting to approach the target even unto death.

The Jade Zhao guards naturally pursued immediately, but most stopped before entering the next courtyard—when Gong Yin went out, there were regulations for defense. Each team had fixed defense areas. No matter what happened, they couldn’t cross boundaries. Even with assassins, those responsible for that area would take over.

But several people covered in blood, showing extraordinary courage, shouted about catching the assassin and charged through. The Jade Zhao squad leader left behind kept shouting “Don’t chase! Don’t chase! Come back!” But those people, perhaps extremely agitated or hot-blooded, seemed not to hear and chased all the way in.

Jing Hengbo smirked and flashed after them.

That assassin indeed had great potential, staggering and stumbling while dripping blood through two courtyards. His qinggong was superb, like lightning and ghost shadows. No matter what interception he encountered, he fearlessly never stopped, seeming not to care about death, only wanting to approach the target.

When encountering assassins, as long as the assassin wanted to keep his life, resistance or defense would slow his steps. But this type who didn’t want to live obviously couldn’t be stopped. The assassin covered in wounds, blood flowing wildly, stumbled straight to the front of the innermost small courtyard. There the guard was even more strict, with people stationed all over the surrounding walls. Guards on the wall tops, having received news, waited with crossbows. The defense was so tight that not even a fly could pass through.

A servant holding a tea tray and snacks stood at the door, looking frightened as he watched the assassin stumble forward. This was a servant left by the household to serve tea and water. Gong Yin never had serving maids around him—the big men couldn’t do serving work.

“Step aside, don’t get in the way.” A guard at the door, somewhat nervous, pushed the servant aside and took the tea tray. Someone immediately checked the servant thoroughly and used silver needles to test the tea and all the snacks.

As the assassin rushed near, Meng Hu on the wall was about to sneer and order a volley of arrows when he suddenly saw several Jade Zhao guards chasing over. He couldn’t help but be startled, waving to signal a halt and shouting, “Who told you to chase here? Go back!”

Those several “Jade Zhao guards” who had chased over had caught up with the assassin by now, pouncing on him. Before this side could react, they started hacking at the assassin with chaotic blades.

The assassin roared continuously. In the spurting blood, his figure suddenly spun.

His waist whirled like a whirlwind, shooting out a misty drizzle of objects, transparent, colorless, and odorless. Everyone only saw crystalline light flashing before their eyes, like seeing crystal rain from heaven. Everyone hurriedly held their breath and retreated. Those several “Jade Zhao guards” surrounding the assassin already shouted loudly and tumbled backward.

The assassin released another cluster of black mist, enveloping those several “Jade Zhao guards.” Those people seemed unharmed by the heavenly rain and struggled to get up, but meeting this mist head-on, they suddenly went limp, their faces instantly rotting!

The assassin laughed heartily, then seemed unwilling as he pointed at the small courtyard, swayed several times, and collapsed.

In moments there were bodies scattered everywhere.

The assassin met his end, blocked at the final step. Those several “Jade Zhao guards” who had courageously pursued the enemy, because they were finally poisoned by the black mist, had faces so rotted they were unrecognizable. The guards on this expedition numbered over a thousand—finding and comparing them squad by squad would take time.

The bodies were quickly dragged away, and the ground was washed repeatedly. The small courtyard inside seemed to have no movement, and the people on the walls showed no expression. They had seen this type of assassination many times.

Soon the small courtyard inside was asking why the tea and snacks hadn’t been brought yet.

The guard at the door holding the tea and snacks hurriedly handed them to Meng Hu to take inside.

Jing Hengbo, hidden behind a tree by the wall, rubbed the goosebumps on her arms.

She knew what was happening.

It was strikingly similar to the assassination case at Jingtang. Back then at Jingtang, when Yelu Qi sent assassins to kill Gong Yin, unable to learn the password, he first had a death warrior charge all the way to Gong Yin’s sleeping quarters to look at the stone wall with carved characters, then decode it and send the real killer.

This time someone was copying the method, with an even bigger operation, using five or six people to stage an assassination.

One assassin just charged forward, deliberately being discovered. Several others disguised as Jade Zhao guards took advantage of the chaos to infiltrate, then acted to pursue and kill the assassin. It was called pursuit and killing, but was actually protection. The initial wounds and blood were probably fake—otherwise the assassin couldn’t have lasted until the final courtyard.

Then they killed each other at the courtyard gate, and finally everyone died, dispelling everyone’s vigilance.

But the killer had already been planted.

It should be that seemingly harmless transparent heavenly rain.

Jing Hengbo was too far away to see how that heavenly rain was released, but everyone should have avoided it. But what about the food?

The tea had a lid, but what about the pastries?

The tea and pastries had already been tested for poison earlier, but whether they could still be eaten now, heaven only knew.

Jing Hengbo clenched her fingers, her heart suddenly pounding.

She had originally thought this would definitely be a hopeless assassination, but unexpectedly the opponent’s plan was absolutely ruthless and clever. So Gong Yin really might fall into the trap.

Really might fall into the trap…

Her heart suddenly trembled, a fine, sour emotion slowly spreading—she didn’t know if it was joy or pain, hope or worry, anticipation or panic.

With the crisis resolved, guards on the wall leaped down one after another, creating momentary chaos.

Jing Hengbo’s figure flashed and she landed on the rooftop.

This flash was completely unconscious. After landing, she was dazed for a long while.

Why had she jumped down here?

If there was poison, so be it. Poison would be good—let him be poisoned to death and her great revenge would be complete. Evildoers would naturally be collected by heaven.

While thinking this, she was prying up roof tiles.

After prying open the tiles, she pulled out a piece of dark cloth from her chest, blocking it over the roof tiles to prevent daylight from shining through and being discovered.

While doing this, she remembered Tian Qi making the same movements on the ancestral hall roof that day, feeling a strange sensation in her heart.

After arranging the cloth, she was stunned again—what was she doing this for?

If there was poison, so be it. Poison would be good. Why watch at all?

After a while she told herself, well, this was to prevent Hewan from accidentally eating poisoned pastries. That girl clearly had a sweet tooth.

To the side of the roof was a large tree with a long branch slanting across the rooftop. On it was a black mass that seemed to be wriggling. After looking for a long time, she discovered this was a huge beehive. Fortunately it was still relatively far from her.

Looking down, she saw Gong Yin, saw his satin-like long hair flowing like water over his shoulders. She closed her eyes and turned her head away.

Light conversation drifted up from below—Gong Yin’s voice, his tone surprisingly polite.

“…I received the princess’s protection back then, and this old kindness remains unreturned to this day. Now if the princess has any requests, I dare not refuse.”

Jing Hengbo frowned, thinking hadn’t these two already met earlier? Why were they only drinking tea now, seeming like they’d just begun exchanging pleasantries?

“Actually, it was just a small matter back then. To trouble you with this after so many years really embarrasses me. It’s difficult for you to be so loyal and righteous… I know this matter puts you in a difficult position. Please, State Preceptor, give me a perfect solution.” Hewan’s tone was quite respectful.

“The princess should also know that with my position, I actually cannot interfere in the King’s family affairs,” Gong Yin lowered his voice, speaking softly for a few sentences, then said, “…how does this sound to you?”

Hewan pondered for a long while, nodding uncertainly with considerable worry in her eyes.

“Actually, this matter should have other variables…” Gong Yin looked outside thoughtfully, gesturing for Hewan to eat the pastries.

Having unburdened her heart, Hewan seemed to relax slightly. She took a pastry herself and personally offered one to Gong Yin, smiling, “State Preceptor, this honey pastry is a local specialty, most tender and sweet, neither oily nor greasy. Wealthy households make them very well. Please try some.”

Jing Hengbo’s heart tightened. Then remembering that Gong Yin didn’t eat outside food, she didn’t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved, almost letting out a long breath.

Gong Yin gazed at the pastry, appearing about to refuse, but Hewan said, “When we met in Chong’an years ago, when you were framed and nearly imprisoned, I had just snuck out wanting to try Hefeng Tower’s honey pastries and thirteen-color dumplings, which led to our meeting. Speaking of it, our connection also relied on these honey pastries.”

A slight smile appeared in Gong Yin’s eyes as he reached out to take a piece.

Hewan held a piece too, and the two looked at each other with slight smiles.

Jing Hengbo’s heart began racing.

Eating at the same time? How was she supposed to handle this?

Not warning Hewan might get her killed, but warning her would save Gong Yin, and she didn’t want to save him at all!

But sacrificing Hewan’s life to harm Gong Yin? For some reason, she didn’t want that either.

Her heart felt like cat claws were scratching it. She hesitated endlessly, hoping Gong Yin would eat first, but saw Hewan first breaking off a piece of pastry to put in her mouth.

Jing Hengbo sighed.

With a gesture, a huge beehive appeared before her!

Without hesitation, she waved her hand and smashed the beehive downward viciously!

Since I have to warn you reluctantly, I’ll also give you some suffering!

With a buzzing sound, countless wasps rose like a black cloud. She immediately fled—if she didn’t escape now, she’d be the first to be stung into Jing Swollen!

Before she could turn around, she suddenly crashed into a chest.

A person above her head laughed with a nasal buzzing sound, “What a vicious woman—let’s feed you to the wasps first!”

Jing Hengbo cursed inwardly—some of the wasps had fallen down, but quite a few were still on the roof. Where had this coffin lid suddenly appeared from!

The buzzing behind her was terrifying. She could feel the wasps’ wings already stirring her loose hair. Her scalp was exploding as the man in front reached out to point at her shoulder and neck.

“Bang.” Another muffled sound, and the man blocking her suddenly disappeared. There was now a big hole in the roof tiles. A loud cry came from below as the man shouted, “Which bastard pushed me!”

“Buzz buzz buzz!” The wasps had already pounced on her.

“Whoosh.” A sound, and wind swept before her, dispersing the wasps. A thick garment was suddenly thrown over her head, and a pair of hands tightly embraced her waist. “Go!”

Jing Hengbo soared into the air with that person, feeling the wasps still buzzing in pursuit for quite a distance. From below the roof came the loud cries of the falling body, Hewan’s screams, the sound of breaking cups and dishes, and the guards’ shouts as they drove away the wasps, gradually growing distant.

But she never heard Gong Yin’s voice throughout.

Could he have been stung to death by the wasps that fell on his head? she thought maliciously.

Her heart felt somewhat melancholy, as if filled with some emotion—she couldn’t tell if it was sorrow or joy, relief or unwillingness. She couldn’t identify her own complex emotions at this moment, couldn’t even understand why she should have such emotions. The poison placed in someone else’s bowl seemed to be testing her instead.

The clothes still covered her head and face. Somehow they’d gotten a bit damp. She blinked and suddenly felt this clothing’s scent was somewhat familiar—faintly mysterious, like Yelu Qi.

“Put me down,” she said in a muffled voice.

Yelu Qi ignored her, racing on for a while longer, holding her even more tightly in his embrace.

At this moment her face was pressed against his chest through the clothing. She could feel his solid muscles and the particularly steady, powerful heartbeat beneath them. The faint mysterious fragrance and indescribable masculine scent pressed close, like a ball of indigo cloud, reminding her of some memories. In her daze she seemed to recall another chest—muscles not so solid and prominent, yet also strong, emanating a reassuring slight coolness. The heartbeat wasn’t so fast, seeming particularly slower, also a reassuring frequency. His scent was incomparably clean, like snow water from high mountains and secluded springs from underground—a colorless, gossamer-thin cloud…

Her thoughts suddenly stopped.

Why remember that!

Her mind seemed to jam like a stuck tape with a click. She forcibly pushed away her memories and shouted loudly, “Stop!”

Yelu Qi’s pace slowed slightly. Jing Hengbo felt they’d reached an open area before he stopped. He seemed to want to personally help her remove the clothing, but Jing Hengbo immediately stepped back several paces.

Vaguely she seemed to hear him laugh once, his voice faintly self-mocking.

Jing Hengbo unwrapped the clothing from her head. Standing opposite was indeed the half-smiling Yelu Qi, wearing only a silk robe in white, standing in the wind with a unique transparency.

But Jing Hengbo found all people wearing white unpleasant to look at. She immediately threw his outer garment back to him. “Put it on first. Look at your bamboo pole figure—wasps would sprain their ankles walking on you.”

Yelu Qi’s expression hadn’t looked good, but hearing this he immediately looked down at himself, raising his eyebrows with a smile. “If I’m a bamboo pole, then men in this world needn’t expect to wear clothes with any elegance.”

Jing Hengbo’s gaze swept past his slightly open collar, seeing a line of chest muscle tight and smooth, emanating a very textured jade color. She had to reluctantly admit that in terms of masculine beauty, the person before her indeed had capital for such pride.

So she decided not to argue with him anymore. Seeing how seriously he took it, if she continued she worried he might unfasten his clothing to show her what real physique and elegance looked like.

Yelu Qi’s gaze suddenly focused on the “collar ornament” at her neckline, his expression changing slightly.

Jing Hengbo felt somewhat embarrassed, not knowing how to explain, when she suddenly heard him laugh, “Indeed, it looks much better as a collar ornament. Do you like it?”

“Huh?” Jing Hengbo was stunned. After a long while she said dazedly, “In that room… was it you?”

Yelu Qi’s gaze flashed as he looked thoughtfully behind him, smiling, “Yes.”

“How could it be you…” Jing Hengbo was bewildered.

“Why couldn’t it be me?” Yelu Qi pointed at the collar ornament, smiling, “The ring was too conspicuous after all. This collar ornament is better—unique and doesn’t attract attention.”

Jing Hengbo thought it was unique indeed, but how could a collar ornament be as convenient as a ring? Besides, this ring was clearly a precious and important item—was it really okay to bend it into a strip like this?

Also, there was something not quite right about what Yelu Qi was saying, wasn’t there?

But then again, if it wasn’t him who did it himself, how could he show no surprise or investigation at all?

Her mind was chaotic—some judgments were overturned, some doubts were covered up. It was like walking in thick fog, thinking she’d already touched part of the target, only to suddenly have someone tell you that thing wasn’t there at all.

“If you were perfectly fine, why risk running into that room to knock me unconscious? If you had something to do, couldn’t you wait until I returned? Why so mysterious?”

“I noticed changes in your complexion.” Yelu Qi suddenly sniffed her, saying, “You have pill energy on you. I wasn’t sure if this pill energy was beneficial to you, so I urgently wanted to confirm. Afraid you’d make noise and disturb the people outside, I simply knocked you unconscious. Besides, a meditative state is most beneficial for harmonizing qi. Such things should be done sooner rather than later—if something went wrong with you, I’d be too late to even cry.”

Under the setting sun his smile was ethereal, full of ease and charm.

Jing Hengbo’s mind grew even more chaotic. She turned away—before her was a small river with scattered pebbles on the bank. She walked over to wash her hands, splashing the water waves desultorily.

Yelu Qi’s shadow was reflected hazily in the river water, his voice also seeming to be scattered by this winter wind.

“Is it me? Are you very disappointed?”

“No such thing.”

“Who did you hope it would be?”

“None of your damn business.”

A stretch of silence.

…

“Why save him,” he suddenly spoke again.

Jing Hengbo’s hand splashing water stopped, then she nonchalantly picked up stones to skip across the water.

“I was saving Hewan.”

“Really?” he laughed behind her.

Jing Hengbo hated that kind of laugh. She stuck her fingers in the ice-cold river water, as if only this way could she calm the burning fire in her heart.

“True or false, that’s my freedom.”

“Jing Hengbo.” Yelu Qi sighed. “I only fear you’re still kind-hearted, which will ultimately cost you your life.”

“I am indeed still kind-hearted.” She smiled, brushing her temple hair and looking back at him. “Otherwise the first person I should have killed would be you, dear.”

“When you truly have the ability to kill me, feel free to come at me,” he smiled, half-real, half-fake.

Jing Hengbo reached out, pointing at him with a charming smile, “Wait for it, little darling.”

Her hair was somewhat disheveled, long locks scattered in the wind. She seemed to have lost some weight recently. Standing there swaying, her posture was like a willow bending in the wind. Her fingers were long and soft, no longer painted in bright colors but gleaming with crystalline light. With this gentle pointing gesture, even the harsh winter wind seemed to suddenly turn gentle.

Yelu Qi only felt his heart being lightly plucked. He couldn’t help stepping forward several paces. Suddenly his eyes focused sharply as he quickly approached, embracing her neck and lowering his head.

Jing Hengbo never expected him to suddenly approach. Before she could react, she was already pulled into his embrace. Yelu Qi’s face came close to her neck, his hot breath spraying on her nape, stirring the loose hair behind her ears with tickling sensations.

Startled, her self-defense automatically activated—knee up, targeting the golden ratio point!

Yelu Qi grabbed her thigh in his hand. “Don’t move!”

Jing Hengbo was both angry and amused and baffled—had this guy suddenly had sperm rush to his brain?

Their current posture was quite ambiguous—he held her leg while his face was close to her neck. She stood on one leg, her body leaning back diagonally trying to avoid him. From a certain angle, it looked like he was kissing her neck from the side.

Just as Jing Hengbo was about to push him away, she felt him pull back slightly, then raise his hand to pinch and squeeze at her neck.

She felt a slight pain, then he flicked his fingers, saying, “Done.”

He added, “What’s wrong with you? You didn’t even know you’d been stung by a wasp? This type of wasp is venomous. Though one sting won’t kill you, if the poison stinger stays in your skin too long before removal, it becomes difficult to extract and will leave a scar.”

Only then did Jing Hengbo feel that her neck had indeed swollen into a considerable bump—she’d truly been stung by a wasp. But weren’t wasp stings supposed to be very painful? How had she felt nothing?

Yelu Qi’s fingers gently caressed her neck, his gaze slightly infatuated—her skin was delicate, white as the finest jade. Once there was any injury, it was particularly shocking. The wasp-stung area was flushed red, reminiscent of scattered peach blossoms in snow.

His mood slightly stirred, he couldn’t help softly saying, “Hengbo, you really…”

Jing Hengbo suddenly raised her hand, grasped his fingers, placed them on his own chest, and smiled sweetly, “Hey, don’t move around. Put it where it should be, OK?”

Yelu Qi looked up. Close at hand was her bright, almost aggressive smile.

But this brightness was no longer the same as before with its rich radiance—it carried three parts sword-like severity, blade-light like snow.

She was still so beautiful. Even with makeup and disguise, the spirit in her eyes remained unchanged, like pearls from the ocean floor after ten million years, attracting all gazes in the human world that pursued beauty.

Yet he felt no moment more than this one made him deeply sense this human pearl’s remoteness—existing only at the ends of the earth, surging above whirlpools and激浪, generating mist and clouds, tinting a Penglai fantasy realm like a mirage.

He slowly took a breath and stepped back.

Seeing his fingers slowly drop, Jing Hengbo suddenly noticed he had several sting wounds on his hands and neck, now purple-red and swollen, looking quite alarming.

Earlier when he’d saved her before the wasp nest exploded, he’d first removed his clothes to wrap her. With wasps everywhere, no matter how skilled in martial arts, it was hard to avoid being hit.

This made her feel slightly guilty. She blinked and said, “You were stung too? Do you have medicine? I’ll help you apply it.”

Yelu Qi looked up, instantly recovering his composed and mysterious smile, “I’d be delighted. But I have no medicine—would you help me by blowing on them?”

“Bye-bye, see you later, sayonara.” Jing Hengbo turned and walked away.

Suddenly a slightly hoarse voice laughed, “If the beauty won’t blow for you, shall I help? Good wine has miraculous effects on wasp stings—would you like some?”

Before the words finished, a spray of crystalline rain carrying alcohol scent poured down from above!

Yelu Qi turned and sent Jing Hengbo to the other side of the small river.

“Stay put!”

A silver-black whirlwind rolled across the river surface, tangling in battle with a moon-white whirlwind. Sword light and fist wind crossed, and the air filled with increasingly thick wine fragrance, as if someone’s wine jar had been overturned.

Jing Hengbo watched from across the river, not understanding what was happening for a moment. Someone seemed to have crept close and suddenly attacked both Yelu Qi and her.

This person’s voice was somewhat familiar. Thinking about it, it seemed like the soft laughter from the treetop when she was eavesdropping in that courtyard earlier.

More importantly, this alcohol scent was very familiar.

The two fought beautifully. Did masters always end up battling so inexplicably?

Jing Hengbo simply found a comfortable spot on the opposite bank to lie down, arms behind her head to watch the battle. She planned to go kick the opponent if Yelu Qi won, or run quickly if he lost.

The two fought from the riverbank into the river and back to the riverbank, their palm and fist winds cutting many water plants and stirring up many fish. A grass stalk fell by her mouth—she tasted it and found it sweet, so she quickly gathered some into bundles and busily strung up the fish that had jumped ashore with grass, planning to take them back to make fish soup tonight.

Someone above seemed to be snorting with laughter.

Many fish flew over. She was hungry and thought she might as well roast fish now. She shouted up to Yelu Qi, “Give me a sword strike to scale this big one!”

With a puff, Yelu Qi was so exasperated his qi dispersed, and he fell with a splash.

With another puff, the guy in mid-air did a somersault, landed on the opposite bank, couldn’t stand steady and covered his stomach laughing.

“Hahaha this girl is too amusing. Hahaha girl, want some wine? Fish soup and roasted fish both need wine to remove the fishy smell!”

Jing Hengbo looked up, her eyes brightening.