She didn’t know when it started.

Ji Yunshu came to love resting her head on Jingrong’s lap with her eyes closed, loved his slender fingers stroking her hair, and loved even more the unique scent on his body. That feeling made her feel extremely safe.

That kind of affection had probably reached the point of greed.

Or perhaps… it was already incurable!

And Jingrong, just by looking at her, would involuntarily break into a smile.

Only Ji Yunshu could ignite the spark hidden beneath his iceberg exterior.

Making him willingly shed his hard, cold armor, just so he could hold her in his embrace.

To each other, they were both extremely greedy people!

Greedy for this love that came only after overcoming countless difficulties.

At this moment, the cold wind swept through the carriage curtain, rolling in like knife fragments.

Jingrong worried that Ji Yunshu would catch cold, so he took a piece of clothing to cover her.

Then he instructed the guards outside: “Slow down.”

“Yes!”

The carriage’s pace quickly slowed down.

Ji Yunshu didn’t know how long she had slept. When she woke up, she was still pillowed on Jingrong’s thigh.

She looked up at him and found that he was also looking at her.

“Awake?”

She smiled slightly and raised her hand to stroke Jingrong’s cold cheek.

The coldness spread freely within her palm.

She asked: “How long did I sleep?”

Jingrong: “Not long. If you’re tired, sleep a bit more.”

“I’m not tired, but I just want to lie like this.”

“Alright!”

Jingrong grasped the hand she was stroking his face with and kissed it.

Enough to make others envious.

Suddenly—

“Hya!”

A burst of hurried hoofbeats came from behind.

Very chaotic.

Jingrong’s eyes immediately tightened.

Ji Yunshu also quickly sat up straight.

The two immediately lifted the carriage curtain to look back.

They saw a group of riders appear behind them, about a dozen or so people, galloping forward at full speed.

In great haste.

Soon, those people passed through Jingrong’s carriage convoy.

“Hya!”

The sound of hoofbeats grew more deafening.

Ji Yunshu’s heart was tense.

Just as those people galloped past them on their horses, both Jingrong and Ji Yunshu saw that two of the horses had large sacks tied to them.

Judging by the shape of the sacks, inside… it looked like people were packed in them!

Before they could see clearly, that group had already passed them.

Kicking up a cloud of dust!

Jingrong and Ji Yunshu exchanged glances.

Both their expressions darkened slightly.

But neither said anything.

Not long after, heavy rain began to fall in the mountains.

The carriage convoy therefore traveled somewhat faster.

Bai Yin, riding on horseback, saw from afar a ruined temple ahead with light glowing from it.

When he got a bit closer, he discovered—

Outside the ruined temple, over a dozen horses were tied up.

They were the horses of that group from earlier in the day!

He immediately asked Jingrong inside the carriage: “There’s a ruined temple ahead. We can go in to shelter from the rain, but it seems that group from earlier in the day is also inside.”

After hearing this, Jingrong lifted the carriage curtain and looked ahead.

Indeed!

His expression tensed. After thinking for a moment, he said: “It’s already so late. Continuing the journey would be somewhat inappropriate. Let’s stop there.”

“What if…”

“Just be careful!”

“Alright!” Bai Yin then instructed the guards, “Stop up ahead to rest.”

The guards acknowledged the order!

Everyone then braved the rain and stopped up ahead.

After the carriage stopped, Jingrong protected Ji Yunshu as she got off the horse, and they hurriedly entered the ruined temple to shelter from the rain.

Inside the ruined temple sat that very group of people who had passed by their carriage earlier in the day.

They occupied half the space in the ruined temple and had lit three fires.

When they saw people entering, each one became very alert, their brows furrowed and eyes wide, revealing fierce expressions. Then they all placed their hands on the hilts of the weapons they carried.

Ready to draw them at any moment!

Jingrong and his group hadn’t brought weapons and looked harmless!

To them, they posed no threat.

So after sizing them up, the man who appeared to be the leader signaled his people with his eyes to lower their swords.

And said something in a low voice.

Only then did everyone put down their swords.

Although Jingrong had taken in this entire scene the moment he entered, he didn’t expose it and pretended he hadn’t seen anything at all.

He just carefully protected Ji Yunshu as they entered the temple to shelter from the rain.

Bai Yin and several guards only came in after tying up the horses.

Each one had become a drowned rat!

So they quickly used the wood in the ruined temple to light two large fires.

From beginning to end, those people made no sound, silently watching Jingrong and his group.

Although both sides maintained their vigilance.

But the two groups kept to themselves and didn’t interfere with each other!

Each stayed in their own territory to shelter from the rain and rest!

But unknowingly, a tense atmosphere condensed in the air.

Ji Yunshu had been caught in the rain, and the rainwater seeped through her clothes and clung to her skin, making her shiver from the cold.

Jingrong took off his own clothes and wrapped them around her.

He made her move closer to the fire.

Then he tightly grasped her hands.

Gently rubbing them.

He was truly very worried that Ji Yunshu would catch cold. After all, he knew this woman’s constitution best—either she wouldn’t get sick, but once she did, she would be ill for several days.

Ji Yunshu gradually improved, and her clothes dried as well.

Her palms also gained a hint of warmth!

Seeing that she was no longer shivering, Jingrong finally felt relieved.

He also heated some water for her to drink.

After Ji Yunshu’s body warmed up, she shifted her gaze to that group of people across from them.

Her eyes narrowed as she observed carefully.

Her intuition told her that those people were definitely not good people!

Then she focused her gaze on the two sacks leaning against the corner.

The people inside the sacks were curled up motionless.

She didn’t know if they were dead or alive.

A sense of curiosity arose in her heart.

Jingrong noticed her gaze and whispered in her ear: “The other party must have considerable backing. Don’t let curiosity get the better of you.”

Reminding her.

Ji Yunshu was always surprised by how he could see through her thoughts.

But she also understood Jingrong’s meaning, so she nodded and withdrew her gaze.

As the saying goes, it’s better to avoid trouble than to seek it!

Jingrong then picked up a wooden stick and habitually poked at the fire a few times.

Then he lowered his voice and said to the guard beside him: “Don’t let your guard down. Be careful.”

“Yes!”

The guard understood.

None of them dared to rest.

Bai Yin was the same. From the moment he entered, he had been on alert.

It was probably a habit formed over many years.

Just when both groups were quietly doing their own things—

“Neigh!”

Suddenly, the sound of a horse’s neighing came from outside the ruined temple.

Accompanied by the sound of rain.

Deafening.

As if the horse had been startled by something.

At that moment, the group across from them almost immediately gripped their swords and stood up.

Looking alertly toward the outside of the ruined temple.

But Jingrong and his group remained seated.

Paying no attention!

Then from outside came a few more horse neighs and the sound of carriage wheels.

Coming from far to near!

When everyone held their breath, wanting to know who it was.

They saw a thin figure rushing in through the heavy rain in great haste.

Only when the person reached the lit area could they make out the appearance.

Eh! It was…