Half a month later.

They finally left the Nansai Desert!

Along this journey, Lichuan barely said anything, but always listened to Ji Yunshu speak of every little detail about her and Jingrong.

At first, he just listened and let it be.

But hearing more later, he was shocked by such profound and unforgettable love.

As an assassin, the emotions in his heart had long been suppressed. He had never experienced those so-called romantic feelings.

So when hearing Ji Yunshu and Jingrong’s story, he would feel something.

But he hid it extremely well!

Remaining cold and silent throughout.

So much so that when Ji Yunshu observed his expression, she couldn’t see any fluctuation in his demeanor.

As if it truly was something completely unrelated to Lichuan.

But she had never given up.

As she always said, she was willing to wait!

Even if it took a lifetime.

After leaving the Nansai Desert, Lichuan sold those two camels.

He asked Ji Yunshu, “Can you ride a horse?”

Hm?

She nodded. “Yes!”

Back in Houliao, it was Jingrong who had personally taught her to ride!

So Lichuan took the money from selling the camels and exchanged it for two horses.

Continuing their journey.

Heading toward Jiahe Town at the Qujiang border.

On the road, Lichuan rode very fast, always forgetting there was a woman following behind him!

So after riding for a stretch, he would slow down again to wait.

Although Ji Yunshu could ride, she wasn’t proficient.

Once going a bit faster, she couldn’t control the reins, her whole body swaying and nearly falling off.

She could only go slowly.

Originally, according to the horse riding distance, they could have reached Jiahe Town by evening.

But because of Ji Yunshu, they were delayed by half a day’s journey. Unable to reach the city before dark, they could only rest temporarily outside the city.

Who knew heaven wouldn’t cooperate!

They suddenly encountered a torrential rain!

Fortunately, there was a ruined temple nearby where they could take shelter from the rain.

The two entered the ruined temple like drowned rats. The surroundings were gloomy and dark. With the violent wind and rain making the temple windows bang loudly, it seemed even more eerie.

But coincidentally, neither of them feared ghosts!

Lichuan built a fire, then quickly set up a tall frame to block between them, then pulled down a gray, wrinkled piece of silk from the ruined temple and draped it over it.

Separating the two of them.

This scene was very similar to when they had taken shelter from rain in a ruined temple years ago.

Lichuan looked at the soaking wet Ji Yunshu and said, “Quickly take off your clothes to dry them. I’ll sit on this side, you sit on that side.”

As he spoke, he pointed with his hand!

Ji Yunshu nodded, shivering as she hugged her arms, then walked to the other side of the frame and quickly took off her wet outer garment, placing it by the fire in front to dry.

The two sat on opposite sides of the frame, with the fire placed in front.

Ji Yunshu glanced sideways and saw that Lichuan had somehow picked up a small stick again and was poking at the fire.

She couldn’t help but smile, calling out, “Lichuan.”

Lichuan responded with a “Mm.”

She didn’t speak again for a long time.

Lichuan didn’t ask either.

The two just sat silently like this.

Once the clothes were dry, Ji Yunshu quickly put them on!

Then she looked at Lichuan.

Only to find he was still wearing his wet clothes.

She walked around the frame between them and asked, “Why are you still wearing wet clothes?”

Lichuan looked completely indifferent. “It’s nothing!”

“Quickly take them off.”

“No need!”

“Why are you so stubborn?” Ji Yunshu was worried to the point of getting a bit angry.

Seeing he still wouldn’t budge, she directly reached out to unfasten his clothes.

Lichuan was startled. He grabbed Ji Yunshu’s hand, leaning his body backward, frowning as he asked, “What are you doing?”

“Your wound just healed—you can’t get rained on! And wearing wet clothes all the time will make you catch cold.”

“You don’t need to worry about it.”

“If I don’t worry about you, who will?”

“You…”

Ji Yunshu’s brow suddenly furrowed as she discovered, “Your hand is very cold!”

Just as Lichuan was about to release his hand from her wrist, she suddenly grasped his cold hand in return, gently rubbing it.

“You’re always like this—when injured, you don’t know to cry out in pain. Clearly knowing your body just recovered and can’t catch cold, yet you don’t care!” Like scolding a small child.

Lichuan watched her rubbing his hand, his heart a mix of feelings.

But reason still made him sober up somewhat.

He immediately pushed her away!

“Don’t touch me!” Lichuan seemed a bit shy.

But that trace of shyness was immediately covered by coldness.

Ji Yunshu said, “Then take off your clothes.”

“I… will take them off, you go over there.”

“What can’t I see?”

Lichuan’s gaze flickered slightly. He hurriedly looked elsewhere, saying coldly, “Anyway… you go over there.”

Ji Yunshu’s worry swept away. She couldn’t help but laugh and returned to her previous position to sit down!

Not looking at him.

Actually, it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen before!

What was there to be shy about?

Lichuan really didn’t want her to keep pestering him, so he compromised!

He took off his outer garment and placed it to the side to dry.

Then said nothing more!

After about half an hour, two people suddenly entered from outside.

A man and a woman, simply dressed.

Fortunately, both had umbrellas and didn’t become drowned rats!

“Quickly come in…” The man’s low growl could be heard.

The woman following him was timid and submissive, head lowered.

The man looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wearing a gray robe, appearing scholarly and refined, clean and neat. He seemed to be a scholar.

Although not dressed very well, a delicate sachet hung at his waist.

That sachet was clearly not from an ordinary family!

The woman appeared somewhat aged. She had no ornaments in her hair, only a simple bamboo hairpin, wearing coarse hemp clothing with a few inconspicuous patches. From her appearance, she seemed even a few years older than the man.

As for what relationship the two had, it was unknown!

Seeing this, Lichuan immediately put on his outer garment that was already mostly dry.

When the man saw there were already two people inside, he was momentarily stunned. Seeing Lichuan wearing a half-mask was truly strange, plus the long sword by his side indicated he was a martial arts wanderer, the man became more vigilant.

But he still humbly bowed to Lichuan and Ji Yunshu, politely saying, “My sincere apologies. The heavy rain outside forced us to come in for shelter. We’ve disturbed you both.”

Lichuan remained silent.

Still maintaining that cold expression.

Ji Yunshu said, “We’re all travelers on the road at night—no need to be so polite. Why not come over and warm yourselves by the fire together?”

An invitation!

But the man politely declined. “Thank you both for your kindness! We’ll just make our own fire over to the side.”

Ji Yunshu just smiled politely!

The man then pulled the woman to sit down on the other side.

The woman was cautious and timid, constantly keeping her head lowered. After the man sat down, she proactively gathered some firewood from the surroundings and quickly made a fire.

She was quite efficient at doing work!

From the looks of it, she was probably a house servant!