◎Xie Heng, have you gone mad?◎

Luo Wanqing listened to Li Guiyu’s words, her expression unchanged, simply saying: “Then I hope Your Highness won’t give everyone this opportunity to kill.”

“Naturally.”

Li Guiyu smiled as he took the bundle, organizing it as he spoke: “Along this small killing formation, I’ll lead you two out, and I also hope you both will honor our agreement to protect me.”

Speaking thus, Li Guiyu glanced at Xie Heng: “However, with Inspector Xie here, I imagine they wouldn’t even dare show their faces.”

“Let’s go.”

Xie Heng said nothing more and directly stood up.

The three resumed their journey. This time, Li Guiyu no longer concealed anything – he took charge of calculating and leading the way, while Xie Heng handled any unexpected situations.

Luo Wanqing followed them, observing all along how they solved the mechanisms and formations, contemplating the patterns within.

When they encountered formations that Yu She had modified along the way, Li Guiyu’s calculations weren’t precise. Xie Heng and Li Guiyu would then work together to locate the formation’s core and destroy it through brute force.

Luo Wanqing watched Li Guiyu’s movements intently. Though she had fought him several times before, this was her first time observing his combat techniques from a distance. She studied his opening stance, his movement patterns, his fighting style, searching for every possible weakness.

Unfortunately, he and Xie Heng moved too quickly. In just two or three moves, they would completely dismantle the formation.

Luo Wanqing barely had time to savor it before both men had already landed.

Li Guiyu noticed she had been staring at him and couldn’t help but smile. Xie Heng swept a glance at Luo Wanqing’s slightly regretful expression but said nothing, simply turning to walk forward, saying flatly: “Let’s go.”

When night came, the three found a cave to rest. Luo Wanqing was responsible for making fire, while Li Guiyu and Xie Heng went to find firewood.

When they returned to the cave, Li Guiyu carried firewood, dry grass, and cleaned quail and rabbit, while Xie Heng brought two cleaned fish, also carrying dry grass and firewood in his arms.

Li Guiyu glanced at Xie Heng and smiled: “I didn’t expect Inspector Xie would also do such things.”

“It’s not my first time traveling.”

Xie Heng replied coldly, walking behind Luo Wanqing. He set down the dry grass and said flatly: “Sleep on this tonight.”

Luo Wanqing was startled, somewhat surprised as she turned around, only to see Xie Heng sit to one side and skillfully skewer the fish on tree branches, placing them over the fire to roast.

Li Guiyu lowered his head to place the dry grass behind Luo Wanqing, then also sat silently to one side and began roasting the quail and rabbit he had caught.

The quail was small and cooked quickly. Li Guiyu handed the quail to Luo Wanqing, saying plainly: “Eat.”

Luo Wanqing thanked him coldly and lowered her head to eat the quail. Just as she finished, Xie Heng’s fish was also ready. He handed it over without saying a word, but Luo Wanqing somehow felt she couldn’t refuse.

Her intuition told her that if she refused, something unpleasant might happen.

Fortunately, since she began martial arts training, her appetite had greatly increased, and she loved eating meat. Additionally, traveling outdoors made her even hungrier. If there was nothing to eat, so be it, but when food was available, let alone one fish, she could eat two!

She thanked him and accepted it, quickly finishing the fish.

Both Xie Heng and Li Guiyu couldn’t help but look at her twice. After thinking for a moment, Li Guiyu handed over the extra rabbit, hesitating: “Miss, would you like another rabbit?”

Luo Wanqing thought about it and continued to thank him: “Much obliged.”

When these words came out, both men fell silent, only then realizing that Luo Wanqing probably hadn’t been eating enough before.

Xie Heng thought for a moment and comforted: “Next time, I’ll catch two more fish.”

Li Guiyu found it somewhat hard to believe, but also acknowledged: “Mm.”

After the three finished eating, they each sat apart to meditate. When they completed one full cycle of breath regulation, Luo Wanqing suddenly heard Xie Heng speak: “Third Prince.”

Luo Wanqing and Li Guiyu opened their eyes together. Li Guiyu looked at Xie Heng warily: “Inspector Xie?”

“Has the Third Prince rested well?”

Xie Heng’s tone was calm.

Li Guiyu couldn’t understand: “Does Inspector Xie have business?”

“Since the Third Prince advanced to the eighth master rank, Lingshu has long admired you, yet never had the chance to receive instruction. Now that we travel together, it’s fate. Would Your Highness be willing to provide some guidance?”

When Xie Heng said this, Li Guiyu’s expression grew cold: “What does Inspector Xie mean?”

“Just a sparring match.”

Xie Heng’s tone became somewhat warmer, even carrying a sense of invitation: “Breaking branches for swords, stopping at the first touch – how about it?”

These words showed sincerity, but both Li Guiyu and Luo Wanqing couldn’t understand why Xie Heng wanted to spar with him here.

But since Xie Heng spoke respectfully, Li Guiyu couldn’t very well refuse. After hesitating, he raised his hand: “Please.”

With that, the two went outside together. Xie Heng glanced at Luo Wanqing, and only then did she realize what an extraordinary opportunity it was to observe two masters sparring with swords.

Moreover, this was Li Guiyu!

She hurriedly stood up and went outside. Once outside the cave, Li Guiyu looked toward Xie Heng with a smile, humbly saying: “Guiyu currently has injuries and may not be able to let Inspector Xie fully enjoy himself. I hope Inspector Xie will show mercy.”

Xie Heng nodded: “It’s just sparring, not meant to cause injury. Your Highness needs only to do your best.”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu felt relieved. He raised his hand to break off an osmanthus branch while Xie Heng picked up a dead branch. With a light touch of their toes, they leaped up the tree, each standing at opposite ends.

Xie Heng pointed his dead branch to the ground, perfectly protecting his entire body, and said peacefully, “Your Highness, please.”

The moment the words fell, Li Guiyu leaped up, his branch aimed directly at Xie Heng’s face, scattering osmanthus petals in the night.

Luo Wanqing looked up at the two figures confronting each other at the treetops. This was her first time observing Li Guiyu and Xie Heng’s swordwork so completely, and also her first time standing purely as an outsider, detached from battle, watching their swords.

She stared at them, initially focusing all her attention on Li Guiyu’s sword.

Li Guiyu’s sword style was similar to her blade work, and Li Guiyu had developed this style to its extreme. Every sword strike of his was with full force, swift as meteors streaking across the sky, with the momentum of collapsing mountains and flooding rivers.

Always advancing, resolute, and never retreating.

However, as she watched, she became drawn to Xie Heng’s sword.

Xie Heng’s sword appeared very similar to Cui Heng’s sword techniques, but when Luo Wanqing had fought Cui Heng in the past, she always felt there was nowhere to escape, nowhere to strike. Cui Heng’s sword, whether attacking or retreating, was flawless.

She had always thought Cui Heng’s sword followed the same path as hers, since he could be faster and stronger than her.

However, now standing from an outsider’s perspective, she discovered it was different.

Xie Heng’s sword didn’t follow the path of ultimate hardness and fierceness. His sword carried a touch of gentleness, with an underlying sense of mountains and rivers sharing joy and sorrow, sun and moon sharing darkness and light.

Bold and expansive, questioning mountains and summoning seas, every sword stroke was composed and measured, like a divine being looking down with compassionate tolerance.

Luo Wanqing didn’t know why she could sense such emotions from swordwork, but she couldn’t help following it with her gaze.

She watched them, gradually forgetting who they were, seeing only sword shadows under the moon, each strike and stance falling into her eyes.

Clear sky reflecting stars, sleeves rippling with moonflow.

Swords reflecting rivers and mountains, beautiful beyond measure.

After the two exchanged over a hundred moves, Li Guiyu finally ran out of stamina and found Xie Heng’s sword pointing at his throat.

The dead branch stopped precisely where it touched, with Xie Heng taking no further step forward.

Only then did Li Guiyu relax, unable to help but smile: “Inspector Xie’s reputation is well-deserved.”

“As is the Third Prince’s.”

Xie Heng nodded without saying much. The two leaped down from the tree one after the other. Xie Heng glanced at Luo Wanqing, who had been standing at the entrance, lost in thought, but said nothing.

Li Guiyu noticed Luo Wanqing had been contemplating and couldn’t help but pause, looking up at Xie Heng, who was walking ahead.

He suddenly realized why Xie Heng had sparred with him, and finally understood what Luo Wanqing was looking at and thinking about.

At this moment, even when looking at him, what she was thinking about wasn’t revenge.

The two people before him hadn’t spoken a single word, hadn’t even exchanged a glance, yet he could feel an invisible wall standing between the two of them and everyone else.

Just like Jiang Shaoyan in the past, he silently excluded everyone except him and Luo Wanqing.

Looking at this Luo Wanqing he had never seen before, he gripped the osmanthus flower in his hand, not knowing why he suddenly felt a sense of panic and unease.

He didn’t know what to do. After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke: “Miss, my wound has reopened. Please apply medicine for me.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing finally came to her senses. She looked back at him in confusion for a while before nodding: “Oh, alright.”

Treating wounds was serious business. Even though Luo Wanqing was still thinking about their sword techniques, she still gathered her thoughts.

She followed Li Guiyu into the cave and, hidden behind clothing, Luo Wanqing calmly applied medicine to Li Guiyu as usual. Li Guiyu felt her movements and unconsciously clenched his sleeves.

He wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to begin.

After Luo Wanqing finished applying medicine to Li Guiyu, she returned to her position. The sword techniques of those two kept echoing repeatedly in her mind as she continuously practiced them mentally.

When Xie Heng fell asleep, Luo Wanqing still couldn’t sleep. She finally got up and walked out silently. Li Guiyu watched her departing figure, hesitated for a long time, and finally stood up.

He followed her to the cave entrance, stopping at a distance, and then he saw the woman in the forest repeatedly practicing the moves that he and Xie Heng had used today with her blade.

She studied, learned, and worked to counter them, over and over again.

Li Guiyu watched her quietly, completely unable to look away.

She was slightly more full-figured than the last time he saw her in Yangzhou, but the muscle definition around her body had changed. Her eyes were clear and resolute, and when she figured out the details of a stance, she couldn’t help but fill with joy.

She shouldn’t be like this.

He was afraid in his heart.

He wanted to interrupt her, wanted her to stop, wanted to drag her back to the past, to tell her she should live in hatred and forever hate him.

But looking at this spirited and joyful person, even though she was a stranger, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

In fact, through those moves and stances, he slowly began to fill in those times when he wasn’t there.

Luo Wanqing contemplated the two men’s techniques until she was exhausted. She knew she had only learned the surface, but she also felt she had gained another level of understanding. She couldn’t help but feel somewhat happy as she returned to the cave with her sword, only to see Li Guiyu sitting to one side.

He sat quietly by the fire, seeming to be thinking about something.

Luo Wanqing paid him no mind and lay down directly.

After a moment, Li Guiyu’s voice came from beside her: “Miss, do you want to learn my sword techniques?”

Luo Wanqing’s movements stiffened. After all, secretly learning techniques was not honorable.

Li Guiyu saw her guilt and chuckled softly. After a long while, he only said: “I understand.”

The next day, the three set out on their journey. That night, when they rested, Li Guiyu took the initiative to find Xie Heng and respectfully said: “Yesterday’s sparring with Inspector Xie left me with some unresolved questions. Would Inspector Xie be available to provide guidance today?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng looked up at him. Li Guiyu’s eyes showed neither sorrow nor joy, completely empty. Xie Heng nodded and simply said: “Very well.”

After that, their sparring became routine. Luo Wanqing would observe every night, then listen to them discuss the Way.

Li Guiyu believed the Way of the sword lay in “persistence” – sufficient dedication, leaving no retreat, putting full effort into every sword strike to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Xie Heng, however, felt the Way of the sword lay in “letting go” – one must be willing to let go of the immediate, transcend the present moment, to observe the whole situation, borrow sword momentum, comprehend sword intent, choose the path forward, and achieve the final sword.

“What is the final sword?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand. Xie Heng patiently explained: “All schools under heaven share the same origin. You can learn myriad variations, but each person’s variations will not depart from their ultimate technique.”

“Those who learn martial arts spend their lifetime comprehending their ultimate technique,” Li Guiyu continued the thought. “We who learn the sword naturally seek the final sword. You who learn the blade seek your final strike. Why do you swing your blade? Where does your blade come from? Where does it return to – if you can understand this clearly, that is your blade.”

Luo Wanqing listened and contemplated carefully. Seeing this, Xie Heng couldn’t help but smile and comfort her: “Don’t rush, take your time.”

This tone was somewhat too gentle. Luo Wanqing was immersed in digesting the two men’s words and was completely unaware. Li Guiyu couldn’t help but take another look.

Xie Heng noticed Li Guiyu’s gaze and remained unmoved, simply handing the roasted fish to Luo Wanqing, calling: “Xiniang, eat fish.”

The three continued teaching and learning along the way. In the first two days, they encountered Wang Yunzhi’s people once and fought briefly. Perhaps knowing Xie Heng’s choice, Wang Yunzhi no longer appeared.

On the tenth day of their journey, at night, the three emerged from a small killing formation and immediately caught the scent of water vapor.

Smelling water vapor but hearing no water sounds likely meant a lake.

With mountains and water anchoring both ends, seeing a lake meant they were approaching the end of this formation.

The three exchanged glances, and Li Guiyu smiled: “We’re probably near the end.”

“Let’s go up and look.”

Xie Heng lightly touched his toes and went ahead to scout. After confirming it was safe, the three followed in succession, arriving at the shore of a lake.

This lake appeared about thirty zhang wide, with dense shrubs around its edges. The lake water was crystal clear to the bottom, presenting a kind of tranquil yet eerie coolness under the night sky.

Luo Wanqing instinctively felt something was wrong with this lake, but couldn’t say what. Xie Heng studied it for a moment and looked toward Li Guiyu: “Is this currently the yin formation?”

Li Guiyu was also observing the lake surface. Hearing Xie Heng’s question, he nodded: “It’s the yin formation. Look at those stones beneath the lake surface.”

Following his words, Luo Wanqing observed carefully and finally noticed that the stones beneath the lake’s surface seemed much larger than normal. Each stone could accommodate a person standing on it. They were scattered randomly across the lake bottom, seemingly without pattern.

“When these stones rise to the surface, that will be the yang formation.”

Li Guiyu explained. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but wonder: “Can’t we just leap across directly?”

“There are no living creatures.”

Xie Heng reminded her, and only then did Luo Wanqing realize what was wrong with this lake.

An ordinary lake would have flying birds, frog calls, cicada songs, or perhaps fish swimming and creating ripples with gentle water sounds.

But this lake was as quiet as a tomb, burying all living things.

“Moreover, no one’s lightness skill could leap dozens of zhang without any support points. Even if someone could, within the yin formation,” Li Guiyu’s eyes grew slightly cold, “any movement brings certain death.”

Luo Wanqing understood: “So we need to wait for the yang formation to activate as well?”

“The Mandarin Duck Life-Death Formation follows the laws of yin and yang. When the sun comes out tomorrow, these stones will rise to the surface.”

Li Guiyu looked at the sky and turned around: “Let’s find a place to rest.”

The three moved away from the lake, found a distant water source, and settled down on the spot.

After a simple meal, the three tacitly agreed not to engage in any energy-wasting activities. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and was the first to stand up: “I’m going to bathe.”

During these days, the three had taken turns washing, but when Luo Wanqing bathed, the two men would stay at a distance that was neither too close nor too far to keep watch.

This time, the water flow was nearby, so Li Guiyu and Xie Heng didn’t move.

When Luo Wanqing had gone far enough, Li Guiyu smiled and took the initiative to speak: “We’ll probably get out tomorrow. Thank you for your care along this journey, Inspector.”

“If you’re grateful, you might answer a few questions for me.”

“I can’t answer them.”

Li Guiyu knew what he wanted to ask and said directly: “What I could answer for the Inspector, I already answered at the Supervision Department. However, there’s one question I’d like Inspector to help me inquire about.”

“Speak.”

“Who is Cui Heng?”

When this question came out, Xie Heng’s expression didn’t change as he threw a piece of pine wood into the fire: “Why are you investigating this?”

“There are very few in the world who can match me in combat, yet he could fight me to a draw. With such skill, hiding his identity in the Supervision Department – isn’t it a waste?”

Li Guiyu observed him and continued probing: “He also comes from the Dao Sect and has mastered the Formless Sword. I’ve investigated him. In his years at the Supervision Department, he’s always worked in the shadows. Very few have seen his true face, and even Father Emperor is secretive about him. I’m curious, so I ask.”

“Is curiosity reason enough to pry into the Supervision Department secrets?”

Xie Heng looked up coldly. Li Guiyu showed no intention of backing down and counter-questioned: “Is Cui Heng a secret?”

“Think about his surname.”

Xie Heng answered straightforwardly. Li Guiyu couldn’t help but pause, beginning to doubt his assumptions.

That person being Xie Heng would make sense, but if he truly were a surviving member of the Cui clan…

That would also make sense.

But who else in the Cui family could possess such skill?

Li Guiyu went through his mind, startled to realize that whether it was Li Shengzhao or the eldest young master Cui Zigui, both came from the Dao Sect. Mastering the Formless Sword within five years wasn’t impossible. Moreover, the Cui clan produced capable people in abundance. Back then, he wasn’t familiar with the Cui family at all, so whether there were any obscure but exceptionally talented branch members was hard to say.

But regardless, if it were Cui Zigui, so be it. But if it were Li Shengzhao…

Li Guiyu suppressed his emotions and looked up at Xie Heng, probing: “Inspector Xie still dares to deal with people from the Cui family?”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

“Back then, you betrayed Empress Cui and the Queen, and at Qingyun Ferry, you killed so many Cui clan members. Now, when you converse with them,” Li Guiyu smiled mockingly, “don’t you feel uneasy?”

“What about you? Don’t you feel uneasy?” Xie Heng asked coldly in return.

Li Guiyu was somewhat puzzled, but before he could speak, he heard Xie Heng say: “Facing Liu Xiniang, do you feel uneasy?”

Li Guiyu paused upon hearing this, understanding the premise behind Xie Heng’s words.

He knew Luo Wanqing’s identity.

This wasn’t surprising. Along this journey, he had called Luo Wanqing “Miss,” and Xie Heng showed no surprise at all. He had suspected it before, and now it was finally confirmed.

He thought for a moment, then suppressed a smile and asked: “Inspector, when you speak to me now, are you using the identity of the Supervision Department Inspector, or Xie Lingshu?”

Xie Heng looked up coldly: “What’s the difference?”

“If you’re the Inspector, the past between Miss and me is your subordinate’s private matter – what business is it of yours? If you’re Xie Lingshu—”

Li Guiyu smiled mockingly: “The marriage contract between her and me still exists. What right do you have to interfere?!”

“Your marriage contract never went through official channels. It’s nothing more than a piece of waste paper with names filled in.”

Xie Heng controlled his emotions, staring at the flames, saying calmly: “If I wanted, I could write ten or eight such contracts with her.”

“But would she be willing?”

Li Guiyu spoke, and Xie Heng gripped the branch in his hand tightly without speaking.

Li Guiyu glanced at him, then turned to adjust his clothing, saying flatly: “I know better than you what she looks like when she’s willing. Xie Lingshu,” Li Guiyu paused, seeming to pity him somewhat, “you’re the last person in this world qualified to control her. Someone like you is just lusting after her appearance, acting on momentary impulse, unable to tolerate others violating what you consider your possession. You have your path to walk – why provoke her?”

Xie Heng listened without making a sound.

He wanted to refute, wanted to ask what made him think he was just lusting after her appearance on a whim, wanted to tell him he didn’t consider Luo Wanqing his possession.

Perhaps he had once had such thoughts – after all, he was never a good person. But from the moment he took her in at Fangfei Pavilion and gradually came to like her, he couldn’t simply treat her as his possession.

People don’t fall in love with objects, and if you love a person, how could you bear to restrict their comings and goings?

Even though he had always been extremely domineering since childhood, unwilling to let anyone encroach on his territory in the slightest, though he had thought countless times of forcibly keeping her, he never dared to do it.

But there was no need to tell anyone these things. He remained silent, listening to Li Guiyu continue: “Your name isn’t on the marriage contract, your name isn’t on the marriage tablet – she has no connection to you whatsoever.”

“What about you?”

He finally couldn’t help himself, speaking coldly to provoke him: “Is the name on the marriage contract Li Guiyu?”

Li Guiyu fell silent upon hearing this, momentarily speechless. Neither Xie Heng’s face showed any emotion, nor could Li Guiyu discern his feelings, but both sensed the sharp pressure and resistance from each other, silently confronting between them.

As the two faced off, Luo Wanqing returned, drying her hair. She sensed something was wrong with their atmosphere and couldn’t help saying: “What’s wrong with you two? Going to bathe?”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s voice, Li Guiyu realized his loss of composure. He suppressed his emotions, took off his clothes, and stood up: “I’m going to wash.”

Xie Heng sat in place without speaking. Luo Wanqing asked curiously: “Young Master?”

Xie Heng slowly looked up at her. His clear eyes held none of their usual cold calculation, only quietly reflecting her.

The woman illuminated by firelight filled his vision. Seeing his strange expression, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but frown: “Young Master, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Hearing her question, Xie Heng lowered his eyes again, concealing his emotions as he stood: “I’m going to bathe.”

With that, he took his clothes and left.

Luo Wanqing watched his retreating figure. He was more desolate and downcast than usual, but she had never been able to see through Xie Heng, so she didn’t think much more about it. She sat down and began drying her somewhat wet hair while thinking about tomorrow.

After passing the Mandarin Duck Life-Death Formation, they would probably be able to reach the island. If Li Guiyu intended to do anything, he would certainly act tomorrow.

The amount of medicine she had been giving Li Guiyu these days was already sufficient. The key was knowing what Li Guiyu would do so she could know how to guard against it.

She thought about that formation, considering its patterns. She hadn’t been thinking long when she heard footsteps beside her.

Luo Wanqing looked up and saw Xie Heng returning in his undergarments.

He held his washed clothes. Luo Wanqing immediately stood up and said respectfully, “Young Master, let me do that.”

Xie Heng watched Luo Wanqing help him hang his clothes on the rack. For some reason, he suddenly recalled what Li Guiyu had told him these days – that when she was with Jiang Shaoyan, she couldn’t do anything.

He couldn’t help but reach out to stop Luo Wanqing, saying flatly: “I’ll do it myself.”

Luo Wanqing turned her head in confusion, about to ask, when she caught sight of blood marks on Xie Heng’s back.

They received various small injuries daily. This should be one Xie Heng sustained today. Though the wound wasn’t large, it had soaked through his clothing.

If she hadn’t seen it, it would be one thing, but now that she had, Luo Wanqing found it hard to look away. After thinking for a long time, she finally said: “Young Master, let me treat your wound?”

Xie Heng paused upon hearing this, hesitated for a moment, then finally said: “Alright.”

“Young Master, please come with me this way.”

Luo Wanqing went to get medicine and bandages, leading Xie Heng toward the dense forest.

The two came to a tree. Seeing no one around and shrubs for concealment, Luo Wanqing felt at ease. She sat under the tree preparing her tools: “Young Master, please sit.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng thought for a moment, then took out a hair ribbon from his sleeve, saying flatly: “Close your eyes.”

Luo Wanqing was startled upon hearing this. She looked up at the hair ribbon in Xie Heng’s hand, finally realizing that all this time, Xie Heng never let her see his wounds because he didn’t want others to see his physical characteristics.

Luo Wanqing understood and obediently closed her eyes.

Xie Heng half-crouched and covered her eyes with the ribbon. His movements were very gentle, quite different from his cold and harsh temperament.

After Luo Wanqing was blindfolded, she felt Xie Heng sit in front of her and said calmly, “Put your hands up. I’ll tell you where the wound is.”

Luo Wanqing reached out with her palm and touched his spine, discovering he had already removed his shirt.

The autumn night was slightly cool, making his skin cold, but the muscles and bones beneath her fingertips were exceptionally hot.

With her eyes covered, all her other senses became particularly sensitive. Luo Wanqing unconsciously felt somewhat nervous, but Xie Heng’s voice was exceptionally steady: “Up three inches, left two inches.”

Luo Wanqing followed his words, feeling along his spine. Afraid of missing the wound, she could only trace every inch of skin as she moved.

The overly intense tactile stimulation affected Luo Wanqing. She forced herself not to overthink and diverted her attention, saying: “Young Master, under what circumstances would the Mandarin Duck Life-Death Formation activate?”

Xie Heng listened to her calm inquiry while feeling the light tremor from the calluses on her fingertips, suddenly feeling somewhat unwilling.

It was always only him sinking alone. She never seemed to be moved by anyone. Except for that accidental incident with the drug at the music banquet, whether with Cui Heng or Xie Heng, she never lingered on any romantic feelings.

He remained silent. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help saying: “Does Young Master know?”

“Is this all you ever talk to me about?”

Xie Heng suddenly spoke. Luo Wanqing was startled. She didn’t quite understand Xie Heng’s words and asked in confusion: “What does Young Master mean?”

Xie Heng knew he had misspoken. This was something Cui Heng could ask, but he couldn’t voice it.

He suppressed that emotion in his heart, calmed himself somewhat, controlled his tone, and said peacefully: “Within the Mandarin Duck Life-Death Formation, there’s only one path to life. If anyone takes a single wrong step on this path, the formation will activate. When the formation activates, it will divide the lake surface into two areas – one full of deadly traps, the other safe. If more people fall into the lake in the death formation than in the life formation, the gate of the life formation will open.”

“What if there are more people in the life formation than the death formation?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing forgot about the awkwardness of treating Xie Heng’s wound and asked with concern: “Wouldn’t the gate never open even if everyone in the death formation died?”

“When the formation activates, the side with more people naturally becomes the death formation.”

“What if the people in the death formation keep refusing to die?”

“The mechanisms within the formation are endless. Even I don’t have confidence in escaping unscathed. Staying inside continuously, when human strength is exhausted, they will eventually die.”

Listening to this, Luo Wanqing understood the mechanism of this formation’s operation. With the three of them traveling together, if Li Guiyu honestly led everyone out, it would be safest.

But if he had ulterior motives and trapped her and Xie Heng in the death formation, he could effortlessly force her and Xie Heng into a dead end.

“How does the formation separate people?”

Luo Wanqing wound bandages around Xie Heng’s body while contemplating: “Is it based on the distance between two people?”

“Perhaps.”

Xie Heng’s tone was flat.

Luo Wanqing had made up her mind. Tomorrow, she would follow Li Guiyu closely. Even if they were separated, it should be her and Li Guiyu entering the death formation, creating an opening for Xie Heng.

Xie Heng seemed to understand her thoughts and stated with certainty: “You want to enter the death formation with him.”

Luo Wanqing hadn’t expected Xie Heng to voice this directly and simply said, “This is the worst-case scenario. If he has ulterior motives, it would be most appropriate for this subordinate to enter the death formation with him, allowing Young Master to depart safely.”

Xie Heng said nothing. Luo Wanqing took his silence as guilt.

After spending more time with Xie Heng, she had observed that though he was decisive in killing, he was an excellent superior.

She couldn’t help but smile and comfort him gently: “Young Master, actually, I originally came for him. If I could die together with him, I would have no regrets.”

These words made Xie Heng’s breath catch. His heart trembled greatly, and his hands began to shake uncontrollably. He unconsciously said, “What about me?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t see his expression and only heard these words. She was somewhat bewildered: “Young Master?”

“In your heart, I am…”

Luo Wanqing heard a slight tremor in his voice. Before she could ask, she heard Xie Heng say: “What kind of person am I to you?”

This question was too ambiguous. Luo Wanqing’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

She didn’t dare overthink and could only answer vaguely: “Young Master, in this humble servant’s heart, you are like the sun hanging high, illuminating all directions.”

“Like the sun hanging high, illuminating all directions?” Xie Heng laughed mockingly, saying coldly, “In your heart, am I a saint without personal feelings?”

“Young Master’s heart harbors valleys and peaks – you practice the Great Way.”

Thinking of Xie Heng’s future fate, Luo Wanqing answered seriously: “In this subordinate’s heart, Young Master is nearly a saint. This subordinate is merely a speck of dust in the mortal world. To be able to accompany Young Master for half a journey in this life is already great fortune. Tomorrow, Young Master should consider it as the grudge between me and Li Guiyu – the matter between him and me has nothing to do with others.”

When these words came out, Xie Heng remained silent for a long time.

Luo Wanqing waited for a moment until sounds came from the distance. She faintly heard Li Guiyu approaching, seeming to call: “Miss?”

Hearing the voice, Luo Wanqing immediately stood up, instinctively raising her hand to remove the blindfold to respond. At that very moment, a tremendous force came from behind, fiercely covering her mouth and dragging her away!

True qi suddenly poured into her body through their clasped hands. She instinctively raised her knee and struck with her palm, but the other person moved faster. The instant she raised her hand, he slammed her hard against the tree, pressing her scarred hand against the tree with one hand while the other seized her hand that had drawn a blade, disarming her and pressing it behind her waist. Using his entire body to pin her and lifting her, she instantly couldn’t move.

The pain of true qi forcibly entering her meridians made her unconsciously whimper softly, but before the sound could escape, he swallowed it fiercely.

Luo Wanqing’s eyes flew wide open in disbelief.

This was Xie Heng…

This was Xie Heng!

Had he gone mad? What was he doing?!

She told herself not to panic, searching for a chance to strike back fatally while considering Xie Heng’s motives.

But all her senses involuntarily focused on the lips and teeth that Xie Heng was forcibly entangling with hers, between the skin touching hers.

He wore only undergarments. The clothes from when she had applied medicine might not have been properly fastened. She could clearly sense his garments being pushed open, skin at night wind temperature rubbing against her, gradually warming up, scorching and burning.

His lips were very soft, his tongue also soft, nimble and domineering, dragging and entangling her, giving her no room to breathe or think, so forceful it was as if he wanted to tear her apart and devour her, leaving no retreat.

This similar yet intense kissing style gave her no possibility of resistance at all. It truly resembled this person’s way of doing things, and also…

Cui Heng.

The moment this thought exploded in her mind, Luo Wanqing felt like the last rope she was gripping tightly had snapped, and she was pulled into the quagmire by the person before her.

She was buried by desires surging from all directions, all her senses infinitely magnified, making her taste, enjoy, and compare.

The feeling of this person’s kiss was so similar to that instant when Cui Heng first kissed her that night at the music banquet.

Even the sensations of their touching skin were extremely similar.

Li Guiyu’s footsteps came from a distance. Her entire body couldn’t help but tense. He sensed her change and forcefully broke apart her fingers pressed against the tree, inserting his own between hers.

As their ten fingers intertwined, countless threads wound together. Xie Heng’s hand also bore a bloody mark that overlapped with her wound.

Unwilling.

He looked at his blood reflected on her wound, sliding down her pale wrist, feeling her body tensing nervously due to Li Guiyu’s footsteps, and couldn’t help but hold her tighter.

He was unwilling.

He was also the one who met her six years ago. Her entire being bore his marks. She had promised him “only him in life, a grave erected for him in death” – why was he still an outsider?

Why could he only observe from afar, just a passerby, where even helping her was a sin?

He insisted on interfering in her life, on intervening in her love and hate. He wanted to carve her name densely into her bones and blood, bit by bit erasing that name and becoming her rebirth.

Liu Xiniang…

Liu Xiniang.

She watched the things writhing rapidly under her skin, using true qi and his blood to lure and force whatever was beneath her skin toward her wound.

He kissed and pressured her while watching the movement beneath her skin. When that thing approached the wound, Xie Heng simultaneously bit down on Luo Wanqing’s lip. As Luo Wanqing’s body tensed, a black insect rushed out from Luo Wanqing’s wound and burrowed toward Xie Heng’s body!

Xie Heng’s skin writhed. His expression grew cold as he allowed the poison insect to burrow into his body and forcibly suppressed it.

Luo Wanqing was completely unaware of what had happened. She breathed lightly, slowly feeling “Xie Heng’s” kiss become gentle.

After a long while, he gently released her and tenderly embraced her trembling form.

“Liu Xiniang,” he said hoarsely, “I was never the sun.”

With that, he closed his eyes: “If you want to win, then go win.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater 1] Xie Heng & Luo Wanqing: “A New Year’s kiss offering – Happy New Year, everyone!”

[Mini Theater 2] Luo Wanqing: “Fish, I desire it; rabbit, I also desire it; give me that quail too, I can still eat it.” Li Guiyu: “…It’s been a while since we met, but Miss’s appetite has greatly, greatly, greatly, greatly, greatly increased.” Xie Heng: “I knew you had a good appetite, but I didn’t expect it to be this good. I’ll add extra meals for you from now on.” Luo Wanqing: “Long live the boss!”

[Mini Theater 3] Xie Heng: “Third Prince, shall we spar?” Li Guiyu: “No sparring.” Xie Heng: “I want to give Liu Xiniang some private tutoring.” Li Guiyu: “…That’s still not acceptable.” Both men properly: “Please, let’s begin!” Luo Wanqing (writing frantically in hiding): “Two alphas fighting to the death, while I, a beta, work diligently. Academic bullies fighting, academic underachievers stealing techniques. Check-in – today is another day of serious studying for me! Yeah!”