Qin Xi even reached out to rub his chest.

With this touch, Lang Bo suddenly grabbed her hand.

His mouth mumbling incoherently.

Not a single word could be understood.

Qin Xi looked at her hand being held by him, and her face immediately turned red.

She quickly withdrew her hand and pressed it against her chest.

Head lowered, full of bashfulness.

Seeing this, Shi Ziran didn’t want to be a third wheel and planned to leave.

Suddenly—

He caught sight of what Qin Xi had been packing.

A bundle!

Hmm?

He turned his head to ask: “Miss Qin, this is…”

Pointing at the thing.

Qin Xi stood up, pressed her lips together, and explained: “My health has improved considerably, so… I plan to leave tomorrow.”

“Leave?”

“Yes, this place… after all, isn’t my home, and moreover… I don’t know what meaning there is for me to continue staying.”

“Miss Qin, you mustn’t say that. Didn’t you say you liked Lang Bo? If you leave, what will he do?” Shi Ziran pointed at Lang Bo on the ground.

Qin Xi lowered her eyes. Her nose tingled and her eyes involuntarily reddened.

She said softly: “I don’t want to make things difficult for him.”

What a good girl.

Shi Ziran was anxious and really wanted to kick Lang Bo’s thigh.

Young man, you’d better step up your game!

The girl is leaving.

He hurriedly tried to persuade her: “Miss Qin, please reconsider. Don’t rush to leave. Wait until tomorrow to decide.”

“I…”

“Actually, this big oaf also likes you. He’s just timid and doesn’t dare speak to you about it.”

Qin Xi’s eyes lit up as she asked: “Really?”

Shi Ziran said earnestly: “Of course it’s true. And he said it himself. If you don’t believe me, wait until he wakes up and ask him yourself. He certainly wouldn’t dare lie to you.”

He guaranteed it!

With this said, Qin Xi was overjoyed.

The knot in her heart was finally untied.

A trace of a smile gradually appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Seeing that his words had worked, Shi Ziran then said: “Well then, Miss Qin, I’ll entrust this big oaf to you.”

“Ah? This…”

He turned around and vanished in a flash!

Not waiting for Qin Xi to agree.

She was at a loss, not knowing what to do.

After all, she and Lang Bo still had no official status. For a man and woman to share a room—was it appropriate?

She bit her lip, somewhat nervous.

Lang Bo on the ground twisted his body again, groggily calling out “Miss Qin” once more.

Qin Xi heard it clearly.

Instantly, the anxious and nervous feelings swept away.

Her eyes reddened.

“Elder Brother Lang.” She called out.

“Miss Qin, I… I want to be with you… with you, don’t leave, don’t leave…”

His voice grew fainter and fainter!

Hearing those words, Qin Xi cried.

She quickly wiped away her tears, crouched down beside Lang Bo, and called out again: “Elder Brother Lang.”

Lang Bo seemed to hear her and slowly opened his slightly squinted eyes.

Intoxicated, he couldn’t see clearly who was before him.

Hazily, he only sensed a shadow.

His mouth involuntarily called out “Miss Qin.”

Then he raised his hand toward the person in front of him.

Qin Xi grasped his hand firmly.

His palm was very warm, warming her cold hands.

She sniffled, and her whole body leaned toward Lang Bo’s chest.

Resting in his embrace.

Lang Bo also reached out to hold her.

On the other side.

Ji Yinshu arrived outside Third Master’s tent.

Two soldiers stood guard outside.

“Miss Ji?”

Why had she come here so late?

She said politely: “Please announce me. I wish to see Third Master.”

“This…”

“Is it inconvenient?”

“No, no.”

Third Master inside heard the voices outside and asked: “Who is it?”

The soldier replied: “Third Master, it’s Miss Ji. She says she wants to see you.”

But there was no sound from inside.

After quite a while—

“Let her in.”

The soldiers stepped aside.

As soon as Ji Yinshu entered, she smelled the scent of alcohol.

Third Master stood before a tall screen frame, taking down a black short sword from it.

The short sword was very exquisite, engraved with many raised and winding patterns. A translucent blue gemstone was embedded in the guard, flickering with a cold blue light. The hilt was wrapped with a layer of wolf skin that had been worn somewhat smooth, with some edges where the skin had peeled off, presumably from years of gripping the sword.

He took out a cloth, preparing to wipe the sword’s sheath.

He glanced at Ji Yinshu.

He asked: “It’s so late. Does Miss Ji have some business?”

She: “…”

Hmm?

Third Master’s movements paused, and he asked again: “Miss Ji, if you have something to say, feel free to speak directly.”

Ji Yinshu: “I do indeed have something I wish to ask Third Master.”

“Speak. As long as I know, I’ll certainly tell you everything.”

She said in a low voice, “I remember when we were in the capital, Third Master told me you were from Huyi.”

“That’s right, I’m from Huyi.”

“Twenty-one years ago, there was internal strife in Huyi. You and your old friend became separated on your way fleeing to Dalin. Is that correct?”

Third Master’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had detected something from her words.

But his hands never stopped wiping the sword’s sheath.

He replied: “That’s right. I did say that. It was only because an accident occurred on the way that we became separated.”

No emotion could be heard in his tone.

Then he slowly drew the short sword.

The silver gleam flashing from the blade swept quickly across his eyes.

He began wiping the sharp silver blade.

While asking, “Why is Miss Ji suddenly asking about these matters?”

“Because I want to inquire about someone from Third Master!”

“Who?”

Ji Yinshu took a small step forward and continued asking, “I remember Third Master said I resembled that old friend of yours. So exactly how alike?”

Uh!

Third Master’s hand paused.

He seemed to understand her meaning.

A pair of profound eyes looked at Ji Yinshu.

Ji Yinshu didn’t offer more explanation. She simply took out the yellowed portrait from her sleeve.

And held it out toward Third Master.

“I wonder if the old friend Third Master spoke of is the person in this portrait?”

Third Master’s brows furrowed tightly, his gaze fixed on the yellow paper being handed to him.

His eyes suddenly sharpened!

Because he recognized that paper!

Immediately, he sheathed the sword in his hand and placed it back on the screen beside him, walked over, and took the paper.

Slowly he opened it!

Meeting his eyes was a face almost identical to Ji Yinshu’s. But upon closer examination, there were actually some subtle differences between the two.

The woman in the portrait carried a trace of clear and bright air, her eyes gentle and spirited, possessing the elegant temperament of noble aristocracy. The phrase “emerging unstained from the mud” would be perfectly fitting to describe her. Ji Yinshu’s eyes, on the other hand, contained more wisdom, and she had a more spirited quality.

And these differences seemed only Third Master could perceive.

Because the woman in this portrait—he was all too familiar with her.

Despite more than twenty years having passed, this woman’s appearance was still clearly etched in his mind.

Her hair, forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth… every smile and frown, all were branded into his bones, never forgotten.