“Another path?” Shao Mingyuan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

His brows were perfectly shaped like swords, long and sharp, yet his eyes were pure black and gentle.

“Yes, Xuanjing said that path has been abandoned for many years.”

“Are you tired?”

Qiao Zhao was startled by Shao Mingyuan’s question and looked at him silently.

“If you can still hold on, we’ll go take a look together. If you feel tired, then we’ll wait until you’ve rested well before going together.”

Given the current situation, he had no intention of letting Miss Li leave his sight again.

“I can hold on, let’s go together.” Qiao Zhao was still shaken by what had happened not long ago.

She looked at the man before her, tall and straight like green pines and bamboo, and suddenly felt deeply moved.

That day on the city wall of Yan City, if this man hadn’t made that decisive shot with his arrow, what kind of fate would have befallen her?

Being there in person was ten thousand times more terrifying than she had imagined.

Even now, Qiao Zhao could still feel the foul breath that man had exhaled from his mouth.

Shao Mingyuan noticed that although the young woman before him appeared calm on the surface, deep in her eyes flowed an lingering terror that couldn’t be dispelled. Despite her best efforts to conceal it, she couldn’t escape his keen observation.

He had seen such expressions far too many times in the Northern Territories. Many of the women he had rescued had shown this same look in their eyes.

So even the strongest girls would be afraid, no matter how composed they appeared on the surface.

At this moment, the softest corner of Shao Mingyuan’s heart felt as if it had been gently struck, bringing some pain, some bitterness, and even more helplessness.

If only he could, how much he wanted to embrace her in his arms and shield her from all the storms of the world.

But he couldn’t.

The young general wanted to raise his hand and pat the girl’s shoulder, but in the end, he kept his hands properly at his sides, saying calmly, “Let’s go.”

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes: “Mm.”

She followed him forward, thinking to herself: I can’t be soft-hearted. Even if that arrow he shot was justified, so what? If she hadn’t married him, how would she have ended up in that situation? Even if she had let go of that arrow in her heart and forgiven him, she shouldn’t be moved by it, should she?

Miss Qiao was somewhat annoyed at her weakness.

“Miss Li—” Shao Mingyuan suddenly turned around.

Miss Qiao, who had been lost in thought, couldn’t stop in time and crashed directly into him.

Her forehead lightly brushed against his shoulder, and he caught her with both hands.

“Be careful.” Though it was only a light touch, Shao Mingyuan inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity. He couldn’t explain what that feeling was, but his ears involuntarily grew warm.

Before Qiao Zhao could steady herself, Shao Mingyuan had already withdrawn his hands.

Qiao Zhao stumbled and nearly fell, giving him a sideways glance.

It would have been better if he hadn’t helped at all!

Shao Mingyuan was extremely embarrassed. He wanted to apologize but didn’t know what to say, so he simply kept quiet and turned to continue walking forward.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help asking, “General Shao, what did you call me for just now?”

Shao Mingyuan’s body paused, and he smiled sheepishly, “I forgot again in an instant.”

He had wanted to tell her not to be afraid, but then again, what was the point of saying such things?

The two walked forward side by side in silence. When they found Xuanjing, the little monk’s nose was red from crying.

Qiao Zhao crouched down: “Why is little master crying?”

“Little monk wasn’t crying.” Xuanjing quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve, looking up with tears still in his eyes, “Does the female benefactor need something from little monk? Little monk doesn’t want to eat sugar threads today.”

Wuwuwu, so many kind master-uncles from Shuying Nunnery were gone, so sad!

Qiao Zhao took out her handkerchief to wipe the corners of Xuanjing’s eyes and said solemnly, “We came to find little master because we indeed have something very important.”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t little master mention before that there’s another path from Dafu Temple leading to Shuying Nunnery? Could you take us to see it?”

“Uh, alright—” Xuanjing blinked, his long eyelashes fluttering as he glanced at Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan smiled at him.

The little monk’s face immediately scrunched up.

Shao Mingyuan: “…” Even if he wasn’t handsome, he wouldn’t be scary enough to frighten a child, would he?

Facing a little child even younger than Qiao Wan, someone was completely bewildered.

“Little master, what’s wrong?” Qiao Zhao asked in confusion.

“Please wait a moment, benefactors,” Xuanjing said this and turned around, running inside on his short legs, leaving Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan looking at each other in puzzlement.

After a moment of silence, Qiao Zhao asked, “General Shao, have you interacted with little master Xuanjing during your stay at the temple these past few days?”

“No.” Shao Mingyuan was completely puzzled.

He was most helpless with children and would never approach them unless necessary.

“I always feel like little master Xuanjing has some opinion about you.” Qiao Zhao honestly shared her observation.

Shao Mingyuan nodded: “I think so too.”

Soon, Xuanjing came running back with pattering steps, carrying two steamed buns in his hands: “Benefactor, steamed buns for you.”

The little monk stood on his tiptoes and stuffed the steamed buns into Shao Mingyuan’s hands.

Shao Mingyuan held the two steamed buns, stunned.

He had thought the little master had an opinion about him, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding – the little master was giving him steamed buns to eat.

“Benefactor, please eat quickly. Once you eat them, you’ll have strength.” Xuanjing looked at Shao Mingyuan with expectant eyes.

Shao Mingyuan: “…” What did he mean by having strength?

Qiao Zhao was initially confused, but meeting the little monk’s bright eyes, she suddenly understood.

That day, when Xuanjing asked about Binglu, she had coaxed him to prevent the little monk from being sad, saying that Shao Mingyuan didn’t have enough strength to bring both her and Binglu together—

Qiao Zhao glanced at Shao Mingyuan, unable to suppress a smile.

So, Shao Mingyuan had been secretly looked down upon by the little monk all this time?

“Master-uncle used to tell me that eating more steamed buns helps you grow taller. Although the benefactor can’t grow taller anymore, eating steamed buns will give you strength. That way, if we encounter danger, the benefactor can carry both the little monk and the female benefactor back together.” Xuanjing explained with complete seriousness.

Though young, he knew that something terrible had happened at Shuying Nunnery and that the outside world was dangerous. He wasn’t afraid, but he was worried about what would happen if the female benefactor encountered danger.

After hearing Xuanjing’s words, the young general’s expression became wonderfully varied. He silently swallowed one steamed bun, only to discover that the little monk was still looking at him expectantly, so he had to force down the other steamed bun as well.

Walking on the road, Shao Mingyuan couldn’t bear it anymore and asked Qiao Zhao in a low voice, “Miss Li, what strange things did you tell the little master?”

“Nothing.” Miss Qiao looked up at the sky.

Innocent – would she tell him?

Shao Mingyuan quietly pressed his stomach.

So full!

Qiao Zhao caught his movement from the corner of her eye and couldn’t help curving her lips, saying softly, “You’re quite honest – when he told you to eat two, you ate them?”

Shao Mingyuan looked helpless: “If I didn’t eat them, what if he cried?”

Qiao Zhao rolled her eyes quite inelegantly.

“We’re here.” The little monk leading the way stopped and pointed, “Going up from here is the path.”

What lay before the three of them could hardly be called a path – the small stone trail was completely overgrown with wild grass, with only scattered stones visible.

Shao Mingyuan crouched down and said gently, “Little master, shall I carry you?”

The little monk, not understanding the adults’ concerns, waved his hands repeatedly: “No need to carry little monk, benefactor should carry the female benefactor instead.”