The full moon night.
Bright moonlight streamed through the paper windows into the inner chamber, casting a clear, cold silver glow upon the two figures intertwined on the bed.
Xiao Chizhan caressed the girl beneath him, kissing her with utmost tenderness.
At that moment, a familiar whistle sounded from outside the window.
A flash of impatience flickered in his crimson eyes. After a few more vigorous thrusts, he withdrew from the bed.
He casually threw on a robe, walked to the window, and opened it halfway.
"What's the rush?"
Li Qiongyu leaned against a large tree by the window. Seeing his insatiable look, he said, "You got what you wanted, hurry up. I haven't seen him in a long time and I'm in a hurry."
Xiao Chizhan replied unhappily, "Wait."
"Why are you blocking it so tightly, like you're guarding against thieves? Do you think I'd peek?"
"Scram."
Li Qiongyu wasn't angered. He scoffed, "At this frequency, you'll run out of the Fuxin Powder soon, won't you?"
Xiao Chizhan turned back, displeased. "You know that much?"
"With your behavior, you're bound to come every night. If you keep this up, you'll be discovered sooner or later."
Xiao Chizhan said nothing and slammed the window shut.
He walked to the bedside, glanced at the girl sleeping soundly, picked up a damp cloth, and began to clean up the mess.
After finishing, he applied medicine directly to the delicate wound. Only then did he help her put on her underclothes and tuck her in.
Li Qiongyu waited outside for half an hour before seeing the man, looking presentable, climb out the window.
"From now on, when I go out on business, I absolutely cannot bring Ye Luan. It's too time-consuming."
Xiao Chizhan ignored him and strode forward, saying, "Tomorrow, go tell Chu Xuan to have the heated floors in her room fired up."
"My Prince, are they going to specially fire up the floors for your favorite concubine?"
"She is sensitive to the cold. This desolate place is too cold."
Li Qiongyu pouted, "The nights in the frontier are naturally cold."
Xiao Chizhan, too lazy to argue, walked ahead.
"Hey, do you think Lu Feibai will really not die?"
Xiao Chizhan smiled coldly, "His fate is only a dead end."
Li Qiongyu smiled and said no more.
The two arrived at a stone door, activated the mechanism, and walked inside. A deep and long passage stretched before them, with glazed fires burning on both sides, creating a dark and eerie atmosphere.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, a mournful wolf howl suddenly echoed from within, sounding utterly terrifying.
"Oh ho, awake now?"
Li Qiongyu excitedly strode forward, pushed open a hidden door, and entered a vast underworld, teeming with flickering ghost fires.
The surroundings were luxuriously built, with carved railings and jade embellishments, yet exuded an eerie gloom everywhere. In a boundless sea prison, a man covered in wolf fur was chained.
Various fierce beasts swam in the water.
Xiao Chizhan, dressed in a white robe, stood there like a god who had fallen into the abyss.
He stepped on a sharp stone, leaned down with a light smile to look at the wolf-man chained in the water, his voice deep and bloodthirsty.
"Uncle, long time no see!"
The man in the water was covered in fur on his body and face. He glared with eyes like copper bells. Upon seeing the two, his gaze seemed filled with blood.
He roared forcefully, but only wolf-like sounds escaped.
The chains scraped mournfully in the water, and together with the wolf howls, they created an exceptionally chilling sound in the silent underworld.
"Hahaha, the dignified Second Elder of Wuhui Gate, now a werewolf. Imagine the panic of the disciples outside when they find out. I'm truly looking forward to it."
The man in the water roared in anger, the heavy chains swaying and emitting a harsh clanking sound, splashing water.
Xiao Chizhan watched with immense excitement. He pressed a mechanism and, with great interest, watched the fierce creatures in the water pounce and tear at the wolf-man.
His crimson eyes seemed to flicker with the fires of purgatory.
"Tsk, this medicine from Southern Xinjiang is truly effective. Look how the fur on his body is torn away, only to grow back quickly."
Li Qiongyu sat on a chair, leisurely sipping his tea.
He watched the spectacle in the water with amusement, a flicker of imperceptible madness in his peach blossom eyes.
This kind of werewolf was truly lethal.
"Tan Taiye has brought many things from Southern Xinjiang. I heard there's a serum that can turn people into half-beasts. Shall we try it on him?"
He enjoyed observing such strange things the most.
Xiao Chizhan smiled coldly, "Certainly. He will surely like it."
---
Ye Luan woke up the next day and quickly got out of bed to wash up and check on Lu Feibai.
It had been a night, and she wondered if any other symptoms had occurred.
As she entered the small courtyard, she saw Xie Beihan emerging from the house with a tired face. They nearly collided.
Ye Luan quickly stepped back, "How is he?"
Xie Beihan slowly closed the door, leaned against the corridor, and curved his thin lips.
"Little girl, you care so much about Jingzhi. Could it be that you like him?"
Why was this Xie Beihan like Xiao Chizhan, with nothing but liking on his mind? Couldn't she just be concerned about a patient or a friend?
This was congenital frost illness. If it could truly be cured, it would be a significant advancement in medical history.
"If that's the case, then does the Crown Prince's concern for the Heir imply he likes the Heir?"
Stung by her retort, Xie Beihan laughed.
That smile was no longer devoid of warmth; it was as warm as the rising sun.
Ye Luan frowned. He was smiling so enchantingly, what mischief was he thinking of?
She tried to knock on the door, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"Don't go in, he just fell asleep."
Ye Luan said coldly, "Let go."
Since he had fallen asleep, there should be no immediate issues.
Seeing her defensiveness, Xie Beihan not only didn't let go but also pulled her into his embrace, pressing her tightly against a red pillar behind her.
Ye Luan was startled. She immediately pulled out a knife with her other hand and held it to his chest, then kicked her knee upwards. She smoothly wriggled out of his grasp and retreated to a safe distance.
Her gaze remained indifferent as she looked at him.
"Heh, yesterday when Xiao Chizhan hugged you, you didn't struggle at all. But with me, you're using knives and kicking. The treatment difference is too great."
Ye Luan ignored him and turned to leave.
"Hey, you don't actually plan to stay by that madman's side, do you? As far as I know, he hasn't tormented you little. He's choked you, stabbed you, and even wanted to kill you. If it weren't for your interesting qualities, you would have died long ago."
"Don't you feel ashamed to be by his side day and night?"
His voice was playful and tinged with excitement. Ye Luan stopped, turned back to look at him, her voice extremely calm.
"The first time I met you, didn't you also choke me and try to kill me? What's the difference between you two?"
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "I'm not as crazy as him, nor have I done those inhumane things he did. I've always been gentle with women."
Ye Luan sneered, "Heh, if I had met you first, my fate might have been even worse than it is now."
"Tsk, don't speak of things that haven't happened," Xie Beihan's smile deepened, and he tempted her, "How about I rescue you from this fiery pit and leave that lunatic?"
"And then? Return to Northern Qi's Eastern Palace with you and be imprisoned by you?"
"Imprisoned is not the word."
Ye Luan sneered, "It's better to be at ease here with him."
With that, she turned to leave.
Xie Beihan's languid voice echoed behind her, "Do you know what Fuxin Powder is?"