Yun Xiao rose after her father had fallen asleep. She met her brother’s deep, probing gaze and knew what he wanted to ask. She offered a faint smile that bloomed like hidden flowers in the dim lamplight.
"It's nothing, really. Just a friend. He knows some martial arts, and I was afraid someone might harm Father, so I asked him to help."
"Mm," Yun Zhen said nothing more. His eyes dimmed slightly. Although Xiao'er was well, she had become so mysterious, with so many things they didn't know. The feeling was rather sorrowful and ethereal.
"Xiao'er, you should go to sleep. It's late. Brother will go sleep too."
Yun Zhen walked out, and Yun Xiao followed him.
Liu Xing and Jing Yun guarded outside the tent. As soon as they saw the two emerge, they respectfully called out, "Young Master."
Yun Xiao nodded. She bid farewell to her brother at the entrance, and they each returned to their tents. The rain had lessened slightly. Liu Xing, from somewhere, found a green oil-paper umbrella and escorted Yun Xiao back to her tent.
The tent had been lit, and a faint glow shone through the seams. Under the weak light, the fine raindrops were faintly visible, like pearls strung on a thread, falling without pause.
"You two go change your clothes and rest. Nothing will happen tonight."
"Yes, Master."
Liu Xing and Jing Yun’s tents were next door. They could hear the slightest stir, so they responded and left.
Yun Xiao lifted the tent flap and stepped inside, only to freeze at the entrance. In the fleeting light and shadow, a figure sat by the lamp, propping his cheek with one hand, gazing at her lazily.
Three thousand strands of black silk were tied with a brocade ribbon. A silver mask gleamed in the lamplight, casting countless fine silver lines onto the tent's edge, forming a sea of waves.
He was immersed in this sea of waves, his presence calm and fragrant. He looked over, his eyes unfathomably deep, a faint mist rising from them as if veiled by a layer of gauze, hazy and mysterious. Without speaking, he exuded a bewitching aura.
He was like a spirit that emerged in the dead of night, quietly awaiting a delicious meal.
At a time like this, Yun Xiao would not automatically assume she was his meal. Her expression darkened. She stepped forward lightly, as if not seeing him, and went directly to the side to wash, her face completely devoid of emotion.
A magnetic, deep voice sounded, carrying a faint, rich fragrance.
"You said you'd forgive me."
Yun Xiao looked up, smiling like a blooming flower, like flowing water, but her eyes held icy coldness.
"I have forgiven you. From now on, we owe each other nothing. No, perhaps I still owe you a favor. If you need anything, you can always find me in the future."
Her tone was strictly businesslike. She didn't glance at the person by the table, so she didn't see the indulgence that flashed in his eyes.
"So ugly."
As the words fell, Yun Xiao’s mind couldn't quite process them. What was ugly? She turned to look at him, seeing his deep, dark eyes fixed on her face.
So he meant her disguise was ugly. But what was it to him? She glared at him, baring her teeth in disdain.
"What's it to you? I'm ugly, and that's my business. You're beautiful, and that's yours."
He followed up immediately with, "I never thought of harming him; I only thought of harming you."
Yun Xiao froze again. Could he be any more direct? He never thought of harming her father, but what about their current situation? Had she wandered here for nothing? They had nearly died in this plague.
Yun Xiao couldn't help but rush to the table, glaring furiously at the man.
She wanted to see how he would twist black into white.
"Speak. If you can give a reasonable explanation, I will truly forgive you. Otherwise, don't talk to me about forgiveness."
Murong Chong's lips curved slightly. A fleeting look of surprise crossed his eyes. This little hedgehog was truly troublesome sometimes. But why was he putting aside all his affairs to see her, just to know if she was alright?
And the result was that the moment they met, she blamed him. Moreover, it seemed that if he couldn't explain himself, she would be his sworn enemy, never to see him again. Never to see him again?
A bewitching smile suddenly played on his lips, making him look even more like a spirit, a spirit with its face veiled.
Yun Xiao inwardly snorted and waited for his explanation.
Unfortunately, Murong Chong didn't wish to say much. Some things might be useless even if explained. Only by reaching the end would they know the true purpose of all his actions.
"With this turnaround from near death, I believe the Yun Royal Manor will be safe for now."
"This is your explanation?" Yun Xiao breathed out, her eyes now flashing with a cold, fierce light. She glared at him, wishing she could shoot a hole through his mask, annoyed by his arrogance and dismissive attitude.
"Do you think Yun Mo will be safe in the capital?"
He retorted, already standing up. His tall figure blocked all the light. His white silk robe was cinched at the waist with an embroidered golden eagle.
She had never seen a golden eagle before. It was more imposing and arrogant than any other. With a wave of his hand, his white cloak billowed out, spreading like a large opened umbrella.
The edge of the umbrella was adorned with green, lush bamboo leaves, elegant, like a barrier, concealing him as he walked to the tent door. He lightly lifted the flap and looked outside.
Fine rain fell like pearls, soft and distant.
He stood there motionless, his gaze piercing through the misty rain, drifting far, far away. Solitary and aloof, he stood detached from the world...
Yun Xiao gazed intently at his back, as upright as pine and bamboo. Behind his tenacious, overbearing demeanor, it seemed an endless sorrow was hidden.
In the fluttering rain, it shattered into pieces on the ground. He was a man so domineering, as if nothing in the world could move him.
Yet, at times, he harbored a destructive sorrow. Who was he, exactly?
A flash of thought crossed Yun Xiao's mind. She remembered her father's loss of control, his rampage in the palace. What was all this for? She abruptly stood up and rushed to his side, wanting to grab him and question him thoroughly. Who was he, exactly?
But before her fingers could touch his cloak, her vision blurred, a flash of white light, and the figure was gone. Only his magnetic, iron-like voice echoed from the tent roof.
"I'll come see you again tomorrow night. It's late, so you should sleep early."
Yun Xiao looked up at the tent roof, glaring. This hateful fellow! He piqued her interest and then disappeared.
If he came tomorrow night, she would still ask. She would ask every time she saw him, to see if he would ever tell her.
The night was indeed very late. Yun Xiao yawned and slowly walked to bed. She didn't realize Wanwan stirred, shook her head, and opened her sleepy eyes, muttering curiously, "Young Master, why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I'm going to sleep. You sleep."
It seemed Murong Chong had released her acupoint. Wanwan, not understanding, felt sore all over. She must be too tired lately. With a soft thud, she fell back and continued to sleep. Yun Xiao looked at the tent helplessly and slowly drifted off to sleep.