"Zhao Xue?"
Zhu Xu's brows furrowed, her gaze towards Zhao Xue still held a unique tenderness.
"It's nothing."
Zhao Xue held Zhu Xu's face for a moment before lowering her hands.
Why were there so many people in Xu Xu's eyes?
Zhao Xue dared not ask, the question was too unreasonable, yet her heart ached terribly because of it. Sudancn.com
Zhao Xue fell in love with Xu Xu and thus began to hate everything around her.
Even a stray cat or dog that caught Zhu Xu's eye on the street would spark Zhao Xue's jealousy.
"Is it really nothing?" Zhu Xu looked up at Zhao Xue, her eyes full of concern.
"Mm, it's nothing."
Zhu Xu watched Zhao Xue's slightly lowered eyes, unsure if "nothing" was truly what Zhao Xue meant, but she couldn't shake her unease.
Zhu Xu silently squeezed Zhao Xue's hand.
If Zhao Xue didn't want to speak, Zhu Xu would simply stay by her side.
"Are you tired? Shall we find a place to rest?"
Zhao Xue looked up, meeting Zhu Xu's crescent-shaped eyes.
Zhu Xu's focused gaze had not left Zhao Xue's face since Zhao Xue had lowered her hands from it.
The terrible sadness in Zhao Xue's heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a faint, lingering melancholy and despair.
Zhao Xue already felt that her life and death were no longer within her control.
It didn't matter, Zhao Xue didn't care about that.
What Zhao Xue cared about was that if this continued, she would incur Zhu Xu's dislike.
What Zhao Xue cared about was whether she could control herself from hurting Xu Xu when Xu Xu truly peeled her skin and walked away.
Zhao Xue shook her head again, and Zhu Xu stopped asking, simply watching Zhao Xue quietly.
"Cough, cough."
Xiu Yong placed his hand over his lips and cleared his throat.
Beyond the discomfort, Xiu Yong rationally did not want Zhu Xu to become too deeply involved, especially since Zhao Xue was opposed to Zhu Xu.
However, all of Xiu Yong's thoughts seemed to dissipate like smoke in front of Zhu Xu and Zhao Xue, having no impact on them whatsoever.
Xiu Yong: ...
Do couples nowadays have no sense of privacy?
Fortunately, this awkward scene did not last long. The old peddler selling medicine broke Xiu Yong's discomfort.
"Young Master, Young Lady. I have a medicine here that you've absolutely never heard of."
"Mafeisan. But this is no ordinary Mafeisan."
"Once this Mafeisan is taken, for the next three days, no matter if one's heart is gouged out or tendons are torn, the user will feel nothing."
The old peddler's voice was loud, and Zhu Xu, being disturbed, finally looked at the old peddler who was trying so hard to sell his wares.
No, he was an old swindler.
Zhu Xu had already decided the man was a fraud and turned to leave, but Xiu Yong spoke first.
"What about skinning?"
Xiu Yong looked at the red pill in the old peddler's hand, his expression unreadable.
"Skinning, skinning is naturally also applicable."
Seeing Xiu Yong's interest, the old peddler held up the pill, intending to talk more with Xiu Yong.
However, before the old peddler could showcase his silver tongue, the matter was settled.
"How much? I'll take it."
Xiu Yong said as he pulled out his money pouch.
Zhu Xu looked at Xiu Yong in surprise, while Zhao Xue lowered her gaze, radiating a deep melancholy.
The old peddler glanced at Xiu Yong's exquisite pale blue robe, gathered his composure, and blurted out, "One hundred taels!"
"Good." As soon as the old peddler finished speaking, Xiu Yong immediately took out 10 taels of gold ingots from his pocket. After all, Xiu Yong was on official duty, and such worldly goods were naturally supported by the Heavenly Court.
The old peddler's eyes gleamed at the sight of the gold, and he immediately handed the medicine to Xiu Yong.
After the three of them left, the old peddler looked at their departing figures and then at the gold in his hand, suddenly feeling shortchanged.
"Xiu Yong, your hobby is quite peculiar."
Zhu Xu glanced at the small pill in Xiu Yong's hand and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Isn't His Highness's hobby peculiar as well?"
Xiu Yong retorted meaningfully.
Zhu Xu immediately thought of Zhao Xue and had nothing more to say.
After all, in her heart, Zhao Xue was the most peculiar, without exception.
After this, the three continued to wander aimlessly until evening.
The three circled around to the back of the inn, intending to climb through the window to retrieve their belongings.
"It's too dangerous for three people to go up together. Someone should go up first to scout the situation."
After Xiu Yong spoke, there was no response.
Xiu Yong looked at the cold and indifferent Zhao Xue, then at the awkward Zhu Xu, and finally his gaze fell on their clasped hands.
"I'll go up and check first." Xiu Yong took a deep breath, his tone calm.
After entering his room and finding no anomalies, Xiu Yong went to the window and made a gesture to Zhao Xue and Zhu Xu below.
Seeing this, Zhao Xue and Zhu Xu did not hesitate and flew up to their room together.
A moment later, the three, carrying their respective belongings, returned to the back of the inn.
"Xiu Yong, we need to return to the Nine Heavens tonight to get some things. We'll take our leave here."
This was the result of Zhu Xu's discussion with Zhao Xue earlier.
She had said she wanted to retrieve the gift for Zhao Xue as soon as possible, and Zhao Xue had agreed.
Xiu Yong was stunned for a moment, then produced a brocade box and handed it to Zhu Xu.
Zhu Xu lowered her head, looking at the small box in her hand, and asked with confusion, "What is this?"
"It's something that can save your life in a critical moment. Please be sure to open it only when absolutely necessary."
Xiu Yong's expression was impassive, revealing no hidden meaning.
Zhu Xu nodded, her mind currently occupied with the embroidered pouch she had made, and she wasn't curious about the small box in her hand.
However, both Zhao Xue and Xiu Yong knew what was inside the box.
Neither of them feared the Heavenly Court finding them, so they could use their spiritual energy to sense its contents.
The former was unafraid because she knew the Heavenly Court would not openly arrest people in the mortal realm, and thus it was easy for Zhao Xue to use demonic arts to repel them.
The latter was a member of the Heavenly Court themselves, so there was naturally nothing to fear.
Is Xu Xu going to skin me tonight?
Zhao Xue looked at Zhu Xu beside her, her expression dark and dejected.
Soon, Zhu Xu and Zhao Xue's figures vanished into the night.
Xiu Yong took out the artifact from behind his ear and explained Zhu Xu and Zhao Xue's plan, as well as his own thoughts, to General Huo Gui.
General Huo Gui stood sternly before Xiu Yong.
"Young Master's idea is excellent. We will make the necessary arrangements."
Xiu Yong nodded, and in the next second, he was so startled that his rabbit ears almost stood on end.