Chapter 103: So Warm

To be honest, deep down, she still felt a warmth in her heart. Yet, as she thought more about the past, her thoughts only grew darker. The Xuanyuan Monastery had been watching her all along, which was why they had rescued her so promptly. She, Si Nuosang, did not want to owe anything to the Xuanyuan Monastery, but now it seemed this was beyond her control.

Si Nuosang felt utterly helpless in this moment. Yet, despite her helplessness, she knew certain things were already severed. She would not look back.

She was a stubborn person, and once she made a decision, she would see it through to the end. Now that Ming Lou had spared Ye Xuan, she planned to leave as soon as Ye Xuan’s wounds healed.

She would no longer concern herself with the Xuanyuan Monastery; it was their callousness from the start. So she could not turn back—not because she did not want to, but because there was simply no path back. That man never accepted her. She could only grit her teeth and move forward. Even if the future was fraught with hardship, she would persist. That was her principle.

At this moment, Xuanyuan Monastery stood outside the inn, gazing at the building but not entering.

“Your Highness,” Yuan Qianlü said beside him, “the weather has turned cold; staying out here longer might catch a chill.” Yuan Qianlü merely hoped the prince would not behave this way again. He watched the princess from a corner where she could not see.

Yuan Qianlü was genuinely moved. Why couldn’t the princess see the prince’s kindness, yet chose to be with Ye Xuan? That was something Yuan Qianlü could not understand.

Being with the prince was a dream for many women. Yet the princess so devalued that love. From an emotional standpoint, Yuan Qianlü stood with the prince. The prince could be somewhat domineering with those he cared about, but only because he truly cared. If the princess found it overwhelming, it meant she did not understand the prince’s heart.

Yuan Qianlü felt his thoughts were pointless. This was a matter between the prince and the princess. If there was any chance for resolution, it was likely already gone.

Xuanyuan Monastery did not respond to Yuan Qianlü’s words. After lingering a moment longer, he left.

He knew Si Nuosang must have misunderstood him; the look in her eyes said it all.

Si Nuosang surely believed he was spying on her, following her. But that was not the case at all. He had merely received a strange note instructing him to rescue Si Nuosang.

Whether she misunderstood or not, Xuanyuan Monastery at least felt that saving her was enough. In truth, Qin Shuang could have handled everything if not for his appearance. Yet, according to Qin Shuang’s plan, he should have stayed hidden. Why then did he show himself later?

None of them understood this. But Qin Shuang laughed inside the main hall.

“Guards,” Qin Shuang, now dressed and seated, commanded. At his command, a dozen masked men emerged from the shadows.

“Greetings, Lord of the Mansion,” they said in unison.

“Keep a close watch on Si Nuosang; the item is with her.”

Qin Shuang recalled when Xuanyuan Monastery rescued Si Nuosang, she had clearly seen a glowing stone in her arms—a brief flash of light.

But that glimpse was enough. Perhaps it was divine providence, so easily obtained.

However, she did not let Xuanyuan Monastery know she already knew the stone’s whereabouts. She merely followed his words, allowing him to lower his guard. This was the best way to seize the treasure.

How the stone came into Si Nuosang’s possession was a mystery to Qin Shuang. If it were Xuanyuan Monastery, he would never have given it to Si Nuosang, unwilling to bring her trouble. Unless the message was originally about Si Nuosang herself, not Xuanyuan Monastery—that was their misunderstanding.

Hmph, it didn’t matter. Although it took so much time, this clue was invaluable—much faster than the Thousand Sect. The Thousand Sect would cling to Xuanyuan Monastery, giving her time to seize the gem from Si Nuosang.

Thinking of this, Qin Shuang smiled wickedly.

The masked men beneath looked at their terrifying lord. Hearing his sinister laughter, they knew it concealed an endless abyss.

“Hurry up!” Qin Shuang glared at them, and they vanished without a trace.

Everyone who had long served Qin Shuang knew he was far more dangerous and ruthless than Bai Lu.

Ming Lou, under his guidance, could only descend deeper into a black abyss. Yet no one would notice this darkness.

Even if they did, by then it would be too late—there would be no turning back.

Si Nuosang never imagined that the stone she carried, the time-traveling stone, was the very one they sought.

If she knew, she would only think they must be mistaken. How could people from this era know of such a stone? It came from the future and was useless to these ancient folk. Si Nuosang’s sole desire now was to leave Liang City.

The next day, she sensed the atmosphere around her shift uneasily. Her heart grew restless. Perhaps it was a natural sixth sense; she felt a strong pressure but could not explain why. She carried a bowl of porridge to Ye Xuan’s room.

“Ye Xuan, have some porridge.”

He had suffered severe wounds and needed nourishment to regain strength.

“Hmm. Nuosang, the medicine you gave me yesterday is truly miraculous. After taking it, I’ve recovered much faster than before,” Ye Xuan said.

He had expected the usual pain of injury, but the medicine seemed to ease his suffering and speed healing.

“Is that so? That’s good. Drink the porridge first.” She helped him sit up, blew on the porridge to cool it, and handed it to him.

Ye Xuan drank it slowly, while Si Nuosang patiently stayed by his side.

“When do you plan to leave?” she asked, knowing how eager Si Nuosang was to depart.

“How’s your body feeling?”

“With your medicine, it’s much better. I can move by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” She tidied him up.

Ye Xuan was overestimating himself. Leaving tomorrow was likely impossible.

“Tomorrow’s definitely too soon. Your body won’t hold. In three days, you might just barely manage to move.”

Si Nuosang looked at Ye Xuan. He nodded, acknowledging it was a stretch. He just didn’t want to see Si Nuosang upset all the time, since Xuanyuan Monastery’s mood had been gloomy.

Si Nuosang took back the small bowl after Ye Xuan finished, placed it on the table, poured a glass of water, and gave him another pill. This medicine was her lifeline. She had planned to save it for a moment of great danger, but seeing Ye Xuan like this, she couldn’t bear to watch him suffer.

From now on, she would have to be even more cautious.

“I’ll go downstairs first. You rest well.”