Hua Yan glanced at the prescription slip and then at Lu Chengsha, who was dismounting and preparing to enter Dongfeng Buye Tower. The young man in black looked the same as usual, except he was still somewhat avoiding her—which wasn’t important. Hua Yan stared unblinkingly at Lu Chengsha, a particularly strange emotion rising in her heart.
Lu Chengsha was going to inquire about the current whereabouts of Xie Yingxian. After a short while, he came out of the building and walked towards Hua Yan.
Hua Yan continued to stare at his face.
Lu Chengsha averted his gaze and said, “You can stay here and wait for me.”
Hua Yan immediately said, “I’ll go with you! I promise I won’t be a burden! I’m very useful!”
She couldn’t help but stare at Lu Chengsha, trying to find clues from his face.
Lu Chengsha said, “It’s too dangerous.”
Hua Yan immediately raised her hand and said, “I can protect myself, and…” She made up a reason, “I have a deep hatred for the Demonic Sect. I want to… uh, in short, I also want to seek revenge on the Demonic Sect Leader!”
After all, she couldn’t completely ignore Xie Yingxian.
However, after spending a lot of time together, Hua Yan was no longer as smooth at lying in front of Lu Chengsha. Fortunately, Lu Chengsha didn’t suspect a thing.
He pondered for a moment and said, “…Then don’t leave my side.”
Hua Yan blinked and nodded, “Okay!”
Lu Chengsha’s face still showed no more expression, only his dark eyes refused to look at her directly. Hua Yan deliberately moved into his line of sight, and Lu Chengsha indeed shifted his gaze elsewhere again.
Hua Yan felt like there was a feather in her heart, scratching at it.
A bit itchy, and it made her want to laugh.
When Lu Chengsha mounted his horse and they rode together, that strange feeling still lingered, causing her to glance at him from time to time while they traveled.
This made Lu Chengsha subtly steer his horse a little farther away.
A day ago, she might have felt a bit downhearted.
Now, Hua Yan also quietly moved her horse closer, and then he moved a little farther away again.
She felt both curious and puzzled, and couldn’t help but wonder, does Great Hero Lu really like her?
But his reaction was truly strange. If one liked someone, shouldn’t they try to get closer to them, like her mother liked her father, simply tying him up to stay together day and night, getting intimately acquainted, and eventually falling in love over time?
Someone like him, who wanted to get closer yet deliberately kept a distance, was the first person Hua Yan had ever encountered.
Could it be that Ming Qi was fooling her?
The lovesickness she thought was lovesickness, wasn’t there really a poison called Lovesickness?
Right now, she really wanted to grab Ming Qi and question him thoroughly.
***
That night, the two stayed at an inn. Before entering, they heard someone inside talking about how the Demonic Sect disciples were wreaking havoc in various places, causing the righteous disciples to go and encircle them, distracting the pursuers from the Demonic Sect Leader.
Hua Yan couldn’t think about whether Lu Chengsha liked her anymore; she pricked up her ears to listen. Unexpectedly, as soon as Lu Chengsha entered, the place fell silent.
Oh right, she almost forgot that Great Hero Lu comes with a silencing effect.
Both entered their rooms in the inn. Hua Yan sneaked out to continue listening, learning that Xie Yingxian hadn’t been caught yet. She felt a slight sense of relief—though she trusted him personally and wasn’t seriously worried about him.
Recently, Yu Ye was responsible for tracking Xie Yingxian and healing injured righteous disciples, gradually gaining fame. Previously, she heard people calling him a “Demonic Sect traitor,” but now some had started calling him “Master Yu.”
Hua Yan curled her lips in displeasure.
Can’t these righteous people recognize true character?
Then she remembered that she was deceived by him for a long time too, and she felt downhearted again.
She thought to wander around to change her mood, only to notice Lu Chengsha following her at a distance.
Lu Chengsha wasn’t hiding his tracks, likely worried about her safety. Hua Yan felt a warmth in her heart and turned to find Lu Chengsha. She cornered him, and though his expression remained normal, Hua Yan sensed a hint of tension.
Hua Yan tried to take his arm, but Lu Chengsha stiffened and took a step back, saying, “Don’t get too close to me.”
So she still couldn’t understand his reaction!
In the lectures given by her mother, the holy maiden of the Zhengyi Sect, besides teaching how to poison and use venomous insects, and how to be ruthless to achieve one’s goals, the most common topic was how to seduce a man. Her mother was quite experienced in this regard.
Although Hua Yan didn’t listen attentively, she vaguely remembered her mother saying that once a man developed feelings for her, he would subconsciously want to get close to her—of course, at this time, it was essential to keep some distance to maintain a sense of mystery. Then, whatever she said, the man would agree to, and he would try to please her, sometimes even telling her things voluntarily, which was more effective than the allure of a seductive voice.
But… Great Hero Lu not only avoided her but also became increasingly stingy, often telling her “no.” If she wanted to know something, she had to painstakingly think of ways to ask.
As for pleasing him, Hua Yan thought about it and immediately felt a bit awkward…
If her mother knew, she would probably scold her to death. Hua Yan felt like she was trying to please Great Hero Lu a bit too much…
No! Hua Yan composed herself. She wasn’t trying to please Great Hero Lu; she was just making some effort to get along with him!
In any case, if it weren’t for the fact that he kissed her forehead and the certainty with which Ming Qi provided the prescription, Hua Yan wouldn’t have dared to be so sure.
No, even now, she wasn’t certain…
Hua Yan took a step forward, and Lu Chengsha took another step back.
Although there weren’t many people on the roadside, the scene still appeared somewhat comical, even to Hua Yan herself.
…It was a little funny.
So she took two more steps forward.
Lu Chengsha was backed against the wall. He was about to slip away to the side, but Hua Yan anticipated his move and blocked his path. Normally, Hua Yan wouldn’t be so relentless.
But… at this moment, she could see a hint of embarrassment on Lu Chengsha’s usually expressionless face.
Though it wasn’t appropriate, Hua Yan found it… quite adorable.
That strange feeling in Hua Yan’s heart resurfaced, itching to break free.
Lu Chengsha was about a head taller than her and far more skilled in martial arts, yet now, cornered by her against the wall, he seemed a bit helpless.
His dark eyes flickered. Finally, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
There was a trace of helplessness in his tone.
Hua Yan almost couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips. She managed to hold it back and said seriously, “Nothing, I just wanted to look at you.”
Lu Chengsha: “…”
Hua Yan noticed his chest rise and fall slightly, as if he were speechless.
He lowered his gaze and said, “There’s nothing worth looking at.”
Hua Yan disagreed. “Great Hero Lu, hasn’t anyone ever told you that you’re very good-looking?” She thought for a moment and added, “Wait, haven’t I told you that before?”
Most of the time, others could only see his aura and overlooked his appearance.
It seemed Lu Chengsha took a deep breath before looking at her. His dark eyes were as clear as ink, and Hua Yan could see her reflection in his pupils, looking even more beautiful than in reality.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and covered her eyes.
Hmm?
Hua Yan’s vision was suddenly engulfed in darkness. All she could hear was Lu Chengsha’s voice saying, “You are the one who looks better.”
Huh???
How did he suddenly become so smooth!
This wasn’t right. Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “Great Hero Lu, do you even know what ‘good-looking’ means?”
Lu Chengsha gave a low hum, still covering her eyes. His voice, deep and steady, said, “I know.”
Hua Yan’s eyelashes brushed against Lu Chengsha’s palm a few times, and she felt that her cheeks were getting a bit warmer than before. She tried to grab his hand, and finally, Lu Chengsha let go and stepped aside.
He looked into the distance and said, “Being too close to me puts you in danger as well.”
Lu Chengsha spoke seriously, but Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “Why is it dangerous?”
Lu Chengsha remained silent for a moment.
“I might want to do some… strange things,” he said softly, with some difficulty, as if he himself didn’t understand why it was so hard, “to you.”
After he finished, he added, “I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
Hua Yan subconsciously touched her forehead again, where Lu Chengsha had lightly kissed it.
To be honest, his action was incredibly gentle.
When Hua Yan was a child, her mother, in a good mood, would often pick her up and plant a loud kiss on her forehead or cheek. Lu Chengsha’s action, on the other hand, was like her father’s reaction when her mother found a rare book for him, treating her as if she were something precious and fragile.
She didn’t feel offended at all.
She was just a bit surprised at the time, never even thinking about struggling.
Hua Yan muttered softly, “It’s just a kiss on the forehead, it’s no big deal…”
Lu Chengsha heard this and was silent for a while, looking as if he had something to say but hesitated. He seemed reluctant to speak but felt he should. His voice lowered, and he said with great difficulty, “It’s not just that…”
Before she could react, Hua Yan froze, her face turning red.
It wasn’t that she wanted to blush.
It was simply an instinctive reaction to the images that flashed through her mind for a moment.
Her mother had shown her those illustrations to educate her, lest she suffer from ignorance. Hua Yan had just reached puberty at the time and was still a young girl. She blushed after one glance, and her mother poked her on the head, saying, “You are to be the holy maiden of the Zhengyi Sect in the future. How can you blush at this level? You better toughen up. I’ll give you more books to study so you won’t embarrass yourself when you get married. Yu Ye, that boy, doesn’t look simple. If he ends up taking advantage of you, I’ll be furious.”
However, Hua Yan indeed wasn’t strong enough.
This time, she ran away faster than Lu Chengsha.
She fled back to her room and buried her face in her pillow. After a long while, she realized she might have been worrying unnecessarily.
She pulled her head out of the pillow and thought, considering Great Hero Lu’s knowledge, he probably didn’t even know what those things were, let alone do them.
But…
Hua Yan buried her head in the pillow again, thinking, Great Hero Lu, it seems, really likes her.
He even complimented her looks!
Although Hua Yan had always known she was good-looking—she looked like her mother, and her father was also handsome and refined when he was young (according to her mother)—she couldn’t be considered unattractive. But for some reason, hearing it from Lu Chengsha made her especially happy—probably because he never lied.
Hua Yan tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep well.
The next morning, when they set off, she found that Lu Chengsha had arrived early, but he kept a considerable distance.
While traveling, Hua Yan heard him say from afar, “…Don’t be afraid, I’ll control myself.”
She responded with a soft “Oh.”
Hua Yan was unusually quiet today. Lu Chengsha wanted to glance at her but ultimately didn’t turn his head. She had fled so quickly yesterday, she must have been genuinely scared. Lu Chengsha had even prepared himself for the possibility of parting ways with her, but she didn’t say a word.
Lu Chengsha didn’t regret telling the truth yesterday. However, he did need to properly deal with this unfamiliar and chaotic part of himself.
That day in the hot spring, his own reaction had frightened him.
He… shouldn’t be like this.
Lu Chengsha felt slightly confused. He had used his internal energy to inspect himself several times and found no signs of poisoning. Perhaps he should visit Cixin Valley to resolve this ailment.
***
They hurried to the address provided by Dongfeng Buye Tower, only to find that both Xie Yingxian and the pursuers had already moved on.
Dongfeng Buye Tower gave them a new address.
Hua Yan was a bit dazed looking at the new address because it clearly stated two words: Cixin Valley.
She had thought about asking Ming Qi for clarification, but she hadn’t expected to actually go to Cixin Valley. The valley was nestled among several mountain peaks in a terrain that was easy to defend and hard to attack. It was said to be like a paradise with spring-like weather year-round, blooming flowers, and a plethora of medicinal herbs.
Lu Chengsha, however, didn’t hesitate. He seemed very familiar with the route to Cixin Valley.
Along the way, they saw other disciples from various sects. Although none approached them, it was clear that everyone was there to hunt down Xie Yingxian.
Cixin Valley was indeed easy to defend and hard to attack, surrounded by mountains and with narrow paths leading in, making it nearly impregnable. Disciples from various sects quickly gathered in the small town outside Cixin Valley.
Hua Yan only realized upon arrival that the standoff had been going on for a day already.
Yu Ye had said the tracking traces disappeared in Cixin Valley. Dangshan Sect wanted to enter the valley to search, but Cixin Valley refused.
Normally, if Dangshan Sect wanted to search, ordinary sects would have no choice but to comply. However, Cixin Valley was different. Though it couldn’t even be called a sect, if there was one place in the martial world known for fiercely protecting its own, it was undoubtedly Cixin Valley.
Ten years ago, Cixin Valley was much smaller in scale. A great hero came to Cixin Valley seeking treatment for his wife. Unfortunately, he arrived too late, and all the medicines and treatments were ineffective. His wife ultimately died in Cixin Valley. In his fury, the great hero blamed the doctors of Cixin Valley for not saving his wife in time. He drew his sword and beheaded the doctor, injuring several others before escaping with his wife’s corpse.
The valley master, Nian Yi, was enraged and immediately issued a bounty through Dongfeng Buye Tower, offering a large reward for the hero’s head. The one who brought his head would also receive a “Physician’s Token” from Cixin Valley, allowing the bearer to receive Nian Yi’s personal medical treatment at any time, free of charge. It was said that Nian Yi’s medical skills were unparalleled, capable of healing the gravely wounded and reviving the dead. Normally, seeing him required strict adherence to numerous rules, and even a sect master would need an appointment to see him.
After that incident, Nian Yi began recruiting various martial arts experts, providing them with ample medicinal herbs to strengthen their bodies and prolong their lives, ensuring the valley’s safety. Later, they formed alliances with the five major sects, making it even more difficult for anyone to dare offend them. Regardless of a doctor’s status or qualifications, anyone who dared to harm a doctor from Cixin Valley would face a bounty on their head, issued monthly until their death.
As a result, doctors from Cixin Valley, despite their quirks, were respected and left unchallenged by disciples from other sects.
Therefore, even the powerful Dangshan Sect couldn’t force their way into Cixin Valley. However, this matter was of great importance. If the Demonic Sect Leader, Xie Yingxian, was indeed hiding in Cixin Valley, they couldn’t afford to let him go, even at the cost of offending the valley.
Hua Yan and Lu Chengsha reined in their horses and stopped. The entrance to Cixin Valley was crowded, full of noise. Outside were disciples in various attires from different sects, while inside were disciples from Cixin Valley, dressed in white, of various shapes and sizes.
A leading disciple from Cixin Valley shouted, “Why do you believe that the Demonic Sect Leader is inside just because they say so? I could just as easily say that your Dangshan Sect is hiding him and trying to frame us!”
Beside him, another white-clad disciple was trying to pull him back, looking exasperated.
Hua Yan saw this and couldn’t help but smile. Wasn’t that her old acquaintance, Ming Qi?
But her smile faded when she saw the person the leading disciple was pointing at. Dressed in a moon-white robe, with an air even more physician-like than the others, was Yu Ye.
Yu Ye smiled gently, a bit helpless, “I truly tracked him here. I am not trying to make things difficult. Other disciples can also testify to this.”
Hua Yan immediately hid behind Lu Chengsha. She felt that Lu Chengsha was already on the verge of drawing his sword.