The footsteps of the royal guards gradually faded into the distance. Qin Changqing carried the unconscious Luo Qingyi into the inner chamber.
Moonlight filtered through the gauze window, spilling over her bloodstained clothes. Frost had already formed over the wound on her shoulder.
Her cold poison remained unresolved, and after being heavily injured by the emperor, her breathing had become so faint it was almost imperceptible.
“She’s even more vivid than the game model… and somehow… more real… with a fragile, shattered feeling.”
Qin Changqing let out a soft sigh, his gaze complicated. Then he reached out and removed his outer robe.
After that, he began taking off Luo Qingyi’s blood-soaked outer garment. The moment his fingers touched the knot of her clothing, the beauty on the couch suddenly opened her eyes. A flash of cold light streaked past, and the Shattered Jade sword was once again pressed against his throat.
“Shameless!”
A faint blush rose on Luo Qingyi’s pale face, but the sword trembled slightly as it tugged at her wound. “You… how dare you…”
“Fairy, you misunderstand.” Qin Changqing remained calm, smiling as he spread open the brocade robe in his hands. “Your outer garment is covered in blood. The patrolling guards have already noted your appearance. If you don’t change it, how will you escape?”
He paused slightly, his tone turning sincere. “I merely intended to help you change into clean clothes. I haven’t touched your inner garments at all. As someone who roams the martial world, you should understand the principle of acting according to necessity in urgent situations better than I do.”
As he spoke, he deliberately shook the bloodstained outer garment in his hand. Under the moonlight, the crimson stains looked especially glaring.
Luo Qingyi tightened her grip on her clothes and edged backward, the vigilance in her eyes undiminished.
Before she could speak, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall.
“Your Highness, I just saw bloodstains in the bushes outside. We suspect the assassin may be hiding within your residence!”
Qin Changqing’s heart sank. This was bad.
He had never expected the royal guards to return for another search. The situation had just become far more troublesome.
However, judging by the voices, he realized this group was not the same as before.
There was no time to hesitate. It had to be settled quickly.
Qin Changqing suddenly pushed her down onto the brocade bedding and pulled open half of his own robe.
“Right now, you have two choices.”
“Either stab me and we both die together, or… cooperate with me in putting on a little act. It might require some sacrifice from you.”
The moment the door was pushed open, Luo Qingyi saw him grab her bloodstained outer garment and fling it out the window.
Several royal guards rushed into the inner chamber, their gazes sharp and alert.
They saw the young lord sitting at the edge of the bed with his clothes disheveled, holding a wine cup and drinking alone.
Behind him, the brocade quilt was slightly raised. A cascade of black hair was faintly visible within, clearly belonging to a woman.
Qin Changqing’s position blocked their view, making it impossible to see the person beneath the covers.
Before the guards could speak, Qin Changqing struck first.
He slammed the wine cup onto the ground with a loud “bang,” shattering it into pieces, and barked angrily, “Impudent!”
“Didn’t you already search this place earlier? What is this supposed to mean?”
“Do you take my residence for a marketplace, that you can barge in as you please? If you can’t give me a proper explanation today, tomorrow I will report this to His Majesty and charge you with great disrespect!”
“Your Highness…” A soft sobbing voice came from behind him.
Qin Changqing turned, his tone instantly softening. “Don’t be afraid, my beauty. Once I send these blind fools away, I’ll accompany you to drink and admire the moon.”
When he turned back, his eyes grew cold once more. “What? Commander, do you also wish to stay and have a drink?”
The leading guard swept his gaze around the room before cupping his fists respectfully. “Your Highness, please calm your anger. I… I was unaware that someone had already conducted a search here.”
“With the palace in chaos, please forgive our negligence!”
“If there is nothing here, we will take our leave and not disturb Your Highness’s enjoyment.”
Qin Changqing snorted impatiently and waved them off.
After the guards withdrew, Luo Qingyi abruptly threw off the quilt, taking deep breaths.
The warmth from Qin Changqing’s hand, which had been pressed against her waist earlier, still lingered like a burning brand.
Looking at him again, she found that he had already straightened his slightly open robe, his demeanor as calm and composed as ever.
“Why did you save me?” she asked, staring at him, her voice still cold.
“Naturally, so that you owe me a favor.” Qin Changqing chuckled, a hint of teasing in his tone. “But your acting just now wasn’t bad. That pitiful look… it nearly broke my heart.”
As he spoke, he picked up a silver fox fur cloak and tossed it to her. “Put this on… and accompany me to the Royal Medical Institute to get that thousand-year blood ginseng?”
Seeing her brows furrow slightly, he continued without concern, “If you’re unwilling, you can choose otherwise.”
“First, you can stay here and recover. After what just happened, no one should come searching here again. It’s relatively safe.”
“Second, you can come with me to the Royal Medical Institute. But there may be other complications along the way. And with your injuries not yet healed, I can’t guarantee your safety.”
Luo Qingyi let out a cold laugh and, without hesitation, put on the silver fox cloak.
How could she possibly trust Qin Changqing completely and remain here alone, waiting for him?
Suddenly, she felt something pressed into her palm. Looking down, she saw it was her jade pendant.
“It fell out of your clothes earlier when I was helping you change. I’m returning it to you now.”
Qin Changqing leaned against the screen, a faint smile on his lips, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter.
Midnight had arrived, yet the palace remained brightly lit. Qin Changqing led Luo Qingyi, avoiding the crowds as they quietly made their way toward the Royal Medical Institute.
She was forced to wear his cloak, and in her hair was a gilded hairpin he had casually placed there.
Hearing footsteps ahead, Qin Changqing quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the shadow of a rock formation.
He gently patted her arm, signaling her not to be nervous.
“This spot is hard for the guards to notice. Remember it, Fairy. It might come in handy the next time you attempt an assassination,” he whispered, a hint of teasing in his tone.
Luo Qingyi shook off his hand, but her gaze fell on a fresh sword wound on his wrist—the one inflicted earlier by the Shattered Jade sword.
“You already knew I wouldn’t kill you?” she asked, suddenly looking up at him. Her voice remained cold, but carried a trace of disbelief.
“Of course not.” Qin Changqing tore a strip from his clothing and wrapped it around the wound. “I just bet that the Cold Jade Fairy, as a righteous sword cultivator, wouldn’t resort to something as despicable as a sneak attack from behind.”
He paused, a hint of amusement in his tone. “My cultivation is far below yours. How could a righteous fairy bully the weak?”
“Fairy, does my reasoning make sense?”
After the searching guards moved far away, the two moved swiftly through the palace.
Qin Changqing knew the layout of the palace like the back of his hand, and along the way, they encountered almost no one.
Before long, the upturned eaves of the Royal Medical Institute came into view.
Qin Changqing suddenly placed something into her palm.
Luo Qingyi looked down. It was a packet of candied fruit—the same kind of preserved apricots she had often eaten as a child.
She looked at Qin Changqing, a trace of surprise in her eyes, and asked, “How did you…”
Qin Changqing was busy observing their surroundings and didn’t notice her expression. He answered casually, “Don’t you like them?”
“I quite like them. Sweet and sour. I usually share them with my little maids. They love them—every time, they’re as happy as if they’ve received a reward.”
As his words fell, a figure suddenly flashed past at the corner.
Qin Changqing focused his gaze. A person dressed in black was looking around, seemingly searching for something.
He signaled Luo Qingyi to hide first. After all, she was seriously injured. This unexpected intruder would have to be dealt with by him alone.
“Looks like the palace isn’t peaceful tonight. Aside from you, Fairy, there are others lurking as well?” Qin Changqing muttered under his breath.
He had intended to observe further, but time was pressing. Obtaining the thousand-year blood ginseng was the priority.
He decided to probe this person first. Taking advantage of the black-clad man’s distraction, he struck preemptively.
Qin Changqing tapped the ground lightly with his toes. His figure shot forward like an arrow as he launched a palm strike!
However, the black-clad figure was extremely cautious. With a leap into the air, he evaded the ambush.
Missing his first strike, Qin Changqing did not stop. Seizing the moment while the man was still midair and unable to dodge, he unleashed his full strength, his blood and qi surging as he threw a powerful punch!
A massive fist shadow hurtled toward the black-clad figure!
Seeing the incoming attack was fierce and impossible to avoid, the man’s pupils shrank. In a rush, he gathered all his strength and threw out a punch of his own!
“Boom!”
The two forces collided violently, shockwaves bursting outward and sending debris flying in all directions!