The servant pointed in another direction and respectfully replied, “Replying to Miss, Song Yingyue’s room is in the west wing. Would you like this servant to lead you there?”
“No need, no need. Go do your work, I can go by myself.” Tong Huanyou gave a quick glance in the direction indicated and waved her hands repeatedly.
As soon as she finished speaking, she jogged all the way toward the room.
She suddenly shoved the door open and walked straight toward the bathing room while muttering, “Sister Song, I brought some wintersweet blossoms for your bath. They smell really—”
But the instant she looked toward the bath barrel, she froze completely.
There, half-reclining inside the tub, was a man. His ink-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, his upper body half-bare. Crystal-clear droplets slid down his strands of hair and traced across his firm chest.
The wintersweet blossoms in Tong Huanyou’s hands scattered all over the floor with a clatter. Her mind felt as if it had exploded.
“S-Sorry!”
She had just turned to flee when she suddenly stepped on a branch of the fallen wintersweet blossoms. Her foot slipped, and her body instinctively lunged forward.
“Ahhhh!!!”
Before Yu Qingci could react, she crashed solidly right into his arms.
Water exploded upward from the bath barrel with a loud splash, raising the water level noticeably.
Holding her head, Tong Huanyou cried out in pain and tried to push herself upright with her arms.
But accidentally, her hand touched something firm.
Oh my god!
Tong Huanyou lowered her head and involuntarily swallowed.
Her hand looked especially conspicuous against that cold pale skin, resting directly atop his sharply defined chest.
Her face instantly turned scarlet. Embarrassment flooded through her body like a tidal wave, while her heart pounded wildly.
Yu Qingci maintained his original posture throughout, his handsome face covered in sparkling droplets. His whole body was taut like a drawn bowstring.
Veins bulged faintly at his temples, and the corner of his mouth twitched twice. “Have you seen enough?”
“I-I-I…”
The red flush on Tong Huanyou’s face deepened. Just as she struggled to climb up, her supporting hand slipped against the side of the tub—
Splash.
Water splattered all over Yu Qingci’s beautiful face, making his breathing hitch.
Taking advantage of the spray of water—
With a flick of his finger, the white robe hanging on the wooden rack instantly wrapped itself around his body.
The next second, he abruptly stood up. Before Tong Huanyou could react, the world spun, and he flipped her beneath him in one swift motion.
“S-S-Sorry!” Tong Huanyou trembled violently in fear, stammering.
The corners of the young man’s lips lifted slightly. A droplet of water slid from his jaw and landed directly on Tong Huanyou’s eyelashes.
That breathtakingly beautiful and almost demonic face looked like a soul-stealing spirit when he smiled, leaving Tong Huanyou momentarily dazed.
Yet in the very next instant, cold fingers like venomous snakes slowly reached toward her fragile neck.
The pale blue veins stood out faintly beneath his skin. The smile on Yu Qingci’s face vanished instantly as the pressure of his hand increased.
“Mmph!”
The suffocating sensation surged through her body like a tide. Tong Huanyou’s eyes widened as she desperately struggled.
This move again?!
A devil-like whisper suddenly sounded beside her ear.
“If you want to die, I don’t mind sending you on your way right now.”
Tong Huanyou felt her consciousness growing hazier and hazier. With great difficulty, she forced a single word through clenched teeth:
“Song…”
Hearing that word, Yu Qingci’s hand paused at once. He released her throat.
Leaping lightly out of the bath barrel, he looked down at her from above, his voice icy cold.
“Today is already the second day.”
“Cough—cough!” As the suffocating feeling disappeared, Tong Huanyou gasped desperately for air and coughed violently. “Since that’s the case… when you leave Liangzhou, could you take me with you?”
“Take you along?” Yu Qingci raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his tone. “As rations?”
Tong Huanyou stiffened all over and stammered, “B-But you’re leaving Liangzhou in only a couple of days, right? If Sister Song’s cold illness acts up and you don’t bring me along, h-how will you relieve her symptoms?”
Yu Qingci frowned. “And how would you know we’re leaving Liangzhou in only two days?”
“Ah… well… that…” Tong Huanyou immediately became tongue-tied, her eyes darting everywhere.
She couldn’t exactly say she knew the plot…
Seeing her nervous and flustered appearance, Yu Qingci slowly bent closer, danger flickering within his eyes.
Tong Huanyou shivered and instinctively shrank backward.
At that moment, movement sounded from outside the door.
“A’Ci, are you there?” Song Yingyue’s voice rang out.
Tong Huanyou instantly clapped both hands over her mouth.
If anyone saw this situation, she was dead for sure!
Yu Qingci straightened and looked toward the door. “Elder Sister, I haven’t changed clothes yet. What is it?”
From beyond the door, Song Yingyue called out, “Father sent word that the Wang Family of Sujing, famed for demon hunting, is inviting demon hunters from all over the world to participate in a martial competition. He wants us to attend on behalf of Song Manor.”
“I remember there’s a physician there named Qin Ming with excellent medical skills. Senior Brother and I discussed it, and we plan to depart in two days. We can also take you there for treatment.”
Yu Qingci fell silent for two seconds before turning his head and giving Tong Huanyou a complicated glance.
Tong Huanyou immediately raised both hands in surrender.
When Yu Qingci didn’t answer, Song Yingyue called again, “A’Ci?”
While the siblings were speaking, Tong Huanyou quietly and sneakily climbed out of the bath barrel, inching toward the window.
Inwardly, she prayed desperately not to be discovered.
Yu Qingci continued replying gently, “Understood, Elder Sister. It’s getting late, so you should rest early and not overexert yourself.”
“Alright. You should rest well too. If you feel unwell anywhere, come find your elder sister next door.”
“Okay.”
After that, Song Yingyue softly closed the door and left.
Tong Huanyou wanted to cry without tears.
Damn it… so Song Yingyue’s room was actually next door.
Finally, just as she was only a few steps away from the window and victory was in sight—
“Where are you going?”
Yu Qingci crossed his arms and cast a sidelong glance at the sneaky-looking Tong Huanyou.
She froze stiffly in place and awkwardly turned around, trying to hide her panic.
“Well… I just thought this window looked a little dirty, so I wanted to wipe it down for you.”
Yu Qingci sneered softly. “Miss Tong knows how to do such menial labor?”
“Of course I do~” Tong Huanyou laughed awkwardly in an attempt to brush it off.
“Not planning to explain yourself?” Yu Qingci twisted his neck, producing a sharp crack.
“Ah, well… if I said I guessed, would you believe me~?” Tong Huanyou blinked innocently.
The next second, a cold flash of light sliced through the air.
A small section of hair beside Tong Huanyou’s ear was instantly severed, falling straight to the ground.
Her eyes widened enormously, her mouth twitching violently.
Ahhh! Damn you!! My hair!!!
“Well? Are you talking or not?” Yu Qingci smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in it.
Knowing she couldn’t escape this disaster, Tong Huanyou’s eyes rolled quickly before she hurriedly said:
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! I really did guess! I figured demon hunters like you must always be busy traveling around slaying demons and defending the world. How could you possibly stay in a tiny place like ours for long, right?”
“Besides, I’m just an ordinary person. I have no abilities, no brains—other than my family having a bit of money, what great capability could I possibly have? I can’t predict the future, right?”