The Aloof and Pure-hearted Killer: She’s Saying Misleading Things Again…
Fang Xun’gui concealed himself in the lush canopy of a banyan tree near the desolate courtyard, his mind in turmoil.
For the past few days, to ensure Yuyi Yue’s safety, he had been hiding here.
Today was the third day.
There had been no unusual activity around the desolate courtyard.
And that was the greatest anomaly.
With You Ye and You Huo dead one after another, the news that “Zhan Kong is lingering here” must have long reached the Netherworld Hall.
Yet the Netherworld Hall had shown no further reaction, which was completely out of character for them.
—Eradicate the roots, and act first before reporting when necessary. The Netherworld Hall absolutely tolerated no mistakes.
After Zhan Kong destroyed a branch of the Netherworld Hall, the feud was completely set in stone. Even the balance between the Blood-Severing Pavilion and the Netherworld Hall over the past few years had been disrupted.
The Netherworld Hall had always been cautious. Rather than targeting the master of the Blood-Severing Pavilion, targeting “Zhan Kong” would be a better choice for revenge.
So why hadn’t they come yet?
And the “Corpse-Dissolving Insect” in Yuyi Yue’s hands—that was clearly Corpse-Dissolving Powder, Yan Zuoxiu’s creation.
Fang Xun’gui was certain he couldn’t have mistaken it.
This matter had to be confirmed with Yan Zuoxiu, but he couldn’t leave now.
Fang Xun’gui gazed in the direction of the desolate courtyard.
Yuyi Yue was tidying up the last of the rotten wood in the yard, seemingly planning to convert the storage shed into a storeroom.
Her face showed slight fatigue, yet she still wore a composed smile.
Fang Xun’gui watched her quietly.
This kind of life was truly wonderful.
Unfortunately, it was far from the time to let their guard down.
On the fifth day, the rations he had brought with him were finished. Having not slept at all, his mind was nearing its limit.
He had originally agreed with Yuyi Yue that he would stop guarding the courtyard after the fifth day.
But he simply couldn’t rest easy.
For five consecutive days, there had been no unusual activity.
Who had taken You Ye’s wooden token?
If it was the Netherworld Hall, how could they still not have shown up?
His nerves were stretched so taut that even the slightest rustle beneath the tree made Fang Xun’gui tighten his grip on his sword sheath.
Calming himself, he looked down and saw Yuyi Yue.
She stood beneath the tree. After confirming that no one else was around, she curiously looked up at the canopy and softly called out:
“When are you coming down?”
Fang Xun’gui nimbly leaped down from the tree, landing on one knee before Yuyi Yue, then quickly stood up.
Yuyi Yue couldn’t help but laugh and comment:
“Appearing and disappearing mysteriously, just like in the storybooks. Come on, it’s time to eat.”
Fang Xun’gui silently followed Yuyi Yue toward the desolate courtyard.
For the first time, when he descended from the sky to the ground, what greeted him wasn’t just swirling dust but also a wisp of cooking smoke.
Three plates of light side dishes, a pot of mixed mushroom and pork rib soup, and a steamed fish.
“You haven’t eaten properly for days. Something light is better for your stomach.”
Yuyi Yue briefly explained, placing a large bowl of rice and vegetables in front of Fang Xun’gui before sitting across from him.
Fang Xun’gui was once again at a loss.
Holding the bowl and chopsticks, he remained motionless for a long time, unsure what to do next.
Yuyi Yue glanced up at him, swallowed her food, and asked in confusion:
“Does it not suit your taste?”
Fang Xun’gui stiffly shook his head.
During the days he spent recovering in the desolate courtyard, Yuyi Yue had prepared simple meals for him to accommodate his injuries.
Even then, Fang Xun’gui had been immensely grateful. For so many years, being able to eat a meal in peace had long become a luxury for him.
How could it not suit his taste?Through the hazy mist, Fang Xun’gui gazed at Yuyi Yue across from him, his eyes stinging.
“Home.”
This unfamiliar word surfaced from the depths of his heart, only to be forcefully suppressed once more.
He lowered his head as if to hide his expression, quickly shoveling food into his mouth, forcing himself to stop indulging in such foolish fantasies.
Until Yuyi Yue’s voice interrupted him:
“Eat slower, eating too fast is bad for your digestion. You don’t have to guard the courtyard anymore, right? There’s nothing urgent next, no need to rush like this.”
Yuyi Yue set down her chopsticks, frowning as she said:
“You never eat properly, and if you keep this up, it’ll harm your health. You’ll get sick when you’re old.”
She put on a stern face, pretending to be serious as she scolded Fang Xun’gui.
But Fang Xun’gui smiled.
“Old age”—that was truly a luxury for a killer.
Someone like him, who could die at any moment, would never dream of enjoying a proper meal.
Though he thought this way, Fang Xun’gui obediently slowed down.
Yuyi Yue nodded in satisfaction. Before picking up her bowl again, she added:
“You have to eat properly. If you don’t behave, I’ll take it upon myself to make sure you’re fed.”
Fang Xun’gui nearly choked on her words.
Struggling to catch his breath, he took a deep breath and asked Yuyi Yue with a mix of helplessness and embarrassment:
“Where did you learn to say things like that?”
Yuyi Yue looked utterly confused:
“Huh? I forgot who I heard it from. But don’t worry, I have experience.”
Here we go again, the familiar headache.
Fang Xun’gui said awkwardly to Yuyi Yue:
“Don’t say things like that to others next time. It’s easy to be misunderstood.”
“Oh…”
Yuyi Yue’s expression remained blank, but she didn’t press further.
Fang Xun’gui thought the topic was finally over.
Unexpectedly, Yuyi Yue cautiously confirmed once more:
“So… do you need me to feed you?”
“Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough…”
“Slow down, slow down, have some water. How did you choke so badly? I won’t feed you then… Why are you coughing even harder?!”
…
After the one-sidedly awkward conversation during dinner, Fang Xun’gui grew increasingly restless.
If during the days of recuperation, he could still manage to lie on the same bed as Yuyi Yue without distraction, now it had become an impossible task.
“Why didn’t you change the bed?”
“I didn’t have time. I’ve been busy tidying up the other room these days.”
“…Why is there only one bed?”
“Huh? I don’t let others stay overnight here. Usually, it’s just me, so of course there’s only one bed.”
Fang Xun’gui numbly closed his eyes.
He really had improved—he could now piece together Yuyi Yue’s meaning from her ambiguous words.
Yuyi Yue meant that letting him stay here earlier was out of necessity. She couldn’t just throw her patient out, nor could she let him sleep on the floor.
But what about now?
Yuyi Yue sat by the window, her expression unchanged:
“Master said it’s normal for people who like each other to sleep together. So when are you going to sleep? I’m tired.”
Such ambiguous words, spoken by Yuyi Yue, carried no hint of intimacy.
Instead, it made Fang Xun’gui seem like the one with ulterior motives.
And with so much happening lately, Fang Xun’gui couldn’t bear the thought of Yuyi Yue living alone in this desolate courtyard.
…I’ll just sleep in the tree for the night.
Having made up his mind, Fang Xun’gui turned and hurried toward the door.
Before he could take more than a few steps, Yuyi Yue grabbed his wrist.
Yuyi Yue said softly:”You didn’t eat properly earlier, and now you’re not sleeping properly. I told you to take good care of your health—is this how you do it?”
Fang Xun’gui instinctively wanted to argue, but when he met Yuyi Yue’s eyes, he couldn’t say a word.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Fang Xun’gui was once again lying stiffly on the bed.
The yellowed window screen let in the clear moonlight, and the swaying tree shadows only added to the turmoil in Fang Xun’gui’s heart.
This time, Yuyi Yue paid no further attention to Fang Xun’gui and slept soundly beside him. Her light, even breathing seemed to amplify endlessly in the quiet night.
The scent of medicine lingered at the tip of his nose, mingling with the faint fragrance from her.
It wasn’t the smell of cosmetics—what could it be?
Fang Xun’gui didn’t dare to let his imagination run wild any further. His heart felt as if it were about to burst from the overwhelming emotions.
At this point, he should just close his eyes and get a good night’s sleep.
Before heaven took back the gift it had given him, he shouldn’t let his thoughts wander any further.
Fang Xun’gui tried to convince himself this way.
The next morning, Fang Xun’gui woke to the heavy scent of medicine.
Yuyi Yue looked at him with concern:
“How can your insomnia be this severe?”
She raised the bronze mirror in her hand, signaling for Fang Xun’gui to look at himself.
The dark circles under his eyes in the mirror startled even him.
Yuyi Yue said worriedly:
“You haven’t slept for five days. I thought you’d sleep for a full day and night… Have you been under too much stress lately? I brewed some calming herbal medicine. Try drinking it for a while. Tonight, I’ll help you fall asleep. My Master used to do that for me—it works really well.”
Fang Xun’gui couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
When would Yuyi Yue realize that she was the very reason for his insomnia?
Fang Xun’gui lowered his gaze, no longer meeting his own reflection in the mirror.
“…Thank you, but there’s no need to help me sleep.”
“Don’t be polite.”
“Really, it’s not necessary.”
“Why is your face turning red again?”
“…”
“I remember now! My Master said that when you sleep with someone you like, you wake up feeling shy. So, are you feeling shy?”
“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough…”
“Slow down, slow down. Let me brew another pot of soothing tea for you. Is your throat bothering you too…”