Frowning, she increasingly didn’t understand this feeling.
She only knew that Xi Fuhong couldn’t leave yet, whether it was before opening the Hulong Secret Treasure or before she sorted out these entangled thoughts.
She wanted Xi Fuhong to stay, and no matter how much her senior brother persuaded her, she was unwilling to let go, at least not now.
“Wake up, it’s time to go.” Luo Qingcheng stood up, calling out calmly.
Hearing this, Xi Fuhong’s eyelashes fluttered lightly, her eyes squinting into a line.
In a daze, she saw a tall figure standing in front of her.
Without much thought, her red lips parted slightly, murmuring, “…Shi… Cuiyan?” Shi Cuiyan?! Suddenly, an inexplicable anger surged, and Luo Qingcheng squatted down abruptly, gripping Xi Fuhong’s jaw.
“Look clearly, I am Luo Qingcheng.” Her tone was cold, more chilling than being emotionless.
Startled, Xi Fuhong’s eyes widened.
Once she saw clearly who it was, she rolled away in fright, scrambling to distance herself from Luo Qingcheng.
Looking around, she found no sign of Shi Cuiyan, and her mood instantly became heavy.
Remembering Shi Cuiyan’s bewildered departure after last night’s fight, she was overwhelmed with guilt.
She regretted agreeing to let her escape… “Junior sister, it’s about time to set off.” Chen Tanghe approached from the side, leading a horse.
Luo Qingcheng turned her head and nodded, stepping forward to take the reins.
With a swift and graceful movement, she mounted the horse, exuding a heroic spirit.
She rode forward, scooping Xi Fuhong onto the horse.
Falling into a soft embrace, Xi Fuhong tensed up, only because the person holding her was Luo Qingcheng.
“Let go, let go of me!!” She tried to pry Luo Qingcheng’s hands off, desperate to jump down.
With her brows furrowed, Luo Qingcheng simply let go of the reins and wrapped her arms around Xi Fuhong, firmly restraining her in front.
The person in her arms kept wriggling, but how could her strength compare to Luo Qingcheng’s? After a few struggles, only the sound of heavy breathing remained.
Luo Qingcheng lowered her gaze, seeing her angry side profile, and suddenly felt quite pleased.
No matter how much she resisted, she couldn’t escape.
Only by holding her tightly like this would this little one behave.
“Your riding skills are poor.” Luo Qingcheng’s deep voice sounded in her ear, making Xi Fuhong shiver.
“That’s not true! I ride very well!” She quickly shook her head to explain.
“Did you deliberately ride with Shi Cuiyan on the same horse?” Luo Qingcheng’s eyes narrowed, her tone carrying a hint of danger.
Xi Fuhong’s face instantly turned pale.
Was it deliberate? “I… I can… ride…” After a while, she explained weakly.
“Shi Cuiyan took the horse away.” The implication was that Xi Fuhong had no choice.
She was stunned, her mouth agape.
Shi Cuiyan left? And took the horse too? Didn’t that mean she had to ride with Luo Qingcheng? Xi Fuhong frowned in despair, suddenly feeling a bit resentful towards Shi Cuiyan.
If she was going to leave, she should have left a horse for her.
But compared to Xi Fuhong’s distress, Luo Qingcheng didn’t mind at all.
In fact, she thought it was quite good; she could keep a close eye on the troublemaker beside her.
Xi Fuhong felt like she was swallowing a bitter pill, unable to voice her grievances.
Sitting in Luo Qingcheng’s embrace, she felt uncomfortable, as if bugs were crawling all over her.
She kept fidgeting, unable to sit still.
Luo Qingcheng, seeing this, didn’t pay it any mind.
She urged the horse to catch up with Chen Tanghe, and suddenly, the horse leaped, causing Xi Fuhong to accidentally bite her tongue, letting out a few pained whimpers.
“What are you doing?” Luo Qingcheng’s flat voice came, and Xi Fuhong instinctively looked up.
She saw tears at the corners of her eyes, her cheeks flushed, her lips slightly parted with a small tongue sticking out.
“…I bit my tongue…” Xi Fuhong mumbled, her words unclear.
Her heart skipped a beat, and Luo Qingcheng almost pulled the reins to stop.
She slowed the horse, forcefully turning Xi Fuhong’s face to see a small wound on the tip of her tongue, but it wasn’t life-threatening.
Seeing that it was nothing serious, Luo Qingcheng was relieved, but then frowned again, annoyed at her own out-of-control behavior.
She silently reflected, realizing that when she saw Xi Fuhong in pain, she had panicked.
“Damn it!” She cursed herself more frequently these days.
“Huh?!” Her chin still held by Luo Qingcheng, Xi Fuhong turned pale at the words “damn it.”
Feeling Xi Fuhong’s trembling body, Luo Qingcheng released her grip.
“The road is bumpy, keep your mouth shut.”
It was because she foolishly opened her mouth in a daze that she bit her tongue.
So stupid! Luo Qingcheng couldn’t help but complain.
This troublemaker was the most foolish and naive person she had ever met, completely lacking any sense of danger, always trusting others easily.
Even if she were sold, she would probably count the money for them.
Despite her constant internal criticism of Xi Fuhong, her expression betrayed her, curving into a slight smile.
This smile wasn’t fierce; it was a very simple, genuinely heartfelt expression.
Unfortunately, Xi Fuhong didn’t see it, and even Luo Qingcheng herself was unaware.
Traveling all day was a torment for Xi Fuhong, who wasn’t used to fast horseback riding.
She felt as if her insides were about to shake loose.
To return to the Wulin Headquarters as soon as possible, they barely rested along the way, only stopping briefly to eat some dry food before continuing.
Xi Fuhong shook her head, nearly fainting, struggling to stay alert.
The evening wind stung her cheeks, and Xi Fuhong rubbed them a few times, feeling even her fingers were cold.
She rubbed her hands together for warmth.
Although Luo Qingcheng kept a straight face, looking ahead, she occasionally glanced at the person in front of her, noticing Xi Fuhong’s small actions.
She couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
She unbuttoned her outer garment with her left hand and suddenly draped it over Xi Fuhong.
“Huh?!” She was instantly enveloped in a fragrant scent, seeing Luo Qingcheng’s red outer garment covering her.
“Cover up.” Luo Qingcheng said in a deep voice, wrapping her arm around Xi Fuhong’s waist, pulling her closer.
Martial artists had internal energy to protect themselves, and even on snowy nights, they could resist the cold by channeling their energy.
But Xi Fuhong was just a servant in the valley, with no martial arts skills.
This early winter night was enough to make her suffer.
Xi Fuhong’s whole body stiffened, feeling Luo Qingcheng’s warm body temperature, and the red garment covering her carried her scent, suddenly giving her a sense of being cared for.
No, that’s not right! Xi Fuhong shook off the strange thoughts in her mind, refusing to admit it.
Words of thanks stuck in her throat, unable to come out, and Luo Qingcheng didn’t expect her to be grateful.
The relationship between them grew increasingly subtle.
There were too many things between them: persistence, fear, unease, restraint, forced retention… but never willingness.
Everything was forced, whether it was staying to open the Hulong Secret Treasure or waiting for her to sort out her chaotic thoughts.
Feeling a weight on her chest, Luo Qingcheng looked down to find Xi Fuhong had fallen asleep at some point.
Her heart warmed, and she wrapped her arms around the frail waist, holding her securely in her embrace.
This weight grounded her heart, calming her previously troubled thoughts.
Luo Qingcheng didn’t look much further; she just needed to feel Xi Fuhong’s gentle breathing beside her.
At the hour of Xu, they finally arrived at the Wulin Headquarters on Yating Peak, the highest point of Wu Xun Peak.
Chen Tanghe had no time to rest.
As soon as he dismounted, two servants hurriedly approached, explaining that many sect leaders had been waiting for a long time.
Chen Tanghe gathered his energy and rushed inside.
Luo Qingcheng reined in her horse, cradling the sleeping Xi Fuhong in her arms, and leapt off the horse with a light step.
“Luo Family Head, let me take care of this,” a man who looked like a servant approached with a smile.
Luo Qingcheng tightened her grip, casting a cold glance, “Step aside.”
The man suddenly felt a chill down his spine, not daring to block the path of the Luo Family Head.
He immediately stepped back a few paces, and Luo Qingcheng elegantly carried Xi Fuhong away.
Her tall figure gracefully entered the side courtyard, taking her directly to the northern wing where she usually stayed.
This courtyard was specially reserved for her by Chen Tanghe, even though she rarely stayed there.
Leader Chen would always make sure it was ready for her.
