HuLü Yan was stunned for a moment, but his expression quickly darkened.

“Leaving here?” HuLü Yan grabbed Mi Lu’s hand abruptly, his face and eyes filled with overwhelming fear. “Are you going to leave here? Where are you planning to go?”

He was agitated, unable to control his strength, gripping Mi Lu’s hand so tightly that it hurt.

Mi Lu’s face turned pale as he tried to pull his hand away, but HuLü Yan’s grip was like a vice, as if he wanted to crush his bones. Mi Lu’s gaze gradually filled with a hint of fierce resistance. “Answer me! Are you leaving me?”

Seeing resistance was useless, Mi Lu stopped struggling, clenching his teeth to endure the pain in his hand as he replied reluctantly, “I… I want to go back to where I belong…”

Damn it!

The lingering scent was still affecting him, forcing him to tell the truth against his will. Mi Lu bit his lip, trying to shut himself up.

But HuLü Yan wouldn’t let it go, digging for answers relentlessly. “And where is that place you need to return to?”

Mi Lu closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, still forced to speak against his own wishes. “Somewhere you can never reach.”

HuLü Yan froze as if struck by lightning, his hand gripping Mi Lu’s trembling fiercely. Fear, dread, helplessness, and pain all flashed across his face, his brows furrowed, as he took a long moment to absorb Mi Lu’s words.

But then, unexpectedly, a dazzling smile appeared on his face.

“Liuliu, you’re teasing me again. That joke isn’t funny at all; don’t ever say it again, okay?” HuLü Yan released Mi Lu’s hand, huffing onto his own hand before gently massaging Mi Lu’s hand. “Did I hurt you? My bad, that’s all on me. I got carried away again.”

As he spoke, HuLü Yan turned and tossed the incense block in his hand into the lake.

With a soft plop, it sank to the bottom.

“I won’t use that anymore. Never again.” HuLü Yan pulled Mi Lu into his arms, resting his chin on Mi Lu’s hair, his hands gripping Mi Lu’s back firmly.

Only then did the gaping hole in his heart feel half-filled, as though the cold couldn’t seep in anymore. For once, he didn’t feel so chilly.

“Didn’t we agree to stay together forever? No partings, no separations, either by life or death. We’ll stay together and live on.” HuLü Yan held Mi Lu tightly, muttering as if he could hypnotize himself into forgetting what just happened.

Mi Lu was silent for a long time before he slowly returned the embrace, his arms circling HuLü Yan’s waist.

He closed his eyes and sighed inwardly.

Meanwhile, Lady Wan finally managed to escape the relentless pursuit of the big-footed rabbits, though her clothes and hair were windswept and disheveled, her face alternating between pale and flushed.

“Those damned rabbits! One day, I’ll come back and pluck every last one of their hairs off. Who’d want to cuddle with them?!” she cursed angrily.

Yan Fu remained silent, as usual.

Standing at the edge, Yu Shuihui watched the two embracing figures in the distance for a while before smiling teasingly. “They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but Lord City Master and Madam City Master cling together every day like they’re newlyweds. Their relationship must be pretty strong.”

Lady Wan snorted. “Sect Master Yu, your people-reading skills need some work.”

Yu Shuihui raised an eyebrow at her.

“They don’t look like newlyweds to me,” Lady Wan said coldly. “If you ask me, it’s Madam City Master who’s clinging to Lord City Master day and night. Can’t you see how reluctant Lord City Master looks?”

Yu Shuihui glanced back at Mi Lu, noticing that, indeed, as Lady Wan said, Mi Lu didn’t look particularly thrilled.

Pulling her gaze away, Yu Shuihui propped her chin thoughtfully. “So, Madam City Master is quite fond of Lord City Master.”

“Isn’t she just?” Lady Wan said, though she thought venomously, HuLü Yan is crazy, possessive, and jealous all the time. Just because I spoke a few extra words to Mi Lu, I had to deal with HuLü Yan’s ridiculous behavior.

Whoever gets noticed by that lunatic HuLü Yan is out of luck!

Lady Wan snorted, turning to step into the flying artifact. Yan Fu followed silently.

Only Yu Shuihui lingered, casting HuLü Yan a few more unreadable glances.

They first arrived at Hui City, where Yu Shuihui was headed. When it came time to bid her farewell, Yu Shuihui suddenly spoke up, “Madam City Master, I have a favor to discuss with you. Could we speak privately for a moment?”

HuLü Yan gazed at Yu Shuihui without expression.

Yu Shuihui smiled. “It’ll only take a moment.”

After a slight hesitation, HuLü Yan walked toward her.

Yu Shuihui led HuLü Yan to a secluded spot out of sight from the others, casting a barrier around them. As she turned, she saw HuLü Yan standing with arms crossed, his gaze icy and distant, a far cry from the affectionate and clingy demeanor he had shown Mi Lu earlier.

Yu Shuihui couldn’t help but marvel at his dual nature—no wonder he could cling to Lord City Master like that. Maybe Lord City Master was into that.

But despite him being only Madam City Master, facing him alone still gave Yu Shuihui a faint sense of fear, especially after witnessing the shocking Corpse Transformation Pearl he had unveiled before.

Thinking of this, Yu Shuihui wore a flattering smile. “Madam City Master, I wanted to speak to you regarding your relationship with Lord City Master.”

Away from Mi Lu’s gaze, HuLü Yan seemed to cloak himself in a thin layer of ice, looking distant and completely unwilling to put up a front.

He looked at her with an unfriendly expression, curtly saying, “Speak.”

Standing close to him, Yu Shuihui could faintly feel the oppressive aura radiating from HuLü Yan. It weighed on her like a heavy stone, making it difficult even to breathe. She backed up a step, feeling somewhat relieved.

“Watching you and Lord City Master along the journey, seeing your affection, I thought perhaps you’d be interested in these items.”

With that, she extended her hand, presenting a small, exquisite box of powdered medicine.

HuLü Yan gave the box a cursory look, unperturbed.

“This is a special aphrodisiac from our Hehuan Sect to enhance passion,” Yu Shuihui explained casually, betraying no sign of embarrassment.

HuLü Yan’s expression shifted from suspicion to intrigue. Taking the box, he opened it to inspect the contents.

Seeing that he hadn’t rejected her gift, Yu Shuihui’s face brightened, and she eagerly added, “Our Hehuan Sect’s products are completely harmless. Rest assured, Madam City Master, I personally guarantee their safety.”

With a snap, HuLü Yan shut the box. “When should it be used?”

“It can be used before or during the act, either on oneself or on the other person,” she replied, as knowledgeable and unabashed as any Hehuan Sect Master should be.

“A fine product,” HuLü Yan remarked, tucking the box into his pouch with clear delight. His mood visibly improved as he offered her a friendly smile. “Looks like we’ll need quite a bit of this.”

Yu Shuihui: “…”

For once, Yu Shuihui, who had never blushed in front of countless men, found her cheeks reddening.

Without daring to look him in the eye, she hurriedly handed him a few other items. “These are gifts for Madam City Master. Please accept them.”

Although there weren’t many items, it was clear each one had been selected with care, especially a certain sheer garment that sparkled under the sunlight. It looked like a simple, ornate piece, but once worn, it was something else entirely.

HuLü Yan asked outright, “How different?”

After a brief hesitation, her gaze landed on HuLü Yan’s beautiful face, and she stammered. “Madam City Master will have to try it to find out.”

“Alright.” HuLü Yan stuffed everything into his pouch. “Is there anything else?”

“…No,” Yu Shuihui replied, caught off guard by his bluntness. “But if there’s anything else Madam City Master would like, please feel free to visit Hehuan Sect.”

HuLü Yan waved his hand dismissively. “No need.”

Yu Shuihui managed a strained smile.

“I appreciate your kindness. Thank you,” HuLü Yan said in a perfunctory tone, already turning to leave.

He walked away quickly, disappearing from Yu Shuihui’s sight in no time.

After composing herself, Yu Shuihui returned to the group, feigning that nothing unusual had happened. The moment she looked, she saw HuLü Yan clinging to Mi Lu again.

Though Mi Lu wasn’t resisting, he didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic either, a hint of resignation on his face.

HuLü Yan, oblivious to Mi Lu’s helplessness, acted as if he wanted to meld into him, his face shining with a brilliant smile of satisfaction.

They waited for Yu Shuihui to return, bid her goodbye, and prepared to board the flying artifact.

Perhaps fed up with HuLü Yan’s tight grip, Mi Lu decisively pried his hands away and intertwined their fingers to keep HuLü Yan’s hands in check.

As HuLü Yan was led onto the artifact, he stared blankly at their intertwined hands, his ears turning a slight shade of red beneath his high ponytail.

Watching the flying artifact rise, the attendants below waited until it was out of earshot before one muttered, “Madam City Master sure blushes easily.”

Another chimed in, laughing, “Well, he’s with someone he loves.”

Yu Shuihui looked like she’d had a revelation.

HuLü Yan had been so shameless earlier. Maybe he simply doesn’t blush when he’s around those he doesn’t care for.

Mi Lu tried not to show it, but he couldn’t help feeling curious about HuLü Yan’s private talk with Yu Shuihui.

But he found it impossible to ask.

On the road, Mi Lu couldn’t shake his curiosity about HuLü Yan and Yu Shuihui’s secret conversation.

After all, in the original storyline, HuLü Yan had plenty of women in his entourage, but not Yu Shuihui. Besides, Yu Shuihui was over thirty, while HuLü Yan was only eighteen or nineteen!

Could Yu Shuihui be matchmaking him with a Hehuan Sect girl?

Mi Lu couldn’t find an answer.

After arriving in Qi City, Mi Lu and HuLü Yan planned to check on the Wu Wang Gang’s situation. Alone with him in the bumpy carriage, Mi Lu hesitated before finally asking, “What did Sect Master Yu talk to you about that day?”

HuLü Yan’s face lit up with a joyful smile. “You’re jealous?”

“…”