Chu'he suddenly felt as though she had adopted a fox—one glance from him, and she would lose all sense of reason.
She silently scolded herself in her heart. How could she be so weak-willed?
But when she looked up again and met Ninth’s beautiful, crimson eyes, she clutched her chest and cursed inwardly:
What self-control?
Why bother when she could indulge like a pleasure-seeking, reckless ruler?
"Ninth!" Chu'he cupped his face, acting like a rogue who shamelessly flirts with a proper lady. She planted several loud kisses on his cheeks. "I like you so much!"
Ninth raised a brow and let out an indifferent "Oh," showing no visible reaction to her bold confession.
But Chu'he could clearly feel it—the warmth spreading beneath her palms where they touched his skin.
She leaned in, nuzzling his cheek like an affectionate little animal, then tilted her head and grinned at him. "So, don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?"
Ninth had been giving her the cold shoulder earlier, clearly sulking.
The killing intent in his heart had already been stirred, just one step away from being unleashed, but Chu'he had to interfere at the last moment.
It was like stifling a sneeze—just as it was about to burst out, someone covered his mouth and forced it back in. How frustrating.
Chu'he, who usually carried herself with confidence, now clung to him, whining like a spoiled child. "Stop being angry. If you’re unhappy, I’m unhappy, Little Qing is unhappy, our whole family is unhappy!"
A whole family.
For some inexplicable reason, Ninth’s heart burned at those words.
Since childhood, he had always been alone. The concept of "family" was never clear to him, yet with just a casual remark from Chu'he, his body suddenly felt heavy.
His chest swelled with an unfamiliar emotion.
In that instant, the suffocating killing intent clogging his veins vanished completely.
Chu'he rested her head against his chest and lifted her pretty face, her eyes sparkling like stars. "Ninth, stop sulking, okay?"
Ninth’s gaze flickered. "No."
"Then what do I have to do for you to stop being mad?"
He turned his face away, though his arms around her didn’t loosen. He muttered under his breath, "Just keep coaxing me, and I’ll get over it."
And so, from dusk till nightfall, Chu'he resorted to every playful, shameless trick in the book to appease him. By the time her lips were nearly chapped from all the sweet-talking, her stubborn boyfriend finally relented.
They had wasted too much time on the road and missed the chance to enter the city, forcing them to find shelter in the wilderness. Unexpectedly, they stumbled upon an inn in the middle of nowhere.
Outside the inn, numerous horses and carriages were parked. From the entrance, the place was bustling with people—business seemed thriving.
Chu'he had a bad feeling. She tugged at Ninth’s hand and whispered, "Do you think this is a shady establishment?"
Ninth leaned down and whispered back, "Are you afraid there are bad people inside?"
Chu'he nodded.
He smirked. "Don’t worry. I’ll go in and kill them all."
That way, the bad people she feared would cease to exist.
Chu'he quickly grabbed his arm. "Ninth, that’s not what I meant!"
"Are you two guests looking for lodging?" A waiter, the picture of hospitality, greeted them with a warm, honest smile.
Chu'he, ever the diplomat, glanced at the inn and asked, "Your establishment looks quite new. It must’ve been built recently, right? Shouldn’t inns be located in busy towns? Why set up shop in such a desolate place?"
The waiter chuckled. "Every guest asks the same thing. You’re right—our inn is new. Our boss received word that a large number of warriors would be heading to Canghaizhou, and there’s a long stretch of road before reaching it with no place to rest. Setting up here lets us cash in on the opportunity."
Chu'he frowned. "A lot of people are going to Canghaizhou?"
The waiter looked surprised. "You didn’t know? Ever since rumors spread about treasure hidden in Canghaizhou, people have been flocking there. Aren’t you two heading there for the treasure?"
Chu'he shook her head. "We’re just passing through."
The waiter grinned. "Passing through is fine too! We still have vacant rooms. Why not rest here for the night before continuing your journey?"
Chu'he looked up at Ninth. "Should we go in?"
Ninth brushed his thumb over the tired corner of her eye and replied cheerfully, "Why not?"
He took her hand and strolled forward at a leisurely pace.
The waiter, quick on his feet, tied up their carriage and hurried after them.
The inn was indeed packed.
Near the entrance sat two swordsmen—a man and a woman—who seemed decent and upright.
Further inside, two more tables were occupied. The left table had three men dressed in black, likely from the same sect, all armed with sabers.
The right table seated only a boy of thirteen or fourteen, adorned in luxurious silks and jewels, his delicate face carrying an air of arrogance. Behind him stood a burly guard with a steady presence.
By the window sat two tables full of people—ones Chu'he and Ninth had crossed paths with not long ago.
The scar-faced man and his companions paled when they saw Ninth and Chu'he walk in.
Scattered throughout the room were other guests—grandparents, couples, siblings.
The atmosphere was tense, everyone wary of each other. But the moment the red-clad, white-haired youth from Miaojiang appeared, the tension thickened.
In an instant, the boy from the southern lands became the most feared presence in the room.
Thanks to Ninth, Chu'he, standing beside him, also became the center of attention.
Unfazed by the stares, Ninth casually scanned the room. Every table was taken, and the eager glint in his eyes suggested he was considering picking a random unlucky group to "convince" to vacate their seats.
None of the guests were pushovers. Hands tightened around weapons, waiting for someone to make the first move and shatter the fragile peace.
"Welcome, honored guests!"
At the critical moment, a young woman rushed out. She was graceful, strikingly beautiful, and beaming.
"I’m the owner of this inn. Everyone calls me Yu Sanniang. Unfortunately, we’re quite full today, but there’s still space if you don’t mind sharing a table."
Yu Sanniang smiled at Chu'he. "Miss, would you mind sitting with others?"
She was sharp—one glance told her Chu'he was the one making decisions.
