Qi Mu didn’t expect that Chu Huan would still be so afraid of her, even after developing this fear. She felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart. Her expression turned awkward, and she quickly changed the subject, "How did you fall from the sky?"
Chu Huan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The two of them, as if by tacit agreement, decided not to mention the big blade anymore.
His face grew serious as he glanced at Qi Mu, knowing she was someone who valued justice and loyalty. He trusted her. He spoke in a logical and concise manner, explaining the events that had unfolded in the Capital.
Qi Mu was initially shocked, but then she felt something else and curiously asked, "So, did the Transfer Talisman scatter people around, or were you the only one sent here?"
Chu Huan didn’t understand why she was so fixated on this, and his face darkened as he began to lecture, "The rebel prince uses poison and enchanting bugs to control the Capital. The people are in grave danger, and instead of worrying about trivial matters, shouldn’t you be thinking of ways to save them?"
Qi Mu shrugged, "I’m just a woman. Do I have an army or talismans? How am I supposed to save people?"
Chu Huan rose to his feet, facing the blustery wind and snow, and declared, "Even if I stand alone, I must stop the rebel prince!"
In Qi Mu’s eyes, his body looked so frail that a gust of wind might knock him over.
She rolled her eyes and tugged at his sleeve.
The tugging resulted in a tearing sound--the sleeve was ripped halfway off...
Chu Huan’s face darkened. He felt that if Qi Mu grabbed his arm, his hand might as well be considered lost at this point.
Qi Mu pursed her lips awkwardly. After a moment of silence, she forced a smile and said, "I have needle and thread. Shall I fix it later for you?"
She blamed her newly recovered strength for not being able to control it, leading to this mishap.
"..." Chu Huan sighed heavily, "No need. I don’t seem to have any good fortune when I’m around you. Let’s just not meet again."
He grabbed the torn sleeve and started walking away.
Qi Mu lowered her head, feeling a bit frustrated. She couldn’t understand why things always went wrong when she met Third Young Master Chu.
Footsteps went from near to far, and soon, from far to near again.
His expression was unnatural, and his face was stiff, "...Miss Qi, which way is it to the Capital?"
Seeing his embarrassed look and his red ears, Qi Mu raised her eyebrows and chuckled, "This is Five-Mile Slope. Head east, and you’ll reach the Capital."
Chu Huan kept staring at her bright smile, biting his lip. Seeing that she had nothing more to say, he cautiously asked, "So... which way is east?"
"..." Qi Mu stared at him for a while.
This Third Young Master Chu, apart from being a scholar, really was useless in everything else.
However, Chu Huan, despite his awkwardness, didn’t act arrogantly. Instead, he bowed politely and sincerely added, "Miss Qi, please show me the way east."
Qi Mu’s thoughts shifted.
This Third Young Master Chu is different from other noble sons. Rarely does someone look at people like him.
No wonder he’s the Ninth Princess’s brother!
She stood up, dusting off the snow and dirt on her clothes, and said, "You got separated from the rest of your family. You don’t know how your father and brothers are doing. If you return to the Capital and get captured, won’t you just give the rebel prince another hostage?"
Chu Huan looked into the vast night but remained resolute, "I know my father and brothers well. They’ll definitely make it back to the Capital before dawn."
Qi Mu murmured, "No wonder you’re so stubborn. You must’ve inherited that from your father."
Chu Huan coughed and said, "Miss Qi, you may criticize me, but please don’t say anything about my father."
Qi Mu shrugged, "He’s not my father. I’ll say what I want."
She was so brash and arrogant that Chu Huan didn’t know what to do with her and fell silent.
But Qi Mu had only been teasing. She grabbed the Heaven-Shocking Blade and strapped it to her back, saying, "Let’s go."
Chu Huan quickly interjected, "Miss Qi, no need to trouble yourself. I’ll return to the Capital on my own."
He was not used to her suddenly being so kind to him.
Could it be that after seeing him draw her treasured blade twice, Qi Mu now believed he was her destined one? Was she secretly planning to cling to him?!
Chu Huan’s expression turned complex, and he subconsciously took a step back, a bit fearful. "Miss, I’m just a weak scholar. I’m not worthy of you, right?"
Before, Qi Mu would’ve nodded immediately.
But now, she believed in destiny.
Seeing Chu Huan’s panicked expression, Qi Mu felt the urge to tease him, "Heh heh, you’re wrong. Your character and knowledge are first-rate, and your family background and looks are top-notch. How could you not be worthy of me?"
Chu Huan’s eyes widened in shock.
He stammered, "Y-you... didn’t you say that fortune-teller was a fraud and not to believe him?"
"I didn’t believe it before, but I do now," Qi Mu raised an eyebrow. "Otherwise, why would only you, among all the Chu family, be transported here and end up killing Zhang Mazi?"
Her reasoning was sound, leaving Chu Huan with nothing to counter!
He was utterly flustered.
Seeing him lost in thought, Qi Mu laughed again, patting him on the shoulder, "I’m just joking with you. It’s late and the situation in the Capital is uncertain. I’m only escorting you for the Ninth Princess’s sake."
Chu Huan stumbled a bit from her pat, his shoulder going numb.
But the heavy weight in his heart suddenly lifted, and he smiled, relieved, "Thank you, Miss Qi. When sixth sister returns, I’ll make sure she arm wrestles with you."
The mention of arm wrestling instantly brightened Qi Mu’s eyes. She rubbed her hands together, "Let’s hurry then."
She whistled, and a horse galloped over. Climbing onto the horse first, she extended her hand toward Chu Huan. "Come on."
Chu Huan froze, saying, "It’s inappropriate for men and women to share a horse."
Qi Mu shot back, "I only have this one. Are you getting on or not?"
"How about... you get down and let me borrow the horse for a couple of days?" Chu Huan felt that this was a brilliant idea.
Qi Mu rolled her eyes dramatically. "Third Young Master Chu, just walk if that’s how you feel!"
"That’s not such a bad idea..." But before he could finish, Qi Mu leaned down, and before he knew it, she had grabbed his hand.
With a burst of strength, she lifted him and set him behind her on the horse.
"Ah--! You!" Chu Huan’s ears flushed red, and he wanted to jump off.
"Stop whining, you big man! It’s almost dawn!" Qi Mu said, squeezing her legs around the horse’s belly, and it took off at a gallop.
With no choice, Chu Huan instinctively leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Qi Mu’s waist. His cheeks burned, and his heart raced.
He had been preoccupied with the situation in capital city and his family’s safety, but now all he could think was:
"I’m holding her waist now. If I don’t marry her, it’ll be a disgrace to all my studies!"
Where is the Qi family fortress? What kind of betrothal gifts do the sects expect? Surely they don’t want a martial arts manual or a divine weapon, right?
I should ask Fourth Brother...