Outside the courtyard, the sudden rush of horse hooves shattered the silence.
The black qi at Xie Zhaolin's fingertips froze, and her heart sank. Already? Had Yu Xiaotang caught up so quickly? That woman's ability was far stronger than she'd expected.
She formed a seal with her fingers, ready to vanish, but the hoofbeats stopped abruptly right outside the gate.
"Ah Xiu! Ah Xiu, are you here?" A clear male voice, urgent and trembling with barely suppressed panic, rang out alongside rapid knocking.
Xie Zhaolin frowned.
Ah Xiu? So this person actually knew the original owner of this body?
Her divine sense swept outward. A young man stood at the gate in a blue robe, a faded peace charm hanging at his waist. His cultivation was at the second layer of Qi Refining. Behind him stood a blue-canopied carriage, two servants tugging nervously at the horses' reins.
The servants were ordinary mortals, glancing around uneasily.
"Qi Refining, second layer…" Xie Zhaolin's thumb brushed across the dagger's hilt.
With her current fourth-layer cultivation, killing the three of them would only take an instant. Her divine sense spread farther, sweeping a three-mile radius. Nothing. No ambush, not even a trace of spiritual fluctuation.
The black qi coiled at her fingertips dispersed quietly. She softened her steps, went to the door, and spoke with deliberate timidity. "W-who's out there?"
"It's me, Chu Huaizhou!" The voice cracked with urgency, yet relief seeped through. "Ah Xiu, open the door!"
The hinges creaked. Chu Huaizhou saw her, and his eyes went red in an instant. "It's really you!" He staggered forward, then forced himself to stop.
"Ah Xiu, are you alright? I've been looking for you everywhere…"
Hearing that, Xie Zhaolin's heart stirred. Maybe this man could be useful, at least long enough to hide her from Yu Xiaotang. But… without knowing his details, she'd have to keep up Ah Xiu's timid act.
She lowered her gaze, voice trembling just right. "Chu… Young Master Chu…"
The unfamiliar formality hit him like a slap. Chu Huaizhou stiffened, his fingers twitching helplessly before he relaxed them again. Pain pooled in his reddened eyes. He took a step closer, his voice shaking. "Ah Xiu, you… you used to call me Brother Huaizhou."
His fingertips trembled, his eyes swirling with a mess of emotions.
"Ah Xiu…" His voice cracked, rough with guilt. "Are you… are you still resenting me?"
She lowered her head further, twisting her sleeve between her fingers. "I… I wouldn't dare resent Young Master Chu."
"Wouldn't dare?" Chu Huaizhou let out a bitter laugh, self-mockery cutting through his tone. "Ah Xiu, you never used to talk like this."
Xie Zhaolin stayed silent. She only tilted her head slightly, letting him see the bruises and whip marks on her neck.
Chu Huaizhou's breath caught. His eyes filled with pain. He reached out, wanting to touch the wounds, but pulled back sharply before his fingers brushed her skin, like he was terrified of hurting her.
"Ah Xiu…" His voice dropped low. "I know you hate me."
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Young Master Chu jokes. I was sold to the gambling den, how could I dare hate you?"
The words cut into him like a knife. He swayed, eyes flickering with shame. "Ah Xiu, I… I really had no choice back then…"
"No choice?" She finally looked up, just enough confusion in her eyes. "Young Master Chu's a cultivator. Who could force you?"
He faltered, his voice dropping. "I… I had my difficulties."
A hint of mockery flickered in her eyes. Difficulties?
A naïve girl might've been fooled by his so-called deep affection. But she'd lived over three centuries. She'd seen this kind of performance countless times. If Chu Huaizhou's love was truly so deep, would the original owner have fallen so low?
Now, only after her soul had replaced the girl's, did he come back with talk of hardship?
When Ah Xiu had nowhere left to turn, she must've sought him first.
And he hadn't come.
Not because he couldn't find her—if even that mortal Zhang Laosan could, how could a cultivator not?
He hadn't wanted to.
But now, suddenly, he'd returned.
Xie Zhaolin's lips curled in a faint smile. "Interesting."
But she still needed him, so she softened her tone with a sigh. "Young Master Chu, what's past… let it stay in the past."
He froze, stunned at her words. Hope flickered in his eyes. "Ah Xiu, you… you don't hate me anymore?"
She shook her head gently, voice soft as silk. "What's the point of hating or not hating? Life still has to go on."
His eyes grew wet. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist, gripping so hard her bones nearly snapped. "Ah Xiu, come with me! I swear I'll never let you suffer again!"
She let him hold her, though her gaze was ice.
Swear? She nearly laughed.
When Ah Xiu starved on stale mantou behind the gambling hall, where was his vow?
When Zhang Laosan pinned her to that filthy table, where was his promise?
She glanced at their joined hands. Chu Huaizhou's fingers trembled. His oath carried no weight of Heaven, just empty words meant to deceive mortals. If a cultivator truly swore with sincerity, how could he not dare call upon the Heavenly Dao as witness?
He simply feared damaging his dao heart and hindering his cultivation.
She pulled her hand back lightly, lowering her voice. "Young Master Chu, I… I just want to leave here. I'm afraid my brother will…"
He stiffened, then seemed to recall Zhang Laosan's nature. He nodded hard. "Alright! We'll leave right now!"
She let him lead her outside. Her gaze flicked toward the blue-canopied carriage. The curtain hung half-open, revealing soft bedding and neatly packed medicines. So he'd come prepared.
"Wait!" She jerked her hand free. "I-I need to grab a few things…"
"No need." He caught her wrist again, only to let go as if burned. "I… I've already prepared everything. Let's just go."
She lowered her eyes to hide the cold gleam within them.
His reaction was too strange. She stumbled slightly on purpose, feigning weakness.
He rushed to support her, his eyes full of pain. "You're hurt so badly… that bastard…" His jaw clenched with rage, then he suddenly lowered his voice. "But don't worry, he'll never hurt you again."
Her heart gave a sharp jolt. Zhang Laosan was already dead, killed by Ah Mo. His body was buried right here in the courtyard. So what exactly did Chu Huaizhou mean?
Thoughts raced, but on the surface she only looked confused. "My brother… where did he go?"
His eyes flickered. "He… he won't be back for a while." Then he hurriedly changed the subject. "Let's leave here first. I'll explain everything on the road."
She nodded obediently, letting him help her into the carriage. But as she climbed up, her finger flicked, releasing a wisp of black qi into the house. It caught on the bedding, fire blooming instantly.
The carriage rolled away. From the window, she saw the courtyard already engulfed in flames.
Chu Huaizhou followed her gaze. His face drained of all color. "How did that fire start?"
She widened her eyes, feigning panic. "I… I don't know…"
He swallowed hard, staring at the blaze. After a long moment, he let out a sigh. "Maybe it's for the best… This way, no one will ever find you."