Chapter 219: Come over, let's go back together

His gaze is always easily drawn to Mu Yuanzhi in the hot spring water.

A faint medicinal fragrance wafts over, making people feel refreshed and delighted.

The person in the water shines crystal clear, becoming even more beautiful and lovely from soaking in the hot spring water.

Xiao Yichen unconsciously stared blankly, his steps moving forward involuntarily.

Mu Yuanzhi warily narrowed her eyes, seized the moment, and suddenly splashed water toward Xiao Yichen.

A large sheet of hot spring water obscured Xiao Yichen's view; when the water settled, Mu Yuanzhi had already wrapped herself in her robe, the concealed weapon in her hand clearly visible.

Because she didn't have time to dress properly, she could only grab the robe and wrap it up; her uncovered white, tender calves glistened with water, and the droplets from her still-wet hair trailed down to her neck and collarbone.

They faced each other across the hot spring; Mu Yuanzhi's expression was wary and fierce, her whole body exuding a chaotic beauty that left Xiao Yichen unable to look away.

Xiao Yichen's Adam's apple rolled, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light.

Mu Yuanzhi flared with anger, unleashing a barrage of concealed weapons.

Xiao Yichen had already experienced Mu Yuanzhi's concealed weapons several times, knew the pattern, and easily dodged her attack this time.

"Your secret weapon could use some improvement." Xiao Yichen teased, "Or are you now solely focused on rebel arms, forgetting to upgrade your own?"

Mu Yuanzhi's brows knit together, her chest rising and falling, she warily gazed at Xiao Yichen.

In a direct clash, she truly couldn't beat him.

What to do?

Just run!

Mu Yuanzhi turned and sprinted deep into the woods.

Only then did Xiao Yichen seem to react, chasing after her on the water!

The chaotic woods greatly obstructed Xiao Yichen's tracking view; he gazed out, seeing no trace of Mu Yuanzhi, knowing her martial skills were mediocre, it was impossible for her to vanish so quickly.

She's probably just hiding.

"Ah Zhi, stop hiding—I know where you are!" Xiao Yichen shouted.

No one responded, not even a stir of wind.

Xiao Yichen continued to shout: "Ah Zhi, come out and hear me say a couple of things, okay?!"

Come out to hear you say a couple of things?

Mu Yuanzhi chuckled inwardly.

Only a fool would run out to listen.

Mu Yuanzhi now hid in a depression not far from Xiao Yichen, using the terrain and a few tall willows ahead as cover, unsure how long she could remain concealed.

Xiao Yichen could discover her at any moment!

Mu Yuanzhi's nose tingled, she suddenly felt the urge to sneeze, and hastily covered her mouth and nose.

She had just finished the hot spring medicinal bath, hadn't even dried off before wrapping herself in her robe; saying she wasn't cold would be a lie, and even though it's still midsummer, she couldn't endure such torment.

She was terribly unlucky; if she had known, she wouldn't have taken the medicinal bath today!

It wasn't something she absolutely had to do.

Mu Yuanzhi now didn't even dare to tighten her robe, fearing any slight sound would draw Xiao Yichen's attention.

Practitioners of martial arts have keen hearing; even without the exceptional hearing of a frost descent, Xiao Yichen's hearing is not something she can dismiss.

Damn bastard, why won't he leave?

Hearing the footsteps draw ever closer, already almost thundering above her head, Mu Yuanzhi didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"Ah Zhi, come out quickly!" Xiao Yichen said in an earnest tone: "I'm not here to capture you, I'm here to talk with you!"

Will they never come out! Mu Yuanzhi thought.

Who lured the Qilin away, allowing Xiao Yichen to run to Back Mountain?

And how did Xiao Yichen know she was in Back Mountain?

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but suspect an insider.

Otherwise Xiao Yichen wouldn't know where Back Mountain is, nor that she was soaking in the hot spring there.

But now isn't the time to think about all that; the most important thing is not to be discovered by Xiao Yichen.

But aside from hiding well, she had no other recourse.

Even if she tried to feint east while striking west, the moment she fumbled for a signal flare, she'd make a sound and be discovered by Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen had no choice but to keep shouting at the possibly hidden Mu Yuanzhi nearby: "Ah Zhi, turning back is the shore; if you do so now, we'll intercede for you. As long as you draw a clear line with Gu Rongjin, even provide intelligence to the Emperor, you can still redeem yourself. The Qilin and your fourth brother share a symbiotic bond, and the Emperor wouldn't kill the Qilin."

He even knows to use the Qilin to win her over?

I never expected Pei Shangling, that idiot, to tell Xiao Yichen such an important weakness; if someone wanted to kill him, wouldn't they just turn their twisted thoughts toward the Qilin?

Although not everyone is unaware of this, she can't trust someone like Xiao Yichen.

"Ah Zhi!" Xiao Yichen had no idea where Mu Yuanzhi was hiding; despite all he'd said, she gave no reaction.

Could she really not be here?

Xiao Yichen had no choice but to search carefully.

He turned, saw a slope ahead, worried Mu Yuanzhi might accidentally slip down, and cautiously approached to peek.

The commotion above grew louder and louder, Mu Yuanzhi's heart leapt to her throat.

Has he already discovered this slope?

Mu Yuanzhi could even feel a heavy shadow pressing down; she held her breath, trying to conceal the fact that she was hiding here.

Has he found her?!

Xiao Yichen seemed to have spotted a person's clothing, was about to go down to check, when he heard a rustling sound not far behind him.

There?!

Xiao Yichen immediately turned and chased after her: "Ah Zhi, is that you? Don't run! I'm worried you'll fall!"

Mu Yuanzhi let out a long breath, she carefully lifted her head, hearing Xiao Yichen's footsteps fade away before slowly standing up.

Fortunately, she was wearing a dark-colored robe today, making it hard to notice her while hiding.

She had been hiding in a strange posture for a while, her body a bit numb, it took a little time to get up, she stretched her limbs, not daring to delay, she carefully walked along the slope.

However, the slope was really hard to walk on, Mu Yuanzhi nearly twisted her ankle several times, she had to lean on a tree branch to get back to the ground.

Looking around, there was no sign of Xiao Yichen.

Maybe a rabbit or a wild cat caught his attention, making him think she was there?

Or she had better run quickly, otherwise Xiao Yichen would soon notice!

Barefoot Mu Yuanzhi felt something scratch the sole of her foot, causing her to silently gasp in pain.

Only then did she belatedly realize she hadn't had time to put on shoes.

The sole must have been cut in several places!

Mu Yuanzhi endured the pain and did not stop to check.

She needed to leave here quickly and go back.

"Ah Zhi!"

Mu Yuanzhi startled, she whipped her head around and discovered Xiao Yichen already standing behind her.

"Why did you get yourself in such a mess?" Xiao Yichen's eyes full of concern, he reached out his hand: "Come here, go back with me."

Mu Yuanzhi tightened her robe and retreated warily: "Don't dream about it, I won't go back with you."