Chapter 450: Mu Mingcheng's Secret

They were all ready to go to sleep.

Gu Rongjin: "Want to go?"

Let's go; sleeping a bit later is fine.

Thus the two changed clothes and went to the Imperial Observatory.

The carriage sped along the quiet streets of Jingcheng.

In the carriage on the way, Mu Yuanzhi didn't realize that Xixi, who had returned late, was nearby beside the carriage rushing past.

By the time Xixi realized the speeding carriage belonged to the Grand General's mansion, it was already too late.

She muttered regretfully: "I almost caught a free ride—what a pity!"

Never mind; home isn't far anyway—just a day's walk, and my legs are a bit tired.

Miss Xixi?

A familiar, annoying voice sounded from behind; Xixi turned her head speechlessly and gave a perfunctory smile: "Good evening, Young Master Mu."

"It's so late; it's dangerous for you to be out alone, Miss Xixi. Let me walk you home," Mu Mingcheng said enthusiastically.

No thanks, I'm nearby. Farewell, Young Master Mu.

Being with you is actually the dangerous part, right?

Mu Mingcheng heard her and stubbornly replied: "It's not really dangerous to be alone on the road; it's just a short distance. Let me see you home—you're my sister's good friend, aren't you my friend too?"

Playing connections? Xixi smirked inwardly.

"I say, Young Master Mu, a man and woman alone at night—aren't you afraid the Grand Princess will misunderstand?"

Who in Jingcheng doesn't know that Mu Mingcheng has successfully ingratiated himself with the Grand Princess of Huangli State? The two are inseparable, like glue.

She never expected Mu Mingcheng to dare harass her—he's got real nerve.

Mu Mingcheng's expression froze for a moment, but the night was too dark to see clearly.

It's just seeing you home; the Grand Princess won't misunderstand.

He didn't deny his relationship with Yelu Kebao Ge; if anything, he felt a little smug about it.

But he wouldn't give up getting close to Xixi because of that.

All he needed to do was avoid Yelu Kebao Ge.

Xixi said: "I said no thanks; even if you're not afraid of her misunderstanding, I'm afraid of others misunderstanding—I'm still an unmarried young lady."

"Then how about I follow you from a distance? That way no one will misunderstand," Mu Mingcheng said, looking concerned for Xixi.

He's as persistent as a fly you can't shoo away!

Xixi got a little angry: "Do as you please!"

If she knew a bit of martial arts like Qi Shi'an, she'd have already cursed him out; she fears this man would become angry and she couldn't beat him in a fight.

Because of Xixi's attitude, Mu Mingcheng's eyes flickered with something strange, but his face remained unchanged, still smiling gently as he followed behind her.

As they passed a dark alley, one after the other, suddenly several masked bandits leapt out!

Xixi jumped in fright, about to scream, but saw Mu Mingcheng throw himself in front of her, fighting the bandits barehanded!

Again……

Xixi was speechless.

How many times does this guy play the hero? Doesn't he find it embarrassing himself?

When did the public security under heaven become so bad?

Seeing them swing their knives at Xixi, Mu Mingcheng leapt to block; Xixi couldn't dodge in time and was nicked on the shoulder, hurting so much she wanted to curse Mu Mingcheng's ancestors eighteen generations over!

Barehanded fighting a few knife-wielding thugs, getting hurt is inevitable; moreover, Mu Mingcheng probably wanted to play up his misery, and after repelling the masked bandits, the leader slashed him.

Mu Mingcheng focused on repelling the masked men, with no time to worry about his own wounds; after confirming the bandits fled in panic, he turned to the injured Xixi: "Are you okay? How bad is it?"

"What do you think?!" Xixi glared; even a light scratch hurts like hell!

She knew this was all Mu Mingcheng's scheme, so she naturally wouldn't give him a pleasant look.

Yet Mu Mingcheng played along, putting on a guilty look for Xixi's misplaced anger, and bowed his head: "Sorry, I boasted about protecting you, but ended up hurting you instead……"

"……" Xixi restrained the urge to beat him up, knowing she couldn't defeat this big, tall man.

Just then, she happened to see her own blood dripping onto the ground merge with Mu Mingcheng's flowing blood!

What the heck?!

Why can her blood merge with his?

Could it be that anyone's blood can merge with anyone else's?

No, impossible; if that were true, blood-drip kinship testing would never have become a method for verifying blood relations from ancient times to now.

Even when she was young, she'd heard of someone being kicked out by their father because their blood wouldn't mix in a kinship test.

So it's……

Xixi stared up at Mu Mingcheng in shock, blinking blankly.

Is there something wrong with Mu Mingcheng's blood?

Can his blood merge with anyone's?!

If that's the case, it makes sense—why would he dare so boldly to test blood with Elder Sister Mu, not because he knows his blood mixes with hers, but because his blood mixes with everyone's, so he has nothing to fear!

Mu Mingcheng obviously also noticed the blood on the ground merging and that Xixi had figured out the trick.

His expression changed instantly, from gentle spring breeze to dark and sinister.

"I… I suddenly remembered I have to find someone—excuse me!"

Sensing the shift in Mu Mingcheng's aura, Xixi instinctively felt danger and decided to run first.

"Miss Xixi, where are you going? I said I'd walk with you," Mu Mingcheng whispered with a smile.

Xixi's eyes suddenly filled with fear, which gradually grew in Mu Mingcheng's view.

Who is it!

The night watchman heard the sound of swords clashing here, so he rushed over, but when he arrived he could only see a pool of blood that had been smeared flat and dried on the ground, and didn't see anyone.

Strange?

Did a fight happen here?

Is this human blood or animal blood?

The night watchman was a bit frightened, so he hurriedly took a detour and left.

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin arrived at the Imperial Observatory; the shaman doctor hadn't come yet, so they sat in that weird strange room waiting. The two cups of warm, steaming Longjing tea in front of them somewhat eased the gloom brought by the strange room.

They were used to the shaman doctor's quirks, so they didn't find him creepy.

"Why did they summon us and then just leave us here, not knowing what they're up to? Is this guy doing it on purpose?" Gu Rongjin crossed his arms, displeased.

It's already been about fifteen minutes, right?

This hospitality is really lacking.

"Yeah, I'm about to doze off." Mu Yuanzhi propped her chin, feeling a bit sleepy, and didn't want to drink tea to perk up, because this Longjing had been laced with a sleep aid, so the more she drank, the sleepier she got.

"Go ahead and sleep; I'll wake you when he comes." Gu Rongjin said indulgently.

"Do you want to see me make a fool of myself fishing?" Mu Yuanzhi snorted.

"There's no way; my wife is adorable no matter what." Gu Rongjin laughed.

At that moment, the door opened.

"Sorry for keeping you two honored guests waiting."