Chapter 479: She loves a beast that doesn

However, Zongzheng Zhiyan was still not dead.

She weakly opened her eyes and looked at Xie Huaiyuan: "Huaiyuan brother… quickly save me… save me…"

She wasn't dead yet?

Xie Huaiyuan looked more closely and discovered that Zongzheng Zhiyan was only suspended by her wrists; the rope was not tied around her neck!

Seeing that she was still alive, Xie Huaiyuan hurriedly jumped up.

He brought a stool over, lowered Zongzheng Zhiyan from where she was hung under the eaves, and then asked: "What on earth is going on?"

"How… how did you end up hung outside my meditation room door?"

Zongzheng Zhiyan cried: "Huaiyuan brother, believe me, it's the ghost of Zongzheng Qingyue… it's definitely her coming to find us!"

"She must have come to take revenge on us!"

This time, Xie Huaiyuan did not rush to refute Zongzheng Zhiyan.

After all, yesterday he had personally heard the Guanyin statue speak.

Could it be that gods and ghosts really exist in this world?

"But so many years have passed… why, why does Yue'er still linger as a resentful spirit, coming to frighten us?"

Zongzheng Zhiyan shook Xie Huaiyuan in frustration: "Huaiyuan brother, you're still being dense!!"

"Who else could it be besides her?"

"Moreover, she has already harmed so many people, and even wanted to hang me in front of your meditation room door—who else in the world could hate us both at the same time besides her?"

"She simply intends to harm us!"

"And she's clearly been dead for all these years yet remains a lingering shade—looks like she won't let us go!"

Xie Huaiyuan's face finally turned grim: "Go! Let's hurry down the mountain!"

Xie Huaiyuan helped Zongzheng Zhiyan up and prepared to leave.

But Zongzheng Zhiyan cried and shook her head: "It's too late, Huaiyuan brother."

"Yesterday's path down the mountain suddenly collapsed and was buried—we can't get through."

Xie Huaiyuan's face grew paler and paler.

If it weren't truly a ghost, how could any of this be explained?

Those merchants?

Even if they had abilities that reached the heavens, they absolutely couldn't do this.

Xie Huaiyuan knew they could not linger here any longer.

Otherwise, it would be their turn next.

Thinking of a small path on the back mountain, he immediately said: "There's still another way down the mountain. Although it's rough, if we don't go now we may lose the chance."

"Do you want to leave with me?"

Seeing that he hadn't outright abandoned her, Zongzheng Zhiyan felt moved to the point of almost crying.

With her eyes red, how could she still be unwilling?

"I want to."

The two hurriedly ran toward the back mountain.

However, after only a few steps, Zongzheng Zhiyan suddenly stopped again.

"Wait, Changning, and Changning too!"

"Huaiyuan brother, we can't abandon Changning—she is your only close blood relative in this world!"

Xie Huaiyuan: "It's too late!"

"She still has your prince consort; he will protect her!"

"If you insist on going back, then go back yourself!"

Having said that, he shoved Zongzheng Zhiyan away roughly.

Zongzheng Zhiyan's face filled with disbelief.

Even a tiger's poison doesn't eat its young—is he still human at all?

"You've always treated Changning as your disgrace, haven't you?"

"So, even though I always bring her along, you've never once given her a proper look!"

"You simply don't care whether she is really your blood relative or not."

"Even if she were dead… you'd actually feel relieved?"

Xie Huaiyuan didn't utter a single word of rebuttal.

He merely threw out the word "lunatic" and then strode away ahead.

Zongzheng Zhiyan did not immediately follow after him.

She sat on the ground and burst into loud laughter.

"Haha, hahaha…"

"What kind of beast have I actually fallen in love with?"

"A beast that isn't even fit to be called human!"

"Indeed, compared to being ruthless and unfeeling, I can only bow before him, Xie Huaiyuan."

Zongzheng Zhiyan slowly crawled to her feet, did not follow Xie Huaiyuan away, but turned and sprinted madly toward the kitchen.

"Changning, Mother's coming——"

However, there was no sign of anyone in the kitchen of Ningyuan Temple.

On the table lay bloody rabbits and wild chickens, and the pot was bubbling with wild vegetable soup.

Yet the prince consort, Changning Princess, and even the attendants who had followed them all along had vanished without a trace.

Upon realizing that everyone had disappeared again, Zongzheng Zhiyan almost went crazy from fright.

She covered her head, turned and ran out, screaming miserably all the way.

She kept running until she slammed headfirst into a wall of flesh.

She fell flat on her buttocks, lifted her head and saw that Xie Huaiyuan had returned; she instantly clung to him like a lifeline, crying as she threw herself into his arms.

Brother Huaiyuan, I knew you wouldn't abandon me.

Brother Huaiyuan, Changning… Changning and the prince consort and the others are all gone!

After she said that, the entire Ningyuan Temple fell into dead silence.

A flock of crows cried 'ga—ga—' as they flew overhead.

Xie Huaiyuan: 'So, now the entire Ningyuan Temple has only us two left.'

Zongzheng Zhiyan: 'Yeah, what can we do?'

Brother Huaiyuan, is there anything in the temple that can send out a message?

For example, carrier pigeons, or what kind of fireworks?

We need to quickly seek help from outside.

Xie Huaiyuan furrowed his brow and shook his head: 'Nothing at all.'

Zongzheng Zhiyan completely despaired: 'Then we had better hurry and go!'

Zongzheng Zhiyan was heartbroken that Changning was also gone, but for now she could only temporarily preserve her own life.

She grabbed Xie Huaiyuan to prepare to flee, but he tightly grabbed her.

His expression was extremely icy: 'We can't leave.'

That winding, rugged mountain road has also been blocked off.

A huge boulder lies across the entrance.

If one tries to cross it, a moment's carelessness will send them plunging off the cliff to be smashed to pieces.

Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi were sitting cross-legged on the open ground behind the Guanyin Hall, playing chess.

Over the past year, her chess skill has finally made some progress.

Although she is still far behind him, Duan Rongshi is very patient and continues to teach her.

Even if he himself were besieged, seeing her capture a piece smoothly would bring a relieved look to the depths of his eyes.

It was as if the precious little herb he had personally seen fallen in the mountains had finally blossomed into an extraordinary flower.

Que'er knelt beside them, brewing tea to serve.

Zhui Yu came rushing over, 'Your Highness, Miss, everything is ready.'

We're just waiting for these two dogs to go completely mad.

After saying that, Que'er brought over a bowl of tea as big as a sea bowl.

Zhui Yu gulped down several mouthfuls from the bowl, and even Duan Rongshi cast a few glances.

Li Qingluo smiled but said nothing, then rose to her feet.

Ah Shi, shall we go watch the fun again?

Duan Rongshi threw down the chess pieces, picked up the black mask from beside him and put it on his face.

Just follow the young lady's orders.

His teasing drew a smile from Li Qingluo.

She reached out and grabbed him: 'Come on, hurry up and follow me, young lady!'