After struggling for a while, Mu Xueshi suddenly heard a knock at the door. He lifted his head, and his eyes instantly lit up with brilliance.
The Mountain King looked toward the doorway with some irritation, but the moment he recognized the visitor, his tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed. Wrapping an arm around Mu Xueshi, he stood up and said, “Benefactor, your presence here to congratulate me truly leaves this little brother honored beyond measure.”
“Not at all. I merely came to broaden my horizons and see this extraordinary stronghold wife of yours.”
As he spoke, Poison Master Moru’s eyes roamed over Mu Xueshi from head to toe. No matter where he looked, the man was breathtakingly beautiful. He had originally intended to take a quick look and leave, but once his gaze landed on Mu Xueshi, he found himself unable to tear it away.
Mu Xueshi stood less than a foot away from Poison Master Moru. The moment he met the gaze directed at him, excitement surged through him, and a series of muffled sounds escaped his throat. The noises were strained and anguished.
Hearing that sound, Poison Master Moru froze slightly. Something felt strange. This woman appeared so delicate and enchanting, yet her voice carried a certain masculine quality. Almost instinctively, Poison Master Moru’s eyes drifted toward Mu Xueshi’s throat, only to discover that the high collar of his clothing concealed everything beneath it.
Mu Xueshi suddenly felt incredibly miserable. He had just remembered that Poison Master Moru had never actually seen what he truly looked like. The number of people who had seen his real face could be counted on one hand, and all of them were in the imperial palace. Before Poison Master Moru disappeared from the palace, the Third Prince had always kept his face hidden.
So there was no way Poison Master Moru could recognize him. Even if he were not dressed as a woman, the man still would not know that he was Mu Xueshi.
Seeing the way Poison Master Moru stared, the Mountain King felt rather pleased with himself. Everyone said Poison Master Moru was widely traveled and fond of beauty. Yet now that he had seen his wife, he was no different from everyone else—equally astonished. It seemed his wife’s beauty truly had reached the pinnacle of perfection.
“Well? Benefactor, are you satisfied with my wife’s appearance?”
Hearing the question, Poison Master Moru snorted inwardly. Even if I said I was satisfied, would you give him to me? Aren’t you deliberately making me stare in envy?
“Of course. Your wife’s beauty truly has no equal. To behold such a face once in my lifetime is enough that I can die without regrets.” If I could steal him away, that would be even better. Poison Master Moru thought exactly that, though he wisely refrained from saying it aloud.
Seeing Poison Master Moru’s gaze repeatedly drifting toward him, Mu Xueshi grew increasingly anxious. He knew the man could not recognize him, but he still wanted to find some way to remind him. If his face would not work, then perhaps his arm would. Poison Master Moru had taken his pulse before; perhaps he would remember his arm.
With that thought, Mu Xueshi suddenly thrust out his hand and grabbed Poison Master Moru’s arm.
The Mountain King was still reveling in Poison Master Moru’s praise when he suddenly saw Mu Xueshi clutching the man’s arm. Startled, he could not understand what Mu Xueshi intended.
Poison Master Moru was equally shocked. What is this? A bride marrying someone else is reaching over to touch my hand? Isn’t that the behavior of a shameless woman? Then again, her hand really was unusually smooth and soft. The touch against his arm sent tingles through him. What blatant seduction…
Wait, no. Shouldn’t I be the one placing my hand on his arm? Mu Xueshi realized he had gotten it backwards. He immediately switched tactics and grabbed Poison Master Moru’s hand instead, desperately trying to place it against his own wrist.
That sight immediately stirred anger within the Mountain King. How could his precious treasure cling so stubbornly to another man’s hand? His expression darkened, and he stepped forward, forcibly pulling Mu Xueshi’s hand away.
Even as the Mountain King dragged his hand back, Mu Xueshi struggled desperately. But the difference in strength between them was simply too great. In the end, all he managed to do was leave a red mark on Poison Master Moru’s arm before being forcibly pulled away.
Poison Master Moru found himself unable to make sense of it. He could not understand what this bride was trying to do. His only impression was that her grip was surprisingly strong. And judging by the look in those eyes, it seemed as though she had something she desperately wanted to tell him but simply could not say.
Could she have been forced into this marriage?
If so, then the Mountain King was absurdly lucky. With beauty like this, for no one to have abducted her until now meant she must have been hidden away remarkably well.
Observing Mu Xueshi’s strange behavior, the Mountain King suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. Did Mu Xueshi know this man? Or was he trying to use an outsider to spread news of his whereabouts?
Neither possibility was a good one.
“Benefactor, why don’t we go outside and have a drink? Let my wife rest for a while. His health isn’t very good.”
Poison Master Moru cast several more looks at Mu Xueshi before saying to the Mountain King, “Yet I can’t shake the feeling that she seems to have something she wants to say to me.”
Mu Xueshi nodded repeatedly. For a moment, it felt as though hope had returned.
The Mountain King’s eyes darkened, and the arm around Mu Xueshi tightened.
“Could it be that Benefactor knows my wife?”
Poison Master Moru laughed softly. “If I knew her, would I still be this surprised upon seeing her? You simply place too much importance on your wife, which is why you’ve become so suspicious.”
The Mountain King believed that Poison Master Moru was not the sort of petty villain who schemed behind people’s backs, and he also trusted that the man truly did not know Mu Xueshi. His mood immediately improved, and he said with a laugh, “Benefactor is right. These days, I’m so protective of him that I’m afraid he’ll fly away even while resting in the palm of my hand.”
Poison Master Moru took a deep breath and suddenly felt he could not remain here any longer. Seeing someone else blessed with such fortune was simply suffocating.
Seeing that the Mountain King had successfully diverted Poison Master Moru’s attention, Mu Xueshi grew so anxious that stars practically danced before his eyes. Inwardly, he kept shouting, Come look at me! I still need you to rescue me!!
“I have matters that cannot be delayed, so I must take my leave now. This is a small token of my congratulations. I hope the Mountain King and your wife will like it.”
While gently stroking Mu Xueshi’s back, the Mountain King said, “Benefactor won’t stay a while longer? The feast outside has only just begun.”
Stay. Stay… Mu Xueshi pleaded desperately in his heart.
“No. Delivering my congratulations is enough.”
With those words, Poison Master Moru turned around and strode away with his usual carefree elegance.
Mu Xueshi’s head drooped heavily. His vacant eyes stared toward the doorway while his lips moved soundlessly, like a person standing at death’s gate calling out one final plea before crossing the Yellow Springs.
Don’t go…
The Mountain King personally accompanied Poison Master Moru part of the way out before ordering his men to escort him safely beyond the mountains. Watching Poison Master Moru’s retreating figure, the Mountain King finally relaxed. Ever since Mu Xueshi had grabbed Poison Master Moru’s hand, he had wanted the man gone as quickly as possible.
Poison Master Moru felt much the same once he left the mountain stronghold. Without the deafening noise ringing in his ears, he felt considerably more comfortable. Not having to watch such a breathtaking beauty lying in the Mountain King’s arms also restored a bit of balance to his heart. Yet whenever he thought back on it, he still could not help but sigh in regret.
How had that fellow ended up with such luck?
People truly were not wrong when they said beauty could bring disaster. He had only looked a few times, yet he already found himself harboring resentment toward the man who possessed such a beauty. Poison Master Moru had already traveled quite a distance, but the scene continued replaying in his mind. The more he thought about it, the less he understood it. It felt like a dream that had ended in profound disappointment.
Only when he reached the house where he had been staying did Poison Master Moru finally come back to his senses. He looked toward Xiao Yi, who was squatting by the entrance with his head hanging low, so absorbed in his thoughts that he had not even noticed Poison Master Moru’s return. Clearing his throat, Poison Master Moru announced his presence.
Xiao Yi reacted as if someone had set fire to his backside. He jumped to his feet and stared at Poison Master Moru with wide, terrified eyes.
Seeing Xiao Yi’s expression, Poison Master Moru suddenly felt uneasy and asked, “What’s with that look? Am I really that frightening?”
Xiao Yi immediately shook his head and muttered incoherently, unable to produce a complete sentence.
“Then what is it?” Poison Master Moru’s expression gradually darkened.
Trembling, Xiao Yi pointed at the letter in his hand. He stole nervous glances at Poison Master Moru, looking as though he were on the verge of tears.
Poison Master Moru’s heart suddenly sank. In an unsteady voice, he asked, “You mean… he left? And all he left behind was a letter?”
Not understanding what he meant, Xiao Yi simply blinked and looked at him.
Like a madman, Poison Master Moru suddenly lunged forward and pummeled Xiao Yi with punches and kicks. After knocking him to the ground, he hauled him back up and roared furiously, “Didn’t I tell you never to let him leave? Why couldn’t you even handle something this simple?”
Seeing the bloodshot fury in Poison Master Moru’s eyes, Xiao Yi trembled uncontrollably. He had never seen his master lose his temper like this before.
Throwing Xiao Yi aside, Poison Master Moru strode into the room. There he saw Sun Ye struggling to sit up on the bed. For a moment, his mind simply stopped working. He stood there in a daze, suddenly unsure of what to say.
Sun Ye turned his pale face toward him and glanced at him once. His eyes were filled with nothing but unfamiliarity and numbness, and the sight sent waves of cold through Poison Master Moru’s heart.
What had happened?
Poison Master Moru dragged Xiao Yi inside and demanded that he explain everything from beginning to end. As Xiao Yi recounted the story, he repeatedly glanced toward Sun Ye on the bed, his eyes filled with both guilt and pity.
Futile Devices Scans 
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