"Wait!"
Ling Xuanxiao suddenly called out to Liu Qiushui, who had turned to leave.
Liu Qiushui slowly turned her face to the side, like a delicate flower brushed by a gentle breeze.
Her breathtaking profile unfolded like a meticulously painted scroll.
Ling Xuanxiao hesitated, then let out a sigh so soft it was nearly inaudible.
"You... if you have nowhere to go, I know of a place.
The Great Xia Emperor has surely joined forces with Shushan to hunt you down. Great Sui and Great Xia have been at odds for a long time.
There is a place within Great Sui called Divine Grass Mountain. I don't know whether you've heard of it, but if you have nowhere to go for now, you can rest and recuperate there."
Liu Qiushui fell silent for a moment. "Why are you helping me? I was just trying to kill you."
"...I don't know either... I am a Shushan Disciple, while you are one of the demonic sect..."
Ling Xuanxiao shook his head.
"Forget it. You should leave quickly."
Liu Qiushui left without a word.
After she departed, Ling Xuanxiao sighed, shook his head, and murmured in a low voice:
"If only you weren't one of the demonic sect..."
Ling Xuanxiao's gaze remained fixed on the direction in which she had gone, as though he wished to carve that lovely figure deep into his eyes.
Though Liu Qiushui's back had gradually vanished beyond the edge of his sight, she keenly caught those words, so full of affection and helplessness.
The instant she heard them, her once-light footsteps suddenly grew somewhat heavy, and her entire body trembled faintly despite herself.
The lake of her heart, calm as still water all this time, had now been struck by a stone, sending ring after ring of ripples