Seeing that Song Qingshu remained unmoved and was instead looking at her strangely, Xiaolongnü finally realized what he had misunderstood and said irritably, "What were you thinking! I meant to wrap your clothes around a piece of wood and pretend to carry you away, drawing off the pursuers before they surround us."
Song Qingshu knew he had misunderstood, but even after receiving her confirmation, he could not help feeling a trace of disappointment. Fortunately, he quickly came to his senses and asked worriedly, "Wouldn't that put you in danger?"
Xiaolongnü shook her head. "With my qinggong, it won't be difficult to shake them off."
Only then did Song Qingshu recall that the Ancient Tomb Sect was renowned throughout the land for its qinggong. He took off his outer garment and handed it to her. "Then I'll have to trouble you."
Xiaolongnü smiled faintly. "You've saved me so many times. What does it matter if I save you once?"
Xiaolongnü cultivated an art that cast aside the seven emotions and six desires, and her expression was usually indifferent. Yet now, when she suddenly smiled, it was like ice and snow beginning to melt, like a hundred flowers bursting into bloom.
Noticing Song Qingshu staring at her without blinking, Xiaolongnü looked slightly uncomfortable. "I'm leaving." With that, she wrapped his clothes around a piece of wood, pretended to carry him on her back, and leaped out of the cave.
Song Qingshu ran to the entrance and looked into the distance. He saw Xiaolongnü deliberately reveal herself before the pursuing soldiers, then lead them away in another direction.
"I hope she'll be safe." Song Qingshu returned to the cave. Without Xiaolongnü, the entire cave seemed to have lost its color.
Song Qingshu sighed. With nothing else to do, he sat down cross-legged again