Song Qingshu returned to the room ahead of time and lay back down. Not long after, Ariq Böke arrived and asked at the door, "Where is Water Moon Great Sect Master?"
The guard replied, "He's asleep inside."
"Has he been in the room the whole time?" Ariq Böke asked.
Song Qingshu was startled. Had Ariq Böke noticed something? Fortunately, the guard answered, "He's been here the whole time. I haven't seen him leave."
Only then did Ariq Böke push open the door and enter. Seeing Song Qingshu still sprawled on the bed, sleeping soundly, he could not help frowning.
The guard beside him read his expression. "Should I wake him up?"
"No need." Ariq Böke raised a hand to stop him. "He drank so many jars of wine that he won't wake up anytime soon. I'll go over there first. Keep watch here. If Yalun comes by, don't let her enter the rear courtyard."
"Yes!" From the response, it was clear that he had left several guards behind to stand watch.
Song Qingshu grew curious. Ariq Böke was acting so mysteriously—who exactly was he going to meet? And why did he need to hide it from Yalun? Weren't they supposed to be allies?
After hearing them leave, Song Qingshu could no longer suppress his curiosity. He slipped out through the window and quietly followed behind them.
Ariq Böke wound through several turns before arriving at a secluded courtyard. There, Song Qingshu vaguely saw the back of a woman. Her graceful, curvaceous figure was drawing a bow, displaying her perfect lines to the fullest.
Song Qingshu felt that her figure looked familiar, but for the moment, he could not recall where he had seen her before.
The woman loosed an arrow, splitting in two the arrow already embedded in the bullseye.