In a small courtyard residence in Jiangnan.
Wu Qingyuan could not help gently rubbing her temple.
"How are things on Zhaohua's end?"
"Madam, she is still claiming illness and refusing visitors."
Lique Spring answered softly from beside her.
"And the Fifth Young Lady?"
"The Fifth Young Lady has gone to help rescue people in the areas affected by the evil incense outbreak."
Wu Qingyuan slowly rose. "Arrange for people to protect her. Today, I'll go meet Zhaohua myself."
With her first-rate Qinggong, Chu Youning raced toward Jiangnan without stopping to rest.
To make sure the group behind her could find her, she left them a marker every so often.
She kept traveling like this for more than four hours straight.
Then, at one point.
Just as she was nearing Jiangnan, Chu Youning felt an inexplicable dampness at the corners of her eyes.
The next instant, something wet slid down her cheek.
Utterly bewildered, she slammed on the brakes and stopped in her tracks.
Then she felt liquid begin streaming down both cheeks, one drop after another.
"Waa... S-System, hurry up and come out. What... what's happening to me, your host? Why am I crying out of nowhere?"
By the time she finished speaking, she was even more shocked.
Her voice had inexplicably become choked with sobs, and for reasons she could not explain, a wave of sorrow swept through her chest.
In short, at that moment, she desperately wanted to cry.
The System scanned Chu Youning from head to toe, checked the time, then fell silent for two seconds.
[Host, have you forgotten the side effects of Light as a Swallow? You upgraded the skill, but that doesn't mean its side effects disappeared.]
"Waaah... S-side effects? Wasn't the side effect hair loss?"
As she spoke, sorrow welled