The hand that could effortlessly lift a three-thousand-pound greatsword gently covered his eyes without pressing down.
Xianyu couldn't quite react.
Jingliu deliberately softened her touch, as though beneath her palm lay some priceless, fragile treasure.
Xianyu did as she asked and closed his eyes.
His eyelashes seemed to brush against Jingliu's palm and fingertips, and her hand gave an almost imperceptible tremble.
With his sight cut off, his other senses sharpened. Xianyu clearly heard a blade slicing through flesh, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground nearby.
The screaming crowd scattering in all directions fell silent in an instant.
The Mara-Struck had already been dealt with.
Xianyu was about to stand up and open his eyes when Jingliu instinctively applied a little pressure, keeping them covered.
"Don't look."
Jingliu no longer sounded as relaxed as she had during their earlier conversation.
Xianyu sensed something was wrong.
There seemed to be something strange about her tone.
He thought it over, but couldn't work out why.
Jingliu paused, then continued, "Wait until the Ten-Lords Commission gets here."
Still crouching on the ground, Xianyu tried to negotiate. "All right, I won't look. Can I at least change positions?"
Jingliu agreed and removed the hand covering his eyes.
Keeping his promise, Xianyu felt around with his eyes closed, picked up the snacks with one hand, grabbed Aha's collar with the other, then slowly stood and turned around.
Jingliu stood mere inches away, her reassuring, cool fragrance filling his every breath.
He opened his eyes and looked at Jingliu, only to notice that her expression had turned cold.
Xianyu knew Jingliu well. He knew that sometimes she couldn't help letting that distant expression show.
He rummaged for the snacks he had put away, hoping to distract her.
Before Xianyu could take