Lu Qingkong exclaimed, "Just because of that? No... is that Nan Qinghe out of his mind? What does Xi Chu’s death have to do with Senior Brother? Didn't Zhou Fuxe say there was another man on the top floor last night? For all we know, that man was the killer."
Shen Hongchuan raised a finger to his lips. "Shh. Don't mention this in front of Senior Brother later."
Lu Qingkong didn't quite understand why, but seeing Shen Hongchuan’s uncharacteristically solemn expression, he nodded.
Shen Hongchuan opened the door with light steps and walked inside.
Ming Zhu had woken up at some point. He was currently sitting on the open windowsill, one leg hooked up carelessly. A pale wrist rested atop his knee, his posture exceptionally languid and elegant.
Zhou Fuxe was likely exhausted; he was currently leaning against the edge of the bed, eyes closed in a light nap, a red outer robe draped over his shoulders.
Seeing Ming Zhu like this, Shen Hongchuan was momentarily dazed.
Ming Zhu’s breathtaking face bore a sickly pallor. His long lashes were lowered as if he were absentmindedly staring at his own hand. His ink-black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall, gently stirred by the breeze blowing in from the window.
"Senior Brother?"
Ming Zhu seemed to startle awake. He turned his head, squinting at Shen Hongchuan and Lu Qingkong by the door. After a long moment, a faint smile appeared on his face. "You’re here?"
He had been awake the whole time, so he must have clearly heard what Shen Hongchuan and Lu Qingkong were saying just now. Shen Hongchuan stopped trying to hide it and stepped forward to hand him the Extermination Order. "Senior Brother, now that the order has been issued, I’m afraid we can’t stay in Yu City anymore."
In truth, they probably couldn't stay anywhere in the Five Continents. Once an Extermination Order was issued, unless one completely changed their appearance, they would be hunted for the bounty no matter where they went.
Ming Zhu took the order, his eyes sweeping over it indifferently. When he saw the signature—*Nan Qinghe of the Moon-Plucking Tower*—his expression didn't change. He flicked the thin paper lightly and said helplessly, "Does this mean I’m being told to go back to Rizhao? Sometimes I really wonder if Nan Qinghe and my Little Martial Uncle conspired to force me back."
Lu Qingkong was somewhat angry, but seeing Ming Zhu’s frail state, he couldn't bring himself to be difficult. He spoke with a hint of awkwardness, "Senior Brother, you... don't be sad..."
Ming Zhu blinked. "Why would I be sad? What are you talking about?"
Lu Qingkong muttered, "Didn't you like that brat Nan Qinghe quite a bit? You even..."
Ming Zhu let out a short laugh. His left hand was wrapped in thick layers of gauze and couldn't move, so he reached out with his right hand to pat Lu Qingkong’s head. Suppressing a smile, he said, "Nan Qinghe and I are nothing more than strangers who have met twice. He mistakenly believes I killed Xi Chu, so it’s only natural for him to hate me. Do you expect him to show mercy to a stranger who killed his most beloved person? We simply stand on different sides; what is there to be sad about?"
Lu Qingkong was still unconvinced. "But he..."
"Alright, alright." Ming Zhu ruffled his hair haphazardly. "He’s just a stranger. Why care so much?"
Lu Qingkong thought back and realized that Ming Zhu seemed to treat everyone who caught his eye with this same irritatingly familiar attitude. Sensing that Ming Zhu truly didn't care about Nan Qinghe, he finally felt relieved.
"Stop patting my head, it’s annoying."
Ming Zhu burst into laughter.
Shen Hongchuan had already walked to the bedside to wake Zhou Fuxe. He turned back to Ming Zhu, who was still teasing Lu Qingkong, and asked, "Then where does Senior Brother plan to go next?"
Zhou Fuxe, waking up in a daze, caught this sentence and snapped fully alert. He looked at Ming Zhu nervously.
He knew better than anyone that Ming Zhu had always wanted to escape Rizhao Mountain. Now that he was finally out, Ming Zhu surely wouldn't be willing to follow him back.
While his heart was in his throat, Ming Zhu tilted his head to glance casually out the window. His voice was soft as he said, "I want to go back to Rizhao."
As soon as these words were spoken, all three of them were stunned.
Shen Hongchuan was the first to react. He grabbed Ming Zhu’s right hand resting on his knee and frowned. "Senior Brother, have you thought this through? If you go back this time, Guining definitely won't let you out again."
Lu Qingkong added, "You spent so much effort to get out. Did you really just come out to take one look at the clamor of the mortal world? Besides, you escaped without permission this time. If you go back, Master will surely be furious. Was one year locked in the Cold Pool not enough for you?"
Zhou Fuxe wanted him to go back, yet he didn't want him to suffer Perfected Master Guining’s punishment. He was caught in a dilemma, his expression complicated as he watched Ming Zhu.
Under the varying gazes of the three, Ming Zhu slowly shook his head. "I... I still have things I must ask Master. Besides, with the Extermination Order active, there is almost no place for me in the Five Continents."
Shen Hongchuan said, "It’s not like only Rizhao Mountain can protect you. Come back to Jianglou with me. I can try to have my father step in to have the Extermination Order rescinded..."
Lu Qingkong, who had been worrying, immediately felt annoyed upon hearing this. He said coldly, "And if the order can't be rescinded? If something happens to him, how will you take responsibility?"
Shen Hongchuan was stifled. For once, he didn't bicker with Lu Qingkong, lowering his head in silence.
Lu Qingkong took a deep breath and said, "Going back to Rizhao is fine too. Rizhao has natural barriers and formations; it’s safer than anywhere else in the Five Continents. As for Master... he probably won't punish you too severely. But Senior Brother, are you truly decided? If you return to Rizhao this time, you might never come out again for the rest of your life."
Given how obsessed Perfected Master Guining was with keeping Ming Zhu confined, he likely wouldn't let him leave Rizhao of his own accord ever again.
Ming Zhu lowered his eyes and gently touched the Boundary Pearl around his neck. Nian’s demon eye and Xi Chu’s inner core were both inside, emitting a faint demonic aura through the cracks.
"I’ve decided. There are some things I must clarify."
He wanted to know the real reason Guining kept him confined on Rizhao Mountain. He wanted to know what connection there was between Ming Zhao and Rizhao, and what Ming Zhao meant by...
What "the Mandate of Heaven that goes against one's wishes" truly meant.
He had originally come out just to get some news about Ming Zhao from the Wind-Hearing Tower to solve the mysteries of ten years ago. He hadn't expected that after this series of events, his doubts would only multiply instead of being resolved.
Seeing that he couldn't be persuaded, Shen Hongchuan sighed. "Then when do you plan to head back?"
Ming Zhu said, "The sooner the better."
Ming Zhu hopped down from the windowsill. His body, which had been burning with fever all night, was still somewhat weak. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he pitched forward directly into Zhou Fuxe’s arms. He waved a hand, forcing a smile. "It’s nothing. My legs just went soft for a second."
Without a word, Zhou Fuxe half-carried him back to the bed and whispered, "Let’s wait until your injuries are healed before we leave."
Ming Zhu looked at his left hand again. After a long pause, he repeated, "The sooner the better."
Shen Hongchuan rubbed his brow and compromised. "Fine. To be safe, I’ll go book a Flying Kite. If we’re fast, we can be back at Rizhao by tomorrow. It will also help avoid being recognized."
Ming Zhu shook his head. "No need. I’ll just use that skin Old Ninth bought. It’s a bit ugly, but it’ll do—and I have to say, if you’re going to spend that much money on a skin, couldn't you buy a good-looking one? That one is so ugly I don't even want to look in a mirror."
Lu Qingkong snapped, "If you don't want to wear it, give it back."
A smile appeared on Ming Zhu’s pale face. "What? There’s no logic in taking back a gift—Hongchuan, just buy a few random Flying Kite jade tokens. Just make sure they aren't by the window."
This time, Lu Qingkong was surprised. "You’re not afraid of heights anymore? You’re actually volunteering to ride a Flying Kite?"
As he spoke, he pressed his hand to Ming Zhu’s forehead to see if he was still feverish. "Has your brain been fried by the fever?"
Zhou Fuxe swatted his hand away and glared at him coldly, signaling him not to be so touchy-feely.
Ming Zhu rested his right hand behind his head, leaning lazily against the couch. He said nonchalantly, "It’s strange. After being thrown directly from a height of dozens of feet by an old bastard a few days ago, my fear of heights seems to have improved quite a bit. Could this be the legendary 'fighting fire with fire'?"
Lu Qingkong gave a hollow laugh. "If only it were that easy. We should throw you into a snake pit; that would guarantee you’d never fear anything again. By the way, who threw you from the sky? That time at the moat?"
Ming Zhu gave a lazy hum, closed his eyes for a nap, and said no more.
After giving a few instructions, Shen Hongchuan went out to book the Flying Kite. Lu Qingkong decided to follow him, intending to buy some things to bring back to Rizhao, leaving only Zhou Fuxe to stay with Ming Zhu.
Ming Zhu hadn't been leaning on the bed for long before he became drowsy. Fearing he would knock his left hand's wound, Zhou Fuxe carefully tried to lift him to lay him flat on the bed. But before his hands could touch him, Ming Zhu grabbed his hand.
Zhou Fuxe: "Senior Brother?"
Ming Zhu slowly opened his eyes. The usual smiling expression was gone, replaced by a strange coldness born of tension. He whispered, "I’m sorry."
Zhou Fuxe was stunned. "What?"
"I hurt you last night. I’m sorry." Ming Zhu leaned forward, his eyes lowered as he looked at the bandaged wound on Zhou Fuxe’s arm. He let out a soft breath, then rested his forehead against Zhou Fuxe’s shoulder, his voice raspy. "This will never happen again. Senior Brother promises."
Zhou Fuxe looked down at his soft hair and slightly trembling body. Recalling the scene from last night—Ming Zhu, face covered in tears, biting his own belt and sobbing until his whole body shook—his heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, both painful and stinging.
Because of Ming Zhu’s vulnerable posture, Zhou Fuxe only had to reach out slightly to pull him into a full embrace. But his hands rose and fell several times before he finally kept them at his sides. Pretending not to care, he said softly, "It’s nothing. Just a flesh wound."
Ming Zhu gave a muffled "mm." Likely too exhausted, he simply leaned against Zhou Fuxe’s shoulder and didn't move again.
The posture was far too suggestive. Ming Zhu seemed unaware, but Zhou Fuxe felt quite awkward. He suddenly remembered something and let out an "ah." He turned slightly to grab the two swords that had been sitting at the foot of the bed, using the movement to dodge Ming Zhu’s touch. He stammered, "Th-th-these are your swords. You didn't take them back last night, so I brought them for you..."
Ming Zhu’s attention was diverted. He glanced over, and when he saw the sword with the Red Lotus seal carved on the hilt, his pupils shrank violently. Before he even realized what he was doing, his right hand rose and struck the Red Lotus Sword heavily.
At the same time, the Kua Yu Sword, which was paired with the Red Lotus Sword, suddenly erupted with a brilliant red light. A tiny figure appeared instantly, stepping directly onto the vibrating Red Lotus Sword.
Ming Zhu let out a cry and shouted, "Kua Yu, wreck it for me!"
The Kua Yu Sword had vanished, replaced by a small boy dressed in short clothes. The child was as fair as if carved from jade, his bare feet revealing ankles like lotus roots, adorned with two golden bells that jingled loudly with his every movement.
His face was full of childish innocence, his hair tied into a small braid behind his back with a bell at the end. He was currently baring his little tiger teeth, sitting angrily atop the Red Lotus Sword and delivering punch after punch—his chubby hands possessed some strange, monstrous strength, for every punch that landed on the blade made the sword clang loudly.
The child was still muttering resentfully, "Beat you to death! Beat you to death!"
Zhou Fuxe: "..."
