Chapter 39 Grass—Part Seven

A-Qing seemed silent for a moment before answering, “Y-yes.”

Xiao XingChen, “Then, slow down. Don’t go too fast. You don’t want to bump into anyone again, do you?”

He didn’t even mention that he couldn’t see himself. Taking A-Qing’s hand, he led her to the side of the road, “Walk this way. There are fewer people here.”

Both his words and actions were gentle yet cautious. A-Qing reached out hesitantly, but in the end, she still grabbed the money pouch hanging from his waist, “Big Sis, A-Qing is so grateful to you!”

Xiao XingChen, “Bukan Kakak. Ini Daozhang.”

A-Qing blinked, “But you are Daozhang and also Big Brother.”

Xiao XingChen smiled, “Then, since you called me Big Brother, why don’t you return Big Brother’s pouch?”

No matter how fast a streetwalker like A-Qing was, they couldn’t fool a cultivator’s senses. Startled, she grabbed her staff and ran as fast as she could. However, before she could get very far, Xiao XingChen grabbed her by the collar with one hand and pulled her back. “Like I said, you shouldn’t run so fast. What if you bump into someone again?”

A-Qing struggled to free herself from his grip. With a slight movement of her lips, her upper teeth bit into her lower lip. Wei WuXian immediately understood,  Oh no, she’s going to shout ‘molester’!  Suddenly, a middle-aged man rushed out from around the corner. Upon seeing A-Qing, his eyes lit up. He charged over, cursing, “You little bitch. I finally caught you. Give me back my money!”

Cursing wasn’t enough to quell his anger. With a wave of his hand, he swung it toward A-Qing’s face. A-Qing immediately lowered her head and closed her eyes. However, before the slap could land on her cheek, it stopped dead in its tracks.

Xiao XingChen, “Sir, please calm down. That’s a rather rude way to treat a young lady, isn’t it?”

A-Qing peeked out from behind her eyelids. The middle-aged man was clearly exerting a lot of force, but Xiao XingChen held her hand lightly, not moving an inch. Despite her nervousness, she stubbornly accused, “What is a blind person like you doing here? Saving a damsel in distress? So that bitch is your girlfriend? Did you know she’s a thief? She stole my money! If you protect her, you’re a thief too!”

With him in one hand and A-Qing in the other, Xiao XingChen turned around, “Give that guy back his money.”

A-Qing fished out the change and handed it to him. Xiao XingChen let go of the man, who then counted the money. Everything was still there. Glancing at the blind cultivator again, the man knew he would be difficult to deal with, so he awkwardly walked away.

Xiao XingChen, “You are truly bold. How dare you steal things even though you are blind?”

A-Qing jumped three inches high, “He touched me! He pinched my butt, and it hurt so bad, so what’s wrong with me taking some of his money? There’s so little in a bag this big, and he loves to bully me. He’ll go broke!”

Wei WuXian disagreed. “  You clearly intended to steal and hit him first, but now you’re making it sound like he did you wrong first. What a sleazy argument.”

Xiao XingChen shook his head, “Then you should know better than to provoke him. Today, if no one was here, this matter wouldn’t have been resolved with just a slap. Miss, be careful.”

After finishing, he turned around and left. Wei WuXian observed, “  He didn’t ask for his money pouch back. My Shishu is also gentle with women.”

Holding the bag of stolen money, A-Qing stood there and stared blankly for a few seconds. Suddenly, she tucked the bag into her collar, chased after it with her cane, and landed right on Xiao XingChen’s back. Xiao XingChen could only help her up again, “Is there anything else?”

A-Qing, “I still have your money bag!”

Xiao XingChen, “It’s yours now. Besides, there’s not much in it. Before you spend it all, make sure not to steal anything else.”

A-Qing, “I heard that dirty man cursing. So, you’re blind too?”

Hearing the second sentence, Xiao XingChen’s expression immediately changed. His smile vanished.

Children’s bold and innocent words are often the cruelest. Children don’t know any better. It’s precisely because they don’t know any better that they hurt others in the most direct ways.

Beneath the bandages wrapped around Xiao XingChen’s eyes, the red tinge deepened, almost seeping through the fabric. Xiao XingChen raised his hand to let the bandage hover over his eye, his arm trembling slightly. The pain and wounds from gouging out his eye were indeed not easy to heal. However, A-Qing simply assumed Xiao XingChen was dizzy. She smiled broadly, “Then, let me follow you!”

Xiao XingChen smiled, “Why do you want to follow me? To become a cultivator?”

A-Qing, “You’re tall and blind, and I’m small and blind. If we hang out together, we can care for each other. My parents are gone and I have no place to live. I’ll go with anyone.” Being smart, she was afraid that Xiao XingChen would reject her, so she used her playful nature and threatened, “I spend money very quickly. If you don’t take me, the money will be gone in an instant, and I’ll have to steal and cheat again. Someone will slap me hard, I’ll fall and I won’t even be able to find my way. Poor me!”

Xiao XingChen laughed, “Someone as clever as you should be able to fool others into thinking  they  can’t find a way. Who in this world could do the same to you?”

After watching for a while, Wei WuXian discovered something interesting.

After seeing Xiao XingChen for himself, he realized that, compared to the real thing, Xue Yang’s imitation was incredibly accurate! Aside from his face, every detail was identical to the real Xiao XingChen. If one were to say so, he might even believe that Xiao XingChen had possessed Xue Yang’s body.

Pleading, pestering, and feigning pity, A-Qing clung to Xiao XingChen throughout the journey. Xiao XingChen had warned her several times that it would be dangerous if she followed him, but A-Qing never listened. She wasn’t even afraid after Xiao XingChen chased away an old cow that had regained consciousness when they passed through a village. She still kept calling him “Daozhang” and clung to him like syrup, never straying more than three meters from him. As he followed her, perhaps realizing that A-Qing was intelligent, brave, and never a hindrance despite being a blind young girl with nowhere to go, Xiao XingChen finally gave her tacit permission to stay with him.

Wei WuXian initially thought Xiao XingChen must have had a destination. However, as his memories went on, judging by the climate and their dialect, the places they visited didn’t form a clear route at all. He didn’t seem to be going anywhere, but rather was night hunting by chance. He went wherever people mentioned strange things happening. Wei WuXian suspected that  perhaps the YueyangChang Clan case was too much for him. He didn’t want to be drawn into the conflict between the clans and sects anymore, but he couldn’t give up on his aspirations, so he chose night hunting while wandering around, solving as many problems as possible.

At that moment, Xiao XingChen and A-Qing were walking on a long, flat path with waist-high weeds and grass on either side. Suddenly, A-Qing cried out, “Ah  !  ” Xiao XingChen immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

A-Qing, “Ugh. It’s nothing. I just sprained my ankle.”

Wei WuXian could clearly see that it wasn’t because he had sprained his ankle. He was walking smoothly as usual. If it weren’t for the fact that he had pretended to be blind in front of Xiao XingChen so that Xiao XingChen couldn’t find an excuse to chase him away, he could have leaped into the sky while walking. A-Qing’s exclamation was because, as she looked around, she suddenly saw a black figure lying among the weeds.

Although he didn’t know whether Xiao XingChen was alive or dead, most likely because he thought it would be troublesome, he definitely didn’t want Xiao XingChen to find that person. He urged him, “Let’s go, let’s go. Let’s rest for a while in whatever town is up ahead. I’m so tired!”

Xiao XingChen, “Didn’t you sprain your ankle? Do you want me to carry you?”

A-Qing was overjoyed, hitting the ground with her bamboo stick loudly, “Yes, yes, yes!” With a smile, Xiao XingChen turned his back to her and knelt down on one knee. Just as A-Qing was about to fall to the ground, Xiao XingChen suddenly stopped her. With a serious expression, he stood up, “Something smells of blood.”

A-Qing could also smell a faint scent of blood. In the night breeze, it was sometimes noticeable. She snarled, “Really? Why can’t I smell it? Is there a family around here slaughtering livestock?”

Just as he finished speaking, as if Heaven wanted to defy his wishes, the person in the bushes coughed.

Although the voice was barely audible, Xiao Xingchen couldn’t escape his hearing. He quickly found his bearings, stepped into the bushes, and crouched down beside the person.

Since Xiao XingChen had already found the person, A-Qing stomped her feet on the ground, then pretended to find her way, “What happened?”

Xiao XingChen felt the person’s pulse, “Someone is lying here.”

A-Qing, “So that’s why the smell of blood is so strong. Are they dead? Should we dig a trench and bury them?”

Of course, a dead person was easier to deal with than a living one, so A-Qing couldn’t wait for him to die. However, Xiao XingChen replied, “Not yet. He’s just seriously injured.”

After thinking about it for a moment, he gently carried the person on his back.

Seeing a dirty, blood-soaked man taking her rightful place and Xiao XingChen no longer able to carry her to the city, A-Qing pouted and poked a few holes in the ground with her staff. However, she knew Xiao XingChen wouldn’t help the man, so complaining wouldn’t work. They returned to the road and continued on their way. The further they walked, the stronger Wei WuXian’s sense of familiarity grew. He suddenly remembered, ”  Isn’t this the road I used to take with Lan Zhan to get to Yi City?”

Sure enough, Yi City loomed at the end of the road.

At that time, the city gates hadn’t been severely damaged. The towers were still in good condition, and there was no graffiti on the walls. Entering the city, the fog was indeed somewhat thicker, but compared to the unnatural density of later times, it was hardly a hindrance. Along the streets, streetlights and even human conversation could be heard coming from the doors and windows of houses. Despite the remoteness of the place, there was a hint of bustle.

Carrying a severely injured and bloodied person on his back, Xiao XingChen knew full well that no shop would allow someone like him to enter. Therefore, he didn’t look for a place to rest, but instead directly asked a passing night watchman if there were any empty coffin houses in town. The watchman said, “There’s one over there. The watchman died last month. There’s no one there right now.” Seeing that Xiao XingChen was blind and probably having trouble finding his way, he decided to lead them.

This is precisely the coffin house where Xiao XingChen’s body was laid to rest after his death.

They thanked the guard, and Xiao XingChen carried the injured person to the room on the right. The room wasn’t large, but it wasn’t too small either. Including a low bed against the wall, the room had everything they needed. He carefully laid the person down on the bed. Taking a potion from his Qiankun Pouch, he stuffed it into the person’s tightly shut mouth. A-Qing felt around the room for a moment before she smiled broadly, “There’s so much stuff in here! Here’s a basin!”

Xiao XingChen, “Is there a stove?”

“There is!”

Xiao XingChen, “A-Qing, why don’t you try boiling some water? Be careful not to get hurt.”

A-Qing pouted again and got to work. Xiao XingChen touched the person’s forehead, then took another potion and fed it to him. Wei WuXian desperately wanted to see the person’s face, but A-Qing clearly had no interest in him. She was rather annoyed and wouldn’t spare him a single glance. After the water boiled, Xiao XingChen slowly wiped away the blood on his face. Curious, A-Qing glanced at him, and muttered  softly  .

Now that the person’s face was cleaned, he could see that his appearance was actually quite good.

When Wei WuXian saw that face, his heart immediately sank.

As expected, it was Xue Yang.

He sighed silently,  “Enemies can’t avoid each other, right? Xiao XingChen, you’re really… so unlucky.”

Back then, with his childlike charm, Xue Yang appeared to be just a child. However, who would have thought that a boy like him, whose fangs were exposed when he smiled, would actually be a maniac who would wipe out an entire clan.

Counting the years, this probably happened after Jin GuangYao became the Chief Cultivator. In such a difficult situation, Xue Yang had probably just barely escaped Jin GuangYao’s “elimination.” Unable to kill him, Jin GuangYao naturally didn’t want to reveal anything. Or, perhaps because he was certain he wouldn’t survive, he told the public that Xue Yang had been eliminated. However, villains always tended to outlast heroes. On the verge of death, he was saved by his old rival, XingChen. Unfortunately, Xiao XingChen wasn’t careful enough to touch and examine his face. Inadvertently, he had saved his enemy—the person who had brought his life to this point. Although A-Qing could see, since she wasn’t a cultivator, she didn’t know Xue Yang, let alone the deep hatred between them. She didn’t even know Xiao XingChen’s name…

Wei WuXian sighed again. Xiao XingChen was truly unlucky. It was as if all the bad energy in the world had contaminated him.

Suddenly, Xue Yang frowned. Xiao XingChen was examining and bandaging his wound. Sensing that Xue Yang was about to wake up, he said, “Don’t move.”

Someone like Xue Yang, who had committed countless crimes in his life, would naturally be more vigilant than ordinary people. Hearing this voice, his eyes widened and he immediately sat up. Falling into a corner, he glared at Xiao XingChen with a fierce expression and a cautious posture. His eyes were like those of a trapped beast, not hiding the malice and cruelty within them at all. Witnessing the scene, A-Qing’s scalp tingled. The sensation also spread to Wei WuXian’s head, who shouted softly, ”  Speak!” Xiao XingChen would definitely not forget Xue Yang’s voice.

Xue Yang, “What…”

As soon as he spoke, Wei WuXian knew there was no hope. Even after he spoke, Xiao XingChen wouldn’t be able to find out who he was.

Xue Yang’s throat was also injured. After coughing up a large amount of blood, his voice was so hoarse that no one could tell they were the same person!

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Xiao XingChen reassured her, “I told you not to move. Your wound will open. Don’t worry. Since I saved you, of course I won’t hurt you.”

Xue Yang quickly adapted to the sudden change in circumstances. He immediately concluded that Xiao XingChen most likely didn’t recognize him. Rolling his eyes, he coughed, “Who are you?”

A-Qing interrupted, “If you have eyes, can’t you see for yourself? He’s a wandering cultivator. He went to all the trouble of bringing you back, saving you, and even giving you a magic elixir, yet you’re so evil!”

Xue Yang immediately turned to him. He said in a cold voice, “Are you blind?”

Wei WuXian terkejut.

The little brat was both cunning and alert. Even though A-Qing had white eyes, he remained vigilant. Without hesitation, he immediately caught A-Qing’s slip of the tongue. Xue Yang had only uttered four words. With just these four words, it was impossible to determine whether he was malicious or not, unless A-Qing saw his expression.

Luckily, A-Qing grew up lying. She immediately retorted, “Are you discriminating against a blind person? Well, that blind person saved you. Otherwise, no one would care even if you rotted on the side of the road! The first words you said weren’t even to thank Daozhang. How rude! And you called me blind in such a tone. Hmph… What’s wrong with being blind…”

He successfully changed the subject and the main point of the conversation. As A-Qing muttered incessantly in a stubborn yet sad tone, Xiao XingChen immediately approached her to comfort her. In the corner, Xue Yang rolled his eyes. Xiao XingChen turned to him again, “Don’t sit by the wall. I haven’t bandaged your leg wound yet. Come here.”

With an indifferent expression, Xue Yang continued to think. Xiao XingChen added, “If you don’t get treatment soon, you might end up paralyzed.”

Hearing this, Xue Yang firmly made his choice.

Wei WuXian could guess what he was thinking. With his body covered in serious injuries, he couldn’t go anywhere without someone to help him. Since Xiao XingChen was so foolish as to put himself directly under his control, why not accept the help?

So, he immediately changed his expression. With a voice full of gratitude, he replied, “Then, thank you, Daozhang.”

After witnessing Xue Yang’s ability to change from cruel to compassionate in a split second, Wei WuXian was truly worried about the two blind people, both real and fake, in the room, especially A-Qing. She could see everything. If Xue Yang found out about this, in order to prevent his secret from being revealed, he would definitely die. Even though he knew that in the end, A-Qing would most likely die at Xue Yang’s hands, Wei WuXian still felt anxious that he would experience the same fate.

Suddenly, he realized that Xue Yang had been discreetly preventing Xiao XingChen from touching his left hand. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that Xue Yang’s left little finger had been severed. From the point of the cut, it was clear that it wasn’t a fresh wound. Back then, Xiao XingChen must have known that Xue Yang only had nine fingers. So, this was why Xue Yang wore a black glove on his left hand during the action.

Xiao XingChen was quite dedicated to helping her. After applying medicine to her wound, he bandaged it very neatly. “It’s done, but you better not move, or you’ll dislocate your bone again.”

Xue Yang had already determined that Xiao XingChen was so gullible that he didn’t recognize him. Even though he was covered in blood and surrounded by other disheveled people, a lazy grin appeared on his face again, “Daozhang, so you’re not going to ask who I am? Why am I so badly injured?”

If anyone else were in his position, they would definitely avoid the topic so as not to reveal details that would reveal their identity. On the other hand, he deliberately did the opposite. Turning around to clean up the medical equipment and bandages, Xiao XingChen replied gently, “If you don’t want to tell me, why should I ask? I just happened to see you and decided to help. Besides, it’s not a difficult thing for me. Once your wound heals, we’ll go our separate ways. If I were you, there would be many things I wouldn’t want to ask anyone else.”

Wei WuXian commented, “  Even if Xiao XingChen asks, that little brat will probably make up a reasonable explanation and play him off.”  It was natural for people to have complicated pasts. Xiao XingChen simply avoided asking too much out of respect. However, that only made it easier for Xue Yang to exploit his respect. Wei WuXian was confident that not only would he have Xiao XingChen heal all his wounds, but after he recovered, he would definitely not let them “separate.”

Xue Yang rested in the coffin keeper’s bedroom, while Xiao XingChen went to the main hall. Opening the new coffin, he picked up some straw from the ground and spread it thickly across the bottom. He turned to A-Qing, “The person inside is injured, so we’ll let him sleep on the bed. Do you have any objections? I’ve already placed some straw at the bottom of the coffin, so it shouldn’t be too cold.”

A-Qing had been wandering the streets since she was little. Living side by side with wind and hunger, there was no place she hadn’t slept. She replied nonchalantly, “Not at all. It’s enough that I have a place to sleep. It won’t be cold here. Don’t take off your coat again.”

Xiao XingChen stroked the top of his head. With his sword and horsetail whisk on his back, he walked out again. For safety reasons, Xiao XingChen never let him join him on night hunting trips. After crawling into the coffin and lying down for a while, he heard Xue Yang call out to him from another room, “Little Blind, come here.”

A-Qing stuck her head out, “What?”

Xue Yang, “Do you want some candy?”

The tip of A-Qing’s tongue felt sour, as if she desperately wanted candy. Despite this, she still refused, “I don’t want to eat it. I don’t want to go.”

Xue Yang threatened sweetly, “Are you sure you won’t eat it? Are you too scared to come? But, do you really think I can’t move? If you don’t come, I won’t go looking for you?”

Hearing the strange tone in his words, A-Qing shuddered. She imagined a sinister grin suddenly appearing above the coffin, and found it even more terrifying. With some hesitation, she finally picked up her cane and gently knocked on the door. Before she could speak, a small object flew straight at her.

Wei WuXian instinctively wanted to dodge, worried that it was some kind of weapon. Of course, he couldn’t control this body. Soon after, he finally realized,  It’s a trap!

Xue Yang was testing A-Qing—if she were truly blind, she wouldn’t be able to avoid him!

As an intelligent person who had pretended to be blind all year round, A-Qing didn’t dodge at all. She didn’t even blink when she saw the object hurtling towards her. Instead, she let it hit her chest, then jumped back and growled, “Hey! What did you throw at me?”

After A-Qing passed the test, Xue Yang replied, “Here’s some candy for you. I forgot you’re blind and can’t catch it. It landed near your feet.”

A-Qing snorted and crouched down. Searching around as if she were completely blind, she found a piece of candy. She had never eaten anything like it before. She swallowed, wiped it away, then put it in her mouth, chewing happily. Xue Yang lay on his side with one hand holding his chin, and asked, “Is it delicious, Little Blind?”

A-Qing, “I have a name. I’m not Little Blind.”

Xue Yang, “You didn’t tell me your name, so I can only call you like this.”

A-Qing always only said her name to people who were nice to her, but she didn’t like the way Xue Yang pronounced it, so she said, “Listen. My name is A-Qing. Don’t keep calling me Little Blind and Little Blind!” After saying it, she felt her voice was a little rough. Afraid of angering the person, she quickly started another topic, “You’re a strange person. You’re covered in blood and injured like this, yet you’re carrying candy.”

Xue Yang grinned, “When I was little, I loved candy, but I never got any and could only watch people eat it. So, I always thought that if I ever got rich, I’d bring home tons of candy.”

A-Qing had already finished the candy he had given her. Licking her lips, she wanted more. Her desire for the candy overpowered her fear of the person in front of her. “So, is there more?”

Xue Yang laughed, “Of course. I’ll give you more if you come here.”

A-Qing stood up and, carrying her bamboo cane, walked towards him. However, halfway there, Xue Yang began to stare at her with a sinister gaze, his smile unchanged. Without a word, he drew a sharp sword from his sleeve.

It was Jiangzai.

He pointed the tip of his sword at A-Qing. If she took even a few steps forward, she would be stabbed. However, if A-Qing hesitated even a little, the fact that she wasn’t actually blind would be revealed!

Feeling the same sensation as A-Qing, Wei WuXian also felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. Despite this, the young girl bravely navigated her way forward calmly and nonchalantly. When the tip of the sword was about half an inch from his stomach, Xue Yang took it and tucked it back into his sleeve. After exchanging it for two pieces of candy, he gave one to A-Qing and put the other in his mouth.

He asked, “A-Qing, where did your daozhang go in the middle of the night?”

A-Qing licked and chewed the candy, “I think he went hunting.”

Xue Yang chuckled, “Hunting? More like night hunting.”

A-Qing, “Oh really? They’re pretty much the same. What’s the difference? It’s just helping others fight ghosts and beasts without accepting any money.”

Wei WuXian was truly amazed at how smart he was.

It wasn’t that A-Qing didn’t remember what Xiao XingChen had said to her. In fact, she remembered it better than anyone else. She had intentionally mispronounced “night hunting.” Because Xue Yang corrected her, she confirmed that she was also a cultivator. Xue Yang failed the test and was instead tested by her. She was so young, yet she already possessed such tactics.

Although Xue Yang looked scornful, his voice sounded confused, “He’s already blind. How can he hunt at night?”

A-Qing raged, “You did it again. What’s wrong with being blind? Even if Daozhang is blind, he’s still cool. His sword is like whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. One word: fast.” As she pranced around, Xue Yang suddenly asked, “You can’t see, so how do you know his sword is fast?”

Her opponent was fast, but her defense was even faster. A-Qing replied in an irritated tone, “It’s fast because I said so. The Daozhang Sword is definitely fast! It’s true that I can’t see, but can’t I hear? What are you trying to say? Are you discriminating against blind people like us?” She acted exactly like a naive girl bragging about someone she admires. It sounded as natural as possible.

After successfully passing all three tests, Xue Yang’s expression finally calmed. He likely finally believed that A-Qing was indeed blind.

However, A-Qing, on the other hand, became extremely wary of Xue Yang. The next day, Xiao XingChen found wood, straw, and roof tiles to repair the roof. As soon as he entered, A-Qing quietly dragged him out again, whispering about how suspicious this person was and that he was definitely not a good person, considering he was hiding a secret even though they were both cultivators. Unfortunately, she considered the broken pinky finger a trivial matter, so she didn’t mention the most fatal characteristic. Xiao XingChen tried to console her, “You’ve already eaten the candy, so you should stop chasing him away. Of course he’ll leave once his wound heals. No one will want to live with us in this coffin house.”

This was indeed true. There was only one bed in such a hut. Luckily, there was no wind or rain, otherwise the roof would have been a major problem. No one would want to live here. Just as A-Qing was about to continue complaining to Xue Yang, a voice sounded from behind them, “Are you guys talking about me?”

A-Qing was startled when she got out of bed again. However, she wasn’t afraid of being caught at all, “We’re talking about you  ?  Don’t flatter yourself!” Picking up her bamboo stick, she went inside, slipped behind the window, and continued eavesdropping.

Outside the coffin house, Xiao XingChen turned to Xue Yang, “Your wounds haven’t healed yet, and you’re already walking around. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

Xue Yang, “It’ll heal faster if I go for a walk. Besides, it’s not like my legs are broken or anything. I’m used to injuries like this. I grew up getting beaten up.”

Xiao XingChen seemed at a loss for words, whether to comfort her or treat her as a joke. After a pause, he replied, “Oh…”

Xue Yang continued, “Daozhang, are the things you brought here going to be used to repair the roof?”

Xiao XingChen, “Yes. I’ll most likely be staying here for a while. A broken roof won’t do A-Qing or your injuries any good.”

Xue Yang, “Should I help?”

Xiao XingChen thanked him, “I will be fine.”

Xue Yang, “Daozhang, do you know how to do it?”

Xiao XingChen laughed and shook his head, “Sorry, but I’ve never tried doing something like that before.”

Thus, the two of them began repairing the roof together. One of them worked, the other gave directions. Xue Yang was quite eloquent with words and was especially good at making witty remarks. His humor carried a sassy tone typical of street markets. In the past, Xiao XingChen had likely rarely encountered people like this. Being easily amused, he would burst out laughing after just a few sentences. Hearing how jovial their conversation was, A-Qing silently pursed her lips. Upon closer inspection, it sounded like “let me kill you bastards.”

Wei WuXian felt the same way as A-Qing.

Xue Yang’s severe injuries that nearly cost him his life were partly caused by Xiao XingChen. The two of them had a relationship filled with hatred. Deep down, he might have wished for Xiao XingChen to die in the most horrible way possible, yet he could still speak to him so casually. If it were Wei WuXian himself hiding behind the window right now, he would definitely kill Xue Yang no matter the consequences to avoid future trouble. However, it wasn’t his own body. And even if A-Qing wanted to, she wouldn’t be able to kill him.

After about a month, under Xiao XingChen’s meticulous care, Xue Yang’s injuries had mostly recovered. Besides a slight limp when walking, nothing else bothered him. Despite this, he still hadn’t said anything about leaving. He remained in this crowded coffin house with the other two. Wei WuXian had no idea what he was planning.

Today, after putting A-Qing to bed, Xiao XingChen was about to go out for another night hunt when Xue Yang’s voice suddenly rang out, “Daozhang, why don’t you take me with you tonight?”

His throat injury should have healed by now. However, he deliberately avoided using his real voice and disguised it with a different tone. Xiao XingChen laughed, “Of course not. If you talk, I’ll laugh, and if I laugh, my sword will waver.”

Xue Yang replied in a pleading tone, “Then I won’t talk. I’ll carry your sword and help you. Please don’t be cold to me.”

He had always been good at acting like a spoiled child. When talking to people older than him, he sounded like a younger brother. And, since Xiao XingChen probably cared for his juniors and junior sisters while being BaoShan SanRen’s disciple, he naturally considered Xue Yang younger than him. Xue Yang was also a cultivator, so Xiao XingChen gladly agreed to the request. Wei WuXian thought,  Xue Yang definitely wouldn’t be so kind as to want to help Xiao XingChen hunt at night. If A-Qing didn’t go, he would definitely miss something important.

A-Qing was indeed smart. She also suspected that Xue Yang might not have good intentions. After the two left, she jumped out of the coffin and followed them from a distance. The distance between them was a little too far, as she was afraid of being discovered, and ended up losing track of them. Fortunately, when Xiao XingChen was washing the vegetables earlier, he had mentioned that a small village nearby was plagued by walking corpses and told the two of them not to run around. A-Qing still remembered the place. Hurrying, she arrived soon after. She slipped into a dog hole under the village fence, hid behind one of the houses, and quietly peeked out.

Wei WuXian wasn’t sure if A-Qing understood what was going on, but he suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

With his arms folded across his chest, Xue Yang stood by the roadside, smiling lopsidedly. Xiao XingChen stood across the street. Calmly drawing his sword, Shuanghua flashed its silver blade before piercing a villager’s heart.

The villagers are still alive.