After dinner, Jiang Ying Yue took her sister and maids and left early leaving behind Tian Shan and others to resolve their matters.
Wei, who was up for the first shift of the night watch also followed closely behind them soon after.
Following the former bunch's example, Qin Xia and Hu Meilin tacitly got up and decided to leave these people some space.
Jiang Ying Yue got into the tent and took out the thick quilts and mattresses and gestured for her maids to lay them quickly.
The beds were soon prepared and everyone quickly took out their outer robes and entered their beds.
Jiang Ying Yue turned twice under the quilt and sighed softly in regret.
It was not her first time regretting this decision.
She looked at her tightly bound chest and regretted it for the umpteenth time.
She knew it was for convenience but it came with a price.
Letting out another sigh Jiang Ying Yue turned for the third time trying to find a more comfortable position to sleep.
" Master, are you going to bed so early?" Abhram had been feeling quite bored after Azure decisively packed up and went up the mountain to cultivate.
Poor Azure, who was denied the exit was so aggrieved that she went up the mountain to vent her frustration leaving the other frustrated soul in utter desolation.
Now Abhram had no one to talk let alone fight, so at last, he could only look for his lazy master to get some consolation.
Jiang Ying Yue heard the boy clearly but didn't even bother opening her eyes and let out a faint "en."
From his voice alone Jiang Ying Yue knew this little one was quite aggrieved and trying to find a chance to throw tantrum.
She refused to give him that chance and feigned sleepiness. He wouldn't dare to wake her up when she was sleeping.
Abhram:"..." and nothing??
Abhram felt even more aggrieved.
Master was so shrewd now that he could no longer read her thoughts.
He wasn't sure if she was really sleepy or feigning it.
He finally regretted complimenting his master's heaven-defying speed.
He thumped his small, chubby hand against his chest, wanting to cry so badly.
His cheeks were puffed and his mouth was drooping but the boy had no tears.
Abhram felt that even his eyes were betraying him.
Ah! So aggrieved!!
The pitiful image that the little boy portrayed was 'pitiful' and Jiang Ying Yue couldn't withstand it anymore.
She was completely torn between laughter and tears. She couldn't tell if she should be amused or feel sad.
" Where's Azure?" Jiang Ying Yue finally initiated the conversation. She hadn't been paying attention to them, so she had no idea where the little girl went.
" Ah?..." Abhram blinked his cute, watery eyes twice trying to tell what he heard wasn't an illusion, " Ah...master! you didn't sleep?"
" No. Where's Azure?", Jiang Ying Yue asked again
" Master, Azure went up the mountain to cultivate and she didn't say when she'll return....." His voice was very crisp and cheerful at the beginning but it slowly turned sluggish and aggrieved towards the end until it ended with, " Master, you don't like me anymore!"
There you go! Another tantrum!
That terrifying pout was Jiang Ying Yue's recent worst nightmare.
Jiang Ying Yue felt a headache coming, now regretting her choice to death.
****
Everyone woke early dawn only Jiang Ying Yue was late. But no one had the guts to take up the task of waking her up given how Wei was guarding her tightly.
Let alone waking her up they didn't even dare to glance in that direction.
That single threatening death glare from Wei was enough to give them nightmares for a couple of days.
When Jiang Ying Yue finally woke up morning mist had already started to clear up and everyone was preparing to eat.
" Here, go wash up quickly, breakfast is already prepared." As soon as Jiang Ying Yue walked out of her tent in a daze Wei handed her warm water and a clean towel and urged her to clean up.
His voice was always cold as usual but it somehow had a hint of gentle coaxing. Looking at the way he spoke so many words in that single sentence, it was already very unusual.
However, his effort wasn't in vain. The dazed Jiang Ying Yue who had just woken up was quite obedient. Although still a bit dazed Jiang Ying Yue still understood his words and took things from him and went to wash up obediently.
Looking at her docile and cute self Wei for some reason suddenly felt that today's weather was pretty good.
The dark and gloomy forest ground that was covered under an impenetrable roof of lush and thick green suddenly felt a bit sunny and less suffocating.
Wei couldn't tell what it was and tried hard to gauge it. He was deep in thought and went into trance until he heard a familiar soft and lazy voice drawl beside his ear, " What are you daydreaming about?"
Jiang Ying Yue casually threw him a disdainful glance and passed by not paying him any further attention.
Now that she was fully awake her temper had returned to normal and her previous obedient look was long gone. Her beautiful eyes were no longer covered in haze instead they were sparkling brightly hiding a sharp glint within them.
A sudden sense of loss struck Wei which he couldn't understand at all and he couldn't help feeling a deep sense of helplessness.
Wei didn't speak a word and just stared at the graceful back that was walking farther away from him in silence.
He couldn't understand.
He couldn't understand anything!
What was this feeling of loss?
What was he longing for?.....
Wait...longing??...
No, no, how could it be?!!
This couldn't be.....how could he?
How could he feel that when...
This sudden unexpected change made Wei feel unsettled.
It was uncertain what he was thinking but Wei's eyes suddenly changed, and the look in his eyes turned menacing.
Wei kept staring at that slender figure and silently clenched his fists.
He must find that thing as soon as possible!
" Xiao You, hurry up." Tian Shan waved and beckoned Jiang Ying Yue from a distance as soon as he saw her approaching. His smile was warm and sunny as usual.
Jiang Ying Yue smiled faintly at him and joined the group for breakfast.
Everyone was eating happily while chatting in between when at some point Wei, who was left behind came and sat down beside Jiang Ying Yue.
Not long after Wei sat down he was offered a large piece of well-roasted meat with both hands.
Tian Shan's gestures and actions were very much similar to that of a pious monk offering his incense to Buddha.
Tian Shan's intention to please Wei couldn't be more obvious. This had been going on for a while now and everyone was pretty much used to it.
They were used to seeing him abandoning his sunny carefree smile and donning that sticky greasy look. So, they just glanced at him once and let him be, continuing with their meal.
However, Jiang Ying Yue, who happened to be sitting just beside Wei keenly sensed the danger.
The air around Wei seemed to be much colder and darker at this moment, filled with unprecedentedly deep malice and bloodthirsty urges.
The man didn't move nor did he say anything but the aura around him alone made Jiang Ying Yue gulp in fear.
This Wei made a memory of the past unknowingly resurface in her--that memory still remained very fresh in her mind to this day--the same gloomy and guarded look.
That Wei was like a fierce wounded feral beast who would pounce on anyone who'd try to get near it.
He was hurt and yet he couldn't find a shelter to relax and let go.
.....And perhaps that was the reason she took pity on him.
But.....What in the world happened to him this time and so suddenly?!
Wasn't he doing fine just now?
Jiang Ying Yue couldn't understand what was wrong with him.
The only thing that she could remember which could have the guy upset was her throwing him a dirty glance and disdainful tone a few minutes ago.
But....it wasn't the first time she had done it.
Jiang Ying Yue wanted to scratch her hair badly. She couldn't get it at all.
And it wasn't just her who sensed the change in Wei, Tian Shan who usually looked playful and carefree always had been very good at observing the details and judging the situations.
He had been paying very close attention to Wei along the way, so there was no way this change could escape his eyes.
His heart trembled violently and he subconsciously wanted to run.
He had never seen this gloomy look on Master Wei before.
Tian Shan immediately wanted to beg and retreat, however, before he could get the chance to do so the people heard the loud noises coming from their neighbourhood.