As soon as QingWu's voice came from the courtyard, inviting everyone inside, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief. When Xiao Chenyuan stepped into the room, his gaze immediately fell on QingWu, scrutinizing her intently. Only after confirming she was unharmed did the sharpness in his eyes fade.
Situ Jing looked around nervously, not seeing the Night Wanderer. His voice quivered, "The visitor from earlier... has he left?"
QingWu nodded but didn't dwell on it. She turned to Mu Ying and said, "I will now restore your son's vitality."
Mu Ying nodded fervently, her eyes brimming with hope. QingWu formed a seal with her hands and pressed her fingers against Wang Yulang's brow. "Life yet unspent, spirit, return! Command!"
The red thread around Mu Ying's wrist snapped as Wang Yulang's soul returned to his body. Within moments, his breathing strengthened, and color began returning to his cheeks. Situ Jing rushed over to check his pulse and thoroughly examined him. Overjoyed, he exclaimed, "He's stable now! With some care, he should wake up very soon."
Mu Ying, overcome with emotion, knelt to express her gratitude, but QingWu stopped her. "Madam Mu, you've walked in the underworld tonight. Rest well; you'll need your strength to take care for your son."
Tears streamed down from Mu Ying's face as she nodded, unable to find the words to thank QingWu.
Leaving the mother and son in peace, QingWu exited with the others. She issued a new set of instructions. "Boil some water with pomelo leaves and sprinkle it around the Manor. This will help to drive away the lingering bad energy. Especially you," she added, pointing at Situ Jing. "Soak yourself thoroughly."
Situ Jing looked startled, pointing at himself. QingWu clicked her tongue as she noticed the dark shadow on his forehead. Patting Situ Jing's shoulder, she muttered, "Take care." Situ Jing shuddered, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Why me?!"
The Judging Brush, delighted by his misfortune, snickered. "That Night Wanderer holds grudges like no other. Daring to slap an official seal talisman on his forehead? You're bound to have a streak of bad luck!"
Nearby, Xiao Chenyuan's gaze shifted slightly, as if he caught another trace of that strange sound emanating from QingWu.
Situ Jing was on the verge of tears. As he considered asking about the situation, his eyes fell on the red thread tied to Xiao Chenyuan's wrist. Through the lingering effect of the bull's tears, he could still see the faint shadow of a spirit tied to him.
"Your Highness," he hesitated, pointing at his wrist, "that thread… what is it tied to?"
"What else could it be?" QingWu interjected with a grin. "Your Highness picked up a little god of wealth!"
Situ Jing gasped. "But this god of wealth looks a lot like... Your Highness... Could it be—"
Xiao Chenyuan's sharp, icy glare silenced him immediately. Meanwhile, QingWu ignored the tension between the master and servant. She casually folded a talisman, entrapped the spirit of the Xie Family's Young Master within it, and handed it to Xiao Chenyuan. "Here. For now, you can worship this god of wealth yourself. I'm off to sleep."
Yawning, QingWu made her way back to her room. The human need for rest was vexing; the moment drowsiness struck, there was no fighting it.
Just as she opened the door, a man's voice called out behind her, "Yun Qingwu."
"Hm?" She turned, only to catch her foot on the threshold. She stumbled backward, but before she hit the ground, Xiao Chenyuan stepped forward and caught her by the waist. However, the loose knot of her waistband came undone in his grip...
Her sash fluttered to the ground. QingWu landed on her bottom, stunned, her gaze frozen on the fabric in his hands. Xiao Chenyuan's arm stiffened. He held the delicate waistband awkwardly, unsure whether to let it drop or pick it up properly.
Inevitably, his eyes were drawn to her. QingWu sat there, looking bewildered. Her usually carefree demeanor was replaced by a rare vulnerability. Her snow-white shoulders peeked through her disheveled clothing, her porcelain skin glowing under the faint light, and the curve of her figure was as captivating as an exquisite painting.
Xiao Chenyuan turned his head away abruptly, as if scalded. He frowned at himself, his hand clutching the sash tightly, caught between mortification and restraint.
QingWu groaned internally. Before she could voice her frustration, a heavy cloak was draped over her head, covering her entirely. In the next moment, she was lifted off the ground. The string of reprimands she had ready was swallowed. She tugged the cloak down slightly, peeking out to see Xiao Chenyuan's sharply defined jawline. She pouted, "It's your fault! You don't even know how to catch someone properly!"
Xiao Chenyuan's lips tightened. He placed her on the bed but didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stood nearby and asked, "Where does it hurt?"
QingWu let out an exaggerated groan, clutching her waist. "My back! Definitely twisted it. Someone needs to massage it!"
Her gaze kept darting toward him, the implication obvious.
Xiao Chenyuan caught her theatrical display, and for some reason, the corners of his lips threatened to lift. He crouched down beside her, his chiseled face still stoic, but his tone was softer. "Lie down."
QingWu immediately lay flat, pointing at her lower back.
As she moved, her posture revealed glimpses of her delicate frame. Xiao Chenyuan tilted his head slightly and placed his hand on her lower back. Even through the thick cloak, he could feel how slender her waist was—so fragile it seemed as though the slightest force could snap it.
A soft moan escaped from QingWu, drifting into his ear like a spark igniting a flame. His grip unconsciously tightened.
"Ah!" QingWu uttered a soft, breathy sigh. "More tenderly!" Her voice, mellifluous and alluring, sent a surge of tension through him, igniting a restless yearning that could not be subdued. Drawing the cloak up higher, he enveloped her head completely and commanded gruffly, "Remain still!"
But QingWu was anything but obedient. Peeking out from beneath the cloak with her mischievous eyes, she fixed her gaze on him. "Xiao Chenyuan, did you eat something wrong today? The mighty Dread King stooping so low as to massage my back?"
"Didn't you ask me to trust you?" he replied evenly.
She blinked, suddenly recollecting their previous discussion. That was indeed accurate—he had pledged her a response.
"And?" she pressed.
"You possess extraordinary talent. I am naturally inclined to show respect to those with great ability," he replied.
QingWu burst into laughter, her voice a mix of mischief and charm, like a cunning fox celebrating a victory. For the first time, Xiao Chenyuan felt a strange sense of vulnerability, as if she had seen through him. The sensation of being led by the nose was both infuriating and oddly compelling. With a deliberate squeeze, he pressed into her waist.
"Ah! It tickles!" she exclaimed, wriggling and laughing harder. "You're doing that on purpose, Xiao Chenyuan!"
A fleeting glimmer of amusement passed through his usually stoic gaze. His tone remained calm as he said, "It's my first time serving anyone, so please bear with me, My Queen."
QingWu pouted. "Your technique is awful. And you call this respect? You'll end up crushing anyone with your skills!"
Pausing for a moment, she rested her chin on her hand, determined to get an answer. "So, does that mean you've decided to trust me for now?"
Xiao Chenyuan lowered his gaze, staring into her eyes—dark and mysterious, like an abyss that could steal a person's soul if they looked too long.
What lay hidden beneath that abyss? Much like the woman before him, the more captivating it was, the more perilous it seemed.
"Trusting you this once—why not?"
QingWu's eyes curved with delight as she slowly sat up, the cloak slipping off her shoulders, revealing her alluring figure. Tracing a finger along his chiseled jawline, she whispered with a teasing smile, "Even if it means consorting with ghosts and stepping into hell, you're not afraid?"
Grasping her hand firmly, Xiao Chenyuan met her gaze, his voice steady and deep like the ocean. "I already dwell in hell. What is there to fear?"