Translated by Eve

　　Edited by Wuxian

　　Since the situation had changed, Sui Yuan and Zhao Xihe naturally did not continue their idle and carefree tour of the scenery. Although it wasn't time for them to meet up with the protagonist gong and shou yet, the two of them still used the protagonist locator to find Ning Ze and Nan Gongyi who were in hiding.

　　When they saw Sui Yuan, the only one who was genuinely happy was probably Nan Gongyi. He was pleasantly surprised and shouted out 's.h.i.+xiong' incredulously. Soon after, he ran right into Sui Yuan's arms, tightly hugging him.

　　At that moment, Zhao Xihe's face darkened.

　　"s.h.i.+xiong! How did you find us?! What happened on your end? Were you injured?!" Nan Gongyi impatiently looked Sui Yuan up and down, afraid that he'd see even the slightest irregularity on his family's s.h.i.+xiong.

　　During the previous period of time, Nan Gongyi blamed himself. If he hadn't insisted on taking a look at the secret pa.s.sageway, then he and s.h.i.+xiong wouldn't have been chased by people who had been after their lives. If s.h.i.+xiong had been injured because of him, he wouldn't have the face to see s.h.i.+xiong again! Nan Gongyi felt that he could truly be regarded as a star of misfortune. No matter where they went, something always happened, and he even implicated his weary s.h.i.+xiong, causing him to suffer hards.h.i.+p alongside him. Of course, from a certain angle, Nan Gongyi, who carries the 'protagonist's halo' on him, really did have that kind of const.i.tution.

　　Compared to the pure Nan Gongyi, Ning Ze had more complicated feelings. At least right now, he didn't want to see the beauty that had always been on his mind before, least not his Chief Protector—that ambitious wild wolf—who followed behind said beauty.

　　Ning Ze had originally thought that he had concealed himself very well. The hiding place they were currently in was one he had never divulged to anybody else. So, how did these two people find them? If this was all a trap, then the mastermind behind said trap was very likely Yu Hao who was beside him at present.

　　Ning Ze sensed a dense feeling of danger. Yu Hao seemed to be full of inner force and flexibility in his limbs. Meanwhile, Ning Ze had been injured and had no choice but to seek a place of refuge to nurse his wounds and recover. Hence, if Yu Hao wanted to kill him, then it would take him no effort at all.

　　Although the beauty was attractive, if he carried a poisonous sting, then Ning Ze did not dare covet him. Seeing Zhao Xihe's gloomy expression from behind Sui Yuan, Ning Ze quietly gulped and subconsciously walked behind Nan Gongyi.

　　Soon after, he saw Zhao Xihe face him with a mocking expression.

　　Ning Ze："………………(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"

　　"After throwing off our pursuers, I was worried about your safety, so I took Yu Hao with me to search for you," Sui Yuan signaled to Zhao Xihe who had been behind him, and without a trace of politeness, threw all responsibility on him, "He said that you most likely hid yourselves here so we came to test our luck."

　　Nan Gongyi bit his lips, glanced at Zhao Xihe, and wore a rather conflicted expression. At this time, he already knew Ning Ze's ident.i.ty as the Demonic Cult Leader, and that Yu Hao, his subordinate, must definitely be a person of the Demonic Cult. Nan Gongyi had been taught and raised by his s.h.i.+fu to follow the righteous path since he was small and absolutely could not a.s.sociate himself with those of the demonic path. As long as he met one, he would certainly not pardon them. Unfortunately, while he was travelling around the Jianghu this time, Nan Gongyi's beliefs that had been cultivated since childhood had all begun to waver.

　　The vicious and merciless killers that had been pursuing them were all vile characters of the 'righteous path', acting under the false pretense of justice. Meanwhile, the one who had protected him, and didn't abandon him even though he was injured was the chief of the demonic path. It could be said that aside from his s.h.i.+xiong, Ning Ze was the only other person to treat him like that. When he looked at his family's s.h.i.+xiong again, it was obvious that he was on good terms with his 'childhood sweetheart' who was also on the 'demonic path' and were quite close. On one side, there was s.h.i.+fu's teachings, and on the other side, there was the reality that he had seen with his own eyes. This made Nan Gongyi feel wedged between the two, not knowing as to which side he should be situated on.

　　Sui Yuan naturally knew of Nan Gongyi's struggle. After all, it was clearly written in the plot! If it was before, Sui Yuan would have grabbed hold of this opportunity to brainwash Nan Gongyi, urge him to rid himself of his prejudice towards the demonic path, develop a good relations.h.i.+p with Ning Ze a little earlier, and finally become inseparable lovers with the other. But now, there was obviously a more important task at hand.

　　Sui Yuan ignored Nan Gongyi's appearance of struggling with wanting to say something but hesitating. After hastily expressing his concern towards him, he quickly raised an important topic, "I heard a rumour that the ashes in your hands are fake? Is that true?"

　　When he heard Sui Yuan's question, Nan Gongyi immediately fumed with rage between gritted teeth, "That's right. We wasted so much effort, sacrificed so many people, and were chased after by people wanting our heads for so long, but it was fake. We must have fallen into someone else's trap and were made into scapegoats! What's even more hateful is that even though we say that the ashes are fake, no one believes us!"

　　Nan Gongyi would not lie, especially not to his s.h.i.+xiong. Sui Yuan and Zhao Xihe looked toward Ning Ze and discovered that he wore a depressed and sullen expression and couldn't help but feel their hearts sink.

　　"Would you allow me to take a look at the ashes?" Zhao Xihe said in a low voice, expression grave.

　　Fake ashes were naturally unworthy of being valued by Ning Ze. Furthermore, his life was in the hands of the other at the moment. Ning Ze was a wise man who knew when to submit to circ.u.mstances, and thus immediately took out the sandalwood box he had gotten from the secret pa.s.sageway and handed it over to Zhao Xihe.