The attendant replied, “Your Highness has indeed waited a long time for the Huo family’s eldest daughter. However, it seems that Commander Shao has genuine affection for the lady. He is a perceptive man, and if he were to guess Your Highness’s true intentions, I fear—”
The man in the hall slowly interrupted, saying, “Haven’t you heard? A man in love with the woman he desires will lose all sense, no matter how clever he once was. Even Shao Ji Zu, despite his brilliance, is now obediently under my control!”
Amid the swirling incense, his face contorted into something almost grotesque. With a cold smile, he murmured, “Huo Ling Long, oh Huo Ling Long, if not for the tradition of the Huo family’s eldest daughters only unlocking their Ling Long Eye on their wedding day, why would I have waited so long for you?”
* * *
Huo Xiao Di felt as though his head were swelling, his chaotic thoughts swirling like the restless night wind. He strode forward aimlessly, covering over ten miles without realizing it.
The hand of Chang Hong Bi in his grasp was beginning to hurt from the tight grip. The boy’s face was raw from the biting mountain wind, yet this strange youth bore it silently, as if being held by Huo Xiao Di was already enough for him.
As they hurried along, Huo Xiao Di suddenly stopped and cried out, “No! This isn’t right!”
His abrupt halt caused Chang Hong Bi, who had no martial skills, to stumble forward and nearly fall.
Realizing he still held the boy’s arm, Huo Xiao Di quickly steadied him and said gently, “Be careful!”
Under the night sky, his eyes met Chang Hong Bi’s—bright with a mix of fear and trust. For the first time, the boy’s gaze showed no trace of suspicion or wariness.
Huo Xiao Di suddenly felt a pang of tenderness. He crouched down and said gently, “I know you are Chang Hong Bi of Han Shui Palace. My name is Huo Xiao Di. Don’t be afraid—I won’t hurt you.”
Chang Hong Bi nodded and, with some effort, replied, “I know—”
Huo Xiao Di asked curiously, “What do you know?”
The boy stammered, “I—I know you won’t—hurt me—”
Huo Xiao Di couldn’t help but smile. “How do you know that?”
The question seemed to stump Chang Hong Bi. After a long hesitation, the unusual boy stuttered, “I don’t know—why, I—just—know.”
Hearing this nonsensical answer, Huo Xiao Di chuckled and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to take you somewhere safe, a place where no one from Han Shui Palace will ever find you.”
His expression turned serious as he added, “But before we go, you must tell me—how are you suddenly able to speak? You weren’t pretending to be mute all along, were you?”
Chang Hong Bi blushed and smiled shyly. “I wasn’t—pretending. Just now—my throat—itched terribly, and—my whole body—felt restless. When I saw you—fighting that man in black—words just came out.”
At the mention of Zhan Ri Fei, Huo Xiao Di fell into a daze again and muttered, “This isn’t right.”
Chang Hong Bi watched him closely and, with a mix of curiosity and caution, asked, “What—do you mean—by ‘not right’?”
For some reason, Chang Hong Bi’s question reverberated in Huo Xiao Di’s ears like the angry shouts of a thousand people. It was as though he had been whipped—he suddenly leapt up and exclaimed, “I’m saying something about this situation doesn’t feel right!”
Chang Hong Bi asked, “What doesn’t feel right?”
Huo Xiao Di’s face had already changed. A thought, heavy as a boulder, began pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. His hands turned cold, and his voice grew bitter.
“I—I must—go back—and ask—him!”
Without waiting for Chang Hong Bi to respond, he grabbed the boy and shot forward like an arrow—an arrow turning back toward its mark.
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