Even after a long time passed, her heart did not stop frantically jumping. She felt as if she was freezing, despite her clothing. When she touched it, its rough texture made her understand that it was Fanlu's coat.

She had escaped, she had really escaped.

She was free.

Zuiju quietly sat in the cave. Her heart felt like it was suspended in air as it anxiously clamoured, unable to relax. She had originally planned to stay the night before leaving as perhaps she could avoid the terrifying bandits then.

How was he? Zuiju stood up. She restrained her emotions and sat back down.

But not long later, she couldn't help but stand up again.

Was he dead?

That hateful guy?

That wicked man?

That shameless despicable cheater...was he dead? He could be killed by the bandits. There were numerous bandits and they could have swarmed around his body until his corpse was all minced up.

This made Zuiju shiver. No, no...no way!

It always seemed that villains could live a thousand years, so someone like him...

She searched for the path she had come from. As she had taken it twice today, she was already a little familiar with it. At first, she was walking hesitantly. For a reason she did not know, she suddenly began to frantically run, even faster than she had during her escape attempts.

Zuiju ran back to the place and suddenly stopped.

Her surroundings were quiet, even the chirping of birds could not be heard. The smell of blood filled this patch of forest and the red on the ground were solidified. Corpses lay everywhere, a mess.

Zuiju approached, mortified, looking for that wicked man's corpse.

No, she didn't hope to find his corpse!

Zuiju desperately crossed those bodies. She had seen fresh blood and corpses all over the ground before. It was even more tragic than this, in the Duke of Zhen-Bei's secluded residence.

But she hadn't been as worried as now.

Is he dead?

Dead?

Her foot hit something. She lowered her head, her tears pouring straight down.

It was the light crossbow, his favourite crossbow to have in his hands and play with.

Zuiju knelt down, picked up the crossbow and stood up again. She stumbled in the clearing as she looked.

Where, where was he?

He couldn't have been captured right? He had killed so many of the bandits. If he were still alive, then the ways he would be tortured were unthinkable. Maybe...

Zuiju suddenly stopped.

The grass half her height appeared to be hiding something. Although Zuiju couldn't see what it was, she rushed forwards as if she did know.

It was a very familiar back lying in the grass.

Zuiju knelt down, reaching out a hand to check his breathing.

Thank god, he was still alive.

"Oi! Oi!" Zuiju flipped him over.

Fanlu's face was full of blood and mud, but he still managed to open his eyes slightly. He feebly scorned, "Stupid thing, why are you still here?"

Zuiju was temporarily stunned. She couldn't help clench her teeth, "You're still alive?"

The corners of Fanlu's lips curved ever so slightly before his head drooped into unconsciousness.

"Oi! Oi! Oi! You hateful guy, don't really die on me!"

Zuiju didn't understand Fanlu, and she didn't understand much about herself either.

Such a great opportunity but she foolishly ran back and dragged this hateful guy ,who refused to die, down the mountain. She could do it with the tool Fanlu lent and taught her how to use. She finally managed to get down the mountain and found the horse they hid.

Fanlu was very injured and very heavy, even heavier than a boar. Zuiju had to pant every step she took while supporting him.

She was anxious to heal Fanlu's injury and even forgot that she ought to send a letter to her Teacher. The only thing that made her feel worthy of her Teacher was that her medical knowledge despite being imprisoned for so long.

She painstakingly put her life out to reach a place where there were people. She took some money out of Fanlu's bag, wrote a prescription and bought the herbs. She soon boiled them and bandaged his wounds until she was exhausted and her muscles ached.

"You're still here?" Fanlu was groggy. It was the first thing he said since opening his eyes.

Zuiju deftly helped him dress his wounds while using the dignified gaze of a doctor to stare at him. "You've lost too much blood, so talk less."

"You're a doctor?"

"Hmph."

Fanlu's eye swere muddled, and he fainted again.

His physique was good, so his wounds healed quickly. It seemed that he didn't have much strength however. He was out cold all day and night, and Zuiju even had to feed his meals to him.

Zuiju was secretly anxious and put in all her effort, hoping that he would get well soon.

That day, when Zuiju brought in the properly boiled medicine, she suddenly discovered he had gotten up already. He was dressed and had his crossbow in his hand, looking utterly healthy and energetic. He looked ready to leave, a complete change from his weak attitude yesterday.

"Let's go."

"Us? Go where?"

"Qierou of course."

Zuiju understood and screamed. She threw down the medicine bowl to run outside, but Fanlu blocked her from the doorway. Fanlu evilly smirked, "Have you forgotten your fate if you tried to escape again?"

Zuiju huffed, "You cheater! You were better ages ago, yet pretended you couldn't get off the bed, you..."

"I'm a cheater, and if you provoke me too quick, I'll cheat a little more." Fanlu grabbed onto her chin, his fingertips sliding across her red lips.

Zuiju shuddered.

"I saved your life." She wasn't satisfied.

"I saved your life too."

Zuiju was trembling with anger, "I saved your life, but I didn't lock you up."

"That's why," Fanlu nodded, "I'm a cheater."

She was caught by Fanlu and returned to Qierou once more.

She remained in the isolated prison and remained seeing that wicked man's teasing smile every day.

Zuiju didn't understand.

Didn't understand that man.

Unless the world were to fall into chaos and Fanlu took her with him to leave, then perhaps she would never be able to leave this place in this lifetime.

Perhaps she would never understand that hateful guy in her lifetime.

......

......