The snow fell silently.

The gloom on Qin Shang's face lasted only a moment.

"How can I feel at ease if the master goes alone?"

The white-robed monk clasped his hands together in prayer.

“You may send someone with me. But you cannot go with them, otherwise, things will not go smoothly.”

Qin Shang blinked.

"What if I conceal my identity?"

Dao Ci remained silent.

Qin Shang: ...That's true.

He's been in Jincheng for quite some time now, and many people have seen him. What if someone recognizes him?

That made things worse.

The Qin merchant looked at him earnestly.

"I am worried about the master's safety."

I'm really afraid you'll never come back.

If the garrison commander of Daning truly remembers the loyal ministers and generals of the previous Zhou dynasty, wouldn't Dao Ci's departure be like a fish out of water?

The white-robed monk watched him quietly.

Those cold, dark eyes seemed to be able to see through all his inner thoughts.

"If we can obtain reinforcements from Daning, it will naturally be due to your wise planning, sir. This humble monk only wishes for peace and tranquility in Yongzhou, free from disasters and calamities."

Qin Shang sighed.

"Very well, Master, your noble character is truly admirable. In that case, I will go and select those who will accompany you to Danning City. Master, you should also make your preparations. We will depart promptly in one hour."

.

"Yan Thirty-One, the meeting is about to start, get up quickly."

A snowy winter.

A warm and cozy bed.

I'm dreaming of eating a whole roasted lamb...

Everything was ruined by that one sentence.

Qi Su equally hated all those who forced her to get up early.

And getting up early is just for some damn morning meeting.

…

Qi Su was forcibly taken by Hei Xiaoer to the guest room where they had been drinking the day before.

Several men, dressed in black with their heads and feet covered in black, were already in the room, whispering amongst themselves.

They were all people she had met before.

This Black Bird Guard is so wary of her. They don't let anyone know even the slightest hint.

Qi Su yawned and sat down by the fire with her hands tucked in.

Then, all eyes fell on her.

"Yan Thirty-One, listen to my command. I have an urgent task for you."

I thought I was just listening in, but I never imagined she would be the main character.

"What's up?"

"My master is going to Danning City. You will accompany him."

Qi Su: "When?"

Hei Xiao Er: "Half an hour later."

Qi Su: "Ah, then forget it, I can't, I don't have time."

I need to go back and catch up on my sleep.

Hei Xiao Er frowned.

"What do you have that's more important than your master?"

Qi Su looked completely sincere.

"My period is coming, it's called 'Gui Shui'. I feel uncomfortable when it comes, and I definitely won't be able to stand it traveling in this cold, snowy weather."

After she finished speaking, she coughed softly twice.

He deliberately used a high-pitched voice.

So that they would know that standing, no, sitting in front of them, was a woman.

The little black dogs in the room never expected that her reason would be like this.

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

After all, they have no experience with women and don't know how to handle this situation.

Qi Su: "If you don't like it, I can go too. At worst, when my stomach hurts, I can have the master massage it for me."

That's all.

Hei Xiao Er glanced at her.

She's really capable of doing that.

The matter of Huatan Temple is no secret within the Xuan Niao Guard.

"That's enough. Although the Qin merchant has allowed you to go alone this time, he will definitely set many conditions. He will most likely have to take poison. Although you are not afraid of poison, you should still go and check on him before he leaves to make sure that his old illness will not flare up during his trip."

Qi Su continued speaking in a high-pitched voice.

"Yes, sir."

.

After the main meeting, smaller meetings continued.

Qi Su was led by Yan Xiaoer to say goodbye to her master.

There was only one person in the room.

The white-robed monk... wait, Dao Ci actually changed his clothes today.

It was everyday clothing: a round-necked robe with a beaded pattern, knee-high black leather boots, and a black cloak over it.

That's completely out of character for him.

So much so that I didn't recognize him at first glance.

Qi Su knew he was tall and slender. But she never expected that without his loose monk's robe, his narrow waist and long legs would look so handsome.

She looks even better than when she wasn't wearing clothes.

Her morning grumpiness had vanished, and her gaze involuntarily fell on him.

Until Yan Xiaoer called her.

"What are you looking at? How rude!" You're practically staring your master out of his shell.

Qi Su casually replied, "It would be nice if my hair were a little longer."

Yan Xiaoer: ...

He had a gut feeling that ever since his boss ordered him to hang out with this woman, his own moral standards had been plummeting.

…

Dao Ci instructed: "After I leave, proceed according to plan."

Yan Xiaoer respectfully replied.

The creature beside her didn't answer; instead, she let out a soft cry and pounced on her, hugging her master's narrow waist.

"What if they miss you?"

I was just pretending; I just wanted to touch your waist.

Qi Su was pulled away from her arms with great force; the person who pulled her was the one she missed.

Dao Ci's expression was indifferent, and his gaze did not fall on her for even a moment.

As if throwing away a burden, he tossed Qi Su to Hei Xiao Er.

"Keep an eye on her."

It felt like taking off the monk's robe had truly broken the seal completely.

People have become so heartless.

There is no longer any divine light of compassion.

What kind of soul is sealed beneath this aloof and serene Buddhist appearance?

He didn't linger for another second and walked out.

Qi Su raised an eyebrow.

"Yun Wuyi, you stop right there—"

Her voice was extremely loud, and her arrogance was extremely overbearing.

For a moment, Hei Xiao Er, standing next to her, froze completely. Incredulously, he turned around to stare at her.

You...you actually called the master by his name?

The person in the snow outside the door did indeed stop.

The snow was falling quite heavily from the sky.

It fluttered down, covering the ground with a layer of white.

Two rows of footprints led from the doorway into the courtyard, where a person wearing a black snow cloak stood silently.

The sky was vast and the snow was boundless, creating a scene with a touch of Zen.

Qi Su followed in his footsteps into the courtyard and stood in front of him.

Without his monk's robes, he seemed to grow even taller.

His dark eyebrows drooped, and he looked at her coldly.

His lips were slightly pursed, as if he was somewhat displeased.

Qi Su took his hand and held it between her own for a moment.

The insect was sleeping peacefully.

This insect belongs to the fire element, and its energy is already weak in winter. Yesterday, it was provoked and tormented, which further depleted its vitality.

Good, safe.

She lowered his hand. She reached out her palm, intending to touch him, but the person in front of her avoided her.

It still maintains the same indifferent, condescending attitude.

But he frowned slightly, clearly displeased.

Qi Su: "Why are you hiding? Aren't you going to watch the Gu worms anymore?"

As she spoke, she grabbed his shirt collar with her fingers and roughly pulled him in front of her.

This time, he didn't dodge.

Hei Xiao'er, who was secretly observing from inside the room, couldn't help but gasp.

Fierce! If this were their Black Bird Guards, they would have been turned into mincemeat long ago.

The woman in front of him raised her hand and placed it on Dao Ci's chest.

He concentrated and sensed for a moment, then infused a few more strands of true energy into it.

Only then did he let go.

She smiled and gently smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes.

"I wish you a safe and successful journey and a speedy return."

Under the snow-covered sky, she turned her head to look at him, her smile radiant and lively.

“Go ahead,” she said. “I’m very powerful, you won’t have any problems now.”