I don't know how much time had passed, but the rain was still drizzling.

The sounds of fighting around us gradually stopped...

Xiao Heye knew that the enemy had a large number of people and was determined to finish the battle quickly.

Every move he makes is deadly, striking at vital points and leaving his opponents with absolutely no chance of survival.

Finally, with the first rumble of spring thunder, Xiao Heye sheathed his longsword, and the last person fell to the ground.

Rainwater mixed with dark red blood flowed gently at his feet.

A faint smell of blood filled the air...

He enjoys killing, but dislikes the smell of blood.

Xiao Heye sheathed his sword at his waist, wiped the blood off his hands, and walked toward Su Tiyue.

The night was dim, and visibility was poor, but thankfully, Su Tiyue's timid little face was still visible.

He bent down to see if the little creature was frightened.

But this time, she wasn't scared to tears.

Xiao Heye was somewhat surprised.

He gently rubbed Su Tiyue's cheek with the back of his hand without saying a word.

Su Tiyue was startled by the sudden touch. She tentatively asked, "Xiao Zhangyin?"

"Um……"

Xiao Heye lowered his voice and snorted.

Hearing his voice, Su Tiyue knew he was safe and sound, and her heart, which had been clenched with worry, slowly calmed down.

She reached out to untie the handkerchief covering her eyes, but Xiao Heye stopped her again by raising his hand.

He held Su Tiyue's wrist, leading her away from the corpses lying scattered on the ground, and into another, more secluded alley.

Xiao Heye didn't stop until he reached the end of the alley before taking off the handkerchief.

If his delicate little darling had seen that horrific scene, he would probably have fainted from fright.

"The seal, we..."

"Shh-"

Before Su Tiyue could finish speaking, Xiao Heye looked at her seriously, put his index finger to his lips, and made a shushing gesture.

He was still listening, and there was no unusual movement around him.

At times like these, a moment's carelessness could allow the enemy to get close.

Xiao Heye could handle it, but now that there was someone else by his side who needed protection, he couldn't let his guard down.

With his dark eyes fixed on Su Tiyue, Xiao Heye quickly analyzed the current situation.

Firstly, they didn't yet know who the other party was.

Xiao Heye had long been a tyrannical figure in the court, and countless people had died at his hands, both openly and secretly. There were also countless people who wanted to kill him.

Secondly, with Xiao Heye in the open and the enemy in the shadows, it's impossible to tell whether more people will suddenly appear besides the few people from before.

Thirdly... it was still raining that day, and if we continued to take Su Tiyue around like this, I'm afraid her body wouldn't be able to take it.

This woman twists her ankle while walking, gets sick easily from the wind and cold, and cries out in pain at the slightest touch; she's incredibly delicate...

Xiao Heye looked at the people around him, hesitated for a moment, and decided to take her to find a place to hide and avoid the rain first.

"Your Majesty..." Xiao Heye called out softly.

"Hmm?" She looked up at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Heye said, "Come with me."

This place is remote and quiet, not in the bustling city center, and the people living in the alleys are ordinary folks.

As dusk approached, just as people were returning home for dinner, lights were turned on in every household, both inside and outside.

Xiao Heye led her to the front of a house. He gently pushed the door with his long, slender fingers and found it was unlocked.

Through the crack in the door, Xiao Heye peeked inside and saw a family of three happily having dinner in the main hall facing the gate.

It was a young couple and a little girl who was about six or seven years old.

This family has a spacious yard. The kitchen is on the left, and the right side is enclosed by a fence where they grow vegetables and flowers.

It's clear that their lives, though ordinary, are fulfilling and happy.

...

Taking advantage of the misty night rain, Xiao Heye pulled Su Tiyue and quietly slipped inside. After entering, he casually locked the door.

A gust of evening wind, carrying a light drizzle, blew into the kitchen, making the oil lamp hanging by the door sway precariously.

There was a pile of chopped firewood in the kitchen, stacked neatly, perhaps to prevent the firewood from soiling the newly painted walls.

There was a slight gap between the firewood and the wall.

After Xiao Heye and Su Tiyue entered the kitchen, they hid behind the pile of firewood without anyone noticing.

"Palmprint, do we really have to hide here?"

Su Tiyue frowned and asked in a low voice.

While it's true they're trying to escape, there's no need for them to squeeze together like that.

This space is too cramped; it's a place that should only fit one person, but now there are two people crammed in.

And it's face-to-face.

Su Tiyue was short, and although her back was pressed tightly against the wall, her upper body was almost touching the man in front of her.

Xiao He was a tall and strong man with a robust physique.

The firewood behind him was uneven and prickly, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

Hearing her speak, Xiao Heye lowered his head and glanced at the person in his arms, saying indifferently, "If you're not going to hide here, Your Highness, why don't you go out and fight those people outside?"

"..."

"I...I'm not going. I can't beat anyone."

Su Tiyue replied confidently.

"Pfft..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Heye couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Your Majesty, I thought you would be scared to tears just now... It seems that you are not afraid at all, and can even tell me jokes!"

Su Tiyue said, "With the palm print there, I'm naturally not afraid. Besides... you've blindfolded me."

These words were spoken unintentionally by her; they were Su Tiyue's true feelings.

"With the palm print there, I naturally have nothing to fear..."

Xiao Heye lowered his brows and savored the moment again.

Ha, this little thing, now she actually trusts him so much.

I used to know her only as a timid and cowardly girl who could only cry and ask for hugs.

When he encounters trouble and offends Xiao Heye, he will sometimes say nice things to cheer him up.

Xiao Heye was also aware that most of what Su Tiyue said and did to him in the palace was due to the circumstances.

It wasn't what I truly meant.

But now, Xiao Heye could tell that this sentence was true.

...