Tang Ning looked up innocently.

But her actions only made Yuming more embarrassed, so embarrassed that he wished he could dig a hole in the ground with his toes and bury himself in it.

Seeing Yu Ming blush as red as a boiled shrimp, Tang Ning pursed her lips tightly to keep herself from laughing out loud.

Then he jumped down from the railing and walked a few steps to Yuming, who was hanging his head and pretending to be dead.

"Actually, there are other ways to determine if I am your destined one. It's okay if your master didn't answer you..."

Upon hearing Tang Ning's words, Yu Ming looked up in disbelief and asked.

"What?"

"Come a little closer..."

Seeing Yuming's curiosity, Tang Ning immediately and mysteriously beckoned to him with her finger.

Seeing Tang Ning's actions, the young Taoist priest panicked. He clearly wanted to back away, but for some reason his body moved closer involuntarily. Not only that, his mouth was also extremely dry.

He instinctively wanted to lick it, but felt that the action was too indecent, so he forced himself to stop.

But the next second, he saw—

Standing in front of him, Tang Ning tiptoed, raised her chin, and leaned closer. Yu Ming's eyes widened instantly, and sweat dripped down his forehead in panic. Tang Ning's crimson lips drew closer and closer to him...

The woman's subtle fragrance kept wafting into his nostrils.

Yu Ming's throat was so dry it felt like it was about to burst, and his heart was pounding with anxiety. A voice kept telling him, "Go, go, go quickly."

But he remained standing still, without moving an inch.

Just as he felt Tang Ning's warm breath on his face, Yu Ming almost reflexively closed his eyes tightly, and then—

"Smack!"

A sharp tap on the forehead rang out, and Yu Ming, who hurriedly opened his eyes, saw Tang Ning laughing and taking several steps back.

Yu Ming was still standing there in a daze, but Tang Ning had already pointed at him and said with a laugh, "You're just a lecherous Taoist priest, and the kind of lecherous Taoist priest who's not pure of heart! No wonder your master made you undergo tribulation, tsk tsk..."

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. I'm going to put extra dried shrimp and cilantro in the wontons this morning. That's all. I'm going to change my clothes. It's already early summer, why is it still so cold?"

Tang Ning raised her arm in confusion to look at it, then pushed open the door to her room and went inside.

Tu Yuming remained standing in the same spot, staring at where she had just been standing. After a long while, he raised his hand and pressed it to his chest, exhaled deeply, staggered back two steps, and leaned against the wall, breathing rapidly.

Yuming's current favorability rating: 90.

Because of Tang Ning's two teasings, Yu Ming seemed to have suddenly had his meridians opened up. In the days that followed, no matter how much Tang Ning teased him, he was able to remain calm and composed. At least in front of Tang Ning, he appeared unmoved. What he was like in private was anyone's guess.

The happy days were probably short-lived. Just a few months later, the Taoist temple was soon visited by a group of people from the foot of the mountain who had come to seek refuge.

I learned from them that Haicheng is now in complete chaos. The tanks of the Nigerien people have already driven in, and they had nowhere else to escape, so they fled here.

Almost immediately upon hearing the news, Tang Ning, who had been laughing and discussing with Yu Ming about having braised noodles with green beans for dinner, let go of her hand, and the cup in her hand shattered instantly. Then, disregarding everything else, she ran straight up the mountain.

Upon seeing this, Yuming immediately reached out and grabbed her arm.

What are you doing?

Faced with Yu Ming's obstruction, Tang Ning immediately began to struggle frantically. Because she was too weak to break free from Yu Ming's grip, she turned around and bit his arm with red eyes. The force was so great that Yu Ming let out a muffled groan.

It was this muffled groan that quickly brought Tang Ning back to her senses, and large tears fell from her red eyes.

"Please, little Taoist priest, please, I want to go down the mountain, I want to go down the mountain! He's still down the mountain, please let me go save him! He's already offended those Ni people, he'll die, he'll definitely die!"

Tang Ning spoke incoherently, tears streaming down her face like beads from a broken string.

“But you’ve heard how chaotic it is down the mountain. You don’t even have a weapon to defend yourself. Aren’t you just going to your death? I don’t think Xu Sinian would want to just watch you die…”

"Even if I die, I want to go with him!"

Tang Ning said this with absolute certainty.

Upon hearing this, Yu Ming was stunned. His momentary daze caused his grip to loosen, and Tang Ning took the opportunity to break free and ran down the mountain without looking back.

Watching Tang Ning's running figure, Yu Ming didn't even know what he was thinking. By the time he realized what was happening, he had already caught up with Tang Ning at the foot of the mountain.

"Young Taoist priest..."

Seeing Yu Ming chasing after her, Tang Ning called out to him in surprise.

"I know martial arts, I'll go with you to find him!"

These words made Tang Ning stop in her tracks and look at the boy beside her in disbelief.

"But……"

"There's no 'but' about it. With me here, I can at least protect you. I'll be with you!"

Yu Ming said this firmly.

Yes, I'll stay with her.

He wanted to be with her.

Even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, even if it was a dead end, he wanted to be with her, he just wanted to be with her.

He didn't know when he had such a thought, and he even forgot about his own calamity, but he didn't regret it.

On the contrary, if he were to let her go down the mountain alone today, he would regret it. Moreover, Tang Ning's words might really come true and become his calamity, making it impossible for him to get over it for the rest of his life.

"Young Taoist priest..."

"Um?"

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

Yu Ming replied with a bright smile.

The road down the mountain was not smooth, and just as the group of people who had come to seek refuge had said, the area below was in complete chaos.

The chaos was secondary; those Japanese were simply unbridled, and they would raise their guns and fire at anyone they didn't like.

Several times Yuming almost couldn't hold back and rushed forward, but in the end he still held back because of Tang Ning beside him.

Along the way, the two of them carefully rushed towards the Xu mansion, but when they arrived there, the Xu family's small building was already engulfed in flames.

Almost immediately upon seeing the scene of flames soaring into the sky, Tang Ning's tears fell. However, before she could even walk towards the small building, a dark figure behind her grabbed her arm. Before the person could speak, Yu Ming immediately pinned her arm behind her back and pressed her against the wall of the alley, where gray plaster fluttered down.

"Hey hey hey... It's me, Miss Tang Ning, it's me... Ah Sheng..."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Tang Ning immediately told Yu Ming to let go of her hand.

As soon as Ah Sheng straightened up and stretched his arms, Tang Ning immediately asked, "Ah Sheng, what are you doing here? Where's your grandfather? Is he alright? Is he hurt? And what about my younger brother and sister...?"

"It's alright, it's alright, everyone's perfectly safe. Actually, I thought we were all doomed. I was even preparing to have Tang Ruo and Tang Jun sent to the Taoist temple, but I never expected..."

As he said this, a complex emotion flashed across Ah Sheng's eyes.

"Young Marshal Lu has led his men in. Although some have been injured, most are unharmed..."

"Then what about them..."

"Everyone is hiding in the small courtyard that Marshal Lu used to rent, waiting for a chance to leave Haicheng. Actually, even if you hadn't come, we would have gone to pick you up. But Master said you might come back to the Xu Mansion, so I volunteered to stay and wait for three days. It's just that things are too chaotic outside right now, and the three of us probably can't get there in time. But thankfully, I just sent a telegram from the small room where we're hiding. Master and the others should be here soon. We just need to wait a little longer."

Hearing this, Tang Ning breathed a slight sigh of relief. Now, she could only wait.

But just then, a disgusting laugh came from outside, accompanied by a girl's shrill scream.

Immediately, the three people hiding in the alley exchanged glances.

Then, without even saying a word, Yuming and Asheng tiptoed toward the source of the sound.

Tang Ning wanted to go too, but Yu Ming grabbed her shoulder and made her raise her head.

After just one glance, Yu Ming loosened his grip.

The three of them quietly jogged towards the direction where the screams were getting louder and louder.

Upon witnessing that horrifying scene, Yu Ming did not hesitate to leap over the wall and silently approach the disgusting man behind him. With a quick twist of his neck, the man collapsed without even uttering a sound.

Tang Ning immediately took off her coat and draped it over the disheveled girl, letting the girl lean on her shoulder and sob quietly.

Just then, a burst of gunfire suddenly rang out outside.

Ah Sheng, who had been waiting at the door, rushed over and said excitedly, "It's Young Marshal Lu and Master Lu! They've come to pick us up, and we have to get there right away!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Ning immediately helped the girl beside her up, and together with Yu Ming, they were about to run towards A Sheng.

Just then, the little girl who had almost been bullied immediately raised her eyes, which were swollen like peach pits, and said in a panic, "Brother, my brother is still in the house, I can't leave him!"

"hurry up!"

Ah Sheng was still urging them on.

Seeing this, Yuming pushed the little girl into Tang Ning's arms, "You guys go first, I'll bring her brother and catch up right away!"

"But……"

Tang Ning immediately became anxious.

"It's alright, I know martial arts. I'll catch up with you soon. Hurry up!"

After giving these instructions, Yuming ran into the house without looking back.

When he finally found the little brother the girl had mentioned and ran out carrying the trembling baby, Ah Sheng and the girl had already disappeared. But Tang Ning was still waiting at the gate of the courtyard.

"you……"

Yu Ming's eyes widened instantly, and he rushed to Tang Ning's side as fast as he could. "Didn't I tell you to leave? Why aren't you leaving?"

"It was my insistence on coming down the mountain that dragged you into this. No matter what, I can't abandon you. We'll go together!"

Tang Ning's eyes were filled with determination.

Looking at Tang Ning like this, Yu Ming felt a burning sensation in his chest, but this was not the time to speak. He hurriedly picked up the boy in his arms with one hand and held Tang Ning's hand tightly with the other.

"Okay, let's go!"

After saying this, Yu Ming led the two of them out without hesitation.

Just as the two were about to get into the car, a stray bullet, seemingly from nowhere, struck Yu Ming precisely in the back of the chest.

Seeing her life already counting down, and with the little boy looking on in terror, Tang Ning pretended to bump into Yu Ming unintentionally, letting out a muffled groan.

"What's wrong?"

Yu Ming immediately noticed Tang Ning's unusual behavior and hurriedly asked her what was wrong.

Upon hearing this, Tang Ning gritted her teeth. Although she was trying her best to remain calm, her voice still trembled violently, "It's nothing, I just twisted my ankle..."

After saying just a few words, Tang Ning's face turned pale instantly.

Just as the little boy, who was being carried on Yuming's back, was about to cry out in fear, Tang Ning immediately raised her other free hand with difficulty and pressed it to her lips.

"Shhh."

She said.

Seeing Tang Ning's actions, the little boy immediately shut his mouth, and tears streamed down his face.

Finally, I got into the car, and it sped off at top speed.

Gunshots rang out behind them, but it was all in vain.

Even after getting into the car, Yu Ming held Tang Ning's hand tightly the entire time. Looking at their hands clasped together and Tang Ning's head resting on his shoulder, a blush quickly rose on the young Taoist's face.

Even though he knew it was safe and he should let go of her hand to remind her to sit up straight, for some reason, after witnessing Tang Ning's behavior just now, he just couldn't let go of her hand.

Just then, he suddenly smelled a strong stench of blood coming from beside him. He first turned to look at the little boy on his right, who was sobbing. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Upon hearing this, the little boy looked straight at Tang Ning on his other side, "Sister...it's sister...when bullets flew by, she shielded you..."

Although the child spoke in broken sentences, it was enough for Yuming to understand clearly.

He immediately looked to his side, trembling, and saw that Tang Ning's face, which was leaning against his shoulder, was as white as a sheet of paper, while behind her was a blinding red.

With just one glance, he didn't even care where the car was, and shouted, "Stop the car! Stop the car! Stop the car! I need to stop the car!"

Although the driver in the front seat was somewhat confused, seeing that the area was relatively safe, he quickly stepped on the brakes.

Then, Yu Ming carefully laid Tang Ning down on the seat and, with trembling hands, pulled out a row of gold needles from his pocket.

But his hands were shaking so badly. Why were they shaking so badly? Stop shaking!

Yu Ming hurriedly put his hand into his mouth and bit down hard, and blood immediately dripped slowly down the back of his hand.

Only then did he focus on administering acupuncture to Tang Ning.

But it didn't work. Why didn't it work? How could it not work?

Yu Ming hardened his heart and stabbed several major acupoints on her body. With a soft cough, Tang Ning slowly opened her eyes.

Then she saw Yuming, his face streaked with tears. "Why?"

He asked.

"What...why?"

Tang Ning smiled weakly.

"Since we don't have many days left to live anyway, why not make the most of them?"

"You know?" Yu Ming's voice trembled violently.

"What...do I look stupid to you?"

Before she could finish, Tang Ning gave a soft hum, then, to Yu Ming's alarmed look, she suddenly smiled and pinched his chin. "It's just that next time... could you... not mistake me for someone else? What Tang Yin... the first person you met when you came down the mountain at fifteen... was clearly me! You were frozen stiff back then, and I had to run after the rickshaw for a long time to get you to the hospital. My feet were numb from the cold... and then I took care of you all night... how did it become Tang Yin?"

The first girl you see on your way down the mountain is your destined one!

His master's words echoed in Yu Ming's mind once more, reminding him of the Tang Ning he saw when he opened his eyes the second time he descended the mountain...

Yu Ming immediately opened his mouth wide, but even so, he still couldn't stop the tears from falling.

"No, no...you mustn't..."

Just then, the car in front finally noticed something was wrong and hurriedly drove back. Almost immediately, they saw Tang Ning lying in the back seat, covered in blood.

Lu Chen grabbed the blue brocade box beside him like a madman and scrambled over.

"Ningning... Ningning... I found it! Although it's not the Snow Mountain White Ginseng, it's still a thousand-year-old Snow Ginseng! I found it! Eat it... eat it quickly! Eat it and you'll be fine!"

Holding the ginseng, Lu Chen was about to shove it into Tang Ning's mouth without a second thought.

But Tang Ning remained silent.

"Ningning, I beg you, please, I'm begging you, just open your mouth and eat it! I'm begging you to eat it!"

As Lu Chen shouted this, tears instantly streamed down his face.

"No need... I know it's useless... Thank you, Lu Chen, this is enough..."

After saying this, Tang Ning turned her head with great effort, looked at Xu Sinian sitting in a wheelchair not far away, and reached out to him with all her might, "I'm sorry... I've been avoiding you for so long, I just..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Sinian had already come to her side, and then carefully lifted her out of the car and held her in his arms.

“Xu Sinian…I…want to go home with you…”

Tang Ning whispered this in the man's ear.

"good."

He responded.

He pushed his wheelchair towards his car.

Once she was seated in the car, Tang Ning suddenly couldn't help but shiver.

"Xu Sinian...I'm so cold..."

I'm holding you.

Xu Sinian reached out and hugged the person in his arms tightly.

“Xu Sinian…”

"Um……"

"I am... calling your name..."

“Xu Sinian…”

"I am here……"

"I...I'm so sleepy...I want to sleep for a little while...just a little while...when we get home...can you wake me up?"

Tang Ning's voice grew softer and softer.

"good."

The man lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

Tang Ning's pale lips curved slightly upward, revealing a smile that seemed to indicate extreme happiness.

But her arm, which was wrapped around the man's neck, slowly and uncontrollably slid down...

Before long, it hung limply at her side.

It's unclear how long the car drove, but when they finally arrived at their destination, Xu Sinian's hoarse voice slowly began to ring out.

"Ningning, we're home..."

Unfortunately, the person in his arms would never respond to him again.

The tears that the man had been holding back finally fell completely at this moment. He held the girl he loved most in his life in his arms and let out the most sorrowful cry from his chest.

Yuming's current favorability rating: 100.

Xu Sinian's current favorability rating: 100.

Author's Note: Just... a really long chapter... I'm exhausted. There will be an extra chapter tomorrow... Love you all!