Governor Zhou suddenly stood up, his face fierce, and said, "Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite, City Lord! Guards!"

Tang 77 felt a little flustered by his confident demeanor. Lan Yu clearly sensed this and gently patted Tang 77's delicate hand to indicate that she didn't need to be nervous.

There was no movement around. Governor Zhou looked terrified and called out several more times in a panic, but still no one appeared.

Li Fei suddenly raised his voice and said, "Prefect Zhou, why don't I help you? Men!"

As soon as he finished speaking, those who had been subdued were thrown in like balls.

City Lord: "All those lying in ambush outside the courtyard have been killed!" The guard who spoke was still dripping blood from the tip of his sword.

Governor Zhou's spirit was suddenly drained. He slumped to the ground, as if resigned to his fate. Suddenly, he knelt down and crawled to Lan Yu's side, grabbing his leg and saying, "Lord, I know my sins are grave. I am willing to be killed or tortured at your behest. But my daughter has only just turned one month old. She is an innocent child. I beg you to have mercy and spare her life!"

Lan Yu kicked Governor Zhou away with a look of disgust, and said with a murderous look in her eyes: "If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in the spring breeze. Take me for example!"

Li Fei, you handle this. I'm taking Xiao Qi back first!

The two returned to the carriage. Tang 77 was still in shock, sitting on pins and needles, her breathing erratic.

Lan Yu felt a little sad. She was really frightened, but this was her daily routine.

Lan Yu's gaze lingered on his long, beautiful hands, a touch of melancholy in his eyes. He longed to hold the hand of the woman before him and grow old together, but would she be willing to hold this hand stained with blood?

When he was 8 years old, a 4-year-old girl appeared and saved him from the clutches of death.

She was so radiant and lovely, with a composure beyond her years. She was like a ray of light, illuminating her own dark world.

Tang 77 didn't know what to say. This boy in front of her had lived such a bloody and turbulent life since he was 6 years old. How many open and hidden attacks must he have gone through along the way?

No wonder he's so cold and uninteresting; any emotion is his Achilles' heel.

Tang 77 also thought of Governor Zhou's daughter, who was not even a year old. She was truly pitiful and wanted to ask for a favor for the child, but in the end, she didn't speak up.

She made conversation for the sake of it all: "Lord of the city, that governor was so despicable, he deserved to die. Your actions are truly gratifying!"

Lan Yu looked up and met Tang 77's bright eyes. There was a hint of indescribable joy in her eyes. Did she not blame me?

Lan Yu was somewhat moved. She pulled Tang 77 to her side and, before Tang 77 could react, placed her hand on her waist and put it on her shoulder, saying in a hoarse voice, "Hold on tight, the road ahead is not easy!"

It's really speechless. Tang 77 has no reason to be angry at him for putting his arm around her shoulder like that. Isn't this a normal gesture between brothers?

However, she could clearly hear a rapid and rhythmic heartbeat. Tang 77's face was burning hot, and she was so unsettled that she couldn't tell whose heartbeat it was.

Lan Yu tried his best to appear natural, since Li Fei and his men often walked arm in arm like that, and he hoped he wouldn't imitate it too awkwardly.

The moment his hand touched Tang 77's waist, he felt Tang 77 stiffen with tension. He immediately adjusted his posture. Although he knew 77 was nervous, he didn't want to let go.

The two returned to the manor, and Tang 77 did not mention leaving again. She didn't know why, but she felt that she couldn't bear to leave now. Even though the other party was the high and mighty city lord, she always felt that he was a pitiful little thing.

A few days later, Qi Hong couldn't resist Tang 77's persistent pleading and took her for a stroll around the streets.

The whole city is buzzing with praise for the city lord's wisdom, and the notorious Governor Zhou has been beaten to death, his body still hanging on the city gate as a warning. It's said that all 128 members of his family were also executed.

Tang 77 felt a tightness in her chest. Normally, she would just treat such things as gossip, but now, she felt uneasy.

Tang 77 lost all interest and dragged Qi Hong, who was having a great time, back home. Qi Hong scolded, "You little brat, are you making a fool of me? You were the one who insisted on coming, and you're the one who's insisting on going back!"

In the following days, Lan Yu seemed to be quite free. Tang 77 got up and looked out the window. Lan Yu was practicing sword dancing in the courtyard. He was dressed in white, and she didn't know if it was the dazzling sword dance or Tang 77's heart that was in turmoil, but she was once again captivated.

With such a handsome appearance, it seems that his cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness have become a plus.

Before she knew it, the figure in white had leaped from the treetop to her and reached out a hand, saying, "Come on, I'll take you to play!"

Tang 77 hadn't combed his hair or washed his face, yet he inexplicably grabbed Lan Yu's hand. With a gentle pull of Lan Yu's wrist, Tang 77 was drawn in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and whispered, "Hold me tight!"

Tang 77 snorted coldly: "I don't want to!"

The next second, Lan Yu was proven wrong. She lightly touched the ground with her toes and flew into the air with Tang 77 in her arms.

"Ah..." Tang 77 panicked, afraid of falling and breaking her arms and legs, she held Lan Yu tightly with both hands, not daring to let go for a moment!