Consort Jia was delighted upon hearing this: Here we go again!

Wuying and Wuhen placed one hand on the sword at their waists, and together with the other guards, they looked warily into the thick fog behind them, ready for battle.

After a moment's thought, Shang Xiye said, "Don't be impatient, lest you accidentally hurt someone."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The guards answered in unison, their hands all on their weapons, but none of them drew them.

The sound of horses' hooves drew closer, and their figures slowly emerged from the thick fog.

"Black Owl!" Shang Xiye was the first to recognize the person on horseback. He quickly released Ji Fengyao's hand, slapped the ground with his palm, and rushed forward, wheelchair and all, to catch Black Owl, who had fallen from the horse, preventing him from crashing to the ground: "How did you..."

With his inner energy locked, and fearing that the people from the Eastern Dragon Gate would get there first, Black Owl had been traveling day and night, changing horses several times to reach Linwu, and was already exhausted to the point of near collapse.

Upon hearing the words "Ningxi Fragrance," Shang Xiye's eyes widened in shock, and she gripped his hand tightly.

Ji Fengyao rushed forward anxiously, intending to take Hei Xiao's pulse, but Hei Xiao tried his best to dodge.

"I'm fine, we'll talk when we get back," Black Owl grinned, forcing a tired and pale smile, and stuffed the golden flower he had been clutching into Ji Fengyao's hand: "You must wear this in the most conspicuous place on your body, and never take it off."

Ji Fengyao knew this wasn't the place to talk, so she quickly had Wuhen help him up, and the group hurriedly returned to the ship.

Consort Jia felt relieved to see that Black Owl seemed to be seriously injured.

He cursed silently, wishing that lowly guard would die!

The third floor was only occupied by Shang Xiye and Ji Fengyao, along with a few servants; there were many more rooms at the back.

Shang Xiye took Hei Xiao directly back to the third floor and arranged for him to stay in a room at the stern of the third floor. He also ordered Wuhen to help him wash up.

After Hei Xiao had washed up and changed into clean clothes, Ji Fengyao and Shang Xiye went into the room to see him.

The guards and Ji Fengyao's maids were all standing watch around the entrance.

Ji Fengyao tried to check Hei Xiao's pulse again, but Hei Xiao dodged her way: "No need, I only suffered some superficial injuries."

"You should let the Princess take a look. My inner energy is currently depleted. Perhaps the Princess has a way to remove the 'Condensing Breath Incense'." Shang Xiye's clear eyes quietly enveloped Hei Xiao, carrying a faint hint of empathy and pain.

Black Owl's pale, peach-petal-like lips pursed slightly. His hands clenched into fists, then loosened, then clenched again. He turned his face away, trying to feign a carefree, playful demeanor, but without much success. "It's alright, if you don't understand... it doesn't matter. I also want to take a good rest, so you won't have any reason to enslave and exploit me anymore."

"Would it kill you to take my pulse? Do you look down on my medical skills, or on me?" Ji Fengyao grabbed Hei Xiao's hand and dragged it to the bedside. Her two slender, white, and soft fingers quickly and accurately placed his pulse.

Black Owl suddenly shrank back, but Shang Xiye caught him in time.

"Little Nine!" Black Owl's face flushed red with shame and anger.

"Don't move, heal!" Shang Xiye's voice was unusually deep, leaving no room for his refusal or struggle.

“Someone as skilled in medicine as me can tell a lot just by taking your pulse. It’s too late for you to struggle now.” Ji Fengyao was shocked, but she smiled and teased Hei Xiao: “You’d better be honest and let me figure it out carefully so I can get rid of the hidden danger in your body as soon as possible.”

Seeing that Ji Fengyao's face was still bright and cheerful, and her gaze towards him was still open and warm, Hei Xiao couldn't pull his hand away, so he simply stopped struggling. He angrily opened his face again, but his eyes were slightly red.