Chapter 166

When Su Zhelan woke up, the emptiness and despair in her eyes had faded considerably. Although she was still heavy with fatigue and sadness, she had at least regained some clarity.

He still held the package tightly, but no longer completely isolated from the outside world as he had the night before.

Xiao Qiyun had already gotten up and ordered a courier to bring over a light breakfast. The three of them ate in silence; the atmosphere was still somewhat heavy, but no longer as suffocating as the previous night. Su Zhelan didn't eat much, but she did manage to eat some hot soup.

After breakfast, back in their room, Sheng Xuan looked at Su Zhelan's still pale and haggard face and her hands, which were covered in small wounds and still somewhat red and swollen from digging with her bare hands yesterday, and couldn't help but say:

"Su Zhelan, you still have those little cuts on your hands and body from yesterday. You should put some medicine on them, otherwise they'll easily get infected." His tone was filled with unquestionable concern, and his eyes were full of heartache.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiyun's gaze also fell on Su Zhelan's hands. Her originally fair and slender hands were now red and swollen at the knuckles, with some dirt residue still lingering under her fingernails, and the back of her hands was covered with fine scratches.

He nodded slightly, his voice steady yet gentle: "Yes, it's best to take care of it." After saying that, he turned around and took out a delicate white jade medicine box from his bag. Inside was a light green ointment that emitted a cool fragrance, as well as some clean gauze.

Su Zhelan looked down at his hands, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded very slowly and gently. He did not refuse this kindness.

Upon seeing this, Sheng Xuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly took the medicine box from Xiao Qiyun, saying, "Let me do it!" He carefully held Su Zhelan's hand, his movements as gentle as if he were handling fragile porcelain. He used a clean cloth dampened with warm water to meticulously clean every tiny wound on Su Zhelan's fingers again, afraid of hurting him.

Xiao Qiyun stood aside, watching quietly without intervening, but his eyes followed Sheng Xuan's movements. Occasionally, he would speak up to remind her, "Clean under your fingernails again," or "There are also scratches on your wrist."

Sheng Xuan held his breath and focused intently on cleaning up the wound. Then, he scooped out a small dollop of cool ointment and gently applied it to the scratches on Su Zhelan's hand and fingers with his fingertips. The ointment brought a comfortable coolness to her skin, causing Su Zhelan to let out a barely perceptible sigh, and her slightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

"Does it hurt?" Sheng Xuan asked anxiously as he applied the medicine, gently blowing on Su Zhelan's hand with a breath as sweet as orchids.

Su Zhelan gently shook her head and whispered, "...It doesn't hurt." Although her voice was still hoarse, it was no longer deathly still.

Sheng Xuan carefully applied ointment to Su Zhelan's hands and then simply wrapped the deeper wounds with clean gauze. His movements were clumsy but full of care.

"Are there any other injuries on your body?" Sheng Xuan looked up at Su Zhelan with concern, his eyes clear and free of ulterior motives.

Su Zhelan's body stiffened slightly, and she subconsciously glanced at Xiao Qiyun beside her.

Xiao Qiyun's gaze was gentle, and his tone was natural: "When I was cleaning yesterday, I noticed a few abrasions on my shoulders, back, and sides. Let's take care of them there so they don't rub against my clothes." His words were frank and filled with pure concern, making it impossible for anyone to feel any resentment.

Su Zhelan pursed her lips, her ears turning slightly red, but in the end she turned her back very slowly, slightly pulled open the collar of her nightgown, revealing her slender, fair back and several obvious red and swollen abrasions on her shoulder blades.

When Sheng Xuan saw the wound, he gasped, his face filled with heartache. He quickly scooped out some more ointment and carefully applied it. His fingertips were warm, and his movements were gentle. The coolness of the ointment effectively relieved the burning sensation of the abrasion.

Xiao Qiyun, standing to the side, tucked Su Zhelan's slightly disheveled dark hair aside to prevent it from getting stained with the ointment; his movements were natural and fluid.

His fingertips occasionally brushed against the skin on the back of Su Zhelan's neck, bringing a slightly cool touch that made Su Zhelan's body tremble almost imperceptibly, but not out of resistance.

The whole process was quiet and harmonious. Sheng Xuan focused on treating the wound, while Xiao Qiyun silently assisted from the side, handing over items or gently supporting Su Zhelan's shoulder.

Su Zhelan kept her head slightly lowered, letting them do as they pleased. Her body gradually relaxed from its initial slight stiffness, and even revealed a subtle, imperceptible dependence after being carefully cared for.

After all the wounds were treated, Su Zhelan straightened his clothes and turned around. His cheeks were still somewhat pale, but the faint blush behind his ears had not completely faded. He whispered, "...Thank you."

Sheng Xuan carefully put away the medicine box, then checked the gauze wrapped around Su Zhelan's hand again. After confirming that everything was in order, he breathed a sigh of relief and a sunny smile returned to his face: "Okay, Zhelan, are you feeling better?"

Su Zhelan nodded gently and said in a low voice, "...Much better." His gaze fell on the small bundle in his arms, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rough fabric, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Xiao Qiyun finished packing his luggage, making sure nothing was missing, then turned to look at the two of them. His voice was calm and steady, with his usual decisiveness: "We shouldn't stay here any longer. Once we're all packed, let's head back."

Sheng Xuan nodded immediately: "Yes! Let's go back quickly." As he spoke, he quickly began to pack his things.

Su Zhelan sat on the edge of the bed, not moving immediately. He lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, his fingers gripping the edge of the package tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.

Seemingly having made a great decision, he slowly raised his head, his gaze not falling on Sheng Xuan, but directly on Xiao Qiyun.

Those clear eyes were filled with complex emotions—lingering sorrow, deep pleading, and a hint of cautious probing.

Just as Xiao Qiyun was about to urge him again, Su Zhelan suddenly reached out and, very slightly but with unusual firmness, grabbed the corner of Xiao Qiyun's sleeve hanging at his side.

The movement was so subtle it was almost imperceptible, yet it caused the air in the room to momentarily freeze. Sheng Xuan stopped packing and looked at Su Zhelan in surprise.

Xiao Qiyun also stopped what he was doing, his deep gaze falling on Su Zhelan's fingers that were gripping his sleeve, those slender fingers trembling slightly from the force. He looked up and met Su Zhelan's pleading eyes.

"Your Highness..." Su Zhelan's voice was soft, with a barely perceptible sob and hoarseness, yet it clearly reached their ears, "...Could we...go somewhere else?"

He paused, as if using all his strength, before finally managing to utter the word that was buried deep in his heart, a word he almost dared not touch:

"...I want to...go home and visit."

Xiao Qiyun spoke slowly, his voice low and steady, yet carrying an undeniable air of agreement:

"good."

Su Zhelan's tense body relaxed instantly, and tears welled up in his eyes. He quickly lowered his head to hide the tears that were about to spill out, but the hand holding Xiao Qiyun's sleeve did not loosen its grip; instead, it tightened even more.

Sheng Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, a smile returning to his face, and quickly said, "Okay, let's go together."

Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on Su Zhelan's hand, which was still tightly gripping his sleeve, a barely perceptible softening flickering in his eyes. He didn't pull his hand away, but calmly added, "Let's go to the old residence first, then go back."

The horse's hooves pounded through the barren grass, crushing the silence. Su Zhelan sat upright on the horse, his back ramrod straight, his gaze like that of a hawk sweeping across the undulating mountains and forks in the road ahead. The bundle in his arms was held firmly to his chest.

Deep within those cold, clear eyes surged a profound pain, but even deeper within, burned an almost obstinate, unwavering determination.

He pointed the way, but the memory was ultimately blurred. Time and disaster had long since erased the traces of the past. They followed Su Zhelan's directions, but went astray several times, either facing a precipice or venturing into completely unfamiliar woodlands.

Sheng Xuan kept his horse close to Su Zhelan's side the whole time. Whenever Su Zhelan hesitated or misjudged, he would immediately spur his horse forward and ask the scattered farmers and woodcutters he encountered along the way.

"Old man, is there a village around here that suffered a disaster many years ago?" Sheng Xuan's voice was loud and clear, with the straightforwardness of a young man.

The old man's expression changed upon being asked the question. He hurriedly waved his hand, as if avoiding something extremely unlucky: "I don't know! I've never heard of it! Gentlemen, you'd better hurry on your way!" After saying that, he left in a hurry, leaving the three of them looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Brother, do you know of a village with a big locust tree at the entrance? It's probably in the northwest direction?" Sheng Xuan asked, still determined.

The man who was asked looked at the three of them, noting their unusual demeanor, especially Xiao Qiyun's imposing presence. After hesitating for a moment, he vaguely pointed in a general direction: "It seems there's an abandoned village... but it's very eerie there. No one has dared to go there for many years. Gentlemen, you'd better take a detour..." His tone was full of apprehension.

Each inquiry felt like a cold needle piercing Su Zhelan's heart. The avoidance and evasive words of passersby silently testified to the tragic past that had been deliberately forgotten and concealed.

Su Zhelan's face grew paler and paler, his jawline taut, but the flame in his eyes did not go out; instead, it burned even more intensely and darkly.

Xiao Qiyun remained silent, controlling his horse and following slightly behind. He didn't ask any questions, but his sharp eyes constantly scanned the surrounding terrain, as if he were judging and adjusting the route in his own way. His calmness and composure were like a reassuring rock.

As the sun gradually slanted westward, it cast long shadows of the three men. They had been wandering through unfamiliar mountainous terrain for nearly a day, yet still hadn't found a definite path. Dusk descended, and the distant mountains became blurry and menacing silhouettes, a chill spreading with the night wind.

"It's getting late, and visibility is poor. We can't keep searching." Xiao Qiyun reined in his horse, his steady voice breaking the silence. "Let's find a place to stay first, and continue searching tomorrow."

Su Zhelan pursed his lips, gazing at the distant mountain shadows sinking into darkness. A hint of resentment flashed in his eyes, but he ultimately nodded slowly. He knew Xiao Qiyun's decision was correct.

Sheng Xuan immediately spurred his horse forward, looking around, and finally spotted a few faint lights in the distant mountain valley. "There seems to be a small village over there!"

It was an extremely remote and impoverished village with only a dozen or so households, their houses low and dilapidated. They found the only place in the village that could be considered a "guesthouse"—actually, it was just two simple mud rooms vacated by one family, with only a kang (heated brick bed) and a worn-out wooden table inside, and a dim oil lamp.

The courier brought simple food, almost devoid of oil, and hot water.

"I'll go ask." Su Zhelan's voice was a little hoarse, but it carried a sense of proactive decisiveness. He picked up the water pouch and walked outside.

Sheng Xuan was stunned for a moment and wanted to follow, but Xiao Qiyun stopped her with a look.

Su Zhelan walked outside and saw several villagers chatting quietly not far away. When they saw him come out, their voices immediately quieted down, and their eyes were filled with curiosity and a hint of wariness.

Su Zhelan stepped forward and, unlike Sheng Xuan, did not ask directly. Instead, she handed the water bag to the oldest-looking farmer and said in a soft voice, "Uncle, could you please have some hot water?"

The old farmer paused for a moment, took the water bag, looked at Su Zhelan's handsome face, which was still showing signs of fatigue and travel, nodded, and turned to pour him water from the stove in the house.

Su Zhelan took the warm water bag but didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stood silently to the side. Looking at the dark mountain shadows in the distance, he asked in a low voice, seemingly casually, "Uncle, have you lived here for a long time? I heard... there used to be a fairly large village in the mountains to the north?"

The old farmer's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, a flicker of fear flashing in his cloudy eyes. He quickly shook his head and waved his hands, saying, "Don't ask about those things! It's bad luck! It'll bring disaster!"

The other villagers also showed expressions of deep apprehension and dispersed.

Su Zhelan pursed her lips, not insisting, and whispered a thank you before taking the water pouch and turning back into the house. Her first attempt had failed.

He silently sat back down at the table and put the water bag down.

Sheng Xuan looked at him, opened her mouth as if to comfort him, but didn't know what to say.

Su Zhelan was not discouraged. After a while, he took out a small bag of candy he carried with him—Gu Linzhao had insisted on giving it to him to replenish his energy on the road. He went out again and found a few children in the village playing in a corner, watching them curiously.

He distributed the candy to the children, squatted down, and softened his voice: "Tell your brother, in those black mountains to the north, is there... a place with lots of dilapidated stone houses?"

The children received the candy and happily licked it. One of the older, bolder boys mumbled, "Yes! Daddy said that's where ghosts live! He won't let us go! He said if we go, we'll be taken away!"

Su Zhelan's heart skipped a beat! He suppressed his excitement and asked as calmly as possible, "Then... how do we get there?"

The boy tilted his head and thought for a moment, then pointed to a path almost completely overgrown with weeds: "My dad chased after a lost sheep last time, and it seems he came back from that path... He said to keep going deeper in, until you see a dry ditch, then turn left..."

Just then, a woman rushed over, grabbed the child, glared at Su Zhelan warily, and scolded the child in a low voice, "What nonsense are you talking about! Go home now!" Then she dragged the child away without looking back.

Su Zhelan stood there, watching the woman's departing figure, then looking at the desolate path. Although he still didn't have the clearest directions, fragmented words like "the place where ghosts live," "dry ditch," and "left" vaguely overlapped with certain hazy memories in his mind!

He took a deep breath, turned around, and went back into the house. Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun both looked at him.

“We’ve got a lead.” Su Zhelan’s voice remained calm, but a glimmer of light ignited in her eyes. “Tomorrow… perhaps we can try that deserted road to the east.”

Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on his face, deep and unfathomable. He was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Alright. Get a good rest tonight, recharge your energy, and set off tomorrow morning."

Sheng Xuan immediately nodded: "Yes! Zhe Lan, you should rest! I'll lead the charge tomorrow!"