Hmph, hahaha
On the return journey, Yin Li held the jade pendant engraved with the character "Mu," her fingertips repeatedly tracing its cool surface. He Mo sat opposite her, the sleeves of his dark brocade robe drooping. Occasionally, a breeze would slip through the gaps in the curtains, carrying a faint, cool fragrance—the crisp scent of pine needles mixed with snowmelt, a scent so familiar to her master Mu Han's sleeves that it sent shivers down her spine. "Staring at my jade pendant, do you suspect it's fake?" He Mo suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with mockery.
When he looked up, his gaze fell on the mole at the corner of Yin Li's eye. The light brown mark, touched by sunlight, looked like a star falling into the eye.
Yin Li snapped back to reality, her ears burning slightly. She quickly handed the jade pendant back: "No, it's just that I didn't expect... Your Highness would actually know Master Mu Han."
“Not only do I know him, but I also owe him my life.” He Mo took the jade pendant, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her palm, and both of them paused for a moment.
He quickly withdrew his hand, his tone softening, "Three years ago, I was attacked at Qinglang Mountain, and he saved me. He also said that his family has a little girl with a mole at the corner of her eye, and that if I ever see her again, I should take good care of her."
Yin Li felt a warmth in her heart, and then she remembered the figure in black at the Ye Hui Flower Banquet, and couldn't help but ask, "Did Your Highness also go to the Flower Banquet that day?" "Yes."
He Mo readily admitted, "I want to see if Miss Yin, who can manipulate Tongque so easily, is really as Mu Han said, seemingly soft but actually resilient."
As he spoke, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "The result did not disappoint—when you faced the clan elder, the corners of your eyes shone as if they were tempered with light, making you even more impressive than I had imagined."
These words made Yin Li's ears burn even hotter. She turned her face away and looked at the apricot grove passing by outside the carriage window: "Your Highness is too kind. I just don't want the Yin Prince's Mansion to be bullied again."
Halfway through the journey, a light rain suddenly began to fall. The raindrops pattered against the roof, and the carriage gradually grew cold.
Yin Li subconsciously wrapped her cloth skirt tighter around herself, but still couldn't help shivering. "Cold?" He Mo noticed her small movement and unhesitatingly took off his black outer robe and handed it to her. "Put this on, don't get cold."
His outer robe still carried his body heat, and when wrapped around her, the faint, cool fragrance became even more pronounced, like the warmth of Master Mu Han's thick cloak wrapped around her back in Qinglang Mountain. Yin Li gripped the hem of the robe, her heart inexplicably racing: "Isn't Your Highness cold?"
“I have practiced martial arts for many years and am resistant to the cold.” He Mo leaned against the carriage wall, looking at her wrapped in a large robe, like a little animal that had stolen an adult’s clothes, and a smile flashed in his eyes. “Besides, if Miss Yin gets cold, Mu Han will come after me when he finds out.”
These words, spoken with a hint of jest, stirred a strange flutter in Yin Li's heart. She secretly glanced up and saw He Mo gazing at the rain outside the window. His profile was exceptionally clear in the dim light, with a high nose bridge and sharp lips—somewhat similar to the profile of Master Mu Han in her memory.
“Your Highness…” Yin Li hesitated for a long time, but still couldn’t help asking, “Do you know where Master Mu Han is now? Is he still alive?” He Mo withdrew his gaze, his tone becoming a bit heavier: “I sent people to investigate for three years, and all we know is that he was captured by the Qinglang Mountain Ancestor and imprisoned in the sacrificial cave.”
As for whether he's still alive..." He paused, noticing the light in Yin Li's eyes dimming, then added, "But among the clues he left behind was a mention of 'twin bloodlines breaking seals,' indicating he was prepared and should still be alive."
Yin Li gripped the hem of her outer robe tightly, her heart filled with both worry and anticipation. Just as she was about to say something, the carriage suddenly jolted, and she lost her balance, leaning forward.
Just as they were about to crash into the carriage, He Mo reached out and grabbed her arm. The warmth of his palm seeped through the fabric, burning her instantly.
"Be careful." He Mo's voice was right next to her ear, carrying a faint, cool fragrance. Yin Li looked up and met his deep eyes, where her reflection was mirrored, along with a tenderness she couldn't decipher. She quickly withdrew her hand, shrinking back slightly, her ear tips turning bright red.
He Mo chuckled as he looked at her flustered appearance. "Miss Yin, I just helped you up. Why are you acting like a startled rabbit?" "Who...who's the rabbit!" Yin Li retorted defiantly, but dared not look him in the eye. "I just...I just didn't sit properly."
The rest of the journey was much quieter in the carriage, with only the sound of rain and wheels. Yin Li, wrapped in He Mo's outer robe, felt the familiar, cool fragrance lingering around her nose, her heart pounding like a deer. She would occasionally steal a glance at He Mo, seeing him either resting with his eyes closed or gazing out the window. But whenever her gaze lingered for too long, he would suddenly open his eyes, startling her so much that she would immediately turn her face away.
The carriage finally arrived at the gate of the Silver Prince's Mansion.
When Yin Li got out of the carriage, she handed the outer robe back to He Mo and whispered, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"I will come to pick you up at 7 PM tonight to go to our stronghold at Qinglang Mountain." He Mo took the outer robe and his gaze fell on the pearl hairpin in her hair. "Remember to wear clothes that are easy to move in, so you don't fall and almost hit your head like you did today."
"I won't!" Yin Li glared at him, turned and ran into the palace, unaware of the smile in He Mo's eyes behind her. Back in her study, Yin Li leaned against the door, touching her burning earlobes, her heart still pounding.
She recalled the warmth of He Mo's palm, the tenderness in his eyes, and the same cool fragrance as Master Mu Han. Her mind was in turmoil—she couldn't tell whether her attraction to He Mo was because he resembled her master or because of who he was.
The setting sun shone through the window lattice, casting its light on the tattered pages of the secret scroll on the table. Yin Li took a deep breath and clenched the handkerchief in her hand—no matter what, she had to retrieve the scroll tonight; as for the turmoil in her heart, she would deal with that after finding out the truth and her master.
The wind at dusk carried the coolness of the night dew. When Yin Li, dressed in a dark, fitted outfit, emerged from the back gate of the Prince's mansion, He Mo was leaning against his black horse. He had removed his brocade robe from the daytime, and his black shorts outlined his muscular shoulders and back. A silver belt cinched his waist, creating a sharp silhouette. He carried a food box with a begonia pattern in his hand. Upon seeing her, he tapped the lid of the box with his fingertips, a smile hidden in his eyes: "I guessed you were busy preparing and didn't have time for dinner, so I brought some warm osmanthus cakes."
Yin Li took the food box, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his fingertips. The warmth from that touch sent a jolt through her like an electric current, and her ear tips instantly turned red.
She bent down and lifted the lid of the box. A sweet aroma mixed with the steam wafted out, and the cake was sprinkled with fine white icing sugar, giving it the soft and fluffy texture she loved.
"The prince still remembers..." she muttered softly, taking a bite. The sweetness spread across her tongue, and even her heartbeat slowed down. The two rode towards the outskirts of the city, the night softening the sound of their hooves.
Yin Li's horse was suddenly startled by a wild rabbit by the roadside, and it reared up. She lost her grip on the reins and lurched forward. He Mo almost instantly reined in his horse, leaned over, and steadily supported her waist with his hand—the warmth of his palm seeped through the fabric of her tight-fitting clothes, making her back go numb and her breath catch in her throat for half a second.
"Hold on tight." His voice was right next to my ear, carrying the cool fragrance of pine needles, with a hint of helpless laughter at the end, "If you lose focus again, you'll fall."
Yin Li quickly gripped the reins and shrank to the side, but couldn't escape his gaze. Moonlight fell into his eyes, reflecting her flustered appearance, like a pool filled with half a pond of shattered stars.
"I...I just wasn't paying attention." She turned her face away, staring at the downy hair on the horse's mane, but she could still feel that gaze on the tip of her ear, burning her so intensely that she could hardly bear it.
As the shadows of the dilapidated temple spread into the night, both of them abandoned their playful thoughts. He Mo told her to hide under the old locust tree outside the hall, while he peeked in along the wall—two men in purple robes were guarding a wooden box inside, their shadows long cast by the candlelight. "I'll distract them, you grab the box and run to the side door."
When he turned around, his fingertips accidentally brushed against her wrist. They both paused for a moment, and he added, "Don't be stubborn, I'll be there soon."
Yin Li nodded, watching him pick up a pebble and throw it into the distance. The man in purple indeed chased after him. She seized the opportunity to slip into the hall, and just as she touched the cool wooden box, she felt a gust of wind behind her—there was another man in purple hiding behind the tent!
She hurriedly dodged, but the back of the blade still grazed her arm, causing her to groan in pain. When He Mo returned, he saw the purple-clad man's blade fall again. His eyes instantly turned cold. He leaped over, kicked the weapon away, and grabbed the man's wrist. With a "crack," the purple-clad man cried out in pain and fell to the ground. "I told you not to linger in the fight."
He turned around and grabbed her arm. Seeing the bloodstain on her sleeve, he immediately frowned, took out some medicine from his pocket, dipped his fingertips in the ointment, and gently applied it to the wound.
His movements were very gentle; the occasional touch of his fingertips on her skin made her heart skip a beat.
Yin Li gazed at his focused profile, the candlelight casting soft shadows on his eyelashes. The cool fragrance mingled with the bitter scent of ointment gradually overlapped with the scent of Master Mu Han treating her sword wound on Qinglang Mountain, a scent she remembered. As if possessed, she asked, "Your Highness...did you often bandage people's wounds before?"
He Mo looked up and met her stunned gaze. A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, but he still answered truthfully: "I saw a lot of things in the military camp before, so I just learned how."
He paused, and seeing her staring blankly at her hand, added, "Does it hurt?" "No...it doesn't hurt."
Yin Li quickly looked away, unaware that her fingertips were still trembling slightly. But when they opened the wooden box, both of them froze—there was no secret scroll inside, only a yellowed note that read, "The secret scroll is in the sacrificial cave. Come and retrieve it to learn the truth about the Yin family."
“It’s a trap.” He Mo’s face darkened. As soon as he finished speaking, a loud crash came from outside the hall as the stone door slammed shut. The entire dilapidated temple began to shake, and bricks from the corners of the walls began to fall down.
He grabbed Yinli and ran towards the back of the hall. Just as they rushed through the hidden door, it slammed shut behind them, plunging the room into complete darkness. Only the luminous pearls embedded in the walls emitted a faint, cold light, illuminating the square, secret chamber. "Don't panic," He Mo's voice was steady in the darkness. He groped for her hand, the warmth of his palm calming her slightly. "Find the exit first." The two felt their way along the walls, the stone walls smooth and without a single crack.
Yin Li tripped over a pebble and fell into his arms. He reached out to catch her, his arm encircling her waist. The two were very close, and she could smell the cool fragrance of pine and snow on him and feel the vibration of his chest. Even their breaths were intertwined.
"I...I'm sorry." Yin Li hurriedly pushed him away and retreated to the wall, her back pressed against the cold stone wall, only then did she manage to calm her racing heart. He Mo looked at her reddened ear tips under the luminous pearl, a hint of amusement in his eyes, but he didn't tease her anymore, instead continuing to tap on the wall, searching for the mechanism.
After searching for half an hour, they couldn't find an exit, or even a ventilation shaft. Yin Li leaned against the wall, looking at the empty wooden box, feeling a pang of disappointment.
As the night deepened, the chill in the secret room seeped into her bones. Unconsciously, she curled up, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier—in her hazy state, she was back at the temple on Qinglang Mountain that year, flames licking the beams and pillars, her grandmaster's laughter echoing in her ears. She was holding her injured Master Mu Han, but she couldn't escape the sea of fire... "No... don't come any closer!" she suddenly screamed, sitting up with cold sweat on her forehead, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her body still trembling.
He Mo immediately crouched down beside her, reaching out to touch her, but afraid of startling her, he could only soften his voice: "Yin Li? Wake up, it's me, He Mo." Yin Li opened her eyes, and seeing his worried gaze, she realized she was in the secret chamber. But the nightmare's fear hadn't dissipated, and her nose tingled, tears almost falling: "I... I dreamt of the temple on Qinglang Mountain, it was on fire, Master..." "It's alright, it's all over now."
He Mo didn't press further. He simply took off his outer robe, wrapped it around her, and pulled her closer to him, letting her lean on his shoulder. "With me here, no one can hurt you anymore."
His shoulders were broad, radiating a reassuring warmth. The cool scent of pine and snow lingered in the air, gradually suppressing the chill of the nightmare. Yin Li leaned against his shoulder, tears still welling up, and quietly wiped them onto his clothes.
He Mo didn't say anything, but gently patted her back, as if comforting a frightened little animal. The secret room was very quiet, with only the sound of their breathing.
As Yin Li gradually calmed down, she realized that she was still leaning on his shoulder. She quickly tried to sit up straight, but he pressed her down: "Don't move, lean on him for a while longer, take a break."
His fingertips were still on her shoulder, the warm touch coming through the fabric.
Yin Li didn't move. She leaned on his shoulder, looking at the faint light of the luminous pearl, her mind in turmoil—she couldn't tell whether her current sense of security came from him resembling Master Mu Han, or from him being He Mo.
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