Just when a certain Confucian scholar suffered from a sleepless night, he sat on the shore of a lake in his heart with his legs folded, looking down at the water, asking himself questions again and again.

On a tall building by the lake not far away, there was a sword spirit in purple, sitting on the railing on the top floor.

It casually swung its long legs, looking at the dragons swimming in the lake, and occasionally glancing at the back of the silent and autistic man on the lakeside below.

Gui nodded.

It increasingly feels that someone is suitable for the path of evil.

Unfortunately, I can’t leave for the time being.

The sword spirit suddenly looked at the bottom of the Heart Lake...there were only seventy-two evil dragons left.

…

In the west wing, the three people each had their own dreams and were silent all night.

early morning.

The first ray of sunlight passed through the branches where dewdrops were hanging, and then through a small window beside the bed in the west wing, lazily spreading on the three pairs of shoes in front of the bed.

**Zhao Rong opened his eyes.

There were faint traces of bloodshot in his eyes from staying up late and thinking hard.

He still has a lot of things to do today.

Just at this moment.

A sword spirit suddenly said: "Zhao Rong, something is wrong with you."

It exclaimed in amazement, "Two delicate sword fairy ladies have come to my door, buy one get one free, the lady and the maid are sleeping together... Logically, you should take advantage of them, right?"

Zhao Rong, lying in bed, opened his eyes and looked at the bed curtains above him without saying a word.

The sword spirit thought for a moment and said seriously:

"Hey, Zhao Rong, are you in trouble?

It said in surprise.

Zhao Rong: “…”

"Get lost."

He responded inwardly, but then ignored it and prepared to get up.

But at this time.

Zhao Rong's movements seemed to have woken up the two beauties beside him...

…

How does it feel to sleep in the arms of two beauties?

Zhao Rong stayed awake all night, wondering to himself, thinking about his wife day and night, but he didn't really think about the feeling of the two beauties sleeping with their arms around his arms.

The deepest impression left by the night was the fragrance.

When he breathed in, he could smell the unique body fragrance of the two young girls and the sleeping fragrance after bathing, mixed with the fragrance of tea from Qingjun and Qian'er's mouths...

It was quite suitable for calming the mind and falling asleep, but Zhao Rong just couldn't fall asleep.

At this time, he had no intention of sleeping in, so he tried to move his arms and prepared to get up.

Only then did he notice that his hands had become numb from being pressed by Qingjun and Qian'er.

Especially Xiao Qian'er, who was very wild when she slept. Not only did she bury her face in his arms, but she also stretched out one of her slender legs and pressed it on his lower abdomen. She was very "domineering" and would kick him from time to time.

Fortunately, Qingjun did not sleep in this position, and did not press her long legs on him to compete for position with Xiaoqianer.

Qingjun's sleeping posture is more like... a cat. When sleeping, her body curled up into a ball, only holding his left arm.

She seems to be very insecure, which is the opposite of Xiao Qian'er's "domineering" sleeping posture.

Zhao Rong pursed his lips and glanced over calmly.

At this time, his movement also woke up Zhao Lingfei and Xiao Qian'er.

Or perhaps someone had already woken up, but just didn't open her eyes, and continued to hug her 'husband', greedily enjoying the brief warmth of the quilt in this autumn morning.

Zhao Rong stood up and got out of bed quietly. Concubine Zhao Ling and Xiao Qian'er fell asleep one after another.

On the bed, there were two beauties, one big and one small, one was pretty and the other was handsome.

The two girls picked up their clothes and pushed the pillows, their hair half tilted, their hair in disarray, and they rubbed their sleepy eyes lazily with their slender fingers, like a crabapple waking up from a dream.

"Brother Ronger~"

From behind Zhao Rong came the soft and babyish voice of a girl who had just woken up.

She was so gentle that it made a man's bones go soft.

Little Qian'er's face was full of laziness and confusion, but she leaned forward, stretched out her two little hands, and weakly grabbed the sleeve of her husband who had gotten up early.

"You...are you still angry with the young lady and Qian'er..."

Concubine Zhao Ling hugged the quilt and stretched out her hand, as if she also wanted to hold her husband together with Xiao Qian'er.

However, her hand stopped halfway in the air and she hesitated and retracted it.

There are some words and some things that Qian'er is more suitable to say and do than her.

Zhao Rong paused as he turned over and got out of bed, without looking back. After a moment, under the fixed gazes of the two women behind him, he gently shook his head.

Finally he said, "No."

The throat is a bit magnetic.

This is the truth.

He is not angry anymore.

Zhao Rong was just wondering why he came to sleep here and between two women.

"But, no matter where you sleep, you will sleep at night..."

He murmured in the lake of his heart.

Return: “…”

Wow, that's very philosophical.

The stunned purple sword spirit thought for a moment and said seriously, "Zhao Rong, are you really okay? Could it be that... you have seen through the world, but it's okay this way."

Zhao Rong ignored it again.

At this time, seeing Zhao Rong getting out of bed and getting dressed, Zhao Lingfei and Xiao Qian'er quickly opened the quilt, got up and sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a pair of embroidered shoes, and helped Zhao Rong put on the Confucian robe that had been smoked last night...

Soon, Zhao Rong finished dressing and washing, ready to go out.

Qingjun stepped forward silently, lowered his head and tied the jade pendant and jade disk around his waist.

Zhao Rong thought of something and took out an inconspicuous gray pipe from the Sumeru object. Following the refining method taught by the transparent woman, he opened the bag which was surrounded by a halo of light.

He lowered his head, took out a purple gold token with two fingers, and handed it to Xiao Qian'er who was serving him tea.

The latter was stunned and took the Taiqing Xiaoyao Mansion identity token that Qin Jianfu had put into the gray pipe. She did not look down, but looked at the calm Brother Rong'er and the gray pipe he was holding casually in his hand.

Xiao Qian'er certainly recognized this mysterious object, but she didn't know how it was refined by Brother Rong'er.

Logically speaking, a treasure of this level...

Concubine Zhao Lingfei on the side also noticed these, but like Xiao Qian'er who quietly put away the purple gold token, the two women fell silent.

They didn't have the time to ask their husband what exactly he had experienced in the underground palace of the imperial mausoleum, and what happened after he was brought into the secret place through the dragon coffin formation.

But rather than saying that they didn't have time, it would be better to say that after seeing Zhao Rong's 'safe return', the two girls put most of their minds on guarding against Zhu Yourong. When they met again in the underground palace of the imperial mausoleum, they actually made eye contact with Zhao Rong and planned to talk privately, but unfortunately because Mr. Zhu was there, he treated her as an outsider, so they kept postponing it until now...

At this moment, in front of the door, Zhao Rong and the other two were silently doing their own things.

Concubine Zhao Ling and Zhao Qian'er were folding clothes and serving tea respectively.

Just like the wives and concubines in the common people's houses down the mountain who serve their husbands when they are away on official business, they are dignified, polite and conscientious in their duties.

But at this moment, the atmosphere in this "family" was a little silent.

The male owner is serious...

At this time, Zhao Rong thought about it, tied the gray pipe around his waist, turned around, and prepared to go out in silence.

"Brother Rong'er, drink some tea to warm yourself up."

Xiao Qian'er tiptoed and quickly put the teacup in her hand to his lips.

Zhao Rong seemed to be preoccupied with something. He was stunned for a moment, then reached out to take it. Without blowing it, he lowered his head and took a sip.

The girl who was standing on tiptoe to feed tea took the opportunity to turn around and glance at the lady who was quietly folding clothes next to her.

The latter glanced at her.

Xiao Qian'er lovingly touched her husband's chest with her two small hands. She leaned against his arms and whispered, "Husband, will you come back for lunch?"

Zhao Rong paused, shook his head, put down the teacup, and returned it to Xiao Qian'er.

The girl took the cup, her face showing anxiety and anticipation as she asked, "Then...what about tonight?"

Concubine Zhao Ling, who was bending down to fold clothes for him in front of the wardrobe, also pricked up her ears.

Zhao Rong couldn't leave yesterday because Zhu Yourong and the teachers of the academy were there. But today, they might leave after investigating the affairs of Dali with her husband.

So they may not be able to restrain Zhao Rong, and now they dare not follow him.

In this era, men were the pillars of the family. If he did not come home for lunch or dinner, his wives and concubines would indeed be worried and anxious.

Besides, Zhao Rong had some unpleasant things happen with them yesterday. After this night, the impact seems to still be there. He seemed to have not slept at all last night.

Concubine Zhao Ling bit her red lips, and subconsciously folded the white inner garment in her hands again and again, folding the clothes repeatedly...

She and Xiao Qian'er both felt her husband's inexplicable depression. They wondered what he was thinking at the moment, and whether he still had some grudges...

The woman with autumn eyes suddenly felt a sour and aggrieved taste in her mouth.

The woman's red lips had lost some of their color due to being bitten by her silver teeth...

Zhao Rong was quiet for a while, then shook his head and said, "I'm not sure. Just eat, you don't have to wait for me."

Xiao Qian'er wanted to say something but stopped herself. In the end, she didn't ask him whether he would come to sleep with her at night, but just said "hmm".

With a questioning look on her face, she said softly, "Brother Rong'er, we are leaving tomorrow, right?"

The little girl hinted at it.

Zhao Rong nodded without thinking too much, and added, "If the commanders have finished investigating what happened today and don't need me to stay, then I'll leave tomorrow."

"Um!"

Xiao Qian'er almost jumped for joy and responded sweetly.

Brother Rong'er would definitely come back to stay at night, instead of abandoning them and returning to Duyou City alone, leaving her and the young lady waiting anxiously and alone in their empty room.

She glanced in the direction of the young lady with a sweet smile on her face.

At this time, Concubine Zhao Ling, who had been asking Xiao Qian'er to speak, suddenly moved.

She held a snow-white fox fur shoulder strap that looked like a scarf in both hands, and walked quickly to Zhao Rong who was just raising his hand to push open the door. She looked up without looking him in the eye and put the shoulder strap on him.

Just like the virtuous wife of a wealthy family down the mountain.

Zhao Rong remained silent but did not refuse.

After Concubine Zhao Ling carefully held his collar and put on the fox fur shoulder cap, she sensibly withdrew her hand and moved aside.

He was dressed warmly, silently raised his feet and went out.

The handsome man walked into the bleak autumn wind.

In front of the west wing door, two beautiful ladies held the door and watched him leave without saying a word for a long time.

I look out into the autumn water, hoping for your return.

…

Zhao Rong certainly didn't come out to fool around.

He arrived at the bamboo forest courtyard earlier than the scheduled time, which was the place where everyone had agreed to meet yesterday, waiting for the teachers and principals of the academy to meet up.

But he didn't expect that Zhu Yourong arrived earlier than him.

The woman in Confucian robes stood with her back to the center of the yard, where Zhao Rong's right arm was cut off by Qin Jianfu.

The ground was like a canvas with an overturned oil can, covered with blood-red paint.

She seemed to be quietly appreciating the painting.

At this time, the light golden morning light shines on the "canvas" and the woman in Confucian clothes in front of the "canvas", and for a moment there is a sense of tranquility.

"Does it hurt?"

As if realizing that it was Zhao Rong who walked into the yard, Zhu Yourong asked softly without turning around.

Zhao Rong walked straight to the kitchen on the left side of the yard, carried out a long bench, and came in front of Zhu Yourong.

He sat down in the early sunshine, his upper body leaning forward, his elbows resting on his legs.

Zhao Rong looked up.

"It doesn't hurt at all."

The man narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was dazzled by the morning sun that peeked out from the top of the wall behind the woman in Confucian robes.

Zhu Yourong's brows were slightly frowned. One of her arms was plucked out alive and blood was gushing out. How could she not feel any pain?

She turned around and looked at Zhao Rong.

The latter squinted his eyes at Zhu Yourong and the dazzling sun peeking over her shoulder, nodded and acknowledged:

"Yeah, I lied to you."

He pulled the corner of his mouth slightly.

Mr. Zhu, the newcomer to Linlu Academy, did not smile. Instead, he sighed as he looked at the man who was now all new and perfect.

It is still hard to imagine the pain he suffered yesterday with his broken arm and his body burning in flames.

How did this young man manage to survive?

Zhao Rong looked at the "brightest color on the canvas" on the ground next to her.

He suddenly said, "I thought I was going to die."

Zhu Yourong was stunned.

Zhao Rong stretched out his hand and pointed to a puddle of blood near her feet, then pointed to another spot on the ground.

"Maybe he died here, or there, or there again..."

Under the stunned gaze of the woman in Confucian robes, he nodded and spread his hands, "Really, I really feel... there is no way out. I even think that the sooner I die, the sooner I will be reborn. I am actively seeking death..."

Zhao Rong raised his hand and rubbed his face hard, then lowered his head and smiled while rubbing his face.

"But there was a lady who secretly wrote on my palm and told me...you are not allowed to die."

Zhu Yourong, who was frowning and about to speak, was stunned.

The man sitting on the bench suddenly raised his head and said with a smile: "I only had one thought at that time, that is...you teach me how to do things? Big..."

He paused and nodded. "Lady who wasted so much food and cloth, well, can you teach me how to do things? Then... I didn't want to die, not at all. I told myself that I must go back alive and well and tell that lady this."

Zhu Yourong pursed her lips.

So he was saying... because he wanted to come back to see her, he was filled with hope and motivation to live again? And then... he endured such inhuman pain and the danger of escaping death?

in short.

Live for her?

Zhu Yourong looked at the relaxed smile on the man's face and her pupils shrank slightly.

I felt a little happy in my heart...for no reason.

Although she knew that he treated her as a close friend with whom he could tell her everything, and these words... well, they might really be thoughts that he had at the time, but they were just jokes between good friends.

Zhu Yourong can distinguish between fantasy and reality.

But I'm still very happy.

Like someone said, respect great friendship?

It's just that the vulgar words he just expressed...

I don't know whether to scold him or laugh at him.

Zhu Yourong was suddenly speechless.

I don’t know how to answer.

Under the early sun.

The autumn wind swept the leaves but still couldn't dispel the bloody smell in the bamboo courtyard.

The man wearing a snow-white fox fur coat sat on a wooden bench, looking up and smiling at the dazed woman in scholar's robes.

The atmosphere was silent for a while.

There was only the rustling sound of fallen leaves being chased by the autumn wind.

At some point.

"Thank you, Zhu Yourong."

Zhao Rong restrained his expression and said seriously.

Zhu Yourong looked at him for a while, then subconsciously looked away, not meeting his sincere gaze.

She was getting angry again now.

What is this "lady who wastes a lot of food and cloth"? It's obviously referring to her...

Among the people she had come into contact with before, no one would say such vulgar and rude words.

This doesn't sound like the tone or look of someone thanking someone.

Zhu Yourong thought so.

So she felt that she had to be angry, so she didn't go to see him and didn't accept his insincere thanks.

"You don't need to thank me. The two ladies in your family have already sincerely thanked me yesterday. The whale-scented ink they gave me is very precious, and I like it very much."

Zhao Rong shook his head. "These are two different things. What belongs to Qingjun Qian'er is Qingjun Qian'er's, and what belongs to me is mine."

The words are a bit confusing.

Zhu Yourong understood the truth, but did not nod in response.

Zhao Rong suddenly took something out from his sleeve and threw it out, "Here, try it."

Zhu Yourong raised her hand swiftly, took a green fruit, and looked down.

Her expression gradually became solemn, as she felt a certain vitality flowing in the fruit - an instinctive desire to eat it developed in her body.

"This is……"

Zhao Rong said casually: "I don't know the age, well, there is a unified name on the mountain."

"It's the elixir of life."

Zhu Yourong raised his head suddenly, "You..."

Zhao Rong immediately interrupted: "Well, an interesting one...a soul gave it to me, and now it's for you."

Zhu Yourong was silent.

Give it to me...because I am also an interesting soul?

In the courtyard in the early morning, Zhu Yourong stood silently under the rising sun.

She just thought that the interesting soul Zhao Rong was referring to was his friend, so she didn't ask any more questions.

At this time, Zhao Rong nodded:

"I originally wanted to go back to the academy and thank you with some interesting calligraphy that I know, but I just happened to get these coins of unknown age, so I'll give them to you. By the way, do you want more? I still have five..."

Zhu Yourong interrupted him immediately, "I don't want it."

She shook her head and looked seriously at this extremely generous man, "Tzuyu, do you know what this is?"

Zhao Rong nodded without thinking, "The elixir of immortality. I heard that there are very few of them in the mountains. I don't know how old this one is, but it seems that one can extend one's life by a hundred years."

"Then why are you acting so rashly? Aren't you afraid of regretting it later?"

Zhao Rong smiled and said, "How could I be so careless and impulsive? I'll just give it to you. Why should I, Zhao Ziyu, give something back when I give it to someone?"

However, Zhu Yourong still shook his head.