Shangguan Qing hurriedly stepped into Lei Jiaojiao's slightly simple but warm residence, and saw Lei Jiaojiao lying on the ground at a glance.

Her clothes were stained with blood, her face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were half open, full of pain and helplessness.

A strand of black hair was stuck to her forehead in a messy manner, and sweat and tears intertwined and slowly slid down her cheeks.

The air was filled with a faint smell of blood, which made people feel uneasy.

Shangguan Qing's heart suddenly tightened, and he hurried forward, gently helping Lei Jiaojiao up, his eyes full of anxiety and heartache.

Shangguan Qing's voice trembled slightly as he asked gently and anxiously, "Jiaojiao, what happened to you? Who was so cruel to you?"

Lei Jiaojiao forced a bitter smile, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

He whispered, "It's... it's my old enemies. I don't know why they suddenly came to my house. I... I thought I had escaped, but I didn't expect..."

Before she could finish her words, she coughed violently again, and blood stained the corners of her mouth red again.

Her body trembled slightly with pain, and the helplessness and despair in her eyes were like the last withered leaf in winter.

Shangguan Qing raised his eyebrows, his puzzlement evident in his words. He asked softly, "Isn't Qiongqi your right-hand man? Why did he become... such a strange title as ex-boyfriend?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Jiaojiao curled up a self-deprecating smile and looked towards the moonlight outside the window. The bright moon seemed to reflect the helplessness in her heart.

"You are a capable assistant, but how can you work together as usual when you are emotionally entangled? Just like you and your old comrade, if there is a grudge between you, how can you fight side by side without suspicion or selfishness?"

Her voice was light, but with a barely perceptible bitterness.

Shangguan Qing's eyes were gentle but with a hint of hesitation.

She looked into Lei Jiaojiao's eyes that were filled with helplessness. The candlelight in the room flickered, stretching the two people's shadows long and overlapping.

The night outside the window was as dark as ink, and occasionally the barking of dogs in the distance broke the silence.

Shangguan Qing sighed softly, nodded slowly, and motioned Lei Jiaojiao to come in.

Lei Jiaojiao's eyes were slightly red, she lowered her head gratefully, stepped over the threshold, as if she had stepped into a whole new world, where there was warmth and unknown hope.

Just as the two were about to leave Lei Jiaojiao's simple but warm little house, a burst of hurried and heavy footsteps approached from afar, breaking the tranquility of the night.

The night outside the house seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force, and a huge monster - Qiongqi, stepped on the night, and its figure appeared outside the door, looming.

Its eyes were like torches, flashing a faint green light, its huge mouth was slightly open, revealing sharp fangs, and an ominous black aura surrounded its body.

Lei Jiaojiao took a step back in horror and grabbed Shangguan Qing's sleeve tightly.

Shangguan Qing took a deep breath, a look of determination flashed in his eyes, and he protected Lei Jiaojiao behind him, ready to welcome the uninvited guest.

Lei Jiaojiao's voice trembled as she mustered up the courage to ask, "Qiongqi, how...how did you know I was injured?"

Before he finished speaking, a hint of anger flashed in Qiongqi's dark green eyes, and its huge body shook slightly, as if it was dissatisfied with Lei Jiaojiao's negligence.

"Every time you get into trouble, you always forget about me! I am your guardian, am I not?"

Qiongqi's voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the simple hut, causing the candlelight to shake.

Its figure appeared even more majestic in the dim light, and its torch-like eyes stared at Lei Jiaojiao, as if trying to see through her thoughts.

As Qiongqi finished speaking, the black energy around it suddenly converged, and its shape began to twist and change, like a streak of light in the night, gradually condensing into a human form.

It was a tall and straight figure, wearing a black robe, with a cold and deep face, his eyes still flashing with a faint green light, but with a bit more human warmth.

He stretched out his hand, palm facing up, and gently waved at Lei Jiaojiao.

A gentle force lifted her up and brought her to his side.

Lei Jiaojiao was surprised, but more of a relieved one. She looked at the human form of Qiongqi, with complex emotions flashing in her eyes, including awe and dependence.

Three figures slowly walked out of the cottage under the flickering candlelight and into the night, leaving behind a series of footprints of varying depths and a legend about protection and courage.

The black-robed man who was the incarnation of Qiongqi looked at Lei Jiaojiao tenderly and suggested softly, "Jiaojiao, it's safer where I am, and it's convenient for me to take care of you. Why don't you come with me?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Jiaojiao shook her head slightly, her eyes full of determination.

She held Shangguan Qing's hand tightly, and the warmth conveyed strength and determination.

"Thank you for your kindness, Qiongqi. But I think that where Shangguan Qing is is my best safe haven."

As they spoke, the two smiled at each other, their tacit understanding and trust were self-evident.

Then they turned and walked into the night, heading towards the dimly lit antique shop not far away.

Under the moonlight, the sign of the antique shop glowed with a faint silver light, as if waiting for their arrival, and as if hiding endless secrets and stories.

As you step into the antique shop, a gloomy and ancient atmosphere hits you. The lights in the shop are dim, and every antique seems to be whispering about the past.

The owner of the store is Youxuan, a mysterious middle-aged man.

He was leaning against a carved pear wood table, playing with an ancient jade pendant in his hand. The moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on his face.

When he saw Lei Jiaojiao, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Jiaojiao, why are you willing to set foot in my shop today, and you are injured?"

As he spoke, he gently stood up and slowly walked to Lei Jiaojiao.

His gaze lingered on her bandaged arm for a moment, and a barely perceptible trace of pity flashed in his eyes.

Lei Jiaojiao gently avoided Youxuan's inquiring gaze, and the atmosphere became a little subtle for a moment.

At this time, a gust of wind blew outside the door, and the black-robed man who was the incarnation of Qiongqi walked in quietly, holding an ancient wooden box in his hand. The box exuded a faint medicinal fragrance, which seemed to be able to calm the waves in people's hearts in an instant.

He walked slowly to Lei Jiaojiao's side and gently opened the wooden box. Inside were neatly arranged various herbs and a bottle of ointment with a lustrous glow.

Qiongqi's eyes were gentle and focused. He gently held Lei Jiaojiao's injured arm, his movements soft but firm, as if he was afraid of hurting her.

He carefully applied the ointment on her wound and wrapped it with clean bandages, his movements full of meticulous care.

Inside the house, the candlelight flickered. The black-robed man who was the incarnation of Qiongqi was carefully bandaging Lei Jiaojiao's wound. His eyes were focused and gentle, as if he was performing a sacred ritual.

Lei Jiaojiao looked at him, and a warm feeling surged in her heart, which was an unprecedented sense of security and dependence.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, sprinkling on the quaint bluestone slabs of the antique shop. Shangguan Qing and Youxuan stood side by side, talking in low voices. Occasionally, a few low laughs broke the silence of the night.

Inside the store, time seemed to have stopped, leaving only Qiongqi's gentle movements and Lei Jiaojiao's light breathing, interweaving into a warm and peaceful picture.

Youxuan's gaze moved between Lei Jiaojiao, who had just been bandaged, and the focused Qiongqi, and finally fell on Shangguan Qing, who was standing quietly aside.

The corner of his mouth curled up with a meaningful smile: "Sir Shangguan, will Jiaojiao also live in this store for a long time and keep us company?"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Qing looked at Lei Jiaojiao gently, then turned to look at Qiongqi.

There was a hint of teasing in his eyes: "It depends on whether our guardian beast, Master Qiongqi, can successfully take her away from me."

After saying this, he smiled gently, his eyes deep, as if he had seen through everything.