In the dim candlelight, Xu Yuehuai's face was solemn as he stared directly at the guard kneeling before him.
"Are you absolutely sure there aren't any extra people?"
The guard lowered his head even further, his voice soft yet firm: "Yes, Your Highness, we have thoroughly searched every corner that could be checked, and it is confirmed to be true."
Qi Guze sat to the side, his hand gently stroking the edge of the table, his eyes deep, as if he were thinking about something. "Let's step back first. Strengthen our defenses and do not let our guard down."
The guards withdrew in response, and the room returned to silence, but with an added sense of oppression.
Xu Yuehuai paced back and forth in the room, each step seeming so heavy.
“Either that person has already left, or…” She paused, a ruthless glint in her eyes, “he killed someone and took that person’s identity.”
This sentence is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
Qi Guze looked up and met Xu Yuehuai's gaze. "You'll be staying by my side lately, so be careful."
Xu Yuehua nodded, but her brows did not relax; instead, they furrowed even more.
"I'm fine," Xu Yuehuai forced a smile, trying to ease the atmosphere. "I think they might be after the pills."
As she spoke, she reached into her bosom and took out the exquisite medicine bottle. She shook it gently and found that the number of pills in the bottle had obviously decreased.
Her face instantly darkened. "I didn't expect them to make their move so quickly."
Qi Guze took the bottle, examined it carefully, and frowned. "It seems that person is very close to us, otherwise it would have been impossible to take the pills from your side so quietly."
He pondered for a moment, then continued, "In that case, we can no longer use the people around us recently, and we must make a new arrangement."
“Yes, I agree,” Xu Yuehuai replied.
The two then quickly checked their other belongings and, after confirming that there were no further losses, decided to lie down and rest to conserve their energy for the unknown crisis ahead.
However, in the dead of night, Qi Guze clutched his chest and coughed incessantly, clearly feeling unwell.
Xu Yuehuai immediately woke up and got up, her worry evident in her expression.
"Aze, how are you?" she asked as she quickly walked to the table and poured Qi Guze a glass of hot water.
Qi Guze took the water glass, took a small sip, and tried to ease the discomfort in his throat.
"I'm fine, you should get some rest." His words were soft, but his exhaustion was undeniable.
But Xu Yuehuai's keen intuition told her that things were far from simple. She reached out and gently touched Qi Guze's forehead; the burning heat made her heart tighten.
"Aze, what are you hiding from me?" Xu Yuehuai's voice trembled slightly. "Why do I feel that your body is getting weaker and weaker?" Her eyes were filled with confusion and heartache.
Qi Guze covered it up in a relaxed tone: "It's probably because it's deep winter. The weather is cold, and it's inevitable that you'll feel a little unwell. Don't overthink it."
As he spoke, he gently embraced Xu Yuehuai, pulling her into his arms, as if trying to comfort her in this way and also to temporarily forget his own pain.
But Xu Yuehuai was not easily persuaded. She looked up and stared into Qi Guze's eyes, trying to find the answer.
"Aze, we rely on each other. No matter what happens, we should face it together, shouldn't we?"
Qi Guze knew he could no longer hide it. So, he slowly opened his mouth and revealed the secret in his heart.
It turned out that he had been secretly suffering from an indescribable illness, and in order not to worry Xu Yuehuai, he had chosen to bear it alone.
After listening to Qi Guze's story, Xu Yuehuai's eyes welled up with tears. She hugged Qi Guze tightly, tears silently streaming down her face.
"Aze, why didn't you tell me? We could have figured out a solution together and faced this together."
Qi Guze gently patted Xu Yuehuai's back. "I know, but I don't want you to worry about me. Now that you're by my side, I feel much better."
The two fell asleep in each other's arms, finding warmth and comfort in one another's embrace. Outside the window, however, the night was deep, and a storm seemed to be brewing...
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the entire Tianxiang Tower. After several days of covert investigation, the case of the stolen elixirs remained unsolved. Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze spoke in hushed tones inside the room, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
"I don't know what went wrong with Ghost Doctor and the others; they haven't come to meet us for so long. We can't just wait like this." Xu Yuehuai tapped the table lightly, making a dull sound.
Qi Guze said in a deep voice, "Then we'll lead the team to take action first. We can't let this matter be delayed any longer."
“That’s also an option.” A sly glint flashed in Xu Yuehuai’s eyes. “We can bring the most suspicious person with us and observe them secretly.”
Qi Guze then ordered his guards to gather some soldiers.
As night deepened, in the courtyard of Tianxiang Tower, soldiers and guards changed into night clothes, their black attire blending into the darkness.
"Secretly investigate the areas assigned to each of you. We'll talk when you get back. Don't cause any trouble, understand?" Qi Guze's voice echoed in the quiet courtyard.
"Understood!" the soldiers and guards replied in unison, their voices firm.
Qi Guze waved his hand, and everyone silently dispersed, scaling the wall and leaving. He and Xu Yuehuai remained where they were, their gazes fixed intently on everything in the night.
"Let's go too," Xu Yuehuai said softly.
Qi Guze then picked up Xu Yuehuai and flew out of Tianxiang Tower in a flash.
They followed a bodyguard, secretly observing his actions. Throughout this time, they remained suspicious that someone among the bodyguards was a threat.
However, after some investigation, they found that the bodyguard was not unusual.
So they switched to other people to observe secretly.
In this way, they checked several guards in succession, but found no problems.
Qi Guze led Xu Yuehuai to a tall building for a temporary rest. A gentle night breeze blew against their clothes, bringing a touch of coolness.
“That person is likely still pretending.” Xu Yuehua frowned, somewhat unwilling.
"Don't worry, we'll find him." Qi Guze gently patted Xu Yuehuai's shoulder to comfort her. "As long as he's still in this city, he won't escape our grasp."
Xu Yuehuai was about to say something when her eyes suddenly narrowed, and she pointed to a small alley in the distance, "That person is suspicious."
Qi Guze followed her finger and saw a figure with black smoke rising from its body walking in the alley. Its gait was strange, like a walking corpse.
They exchanged a glance, a hint of doubt and wariness flashing in their eyes. Then, in a flash, the two of them chased after the figure.
In the darkness of night, a thrilling chase quietly unfolds.
The figure seemed to have noticed their pursuit and suddenly sped up, weaving left and right through the alley, trying to shake them off.
However, Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai were both masters of light-footed skills, and they stayed close behind him, not letting him shake them off.
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