"No way..." Shen Zhiyi kicked him away.
She could sense his feelings.
It's definitely not as simple as just applying medicine.
Duan Xingzhi grasped her ankle and instinctively rubbed the same spot on her leg where she had been kicked. "Does it hurt?"
His pain was not as intense as hers.
He was only afraid that she would hurt him.
Shen Zhiyi's heart began to race. After a brief moment of dull pain, she felt a surge of immense, unspoken joy.
Like...pleasure?
She stared at Duan Xingzhi in astonishment, opened her mouth, and her face flushed red.
"Pervert..." she muttered under her breath.
Duan Xingzhi chuckled softly, pressed down on her waist, and pecked her lips.
"Um."
"So Ayi doesn't need to reward me like that next time."
"If I hurt myself and don't even learn a sufficient lesson, what's the point?"
He took her hand and placed it on his most vulnerable spot, his eyes deep as he said, "If you're going to hit someone, hit them here."
If something doesn't exist, the pain shouldn't be as intense.
Shen Zhiyi's face turned bright red, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
"I'm getting up," she said, nudging him. "You go out first."
Duan Xingzhi touched her face, "You're already married, what's there to be shy about?"
"I don't care, just get out of here." Shen Zhiyi hugged the blanket tightly and rolled it up to the other side.
Duan Xingzhi's gaze softened. "Okay."
"Then you pack first, I'll go out and take a look."
After Ling Yuan's death, he went to check outside the valley every day to make sure that the Third Prince's men had not yet found Fuling Valley.
He got dressed, bent down, pulled the blanket, and dragged Shen Zhiyi, who was curled up in a ball, over from the inside.
He brushed aside her loose black hair and pinched her cheek.
"I'm going to swim later. If I can't breathe, I'll bite my finger."
"Mmm." Shen Zhiyi was already used to it and nodded obediently. "I prepared some water-repelling pills. I'll put them in your mouth in a bit, so you don't have to hold your breath so hard."
Duan Xingzhi's expression softened for a moment.
He placed his large hand on her head and ruffled it. "With A-Yi here, I feel very reassured."
Shen Zhiyi peeked out from under the covers, staring at him intently, her face slightly flushed.
"Go quickly."
...
Duan Xingzhi discovered traces left by the Assassin's Guild outside the valley.
Several markings were left on the trees and in the mud.
His expression instantly turned cold.
I didn't expect them to find us so quickly.
He removed the markings one by one, and then made some fake ones to confuse the situation. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned around and returned to Yun Shen Village.
He first went to the village chief and reiterated the use of the mechanism. He also instructed him to prepare several months' worth of rice and food in the secret room and to have them hide inside whenever they heard any noise.
Only then did they return to the pharmacy.
Upon seeing Shen Zhiyi organizing her medicine pouch, he immediately stepped forward and grasped her wrist.
"Ayi, we have to leave here immediately."
He carried her into the house, found the valuables he had packed earlier, and took a few important items with him, stuffing them into Shen Zhiyi's arms. He then pulled her towards the outside.
"So urgent?" Shen Zhiyi staggered. "Where's Xiangru? She hasn't packed her things yet."
“It’s too late.” Duan Xingzhi’s expression was cold and his sharp eyes swept around. “The people from the Assassin’s Hall have already become suspicious of this place. They will come looking for us sooner or later. We have to get out of the valley before they come in.”
"It's dangerous to travel, so Xiangru should stay here for now."
"I'll send someone to pick her up once we've settled in the capital."
The fragrant herbs glistened with tears.
She knew that if she insisted on going with him, she would definitely become a burden to Shen Zhiyi.
She had been observing Xie Nu's behavior these past few days.
He took meticulous care of the young lady, and even if he wasn't with her for the time being, she could rest assured.
“Miss, I will stay in Yun Shen Village and wait for you, and help you guard the pharmacy.”
"Please be careful on your journey and take good care of yourself."
"Okay." Shen Zhiyi nodded, took out a packet of poison and a few antidote pills for her, "Take this for self-defense."
Xiangru nodded and accepted it.
Shen Zhiyi then turned to Duan Xingzhi and asked, "What about all the gold and silver treasures you brought with you? Aren't you taking them with you either?"
"Perhaps we'll need it on the way?"
Money is needed for food, clothing, and other necessities along the way.
Who knows, we might need to use money to bribe officials when we go to the capital.
"Ayi," Duan Xingzhi looked at her helplessly, "those things are just for adding auspicious touches to our wedding. If you want them, I have storage points along the way."
"You can have as many as you want."
For him, it was simply a matter of moving some things from the nearest storage point to Yun Shen Village.
There's no need to take it with you on the road.
Shen Zhiyi stared at him blankly, "Along the way... all the way to the capital, there were places where you kept your supplies?"
Just how rich is he?
Duan Xingzhi chuckled helplessly, "Over the years, I've been on missions all over the place. Some things are inconvenient to carry around, so storing them separately is both safer and more convenient."
In retrospect, his previous decision was absolutely correct.
From now on, no matter where she goes, he will be able to protect her and prevent her from suffering.
Since that's the case, Shen Zhiyi has nothing more to say.
"Then let's set off for the capital!"
Only by reviving the crown prince can their lives be saved.
Duan Xingzhi got a small boat and used his internal force to create an opening in the underground river, diverting the water level to the other side. Once the water level had dropped sufficiently, he used his internal force to push the small boat across the river.
After Shen Zhiyi left, he withdrew his inner energy and swam out by himself.
He used some internal energy to create a small opening, pushed the small boat in, and completely destroyed all traces they had left behind.
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