No one knew how much time had passed before the room finally quieted down.


    Song Qingshu held Nan Lan’s trembling b0dy, feeling a pang of self-reproach for his recklessness. His mind reyed the fleeting glimpse he caught earlier through the broken window: Miao Run, her usually pale nape flushed red, clutching her legs together as she hurriedly stumbled away in a half-run.


    “You always bully me the moment youe back.” Nan Lan rested her face against Song Qingshu’s chest and sighed softly. She had thought that seeing this man again would fill her with hatred and fear, but she never expected that when he held her, she would feel no aversion. Instead, a faint sense of anticipation arose within her.


    “You seem bolder than before. Tell me, is Tian Guinong not home?” Song Qingshu teased, twirling the hair near her temple.


    Nan Lan blushed and murmured softly, “He… he left the capital a few days ago.”


    “Left the capital?” Song Qingshu’s brows furrowed, and his tone turned cold.


    “Don’t misunderstand. He’s not betraying you—he just had something to attend to,” Nan Lan exined hastily. Although Tian Guinong was no longer a whole man, he was still her husband. Compared to Miao Renfeng, her rtionship with Tian Guinong was closer to true love, so she instinctively sought to defend him.


    “Oh? What’s he up to?” Song Qingshu asked, intrigued.


    Nan Lan hesitated before exining haltingly, “Guinong had been waiting in the capital for news from you, but as time passed without any instructions, he grew increasingly restless… After his injury, his mindset has changed a lot. During your absence, he kept dwelling on the mention of the Evil Exterminating Sword Manual you once brought up. Recently, he heard rumors from Fuzhou and couldn’t restrain himself any longer, so he set off for Fuzhou.” “Please don’t me Guinong. Bing a cripple has been devastating for him. He’s obsessed with mastering supreme martial arts and making a name for himself…” Nan Lan pleaded softly, worried that Song Qingshu would punish Tian Guinong for acting without permission. The upheaval back in Shengjing had taught her how precarious her current life was. She understood that their peaceful, secluded existence was entirely due to Song Qingshu’s mercy—and he could take it away at any moment.


    “Why are you so afraid of me?” Song Qingshu chuckled. “Rx, I’m not so heartless. After all, I’ve enjoyed his w!fe’spany countless times. How could I bear to make things difficult for him?”


    “You’re awful~” Despite his shameless remark, Nan Lan found herself unable to muster any anger.


    “By the way, was Run brought to the capital by Bing Xue’er? Why haven’t I seen her?” Song Qingshu asked, recalling how he had sensed only Nan Lan and Miao Run in the residence when probing with his inner energy earlier. He initially assumed Bing Xue’er had gone out but found it odd that she hadn’t returned even after such a long time.


    “Bing Xue’er?” Nan Lan was momentarily puzzled before realization dawned. “Oh, you mean Lady Hu. She left some time ago as well.”


    “She left? Why?” Song Qingshu frowned. They had agreed to meet in the capital.


    “I’m not entirely sure. Oh, wait, she left a letter for you.” Nan Lan, suddenly remembering, hastily wrapped herself in a brocade quilt, retrieved a letter from the dressing table, and handed it to Song Qingshu.


    After reading the letter, Song Qingshu smiled bitterly.


    It turned out that during her stay in the capital, Bing Xue’er had grown weary of waiting for him. Watching Nan Lan and her daughter share joyous moments day after day, she began to miss her own son terribly. Moreover, Tian Guinong and Nan Lan’s rtionship didn’t escape her notice, further deepening her unease. She ultimately decided to leave without notice to visit Hu Fei at the Medicine King’s Manor by Dongting Lake.


    “I wonder what expression she’d have if she learned about my rtionship with Nan Lan,” Song Qingshu mused, his smile fading as thoughts of Bing Xue’er’s destination reminded him of Shuang’er.


    Back then, when he was poisoned by the Leopard Embryo Tendon Severing Pill, he had sent Shuang’er to the Medicine King’s Manor to seek an antidote. After taking control of the Mystic Dragon Cult and curing himself, he had sent people to bring her back, only to learn that Shuang’er, upon hearing he was safe, had left the manor and disappeared without a trace.


    <em>‘Where could Shuang’er have gone?’ </em>Song Qingshu felt a wave of irritation, suspecting she was intentionally avoiding him.


    Meanwhile, Nan Lan couldn’t stop worrying about her daughter. She feared that Run, upset, might have run out alone. In such an unfamiliar city, the thought of her being abducted was terrifying.


    Hearing her concerns, Song Qingshu burst intoughter. “Don’t worry. Little Run is in her room.”


    “How do you know?” Nan Lan asked, puzzled.


    “Uh…” Song Qingshu quickly improvised, “My martial arts are advanced. I can sense her presence.”


    “I see.” Nan Lan nodded, then her face clouded with worry. “You saw it yourself earlier—my daughter thinks you’re a great hero. She’s set on marrying you. What should we do?”


    “She’s still young. Once she grows up, she won’t fancy an old man like me,” Song Qingshu thought to himself, amused. “After seeing what I just did to you, it’d be a miracle if she still wanted to marry me.”


    “Don’t joke around. I’m serious.” Nan Lan red at him.


    Song Qingshu was young and handsome, and even yearster, he would be in his prime. The idea of him being an “old man” was absurd.


    “She’s been pampered since childhood and doesn’t easily change her mind about what she wants.”


    Unable to exin his reasoning, Song Qingshu simply chuckled. “If she still wants to marry me when she grows up, I’ll marry her.”


    Nan Lan was startled. “How could you say that?”


    “Why not?” Song Qingshu countered.


    Nan Lan stammered, her face flushed. “But I… with you…” She trailed off, unable to imagine the impropriety of her daughter marrying him.


    “Does it matter?” Song Qingshu smiled faintly. “No one will know about us anyway.”


    “I…” Nan Lan was at a loss for words. An illogical reason suddenly sprang to her mind, and she blurted it out. “Run is frail. She couldn’t handle your… your roughness.”


    The thought of his overwhelming “prowess” made Nan Lan bite her lip, her face burning in shame.


    Song Qingshu burst outughing. “I’m not rough with all w0men. If Run ever ends up with me, I’ll treasure her like a princess. How could I treat her like I treat you?”


    “You!” Nan Lan’s face turned crimson, her gaze a mix of shyness and indignation.<hr>


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