Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Xiao Quan came over first thing in the morning to fix my roof.

Roof tiles clattered down one after another.

He was crouched on the roof, and I stood behind him.

I drew a dagger from behind my back and slowly crept closer.

As Xiao Quan rummaged through the tiles, he reminisced with me about the past.

“Ah Yin, after all we’ve been through, it hasn’t been easy for us to make it this far.”

I raised the dagger higher and higher.

Then let me send you on your way.

I stabbed down with all my might.

Xiao Quan suddenly stepped to the side. “Is it leaking on the west side?”

My stab hit nothing.

And because I’d used too much force, I pitched forward and sprawled flat across the roof.

Xiao Quan jumped in fright. “Ah Yin, are you all right? Let me help you up.”

I propped my head up with one hand and smiled. “Oh, you know, I got tired standing. I’m just going to lie down for a bit. You go on with your work. Hurry!”

Xiao Quan stopped fussing over me and went to the west side of the roof.

“Ah Yin, you’re still just like you were when we were little.”

Damn it. The dagger had gotten wedged between the tiles, and I couldn’t pull it out anytime soon.

But I had other ways.

Try, try again.

I took out a jade flask and popped off the stopper.

Inside was a death-dealing scorpion. As long as I poured it onto him-

I reached out my sinful little hand.

Xiao Quan suddenly turned around. “There isn’t any here either.”

His shoulder slammed right into my hand.

“Ah Yin, what are you holding?”

I stared at him, speechless.

Xiao Quan took the jade flask from me and tipped it into his palm.

He muttered, “There’s nothing inside?”

It was over. He’d knocked it flying.

Holy crap. This was my room. How was I supposed to sleep tonight?

I bent over and searched everywhere.

Xiao Quan narrowed his eyes and stared at me. “Don’t move. Whatever you do, don’t move.”

I didn’t dare move.

He pulled the gold hairpin from my hair and slowly approached me.

The hairpin landed on my shoulder and flicked rapidly.

Something dropped down and was crushed under Xiao Quan’s foot.

“Ah Yin, you scared me to death. This scorpion is poisonous.”

The concern in his eyes did not seem feigned.

I patted my chest, then looked up at him and sighed.

“Xiao Quan, since you still remember our childhood, do you also remember that you said you would only ever want me?”

For the sake of the affection we’d shared growing up, I always wanted to give him a chance.

Xiao Quan handed the gold hairpin back to me and vowed solemnly, “I, Xiao Quan, will have no wife but Yuan Yin.”

I did not take the hairpin.

“That hairpin is dirty now. Consider it a gift.”

Xiao Quan frowned in deep thought.

Someone came from a distance to call for him, asking him to go discuss military matters.

Apparently, Marquis Zhennan, Xie Wuyang, was willing to negotiate.

Xiao Quan’s army had marched south with unstoppable momentum, cutting through everything in its path. Only against Xie Wuyang had he been locked in a stalemate for months.

Because of that, we had also been delayed in Yanzhou City.

“Since he’s willing to negotiate, let me go.”

I wanted to see Xie Wuyang.

In the past, whenever there were negotiations with various factions, I had always gone alone. But this time, Xiao Quan refused.

“That man is crafty and calculating. I’d better go myself.”

Xiao Quan prepared to leave for the negotiations.

I returned to my room. The moment I closed the door, someone covered my mouth from behind and knocked me unconscious.

All right. The third passive skill had been triggered.