Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang fled for dozens of miles before finally stopping to rest behind a tree, panting heavily and too tired to speak.

Cui Yuanyang also squatted on the side, breathing heavily, but her eyes were shining.

"This is so much fun, this is what going out is all about."

"I'm not just a bandit, next time I might go after Tang Wanzhuang! Make sure she's clean and waiting for me!"

Hehe, so fun, just like this.

Zhao Changhe glanced at her askance. "Why are you squatting like a toad?"

"The ground is dirty."

"There's no rain here, the ground is dry. When you're out, why make such a fuss?"

"Hey, it's so much fun. Why is it still raining over there? It's been at least two days since it rained here. Isn't it just stopped?"

Zhao Changhe laughed. "Do you believe that the rain will follow us later? That's what it means to be the chosen one of fate. The heavens are crying for me."

Cui Yuanyang blinked her big eyes, not understanding.

Zhao Changhe lazily said, "You can ask your parents about these things when you go home... but I suggest you ask the old farmers. Have you ever talked to them in your life?"

That sense of alienation came again, but this time Cui Yuanyang didn't care. She still blinked her eyes and asked, "It could have been solved just by revealing my identity, and maybe the county magistrate would have treated you to a meal, and you could have gotten rid of me, the little troublemaker. Why did you ruin your reputation and make people think you were abducting a young girl?"

Zhao Changhe lazily said, "Miss Cui hasn't even married yet and is already living with a man in a hotel. If people find out, your reputation will be ruined... My reputation is already like this. Low-end bandits are naturally rebellious. What's the big deal if I'm also greedy and lustful?"

"So you might as well say you're after Tang Wanzhuang and make your image even more like that?"

"I didn't think that much about it. I'm a independent person with my own thoughts. I'm not something that can be manipulated... Although I can understand her, what's the use of that? Mutual understanding is valuable, otherwise it's just being a lapdog."

Zhao Changhe stretched lazily and stood up. "We've rested enough. Let's go. I was careless this time. We shouldn't have swaggered around in the city. It's my fault if my reputation falls... From now on, we may not enter the city and just stay in the suburbs. Are you okay with that?"

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Cui Yuanyang clenched her fists. "Of course I am!"

Zhao Changhe glanced at her energetic little appearance and laughed. "Let's go."He felt that the little follower was not as annoying as he had imagined. She completely understood and cooperated with his actions, not at all foolish... Although she asked a million questions afterwards, it was still cute and not annoying.

It's nice to have a companion along the way, right?

Cui Yuanyang followed behind, asking incessantly, "Hey, why didn't you scold me for causing trouble and instead said it was your own fault?"

"Do you want me to scold you?"

"No... just asking."

"Although you disrupted my plans, the decision to stop ultimately lies with me, not you. Forgetting about the situation is my own problem. Blaming others doesn't help with growth. Enough talk, it's raining, let's run."

Cui Yuanyang turned her head and saw the rain coming towards them. She ran while looking back and laughing at the sight of the rain chasing after them.

It's really fun.

......

Dusk, wilderness.

The dilapidated Mountain God Temple.

Zhao Changhe stood outside, looking up at the dusty plaque on the temple gate, silent for a while.

"Hey, what are you looking at?"

"My name is not 'hey' or 'oi'... come to think of it, why do I feel like you have worse manners than me?"

Cui Yuanyang pouted. What else should she call him? Brother Zhao? That's too formal. Changhe? He might grab her bunny ears and throw them away. Should she call him Big Brother Zhao? Just thinking about it gives her goosebumps.

She decided to skip this topic and continued to ask, "What are you looking at? The calligraphy is not that good. I can write better than that."

"I'm thinking, in a world with gods, does this Mountain God really exist? And if it does exist, why is its temple so dilapidated?"

Cui Yuanyang was stunned for a moment before muttering, "I don't know, I've never seen it."

"Secondly, I'm thinking that a dilapidated temple in the wilderness is a classic scene. I feel like something will happen tonight."

The little bunny's eyes widened. What is he talking about? If he thinks something will happen here, why did they have to stay here? Can't they find another place to stay? It's not too late yet, they can still find a farmhouse ahead to stay in. I have money...

Before she could ask, Zhao Changhe had already pushed open the door and entered.

He clearly wanted to stay in this dilapidated temple!

Cui Yuanyang murmured to herself, following him into the temple. Zhao Changhe stood still and looked towards a corner of the temple, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

A thin, black-clad youth was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, holding a sword. He seemed unaware of the two newcomers.Cui Yuanyang felt a little uneasy. She had been standing outside for so long and didn't feel anyone inside. It wasn't until now that she deliberately listened that she could barely hear the person's breathing, which was very weak and long, indicating a high-level internal skill.

Sure enough, something had happened.

Cui Yuanyang was about to say something when Zhao Changhe's hand left the hilt of his sword. He waved his hand and whispered, "This is an unowned place in the wilderness. Whoever comes first, we won't disturb them. Let's sit and rest on the side."

Cui Yuanyang obediently followed Zhao Changhe and sat opposite the black-clad youth in the corner, taking out a few cakes from her package and asking, "Do you want to eat?"

Zhao Changhe was surprised, "When did you buy these cakes? Why didn't I know..."

"I bought them from the Baobao Zhai next door when you were checking out at the counter this morning. They're better than those broken cakes you brought from the inn. Also, I've been wanting to say this, but there was no meat at that wild shop at noon..."

"... " Zhao Changhe didn't lecture her about not indulging in luxury when traveling. He just reached out and took a piece of osmanthus cake.

Who doesn't love good food? It's great to have a rich girl with you.

Zhao Changhe opened his wine gourd and sipped wine with the cakes, never taking his eyes off the black-clad youth.

But even when they were almost finished, the black-clad youth hadn't moved at all, as if he were dead.

Just when Zhao Changhe thought everything was peaceful and the night would pass like this, he heard a very slight sound of footsteps in his ears. Someone was walking on the roof.

Zhao Changhe's hand quietly touched the hilt of his sword.

The atmosphere was silent, and the hidden murderous intent was brewing.

Just then, voices suddenly came from outside the door, "Damn it, it wasn't raining just now. Why is it pouring now?"

"Let's take cover first and then deal with it."

With the sound of the conversation, a large group of people pushed open the door and entered. The wind and rain outside came in with the door, making a loud noise.

A middle-aged man who looked like the leader glanced around casually and saw the three people sitting in the corners on both sides. He waved impatiently, "We've booked this place for the night. Please leave."

Cui Yuanyang almost choked on the cake in her mouth, staring at the group of people and trying to find familiar faces, but couldn't. But on second thought, the power of the Cui family extended to other counties, and she didn't know everyone, so she couldn't tell if these people were real members of the Cui family. Subconsciously, she felt... if they were, it wouldn't be strange.

She cautiously glanced at Zhao Changhe, who was slowly eating the last piece of cake and had already put away the wine gourd. He didn't say a word.

The black-clad youth opposite them didn't move either.The leader waited for a few moments, seeing that no one moved, and a cold smile appeared on his face: "There are really a lot of people who refuse to drink the toast and be forced to drink a forfeit. Drive them away!"

As a result, a group of subordinates didn't go to trouble the black-clothed youth, and instead all rushed over to Cui Yuanyang: "Little girl, it's deeper and wetter on a rainy night. Why don't you come and keep warm with your brothers? It's a waste to be with these crude men..."

Before he finished speaking, Cui Yuanyang drew her long sword, and her pretty face turned red with anger: "Do you know who I am?"

"Hey! You've got quite the temper." Someone couldn't help but reach out to touch her face: "This red little face is so cute."

"Swish!" The sound of a blade being drawn.

No one saw when Zhao Changhe drew his sword, but when the sound of the blade being unsheathed rang out, a severed hand had already flown up, and blood gushed out. Only then did the person who had been cut realize the pain and screamed, clutching their severed arm: "Kill him! Kill him!"

At the moment the sword was drawn, the black-clothed youth who had been holding his sword and closing his eyes suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a sword, staring fixedly at Zhao Changhe's hand without blinking.

Meanwhile, Cui Yuanyang was so angry she was about to cry, swinging her sword wildly: "I'll kill you all! You'll pay for the reputation of my family and the world I want! Waaah..."

In the chaos, Zhao Changhe did not make another move, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of his sword, sweating profusely.

The pressure from the black-clothed youth's gaze was almost as strong as the attack that scattered the gods and buddhas, which made him feel uneasy.

"Crash!" The roof suddenly cracked, and wind and rain surged in an instant. A sword light mixed in with the wind and rain, and in the blink of an eye, it had reached Zhao Changhe's throat.

An unexpected attack from the roof!

"Clang!" A blood-red blade light cut through the wind and rain. Zhao Changhe was prepared for this, and he had been waiting for this one strike, which he immediately redirected towards the unexpected attacker.

The clash of swords and blades sounded, and the attacker let out a muffled groan, obviously not expecting Zhao Changhe to be so well-prepared and waiting for him with all his might. He suffered a significant loss, but his figure did not stop. Taking advantage of Zhao Changhe's strike, he suddenly turned and stabbed towards Cui Yuanyang's back!

Zhao Changhe's heart skipped a beat.

He had always thought that all the murderous intent was directed towards him, but he never thought that someone's real target was Cui Yuanyang!