"Ah—" The swift horse reared up, its hooves lifting high, startled by the woman kneeling on one knee by the roadside. Fortunately, Su Yan promptly tightened the reins, pulling the horse's head aside, just in time to avert a disaster. Yun Rao gently rested her right hand on her left chest, her knee slightly bent to support her on the ground. She raised her head slightly, watching the two hooves lift high before her. Though her face beneath the veil remained calm, her luminous eyes betrayed a flutter of alarm. She stared wide-eyed and trembling as the hooves approached her directly. Her hand on her chest unconsciously strengthened, nearly prompting her to leap up, yet she held firm, only relaxing when the hooves, originally destined to step over her, were gently guided aside, narrowly missing her veil. Her palm, which had been clenched, slowly uncurled, and a deep breath of relief escaped her. Even in the coldest season, a dampness had settled on her back. "Miss?" Once the swift horse had calmed, Su Yan leaped down from the saddle and walked toward Yun Rao, who seemed startled, his sturdy, composed face expressing concern. "Are you all right?" Yun Rao gazed at that unguarded, resolute face, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, a quiet sense of wonder passing through her—after all, as the head of the most prominent intelligence-gathering organization in the martial world, how could such an unprepared demeanor leave the Eight-Direction Pavilion intact? As her thoughts drifted, Su Yan had already reached her side, kneeling on one knee before her, brows furrowed, eyes fixed on her. "Miss?" The very sight of his open, unguarded presence made her feel a gentle warmth. Set aside the thoughts that didn’t belong, Yun Rao slowly lifted her head, gently shedding a few tears that glistened in her eyes—fearful, yet trembling with a delicate, unsteady vulnerability. As she startled upward in alarm, the veil draped over her face skillfully slipped away, revealing a face so breathtaking it seemed to have fallen from the heavens. Even after traveling far and wide, seeing countless beauties, Su Yan found himself momentarily stunned by her grace. Watching the clear black eyes gradually grow dazed and dreamy, Yun Rao timed her touch just right—gently brushing her hand against her chest and then releasing it. When Su Yan regained his awareness, it was already too late: the white powder had already been inhaled deep into his lungs. The once-clear gaze struggled momentarily, then softened into a hazy, scattered focus—yet a faint clarity persisted, as though she was fighting to hold on. Though she did not fall, her consciousness had begun to fade, and she struggled to resist the effects of the medicine. Yun Rao knew that the incense she had just administered had not completely knocked him unconscious—it merely temporarily controlled his awareness. Given that she had used only a light dose, she could clearly see the struggle deep within his eyes, though she also knew he was now merely holding on, fighting against her medicine, which he could not bear. More than a year since leaving the valley, she fully understood how effective this beauty truly was. Men throughout the world were generally superficial, fond of pleasing appearances; even a fleeting glance at her face was enough to instantly captivate them, regardless of her inner character, and thus easily leave them enchanted and less vigilant toward her. Usually, she rarely revealed her true face, as her striking beauty, while convenient in attracting attention, sometimes proved to be a liability—her movements and whereabouts became too easily noticeable, and she often drew the envy of others. Therefore, most of the time, she traveled disguised, with an ordinary appearance, thus avoiding many complications. Only during special periods did she willingly use her beauty to captivate others—just as today. She has always understood the principle of leveraging her strengths and avoiding her weaknesses. With such a face that seems destined to bring misfortune, as long as she doesn't harm anyone seriously, a little strategic use of her presence can save her from countless complications. With a light pat of her hands, Yun Rao swiftly rose and gently drew the veil over her face, stepping toward Su Yan. She fixed her gaze on his misty, struggling black eyes, and offered a bright smile. "Mr. Su, I'm sorry for the inconvenience!" Before she finished speaking, she swiftly sealed his acupuncture points. Though the medicine she used now was different from the one she administered a month ago and had a milder effect, to prevent any unforeseen accidents, she still chose to seal his points for reassurance. As she thought this, her delicate hands, no longer hesitant, gently rested on his chest, slipping beneath his garments, searching and gently probing for something. Su Yan's handsome face flushed with a touch of embarrassment. His dazed eyes locked onto Yun Rao, who stood just a few steps away, and he struggled to force out a few words. "Stop—please stop!" Yun Rao raised an eyebrow slightly, briefly lifting her gaze to meet Her jade fingers, still fumbling in his chest, continued searching deeper. When they touched a slightly firm spot, they paused, gently drawing out a beautifully crafted invitation from within. She quickly flipped it open, scanned it, nodded in satisfaction, then swiftly released Su Yan’s restraints, administering the decoction before lightly leaping onto a branch as he reached for her. "Mr. Su, here’s the invitation—don’t worry, I’ll take good care of it and won’t cause you any trouble." With that, she vanished like a mist, arriving at the Yong’an Inn in the capital just before sunset. "Back already? I thought you’d perish somewhere outside. Master Bi and I were about to go out to collect your remains." As soon as she stepped into the room, Qu Xiaoman didn’t hesitate, pursing her lips, extended her jade belt, and caught Yun Rao off guard, wrapping her securely in front of her. She then turned her around once, checking her pulse as if confirming she was unharmed, only relaxing when satisfied. While releasing her, she continued to chat idly. Yun Rao giggled happily, unmoved by her sharp criticisms. She pulled out the red invitation from her sleeve, held it between her fingers and swayed it gently. "I'll personally go to Yu's manor in a couple of days." "NO!" "NO!" The two voices burst out simultaneously, as both hands shot forward, eager to seize the invitation from Yun Rao's grasp—only for her to step back swiftly and narrowly avoid the grasp. Having used her internal energy several times today and now rushing to evade, Yun Rao felt a surge of blood and qi, and a sharp pain surged from her chest, intensifying with each breath. Her brow furrowed, and a faint metallic taste of blood slowly rose from her throat, trickling down her lips. "Yun Rao!" "Yun Rao!" With the two urgent cries, two figures swiftly closed in—one reaching to support her, the other quickly taking her hand to take her pulse. But Yun Rao gently pressed her hand against theirs and smoothly withdrew it. Yun Rao gently wiped the blood from the corner of her lips with the back of her hand, still smiling brightly. Grasping Qu Xiao Man's hand, she cooed, "Xiao Man, look—haven't I yet tasted dishes from all over the land? To leave without having done so would be such a pity, wouldn't it?" Qu Xiao Man glanced at her with a complex expression, pressed her lips together, and exchanged a look with Bai Li Kong. Finally, she nodded slowly, though with a quiet resistance. "I'll go with you, both of us." "Excellent," Yun Rao replied with a smile, taking a deep breath to calm the restlessness within her. She stood up from Bai Li's embrace, straightened her dress, and smiled. "We've been traveling all day—starved! Let's go to Cui Xiang Pavilion for crispy oil chicken and honey-glazed crispy skin. I've been craving it for over a month now!" "As she spoke, the person had already stepped out the door. The surging qi within her could not be fully suppressed, and just a few steps later, her frail body wavered and staggered, fortunately catching the table beside her. Knowing that Bai Li Kong and Qu Xiaoman were watching her, Yun Rao turned instinctively, only to find Qu Xiaoman now glaring at her again. Blushing, Yun Rao reached up to rub her nose, then shyly stuck out her tongue. As she was about to rise, she suddenly felt a sharp, crushing pain and collapsed into darkness... ***** "Rao'er, come, drink your medicine." "Okay." "Xiao Ruan, what is this medicine? It smells different from the ones I've taken before." "This will help heal your injuries quickly, dear. Drink it while it's hot." "Yes!" "Clang!" The porcelain bowl fell to the ground with a crisp, yet sharp sound. Her hands tightly clutched her chest; her small frame, wracked by intense, surging pain, bent almost like an arch. She convulsed and rolled off the bed, half of her body caught in the scattered porcelain on the floor. A low gasp escaped her, and blood slowly seeped from her lips. Her white robe had gradually soaked through with blood staining her chest and back. Her slender body curled on the ground, gasping for breath, her hands tightly gripping the fabric, nearly embedded into her flesh. With both hands crossing over her face, she crawled up over her forehead, through the damp hair, her slender fingers sinking into the fresh strands, tightly cradling her head. Her hands still trembled slightly, her chest rising and falling heavily, her deep, urgent breaths standing out clearly in the quiet of the midnight stillness. For a while, Yun Rao's breathing gradually calmed, and the once misty, startled gaze returned to clarity. Without realizing it, she glanced toward the outer screen, where Qu Xiao Man lay in the adjacent room. Taking a deep, steady swallow, Yun Rao gently lifted the blanket, got out of bed, donned her outer robe, and moved past the screen, pausing to look at Qu Xiao Man, who still slept soundly. "I'm sorry!" she murmured softly, her lips slightly pressed together, then stepped out of the door.