Chapter 21 - Murong Ranyue

"I'll check inside first, " Jia Qizhe turned around at the gate of a garden, "Murong Ranyue's bedroom is just past this. This garden has all the herbs he needs."

"Ok." Gu Qingyu affirmed.

She saw Jia Qizhe enter the garden, he took a few steps, there didn't seem to be any problem.

Who would have guessed, some of the plants suddenly moved on their own!

"Jia Qizhe!!" Gu Qingyu shouted in a subdued voice.

Jia Qizhe's rea.s.suring voice came through, "I'm fine, you should pay attention."

Although she couldn't see his silhouette anymore, but his voice was still as soothing, "Quick, you go ahead to Murong Ranyue's room! I can handle this! Believe in me!"

"Ok, I trust you." She smiled, then lightly kicked on the ground and simply leaped up.

This cat-transformation was really useful at times!

Gu Qingyu bounced around in the air, and quickly reached Murong Ranyue's room since she already knew the directions.

She did not hesitate and broke straight through the windows.

Inside, stood an awe-struck and gaping pretty boy staring at her, he had dark green hair and an azure-colored robe.

He asked, "Wh-who are you?"

"I-I……" She suddenly felt slightly remorseful in her impulsive actions, but it was after all, just regrets. She could only brace herself since she has already done the deed, "May I ask, are you Murong Ranyue?" The scent of medicine lingered in the air, so this must be him.

"Indeed." The man was completely calm and collected, totally void of any "A Thief Suddenly Barged Into My Room"-panicky.

"h.e.l.lo, I'm Zhu Fan," She did her best to be all smiles, trying to get more intimate with him, "I've come to borrow your medicinal plant with concealment abilities."

"Concealment abilities?" Murong Ranyue seemed rather strange, his face was pale, "You……" He sniffed at the air, "Possess the Blood Life Jade."

This was a confirming sentence.

"Yes," Gu Qingyu nodded, at the same time, she was truly full of admiration for Murong Ranyue as he was able to distinguish the Blood Life Jade through all these different herb scents.

"Though, I'm sorry. I can't give you that." Said Murong Ranyue coldly and turned around.

"Why not?" Gu Qingyu pleaded, "Help me out, please~!"

Her pettishly tone caused Murong Ranyue to become slightly confounded : What was up with this youngster??

"Forgive me, I cannot give it away." He walked towards the table, and casually grabbed a fistful of herbs.

"Why do you refuse to listen to others!" Gu Qingyu stamped her feet. Jia Qizhe had told her that Murong Ranyue didn't know a single bit of martial art, so…… it shouldn't be any issue if she became a little hard-handed? "Forgive me!" She kicked on the ground and charged towards Murong Ranyue.

If she could turn back time, she definitely wouldn't attack the next time!!

"Whoosh——"

Just when Gu Qingyu was about to grab him, Murong Ranyue suddenly turned around and scattered the fistful of herbs in the air.

Gu Qingyu began to feel drowsy, she felt her stomach churn in an instant, and fell heavily to the ground.

d.a.m.n it, I actually……fell into his trap……

"Gu Qingyu!" In her fuzzy state, she felt a blue shadow, desperately running towards her.

"Jia……Qizhe……"

"You're here……"

"I'm sorry…I wasn't able to…get the herb……"

"I……"

Her voice became lower until it couldn't be heard anymore.

"Sorry……" In a haze, Gu Qingyu could hear Jia Qizhe's guilt-stricken voice, "I'm so sorry……"

Why are you sorry? It was clearly my fault……I'm sorry that I couldn't live up to your expectations, and still couldn't get the herb in the end……

Darkness enshrouded her the next moment.

Afternoon.

Gu Qingyu slowly opened her eyes. The first one she saw was actually Jia Qizhe.

"You……" Gu Qingyu extended her arm, "How……"

"Fool," Jia Qizhe grabbed her hands, "What about me?"

"Eheh??" He helped her up, "Where am I?"

Around her, stood Little Qi, Mo Bai, Qi Yichen and even Murong Ranyue!!

"It seems that you're pretty good now." Mo Bai smiled, "This is the inn, Miss G……Uhm, Zhu Fan, how do you feel?"

"I'm alright." Gu Qingyu scratched her head, and suddenly recalled something, "What about the herb?"

Murong Ranyue took a step forwards, "I'm not going to hand over the plant."

"Tsk, why are you so stubborn!" Gu Qingyu jumped up, "Oh right! Then……why are you here?"

"I'm here to apologize." Said Murong Ranyue with a sincere face.

"……" Gu Qingyu was speechless momentarily, "You're here to apologize?? Do you know how to fight? What if we s.n.a.t.c.h the herb from you?"

"I have things that can back me up." Said Murong Ranyue confidently.

"And even arrogant." Gu Qingyu looked at Jia Qizhe, "Jia Qizhe? What's up with you?"

Jia Qizhe's expression looked ugly, "Nothing, he doesn't possess the herb anymore."

"How come?" Gu Qingyu suddenly realize : Now she knew why Murong Ranyue said so confidently that he could get out of this! Because the herb wasn't even on him, since Jia Qizhe said so personally, it should be the truth, right? Aish, why did she still fully trust in Jia Qizhe like before??

"The plant got taken away from him by his brother." Jia Qizhe let out a faint sigh, "That one is a King, he was bestowed his t.i.tle because of being favored since childhood. It's very likely that he's the next in line as the successor of the throne. His name is Murong Zuoyu, the Third Prince."

"Eh? Which prince is Murong Ranyue then?" Asked Gu Qingyu curiously.

"Fourth Prince." Murong Ranyue replied lightly. For some reason, his face looked even paler than before.

"But……why would your brother want it?" Gu Qingyu continued asking.

Murong Ranyue thought for a while, "Because he knew you would come."

"What?" Gu Qingyu blinked, "So amazing? Doesn't that mean that he can do mind reading? Divination? Precognition?"

Murong Ranyue shook his head.

"Ah? Then what?"

"Magic." Murong Ranyue responded lightly.

Gu Qingyu, "……" If you don't want to tell me, then just say so! I even kept antic.i.p.ating after asking for so long!! Did you think I actually wanted to question you so many times!!!

"What's the point of living." Gu Qingyu stood up, "Let's go!"

Qi Yichen was rather startled, "Where to?"

"He-he-he!" Gu Qingyu's laughter was very terrifying, "To find that Murong Zuoyu something~~~"

"So scary!" Little Qi's soul seemed to leave her body. No! Where did the cute and gentle Little Qu go!!

"Then I can't accompany you." Murong Ranyue bowed, "I shall take my leave."

"Take care! I won't be sending you off~~" Said Gu Qingyu, and imitated those "martial artists" on tv and cupped her fists, "Let us meet if we are fated!"

"No, I wish that we don't meet in the future." Having said that, Murong Ranyue left the building.

What is that supposed to mean!! So you don't want to see me again!! Am I that terrible!!

"Che~, who cares." Gu Qingyu's mouth curled, "Let's wait until night time?"

"Sure." Mo Bai nodded.

"Oh, right! How did you get out yesterday?" Gu Qingyu couldn't resist but ask this question.

Jia Qizhe slightly tilted his head, "What do you think? I burst into the room once I got rid of the formation spell, only to find you lying on the ground. I had no choice but to strike him unconscious and then carry both of you here."

He said it with a light and calm tone, as if this was something that had nothing to do with him.

But, this really didn't have anything to do with him.

However!! This matter was immensely related to Gu Qingyu!!!

"So, you're saying that, you struck Murong Ranyue, then you carried us back?" She put more emphasis on the two words "struck" and "carried".

"Yeah," Jia Qizhe crossed his arms, he looked as if he was looking at a kid, "How did you lose to him? He's so weak? I really expected too much from you."

Gu Qingyu's face turned red, "You……"

"All right, stop fighting," Mo Bai stood between them, "Let us discuss about our plan tonight."

The plan was basically drawn up : Gu Qingyu was still in the same team as Jia Qizhe, to find Murong Zuoyu; Mo Bai and Qi Yichen were responsible to clear out obstacles, and Little Qi was to provide support on the sidelines——Nothing really changed. Except, the success rate has increased slightly……

The night approached. Besides Qi Yichen and Mo Bai, the rest had already changed their outfits. Qi Yichen and Mo Bai were dressed in white clothing, because they had to draw the attention of the enemies.

"Puah—!!" Gu Qingyu immediately spit out the mouthful of tea that she just drank when she saw Mo Bai.

"……" Mo Bai followed her gaze and looked at himself, "What is it, Miss Gu?"

"Nothing……" Gu Qingyu shook her head, but her eyes gleamed brightly, "All right! Let's go! We must catch that one called Murong Zuoyu something today! Wakakakakaka……"

"Little Yu is acting weird!" Little Qi hid in a corner, s.h.i.+vering. In Little Qi's heart, Gu Qingyu had already turned into a black devil with a pair of huge wings, holding onto a trident, plus the dark-red background……

"Set off." Following Jia Qizhe's order, everyone puts on their masks and submerged into the shadows……

Huaa——

The sound of wind could be heard throughout, if it were not for Gu Qingyu's feline senses, she wouldn't even have noticed the additional person beside them……

This time, we mustn't fail!!

They finally reached the Imperial Palace. Jia Qizhe took the lead and went ahead, Gu Qingyu followed closely behind.

She could not help but admit, Jia Qizhe's speed was genuinely quick. She had to push her limits to be able to keep up with him……To be honest, this speed should be considered quite slow for him, right?

Jia Qizhe's team arrived in front of a door very quickly, however, for some unknown reason, there were unusually few soldiers around. Had Mo Bai's team already pulled them away? Or could this be another trap??

"Careful, prepare yourself." Jia Qizhe took out a dagger and held it tightly, Gu Qingyu followed suit, "Mm, you too."

Jia Qizhe abruptly kicked in the door, and Gu Qingyu immediately waved her hands, "[Ancient Frost Seal]!!"

In just a moment's time, a halo of blue light burst out through her body, the ring expanded and spread through the entire room.

It turned everything it touched into ice