Chapter 343: Progress (Fifth Update)

Having resolved the matters on Mu Hongyu's side, Chu Liuyue intended to take her leave.

Mu Hongyu was somewhat surprised

"You're leaving now?"

Chu Liuyue glanced at Mu Qinghe, the corners of her lips curling slightly.

"Time is tight, so I must leave quickly. But don't worry, since Vice General Mu and Young Master Jian have already agreed to help, they will certainly see it through to the end. If you need any medicinal herbs, feel free to go to the Treasure Pavilion and look for Second Master Yan; all expenses will be charged to my account. When I return, I will go find him myself."

Mu Hongyu shook her head resolutely

"That won't do! You have already helped me so much, how can I let you spend more money?"

Chu Liuyue thought about it and did not insist.

"Then just tell him to help out for my sake; he will help you gather all the necessary medicinal herbs."

The poison within the Princess of Pingjiang's body was indeed difficult to resolve, but given Jian Fengchi's strength, it wouldn't be a problem.

It might just require a few quite special medicinal herbs.

They might be hard to find in the Imperial Capital, but the Treasure Pavilion would certainly have them.

If Mu Hongyu went by herself, Second Master Yan might not be willing to hand them over, which was why she insisted that Mu Hongyu must mention her name. If she did, there was an eighty percent chance Second Master Yan would be willing to help.

Chu Liuyue did not explain the intricacies of this maneuver to Mu Hongyu.

However, Mu Hongyu was extremely intelligent and had already guessed something in her heart. For a moment, she had many words she wanted to say, but when they reached the tip of her tongue, they seemed to get stuck.

In the end, she only said

"Liuyue, thank you."

Chu Liuyue nodded.

Regarding Jian Fengchi, although she had always been at odds with him and found him rather disagreeable, he was indeed a man of his word.

If he said he would refine pills here to help the Princess of Pingjiang, he would certainly do it.

Mu Hongyu's face was full of reluctance.

Chu Liuyue had originally intended to warn her to be careful of Jian Fengchi, but after thinking about it, she felt it was unnecessary.

This "iron tree" that was Mu Hongyu would only ever be that fellow Jian Fengchi's nemesis.

Chu Liuyue looked toward Mu Qinghe and asked with a smile, "Vice General Mu, are you staying here, or..."

Mu Qinghe said nothing and left directly.

Mu Hongyu leaned in and whispered

"Liuyue, don't you think Vice General Mu's expression was a bit off?"

Chu Liuyue replied indifferently, "Oh? Is that so? I didn't notice."

"Really! Just now, I don't know what happened, but his expression suddenly changed. Although he usually doesn't show much emotion, but... but..."

Mu Hongyu frowned, unable to think of how to describe it.

"In short, it just felt wrong, like he had remembered something unpleasant... I've never seen that look on him before."

Chu Liuyue gave a half-smile.

"I didn't notice."

If she could, she would also like to chase after him and ask him directly what was wrong.

Was he feeling unwell?

Or was he feeling humiliated?

She had merely said that one word: "betrayal."

What was he thinking about?

In this past year or so, had he ever once thought about anything regarding "her"?

Chu Liuyue took a deep breath.

She suddenly wanted to know—if Mu Qinghe knew that she was "her," what kind of expression would he make?!

And those people...

"Liuyue? Liuyue!"

Mu Hongyu suddenly sensed that the aura surrounding Chu Liuyue had turned cold, shrouded in a heavy sense of loneliness and despair. Feeling uneasy, she hurriedly spoke up.

Chu Liuyue snapped back to her senses and saw the look of worry on her face.

"Are you alright?"

The aura on Chu Liuyue's body dissipated rapidly, and a faint smile bloomed on her lips.

"I'm fine."

The ones who weren't fine should be those people!

***

Mu Qinghe returned to his own residence.

Rarely, his spirit was somewhat dazed, and his heart felt as if it were being blocked by something, causing him great discomfort.

He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down, but the words Chu Liuyue had spoken kept echoing in his mind like a profound curse.

"...In this world, even the closest person, the most trusted person, can potentially betray you. When that time comes, you might not even know how you died."

The woman's clear and melodious voice rang in his ears again and again.

This wasn't right...

This wasn't right!

Mu Qinghe managed to claw back a shred of rationality. Sitting in his chair, he habitually reached to brew himself a cup of tea.

Whenever his mind was in turmoil, he would always do this to help himself calm down.

However, while pouring the tea, he stared at the teacup and couldn't help but remember certain things.

Everyone thought he loved drinking tea, but in reality, that wasn't the case.

It was just that the act of brewing tea could always bring him peace.

In the past...

A sharp pain shot through him, and he startled awake. Only then did he realize that because he had lost himself in thought, the scalding tea had spilled all over his hand.

He closed his eyes tightly and angrily swept the tea set onto the floor!

*Crash!*

The crisp sound of breaking porcelain echoed through the room, sounding exceptionally hollow.

Standing by the windowsill, Hong Yao glanced back at him before lazily burying her head in her wings again.

A sudden, intense pain surged from his heart!

Mu Qinghe's expression changed. He suddenly clutched his chest with one hand, gasping for breath.

Immediately after, he with great difficulty produced a diamond-shaped bronze mirror.

Hong Yao remained motionless, yet her body tensed up!

In the next moment, a piercing light suddenly flashed from the bronze mirror!

An invisible pressure suddenly descended within the room!

The light on the bronze mirror gradually faded, revealing a stretch of crimson seawater!

A voice drifted out from within—

"Mu Qinghe, it has been so long. Why has there been no progress in the task I gave you?"

(End of Chapter)