538: Chapter 538 I Want to Go Too

The next day, the sun was high in the sky.

Sunlight leaked through the gaps in the window lattice, spreading strips of warm golden light across the floor of the guest room, illuminating the utter disarray of the room in vivid detail.

Ling Hao sat cross-legged on the couch, his back against the window frame, his gaze sweeping casually across the room.

Baili Rou lay face up in the center of the bed, her pale green dress pushed up above her collarbones, and her bodice was nowhere to be seen.

Her bare chest and abdomen were exposed to the cool air, and her legs hung limply over both sides of the bed.

Zhu Jin lay prone on the wide, low table under the window, her red dress piled at her waist. One strap of her peach-colored bodice had come undone, hanging loosely and swaying against her chest, while her hips were raised high.

Bai Zhi lay on her back on the long table by the wall; one sleeve of her moon-white shirt still hung on her arm, while the other was long gone.

Her plain white bodice had been pulled to one side.

The lower half of her body hung off the edge of the table, her legs spread wide and propped up on wooden stands on either side.

The teapot on the table had overturned, and a stain of water snaked from the table leg to the threshold, one patch of which was particularly viscous, glistening slightly in the sunlight.

Shu Lan lay on her side on the low table near the door, her goose-yellow dress pulled up to her waist. One leg was curled on the tabletop, while the other hung limply off the edge, swaying.

Two teacups on the table had tipped over; one had rolled to the threshold and shattered in two, the spilled tea mixing with another, stickier liquid, soaking the tender green bodice on the floor.

The women were scattered in the four corners of the room in various poses, like four leaves blown down by the wind, swept for an entire night by the same breeze and settling in different places.

Ling Hao withdrew his gaze, the corners of his mouth curving slightly, but he did not wake them.

"Senior—"

An Ruosu's voice came from outside the residence, slightly hesitant, "I... prepared some spiritual food and brought it over..."

Ling Hao's figure flashed, and he appeared in the courtyard.

With a wave of his hand, the door opened on its own.

"Come in."

An Ruosu stood outside the door, holding a food box in her hands, her pale green gauze dress glowing softly in the morning light.

She lowered her head slightly, hesitating for a moment before stepping over the threshold and entering the courtyard.

A breeze blew by, and the tip of An Ruosu's nose twitched slightly, as if she had caught a strange scent.

It was an indescribable scent, like the moist floral fragrance of soil turned over after rain, or the sap of vegetation steamed by high heat, carrying a hint of warmth and dampness.

She didn't think much of it and walked quickly to the stone table to set down the food box.

Ling Hao watched her and couldn't help but chuckle, "You look better when you smile. Don't keep such a straight face."

Hearing this, An Ruosu's lips moved; she tried hard to force a smile, but it looked stiff because it was too forced.

Ling Hao shook his head, stood up, walked over to her, and gently pressed his hand on top of her head, "What are you afraid of? You weren't like this before. Are you afraid that what I said yesterday was a lie and I'm really letting you go to your deaths?"

He leaned down slightly, meeting her gaze, "Rest assured, for your sake, I will keep you and your mother safe."

"And Senior Sister Bai and the others..." An Ruosu blurted out. Once the words were out, she felt it was inappropriate and lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him.

Ling Hao chuckled and gently ruffled her hair, "Yes, yes, yes. As long as they behave themselves and follow instructions, I will naturally protect them as well."

An Ruosu breathed a sigh of relief, and the string in her heart that had been taut all night finally loosened a little.

She recalled what her mother had said to her while lying on the couch last night: "Ruosu, although that Moon Shadow Sect Master is good, there is no guarantee that others in the Moonshadow Sect won't target us. We must prepare for the worst."

She tossed and turned for a long time, and the more she thought, the less she could sleep, so she got up and made some spiritual food to bring over.

At this moment, Ling Hao's hand was resting on her head, his palm warm and broad, and all those wild thoughts seemed to be melted away by that temperature, dissipating completely.

Suddenly, a crisp voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Is Senior there? Mu Xiyao requests an audience."

Ling Hao withdrew his hand and said toward the door, "Come right in."

When Mu Xiyao pushed the door open and entered, the first thing she saw was Ling Hao and An Ruosu standing side by side, the atmosphere between them carrying an indescribable intimacy.

Mu Xiyao's footsteps faltered slightly, but she immediately returned to her normal expression, "Fellow Daoist An is here too?"

An Ruosu bowed slightly, "Young Miss Mu."

Ling Hao glanced at the two of them, "You know each other?"

Mu Xiyao explained, "Qingmu Cliff and the East Sea Chamber of Commerce usually have business dealings; I have met Fellow Daoist An a few times."

As she spoke, her gaze landed on An Ruosu's face, "I heard that Qingmu Cliff has already..."

"Yes." An Ruosu did not evade the question, "Qingmu Cliff has already split."

Ling Hao stepped in at the right moment to steer the conversation back, "You came today because the Four Seasons Heaven and Earth Courtyard is ready?"

Mu Xiyao nodded, "Exactly. The Four Seasons Heaven and Earth Courtyard has been cleaned and renovated, and the matters Senior instructed have also been arranged properly by this Junior."

Ling Hao tilted his head and glanced toward the depths of the guest room. Baili Rou and the others were still sleeping soundly, their breathing steady and long; they were unlikely to wake up anytime soon.

He withdrew his gaze, "Hmm, later then. We will proceed according to the plan."

At that time, Baili Rou and the others would still be needed to hold the fort.

Mu Xiyao also looked in the direction of Ling Hao's gaze, but she naturally could not see anything and just wondered why Baili Rou and the others were not visible.

She turned her head, smiling radiantly with bright, expectant eyes.

"Since there is still spare time, has Senior ever toured Fusang Main City? If not, this Junior could take Senior around for a walk, and also..."

Immediately afterward, a voice transmission entered Ling Hao's ears.

Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly and pondered for a moment. "Very well, let's go."

He turned to An Ruosu, "You go back and rest first. If you need anything, just go find Elder Yunluo."

An Ruosu acknowledged, standing in place, watching Ling Hao turn and walk toward the door side by side with Mu Xiyao.

Mu Xiyao's skirt hem fluttered gently with her steps, and the shell bells jingled.

"Senior, this way, I will take you to see the liveliest market in Fusang Main City..."

An Ruosu reached out a hand as if to grasp something, but slowly lowered it again. That hand fell to her side, her fingertips curling slightly.

Just as Ling Hao and his companion stepped out of the courtyard gate, a voice came from behind: "Senior—"

Ling Hao turned back and saw An Ruosu standing in the morning light, a corner of her pale green gauze dress lifted by the wind.

She tilted her head slightly, the corners of her lips curving into an arc, revealing a pair of shallow dimples—sweet but not cloying, gentle and bright.

"I want to go too."