Chapter 320: Asking For Help (1/2)

Nan Xun didn't notice Jun Huang's reaction. He stared intently at the guards pa.s.sing through and only relaxed after they were out of their view. He softened when he noticed the nervousness in Jun Huang's eyes.

“Scared?” he croaked. Jun Huang shook her head awkwardly and pulled away from his hand.

Nan Xun pursed his lips, realizing how inappropriate his action had been. Jun Huang had lost her memory. She remembered nothing about their relations.h.i.+p. It only made sense for her to be caught off guard by what he did.

He helped her up and whispered, “Follow me closely. We must leave before the next group of patrols come.”

Jun Huang nodded and followed him to the wall. Nan Xun helped her to the other side before vaulting over himself. They relaxed after they'd gotten away from the manor. Nan Xun didn't realize that he was sweating. Jun Huang took note of it and reached for her handkerchief, but thought better of it, worried that Nan Xun would find that inappropriate.

They soon reached a clinic near the city gate. Being so close to the gate, both Jun Huang and Nan Xun were worried about alerting the guards standing watch. Nan Xun wasn't supposed to be here, and Jun Huang was now playing the role of the Grand Chancellor's daughter, which meant she shouldn't be running around in public.

Nan Xun told her to wait for him in the alleyway. He smoothed out his stealth clothes and walked up to the door to the clinic, tapping out a series of code. Soon, footsteps could be heard approaching. The door opened, revealing a grey-haired old man with a robe around his shoulders. He looked at Nan Xun with a smile.

“Come in,” said the old man, his voice matching his age, and the years leaving deep wrinkles on his face. There was something creepy about the way he looked at night, but Nan Xun didn't notice anything wrong. He nodded and beckoned Jun Huang over.

She took a deep breath and entered the room. The old man shut the door behind them and invited Jun Huang to take a seat. He sat down across from her, reaching out to take her pulse.

“What's wrong with her, doctor?” Nan Xun asked nervously at the old man's hesitant expression.

The old man sighed. “To be honest with you, I didn't find anything wrong with her. I can tell she's recovered from a serious ailment.”

Nan Xun paused, feeling both relieved and worried. He didn't know if that counted as good news or bad news. The trip had been all for nothing, and they were back at square one in terms of figuring out what the Grand Chancellor's family was trying to do.

After bidding the old man farewell, Nan Xun led Jun Huang back to the manor. It was late, but the street wasn't completely empty. Drunken scions could be seen wobbling towards their homes with the help of their friends.

Jun Huang's hair flew and tangled in the air, swept up by the wind. She maintained a steady pace, unfazed by what had happened. Nan Xun stayed shoulder to shoulder with her, walking at the same pace as her. She cast her eyes downward at the road. Her dress moved as she walked.

Nan Xun couldn't stand the silence anymore. When no one was around, he said, “I'll take you back to the manor. You're still easily exhausted. It won't do you any good to run around with me. It's better for you to stay in the Grand Chancellor's manor for the time being. I'll look for your master. Perhaps he'll be able to answer our questions.”

Jun Huang stopped to look at him and finally nodded. “Don't worry. Yin Yun will be protecting me in secret. And people in the manor aren't going to hurt me just yet.” Her voice grew quiet as she muttered, “Just don't take too long before you come back for me.”

Her words were so faint it was as if they would be scattered by a slight breeze. Nan Xun couldn't be more pleased by her request. He wanted nothing more than to hold her.

He reached out for her, but she took a step back before he could touch her, her eyes growing distant. “Let's return.”

It pained Nan Xun to see her being so distant. He knew why Jun Huang acted the way she did, but he couldn't help being frustrated.

It had taken a long time for him to get her to open up, to break her cold mask, to make her fall in love with him. Although Jun Huang was never particularly pa.s.sionate even after they got together, she hadn't been so cold to him for a long time.

Jun Huang didn't miss the flash of sadness in his eyes, but she pretended to not see it. She continued to walk with a polite smile.