Chapter 111: Did You Rob a Great Clan?
Hu Yan was silent for two seconds before changing the subject. "What did you buy while you were out shopping today?"
Bai Zhi answered automatically, "I bought a lot of things. Clothes, jewelry, and all sorts of daily necessities."
After speaking, she realized Hu Yan hadn’t answered her question. "So, it is because you think my pruning is terrible, isn’t it? You’re afraid I’ll ruin your entire garden of flowers?"
Hu Yan sighed helplessly. "I just think you shine brightest when you’re shopping. Besides, your hands aren’t meant for this kind of labor."
A blush instantly crept onto Bai Zhi’s cheeks. Even though she knew Hu Yan was deliberately avoiding the question, she couldn’t bring herself to press him further. She even felt a little awkward.
Bai Zhi quietly put down the shears and asked, "Have you eaten?"
Hu Yan: "Mhm, I had some nutrient liquid."
Bai Zhi asked curiously, "Since you were gone for so long, will that cause you any trouble?"
Since she asked, Hu Yan didn’t hide anything. "I returned to my maternal clan today. I also took the opportunity to meet with my former second-in-command and my troops. They’ve been lying low these past few years, but they haven’t slacked off. Only a small faction has defected to the Eldest Prince, but it’s not a major issue. Tomorrow, I’ll have my maternal clan make a trip to the palace. I’ll go with them in disguise to see the current situation inside."
Bai Zhi hadn’t expected Hu Yan to explain things in such detail. She had only asked casually, not anticipating he would say anything at all. But Hu Yan not only told her who he had met today, but also where he was going tomorrow.
She stopped in her tracks, looked up at Hu Yan, and pursed her lips. "You’re just telling me all this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell someone?"
Instead of answering, Hu Yan asked, "Well, will you?"
Bai Zhi shook her head. "No."
Hearing this, Hu Yan suddenly smiled.
Bai Zhi leaned in slightly, trying to read something from his face. "You’re really not scared?"
Hu Yan reached out, plucked a leaf from her hair, and said, "You asked, and I didn’t want to just give you a perfunctory answer. Besides, didn’t you just say you wouldn’t tell? I trust you, just like I said I trusted you back then."
Hearing Hu Yan’s words, an indescribable feeling welled up inside Bai Zhi.
If anyone else had said they trusted her, Bai Zhi might not have been so deeply moved. But Hu Yan was different. Especially now, at the very beginning of his return—if the Eldest Prince found out, everything he had done so far could all come to nothing.
It was precisely because of this that his trust moved her so much.
Bai Zhi said with a serious expression, "I won’t let you down. I can help you, too."
Hu Yan smiled. "Mhm, from the day I first met you, I’ve always known how capable you are."
He said ’from the day he met her,’ which meant he was talking about *her*, not the original owner of this body.
Being watched by his pale blue eyes, Bai Zhi’s cheeks started to feel warm again. His gaze was gentle yet serious. Any female would probably find it hard to resist being looked at by someone like him.
Bai Zhi hadn’t expected Hu Yan to be so good with sweet words. Yet, his earnest attitude made it truly difficult not to be moved.
Although his gaze was gentle and his words were touching, Bai Zhi could sense that Hu Yan probably wasn’t in love with her. ’I don’t feel that kind of intense affection from him.’
They say you can’t hide it when you love someone. At least, Bai Zhi hadn’t experienced that feeling from him yet.
’Perhaps what Hu Yan feels for me is more like respect?’
Or maybe a bit of fondness, but it hadn’t reached the level of love. This realization cooled the warmth that had just begun to build inside her.
’Right. Maybe the time for me to end my relationship with Hu Yan will be after he successfully takes the throne.’
At this thought, Bai Zhi calmed down completely. ’Helping him secure the throne will be my way of making up for how the original owner of this body wronged him.’
Feeling resolved, Bai Zhi said, "Let’s go inside. The others don’t know you’re back yet."
Hu Yan keenly sensed the shift in Bai Zhi’s mood but didn’t know the reason for her sudden change. This made him frown slightly. ’Did I say something wrong?’
’Why does it feel like Bai Zhi isn’t very happy?’
Yan Yichen was the first to see Hu Yan and greeted him, "Hu Yan, you’re back!"
They had just learned that this house belonged to Hu Yan. It wasn’t bought by Bai Zhi, nor were they borrowing it from Zelda. They never would have guessed Hu Yan used to be a rich man.
But then again, it seemed reasonable. He had a friend like Zelda, he came to Blue Star from the Main Star, and he had an undeniable air about him, even if he tried to restrain it.
It was just that they had never considered it before. Since they had never left the area, they had assumed Hu Yan was from Blue Star or a nearby planet.
Hu Yan was still observing Bai Zhi. When he heard Yan Yichen call him, he finally looked over at them and nodded. "Mhm."
Yue Junxiao, who was sprawled on the sofa, exclaimed excitedly, "Hu Yan, I can’t believe you’re a secret rich guy! A house this big on the Main Star must cost a fortune, right?"
Hu Yan: "It’s alright."
Bai Zhi said, "You guys chat. I’m going to go wash up. I got all dusty outside and I’m sweaty, so I feel a bit gross."
With that, she went upstairs.
Hu Yan stared after Bai Zhi’s retreating back, his brow tightly furrowed.
When Yue Junxiao heard Bai Zhi was going upstairs to wash up, he began to get restless. ’Today is Saturday, the Mistress’s day off!!’
Just then, Lang Qiu walked over to Hu Yan. Seeing his furrowed brow, he asked, "Did things not go smoothly?"
Hu Yan didn’t pull his gaze back. "They were smooth."
Lang Qiu looked at him. "You seem to have something on your mind. I thought things didn’t go well."
Hu Yan was in no mood for conversation. "Everything is within expectations. I might need you to keep a closer watch for the next couple of days. I don’t want this place exposed. Once the news that I’m still alive gets out, coming back here might get more complicated. Don’t leave the Mistress alone."
Hu Yan gave all the Beast Cores from Zelda and his maternal clan to Lang Qiu. "Absorb as many of these Beast Cores as you can, but don’t absorb too many at once, or your body won’t be able to handle it. Give the rest to the others. There might be a tough battle ahead. I’m worried they’ll capture the Mistress to threaten me, so I need all of you to raise your spiritual power as quickly as possible."
Lang Qiu accepted them with a solemn expression. "I understand."
Then, Hu Yan also went upstairs.
Yan Yichen sidled over. "What were you and Hu Yan whispering about?"
Then, Yan Yichen saw the small bag of Beast Cores in Lang Qiu’s hand and shouted in shock, "Lang Qiu, where did you get so many Beast Cores?!"
His words instantly drew the attention of Yue Junxiao and Sang Mo.
Yue Junxiao zipped over with incredible speed. Seeing the bag full of Beast Cores, his face also showed unconcealed shock. "Did you rob some major clan?"
Lang Qiu: "...Hu Yan gave them to us. He said we need to raise our spiritual power quickly to protect the Mistress."