Chapter 71: Th-this isn’t right, is it

Mu Xi jerked her head up, staring at Ling Yue in shock, completely at a loss for how to react.

Take her away?

Why would Ling Yue help her?

They’d only known each other for a few days, yet Ling Yue was willing to risk offending Ye Lan just to help her escape this cage?

It was simply unbelievable, like a fairy tale.

A warm current surged in Mu Xi’s chest, and gratitude, along with a deep sense of being moved, almost drowned her.

But what followed was an even deeper fear and unease.

Could Ling Yue really take her away?

Did she really have the ability to stand up to Ye Lan?

If Ling Yue failed, what would become of them?

Looking at Ling Yue’s calm and determined eyes, Mu Xi’s heart was a tangled mess of emotions, so complex she was left speechless, not knowing how to respond.

She truly was grateful, but she was also truly afraid.

She feared this was nothing but a beautiful trap, that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

“Sister Ling Yue…” Mu Xi’s voice trembled a little.

She wanted to say something, but didn’t know where to begin.

She was grateful for Ling Yue’s kindness, yet deeply afraid of the unknown future.

This Manor was like a giant whirlpool, trapping her tightly inside, and Ling Yue’s words were like a ray of light in the darkness, giving her hope for escape, but also making the road ahead feel even more uncertain.

But no matter what, she couldn’t agree.

Mu Xi knew very well that while she appreciated Ling Yue’s good intentions, she couldn’t afford to accept them.

If what Ling Yue said was actually arranged by Ye Lan, just to test her, then refusing was the most reasonable thing to do—after all, who could say if this wasn’t another carefully crafted trap?

Ye Lan, that woman, was best at playing with people’s hearts.

If Ling Yue was sincere… then she had even more reason not to agree.

Her own problems had to be solved by herself—how could she drag someone else down with her?

If they failed, Ling Yue would be implicated too.

Mu Xi knew she wasn’t a good person…

Well, at least she wasn’t a bad one.

She still had some conscience left; she couldn’t do something so ungrateful.

“Thank you, Sister Ling Yue.” Mu Xi finally spoke, her voice soft but firm.

“I really appreciate your kindness, but… I can’t go with you.”

She paused, as if trying to cover up her inner panic, and added, “I… I’m not feeling well. Let’s end practice here for today.”

With that, Mu Xi all but fled from the Practice Room, leaving Ling Yue standing there alone.

Mu Xi jogged all the way back to her Bedroom, slamming the door shut with a “bang,” as if that could shut all her troubles out as well.

She leaned back against the door, breathing heavily, her heart pounding like it was about to leap out of her chest.

“Hoo… Calm down, calm down…” Mu Xi forced herself to settle down.

She walked over to the window and yanked open the curtains.

Outside, it was still that familiar Forest—dense trees standing close together, like a Green Barrier, cutting her off from the world.

Mu Xi stared at the view outside, her mind a chaotic mess.

Ling Yue’s words were like a pebble dropped into the already turbulent lake of her heart, stirring up even bigger waves.

Right now, she was like a Golden Canary trapped in a cage, longing for freedom, yet terrified that the moment she flew out, she’d be shot down by a hunter.

“Damn Ye Lan, what does she take me for? A toy she can play with however she wants?”

The more Mu Xi thought, the angrier she got, and she couldn’t help but mutter a curse under her breath, “Does she really think I’m afraid of her? Just wait till I get my chance, I’ll make her pay!”

Of course, that was something she could only say to herself.

If she really had to face Ye Lan head-on right now, she didn’t have the guts.

Mu Xi irritably raked her fingers through her hair, making her silver-white locks even messier, like a tangled skein of thread.

She walked to her vanity, looking at the delicate but slightly haggard face in the mirror, and suddenly found herself a little ridiculous.

“Mu Xi, Mu Xi, you were a man in your last life—how did you end up so cowardly now?” she laughed at herself, thinking it was best to forget about her past as a man as soon as possible.

***

Meanwhile, in the Practice Room, Ling Yue watched the direction Mu Xi had left in, a glint of appreciation in her eyes.

She had thought Mu Xi would agree without hesitation, but to her surprise, Mu Xi refused.

This little girl was more interesting—and more courageous—than she had imagined.

—

The night was as dark as ink.

It was already deep into the night, almost dawn.

Mu Xi had already sunk into her dreams, but was startled awake by a sudden commotion.

Ye Lan pushed the door open and entered.

The sweet, cloying air in the Bedroom was instantly swept away by a blast of icy night wind.

“Get up.” Ye Lan’s voice carried a hint of lazy command, sounding especially clear in the silent room.

Mu Xi sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, not fully awake yet, only to see Ye Lan looking down at her from above.

“Master?” Mu Xi was still a bit dazed, her voice soft and sticky from just waking up.

“Take off your clothes.” Ye Lan ordered directly, her tone leaving no room for refusal.

Mu Xi woke up almost instantly, instinctively clutching the blanket to her chest, her delicate little face full of shock.

“Now? Here?”

She glanced around.

The pink Bedroom looked a bit eerie under the night, but what unsettled her even more was Ye Lan’s demand.

Even though they’d already done everything that needed to be done, she still hadn’t fully gotten used to this kind of life.

Was Ye Lan planning to do it again, here…?

“Come with me.”

Ye Lan didn’t explain.

She just repeated her command, then turned and walked toward the door.

After a few steps, she stopped, glanced back at Mu Xi still frozen on the bed, and said, “Don’t make me say it a third time.”

Mu Xi shivered inside, knowing Ye Lan’s patience was running out.

She bit her lip.

Though her mind was full of questions and reluctance, her body still moved honestly.

She hesitated as she lifted the blanket, her smooth skin exposed to the air, sending a shiver through her body.

“But… there are so many people outside…”

Mu Xi’s voice trembled a little.

She thought of all the Guards scattered throughout the Manor.

If she went out naked, wouldn’t everyone see her?

Just imagining it made her scalp tingle.

Ye Lan heard this, and the corners of her mouth curled into a smile full of hidden meaning.

She turned back, her deep, phoenix eyes locking on Mu Xi, as if she could see straight through her, “If you come with me, no one will see.”

Her tone was confident, with a sense of total control.

Mu Xi looked into Ye Lan’s deep eyes and felt even more uncertain.

She didn’t know what Ye Lan was up to, but she knew she didn’t have the option to refuse.

So, resigned, she took off her clothes, standing naked on the cold floor, her toes curling as she followed carefully behind Ye Lan.