After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

The continuous torches illuminated the floating river.

All that could be heard was a series of crackling and popping sounds.

The cold night wind billowed the sails, and the crowd was silent, all looking toward Lü Lin, the leader of the stronghold.

Upon hearing the words "Saintess".

Yin Huaixi was incredulous.

Could it be...?

Did Sang Che know all along that she was going to run away?!

Or...did she have anticipated that she would be caught while trying to escape, and explained the situation to Lü Lin?

"Father, but she's a Han spy. If we don't get rid of her quickly, this woman... will surely bring misfortune to A-Che!"

With his eyes fixed on Yin Huaixi, Lü Panshan had no intention of letting her off the hook.

The scimitar's cold gleam drew near, and Lü Panshan seemed intent on slicing Yin Huaixi in two with a single stroke.

Seeing that he was so tactless, Lü Lin raised his hand and slapped Lü Panshan across the face. The silver ornaments in his earrings swayed, and even in the dim firelight illuminating Lü Panshan's profile, it was clear that his father's slap was quite severe, and blood was flowing from his nose.

A few drops of crimson fell onto the deck.

Lu Lin's hands went numb. He snapped, "You worthless piece of trash! How dare you question the Holy Maiden's will?!"

Having held a high position for a long time.

As a skilled Miao person well-versed in Han culture, Lü Lin and a raw Miao person who severely rejected the people of the Central Plains had long harbored resentment towards each other and disliked one another.

However, even though he had connections and influence in Lingshui City and Yinyue River, he dared not provoke Sang Che, who had been personally sent by the Miao King to recuperate here.

The Jiuli tribe worshipped the great god Chiyou. Even after their defeat in the Battle of Zhuolu and the retreat of the Miao people to Miao territory, the descendants of Chiyou, who terrified the Han people, were still viewed with suspicion by the imperial court.

Moreover, as the holy maiden of Miao territory, Sang Che's Gu techniques were exceptional, which made the Miao men, who did not know Gu techniques, feel uneasy and apprehensive.

If you don't get a good look today.

Tomorrow, I fear that he, the chieftain, will be turned into a vessel for the Gu worms.

Unconscious and without feeling, without emotion or desire.

They've become complete puppets, completely at the mercy of others!

...

He was slapped by his father in front of so many people, losing all his dignity.

Lu Panshan couldn't swallow this insult, but before he could retaliate, Lu Lin had already sent men to arrest all the government spies.

There are ten people in total.

"stop!"

"How did you know we were government spies... just from this token?"

The young man who was being held down was indignant. He glared at Lü Lin, wishing he could immediately draw his sword and rush up to fight Lü Lin to the death.

"We Miao people never do things based on these things."

Lu Lin clapped his hands, and the woman behind him holding the black pottery jar stepped forward.

As he picked up the lid of the earthenware jar with his fingers, instantly, black insects crawled up from the shoulders of the ten men, as if they had been sensed by something.

The insect spread its wings, brushed against their cheeks and temples, and flew into the pottery jar.

"This Gu worm can determine where you are from. It was personally raised by the Holy Maiden and will never be wrong."

Lu Lin's expression remained completely unchanged.

After he finished explaining, he glanced at Yin Huaixi again, his attitude still respectful.

"Miss Yin, please."

"The Holy Maiden instructed me not to treat you rudely, and I will obey."

Although he said "please," the two men holding Yin Huaixi down did not lessen their grip at all.

It seemed as if they were afraid she would run away.

When they reached the suspension bridge, Lü Lin glared at his good-for-nothing son before turning around and speaking to Yin Huaixi.

"Miss Yin, as a Han Chinese, you should know that there is a saying among you Han people: 'Those who understand the times are heroes.'"

"Since you were chosen by the High Priest, then accept your fate and bear the consequences of provoking the Holy Maiden... neither of us can afford them."

Sang Che usually appears sickly and gentle.

As the chief of the village, Lu Lin, who had weathered many storms, understood better than anyone else that if Sang Che got angry, his village would probably become a den of insects.

The Miao king, who possessed thousands of troops, still had to rely on Sang Che. Even though he was unhappy, he could only swallow his anger.

...

They disembarked again.

Yin Huaixi looked at the ten spies.

But they didn't find the person who took her away...

Yin Huaixi's heart sank. She gritted her teeth. Did Sang Che already know all along?

All that she did before, was Sang Che trying to play along with her act, or... simply finding it amusing that she looked like a fool!

Pass by.

The ten spies were both surprised and delighted when they saw Yin Huaixi's face.

As the adults guessed, Miss Yin was indeed hidden in this village!

"hurry up!"

"Stop dawdling!"

The ten men were kicked and shoved until they disappeared into the night. Yin Huaixi tried to follow them, but was dragged back to the inn by Lu Lin's men.

The moment she pushed the door open, Yin Huaixi tried to pry it open, but the other person, as if expecting this, locked the door.

Yin Huaixi pressed her palm against the cold wooden window, her whole being... feeling utterly hopeless.

...

Just then, that eerie, bewitching blue butterfly, which should never appear at night, once again fluttered around her.

Sang Che's fingers rested on the yellowed bamboo handrail, and the pendant hanging from her chest swayed slightly as the bells rang.

"Huaixi...you're back."

"How was your trip outside?"

The inn had been emptied out; even the tables and chairs were gone. Because he couldn't see, Sang Che walked slowly with each step.

But she didn't hesitate... This action made Yin Huaixi even more breathless, as if... as if she was about to be strangled to death.

"Why aren't you answering my question?"

"Huai Xi".

Butterflies fluttered around his fingertips, and guided by them, Sang Che walked precisely to Yin Huaixi.

"You know, I hate it when people don't answer my questions."

With her chest heaving, Yin Huaixi's fingers were still digging into the crack in the door, fantasizing in her mind... whether this ramming would actually open the door.

The sound of "creaking" rang in her ears. Sang Che reached out and grabbed Yin Huaixi's wrist, her nose brushing against Yin Huaixi's cool cheek.

He said calmly, "Since you're so disobedient, if I hadn't sent people to stop you today, would you really have left by boat?"

Sang Che exerted force with his fingertips, his rounded nails almost digging into Yin Huaixi's fragile flesh. The intense pain made it impossible for Yin Huaixi to escape this problem any longer.

"So what if it is..."

"Is it wrong for me to want to leave?"

On the verge of emotional collapse, Yin Huaixi glared fiercely at Sang Che's face. Any trace of tenderness and affection that might have existed in the past had long since vanished.

"Sang Che, what gives you the right to control me..."

"Even if we had some entanglement in our past lives, it has nothing to do with me in this life... I am... a free person!"

The words were pale, yet every sentence came from the heart.

When Sang Che heard the word "freedom," his expression shifted dramatically.

She pulled out a cold rope from somewhere and began to wrap it around Yin Huaixi's hands without saying a word.

"free?"

"Yin Huaixi, you may give it a try."

"If you can escape from me, then I will give you your freedom."

The pain from the friction on my wrist felt so real.

Yin Huaixi tried to pull the rope outwards with all her might, but the knot seemed to come alive and couldn't be broken no matter how hard she pulled...

Loosening the rope, Sang Che reached out and pinched Yin Huaixi's chin, lifting it sharply upwards, forcing Yin Huaixi's gaze to her vacant eyes.

"You said it yourself, lying is for dogs."

"Yin Huaixi, I want you to be my dog."

"Did you hear that?"