After marrying the fierce god, her handsome young husband was pampered to the extreme.

After the white jade Bodhisattva statue was taken away by that group of martial arts practitioners, the Blackwater Kiln was at peace.

Jiang Xiao wanted to treat Lu Ruo's illness, but was refused.

For several days in a row, the three of them did not see Lu Ruo.

I have no idea what he was doing locked in his room.

Other bandits in the village rarely came to this small courtyard, so they were self-sufficient.

In his spare time, Lin Siheng would take Jiang Xiao fishing by the water, and it was quite relaxing to do so occasionally.

Lin Beizhen, however, could no longer sit still.

Why not treat a disease you know you have?

Could it be that there's something you're having trouble saying?

After much deliberation, he felt that he should have a proper talk with Lu Ruo about this matter.

When Lu Ruo opened the door and came out, she saw Lin Beizhen standing under his eaves, having waited for who knows how long.

Or perhaps it was because I waited day after day that I happened to bump into him.

Lu Ruo asked疑惑地问道, "What are you doing here?"

"I'll be waiting for you," Lin Beizhen said succinctly.

Lu Ruo was even more confused. "What are you waiting for me to do?"

Lin Beizhen asked, "Why didn't you let a doctor examine you?"

Lu Ruo suddenly realized, "So that's why you came."

A few days ago, the two of them had just come out of the cave when Jiang Xiao knocked on his door.

However, he was immersed in the medicinal soup at the time and it was inconvenient for him to receive guests, so he sent Jiang Xiao away.

Besides, he's ashamed to be seen with this illness.

If you don't say anything, you can still retain a little bit of dignity.

Lu Ruo asked, "That young man, he must be the Little Fairy Doctor from Guishan Huangquan, right?"

This was the first time Lin Beizhen had heard that his cousin-in-law had a name, so he gave a vague "hmm".

Lu Ruo said, "It's not a serious illness, so there's no need to trouble him."

Lin Beizhen was somewhat puzzled. "Isn't it better to get better sooner rather than later, since it's not uncommon to seek medical treatment when you're sick?"

Lu Ruo's lips moved, unsure how to respond. In the end, she simply said, "It's an old ailment that can't be cured. Rather than letting hope flicker and then vanish, it's better not to treat it at all. Why add to the sorrow?"

"Give it a try," Lin Beizhen said. "Summer will be fine, but how will you get through the winter?"

Lu Ruo lowered her eyes, "We've gotten through so many years, it's really not a big deal."

He smiled casually, "It's okay, I know my own body."

Seeing that he had already said that, Lin Beizhen didn't want to continue trying to persuade him. He simply said, "If you change your mind someday, just come and find me."

Lu Ruo raised her head and looked at the man in front of her seriously.

"Lin Beizhen, you are really good."

"...Hmm." Lin Beizhen felt a little embarrassed by the sudden compliment. "You're very good too."

Lu Ruo seemed to have heard a joke, "I'm a bandit, and bandits are never good people."

Lin Beizhen said, "You can also stop being a bandit. The dampness here makes it a good place to start firing celadon glaze."

"Lin...you should take care of yourself first," Lu Ruo said. "You don't need to worry about my affairs."

Lin Beizhen nodded. "We'll be leaving early tomorrow morning."

Lu Ruo felt a little flustered. "Are we leaving already?"

Lin Beizhen nodded. "I'm planning to go to the Northwest."

Lu Ruo asked, "What are you going to the Northwest for?"

He regretted asking the question as soon as he did. What was his status? He had nothing to do with men.

Asking such detailed questions so abruptly seems a bit presumptuous.

Lin Beizhen said, "I heard that a flower dance party is going to be held in the Northwest soon, and I'd like to go and see it."

Lu Ruo froze upon hearing about the flower dance party.

He tried his best to control himself and prevent himself from losing his composure on the spot.

"What are you going to the flower ball for?" Lu Ruo's voice trembled slightly, without him even realizing it.

Lin Beizhen said, "They say there's an auction of some rare and exotic flowers and plants that I've never seen before, so I thought I'd go and join in the fun."

Only then did he notice that the young man's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

"What's wrong with you?" Lin Beizhen subconsciously wanted to help him up, but Lu Ruo refused.

Lu Ruo asked, "Do you know what a flower ball is?"

Lin Beizhen shook his head. "I don't know."

It is precisely because I don't know that I want to go and see.

Lu Ruo sneered, "That was a cannibalistic auction. The precious flowers and plants being auctioned were actually people."

Lin Beizhen asked, puzzled, "What does this mean?"

Lu Ruo shook her head, refusing to say anything more, "Trust me, you can't go to the Flower Dance."

Lin Beizhen nodded after a slight hesitation, "Okay, then I won't go."

Lin Beizhen's father liked to grow flowers and plants to cultivate his mind and body. He had originally planned to buy some beautiful flowers and plants from the Flower Dance Party to give to his father.

However, judging from this situation, there must be something more to this flower dance party than meets the eye.

What does it mean that the auction is for a person?

Could it be...?

Lin Beizhen had a vague guess in his heart.

"What is your connection with the Flower Dance?" Lin Beizhen asked.

Lu Ruo said, "It's nothing, don't ask anymore."

Lin Beizhen really stopped asking.

In his view, Lu Ruo said nothing, yet it seemed as if she had said everything.

Because of his trembling body, his hoarse voice, and the fear and terror in his eyes that he himself was unaware of.

Lin Beizhen wasn't one to pry, so when he saw that Lu Ruo wouldn't say more, he dropped the subject.

"So what are you planning to do next?" Lin Beizhen asked. "Go find the location depicted on that treasure map?"

Lu Ruo said, "I have that idea."

"Although we don't know if this treasure map is genuine, the geographical location it depicts is in the northwest. Are you really going?"

"...Go ahead, why don't you go?"

"Then you must be careful in everything you do. The northwest is cold, dry, and windy, so remember to plan ahead."

Lu Ruo nodded.

The next day, the three left the Blackwater Kiln.

Before leaving, Lu Ruo also gave them three fine horses.

Jiang Xiao felt it was a pity that she couldn't cure Lu Ruo's illness.

Lin Beizhen remained silent the entire way. Only after the three of them entered the city and sat down in a restaurant did he suddenly ask, "Do you know about the Flower Dance Festival in the Northwest?"

Lin Siheng said, "I know, so what?"

"What kind of place is it?" Lin Beizhen asked. "I've only heard that they auction off rare and exotic plants there."

But now, Lu Ruo has revealed that the exotic flowers and plants auctioned at the Flower Dance Festival are actually people.

are people.

Could it be human trafficking?

Lin Siheng said, "Oh, it's just a bunch of bored people causing trouble. The imperial court already cracked down on it a few years ago, so how come it's resurfaced?"

Jiang Xiao was completely confused. "Brother, what are you talking about? What's a flower ball?"

Lin Siheng said, "Simply put, this flower dance party is not much different from that of a courtesan in a brothel."

"The hundred young men jointly trained by several major dark forces in the Northwest, also known as the Hundred Flowers, are the main characters of the Flower Dance Party."

"These young men have been fed a secret medicine since they were young, which is said to make their skin so delicate and beautiful that it can be broken with a touch."