Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Subtle Display of Affection

In the following half year, Lingyu Pavilion flourished remarkably. Upon hearing its name, people throughout the martial world could not help but offer praise. Everything seemed tranquil on the surface, yet all powers were quietly gathering for what was to come.

Bored and restless, the couple Muye and Aishuo decided to leave together for a while.

Entering Lingyu Pavilion, Muye and Aishuo walked side by side. The inner chamber was dimly lit, windows and doors tightly shut. Only Gu Xinyu, idly flipping through various tomes, was present. Upon seeing the two of them return, he rose eagerly to greet them.

“Muye, Aishuo, you’ve both been away for so long, having your fill of adventure, and finally decided to grace us with your return!” Gu Xinyu’s tone carried a strangely plaintive hint, almost like a jealous maiden.

“We were reluctant to leave, to be honest,” Aishuo replied, dusting off the table with an air of uprightness. “But after all, Muye and I serve as chief law enforcers. For us to be absent from Lingyu Pavilion for half a year is hardly proper. So here we are.”

“Truthfully,” Muye said with a helpless smile as he took a seat, “Aishuo found nothing interesting outside and, bored out of her mind, dragged me back in hopes something inside Lingyu Pavilion would amuse her.”

Aishuo shot Muye a glare, clearly displeased that he had ruined her story by telling the truth. Her look threatened that if he continued, she might just devour him alive.

“Hehe, all right, Aishuo, let’s not fuss,” Muye said indulgently, gazing at her with nothing but affection.

Aishuo gave a disdainful snort in reply.

Unbothered, Muye took her hand, seated her opposite Gu Xinyu, and poured her a cup of water.

With a shift in demeanor, Aishuo accepted the cup and looked at Muye as if to say, “At least you know your place,” before gulping down the water—truth be told, after hurrying back, she was quite parched.

“Slow down,” Muye said, patting her back gently. “No one’s going to steal it from you.”

Aishuo, who hadn’t been choking before, now truly was, breaking into a fit of coughing and casting Muye a look of exasperation.

“Aishuo, are you all right?”

“Cough, cough, I’m fine. Stop patting, or I really won’t be.”

Resigned, she thumped her chest as she tried to recover.

“Still claim you’re all right?” Muye ruffled her hair affectionately.

Someone was thoroughly ignored, left on the sidelines like empty air.

“Ahem!” came a forced cough.

“Xinyu, what’s the matter?” Muye looked up at Gu Xinyu, who had coughed inexplicably. “Has breathing in all the dust here finally gotten to your lungs? Maybe you should step outside for some fresh air.” While Gu Xinyu wasn’t looking, he and Aishuo exchanged a mischievous glance.

“Could you two please tone down the public displays of affection, or at least wait until I leave?” Gu Xinyu looked at them, on the verge of tears.

“Ahem,” Muye coughed into his hand.

“You’re just jealous!” Aishuo burst out, standing up and glaring at Gu Xinyu. “Gu Xinyu, you’re just sour because you don’t have anyone and can’t stand seeing others happy.”

Gu Xinyu couldn’t help but hear the triumph in her words.

“Uh…” For a moment, he was lost for words.

“All right, Lady Poison, I admit my fault. Do as you wish—just pretend I’m not here!”

Aishuo waved her hand dismissively, looking down on him with a sneer.

Muye sat beside her, sipping his water leisurely. He didn’t need to do anything or say anything—Aishuo was more than enough.

Gu Xinyu looked at the pair, speechless. But what could he do? Muye doted on Aishuo, after all.

Besides, he’d heard that during the half year Aishuo and Muye were away, Aishuo had developed a new poison and was eager for someone to test it on. Worst of all, Muye, who was responsible for the antidote, had yet to create it. Gu Xinyu had no intention of foolishly volunteering, even if Muye wouldn’t let him die in the end.

Casting a look of disdain at the two, Gu Xinyu could only retreat down the stairs in defeat.

Aishuo’s triumphant laughter echoed from the stairwell, and Gu Xinyu finally understood: the two had come back just to tease him. Alas! How had he ended up with such unscrupulous friends?

After tormenting Gu Xinyu, Aishuo idly flipped through books and account ledgers, finally sighing and coming to a perfect conclusion: “Lingyu Pavilion is such a boring place!”

Muye stood and walked to the window, opening it. Instantly, the entire loft was bathed in light. The gently glowing candles were snuffed out by the breeze, and outside, the wind whispered through the ancient, towering trees with their dense leaves.

Aishuo turned, looking thoroughly dejected—so much so that Muye was at a loss for words.

“Muye, if I’d known, we should have waited until the day Xuanyu and the Dog Emperor officially went to war before coming back,” Aishuo said, propping her chin in her hands and gazing out the window.

“I’m fine with whatever you decide. If you’re too bored, we’ll just head out again. That way, I can use the time to develop the antidote for your new poison—then one more task will be done.”

“Let’s at least say goodbye to our Wulin Alliance Leader before we go. If we leave without telling him, he’ll be upset!” With her gloom swept away, Aishuo smiled.

“Let’s go!”

“Who’s looking for me? Ah, you two have returned!”

Wearing black robes, Chu Suyi slipped in through the window, immediately poured himself a cup of water, glanced at the two with exasperation, and continued, “Where’s Xinyu? Didn’t he say you’d returned? Why’s he gone again?”

His sudden entrance had startled Aishuo, but with her strong nerves, she quickly recovered.

“He? I chased him off,” Aishuo said, tossing her book aside with a flourish, walking over to pick up her cup and taking another drink.

Muye caught the tossed book and followed her, sitting down nearby.

“Suyi, is something the matter?”

“Nothing really. We’re in a period of gathering strength—none of us have much time for mischief. The most important thing now is to solidify our strength. That’s all.”

Chu Suyi smiled breezily, unsurprised by Gu Xinyu’s absence. After all, everyone knew Aishuo’s playful nature, and boredom made Gu Xinyu an easy target.

“Good, then. Aishuo and I plan to head out again in a few days—you don’t mind, do you?”

“Would I dare object, you two?”

Laughter filled the room.

At that moment, Gu Xinyu, bored and drinking at a tavern, sneezed repeatedly and scratched his nose in confusion. What was going on? Was someone thinking of him?