FID – Chapter 998

Chapter 998: This… Might Be Fate

Qian Yi immediately tensed, instinctively moving closer to the man, trying to grab his hand.

He coldly avoided her.

Panicking, Qian Yi started making frantic hand gestures, moving so quickly that even she didn’t know what she was signaling.

Hearing footsteps approaching, and faint voices already reaching her ears, Qian Yi’s eyes reddened with urgency. When she looked at the man, her gaze was full of pleading.

After a pause, Xue Honglian reached out, pulled her close, and lightly leapt onto a tree branch thick with leaves, casually releasing her pressure point.

Leaning close to her ear, he said in a low voice, “I’ll ask now, you answer. If you lie or don’t answer, I’ll throw you down.”

“…” Another threat. Qian Yi reluctantly nodded.

“What is this place?”

Ah! So he is from out of town!

Eyes wide, Qian Yi looked as if she had just uncovered a huge secret. Her eyes sparkled, but when they met his cold gaze, she shrank back.

Mimicking him, she leaned close to his ear. “Mo City.”

Xue Honglian immediately frowned. Mo City?

Over the years, he had traveled through Nanling, Dongyue, and Beicang, but had never heard of a place called Mo City.

This place was in the northwest, near Xiliang… Thinking of this, Xue Honglian’s frown deepened. That fool—falling off a cliff and ending up all the way from Nanling to Xiliang was truly unprecedented!

Qian Yi saw the man’s brows furrowed so tightly they could tie a knot. Confused, she leaned closer. “Why are you making that face—”

“Do you know about Miao—”

Their lips touched. The air froze.

Everything around them seemed to stop instantly. Qian Yi’s eyes widened; panic surged, and she swallowed hard.

Gulp.

Those emotionless eyes suddenly darkened, filled with murderous intent.

“Hiss—!” Qian Yi sucked in a sharp breath, jerking back. She felt her little life was over. In a panic, she pointed desperately downward.

People—there are people! Calm down! Otherwise we’re both doomed!

Squeezing her eyes shut tightly, she didn’t dare look at his face.

Why was he looking like someone took advantage of him? She suffered too, okay? It was her first time!

Besides, it wasn’t entirely her fault. If he hadn’t suddenly turned his face, how would she have kissed him?

She secretly licked her lips. A faint blush spread across her small face. So that’s what kissing a man felt like… Soft, a bit springy, with a hint of herbal scent…

Xue Honglian’s killing intent had already flared. Seeing the girl quietly lick her lips with a savoring expression made it spike even higher. His eyes went pitch‑black with suppressed fury.

“There are footprints here. The brambles have been trampled. They must have passed through.”

“Search the area!”

The hand that was about to clamp around the girl’s neck stopped. Xue Honglian closed his eyes, forcibly restraining himself, then flicked a hidden weapon toward another direction.

Rustle, rustle—leaves shook lightly somewhere nearby.

“Over there! Hurry!”

The people who had been searching below immediately ran off in another direction.

Qian Yi let out a sigh of relief, slowly opening her eyes. When she met the man’s cold face, she forced a smile to please him. “I—”

Before she could finish, he covered her mouth. Following his gaze downward, she realized that someone she had thought had all run off had actually circled back to check if the area was truly empty.

What a cunning trickster!

This time, Qian Yi truly didn’t dare speak. Even though the people below had left, she kept her mouth tightly shut. Her obedient, self-aware behavior barely eased the black aura on the man’s face.

After leaving the forest, she still didn’t dare separate from him. If she went on her own, she might be caught by bad luck. Following him, at least, gave her a free bodyguard.

Even a fool would know how to choose.

“This is Xiliang?” The man walked ahead, not looking at her once, completely unafraid that she might sneak away.

“Yes. Weren’t you coming to Xiliang? Then why did you go in that direction before?” Following closely behind, finally feeling safe, Qian Yi couldn’t control her mouth. “But it’s no use that you’re here. Xiliang doesn’t let people in easily, unless you’re from Xiliang. Oh, and you still haven’t told me your name, where you’re from, or how old you are. Is that Xue Honglian your lover or your wife?”

“Shut up!”

“You’re the one who wanted me to answer questions. Now you tell me to shut up. If I really close my mouth, no one will answer your questions. Isn’t that contradictory?”

A vein throbbed violently on Xue Honglian’s temple.

“Slow down, wait for me!” Feeling his pace suddenly quicken, the girl had no choice but to jog after him. In just a short while, she was panting heavily. “We’ve at least met once, so don’t blame me for not warning you. If you’re not from Xiliang and they check your identity when you go out, you’ll be thrown in prison as a foreign spy!”

The man ignored her.

“If you’re willing to tell me why you came to Xiliang, maybe I can even help you!”

“Who told you I wanted to come to Xiliang?” He suddenly stopped, turned around, and stared at her coldly, speaking each word with ice.

There was a clear, gritted-teeth tone.

“W–weren’t you coming to Xiliang? Then why are you here?”

The man just stared at her coolly.

Qian Yi’s mind slowly replayed everything that had happened earlier, and she finally figured out why he was here.

She had been chased. He had passed by and gotten dragged into the mess, forced to escape with her.

When they reached the narrow mountain path by the cliff, the man had actually already crossed safely. But she stumbled and grabbed his sleeve…

Otherwise, the man would still be within Nanling’s borders.

“Hahaha… Well, uhm… maybe this is fate… hahaha!”

The man didn’t speak. He just looked at her with that cool, detached expression while she laughed—until Qian Yi couldn’t keep laughing anymore.

It was so damn awkward.

“Are you from Xiliang?” Just when she was so embarrassed she didn’t know what to say to ease the atmosphere, the man finally opened his mouth.

Qian Yi let out a breath of relief and nodded. “I am.” She even sounded a bit proud.

“Is your home around here?”

“Yes.” Her chin lifted slightly. He was asking in such detail—he definitely needed something from her.

She had to put on some airs. She had to let him know she was useful, not a burden. Otherwise he’d keep looking at her like he wished he could fling her into the sky.

“Do you know where Miaojiang is?”

“Miaojiang?” Qian Yi froze for a moment, then her eyes widened. “You want to go to Miaojiang? That place has been gone for ages. You didn’t know?”

“……” Xue Honglian’s thin lips pressed together tightly. His chest rose and fell more and more violently, and the icy calm in his eyes wavered sharply. Finally—“F**k—it’s gone?!”

“!” Qian Yi fell straight onto her butt, staring at the man’s suddenly very expressive face, unable to react.

No way. He had such a cold face. How could it change so quickly?

That aloof, untouchable look from earlier—was he playing her this whole time?

“I’m asking you. What do you mean it’s been gone for ages? Explain it to me!” The man gritted his teeth, almost losing his mind.

“Ahahaha—y-you… you’re the chatterbox? You’re back?” Staring fixedly at his face, Qian Yi’s lips twitched. Finally she reached out, trying to tug at his cheek to see if he was wearing a face-changing mask.

He slapped her hand away with one strike. “I’m asking you a question, and you dare pinch my face? Are you looking for death?”