"Ah!"
Bai Xiao'e had bounced out wanting to tease Zhen Fu'er, not even dressed, only to come out and see a grown man in the room, instantly being seen in her entirety.
The good news was that it was Luo Yu.
The bad news was that it was Luo Yu.
Still a virgin, she had never encountered such a situation before; she stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do, and her legs were numb.
Luo Yu was also somewhat shocked; he was here on official business—how could he suddenly be hit with a seduction ploy?
But this figure really couldn't be underestimated.
Could it be that she always wrapped herself with cloth strips? Even in their time, that shouldn't be necessary.
Eventually, it was Zhen Fu'er who calmed down first and said, "Xiao E, why don't you go back and change before coming out, why stand there dumbfounded?"
"Oh!"
The shame on Xiao E's face erupted like a volcano, and the tumult in her heart turned into a cry of alarm.
She ran off in a panic, even summoning the Ancient Spirits.
Luo Yu didn't waste any time and directly said to Zhen Fu'er, "May I have your hand?"
"Ah?"
Zhen Fu'er was somewhat shocked, not expecting Xia Luo to suddenly ask this. Looking at his handsome and earnest countenance, her heartbeat inexplicably quickened. In the Han Dynasty, heroes abounded.
But not one was as compelling and unique in temperament as Luo Yu.
She always felt there was something very special about Luo Yu that was different from anyone else. It was indefinable.
And whenever she smelled other men, she always felt they carried a muddy aura; she first thought she was sick.
But after meeting Luo Yu, she found his aura utterly attractive.
However, her dignity as a woman and her self-restraint wouldn't allow her to express this attraction to his scent.
Yet her actions had already shown it.
She used to interact only with Bai Xiao'e, keeping to herself, never giving any man the time of day.
Only Luo Yu evidently hadn't noticed this special attention.
Her feelings were subtle; not quite like or love, but definitely a strong fondness.
This inexplicable fondness was something no one else could give her.
After speaking, Luo Yu realized he was too hasty; a woman from ancient times wouldn't have the same customs as those today.
Nowadays, shaking hands upon meeting is quite common, but in ancient times, it was all about greeting with a cupped fist.
Many women remained hidden away, possibly never speaking more than a few words to another man in their whole life, nothing like the openness of today.
"Sorry, Miss Zhen, it was Luo's impertinence."
"There's a good reason for this."
Zhen Fu'er, composed but with a hint of shyness in her eyes, generously said, "It's alright, I trust your character, Gongzi."
"Go ahead and take my hand."
"Thank you."
Luo Yu immediately reached out, feeling the cool and smooth touch, and his heart involuntarily fluttered.
But in the next instant, he composed himself and examined closely.
He had memorized the bronze handprints underneath the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and could now compare them directly.
"Hmm?"
Luo Yu was shocked, emotions churning within him.
"This..."
His mouth fell open in astonishment as he looked toward Zhen Fu'er. He wasn't sure at first and only tried out of curiosity.
And now her palm print actually matched one of those?
All the clues about what happened in ancient times, aside from the resurrected foreign gods, could only be found behind the Azure Stone Gate—it was a secret related to the survival of Great Xia.
"Yah!"
"What are you doing?"
By this time, Bai Xiao'e had dressed and came out, her hair still wet, her cheeks still flushed, but not wanting to miss out on seeing Luo Yu.
Only to come out and find him and her best friend so close together?
And their proximity so intimate.
"Holding hands?"
"And so close, are they about to kiss?"
Bai Xiao'e's shock was minimal compared to the surge of jealousy.
Luo Yu, startled, retracted his divine presence.
"I've lost my composure, sorry."
Zhen Fu'er tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and shook her head, "No need to apologize, Gongzi Luo must have encountered something very important."
"I am willing to be a listener."
Bai Xiao'e, sensing something amiss, couldn't help but ask, "What were you doing just now?"
Zhen Fu'er shook her head: "Xiao E, it's not what you think, Luo Gongzi just wanted to see my hand."
Bai Xiao'e, her Beautiful Eyes wide, said, "And you gave it to him?"
"You really gave it to him?"
Zhen Fu'er rolled her eyes: "It's just holding hands, why are you so excited?"
Bai Xiao'e shook her head: "Sister Zhen, I know you too well, you wouldn't let a man touch you, keeping your chastity intact."
"Pfft, don't talk nonsense," Zhen Fu'er retorted, somehow feeling vaguely guilty at that moment, but quickly composed herself.
This time, Luo Yu didn't mention the Li Mountain Mausoleum or the power of "Ink," only that he discovered a Bronze Stone Gate with five palm prints.
"One of them is mine? How could that be—I don't even remember," said Zhen Fu'er in disbelief.
Luo Yu saw that her shock seemed genuine and shook his head, "Perhaps that memory is in the ones you have lost."
"Maybe that is possible," Zhen Fu'er said hesitantly.
Luo Yu scratched his head, feeling stumped; the lead seemed to have gone cold again.
"May I accompany you to that Azure Gate just once?" Zhen Fu'er asked, curious about her possible past connection.
Luo Yu shook his head and refused, "No, we only have two handprints. It's pointless to go without the other three."