The light of the setting sun is still stuck in the eaves of the restaurant, like a piece of burnt Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle), sticking to the horizon. Qin Zhao and Ji Xue stepped out of the threshold of the Drunken Immortal Residence one after another, without saying a word.
The smell of wine in the air was almost gone, leaving only the greasy smell of fried deep-fried dough sticks on the street corner mixed with dust. Qin Zhao walked ahead, his boots neither lightly nor heavily, and the nine jade plaques made a muffled sound at his waist, as if reminding others: Don't mess with me, I have money and a temper.
Ji Xue was half a step behind, playing with the torn pieces of sleeves in her hands. Her mouth was turned up, but her eyes were not in her hands. Instead, she swept across the opposite roof, the tiles at the entrance of the alley, and the bamboo curtain hanging in the tea stand next door. She was like a cat, with her ears up and her tail still, but her whole body was listening to the wind.
The silence between the two was not like a cold scene, but rather like the phrase 'kiss me' that was still floating in mid air, neither willing to reach out and kick it away.
At this moment, the wind stopped.
It's not the natural kind of slow stop, it's like being suddenly choked and broken, even the sound of the sugar seller's gong at the end of the street abruptly stops.
Ji Xue's pupils suddenly contracted, and a golden light burst out from her eyes, like the first bolt of lightning on the eve of a thunderstorm.
The next second, she bumped into Qin Zhao, her shoulder fiercely pressing against his chest, with such force that he stumbled two steps and fell to the ground.
Sleeping trough
Before the words fell, the overhead sound was like a rainstorm pouring.
Hundreds of arrows were shot from all directions, with black feathers carrying poison and pointed with a faint blue luster. They would corrode upon landing, leaving honeycomb shaped pits on the bluestone slabs and emitting pungent white smoke.
But none of these arrows landed on Qin Zhao.
Ji Xue knelt down on one knee, raised her right hand behind her, and the shadow of the Thunder Spear rose into the air, transforming into a semi-circular Thunder Shield and lying behind her. Arrow rain collided with the shield, instantly shattering into fragments, sparks splashing and crackling, like sparks falling to the ground, illuminating the entire street and alley.
Amidst the pervasive smoke and dust, she lowered her head to look at him, her hair cascading down and sweeping over his nose bridge. A smile curved her lips as she said, "Brother Qin, you owe me your life
Qin Zhao looked up at her, feeling a bit stuffy where his chest had been hit, and his breathing was a bit erratic. He didn't move, nor did he immediately get up. He just raised his hand to support the ground, and his knuckles brushed against a broken arrow, causing him to shrink from the heat.
Are you sick? "His voice became hoarse." Can you say hello before pouncing on someone? I thought you were going to force kiss me
Oh my, it's a rare opportunity. "Ji Xue tilted her head, her eyelashes fluttering, and her innocent appearance was even more decent than a child scamming pocket money on the street." Besides, I won't pounce on you, you're already a sieve now
Qin Zhao snorted coldly and finally got up, grabbing her wrist and pulling her forward with force, pulling her directly in front of him. The movements are crisp and decisive, with an irresistible force.
What are you doing? "Before she could finish speaking, the second wave of arrow rain had arrived.
This time it's denser and the angle is more tricky, as if someone has adjusted the sniper formation to specifically cover blind spots.
Qin Zhao stepped aside and almost deliberately guided the direction of the arrow, letting one of them graze the fabric on her left shoulder.
With a hiss, the silver soft armor flickered with a faint light, and the tip of the arrow snapped, leaving only a shallow mark on the shoulder.
He leaned down close to her ear, his voice very low, but his words were clear: 'Next time... don't block me.'
Ji Xue was stunned for half a second.
It's not because these words were so shocking, but because when he said them, his breath pressed against her earlobe, hot and rapid, unlike the usual crazy financial magnates who pretend to be cool to the end.
She suddenly laughed, and her fingertips quietly touched the scratch on her shoulder, as light as a feather.
Oh? Your heart was beating so fast just now. Are you afraid that no one will draw you a map if I die? "She blinked." Or are you afraid that no one will poke your chest and call you 'scumbag' in the future
Qin Zhao suddenly turned his gaze, a faint purple passing through the depths of his pupils, like thunderclouds surging, but he forcefully pressed it down.
He released her wrist, turned around and walked, walking a line faster than before. The corners of his black golden robe were swept up by the night wind, making a hunting noise.
Keep up. "He didn't even turn his head, his tone returning to cold and hard," If you keep talking nonsense, I'll throw you into the river and feed you a bastard
Ji Xue stood still, watching his back, her smile gradually fading away.
She saw him unconsciously stroke the dark mark on his left wrist with his left hand, moving very lightly as if confirming something. I also saw his right shoulder slightly tense as he walked, a habitual defensive posture that only comes with every emotional fluctuation - just like last night when someone peeked into the Sea of Knowledge after winning the millennium endgame at the gambling house.
She didn't tease anymore, let out a soft sigh, and then smiled again. She quickly chased after him and deliberately bumped his shoulder.
Qin, did you shake your hands just now
Fart. "He paused in his footsteps, his profile contorted like a knife cut.
Is it really not shaking? "She leaned closer
Qin Zhao suddenly turned his head, his eyes so fierce that he could kill someone.
At that moment, Ji Xue suddenly reached out and quickly drew a small circle in his palm.
A very small action, so fast that it feels like an illusion.
He was stunned, didn't shake off, and didn't react.
At that moment, it was as if an invisible thread had pulled from her fingertips into his heart, gently tugging.
Then she stepped back, took two steps forward with a smile, waved her back at him, and said, "Let's go, let's go. It's getting dark if we keep procrastinating. My yard door won't be waiting for you all the time
Qin Zhao stood still, glanced at her back, rolled his Adam's apple, and finally didn't say anything, lifted his foot to follow.
The night breeze gradually rises, swirling the fallen leaves along the street. In the distance came the sound of beating, bang bang, slow and leisurely, as if urging people to go home.
The two of them walked into a dark alley, stepping on gravel and standing water with their feet. Their shadows were stretched by the moonlight, overlapping and separating, and then overlapping again.
Qin Zhao always walked ahead, with steady steps and a straight back, like a lonely person who would never look back.
But his pace noticeably slowed down.
Every seven or eight steps, she would pause for a moment, waiting for her to catch up.
Ji Xue looked into her eyes, didn't say anything, but snorted in her heart: pretend, keep pretending, let's see how long you can pretend.
She lowered her head and glanced at her shoulder. The crack on the silver soft armor had automatically repaired and there were no visible traces. But she knew that if the arrow was three inches off, it could penetrate the collarbone and damage the lungs.
She doesn't have to block it.
But she must block it.
Because she knows better than anyone else that some people may say 'don't worry about me', but in fact, the biggest fear is that no one cares.
At the end of the alley is a fork in the road, leading to the dilapidated courtyard where Qin Zhao temporarily resided on the left and the small courtyard where she was hiding on the right. The two of them walked to the intersection and should have gone their separate ways.
But Qin Zhao didn't stop.
He continued walking forward, towards her direction.
Ji Xue raised her eyebrows and said, "Huh? You went the wrong way, your house is over there
Qin Zhao's footsteps did not stop, and his voice was faint: 'Along the way.'
Oh... "She spoke in a long voice, with" I don't believe it "written on her face, but she didn't reveal it. Instead, she walked side by side with a smile," Do you want to come in and have a drink tonight? My newly brewed peach blossom wine is very sweet, guaranteed not to be spicy
No need, "he glanced at her." Last time you said 'give me a pill', but I slept for three days and woke up to find that two jade plaques were missing
Wrongful! "Ji Xue covered her mouth and smiled." That was to help you detoxify, do you understand? Besides, when did you suffer a loss, it wasn't because of your own greed? Who let you sneak a peek at me taking a shower - wait, I never said I took a shower, did I
Qin Zhao sneered, "Do you have nothing else in your mind besides these
Yes, "she said seriously." For example, why do you insist on following me on the same path? Are you actually... a little worried about me
He paused in his footsteps, his profile tense.
After a few breaths, he coldly spat out, "I'm just afraid that you'll die on the road and ruin my way back
Ji Xue grinned and suddenly reached out and slapped him on the shoulder, saying, "Alright, don't be stubborn. I know you're a good person
Qin Zhao shook off her hand and quickened his pace, "If you touch me again, I'll put away the thunder spear
Are you willing to bear it? "She jumped and caught up." Do you know that little movement in the sea when I don't know? Every time I laugh, your treasure trove buzzes, like charging
Qin Zhao suddenly stopped.
This time I was really angry, my pupils turned deep purple, and my whole body's breath froze, as if I was about to take action at any moment.
Ji Xue was not afraid, but instead tiptoed to his ear and whispered, "Qin Zhao, listen - I don't insist on you admitting to liking me. But I tell you, as long as you want to protect someone, I will definitely act faster than you
She stepped back and smiled brightly, "So, don't always think about carrying it alone. If you fall, who will give me a gold card to buy snacks
The wind passed through the alley and stirred the broken star chains on her high ponytail, jingling.
Qin Zhao looked at her without saying a word for a long time.
In the end, he just cursed softly, "You're crazy
Then he turned around and walked away, his pace even faster than before, as if fleeing.
Ji Xue stood still, watching his back disappear into the corner of the alley, and the smile on her face slowly faded away. She raised her hand, lightly stroking the repaired mark on her shoulder with her fingertips, and murmured softly, "Fool... do you think I want to survive because you don't care about me
She shook her head, raised her smile again, and quickly chased after her.
In the distance, the outline of Qin Zhao's residence was faintly visible. A solitary lamp lit up by the window, as if waiting for someone to come back.
He stood at the door, not immediately opening it, but stopping as if waiting for her to approach.
Ji Xue walked five steps behind him and suddenly said, "Hey
Qin Zhao did not turn back.
See you tomorrow, "she said.
He paused for a moment, finally raising his hand to push open the door, and the wooden door creaked open.
The night wind blew up the corner of his robe, revealing the word 'scum' on the wine pot at his waist, shining faintly in the moonlight.
He stepped into the threshold, his figure about to disappear into the darkness.
At the last moment, he whispered, "Don't be late