Chapter 23: Through a mask

“Valley Master! If we don’t go now, it will be too late!” the guard shouted.

“I know. Follow me.”

Liang Yixue took a precious sword from the rack, turned, and calmly walked out of the room.

‘Chu Fan… do you have a mask or something… I beg you… put it on… I’ll try to cooperate with you… okay… please…’

The girl in his arms pleaded bitterly.

Hearing this suggestion, Chu Fan’s eyes lit up.

“You’ve reminded me.”

Chu Fan took a mask from his interspatial ring that could completely shield his presence and put it on.

“Remember what you said.”

“Okay…”

Footsteps approached as Liang Yixue walked out from the darkness of the cave entrance with a guard.

Seeing the mask, Liang Yixue frowned slightly.

“Since Your Excellency dares to use force in Wangyou Valley, do you think a mere mask can cover your tracks?”

“Cut the nonsense. I’m in urgent need of 100 Moonbloom Stalks. Go get them for me immediately.”

Hearing Chu Fan’s rude tone, Yu Mei couldn’t help but curse under her breath.

‘You bastard… how can you talk to the Valley Master like that… you scumbag…’

“Shut up!”

Chu Fan barked quietly at Yu Mei.

Liang Yixue blinked in confusion.

She had clearly seen the interaction, but she wasn’t sure what was happening, nor could she hear what they were saying to each other.

“A mere 100 Moonbloom Stalks are naturally available in my valley.”

“Then go pick them quickly.”

‘You bastard… who do you think you’re ordering around… have you no shame…!?’

‘Shut up…!’

Liang Yixue remained dazed, but she still spoke calmly.

“Moonbloom Stalks have a special texture. If they aren’t stored immediately after being picked, they will completely lose their medicinal properties and become ordinary grass. Therefore, please follow me into the valley and pick them yourself.”

“Fine.”

“Before that, can you first release the person in your hands? I will certainly not break my word.”

“How can I trust you?”

“Since Your Excellency could defeat my valley’s guardian general, your strength must be extraordinary.”

Liang Yixue spread her hands helplessly and smiled bitterly.

“As you can see, I am just a weak apothecary who poses no threat to you. Even this precious sword is a failure forged by a former friend. It has no spiritual energy and its edge is dull; it cannot harm anyone.”

“I know,” Chu Fan replied subconsciously.

“You know?”

Liang Yixue raised an eyebrow in doubt.

“Cough, cough, cough, cough!!!!”

Chu Fan coughed several times.

“I mean, I understand.”

Chu Fan released his grip and pushed Yu Mei forward.

Then, without looking aside, Chu Fan walked straight past Liang Yixue and headed into the valley as if he knew the path by heart.

“Valley Master… I’m sorry…” Yu Mei said apologetically.

“It’s all right, Xiao Mei. It’s not your fault,” Liang Yixue said with a slight smile.

It really wasn’t her fault, because Wangyou Valley had never been invaded before, so they never intentionally hired anyone for a security role.

However, Wangyou Valley did once have a security guard.

It was just that the so-called security guard had left the valley and never returned since then.

Liang Yixue had thought about finding someone else to guard Wangyou Valley.

After all, it was like a weapon in troubled times; you might not use it, but you couldn’t be without it.

But in the end, she couldn’t overcome her own psychological barrier.

She still thought that one day that person would return.

If he did, she could proudly say that she had been keeping this position for him—that this role still belonged to him alone.

Besides, she really couldn’t find a guard stronger than him, so Wangyou Valley remained without one.

Thinking of this, a look of loneliness appeared on Liang Yixue’s face.

“If only he were still here… if he were here… he definitely wouldn’t let me be bullied like this.”

Hearing this, Yu Mei was instantly silenced, her eye twitching uncontrollably in profound speechlessness.

“Ha…”

But Yu Mei had no choice but to agree.

Standing up, Liang Yixue instructed the guard, “Take Xiao Mei down to heal her wounds. I will go in with him.”

“Yes.”

Hearing this, Yu Mei jumped up from the ground in fright.

“Valley Master, I—I’m fine! I’ll go with you!”

“Don’t worry. He doesn’t look like a wicked person. I’ll be fine.”

“…”

Yu Mei rolled her eyes in exhaustion.

She was truly out of options, so she followed the guard to the pharmacy to treat her injuries.

After the two left, Liang Yixue stood alone at the cave entrance, looking into the dark depths.

She held the sword with both hands and drew it.

The blade had severe serrated wear, and its luster was dim and dark green.

It looked like it hadn’t even reached the Spiritual Grade and wasn’t even as sharp as a sword forged by a mortal blacksmith.

But Liang Yixue seemed to treasure it immensely.

She held the sword with both hands, gently pressed it against her forehead, and closed her eyes slightly.

When she opened them, she seemed like a different person.

Her gaze became incredibly resilient, and she walked into the deep darkness with firm steps.

Inside the valley, a giant tree large enough to cover the entire courtyard stood before them.

Looking at it, Chu Fan couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Smelling the familiar fragrance of flowers and plants, the corners of his mouth curled up to an unfamiliar height.

“Your Excellency is so familiar with the way. Could it be that you have been to my valley before?”

“No,” Chu Fan denied flatly.

“In that case, the Moonbloom Stalks are this way. Please follow me.”

“Mm.”

Liang Yixue led the way, but as she walked, a strange feeling welled up in her heart for some reason.

It wasn’t the blushing or heart-pounding of a young girl’s fluttering heart.

Instead, it was like a drop of water falling into a calm pond, stirring only a small ripple—a tingling sensation that gently scratched at her heart and refused to dissipate for a long time.

Why was her heartbeat so calm and steady just by walking beside this person?

Why was there such a groundless sense of security?

What was going on?

Walking in front, Liang Yixue kept glancing to the side, but she never dared to look back, only daring to look slightly in his direction.

For some reason, she was afraid of being discovered.

Liang Yixue folded her hands neatly in front of her lower abdomen, but her inner fingers were constantly tugging at her hem, even twisting it into a tight point without her realizing it.

Soon, the two arrived at an open-air pavilion.

It was filled with crescent-shaped, moon-white grass.

“We’re here. Your Excellency, this is the Moonbloom Stalk Pavilion.”

“Good.”

Chu Fan walked to her side and handed her a porcelain bottle.

“Your Excellency, this is…?”

“I am no villain. I just need medicine urgently and didn’t bring any gold or silver treasures. This is a Grade 3 pill that can ward off cold and heat, and prevent insect bites. Although it’s of low value, please accept it as payment.”

Looking at the porcelain bottle in the masked man’s hand, Liang Yixue cupped her hands beneath his, clearly unwilling to touch him.

Seeing this, Chu Fan turned his palm over, letting the bottle fall into her hands.

Looking at the bottle, Liang Yixue nodded politely.

“To be honest, I am naturally physically weak. So this Grade 3 pill, though of low value to others, is a treasure to me. I will accept it with gratitude. Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“Mm. It’s good that it’s useful to you.”

Hearing this, Liang Yixue’s pupils, which were looking down at the ground, couldn’t help but tremble.