Chapter 1340 - 1016: The Person We’re Looking for Is Named Zuo Heng

Actually, after he started speaking, everyone gradually realized that this man, who appeared superficially shabby and haggard, might not actually be that old. His frame was thin but upright, his breath prolonged and steady, and his hoarse voice merely masked his vigorous tone; in fact, his voice sounded quite young.

As for his grizzled hair and beard, it seemed more like he experienced some major upheaval to end up like this.

When Lu Xiao called him "young master," her intention was to unmask his disguise, and indeed, his demeanor subtly shifted.

"So what if I am?"

"Living here, you must go down the mountain to buy daily necessities, don’t you? Over ten years going up and down the mountain, have you never encountered poisonous snakes?"

"..."

"Do you have no medicine prepared for snake and insect bites?"

"..."

"We mean no harm, we merely seek a means for our friend’s survival, and ask for your assistance without reservation."

Her words were seamless, and the man’s eyes flickered as he looked at her, rendered speechless. For a moment, everyone fell silent.

The man was silent for a long time, and finally said, "You two, bring the patient inside."

He was obviously referring to Lei Yu and Lu Xiao, yet Wo Xue, who was vigilantly watching him, immediately became anxious: "No, I must stay by the lady’s side!"

The man looked at her indifferently: "Is your lady someone important?"

Upon hearing this, Wo Xue dared not speak. Given Shang Ruyi’s significant identity, it certainly couldn’t be casually revealed, yet, everyone in their entourage was extraordinary, and even if he didn’t get a direct answer, he might guess more than a thing or two just by the impressive crowd standing at the door.

She then said: "Regardless of importance or not, I just wish to look after the lady."

"..."

The man watched her for a while and said, "Then you come in too."

Wo Xue breathed a sigh of relief and hurried in with the two guards carrying Shang Ruyi, finally witnessing the scene inside the small wooden hut.

No matter how small a sparrow, it contains all vital organs. The hut was built atop this lonely mountain peak, exposed to wind and sun, naturally dilapidated, yet within, everything was very clean, the utensils arranged neatly, with distinct divisions of a main room and two side rooms — the west room held a bed near the wall, with dry and orderly bedding and a broken chest at the foot; the center of the main room had a low table with cups, plates, and a small lamp; while the east room contained only a shrine, in front of which was a thick mat, also dented in the center from countless bows and foreheads pressing, flanked by gongs and a fish-shaped woodblock.

This really was the simplest dwelling of a practitioner.

The man pointed to the bed against the wall: "Lay her down, you two can leave afterwards."

The two guards, witnessing the possibility of the Princess being saved, dared not speak further and hurriedly assisted Wo Xue in transferring Shang Ruyi from the stretcher to the bed; suddenly, Shang Ruyi reached out and grabbed Lu Xiao’s sleeve, mumbling something incoherent.

Lu Xiao sighed lightly.

After placing Shang Ruyi down, the guards hesitated to leave, fearing that if anything happened to the Princess, they would be doomed. As they hesitated, Wo Xue whispered, "You two leave first, wait outside. Rest assured, I won’t let—the lady be harmed."

Only then did they reluctantly exit the wooden hut.

As they left, two others tried to enter—the very Ashina Zhuxie and Wang Shaoqiu, but just as they were about to step over the threshold, the man reached to close the door.

Ashina Zhuxie furrowed his brows and immediately held the door: "What is the meaning of this?"

The man glanced at him indifferently, then at Wang Shaoqiu, saying: "You wait outside."

"Why should I?"

"Simply because this is my place."

"..."

Though they were both influential figures, one a regional overlord and the other akin to a regional hero, they had no argument against this, for the statement was justified. Regardless of their power or prestige, they couldn’t enter someone else’s home without permission.

Unless they intended to tear down this fragile shack.

Ashina Zhuxie asked, "Do you know who I am?"

The man replied, "Wait outside. I don’t want to know who you are, nor do I want you inside."

With that, he once again pushed to close the door, anger flickering on Ashina Zhuxie’s face, and just as he was about to explode, Lei Yu stepped forward, speaking in a deep voice: "Now’s not the time for disruptions. Ruyi is in danger."

As his hand wavered, Ashina Zhuxie slowly withdrew.

The door closed before them.

Instantly, everyone bore expressions of displeasure, yet remained helpless. Wang Shaoqiu squinted at the light seeping through the door’s crack, the glimmer concealed within his eyes, flashing countless times. He lowered his voice to Ashina Zhuxie: "Khan, are we simply allowing this?"

Ashina Zhuxie strolling to the side, hands behind his back. Hearing this, he asked: "What do you propose?"

Wang Shaoqiu replied: "Since the Left General’s Tomb might be on Skytop Mountain, this person is likely aware of the clues."

"..."

"It would be better to ask right away."

"..."

After a pause, Ashina Zhuxie said, "Let’s wait until that person revives Shang Ruyi; I can’t bear the thought of pain after her death."

"..."

Wang Shaoqiu fell silent, watched Ashina Zhuxie for a while, then suddenly used a complex and peculiar tone: "It seems the Khan too cannot overcome the allure of beauty."

Ashina Zhuxie had turned to face the wind blowing from the pine forest side, hearing this, he turned back to face him: "Too?"

While they waited calmly with myriad thoughts, the people inside the room began to move.

The man approached his bed, looking down at Shang Ruyi, first observing her complexion and clothing, then sat at the bed’s edge, took her hand, and began checking her pulse.

The others inside held their breath.

The man, while feeling her pulse, casually asked: "You claim you’re here seeking out an old friend?"

Lei Yu replied: "Yes."

The man responded: "Who is this old friend? Why search in this place?"

"..."

Lei Yu hesitated, unsure how to answer.

At that moment, Lu Xiao gazed at the man, under the faint candlelight, her eyes flowing, and in such a night, within such an eerie mountaintop cabin, facing such a haggard man, she resumed her old embrace of charm—a single glance that could soften the bones of any man present.

She said: "The person we’re searching for has the surname Zuo and is named Zuo Heng."