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"Yes, Princess." A group of Guards took the order and hurriedly chased after the escapee.

Ouyang Leyuan looked down at the back of her hand. Her fair, jade-like skin clearly bore three scratch marks.

"I graced you by favoring you, and you, just like your Master, don’t appreciate the honor."

Xuetuan realized it was being pursued and knew that the wicked woman was up to no good by trying to catch it. Instinctively, it ran towards Xiao Jinyan, and in a short while, it had vanished without a trace.

Four Guards searched everywhere in the yard and by the waterside pavilion for Xuetuan, but they couldn’t find any sign of it.

Ouyang Leyuan, furious and frustrated, ran out of the house only to find the Guards empty-handed and without a trace of Xuetuan.

"A bunch of useless fools, what’s the point of keeping you?"

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and find it for me!"

Ouyang Leyuan had been spoiled and willful since she was young. The Guards also knew her temper, didn’t dare to speak out of turn, and continued their search for Xuetuan with bowed heads.

Xuetuan ran into the yard and saw Xiao Jinyan. It dashed towards him swiftly and jumped into his arms.

Lin Xian was enjoying tea and snacks to tide him over, eagerly anticipating the food Shen Chuwei would bring him later that evening.

Thinking of the meals she brought him every night was his most awaited moment of the day.

Suddenly, noticing Xuetuan jumping into his arms, he paused mid-sip of his tea, "Could it be her arrival?"

Although Lin Xian had regained his sight, he didn’t want others to know yet, so he kept a bandage over his eyes.

After waiting a while without seeing Shen Chuwei entering, he frowned, "Doctor Shen?"

"Meow." Xuetuan looked up at Xiao Jinyan, indicating that it was alone and Shen Chuwei had not come.

Lin Xian waited a bit longer, confident that Shen Chuwei hadn’t arrived, and then he stroked Xuetuan’s fluffy head.

"Where is your owner?"

"Meow." Xuetuan expressed that it didn’t know either.

Lin Xian had an ominous feeling stirring inside him.

While Lin Xian was pondering, he heard footsteps he was all too familiar with — those of Ouyang Leyuan.

The Xuetuan in his arms suddenly leaped out and darted under the bed.

Right after it had hidden itself, Ouyang Leyuan walked in. She glanced around a few times; at this point, she had searched everywhere except the yard where Lin Xian was staying.

Lin Xian called out, "Princess Leyuan?"

Hearing Lin Xian calling her, Ouyang Leyuan immediately softened her previously spoiled and willful tone, "It’s me, Lin Xian."

Lin Xian asked with confusion, "Isn’t it the Water-Splashing Festival today? Why did you come here?"

Seeing Lin Xian, Ouyang Leyuan promptly forgot about searching for Xuetuan. With a smile, she sat down in front of him, "I just came back from the square. Did you know? I just prayed for your swift recovery."

Lin Xian responded, "Thank you."

Ouyang Leyuan smiled bashfully but her expression changed as soon as she recalled Doctor Shen.

"By the way, that Doctor Shen is a fraud and incompetent in medicine. But don’t worry, I won’t give up on treating your illness."

Lin Xian naturally didn’t believe that Shen Chuwei was a fraud. She had cured his eyes with her excellent medical skills, how could she be a fraud?

"Why would you say that?"

Ouyang Leyuan explained, "My third brother suddenly fell unconscious, and it was only after Doctor Shen administered potent drugs that he seemed to improve. But once the effect wore off, he reverted to his previous state."

Lin Xian’s brow furrowed, how could someone as sincere as Shen Chuwei do such a thing?

Before Lin Xian could ask further, Ouyang Leyuan said, "I must attend to some matters. Please rest well."

With that, Ouyang Leyuan covered the back of her hand and walked out, not believing that a cat could just disappear into thin air.

As soon as Ouyang Leyuan left, Xuetuan scurried out from under the bed and once again jumped into Xiao Jinyan’s arms, seeking comfort.

Noticing Xuetuan’s actions, Lin Xian suspected that it might be avoiding Ouyang Leyuan. After all, the cat emerged as soon as she left.

After hearing Ouyang Leyuan’s words, that ominous premonition resurfaced in his mind.

This premonition persisted into the evening, when he noticed that Shen Chuwei, who usually would bring him food at this time, had not arrived.

He waited for roughly half an hour, but Shen Chuwei still didn’t show up.

Lin Xian couldn’t help but worry; had something happened to Shen Chuwei?

He lifted the bandage from his eyes, placed Xuetuan on the floor, and, using his wheelchair for support, he stood up. After some time under Shen Chuwei’s care, he could stand and walk.

Shen Chuwei didn’t want him to stand just yet, saying that if he did so before his bones had properly healed, it could lead to more severe consequences.

Xuetuan, seeing Xiao Jinyan stand up, turned its head and began to walk outside.

Lin Xian steadied himself on the doorframe and picked up a rarely used cane, following Xuetuan out at a slow pace.

He remembered Shen Chuwei mentioning that Xuetuan wasn’t like other pets; it had a sensitive nose, didn’t like strangers, and was skilled at leading the way to find people.

Lin Xian stepped outside, leaning on the doorframe while observing a white shadow darting towards the main gate in the night, which meant Shen Chuwei was not in her Guest Room.

He frowned and quickened his pace, but with every forceful step, a piercing pain shot through his injured leg.

"You mustn’t exert yourself on that leg for the time being or you risk lifelong disability," Shen Chuwei’s words echoed in his mind, causing him hesitation. As he hesitated, his steps also came to a halt.

If he went looking for Shen Chuwei without care, others might discover he could see; it could also potentially result in permanent disability. How would he ever leave this place if he couldn’t move freely?

A deep-seated desire to leave this place and head for Nanzhao Country lingered in Lin Xian’s heart.

What he was going to do in Nanzhao Country, he didn’t know; a voice deep within his mind kept reminding him.

...

ps: First, I ask for monthly passes to climb the charts. In a few days, I plan to have a small burst of updates.

Also, thank you, dear readers, for following up to the latest Chapter—it’s been over a million words, which is no easy feat.

Today, I saw your comments about the Xingmiao Clan storyline’s deficiencies, and indeed I didn’t write it as well as I should have—my recent state has not been good, and I failed to deliver on that storyline.

Going forward, I will strive to do better.

I will try to conclude this storyline as soon as possible and move onto the next one.

I’m preparing a new book and would like to ask what themes you, my dear readers, would anticipate in my new novel?

Once the theme is decided, I’ll open it for pre-collection, and you can add it to your bookshelf in advance.