Untouchable Lovers

Chapter 134: Chapter 124: Heart Like Drifting Fluff

Chu Yu found it very strange. Why would Tian Rujing suddenly ask if she was all right today? He had never cared about these things before, nor had he ever been one for pleasantries.

It was normal for her to greet someone, but coming from Tian Rujing, it was highly unusual.

Instinctively, Chu Yu glanced towards the sky: that’s right, the sun was still in the east, it hadn’t leapt to the west.

Realizing what he had just said, Tian Rujing bit his lower lip, unsure why he felt some annoyance, yet also not knowing why, a faint joy bubbled up within him, like a spring incessantly flowing.

He had never felt this kind of perplexity, such bewilderment, such helplessness.

Nor had he ever experienced his heartbeat surging just because he saw someone, and feeling the absence of something vital when he hadn’t seen her for just a few days.

He didn’t know what this was? No one had taught him, and he didn’t have the slightest clue, but he vaguely sensed that if this continued, it would be troublesome, very troublesome.

He would fall into an unknown realm, unaware of what the outcome might be.

Nodding towards Chu Yu, Tian Rujing attempted to walk past her, but after taking one step, a hand was stretched horizontally in front of him, blocking his path.

“Since we’ve run into each other here, let’s take care of business together,” Chu Yu said with a smile, stopping Tian Rujing, “Lord Heavenly Master, don’t run away. Come on, let’s first fulfill our initial contract. You haven’t forgotten what you owe me, have you?”

Tian Rujing paused, then remembered the prior agreement and had no choice but to stay. He halted his steps but couldn’t help feeling a sigh of relief within: “Okay.” He wasn’t staying willingly; he was compelled by the agreement.

Chu Yu smiled and led the way: “Good, I’ll be waiting for you at the Princess Mansion. Finish up your business in the Imperial Palace and then come see me immediately.”

She had deferred claiming her reward a few days ago because she hadn’t decided which side she should be on. Now that she had made up her mind, there was no more hesitation.

Tian Rujing shook his head: “I have nothing to do in the Imperial Palace, just came here for a walk.” That exorcism invitation, he was merely a figurehead. It didn’t matter if he didn’t go, as it meant he had no business.

“That’s perfect, let’s go together,” Chu Yu said with a laugh.

Once they were both in the carriage, Chu Yu, full of enthusiasm, said: “Let’s start now. Open the ‘literature’ gemstone for me to look at.” As the carriage started moving, a slight vibration came from the bottom. The carriage had no one else but them, so Chu Yu decided simply to start now.

Tian Rujing did not move. He looked at Chu Yu, watching her bright gaze fixed on his wrist; their entire connection lay there. All her thoughts were on the bracelet, and the attention she paid to him was just incidental.

Suddenly, Tian Rujing felt the metal ring on his wrist was heavy, so heavy it was uncomfortable.

Suppressing his discomfort, he crossed his hands and lifted his sleeve to reveal his wrist. As usual, he pressed his finger on the Ruby and silently triggered it in his mind.

If it had been like before, a pale blue light would have appeared within a second or two, but this time, even after ten seconds, everything inside the carriage remained the same.

Chu Yu didn’t know what Tian Rujing was up to, seeing his finger press on the Ruby without any response; after waiting a while and thinking he might be wary of being seen, she reassured him: “It’s okay, this is my carriage, no one will come in to see, you can confidently reveal it.”

Confused, Tian Rujing said, “I…” His expression suddenly changed, as if he had encountered something extremely terrifying.

Just as Chu Yu was about to ask what was wrong, she saw Tian Rujing swiftly extend his hand, whip open the carriage curtain, and then, he jumped off the speeding carriage.

Not expecting such an action, Chu Yu didn’t even have time to shout before she saw Tian Rujing leap from the carriage. The carriage was moving fast, and in an instant, his purple figure disappeared.

After a moment, Chu Yu finally shouted, “Stop the carriage! Stop the carriage!” Her voice had not fully fallen when the sound of hooves slowed with the whinnying of the horses, and a few seconds later, the carriage stopped shaking.

Before the carriage had come to a complete stop, Chu Yu angrily leaped down: “Tian Rujing, was that move of yours just now an attempt at debt evasion? Do you think it’s that easy to escape responsibility?”

By the time the carriage came to a halt, it was already forty or fifty meters away from where Tian Rujing had landed. Chu Yu stepped out quickly, intending to capture the debt-evader, but after running more than ten steps, she sensed something was amiss: If Tian Rujing meant to evade his debt, he wouldn’t have resorted to such a clumsy method. Even if he had clearly told her that he intended to default on their deal, she wouldn’t have been able to do anything to him.

After all, he possessed self-protective abilities beyond his time.

This was still the outskirts of the Imperial Palace. After Tian Rujing jumped off the carriage, he fell to the ground in a disheveled heap, struggling to rise despite the pain. Just then, a patrol of royal guards approached and, seeing Tian Rujing’s disheveled state, they halted.

“Who are you?” A new recruit, not recognizing Tian Rujing, was the first to shout, “This is the Impe…”

He didn’t finish speaking before a veteran soldier stopped him: “Do you have a death wish? That’s Lord Heavenly Master.”

The captain of the patrol stepped forward and paid his respects to Tian Rujing: “Honored to meet you, Historian. May I ask, has something happened?”

At that moment, Tian Rujing was in a state of unprecedented disarray. His face had scraped against the ground when he fell, leaving his cheek smeared with dust, from which crimson beads of blood seeped out. His clothes were creased and covered with dust, his hair loosely dangled from its undone bun, but most disheveled of all was his gaze—a nearly panic-stricken bewilderment and helplessness.

How had the once pristine and unblemished Heavenly Master, seemingly above the clouds, come to such a pitiful and unsightly state?

Guards who recognized Tian Rujing began whispering among themselves, their voices reaching his ears. He stood there blankly, feeling as though he had been stripped naked and thrown into a public square, defenseless under the scrutiny and gossip of onlookers, the noise filling his ears.

The sunlight above was scorching, causing the entire world to glare with white light. His whole body felt as if it were floating, and then he was swallowed up by a blinding white.

Chu Yu had also sensed that something was off by now. She wanted to approach and find out the exact situation, but suddenly a hand blocked her way, just as she had blocked Tian Rujing before. Yue Jiefei hurried to her side, stopping her: “Princess, please step back.”

Yue Jiefei looked gravely concerned, speaking in a low tone: “Princess, please step back.”

Blocked by him, Chu Yu was forced to slow down. Annoyed, she said, “Yue Jiefei, what are you doing? I wasn’t planning to harm your Junior Brother Jing. Put aside your suspicions—I just want to see what exactly is going on!”

Yue Jiefei remained stubbornly in her way, this time with a tone of pleading: “Princess, could you, please go back to the mansion? Don’t concern yourself with Junior Brother Jing… Please, I beg of you, let this matter go.”

Chu Yu fell silent for a moment, then asked, “Is it something I shouldn’t know about?”

Yue Jiefei answered, “Yes.”

His expression was resolute. Chu Yu knew she couldn’t push through and didn’t make things difficult. She turned around decisively and headed back toward the carriage: “Fine, I won’t go over there, and neither can you, at least not until you escort me back to the mansion.”

Yue Jiefei sighed in relief and followed Chu Yu, relieved. As they walked, he quickly looked back, his eyes flashing with worry as he saw Tian Rujing still standing in front of the guards.

Upon reaching the Princess Mansion, before even stepping foot inside, Yue Jiefei immediately requested leave from Chu Yu. Judging by his demeanor, Chu Yu could guess with certainty he intended to check on Tian Rujing. Without making it difficult for him, she waved her hand to grant his leave. As Yue Jiefei leapt onto the wall in two or three strides and took a shortcut over the rooftops of neighboring houses, Chu Yu too ran quickly into the mansion. She dashed straight to the West Upper Pavilion and stormed into Muxue Garden, where she yanked Rong Zhi from his siesta on the green stone platform.

“Quick, quick…” Chu Yu, out of breath from running, took a while before she could articulate her words smoothly: “Have Hua Cuo secretly check what exactly has happened to Tian Rujing!” She briefly recounted the day’s events to Rong Zhi, adding at the end: “And don’t let Yue Jiefei find out.”

Did they really think barring her once would make her give up?

In her dreams!

This matter concerned her important compensation, and she was determined to find out what exactly had happened today!