Pu Xuan's gaze was unfathomably deep, as if it could traverse millennia and glimpse the myriad occurrences of past and present lives.
Meeting Pu Xuan's gaze, Xia Rongyu's heart suddenly fluttered.
Pu Xuan's eyes shone with astonishing brilliance, like a hundred-year-old mysterious galaxy suddenly illuminated.
Pu Xuan looked at Xie Jiang, then at Xia Rongyu, his expression suddenly changed. He withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.
Seeing the pained expression on Pu Xuan's face, Xia Rongyu couldn't help but frown. However, with Xie Jiang present, he didn't ask further.
Then, with a slight shift of his thoughts, he wondered about himself and Xie Hou?
Xie Jiang found the monk rather peculiar. His earlier gaze at her had been exceptionally strange, as if he had seen something on her.
The monk's eyes were also extraordinary, flashing with a golden light like fiery golden eyes.
The moment Xie Jiang was held by that gaze, her heart suddenly tightened. The gaze was like a divine weapon, capable of piercing through her mortal flesh and striking directly at her soul.
Could she have encountered an enlightened monk? Someone who could tell she wasn't from this world? Xie Jiang sneered inwardly, unconcerned.
So what if he knew? Did he intend to guide her to enlightenment and an early ascension to paradise?
If this great monk sought death, she would send him to the afterlife.
It was one thing for the great monk to look at her strangely, but why did he keep shifting his gaze between her and Xia Rongyu? It was as if there was some connection between her and Xia Rongyu.
She had initially hoped to find answers in the monk's expression, but the monk, as if punished for glimpsing heavenly secrets, quickly withdrew his gaze and tightly shut his eyes.
Although Xia Rongyu was surprised, he maintained a composed demeanor and introduced, "This is Master Pu Xuan."
Xie Jiang nodded, not bothering to ask why the great monk reacted this way upon seeing her. It would be useless; Xia Rongyu and the monk would never tell her the truth.
Pu Xuan remained seated like a clay statue. Xie Jiang glanced at him a couple of times before looking away.
"Woof woof—"
Xie Jiang looked at the dog that had run to her feet again. No wonder it felt familiar; this was the third time she had encountered it.
"I thought it looked familiar. So it's the Third Prince's Xiao Bao, right? Xiao Bao is its name, isn't it?"
"Greetings, Marquis Xie." Shen Chan stepped forward and bowed. "Yes, it's called Xiao Bao."
Xie Jiang squatted down, petting the dog, and looked into its eyes. "Have you gained weight?"
Shen Chan didn't answer, as Marquis Xie wasn't asking him.
The dog seemed to understand, glaring at Xie Jiang and huffing.
Xie Jiang rubbed its belly. "You've gotten so plump I almost didn't recognize you. How many meals do you have a day?" The dog was not at all shy, allowing Xie Jiang to pet it.
Shen Chan smiled and said, "Our little ancestor's appetite has been growing, and he's been eating quite a bit. His Highness brought him out for a walk."
Xie Jiang then remembered the dog's owner. Holding both of the dog's front paws, she said to Xia Rongyu, "I apologize for disturbing Your Highness and the Master. Why don't you continue your game of chess? Just pretend I'm invisible. I'll enjoy the scenery and leave shortly."
Xia Rongyu nodded. "Marquis Xie, please make yourself at home."
Xie Jiang didn't approach them. After petting the dog for a while, she stood up and went outside, leaning on the railing to gaze at the autumn mountain scenery.
Whether her presence, a living person, would affect Xia Rongyu and Pu Xuan was not within Xie Jiang's consideration.
She had climbed up with great effort just to get a high vantage point. There was no reason for her to turn around and leave. The tower wasn't named after them.
Xie Jiang acted as if everyone else were absent, standing at the railing with a composed and carefree air.
Looking up at the solitary, proud figure standing against the crisp autumn wind, Xia Rongyu withdrew his gaze and looked at Pu Xuan opposite him.
The pain on Pu Xuan's face had subsided. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, a thin mist of blood rising within them.
Xia Rongyu was startled. "Your eyes..."
Pu Xuan shook his head. "It's nothing."
Xia Rongyu wanted to ask if he had seen something, but then he saw Pu Xuan look in Xie Jiang's direction.
Xie Jiang gazed at the rolling mountain ranges. For now, she could still appreciate the bleak autumn scenery. However, after a few more autumn winds, she feared only desolation would remain.
Leaning on the heavy wooden railing, Xie Jiang ambled a few steps and changed direction. Below lay the Nanzhao Temple, nestled amongst ancient trees.
Not far from Nanzhao Temple, two other temples stood, both smaller in scale than Nanzhao Temple.
Seeing Shen Chan nearby, Xie Jiang casually asked, and Shen Chan followed her gaze. "Those are Jialan Temple and Funing Temple."
Xie Jiang suddenly remembered something and glanced back into the tower. "Where does Master Pu Xuan cultivate?"
The great monk had come back to life at some unknown time. His back was to her, revealing no unusual signs.
Shen Chan replied, "Nanzhao Temple."
The dog circled around Xie Jiang's feet. When Xie Jiang ignored it, it began to nudge her trouser leg.
Xie Jiang thought it wanted to see the scenery too. However, a dog's eyes always looked downwards, so she bent down and picked it up.
The dog became quiet in Xie Jiang's arms, gazing into the distance against the biting cold wind.
Xie Jiang found it heavy and put it down after holding it for a while. Perhaps it hadn't seen enough, as the dog continued to nudge her trouser leg.
Shen Chan, fearing Xiao Bao would anger Xie Jiang, quickly stepped forward to pick up Xiao Bao. However, Xiao Bao was not compliant. It struggled and jumped from Shen Chan's arms, persistently nudging Xie Jiang's trouser leg.
Shen Chan, with a forced smile, explained, "Xiao Bao is particularly fond of Marquis Xie..."
No matter how Shen Chan threatened or coaxed, the dog remained unmoved, stubbornly nudging Xie Jiang's trouser leg.
Xie Jiang raised her eyebrows, gripped her waistband with both hands, and looked down at the dog.
"If you pull again, I'll let go. It's easy for me to loosen this waistband, but not everyone can tie it back up. Unless your Prince comes to tie it for you himself."
Shen Chan's eyes widened. What did Marquis Xie mean by that?
Shen Chan looked up and saw that Marquis Xie was smiling instead of being angry, as if encouraging Xiao Bao. The hand holding the waistband had even loosened.
The biting cold wind blowing down did not stop the cold sweat on Shen Chan's forehead. He knelt on the ground to pull Xiao Bao, thinking how shameless Marquis Xie's words were! They couldn't possibly betray the Prince like this!
Xie Jiang stood in the wind, not deliberately lowering her voice. Xia Rongyu naturally heard everything, almost dropping the chess piece in his hand. He immediately called out.
"Xiao Bao."
Xia Rongyu didn't fully believe the rumors about her, but at this moment, he suddenly understood the concerns of Duke Qian and Marquis Yongxin.
The dog released Xie Jiang's trouser leg upon hearing the call and ran towards Xia Rongyu.
Xia Rongyu looked at it, reached out, and patted its head. "Why are you so naughty? Marquis Xie is here to visit. Don't disturb her."
Saying this, he looked up at Xie Jiang outside and apologized.
Xie Jiang smiled brightly. "I'm idle anyway, so it's no disturbance."
Her expression seemed to say, you're welcome to have your dog disturb me.
Xia Rongyu: "..."
Glancing at the cracks on his face, Xie Jiang turned away with a smile.
Shen Chan squatted in front of the dog, playing with it and trying to block its view, so it would forget that outside there was... there was...
Xia Rongyu withdrew his gaze and then noticed Pu Xuan's expression, which was indescribably strange.
Xia Rongyu couldn't help but look towards Xie Jiang. Xie Jiang walked a few steps aside, her figure mostly obscured by the door. Only her slender shoulders could be seen.
Since Xie Jiang's appearance, Pu Xuan had shown unusual signs twice. Xia Rongyu couldn't help but feel a bit curious as to why.