them for their survival. Where would they dare to offend themDon't dare to say those things about Zongyu being a demon or fierce anymore, just look at what happened to Li Gouzi.My head is still swol...Chapter 1196: Okay, I'll listen to you.

Mayor Lv's expression tightened, and he immediately turned around to help the person up.

"Big Zhuang's daughter-in-law, don't worry, you go call everyone to the ancestral hall, I'll be right there."

The daughter-in-law of Dazhuang nodded repeatedly. Driven by her urgent desire to save the child, she dashed away like the wind, going door to door to relay the village head's message.

Fang Jinxiu unconsciously frowned.

"Excuse me, honorable guests, there's something happening in the village. Those two houses are on the left, they're unlocked, just push the door open."

"You guys rest first, if you're hungry there's food in the kitchen, but you have to make it yourselves."

Zhao Xingzhou nodded.

"Thank you, Village Chief Lü. We will take care of ourselves. Please go about your business."

For some reason, Fang Jinshu always felt that something was off.

As the village head, Lu, was leaving, he seemed to glance at her a little longer.

"Don't you find this village a little odd"

"Do you believe what the village head just said"

Zhao Xingzhou said, "Half and half would be fair, after all, this village does seem to be on the verge of decline."

As for what he said about a river in the desert, I'm afraid it's probably false.

Fang Jinshi nodded. "I think the same way too."

"In short, before we figure out why they suddenly changed their attitude and left us behind, don't act rashly."

"Wake up."

“I have a feeling we're not going to get a good night's sleep tonight. Let's take advantage of this time and rest up.”

Zhao Xingzhou nodded, "You two rest first, I'll take the watch."

Fang Jinshu paused. All along the way, it was Zhao Xingzhou who took the lead in keeping watch most of the time. Although he was a martial artist, his body couldn't keep up with the lack of rest.

"Let me do it."

"Last night you only slept for an hour, I slept the whole night, and I'm not tired now."

Zhao Xingzhou instinctively wanted to refuse. Since he was Fang Jinshu's bodyguard, he naturally had the responsibility to protect her. Even without the identity of a bodyguard, he would not let her be inconvenienced.

Fang Jinshi knew what he was going to say and stopped him before he could speak.

"If you don't listen to me, you can pack your things and go back to Dahxi now. You don't have to follow me anymore."

She always has to be so forceful.

Zhao Xingzhou immediately took a step back, "I'll come change for you in a bit."

Ashes laughed at him, and the two entered the room to rest. Taking advantage of Fang Jinshu's absence, Ashes asked the question that had been weighing on his mind all along.

"Why are you so afraid of Sister Jinxiu"

"Honestly, you don't like her, do you"

A year ago, if someone had asked him this, he would have been flustered.

But now he won't, because he has long since lost the right to like her.

"Is that so"

He openly admitted that his life was now hers to control, and the only purpose he had in living was to protect her.

I have no other desires.

Asheng heard his answer and immediately gasped in surprise.

"Aren't you afraid of dying She's the wife of Zong Yu."

"You can't beat Zongyu."

Zhao Xingzhou lay down directly in his clothes, propping one hand behind his head.

"I have no intention of vying with anyone for her, Your Highness Sheng needn't ask. Our relationship is not as complicated as you think."

The more he said it, the less Ah Sheng believed him.

Even when he was still at the Hou Mansion, he saw that Zhao Xingzhou's eyes weren't right for Jinxiu.

He didn't show the slightest loyalty or devotion that a guard should have to his master.

"Whether you have ideas or not, she is not someone you can covet."

As for Zong Yu, he was still related to him by blood, so naturally, he leaned towards Zong Yu.

"Your Highness, perhaps you should rest now. We can't stay in this village for long."

A Sheng let out a hum and turned his head to lie down on the other side of the bed, still fully clothed. Fortunately, it was almost evening, and the temperature had dropped considerably, so it wasn't as hot anymore.

Lu Village Head's house, though dilapidated, was far better than living out in the open desert. After more than two months, sleeping on a bed again felt incredibly comfortable, even if it was just a wooden plank with straw padding.

At least they no longer had to worry about falling asleep and being swallowed by quicksand beneath them.

My heart feels much calmer now.

Fang Jinxiu stood outside, quietly watching the fiery sunset disappear little by little from the edge of the desert. The sky gradually darkened.

Though the desert's weather is harsh, its nighttime skies are incredibly beautiful.

The vast night sky glittered with countless stars, a dazzling expanse of starlight, brighter than anything he had seen in the capital.

When she had nothing to do, she would use her mind to enter the space and tidy things up. Now that Xiao Green was gone, no one else helped her keep the space organized.

What she brought in, including the mess, was something only she could slowly sort through.

Time passed unnoticed, Fang Jinshi's consciousness bustling within the space. Her perception of time became less acute.

She thought it hadn't been long, but when someone called her back to reality, she found the sky was already pitch black.

Village head Lu held a torch in her hand and stood before him. Zhao Xingzhou had been sleeping lightly and, upon hearing Village head Lu's voice, immediately ran out.

"What's wrong, village head"

Mayor Lu kept looking at Fang Jinshi, as if he knew she was the one with the most say among the three of them.

"I organized people from the village to search for people in the desert. Fifteen went in, and only four came out. The other eleven disappeared."

"He brought back one child, what about the other two"

Liu, the village head, looked anxious and did not seem to be faking it.

Fang Jinxiu was not made of stone. Especially after becoming a mother, she couldn't bear to hear about her child getting into trouble.

"Village Chief Lü, if you trust us, take us there to have a look. We might be able to help."

Zhao Xingzhou's eyes widened in surprise.

At this time, Village Head Lu came to them, obviously wanting to hear her say this.

So many people disappeared in the desert, it was so dangerous to go in, and she wasn't from this village. There was no need for her to approach at all.

But Village Head Lv didn't give Zhao Xingzhou a chance to object. Almost as soon as Fang Jinshu's words fell, he stepped aside to let him pass.

"Of course, you can trust me! Since you were able to make it out of the desert, you're clearly capable people."

Thank you.

Fang Jinshu nodded. "Thank you for leading the way."

She turned to look at Ah Sheng, "Are you coming with us, or are you staying here to rest"

As for Ah Sheng, he wouldn't dare stay behind. Even if he was tempted to linger in the comfort of his bed, he wouldn't dare to be alone in this unfamiliar place.

The people in this village are strange and peculiar. Who knows what will happen to those who stay.

"I'll go with you!" he followed quickly.

Zhao Xingzhou walked to Fang Jinshi's side and whispered.

"We don't need to wade into this muddy water, we barely managed to get out of it."

Fang Jinxiu also replied in a low voice.

"Take a look around the village."

Zhao Xingzhou raised his head and scanned the surroundings, finally discovering something amiss.

"How come it's so dark around this village"

Without a torch, it would be pitch black and you wouldn't be able to see your hand in front of your face. Walking in such an environment is no different from being lost in the desert; you would easily lose your sense of direction.

"Yeah, it's dark."

I suppose if we don't help Elder Lu, we might very well be cast into darkness.

"The villagers of this village were not as kind as they seemed."

It's better to agree to their request and see what their purpose is in staying with us.

Zhao Xingzhou nodded.

Okay, I hear you.ces, this is indeed the case, but many villages will take some money for running errands in the middle."Fang Jinshu frowned, there was still something she didn't quite understand."But you seem incline...