"Are you okay?"

Chuzheng looked down at the child.

The child’s swollen eyes struggled to open a crack, saw Chuzheng, and fearfully shrank back.

"You..."

As Chuzheng took a step forward, the child let out a piercing scream, almost like magic sound in the ears.

Then a woman rushed out of the alley, scooped up the child with a look of fear and panic but still shouted, "You... you beat the child!"

"..."

"???" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"It wasn’t me." Chuzheng’s face was cold. "I saved him..."

The woman shielded the child. "You don’t even spare children, have you no humanity!!"

After saying this, the woman didn’t dare seek justice, hugged the child, and ran away.

Chuzheng: "..."

Chuzheng irritably kicked something nearby.

Passersby who heard the noise jumped in fright, saw Chuzheng, and turned around to run away in terror.

Thus, by the next day, everyone in Hanjiang City gloriously knew about Chuzheng hitting a child.

Adults began using Chuzheng to scare disobedient children.

-

Night fell.

Chuzheng, still angry from the day’s events, couldn’t sleep and stepped into the back courtyard for fresh air.

Who would have thought a group of fish didn’t sleep either, all gathered at one side, poking their heads out, looking up at the sky.

Chuzheng leaned on the edge of the fish tank: "What are you doing?"

Is this some kind of dark cuisine preparation?

One of the carp said, "Absorbing the essence of sun and moon. Brother Jin Li said this way we can achieve immortality sooner."

"..." You all achieving immortality? There are no immortals now! Chuzheng tapped the edge of the fish tank with her fingertip. "Nighttime is for dreaming, sleep early."

Jin Li was unconvinced. "Even as fish, we must strive. If we work hard, we will succeed!!"

Chuzheng solemnly nodded. "If you work hard, you’ll inevitably be eaten."

The fish: "..."

Chuzheng moved the fish tank outward, allowing the moonlight, which had only reached half of the tank before, to bathe all equally.

Chuzheng, expressionless, encouraged them: "Go on, strive to become a dish soon."

The fish: "..."

Chuzheng sat outside, watching them absorb the essence of sun and moon, as if she might toss them into a pot to boil at any moment.

Many fish were so frightened, they sank to the bottom.

Chuzheng propped her chin, her eyes unfocused on the void, not knowing what she was gazing at.

After some time, she vaguely heard sounds from the street outside, but they were faint and quickly disappeared.

Chuzheng glanced over the wall but was too lazy to move.

-

"Ah—"

Before dawn broke, a scream shattered the city’s peace.

Chuzheng leisurely went to open the door, only to see a crowd of townspeople gathered not far away, densely packed, obscuring the situation inside.

"Dead..."

"So tragic."

"Covered in blood, too horrifying."

Chuzheng heard these snippets of conversation drift over and quickly pieced together the situation.

The owner of a nearby bun shop had died.

The death was horrifically gruesome, as if clawed to death, and blood covered the ground.

Despite the terrifying sight, rumors spread across Hanjiang City; everyone had something to say.

Some said it was a human act, that the bun shop owner was usually mean and critical, and surely someone he offended sought revenge.

Others said it wasn’t a monster, as the claw marks didn’t seem human.

And some... some even said Chuzheng did it.

Chuzheng: "???"

Why is this blame falling on me again!

What does it have to do with me, geez!

Can you all be reasonable?

Of course, rumors were rumors; without evidence, no one dared to confront Chuzheng—mainly because they couldn’t beat her.

That same evening, Chuzheng saw Xuan Ying again.

Xuan Ying lifted the curtain with one hand, entered from outside the door, the afterglow of the setting sun highlighting his body with a golden edge.

Chuzheng stood behind the counter, looked up at him, and casually asked, "Getting medicine again?" I don’t have any elixirs of immortality, if Good Person Card comes to mess with me again, I’ll take action!

Xuan Ying said nothing, only handed over a piece of paper.

Chuzheng unfolded it, this time it was a very ordinary prescription—though she couldn’t understand it, she could tell from the names of the herbs.

Chuzheng pressed her finger on the prescription, sizing up Xuan Ying: "Are you injured anywhere?"

Xuan Ying stood with hands behind, not wanting to answer Chuzheng’s question: "Do you not have these herbs?"

"Should have."

Chuzheng wasn’t completely sure.

After all, she’s not a professional doctor.

The prescription contained numerous varieties, and Chuzheng first scanned all the herb names, then began searching in the back.

She found the herbs quickly, and as Xuan Ying watched her efficiently gather them, he wondered what she was thinking.

"All done."

Chuzheng wrapped the medicine and pushed it over.

"How much?"

"No charge, it’s on me." Chuzheng patted the medicine, "Come again next time."

Xuan Ying: "..."

"Could I use your place to decoct the medicine?"

Chuzheng’s gaze turned cold, evaluating him, Good Person Card, what are you scheming?

But it’s okay, it’s good to have a scheme, convenient for me to handle.

Chuzheng walked out from behind the counter, "Follow me."

She led Xuan Ying to the back kitchen, where there were things for decocting medicine, though after she bought it, she never used it.

She grandly waved her hand, "Use as you please."

Xuan Ying nodded slightly, went inside, and first found a clean medicine stove, pouring the herbs in, adding water.

His movements were unhurried, fluid like flowing clouds and water. The final ray of sunset fell on his long lashes, spreading within his eyes and shattering into countless fragments of light, as beautiful as a painting.

Xuan Ying’s sleeve brushed over the medicine stove, and the flame lit automatically.

He covered the medicine stove with a lid, turned around, and followed Chuzheng’s line of sight, "Someone died outside today, aren’t you curious?"

"What’s it got to do with me." Chuzheng leaned against the door frame, her tone indifferent and cold.

Xuan Ying’s eyes held a trace of curiosity, is she really not interested, or just pretending?

"Rumor has it that it wasn’t done by humans, aren’t you afraid this matter might fall on you? You’re very close to the crime scene."

Chuzheng was exceedingly indifferent: "Not afraid."

What’s there to fear?

Is it possible they could come here to kill fish?

Chuzheng’s response was so brief it left Xuan Ying in silence.

"Aren’t you curious who I am?"

"My..." Good Person Card.

Xuan Ying’s brows slightly raised, and for a moment, Chuzheng sensed killing intent, but it was fleeting, as if it were her imagination.

Looking again at the man, he appeared exactly as before, no change at all.

So was it really her illusion earlier?

Impossible.

Chuzheng immediately denied it, there’s no way she would have such an illusion.

Good Person Card definitely emitted killing intent just now, regardless of its target...

The man’s voice rang clear and slow, "Your what?"

Chuzheng kept a stern little face, "Mine!"

You’re mine!

Xuan Ying: "???"

Your what?

Chuzheng turned and left, needing to distance herself from this lunatic, always feeling like he wanted to off her at any moment.