Severed ties and living in a dilapidated house? No worries, the poor thing has a space.

The moment their eyes met, Xiao Jingqi's tightly furrowed brows seemed to be gently smoothed out by an invisible hand, and suddenly relaxed.

His lips curled up slightly, forming a warm and charming smile, and he slowly stood up, his tall and upright figure attracting much attention.

He spoke softly, "Miss Fang, what brings you here?"

His tone also carried a hint of surprise and anticipation.

Fang Yu walked towards him with light steps, replying as she went, "I had something to ask you, of course there's more..."

At this point, she deliberately lowered her voice, but the last two words were not actually uttered. However, it could be seen from her lip movements that they were "I miss you".

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingqi was first taken aback, then let out a dejected laugh.

He reached out and took the teacup Fang Yu handed him, gently placing it on the table. Then, with utmost tenderness, he took her slender wrist and carefully led her to the chessboard that had been prepared beforehand, and they sat down together.

Fang Yu's gaze remained fixed on the black chess piece held in Xiao Jingqi's hand, a sly glint in his eyes. He deliberately teased, "Lord Xiao, are you perhaps reminiscing about someone by looking at this piece?"

After saying that, she winked, her playful and cute appearance making people smile.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingqi's fair face flushed slightly. He lowered his eyes shyly, his gaze falling on the chess piece he was holding tightly in his hand, as if trying to see through it.

After a moment, he responded softly, "Mm."

The voice was so low that only the two of them could hear it.

Seeing this, Fang Yu secretly chuckled to herself. She reached into the chess box, took out a black piece, and casually placed it on the chessboard.

Then, she parted her lips slightly and asked casually, seemingly unintentionally, "When does Lord Xiao plan to leave Huaizhou City?"

Xiao Jingqi's already serious expression grew even more solemn. He gently pinched a snow-white chess piece with his slender fingers, but his movement suddenly stopped in mid-air.

His deep eyes were fixed on the view outside the window, while his ears keenly picked up the faint, intermittent warning sounds of gongs and drums coming from the direction of the city gate.

Time seemed to stand still, and the entire room was enveloped in a suffocating silence.

After a long silence, just as it was about to break anyone, Xiao Jingqi finally placed the white chess piece on his fingertip. With a soft sound, he spoke in a low but firm voice, "I'm afraid we can't leave for now."

Fang Yu, sitting to the side, had a look on her face that suggested she was enjoying the show and wasn't afraid of things getting worse. Not only that, she also deliberately raised one eyebrow playfully and slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

He then added with a hint of mockery, "Lord Xiao, if you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave later!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingqi's slightly furrowed brows deepened even further, and a look of surprise quickly appeared on his face.

His bright, star-like eyes looked at Fang Yu with a puzzled expression, revealing a strong thirst for knowledge. He was clearly puzzled by the deeper meaning behind her words.

However, at that moment, a sharp and piercing whistling sound came from outside the window.

Before the two could react, a vaguely shaped hidden weapon flashed through the window like lightning, hurtling straight toward Fang Yu's position.

In the blink of an eye, at the critical moment, Xiao Jingqi unhesitatingly stretched out one hand to protect her head, while his other hand smoothly wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her to the side and narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.

Before the two could even catch their breath, another sharp whooshing sound rang out.

The second hidden weapon followed the same path, flying through the same spot in the window at an even greater speed, aiming straight for their vital points...

Xiao Jingqi suddenly flicked his sleeve, and the chessboard was violently lifted up as if swept by a gale. Then, a black short arrow flew like lightning and embedded itself deeply into the chessboard, a full three-tenths of an inch deep.

In an instant, the chess pieces on the board scattered like a flock of startled birds, falling to the ground with a clatter.

Just then, Mo Jiu rushed in from outside the door in a flurry of activity.

He spotted the two unharmed people at a glance, and the weight in his heart finally lifted. But he immediately turned and ran towards the direction from which the hidden weapon had come, his movements as swift as a ghost.

Fang Yu gently touched Xiao Jingqi, then slowly got up from his warm embrace, gracefully squatted down, and carefully pulled out the short arrow that had penetrated deep into the chessboard.

Xiao Jingqi's deep voice came from behind her: "Do you know something?"

Fang Yu nodded slightly and handed him the short arrow without hesitation.

Her tone remained calm, yet carried an undisguised playfulness: "I know, the magistrate wants to kill you because he thinks you've been lingering here too long and are getting in the way!"

When Fang Yu said the word "in the way," she deliberately emphasized it, and the sly smile on her lips couldn't be suppressed as it rose high, like a blooming peach blossom.

"..." Xiao Jingqi pursed his lips tightly, pressing down hard on the corners of his lips. His originally handsome face now looked somewhat aggrieved.

He tilted his head slightly back, looking up at the sky, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, as if trying to expel all his unease and anxiety with it.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes again.

"Let me send someone to take you back first. Huaizhou City may not be peaceful tonight."

Xiao Jingqi said with a serious expression, his tone full of worry.

Fang Yu was well aware of the tense situation in Huaizhou City. When she went to the small building, General Chi was not there, and at this moment, the city was under attack by enemy forces at night.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but ponder to herself that perhaps she could no longer leave easily at this moment.

Just as Xiao Jingqi turned to go out and call for help, Fang Yu swiftly grabbed his sleeve, stopping him.

She gently pulled Xiao Jingqi to sit down beside her, and picked up the teacup that had been on the table, handing it to him softly, saying, "Have some tea first."

Xiao Jingqi looked at the teacup in front of him, his brows furrowing tightly, clearly quite worried about the current situation.

Nevertheless, he obediently took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

After he finished drinking the tea, Fang Yu began to recount in detail the series of events that had occurred.

She recounted everything to Xiao Jingqi, from the two Chiguo people who intended to abduct girls from the village, to her experience going to the small building, and the timely reminders Xin Jiyan gave her, down to the smallest detail.