Chapter 2655: Request
“This... doesn’t seem appropriate,” Zu An replied awkwardly. Despite having once undergone the most intimate ritual, that was due to Chu Youzhao’s scheming. She was the Chu clan’s daughter-in-law, so it wouldn’t do for him to carelessly hug her.
“My request might be unusual, but I truly wish to hug you.” Murong Qinghe was already embarrassed to make that request, and insisting on it sapped all her courage dry.
A thought surfaced in Zu An’s mind. “Did you argue with Youzhao?”
He had rushed here from the capital when he sensed that Phoenix Pass was in danger, so he hadn't had time to drop by the Chu manor. As such, he hadn’t met Chu Youzhao yet and didn’t know how their relationship had progressed over the years.
“You should know why there’s a conflict between us.” Murong Qinghe was from a military clan, after all. She quickly overcame her embarrassment and regained her courage.
“It has been years since we last met, so how could I know?” Zu An could fathom a guess, but it wouldn’t be good to speculate without speaking to Chu Youzhao first.
“Is that so?” Murong Qinghe murmured before abruptly leaping into his arms to embrace him.
It was so abrupt that Zu An’s protective ki layer reflexively activated, jolting her back. He hurriedly reined in its strength, but it was still too much for her to bear. With a dull thud, Murong Qinghe spewed fresh blood. She collapsed on the floor, severely injured.
Zu An was both angry and worried. He rushed forward to circulate her ki and treat her injuries while exclaiming, “What are you doing? You would have been dead if I hadn’t held back in time.”
Instead of saying a word, Murong Qinghe took this chance to embrace him. Tears flowed down her eyes as she muttered, “It was indeed you that night...”
Zu An was stunned and awed by her intuition. She can tell just from a hug?
“I’m sorry. It was an accident...” he tried to explain, but he didn’t know how to go about it.