A Kiss, a Claw Mark, and Unspoken Truths

Before he could respond, Yan Yi rose on tiptoe and kissed him.

Her nose lightly brushed against Wen Xiaoran’s soft lips—

And a sharp cat’s cry suddenly pierced the night from behind.

“Meow—!”

Xiao Li leapt fiercely onto Yan Yi’s shoulder and swung its paw straight at Wen Xiaoran’s face.

A bloody claw mark instantly appeared on his fair, immaculate cheek.

Yan Yi cried out in alarm, startled by the unexpected turn of events.

She quickly hugged Xiao Li and retreated two steps, putting distance between herself and the great villain.

“Your Excellency, I’m sorry!

Did it hurt?”

Wen Xiaoran instinctively raised a hand to wipe the blood from his cheek.

There was no pain—only the sticky warmth of blood.

Afraid he might lash out, Yan Yi clutched Xiao Li tightly.

Her palm felt something wet and viscous, and a strong scent of blood filled the air.

Forgetting entirely about her plan to test him, she hurried into the room with the cat in her arms.

“Your Excellency, Xiao Li is hurt!

I’ll bandage it first!”

Wen Xiaoran brushed a knuckle lightly against the corner of his lips, watching her retreating figure thoughtfully.

Xiao Li’s fur was soaked, matted with thick blood.

After carefully examining it, Yan Yi discovered that one of its hind legs had been broken.

She treated the wound, set the fractured leg, and fetched warm water to wipe the dried blood from its body.

When she finally finished, she let out a long breath.

Outside the window, the moon hung dim in the sky, the night breeze rustling the willow branches.

The great villain was nowhere to be seen.

After hesitating for a moment, she picked up her medical kit and headed out.

Before leaving, she turned back to the cat.

“His Excellency is injured too.

I’ll go check on him.

Stay here and don’t run around.”

Xiao Li let out a weak meow in response.

Closing the door softly, Yan Yi hurried through the night toward Wen Xiaoran’s residence.

Just as she raised her hand to knock on the study door, an anxious voice came from inside.

“Your Excellency, there was a demon beast on Mount Fuyu.

Though I severed her right leg, she severely injured me—”

It was Wen Feng’s voice.

Yan Yi froze.

She neither dared to leave nor to remain.

She barely registered the rest of their conversation.

Only one phrase echoed in her mind—

He severed her right leg.

Xiao Li rarely left the courtyard without permission.

It had just returned in a panic, missing a hind leg.

Was it truly coincidence?

Yan Yi shook her head forcefully.

She had not heard what kind of demon it was.

Could it really be a cat demon?

Before she could think further, the study door suddenly opened.

Wen Xiaoran stood there, suspicion evident in his gaze.

“What are you sneaking around for at this hour?”

His tall figure cast a shadow over her.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Remembering her purpose, she steadied herself.

“Your Excellency, Xiao Li scratched you.

I felt uneasy, so I came to check on your face—”

Her voice trailed off.

His face was flawless.

No blood.

No wound.

Her heart pounded violently.

He had not been scratched at all.

The blood on his cheek had belonged to Xiao Li.

In the dark of night, with Xiao Li covered in blood and returning in haste, he must have suspected something.

“It’s nothing.

I’ve already cleaned it.”

His sudden reply pulled her thoughts back.

She clung to a fragile hope that perhaps he had indeed been injured but treated it himself.

At least Xiao Li—and she—had escaped death.

Wen Feng emerged from behind Wen Xiaoran, nodding politely at Yan Yi before departing into the night.

“Young lady, where was your cat injured?” Wen Xiaoran asked coolly.

Her heart tightened.

“A leg.

One hind leg.”

She dared not lie.

If he saw the injury later, the deception would only bring worse consequences.

“Take me to see it.”

“Now?” she blurted out.

He raised a brow.

“Is there a problem?”

“No—no problem.

It’s just late.

Shouldn’t you be resting?”

The abrupt change of topic only exposed her guilt.

“Midnight has not yet come,” he replied evenly.

She muttered under her breath, “An old antique staying up late…”

“Old antique?”

He touched his still youthful face in faint surprise.

Yan Yi’s eyes widened in horror.

“Your Excellency!

I didn’t mean you were old.

I meant—you’re over eight hundred years old compared to mortals like us—”

He stepped closer.

She was digging her own grave.

“Let’s go see Xiao Li!” she hurriedly changed the subject and fled ahead.

Back in her room, she carried the cat to him.

“I’ve already bandaged it.”

He examined the injured leg and frowned.

“Can it be healed?” she asked nervously.

“Just a superficial wound.

Ordinary ointment will suffice.”

She stared at him in shock.

Superficial?

She had clearly felt the broken bone earlier.

Xiao Li rubbed its head against her palm and meowed softly, as though reassuring her.

Suddenly, Wen Xiaoran picked up a distinctive envelope from the desk.

“What is this?”

“My cousin’s letter,” she answered honestly.

His expression darkened slightly.

“What pressing matters does your cousin have with you?”

“Nothing important.

Just family matters.”

“Family matters require such frequent letters?”

Frequent?

She had not written recently.

“He joined a renowned sect to cultivate.

He said he would visit once his strength improved.”

She quickly added,

“I haven’t replied.

I didn’t agree to let him visit.”

He snorted.

“A cultivator daring to enter the Demon Domain.

Overestimating himself.”

“He doesn’t know I’m here,” she said softly.

A trace of displeasure flickered across his face.

“You truly are accustomed to living in lies.”

His words struck like a heavy hammer.

She had lied countless times to survive.

To her, these characters had once been fictional.

Yet now—

Xiao Li was real.

Wen Xiaoran was real.

Every person she met was flesh and blood.

“No,” she denied.

“I’m not hiding it intentionally.

I just don’t know how to tell him.

I’m afraid he’ll worry and rush here recklessly.”

“Is that so?”

He turned to leave.

“Your Excellency, wait!”

She ran inside and returned with a golden filigree sachet.

Breathless, she held it out to him.

“You’ve been busy and haven’t had time to burn calming incense.

This sachet contains herbs to soothe the heart and ease headaches.

Please keep it with you.”

Wen Xiaoran glanced at the sachet.

His brows relaxed slightly.

But he did not reach out to take it.