...

As soon as the words left her mouth, the room fell silent. Xu Zhen realized she might have misspoken and tried to backtrack, but Xun Qianchun leaned in and earnestly said, "Yes."

Xu Zhen's heart fluttered. "What kind of thoughts?" she asked.

Xun Qianchun replied, "I like the teacher."

Hearing these straightforward words, Xu Zhen felt a rush of warmth to her head, leaving her speechless. Her face flushed, and she just stared blankly at the young woman in front of her.

Today, Xun Qianchun wore the same heavy, deep blue tattered clothes, with brown soft armor on top, two small swords at her waist, and a jade pendant around her neck. Her expression was calm, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned.

Xu Zhen asked again, "Your body, it doesn't hurt, right?"

The smile on Xun Qianchun's lips faded, but her eyes remained soft. "Teacher," she asked directly, "what does my pain have to do with liking you?"

She had pinpointed the crux of the issue immediately.

Xu Zhen knew that Xun Qianchun was smart and would eventually figure everything out. She hadn't planned to hide it, so she decided to come clean. After a moment, she said, "I do know something."

Xun Qianchun looked at her attentively.

Xu Zhen slowly explained, "You're actually poisoned."

Xun Qianchun remained silent.

Xu Zhen continued, "It's a powerful poison. If there's someone you care about deeply, your whole body will ache. The more you care, the more it hurts."

Her voice lowered as she finished, almost on the verge of tears. But knowing she had a solution that could soon restore Xun Qianchun to normal, she quickly pulled herself together.

Xun Qianchun stood still, showing no reaction.

Xu Zhen tugged at her sleeve and asked, "Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you believe me?"

Xun Qianchun shook her head, "I believe you."

Xu Zhen said, "Earlier, when you were in pain..."

Xun Qianchun responded, "It wasn't very painful, still bearable." As she spoke, her shoulder throbbed slightly, and she couldn't help but wonder if lying caused pain as well.

She hadn't been in pain recently, but ever since parting from the teacher, every time she thought of her, her whole body would ache.

Fortunately, this pain arose from missing the teacher too much.

Xun Qianchun felt a bit happy.

She held Xu Zhen's hand and pulled her into an embrace.

Xu Zhen still had many things she wanted to say, but all she could hear was her own rapid heartbeat.

"Teacher," Xun Qianchun's voice seemed to cast a spell, enveloping Xu Zhen in a dreamy haze.

Xu Zhen responded lightly, resting her chin on Xun Qianchun's shoulder.

She always thought the little beggar was simple-minded, but in reality, she herself rarely thought deeply, preferring not to overthink.

Love was the most complicated thing in this world.

Initially, she wanted to stay with the little beggar for a long time. Over time, she realized that even if they were apart, occasional meetings were still good.

But now, her thoughts had shifted once more. She longed to remain close to the little beggar, never parting, despite knowing she was a villain who might one day kill her.