Yun Rao unconsciously pressed her lips together and gently grasped An Zi yuan’s sleeve, yet her gaze remained firm on Xiao Run. “I cannot go back.” Qu Xiaoman, who had been accompanying Xiao Run, furrowed her brows, trying to persuade her. “Miss, don’t be so stubborn. You’ve already been out for over a year. When you disappeared a few days ago, the Master personally came out to search for you.” Yun Rao glanced at Xiaoman, but didn’t respond—she only looked at Xiao Run. “It was you who personally promised me that you would no longer restrict my freedom. What have you done these past months?” Xiao Run remained silent, his composed black eyes pausing on the gentle tug of her hands on his sleeve, then coldly ordered, “Bai Li, Xiaoman, take her back.” Bai Li and Qu Xiaoman bowed and instantly moved toward her. Yun Rao glanced at An Zi yuan unconsciously, only to see him calmly observing the scene, with no intention to intervene or save her. Indeed, he had no need to do so. "Master An, when you have time, please go to the Yinming Valley again and retrieve the Qilin Belt from me." Gently releasing her hand from his robe, Yun Rao softly spoke and then began to draw her breath to depart, only for her hand to be intercepted by him midway. "Unchanging!" An Ziyuan softly called out to Unchanging, assigning him to shield Yun Rao from Bai Li Kong and Qu Xiaoman. Upon receiving the command, Unchanging swiftly moved to meet the charging Bai Li Kong and Qu Xiaoman. Turning to Xiao Run, An Ziyuan pulled Yun Rao's hand slightly forward and said calmly, "Master Xiao, you still owe me certain things. If you wish to take her back, perhaps you could persuade her to leave those items with me first?" Xiao Run's gaze shifted to Yun Rao, filled with inquiry. Yun Rao slightly pressed her lips, lowered her eyes, and spoke evenly, "Brother Xiao Run, I've been having the same dream lately. I keep dreaming... " She lifted her gaze to him, smiling gently, "I dream of you soothing me while I take medicine, and then I suddenly go rigid, collapsing to the ground—unable to rise again." Xiao Run's face slightly tightened, and a storm seemed to gather in his cold, deep eyes. "This has always been your true reason for leaving the valley!" he said, his low voice carrying the undertone of a storm. "Yes!" she met his gaze, "I don't want to die in the valley without any clear purpose." Xiao Run looked at her, "Rao, I truly underestimated you!" He suddenly surged with strength, curling his broad palm and launching forward as if to seize her and bring her back. Before he even reached her, Yun Rao was pushed gently behind her by An Ziyuan, who calmly and steadily countered his palm with his single hand. The Yinming Sect had suffered significant defeats at An Ziyuan's hands, and Xiao Run knew well the depth of his mastery—though he considered himself strong, he also knew that relying solely on raw strength would only lead to losses, so he soon withdrew and stepped back. An Ziyuan, too, showed no intention of pursuing further, and when Xiao Run stopped, he did the same. "Rao, you must know," he said, "I must save Meng Yun." Xiao Run gazed at her, speaking slowly. His dark eyes remained sharp and stern, yet subtly carried a touch of weariness and bitterness. Yun Rao smiled gently, without a single word of complaint. "I know." "As soon as he finished speaking, he swiftly grasped Yun Rao's waist, lifting her as he stepped forward, gliding on the wind and vanishing into the distance. Xiao Run did not come after them—perhaps he had indeed pursued, but his lightness of foot fell far short of An Ziyuan's extraordinary mastery. An Ziyuan carried her directly back to the An family estate. As soon as they reached the courtyard, he released her. Yun Rao staggered slightly before steadying herself, turning to An Ziyuan with sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Mr. An, for rescuing me!" "Your politeness is unnecessary," An Ziyuan replied calmly, his gaze fixed on her with a certain intensity. "Yun Rao, no matter what your relationship is with Xiao Run, I don't want to have to face off with the Yuming Sect again because of you." "I..." She unconsciously bit her lower lip, looking at him. "I've truly caused you trouble. I shall leave in two days. And on this very day two months from now, I will return the Qi Lin Ring intact." An Ziyuan only maintained his calm, steady gaze without responding. Yun Rao couldn't help but smile, a He reached into his sleeve and withdrew two small porcelain vials, about the size of two fingers, then tossed one of them toward him. An Zi yuan instinctively reached out and took it. "This is the pill for the intestinal remedy," Yun Rao said, slowly pouring two pills from the vial while smiling lightly. "If the poisoned person does not take it, they will surely die from intestinal failure within sixty days." As she finished speaking, her delicate hand suddenly lifted, and she took the two pills into her mouth, swallowing them dry. An Zi yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at her. She gave him a gentle smile. "Master An, the only remedy you're holding is the one that will save the patient. I'm naturally afraid of death, so I'll exchange it for the Qilin bracelet. I trust you'll take good care of it." With that, she smoothed her smile and turned away. "How can I believe you actually swallowed the intestinal remedy?" An Zi yuan's soft voice echoed gently behind her. "And how did you know there was no remedy left in the girl's possession?" Yun Rao paused slightly, gently throwing the bottle of medicine behind her. "Is the medicine genuine or not? Why don't Master An taste it himself?" Then she turned around, hands spread wide. "Shall I send someone to search? Or, if you're still uneasy, would you care to personally administer the medicine you trust to me?" An Ziyuan reached out to take it, gazing at her, then smiled suddenly. "It seems Miss Yun has a habit of treating poison as if it were a meal." When she had administered the intestinal pills earlier, she hadn't even furrowed her brows—so composed and efficient, as though the medicine in her hands were no more than a simple dish. Yun Rao returned his smile lightly. "Master An has overthought it." An Ziyuan picked up the bottle of antidote, shook it gently, and tossed it back to her. "If you're worried that Xiao Run might have infiltrated and taken you away, then you needn't be—He won't be able to get in." Yun Rao took it gracefully. "Thank you, Master." Then she said her goodbyes and walked toward the temporary quarters. An Ziyuan also On the second day, early in the morning, the maid who attended to Yun Rao came rushing to report, "Sir, Miss Yun has gone missing." An Ziyuan's expression slightly tightened, and he immediately rose to head toward Yun Rao's quarters. The room was now empty, the bed linen neatly folded, the pillow case cold—clearly she had left during the night. His dark eyes swept the room, pausing slightly at a small piece of paper pressed beneath a blue-and-white porcelain bottle before the dressing mirror. He approached, picked up the plain sheet of paper, and read the delicate script: "Mr. An, I am leaving now. I am deeply grateful for your care these past days, and I hope you will forgive any inconvenience. Please keep the remedy for now—I will return all your belongings to you in good condition. Yun Rao leaves." The ink on the paper had dried, suggesting she had written it some time ago. His gaze unconsciously drifted toward the vial of the remedy. An Zi yuan reached out, took it, and held it silently. Though he was so fearful and timid, why did he seem so resolute in entrusting his life to someone else's hands?