In the meantime, on the other side of the Sect, Kun Shang had personally requested to accompany Chun Yi back to her cell. They walked slowly, him staying a couple of feet behind her as she led the way. He was in fact following her because he had no clue where the dungeons were located.
Kun Shang had many things in mind he wanted to ask her on the way, but couldn't manage to open his mouth. Instead, he just kept staring at her back. She was always wearing layers of clothes and a shawl over her head. He finally understood why. He experienced it first hand.
She was poison. Her entire body was poison. It was the kiss on her hand that had caused him to almost die. Why did she try to kill him? He tried to deny it but it was too obvious that she's trying to kill him. And then someone saved him. Who saved him and why wouldn't Chun Yi tell him? One look at the Western Sect and he knew they weren't welcoming people to outsiders, so he didn't even bother asking them or the Grandmaster. But even Xiaogua, Silang, Xiu'er and Chun Yi won't tell him who saved him and how.
Now that Kun Shang knew why she had to cover up, he wanted to see her face more than anything. How did she look like underneath that veil? Will she be beautiful, or will she be different?
Finally, they arrived at the ice dungeons where she was put inside her cell by a guard. He turned around to leave, his hands sweaty beside him from the small fever he still has.
"I'm sorry," Chun Yi said quietly from behind the bars. He had already turned his back to her but froze on his steps, surprised to hear her speak. "After you have recovered, I think it's best that you guys leave me here."
Kun Shang turned around and looked her in the eyes. He took slow steps towards her. His head tipped slightly to the side when he was close enough to see there was sadness in her eyes. She batted her lashes away from him.
"And why is that?" He asked.
"Because I tried to kill you...and I killed Yaoyao."
Kun Shang took a deep breath. In his heart he had already chosen to believe her. He believed she didn't kill the girl on purpose and he believed she didn't know. Deep down, he knew she wasn't a bad person. There must be a reason for her to kill him. Not everything in this world can be controlled, especially when you are someone who has a body full of poison.
"You didn't mean to kill her, did you? The same way you didn't mean to hurt me. Listen, Miss Chun." Although he was a few feet away from her, she could feel the hotness of his breath when he said her name. He took one more step forward.
"There are three reasons you should stay away from me!" Chun Yi suddenly exclaimed. She raised her head and summoned her courage. When he beckoned her to continue, she said, "First, you don't know me and you don't know how dangerous I could be. Second, I did try to kill you and I don't know when I will do it again. So... don't come near me again. Third, you don't owe me anything anymore, and you should forget the past."
Kun Shang was silent as he let her words sink in. The guard had left her post. It was just him in the room in front of the cell. The cells were located underground and also made of ice. In the tunnels, they branched into large rooms and each room held only one cell.
"Is that how you really feel? Well, I have three reasons to keep you close to me." Kun Shang gently spoke. He abruptly brought himself to the bars and frightened her, which she backed away. "First, I wanted to know your name and I'm glad I did." The corner of his lips curled up slightly. "You have a beautiful name by the way. Secondly, I promise myself that I will see more than just your eyes. This time, I will not let you go until I see your face. And third, I have already promised to help you retrieve your item for saving our lives. Before all those three things are accomplished, I will continue to keep you close to me. By my side."
Back in the room, Xiu'er and Yu Yue were discussing an escape plan to leave White Mountain. Kun Shang came to her room right after the dungeon and invited himself in. Xiu'er was not the happiest when she realized where he went and that he had forgiven his killer. She wanted to bring Yaoyao's murderer to justice, but the murderer had Kun Shang backing her up. For now she could only swallow her anger and take deep breaths whenever she was reminded of Chun Yi.
Xiu'er disclosed a plan to him that she created and convinced Yu Yue to go along with. After so much convincing to the Grandmaster but failed, they had no choice but to resort to--
"Eloping!?" Kun Shang leaned into the table.
She put a finger on her lips. "It's not eloping. It's called 'sneaking out'," she whispered to him.
Yu Yue couldn't help but slightly laugh. Her laugh was musical notes to the ear.
"This fits perfectly well into the plan," she said. "Since I know of a secret passageway underneath the mountain, we can use it. It was built for both escaping and trapping the enemies during turbulent times. If we take that route, I'm sure we'll make a safe escape. However, if we ever do get separated, always follow what you think is the most dangerous path. There is a reason for that."