Chapter 103: Choosing to Trust You Instead

I had thought his hand would reach for my chest, but instead, it slid over to my shoulder. His fingers lightly teased the fabric, loosening the sash, and suddenly I stood bare before him.

The room was unnervingly silent, charged with an eerie stillness that set my restless mind wandering. His cool fingers brushed my arm, and heat instantly flushed my cheeks. I bowed my head, biting my lip tightly, feeling as if I had done something unforgivable to Zilian.

“Don’t overthink it,” Putai said with a smile.

“…Mm,” I murmured, embarrassed that he had seen through me.

“When you were injured, was Immortal Zilian with you?” His hand drifted slowly along my arm, moving down past the elbow. Though the white silk blindfold concealed his eyes, it could not hide the faint furrow of his brow.

“Yes! I was with him,” I replied, clenching my lips to stifle my pain, trying to steady my nerves before speaking.

His hand suddenly halted on my arm, and he gave a strange, self-mocking smile. “Yes, only when you’re with him do you foolishly forget to use your magic to protect yourself.”

He smiled coldly, as if resigned, shaking his head. “Miss Yu Ge, are you very afraid of Immortal Zilian discovering your true identity?”

“Yes!” I nodded, confessing, “I am very afraid. The only reason I can stay by his side now is because you helped me remove a golden scale from my body. If…”

Before I could finish, his hand pressed too hard against my wound.

“Ah! That hurts,” I winced, my breath coming in heavy gasps.

Putai’s face showed a flicker of frustration. He hurriedly placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice anxious. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

“It’s nothing.” I bit my lip, enduring the pain, and smiled at him. “If you hadn’t helped me, I probably wouldn’t have had a chance to be close to Zilian my whole life. So… I still have to thank you.”

“Thank me?” He lifted the corner of his mouth in a faint smile, his fingers sliding softly over my shoulder. The pain eased considerably where he touched. I smiled back. “Yes, thank you. You’re very skilled.”

“Heh…” With the blindfold still in place, he glanced elsewhere and said lightly, “I treat Miss Yu Ge well because by doing so, I gain some benefit myself.”

I couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth, but for now, I chose to trust what I saw with my own eyes.

He turned, removing the blindfold from his eyes with his back to me. “It’s late. I shall take my leave now.”

With that, he started toward the door.

“Putai.”

As he reached the threshold, I called out to him.

“Miss Yu Ge, what is it you wish to say to me?”

“Thank you, Putai. Although you won’t reveal your true identity, I choose to believe you will not harm me or Zilian.”

“Heh…” His laugh was tinged with coldness. Standing by the door, he chuckled softly before saying, “Foolish girl, don’t trust others so easily. Be careful not to be deceived.”

“Deceived? How could that be? There’s nothing valuable on me except this palace robe. There’s nothing worth stealing,” I replied firmly.