Crimson Spider Lily — VI

Li Xinyuan merely shook his head as an answer to Hu Lijing's words. His lips were pursed into a tight line when he raised his head to meet Hu Lijing's gaze with his own, deep, dark and molten gold swirling in his irises.

"I would've understood." He said simply. "Trust me, I would have."

Hu Lijing smiled slightly as he shuffled to turn his body to face the gurgling stream, his eyes following the water now that he felt calmer than he had been in hours. "Truly?" He murmured in a low voice. "How so, if I may ask, Xinyuan?"

That was the problem, was it not? Li Xinyuan had no way of answering that without immediately outing himself as a transmigrator, a man who neither belonged to this time nor this world.

He stood up, knees slightly aching as he trudged to Hu Lijing's side and sat down on his left, knees folded under himself as he glanced at the nine-tailed fox.