Szelot was the first to regain his composure. He quickly knelt down and helped Xie Qi, who had been on his knees, to his feet.
Then, Szelot lifted his hand to gently stroke Xie Qi’s cheek. The mark was already beginning to redden; clearly, he had been struck hard. Frowning with distress, he asked softly, "What are you doing? Doesn't it hurt?"
Xie Qi clutched the hand Szelot had placed on his face, explaining urgently, "I'm sorry. Everything I said before was a lie to deceive them. Xie Teming cast a spell on that earring of yours; he has been using it to watch everything happening here. I only acted that way to put on a show for him. He has been monitoring us all along."
Chapter 124