"Thunk thunk thunk—thunk thunk thunk—"

The early morning mist still shrouded Luochuan Town, but rhythmic hammering already echoed from the carpentry workshop. Through the half-open wooden door, you could see a young man focused intently on carving a piece of sandalwood, each cut precise and powerful, as if the wood came alive in his hands.

This was Lu Zhao's daily routine.

Five years now, ever since that accident stole his memory, he'd spent every sunrise and sunset in this small workshop. His master said he'd found him on a mountain path, head badly injured, nearly dead. When he woke, he remembered nothing except his name—Lu Zhao.

But strangely, he possessed many innate skills—not just carpentry, but archery, poetry, even military strategy. His master often said he didn't seem like an ordinary family's child.

"Xiao Zhao, excellent technique. This lotus is so lifelike," the master carpenter approached, nodding with satisfaction. "Though your blade work is becoming less and less like what I taught you."

Lu Zhao stopped his carving knife, gazing at the blooming lotus in the wood, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Master, I always feel like I've seen more exquisite carvings before, even more..."

"More what?"

"More... imperial in style." After saying these four words, Lu Zhao himself was stunned. Imperial? How could a carpenter's apprentice have such thoughts?

His master looked at him deeply but said nothing more. Over these five years, Lu Zhao would occasionally say strange things, as if remembering something from a distant past.

"Master, about yesterday at the marketplace..." Lu Zhao set down his knife. "That young master I helped—I felt like I'd seen him somewhere before."

"Familiar?" The master raised an eyebrow. "Where do you think you've seen him?"

Lu Zhao shook his head. "I can't remember. I just felt... felt I should protect him." He paused. "The feeling was strange, like..."

"Like what?"

"Like long, long ago, I'd sworn an oath to protect someone."

A strange glint flashed in the master's eyes, quickly concealed. "Probably just imagination. Don't obsess over remembering things from before you lost your memory."

Just then, urgent footsteps sounded outside.

"Is anyone there? Please, I beg you, save me!"

Lu Zhao and his master exchanged glances, hurrying to open the door. Outside stood a young man—yesterday's "Su Lin"!

Su Ying was in a wretched state, her clothes stained with dew and mud, face pale—clearly she'd been running all night. The moment she saw Lu Zhao, complex emotions flashed in her eyes—both relief at surviving and anxiety toward a stranger.

"Master Su?" Lu Zhao looked at her in surprise. "What happened?"

Su Ying bit her lip. She knew that besides trusting this stranger who'd helped her yesterday, she had no choice. "Those people... they've been chasing me. I hid in the mountains all night—I'm completely desperate."

"What people are chasing you?" The master peered outside alertly.

"They're... people my family sent." Su Ying didn't dare reveal the truth, speaking vaguely. "They want to force me to do things I don't want to do."

Lu Zhao's gaze instantly turned sharp, an aura that even surprised his master. Just what had Lu Zhao's identity been before losing his memory?

"Come inside first." Lu Zhao stepped aside without hesitation. "It's safe here."

Su Ying nodded gratefully. Just as she crossed the threshold, her legs gave out and she nearly collapsed. Lu Zhao caught her with quick reflexes.

In that instant, their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.

Su Ying's heartbeat suddenly accelerated—not from fright, but from the familiar gentleness in Lu Zhao's eyes. She felt like she'd seen such a gaze somewhere before, but where?

Lu Zhao was also stunned. The moment he caught Su Ying, a powerful urge surged in his heart—to hold this person tightly and tell them never to be afraid again. The feeling was so intense, so natural, as if they were meant to be this close.

"Are you... are you both alright?" The master's voice broke the delicate atmosphere.

The two hurriedly separated, Su Ying's cheeks flushing while Lu Zhao also looked away uncomfortably.

"Master Su, please sit and rest." Lu Zhao pointed to a wooden chair in the workshop. "Master, could you pour him some hot tea?"

The master looked between Su Ying and Lu Zhao, his eyes thoughtful. "Xiao Zhao, are you sure you want to get involved in this? What if it brings trouble..."

"Master," Lu Zhao's tone became firm, "you always say people should have chivalrous hearts. When someone asks for help, how can I stand by and do nothing?"

The master sighed but didn't object further. He could see that Lu Zhao cared deeply about this young man called "Su Lin"—a care that even Lu Zhao himself hadn't realized.

Su Ying accepted the hot tea, her hands trembling as she brought it to her lips. The warm liquid gave her a trace of comfort. Looking around, though the workshop was simple, it was kept very tidy, with tools arranged orderly and several unfinished wood carvings hanging on the walls.

What caught her attention most was the lotus Lu Zhao had been carving.

"Did you carve this?" Su Ying pointed at the lotus.

Lu Zhao nodded. "It's not finished yet. What do you think?"

Su Ying studied the lotus carefully, growing more amazed the longer she looked. The precision of this craftsmanship was definitely beyond what an ordinary carpenter could achieve. Every petal of the lotus was lifelike, even the leaf veins clearly visible. More importantly, this technique...

"Your carving style is very similar to imperial court artisans' methods." The words slipped out before Su Ying could stop them.

As soon as she spoke, she realized her mistake. How would a merchant's daughter know so much about court craftsmanship?

Sure enough, both Lu Zhao and his master stared at her in surprise.

"Master Su has a good eye," the master said slowly, "but how do you know about imperial craftsmanship?"

Su Ying's heart tightened as she quickly explained, "I... I've seen similar works in antique shops. Just speaking casually."

Lu Zhao didn't doubt her, his eyes lighting up with excitement instead. "You're right! I always felt the skills I know don't seem like folk traditions. Master says the same thing."

"Xiao Zhao," the master warned, "let the past stay in the past."

"But Master, if I could remember the past..."

"What good would remembering do?" The master's tone grew heavy. "Some things are better forgotten."

Su Ying keenly sensed the deeper meaning in the master's words. This Lu Zhao's background was clearly not simple.

"By the way, you said people were chasing you," Lu Zhao changed the subject. "Can you tell me the specific situation? Maybe I can help."

Su Ying hesitated for a moment, then decided to reveal part of the truth. "My family wants me to marry someone I don't like. I refused and ran away."

"Fleeing a marriage?" Lu Zhao was momentarily stunned, then nodded understandingly. "Indeed, marriage matters shouldn't be forced."

The master frowned. "Xiao Zhao, we'd better not get involved in family disputes."

"Master, do you think Master Su seems like a bad person?" Lu Zhao countered.

The master looked at Su Ying's delicate face and shook his head. Though this young person spoke with some feminine softness, their eyes were clear—definitely not evil.

"Then that settles it." Lu Zhao stood up. "Master Su, you can stay here temporarily. We have an empty room in the back courtyard. Though simple, it'll keep out wind and rain."

"This... how can I impose?" Su Ying felt both grateful and uneasy. "I'll cause you trouble."

"You won't." Lu Zhao's tone was firm. "Besides, since you caught Cuihua's embroidered ball, you're nominally a Luochuan Town resident now. As a witness, I have a responsibility to protect your safety."

Hearing "Cuihua's embroidered ball," Su Ying's face reddened slightly. She'd almost forgotten yesterday's absurd ball-throwing incident.

"About that embroidered ball..." she wanted to explain.

"No need to explain," Lu Zhao smiled gently. "I understand what you mean. True feelings can't be forced—Miss Cuihua will understand too."

Seeing Lu Zhao's warm smile, a current of warmth flowed through Su Ying's heart. Why was this person so considerate to a complete stranger?

"Xiao Zhao is right." The master also compromised. "But Master Su, if you're staying here, you need an identity. How about saying you're our new apprentice?"

"Apprentice?" Su Ying was startled.

"Yes, a carpentry apprentice." A hint of mischief flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. "That way no one will suspect your identity. And..."

"And what?"

"And your hands are very delicate—clearly you've never done rough work. If we say you're a young master experiencing life, that would be believable."

Su Ying looked down at her hands. Indeed, as Lu Zhao said, a lifetime of luxury had left too many traces on her.

"Then it's settled." The master made the decision. "From today, you're our apprentice. But since you're an apprentice, you'll have to work. Are you willing?"

Su Ying thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'm willing to learn."

"Good!" Lu Zhao clapped his hands happily. "Then I'm your senior apprentice brother. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

The master watched the smiles on both young people's faces, but worry nagged at his heart. Lu Zhao's concern for this "Su Lin" had already exceeded ordinary helpfulness. And this Master Su, though appearing harmless, clearly carried the bearing of a wealthy family.

What would happen when two young people with mysterious backgrounds came together?

"By the way," the master suddenly remembered something, "Master Su, since you're staying here, you need a more suitable name. Su Lin sounds..."

"What's wrong with it?" Su Ying asked nervously.

"Too refined—doesn't sound like someone who does carpentry." The master laughed. "How about Su Xiao'er instead? Sounds more down-to-earth."

Su Ying didn't know whether to laugh or cry. From a wealthy young lady to Su Xiao'er—what a drastic identity change.

"I think Su Lin is fine." Lu Zhao objected. "What's wrong with an elegant name? Can't carpenters be cultured?"

Seeing Lu Zhao seriously defending her, Su Ying felt warmth in her heart. This person always protected her dignity in unconscious ways.

"Then Su Lin it is." The master compromised. "But you two—don't cause me trouble. Especially you, Xiao Zhao. I can see how you look at this Su Lin..."

"Master!" Lu Zhao quickly interrupted, an unnatural flush crossing his face.

Su Ying also lowered her head, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening.

The master watched their reactions and shook his head with a sigh. Young people were always so quick to fall for each other. He just hoped these budding feelings wouldn't bring them disaster.

In this warm atmosphere, sudden commotion erupted outside.

"Search! Search carefully! Miss Su must still be in town!"

All three faces instantly changed. Su Ying's body began trembling, while Lu Zhao's gaze turned sharp as a blade.

"Don't be afraid," he said softly to Su Ying. "I'm here."

This simple promise gave Su Ying an unprecedented sense of security. What she didn't know was that within this gentle senior apprentice brother, a powerful and dangerous force was beginning to awaken...