But they were well-prepared at that time. The man would carry spices with him and sprinkle them on the rabbit when roasting it, so the roasted rabbit meat always smelled delicious from afar.

Unlike now, he can't even swallow a bite.

At this moment, Chu Huaixu couldn't help but feel self-deprecating. He really couldn't understand why his father would try to find a way to make a living for him. Whether it was his eldest brother or his second brother sitting here today, they were probably both better off than him.

But why was it him who survived? A useless piece of trash.

A useless person who can't do anything and has to rely on others to survive.

It was even his act of inviting trouble that ruined the entire royal palace.

Why did someone like him survive...?

A wave of intense guilt washed over Chu Huaixu like a flood, engulfing him. He lowered his eyes, his vision growing increasingly blurry. When he finally came to his senses, he realized that tears had unknowingly streamed down his face.

Since the incident, he has only cried twice. Once was during the fire at the Prince's Mansion, when he cried and questioned the person who did this.

Another time was today when I learned that my elder brother had also succumbed to the calamity.

She never shed another tear, no matter what torment she suffered.

Unexpectedly, I couldn't help myself at this moment.

"Great Hero Xiang, why is there such a great difference between people? My father helped you, and you risked your own safety to save me."

"And why did that person have to be such an ungrateful dog? I trusted him so much, I...loved him so much..."

Overwhelmed with grief, Chu Huaixu felt increasingly dizzy and collapsed. Fortunately, Xiang Qing reacted quickly and caught him in her arms.

The next moment, a gentle kiss landed on his furrowed brow. Xiang Qing's eyes were red, and he choked out, "It's my fault...it's my fault..."

When Chu Huaixu woke up again, he was in a thatched hut. Xiang Qing was quietly by his bedside. Seeing him open his eyes, she asked anxiously, "You're awake? How are you feeling?"

"Where...is this?"

“On Mount Laojun, Yan Qingshan and his junior brother live here. He has already agreed to help you repair your bones and muscles.”

The storybook says that Yan Qingshan is eccentric and unconventional, saving people only based on his own feelings. Chu Huaixu asked with some concern, "How did you convince him?"

"He held a knife to my junior brother's neck and forced me to treat you."

Before Xiang Qing could speak, a voice came from afar. Chu Huaixu raised his eyes with difficulty and saw a young man in a blue robe.

He was handsome and had an extraordinary demeanor, with a pair of captivating and alluring eyes.

A man in white followed closely behind him, watching Chu Huaixu nervously.

Chu Huaixu immediately guessed the identities of the two.

"Thank you both for saving me." Unable to move his hands and feet, he could only nod as a sign of respect.

"No need to thank me. I didn't particularly want to save you. If I hadn't been unable to defeat your friend and hadn't been poisoned, I would have abandoned you both on the mountain long ago," said the man in blue.

The man in white gently shook his arm and said reproachfully, "Senior brother, don't say that..."

"Tsk." The man in blue frowned and said with displeasure, "With your good temper, if I'm not by your side one day, you'll be sold out and still helping the seller count the money."

The man in white chuckled and said, "So, senior brother, don't leave my side."

"..." The arrogant man in blue was easily appeased by these words, and even his ears turned a little red.

Looking at the two fellow disciples, Chu Huaixu suddenly thought of the person who had caused his family's ruin and death, and his heart was filled with grief.

"Young Master Huai, you're finally awake! That's wonderful! Brother Xiang was worried sick for so long." The man in white bowed to Chu Huaixu. "I am Shi Luoxuan, and this is my senior brother, Yan Qingshan."

The man whose name was called gave a soft snort, his expression still not good. Chu Huaixu nodded to the two of them again, "I've heard so much about you."

"Alright, now that he's awake, I must make things clear to you. Reconnecting tendons and meridians is something no ordinary person can endure." Yan Qingshan really didn't want to see Xiang Qing, so he didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.

"I think this young master is not good at enduring hardship. We should give up now, so that he doesn't suffer and then give up, and then someone will take their anger out on us."

"I can endure hardship." Chu Huaixu gestured for Xiang Qing to help him up. "I'll trouble you, Master Yan, for your assistance."

Yan Qingshan scoffed, and seeing that he had made up his mind, he said, "Then let's start from tomorrow."

"Thank you very much, Master Yan."

Having endured the torture in the imperial prison, Chu Huaixu originally thought that nothing could make him feel pain anymore, but as it turned out, he had underestimated the pain of reconnecting tendons and meridians.

When Yan Qingshan inserted the first needle into him, he almost fainted from the pain.

"Ugh..." Chu Huaixu cried out in pain, having unknowingly bitten his lip until it bled, and bright red blood dripped down the corner of his mouth, staining his chest with mottled bloodstains.

Yan Qingshan held the silver needles with focused concentration, beads of sweat constantly seeping from his forehead. Shi Luoxuan wiped his sweat from time to time with a handkerchief.

He also comforted Chu Huaixu, saying, "Young master, please be patient. If it really comes to it, I'll find you a handkerchief..."

Before administering the acupuncture, Shi Luoxuan had mentioned this matter. He was afraid that Chu Huaixu would not be able to hold on and would hurt himself, so he wanted him to put a clean handkerchief in his mouth, but the other party refused.

"It's alright...please, please continue..." His breathing was very unsteady, presumably from extreme pain, but he still endured it and nodded to Shi Luoxuan, smiling slightly.

Even though he had no liking for either of them, Yan Qingshan couldn't help but admire the man named Huai San.

Even those who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts skills rarely can endure such pain. They all weep bitterly and yearn for death, and many people go mad as a result.

This man, who clearly hadn't experienced much hardship, endured it all the way, only letting out a muffled groan when he could no longer bear it.

Apart from that, he never actually cried out in pain. When the pain became unbearable, he would just clench his teeth tightly. He would only let out a cry of pain when he could no longer bear it.

On the other hand, the man named Xiang Qing next to Tong couldn't bear to watch several times, his eyes red as if they could drip blood and tears.

It was as if all the pain that Huai San had endured had fallen on him as well, and was even more painful.

“Master Yan, is there...is there a gentler way? Young Master Huai has been seriously injured, and I’m worried he won’t be able to withstand it.” After another needle, Xiang Qing finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

Yan Qingshan gave him a cold look: "No, I said long ago that the process of reconnecting meridians is something that ordinary people cannot endure, so I told you to give up as soon as possible."

"..." Xiang Qing suppressed her breathing.

Chu Huaixu shook his head at him: "Brother Xiang, I'm fine, don't worry."

Huai San, who was suffering greatly, may not have noticed, but Yan Qingshan saw it all clearly. The man surnamed Xiang treated Huai San the same way he treated his junior brother.

Since they were like-minded people, Yan Qingshan finally developed a slight liking for them.