"hiss--"

Gu Zhixing gasped sharply, cold sweat trickling down his forehead like fine beads, wetting the ends of his hair.

He intended to pick Shen Jintang up in his arms, but as soon as he bent his knees, a sharp pain shot through his abdominal wound, as if it were being torn apart.

The two wounds on his abdomen and shoulder were already beyond repair, with the flesh at the wounds even turned inside out. Although the antidote had temporarily suppressed the toxins, the remaining toxins were like a smoldering fire, burning in his flesh and causing a dull ache.

He gritted his teeth, his knuckles turning white from the force, yet he stubbornly refused to let go of Shen Jintang, whom he had already half-embraced.

"Don't be stubborn." Shen Jintang gently placed her fingertips on his trembling arm, her beautiful, affectionate eyes filled with heartache.

Using this movement, she subtly shifted her weight to her feet and said softly, "I'm good at striking, it's just a minor injury, I can walk by myself."

"I can do it."

Gu Zhixing interrupted her, his jawline taut and sharp, revealing an undeniable determination.

He suddenly leaned down, his breath, tinged with the stench of blood, brushing against her ear. His deep voice sounded particularly hoarse in the twilight: "Let your husband hold you."

His voice was hoarse and deep, yet the final syllable rose, revealing a youthful stubbornness, as if he were defiantly proving something.

Shen Jintang noticed the beads of sweat clinging to his eyelashes, glistening in the dim twilight, and her heart softened slightly.

How could she not understand Gu Zhixing's thoughts?

I just wanted to appear more reliable in front of her.

She understood that arguing with him now would only delay the treatment of her injuries, so she might as well go along with his wishes.

It's just a way to appease people; she's done it before, so she naturally knows how to make Gu Zhixing listen to her.

So she pretended to be shy and lowered her head, but actually secretly reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck to save him energy: "Then... husband, be careful."

Ye Qingzhou stood three steps away, leading his horse. Seeing this, he shook his head and sighed helplessly, "Boss, do you think you're immortal? If your wounds reopen, there won't even be any wound medicine left in this desolate wilderness!"

Before he could finish speaking, the young man in scarlet robes had already lifted the person up steadily, his back straight, with only his clothes trembling slightly, as if telling the story of his current hardship.

As dusk fell like a soft ribbon, it swept over the mountain ridge, enveloping the two in a hazy, indigo blue, as if draping them in a mysterious veil.

Gu Zhixing carried Shen Jintang toward the black horse tethered to the ancient pine tree, each step he took was extremely steady, as if he had the strength of a thousand pounds under his feet.

The weight in his arms was as light as a cloud, yet it pressed down on his wound, causing it to throb and waves of pain to surge through him.

He secretly adjusted his breathing, trying to suppress the pain in his heart, but inadvertently felt Shen Jintang bury her face in his shoulder.

Her hair gently brushed against his cheek, bringing a faint, ticklish sensation.

"Husband, be careful."

She whispered, her warm lips accidentally brushing against his pulse on the side of his neck. That warmth was like a spark, instantly igniting the tenderness in his heart.

"Um."

Gu Zhixing nodded subconsciously, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, his ear tips burning, and even his steps becoming lighter.

Ye Qingzhou reached out to take the reins of the black horse, his tone tinged with helplessness and reproach: "Both of you wounded, sit tight."

He knew perfectly well what was the point of their bravado?

In the end, didn't he take responsibility for everything, leading the two of them down the mountain on horseback?

He glanced at the winding mountain path, where withered leaves swirled in the evening breeze, seemingly telling tales of the desolation and eeriness of this remote wilderness.

Ye Qingzhou frowned and muttered under his breath, "Why does this place give me the creeps?"

The sound of horses' hooves shattered the silence of the forest, echoing through the empty woods and startling a few crows.

They flapped their wings and made piercing cries, as if adding to the desolation of this barren land.

Shen Jintang leaned against Gu Zhixing's chest and could clearly hear his heartbeat mixed with suppressed breathing.

She slightly raised her head and, in the dim twilight, saw that Gu Zhixing's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat again; the pain from his wound was clearly still tormenting him.

She secretly placed her hand on his waist and could feel the damp heat seeping from the bandage through his clothes—he was bleeding again.

Just as Shen Jintang was about to speak, he suddenly felt Gu Zhixing's muscles tense up, and his body tensed up instantly.

Before she could react, she heard him shout in a low voice, "You Dong—"

However, the sound of something cutting through the air instantly cut off his warning.

Three white-feathered arrows pierced the twilight like lightning, embedding themselves deeply into the tree trunks behind them. The arrowheads were still trembling violently, telling of the sudden killing intent.

Startled by the sudden attack, Gu Zhixing's black horse reared up, letting out a shrill neigh, and threw the two of them off.

The mournful neighing of horses ripped through the silence of twilight, echoing through the desolate mountains and forests.

Shen Jintang felt a blur before her eyes, and the whole world turned upside down in an instant.

Before she could react, Gu Zhixing wrapped her tightly in his cloak.

He knelt on one knee and held her protectively in his arms, as if she were the most precious treasure in his life, and no one could be allowed to harm her.

Shen Jintang could feel his body temperature and his undeniable protective instincts.

At the same time, Gu Zhixing's longsword was already drawn, gleaming coldly in the twilight, like lightning in the night, ready to meet the approaching enemy at any moment.

His eyes sharpened and became wary as he scanned his surroundings, searching for any lurking threats.

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