cave

Zhou Ziliang gritted his teeth, trying his best not to make a sound. A sharp pain shot through his chest. Fortunately, Tang Feng was sitting sideways on his horse; the arrow had grazed Tang Feng's back before piercing Zhou Ziliang's chest. Afraid that speaking now would alert Tang Feng, Zhou Ziliang bit his lip and whipped his horse relentlessly, lest they be caught. He didn't know how long he had been running, but feeling he had finally escaped the sight of the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan, he slowly slowed his horse down. However, in his haste to escape, he had lost track of where he was. Zhou Ziliang didn't have time to think; the pain in his chest intensified, making him somewhat dazed. Seeing that they weren't chasing him anymore, Tang Feng breathed a sigh of relief. As his body relaxed, he noticed that Zhou Ziliang was trembling. "Ziliang?" Tang Feng tried to turn around, but Zhou Ziliang's grip was too tight, and he couldn't move. He thought back to the muffled thud he had just heard. Tang Feng sensed something was wrong and tried desperately to turn his head to check on Zhou Ziliang, but he couldn't move an inch. "Ziliang? Ziliang! Let me go! Quickly..." Tang Feng struggled fiercely in his arms, but Zhou Ziliang had no strength to hold him any longer and had to let go, saying apologetically, "We might... not be able to go back tonight. There's a cave ahead; let's rest there for the night..." Tang Feng looked ahead by the moonlight and indeed there was a cave. He urged Zhou Ziliang to hurry over. Tang Feng didn't know if Zhou Ziliang was injured; although his voice had trembled, given Zhou Ziliang's personality, he certainly wouldn't tell him. He could only think of checking on him when they reached the cave.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the cave, Zhou Ziliang pulled on the reins, enduring excruciating pain as he dismounted. "Xiao Feng... get down quickly!" Tang Feng jumped off the horse, his pupils dilating sharply. An arrow was embedded in Zhou Ziliang's right chest; although the fletching had been broken off, the wound was clearly severe, and half of his clothes were stained crimson with blood. Tang Feng's mind went blank, only one thought lingering: what would happen to him if Zhou Ziliang died? "Zi... Ziliang!" Tang Feng quickly rushed forward to support Zhou Ziliang. "Let's go into the cave first." Although Tang Feng was frightened, he quickly calmed down. If he panicked now, Zhou Ziliang would truly be beyond saving. After helping Zhou Ziliang inside, Tang Feng immediately started a fire. Looking at the wound on Zhou Ziliang's chest, Tang Feng couldn't help but frown. Zhou Ziliang knew Tang Feng was worried, so he quickly reassured him, "Don't...don't worry, it's just a minor injury." Looking at the arrow in Zhou Ziliang's chest and the surrounding bleeding wound, it certainly didn't seem like a minor injury! Tang Feng knelt on the ground, holding a torch and staring at the arrow, saying, "We can't wait any longer. If we can't go back today, we have to get this arrow out." Seeing Tang Feng's worried and serious expression, Zhou Ziliang couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Laugh my ass! If the arrow had been a little off course, you'd be dead, you know! Would I be forced into a ghost marriage then? You bastard!" Seeing that Tang Feng was truly angry, Zhou Ziliang quickly explained, "Don't be angry, I just didn't expect Xiao Feng to be so worried about me." Although the two had confirmed their relationship in the Great Swamp, perhaps Zhou Ziliang was too caring or too needy, so Tang Feng had never really worried about him much during their time together. This was a first for him. "Nonsense...nonsense!" Tang Feng's face... Tang Feng blushed, but knowing this wasn't the time to be angry, he quickly shook his head to calm himself down. Looking at Zhou Ziliang's wound, he suppressed his fear and slowly reached for the arrow, only to have Zhou Ziliang grab his hand. "Xiao Feng, you're actually scared, aren't you? Don't force yourself, I can do it myself." Tang Feng looked at Zhou Ziliang, somewhat incredulous. "What are you saying! You're like this... Ah!" Before Tang Feng could finish speaking, Zhou Ziliang pulled him into his arms. He wanted to break free but was afraid of touching Zhou Ziliang's wound, so he could only curse, "Zhou Ziliang, you bastard, how can you remove the arrow yourself! Let me go!" Tang Feng knew that once the arrow was pulled out, he had to immediately press on the wound, otherwise the bleeding would continue uncontrollably, eventually leading to death from blood loss. Otherwise, Tang Feng wouldn't be in such a hurry. But Zhou Ziliang held him tightly, making it impossible for him to move. At this moment, Zhou Ziliang groped for a twig on the ground, bit it in his mouth, gripped the arrow shaft with his right hand, took a deep breath, and began to pull out the arrow. Tang Feng, held by Zhou Ziliang, couldn't see the movement, but he could clearly feel Zhou Ziliang starting to pull out the arrow. "Zhou Ziliang, let me go, you..." Tang Feng's voice was already trembling with tears. "Bastard! What will I do if you die?" Tears welled up in his eyes, which he stubbornly held back. He only heard Zhou Ziliang whisper in Tang Feng's ear, "Little Feng, I'm here. Don't be afraid, I'll be alright."

Tang Feng felt Zhou Ziliang's grip on his arm gradually weaken. He slowly stood up, looking at the blood-stained arrowhead on the ground and Zhou Ziliang's pale face with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Tears welled up uncontrollably, and he threw himself into Zhou Ziliang's arms, crying, "Zhou Ziliang, you bastard! Don't do this again!" Zhou Ziliang used all his strength to lift his arm and pat Tang Feng's head to comfort him. "Okay, I promise, there won't be a next time. So, Xiao Feng, can you help me bandage my wound?" Zhou Ziliang knew what Tang Feng was angry about, so he quickly tried to calm him down. Tang Feng got up and tore his clothes into strips, then helped Zhou Ziliang remove his clothes to expose the wound for bandaging. Looking at the gruesome wound on Zhou Ziliang's chest, Tang Feng clicked his tongue. Zhou Ziliang sighed and took the bandage from Tang Feng. "I'm a martial artist, and I've escaped death on the battlefield many times. I've seen injuries like this countless times, so I'm more reliable at treating them. I'm holding you not for any other reason than to prevent you from being frightened by what you see. Once the arrowhead is pulled out, the wound will bleed profusely. I was afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it." After saying this, he deftly wrapped the strips of cloth around his wound and then said, "Are you tired? You've been worried sick all day. It's my fault for insisting on bringing you out." Tang Feng shook his head, then helped Zhou Ziliang lean against the stone wall and said, "You should worry less! I just saw a stream not far away. I'll go wet the cloth so your wound doesn't get infected and you catch a fever again tonight." Although Zhou Ziliang wanted Tang Feng not to go, he had lost too much blood and was indeed weak, so he didn't say anything more.

Tang Feng walked to the river to wash the cloth. Thinking about what had just happened, he cursed himself for being useless. How could he have been so scared over a mere finger-sized wound? Oh well, practice makes perfect. He just couldn't believe that a grown man like himself was afraid of this. It would be so embarrassing if word got out.

When Tang Feng returned with the soaked cloth, Zhou Ziliang had already fallen asleep. Seeing that the bandaged wound wasn't bleeding, Tang Feng breathed a sigh of relief. He quietly walked over, sat down next to Zhou Ziliang, touched his forehead, then his own—thankfully, he didn't have a fever. Since transmigrating, Tang Feng had never taken care of anyone. At home, Qin Jiujiu was there; when he went out, Liu Yiwan was there. Even when he was studying at Lishan Academy, he was taken care of by Zhang Mobai and the others. Tang Feng leaned on Zhou Ziliang's shoulder, looking up at the sleeping Zhou Ziliang. "Looking at him now, we're about the same age. Always worrying about everything, even more like a father than my own father." Thinking of how Tang's grandfather had been driven half to death by him back then, Tang Feng couldn't help but laugh out loud. Actually, this kind of peaceful life was quite nice; wasn't this exactly what he had been pursuing? Looking at Zhou Ziliang's sleeping face, Tang Feng couldn't help but poke his cheek. As if remembering something, Tang Feng slowly sat up, knelt, and leaned close to Zhou Ziliang, gently kissing his lips, which were pale from blood loss. Although it was just a light peck, like a dragonfly skimming the water, it was enough to make Tang Feng blush. He covered his lips, still warm from the kiss, his cheeks flushed, and muttered, "This is my first kiss...for two lifetimes. Don't say I never kissed you before, it's because you were asleep!" Seeing that Zhou Ziliang didn't react, Tang Feng slowly moved closer, listening to the crackling of the branches burning in the fire. He suddenly murmured, "Ziliang...thank you for today." Because of what happened two years ago, Tang Feng hadn't dared to agree to Zhou Ziliang's marriage proposal. He already felt guilty towards Zhou Ziliang, and this incident finally allowed him to face the matter squarely. "If we return to Xiling safely, marry me, Ziliang." Perhaps due to exhaustion and the chase, Tang Feng had already reached his limit. He fell into a deep sleep, his head resting on Zhou Ziliang's shoulder.

As the morning sun streamed into the cave the next morning, Tang Feng slowly opened his eyes and noticed that Zhou Ziliang was gone. His heart tightened, and he quickly sat up, only to see Zhou Ziliang approaching carrying two fish. "Awake? I didn't dare wake you because you were sleeping so soundly. You must have been exhausted last night. I caught two fish this morning. Get up and have some grilled fish!" Tang Feng looked at the wound on Zhou Ziliang's chest, blood still seeping through the cloth, and couldn't help but feel a little angry. He crossed his arms and said sarcastically, "So you're not the one sweating from pain like yesterday anymore? Young Marquis, you've got quite the skill." "You were just injured yesterday, and you're already fishing today!" Zhou Ziliang knew he was in the wrong, so he quickly apologized, "I was afraid you were hungry and forgot you were injured. It wasn't intentional that the wound reopened. I'll have the army doctor take a good look at it when we get back to the camp." Hearing this, Tang Feng's expression softened. The two ate grilled fish around the fire, chatting idly. When Zhou Ziliang had almost finished eating, he said they should hurry back, thinking they should take a detour this time, perhaps it would be safer. Seeing Zhou Ziliang turn to get his horse, Tang Feng quickly called out to him, "Ziliang!" Hearing Tang Feng call him, Zhou Ziliang turned and saw Tang Feng still standing there, so he asked, "What's wrong? If we don't go back soon, it'll be afternoon again."

"If we return to Xiling... let's get married! The traditional three letters and six rites, the ten-mile-long red bridal procession—you promised, didn't you? This time you don't need to wait any longer."

Zhou Ziliang stood there stunned, then slowly walked to Tang Feng's side and took his hand. "Xiao Feng... is this really true?" Tang Feng nodded. "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. I should have agreed to this two years ago, but I dragged it out for so long, making you wait for me. When we return to Xiling, we will pray to heaven and earth and pay our respects to our elders."