Chapter 142

The tent was brightly lit, laden with delicacies, fragrant with fine wine, and filled with the gentle sounds of string and wind instruments, yet it could not conceal the tension and probing atmosphere that permeated the air.

The King of the Southern Border sat in the main seat, beaming with smiles and frequently raising his glass; Zhao Cangqu sat below him, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, openly scanning Su Zhelan; Xiao Qiyun sat at the head of the guest seats, his expression calm and unmoving; Su Zhelan sat quietly to Xiao Qiyun's side, slightly behind him.

The King of the Southern Border put down his wine cup, stroked his beard, and put on a warm smile, but his gaze was as venomous as it was fixed on Su Zhelan:

"His Highness's arrival is truly a blessing for our Southern Territory, and an auspicious omen for our great bandit suppression campaign! I and all the soldiers in this tent are deeply grateful for His Highness's kindness and hold him in the highest esteem. However…"

He abruptly changed the subject, adding a perfectly timed "difficult" tone, "His Highness always appears hooded, which makes him seem overly mysterious. I, Chief Zhao Cangqu, and all the soldiers in the tent are drawn to the Holy Light and yearn to see the Holy Son's true face and share in his divine might. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to..."

His words clearly targeted the Crown Prince, who held the highest position, emphasizing the Crown Prince's decision-making power while elevating the status of the Holy Son. He disguised the "appearance" as a legitimate need to "pay homage to the divine countenance," "boost morale," and "strengthen faith."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Cangqu interrupted in a gruff voice, loud and clear, with undisguised impatience and provocation: "Exactly! Your Highness! Since the Holy Son has come to help us suppress the bandits, shouldn't we be allowed to see his true face? Why are you hiding something? Or... is this 'Holy Son' a fake?!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making the cups and plates clatter, and the atmosphere in the tent instantly plummeted to freezing. The bandits behind him also revealed fierce expressions, their hands resting on the weapons at their waists.

Xiao Qiyun's fingers, holding the wine glass, paused slightly, causing the wine in the glass to ripple subtly. He raised his eyes, his deep gaze calmly sweeping over the hypocritical smile of the Southern King, before settling on Zhao Cangqu's rugged face, twisted with eagerness and greed.

He sneered inwardly, knowing that the two were working together, one playing the bad cop to put pressure on Su Zhelan, and the other playing the good cop to provoke her, all in an attempt to force Su Zhelan to reveal her true colors.

He remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. All eyes in the tent were fixed on him, and the air seemed to freeze. The Southern King's smile remained, but his eyes were even sharper; Zhao Cangqu, on the other hand, had an attitude of "I'll turn on you if you don't agree."

Finally, Xiao Qiyun slowly put down his wine cup, making a crisp, soft sound in the silent tent. He did not immediately respond to the Southern King or Zhao Cangqu, but instead slightly turned his head, his gaze falling on Su Zhelan, who was standing slightly behind him. His gaze carried a hint of inquiry, but more so a calm and composed demeanor: "Holy Son, what do you think of the requests from the Southern King and Chief Zhao Cangqu?" He symbolically handed over the decision-making power to Su Zhelan.

Su Zhelan shifted slightly beneath his hood. He could feel the scorching gazes from all directions, filled with scrutiny, greed, suspicion, and a barely perceptible fear. He didn't answer immediately, but instead turned slightly to face Xiao Qiyun, as if seeking the opinion of the true decision-maker.

Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, his eyes conveying a silent command: Yes, but be careful.

Su Zhelan then slowly raised his hand, his movements elegant and composed. He extended his long, slender, white fingers and gently pinched the edge of his hood. The tent fell silent instantly; even the sounds of music seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on that hand.

The hood was slowly removed.

The first thing that catches the eye is a face mostly covered by eerie, deep purple runes! The most striking feature is the vine-like flame pattern on the forehead, which coils like a living creature and emits a dark glow. The winding lines extend downwards along the brow bone, outlining sharp curves at the corners of the eyes, and are adorned with a few tiny, teardrop-like runes on the cheekbones.

These ancient and eerie patterns, yet imbued with an indescribable sense of holiness, intertwined with Su Zelan's originally exquisitely beautiful face, creating a breathtaking and suffocatingly eerie beauty! His eyes were calm and still, like a deep pool, appearing even more aloof and indifferent against the backdrop of the runes, as if he had truly transcended the mortal world and disregarded everything in it.

A suppressed gasp filled the tent. The soldiers' eyes were filled with awe and fear, and they all lowered their heads, unable to look directly at each other.

The smile on the King of the Southern Border froze completely, his pupils contracted sharply, and the fingers holding the wine glass turned slightly white, clearly shocked by the extremely impactful scene.

Zhao Cangqu stared wide-eyed, his Adam's apple bobbing violently, his eyes flashing with intense amazement and an even more fervent possessiveness!

“Good! What a ‘holy son’!” Zhao Cangqu suddenly came to his senses, but a cunning and suspicious glint flashed in his eyes. “Indeed extraordinary! However…” He changed the subject, his voice carrying a deliberate doubt.

"Your Highness, can you really prove he's a true 'Holy Son' just by drawing some strange things on his face? Isn't that a bit too frivolous? Who knows if he just found someone to draw a few strokes on and tried to fool us brothers?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense again! The bandits behind Zhao Cangqu also started to clamor, clearly stirred up by their leader's words and filled with doubt.

Xiao Qiyun's face instantly darkened, his eyes shooting towards Zhao Cangqu like ice, his body radiating a chilling pressure: "Chief Zhao Cangqu, watch your words! As the Holy Son, how dare you..."

Just then, Su Zhelan gently raised her hand, the movement subtle yet carrying an undeniable strength, and lightly pressed it against Xiao Qiyun's arm. Xiao Qiyun's words came to an abrupt halt, and he turned his head to look at Su Zhelan.

Su Zhelan's gaze remained calm, but a subtle, decisive glint flashed deep within his eyes. He shook his head slightly at Xiao Qiyun, signaling him to remain calm. Then, Su Zhelan slowly stood up.

His movements were not fast, yet they possessed a peculiar rhythm. His pristine white robe fluttered gently with his movements, and the deep purple runes on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes shimmered faintly in the lamplight. He did not look at Zhao Cangqu; his gaze calmly swept across the entire area, finally settling on the open space in the center of the tent.

“It is understandable that Leader Zhao Cangqu does not believe it.” Su Zhelan’s voice was clear and calm, like a mountain stream, yet it clearly reached everyone’s ears, carrying a strange sense of comfort and an undeniable power. “Cults use poison to bewitch people’s minds and erode their flesh and blood. Their evil power is domineering and insidious, and cannot be cured by ordinary means.”

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the tent, looking towards the depths of Black Stone Valley in the distance: "I possess 'sacred power,' and my blood contains the ability to restrain the Heart-Burning Gu poison. This power is not a myth, nor can it be described in words."

Before he could finish speaking, a small, sharp silver dagger had appeared in Su Zhelan's left hand without him noticing! Without hesitation, he lightly sliced ​​the pad of his right index finger with the dagger!

A tiny wound appeared instantly! A drop of bright red blood quickly seeped out, full and round, trembling on the fingertip like a ruby! The smell of blood was faint, but it was clearly audible in the silent tent!

"Since Leader Zhao Cangqu suspects my identity," Su Zhelan's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an undeniable authority, "do you dare to bring a live Gu worm from the Burning Heart Cult?! Place it in my blood! One test will reveal its true nature!"

The tent erupted in an uproar! Retrieving live Gu worms?! Those things are incredibly dangerous! A single misstep could lead to a backlash! Everyone was stunned by Su Zhelan's bloody and audacious suggestion!

Zhao Cangqu was taken aback at first, then his eyes flashed with wild joy and ruthlessness! He had been looking for an opportunity to test the depths of this "Holy Son"! Since you've chosen to die, don't blame me for being impolite!

"Good!!" Zhao Cangqu slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and said in a loud voice with a hint of malice, "Your Highness is indeed straightforward! Guards!"

He shouted sternly at the outside of the tent, "Go! Bring me that 'Heart-Eating Gu' that we found on the Burning Heart Sect spy the other day! Alive! Now!"

The King of the Southern Border sat to the side, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. He hadn't expected Su Zhelan to make such a request, and even more so, he hadn't expected that Zhao Cangqu, this reckless fool, would actually dare to accept it!

He had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but since things had come to this point, he also wanted to see what this "holy son" had up his sleeve, so he didn't say anything to stop him, but his eyes became even more unfathomable.

Soon, one of Zhao Cangqu's personal guards strode into the tent carrying a specially made glass bottle. The bottle was only the size of a palm, with thick walls, and the mouth was sealed tightly with special wax.

Through the transparent bottle walls, one can clearly see a small, black, centipede-like insect, about the size of a fingernail, curled up at the bottom of the bottle! It seems to be in a dormant state, but the occasional wriggling of its limbs and the eerie light flashing from its mouthparts all indicate its ferocity!

"Your Highness! Please!" Zhao Cangqu took the glass bottle, a cruel smile on his face, and handed it to Su Zhelan. "This is the 'Heart-Eating Gu' cultivated by the Burning Heart Sect. It is extremely ferocious! Once it touches flesh and blood, it will devour the heart and corrode the bones! Your Highness... please be careful!"

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became extremely tense! Everyone's eyes were focused on Su Zelan and the ferocious Gu worm! The soldiers subconsciously held their breath, and even the Southern King sat up straight with sharp eyes.

Su Zhelan remained calm, as if he hadn't seen the hideous Gu worm. He extended his injured index finger, a drop of bright red blood still hanging fully on the tip.

He gestured to Zhao Cangqu to open the wax seal on the bottle.

Zhao Cangqu grinned maliciously as he carefully pried open the wax seal. The moment the bottle was opened, the previously curled-up "Heart-Eating Gu" suddenly awoke! It seemed to sense the scent of fresh flesh and blood, letting out an extremely faint yet teeth-grinding hiss, and its body sprang up like lightning, rushing straight for the bottle opening!

At this critical moment!

Su Zhelan's fingers moved with lightning speed, precisely flicking the drop of crimson blood into the mouth of the bottle!

Snap!

The drop of blood fell into the bottle, landing precisely on the "Heart-Eating Gu" that had just leaped up!

*Screech!*

A piercing, ear-piercing scream, as if from hell, instantly echoed throughout the entire tent! The sound, filled with endless pain and fear, sent chills down everyone's spines and made their hearts clench!

The moment the ferocious "Heart-Eating Gu" was struck by the drop of blood, it was as if it had been plunged into scalding lava! Its pitch-black body convulsed, rolled, and twisted violently! Wisps of black smoke rapidly rose from its body! It struggled frantically, trying to shake off the drop of blood, but the blood seemed to possess a life of its own, clinging firmly to its body and quickly seeping into it!

Before everyone's horrified eyes, the terrifying "Heart-Eating Gu" withered and charred at a visible speed! Its ferocious mouth gaped open, yet no sound came out; only its body writhed in despair! In just two or three breaths, it completely ceased its struggle, curling into a charred, lifeless mass! Finally, even that mass turned into a wisp of black smoke and vanished completely into the bottle! Leaving only a single drop of still bright red blood at the bottom of the bottle, emanating an eerie aura!

The entire camp was deathly silent! You could hear a pin drop!

Everyone was utterly stunned by this bloody, bizarre, and destructive scene! That drop of blood... had instantly annihilated the infamous "Heart-Eating Gu"! This was no human feat! This was true "holy blood"!

Zhao Cangqu's sinister smile froze completely, replaced by disbelief, shock, and a deep-seated fear! His hand holding the glass bottle trembled slightly! The Southern King's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with unprecedented apprehension and... a deeper greed as he looked at Su Zhelan! This power was too terrifying! And too tempting!

"The Holy Son is mighty! We are convinced!" The King of the Southern Border was the first to react. He immediately stood up, bowed deeply to Su Zhelan, and his tone was full of "devoutness" and a slight, imperceptible tremor.

"Chief Zhao Cangqu is outspoken and his words are offensive. Please forgive him, Your Highness! Your Highness, please stop the bleeding quickly!" As he spoke, he glared at Zhao Cangqu with a stern look.

Su Zhelan stared coldly at Zhao Cangqu, letting tiny beads of blood seep from the wound on his fingertip. He didn't speak immediately, but slowly withdrew his hand, took out a plain white handkerchief from his pocket, and leisurely, with an almost cruel elegance, wrapped it around his injured index finger. The glaring red spread a small dot on the white handkerchief, like a red plum blossom in the snow.

"Hmm," Su Zhelan's voice returned to its usual coldness, yet carried an invisible pressure. "Remember what I said today. If there is a next time..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his icy gaze and blood-stained handkerchief were enough to terrify Zhao Cangqu!

Zhao Cangqu felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He sat back heavily in his seat, grabbed the wine jar on the table, and took a big gulp, trying to suppress the fear in his heart. But deep in his eyes, the unwillingness and the even stronger desire lurked like a venomous snake—such a beauty, such power, such ruthlessness… he had to get his hands on her! No matter the cost!

The banquet continued in an eerie atmosphere.

The King of the Southern Border tried his best to liven up the atmosphere, frequently toasting Xiao Qiyun with words full of flattery and probing, but his eyes would occasionally sweep over Su Zhelan, revealing an undisguised calculation.

Zhao Cangqu fell silent for a while, but his eyes remained fixed on Su Zhelan like those of a hungry wolf. He was especially fascinated when he saw Su Zhelan occasionally taking a sip of wine at Xiao Qiyun's prompting. A lewd smile crept onto his lips.

The opportunity has arrived!

Zhao Cangqu picked up a huge wine jar, stood up unsteadily, and put on a rough but "sincere" smile. He walked straight toward Su Zhelan and said, "Holy Son! I was blind and offended you just now! This jar of wine is for you! To apologize! You are a magnanimous person, please do me the honor!"

His voice was loud and clear, carrying an air of undeniable authority. He had already walked up to Su Zhelan's desk, his massive body bringing a strong sense of oppression.

Without a word, he picked up a clean wine glass from Su Zhelan's table and poured it full of wine. The wine was deep red and emitted a richer aroma than ordinary wine. As he poured the wine, his wide sleeves trembled slightly, an extremely subtle movement so quick that it was almost imperceptible.

But the King of the Southern Border, who had been keeping an eye on him, narrowed his eyes slightly and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips.

He naturally saw what Zhao Cangqu was trying to do—nothing more than get this mysterious holy son drunk so he could do something improper.

The King of the Southern Border sneered inwardly. This brute was indeed unable to restrain himself, but... he was happy to see it happen. If he could use this opportunity to let Zhao Cangqu succeed, he could both damage the Crown Prince's prestige and bring this "Holy Son" under his control. Why not?

He picked up his wine glass, pretending to savor it, but his eyes were observing it with great interest. He didn't say anything to stop him, and even seemed to be indulging him.

Zhao Cangqu forcefully handed the full glass of wine to Su Zhelan, a "sincere" smile plastered on his face: "Holy Son, please!"

Su Zhelan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly beneath his hood. The aroma of the wine carried a faint, almost imperceptible sweetness, accompanied by a heart-pounding heat. It was nearly impossible for it to be colorless and odorless, but this sweetness was masked by the strong fragrance of the wine, making it virtually undetectable to the average person!

His fingers tightened slightly as he held the wine glass, his gaze quickly shifting through the shadow of his hood to Xiao Qiyun beside him. A barely perceptible hint of anxiety and pleading crossed his eyes—there was something wrong with the wine!

Xiao Qiyun had been observing Zhao Cangqu's every move, especially when he saw him personally pouring wine, which immediately put him on high alert. Now, receiving a glance from Su Zhelan, he instantly understood the meaning behind her gaze!

Just as Su Zhelan's hand was slightly raised, seemingly about to be forced to accept the glass of wine—

"Wait!"

Xiao Qiyun's voice boomed like thunder in the tent! He stood up abruptly, his movements as swift as lightning, and in one step he stood between Zhao Cangqu and Su Zhelan!

To everyone's astonishment, Xiao Qiyun snatched the glass of wine from Zhao Cangqu's hand, which was about to be handed to Su Zhelan! His action carried an undeniable forcefulness and a perfectly timed hint of "displeasure"!

"Chief Zhao Cangqu!" Xiao Qiyun's voice carried a hint of anger, but more so the dignity of a crown prince. "The Holy Son is of noble status; how can he drink such coarse and strong liquor? Your apology is far too 'enthusiastic'!"

He swirled the wine in his glass, the deep red liquid rippling within. His sharp gaze swept over Zhao Cangqu's face, which had instantly stiffened. "Since the leader is so hospitable, I will drink this wine on behalf of the Holy Son! That way, the Holy Son won't be disturbed by your rude way of apologizing!"

Before he could finish speaking, amidst Zhao Cangqu's utter shock and a flicker of astonishment in the eyes of the Southern King, Xiao Qiyun tilted his head back and downed the wine in his cup, which was laced with a potent aphrodisiac, in one gulp!

"Your Highness!" Su Zhelan cried out in a low voice, abruptly standing up, his face turning deathly pale beneath his hood! He never expected Xiao Qiyun to drink it directly!

Zhao Cangqu's smile froze instantly, a flicker of barely concealed astonishment and a hint of barely perceptible panic flashing in his eyes! He had used the Scarlet Beauty Intoxication! The target was that mysterious Holy Son! How... how did the Crown Prince drink it?! This... what if it takes effect...

He felt a chill run up his spine! But as a leader who had lived a life of constant danger, he suppressed his fear and quickly put on an exaggerated, obsequious, and "admiring" smile, shouting in a loud voice, "Good! Your Highness is so magnanimous! Truly a hero! This humble general admires you! Admires you!"

As he spoke, he steadied the wine jar in his hands, though the liquid swayed slightly, spilling a little. He tried to use boasting about his drinking capacity to mask his inner panic and the true nature of the situation.

The King of the Southern Border also abruptly stood up, his face displaying just the right amount of "surprise" and "concern": "Your Highness! You..." His heart was also in turmoil! But he reacted quickly, immediately turning his anger towards Zhao Cangqu, and sternly rebuked him: "Zhao Cangqu! You brute! What kind of inferior wine did you bring?! How dare you disturb His Highness the Crown Prince! Quickly apologize to His Highness!"

He made no mention of the drugging incident, instead blaming it on the "inferior liquor" and Zhao Cangqu's recklessness, attempting to characterize the incident as "mistakenly taking inferior liquor and disturbing the Crown Prince."

Startled by the Southern King's roar, Zhao Cangqu fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing incoherently, "Your Highness... Your Highness, please forgive me! This humble servant deserves to die! This humble servant did not know that this wine... was so of such poor quality! I have disturbed Your Highness! This humble servant deserves to die! This humble servant deserves to die!"

Fine beads of sweat trickled down his rugged face, but his movements remained steady, and he didn't completely lose his composure, though his voice trembled slightly. He was terrified inside, but he managed to maintain his composure, simply following the Southern King's lead and shifting the blame to "fierceness."

Xiao Qiyun slammed the empty wine glass heavily on the table in front of Zhao Cangqu, making a dull thud. His face was ashen, and his cold gaze swept over Zhao Cangqu's terrified face, then over the "concerned" face of the Southern King.

He could feel a surge of scorching heat rising from his lower abdomen, instantly engulfing his limbs and bones! The drug's effects were extremely potent and powerful! But he endured it, his face showing no sign of distress, only his breathing became slightly heavier, and his complexion seemed to flush slightly due to the "alcohol's" effects.

“It’s alright.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was slightly hoarse, but his tone remained steady, even with a hint of “magnanimity.” “Chief Zhao… I appreciate your ‘kindness.’ It’s just that this wine… is indeed a bit too strong.”

He shook his head slightly, raised his hand to rub his temples, and pretended to be unable to hold his liquor. "This king... feels a little dizzy."

The King of the Southern Border immediately stepped forward, his face full of "concern": "Your Highness! It must be this inferior wine that's making you drunk! Quick! Help Your Highness to rest!" He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the Crown Prince had not realized it was an aphrodisiac and only thought it was the strong wine that was making him drunk.

Su Zhelan's heart leaped into his throat! He clearly saw Xiao Qiyun's clenched fists trembling slightly, an unnatural blush rising on his neck, and his eyes beginning to become somewhat glazed and...dangerous! He couldn't stay any longer!

Su Zhelan acted decisively! He stepped forward abruptly, seemingly to support Xiao Qiyun, but actually cleverly blocking Xiao Qiyun's swaying figure. His voice was clear and cold, carrying a perfectly measured "concern" and undeniable authority: "Your Highness! You are drunk!"

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping like lightning over Lin Feng, the captain of Xiao Qiyun's personal guards, and said sternly, "Lin Feng! His Highness is not a good drinker, quickly help His Highness back to his tent to rest!"

Lin Feng had already noticed that his lord was not in a good state. Upon receiving the order, he immediately led two elite guards forward and firmly supported Xiao Qiyun's arms on either side: "Your Highness! Your subordinates will escort you back to your tent!"

Xiao Qiyun's consciousness was beginning to blur, and the evil fire within him burned ever brighter, almost threatening to devour him. He clung to his last shred of clarity, not resisting the guards' support, but instead giving Su Zhelan a deep, burning, and complex look, letting out a suppressed groan.

Su Zhelan stopped looking at the fascinating expressions on the faces of the Southern King and Zhao Cangqu, nodded slightly in the direction of the Southern King, and said in a calm but distant voice: "Southern King, Your Highness is unwell, we shall take our leave."

After saying that, he turned around without hesitation and followed closely behind Xiao Qiyun, who was being supported by his personal guards, and walked quickly out of the tent.

The King of the Southern Border watched their departing figures, his face so dark it seemed to drip water, yet he was utterly helpless. Zhao Cangqu collapsed to the ground, his face ashen, knowing he had committed a colossal disaster!

The guards practically carried Xiao Qiyun, rushing back as quickly as possible to the commander's tent, which was specially prepared for the Crown Prince and located in the heart of the camp. The tent was already properly furnished, with thick velvet carpets on the floor, soft animal hides on the low couches, and a brazier burning brightly.

Lin Feng and his guards carefully settled Xiao Qiyun on the low couch. At this moment, Xiao Qiyun's face was no longer slightly flushed, but a deep, burning red! His breathing was rapid and hot, each breath carrying a scalding heat. His forehead was covered with large beads of sweat, his eyes were glazed and bloodshot, and the surging desire within him was like a wild horse, almost breaking through the cage of reason!

He clenched his teeth and let out a suppressed growl. His body trembled violently uncontrollably. His dark-colored outfit was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his taut and powerful muscles. He looked like a volcano about to erupt!

"Your Highness! Your Highness, how are you?" Lin Feng was extremely anxious, his voice trembling slightly, yet he was completely at a loss. He had never seen his Highness like this before!

Su Zhelan rushed into the tent after him and slammed the heavy curtain shut behind him! He ripped off the cumbersome hood, revealing a face covered in deep purple runes, now etched with anxiety and worry.

He strode to the bedside and sternly ordered Lin Feng and the other guards, his voice sharp and resolute like never before: "Get out! Guard the door! No one is allowed to enter! Anyone who trespasses will be killed without mercy!"

His voice was like a sharp blade tempered with ice, carrying an undeniable authority! Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat, instantly realizing the gravity of the situation far exceeded his expectations! Without hesitation, he bowed: "Yes!"

He then quickly withdrew from the tent with his guards and tightly closed the curtain.

In an instant, only Xiao Qiyun and Su Zhelan remained inside the tent.

In the dim light, Xiao Qiyun's pain and struggle were clearly visible. He suddenly grabbed Su Zhelan's wrist with astonishing force, his burning palm feeling like a branding iron!

“Su Zhelan…” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was hoarse and filled with pain and a desperate, almost uncontrollable longing. His eyes burned as if he wanted to devour Su Zhelan. “That wine…that wine…”

"It's alright, Your Highness! Leave it to me..." Su Zhelan's voice trembled slightly, and he gripped Xiao Qiyun's burning hand tightly, trying to offer some reassurance.

He forced himself to calm down, his gaze falling on Xiao Qiyun's bloodshot, dazed eyes, which were fixed intently on the runes on his face. The eerie, deep purple patterns seemed to come alive in the dim light, twisting and coiling, radiating a dark and mysterious glow.

Su Zhelan's heart tightened—these runes were drawn to intimidate enemies, but now they could become a source of agitation for His Highness, intensifying his pain! He couldn't be allowed to see these again!

Without hesitation, he uncorked the bottle and poured a small amount of liquid into his palm. A cool, slightly herbal scent instantly filled the air. Su Zhelan didn't hesitate; she used her fingers, now covered in the medicine, to vigorously and carefully wipe her cheeks, forehead, and the corners of her eyes!

The cold, damp touch on her skin caused Su Zhelan's movements to become urgent and forceful. Although the deep purple pigment adhered strongly, it began to dissolve and spread under the soaking water and Su Zhelan's vigorous rubbing. The vine-flame pattern on her forehead was the first to blur, the deep purple lines turning into patches of murky residue that trickled down with the water. Next came the sharp runes at the corners of her eyes, the fine teardrop lines on her cheekbones… Su Zhelan disregarded the pain and her composure, wanting only to erase these eerie patterns that might irritate Xiao Qiyun as quickly as possible!

Soon, the dark runes on his face were dissolved and wiped clean by the potion, leaving only slightly damp and reddened skin. His once exquisitely beautiful face, now etched with anxiety and a hint of dishevelment, was finally clearly revealed. Strands of wet hair clung to his forehead, and a few drops of residual potion slid down his cheeks, dripping onto his clothes and leaving a faint, herbal scent.

Su Zhelan casually placed the glass bottle on the low table, not bothering to dry the medicine on his face, and quickly returned to the bedside. He leaned down, cupped Xiao Qiyun's burning cheeks in his hands, and forced him to look at him.

"Your Highness! Look at me!" Su Zhelan's voice was filled with unprecedented urgency and tenderness, her clear eyes looking directly into Xiao Qiyun's dazed eyes.

Xiao Qiyun's hazy, bloodshot eyes met Su Zhelan's clear yet anxious eyes, and her face, stripped of its disguise by the potion, revealing only her familiar beauty and current anxious concern. The eerie runes vanished... The person before him was the Su Zhelan he knew... This realization was like a gentle spring, instantly extinguishing some of the frenzy and bizarre associations brought on by the runes.

The madness in Xiao Qiyun's eyes faded slightly, and a sliver of clarity returned. He struggled to make out the words, uttering indistinct sounds from his throat: "Su Zhelan... my Zhelan..."

"It's me, Your Highness," Su Zhelan nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion, "It's me! Don't be afraid! I'm here!"

He felt Xiao Qiyun's grip on his wrist loosen slightly, and felt a little relieved. But this sliver of clarity was extremely fragile! The medicinal properties within Xiao Qiyun's body surged like a volcanic eruption! The scorching heat swept through his body again, causing him to arch his back in pain and let out a suppressed growl! The veins on his neck bulged, and sweat poured down like streams, instantly soaking his clothes!

"Hot...so hot...Su Zhelan...I..." Xiao Qiyun's voice was filled with tearing pain, his eyes became glazed and bloodshot again, and the desire that had been forcibly suppressed rose up again like a venomous snake, tightly coiling around him!

He bit his lower lip so hard it almost bled, using all his strength to resist the flames that threatened to completely destroy his reason! He didn't want to! He absolutely didn't want to hurt Su Zelan while he was out of his mind!

Su Zhelan's heart clenched with pain! He clearly saw the extreme agony and near-desperate struggle in Xiao Qiyun's eyes! That bastard Zhao Cangqu! The dosage was enough to kill someone! He was clearly aiming to destroy Su Zhelan!

"I'll try first, just bear with it," Su Zhelan's voice was firm and unwavering. Without further hesitation, he swiftly pulled a flat needle pouch wrapped in special leather from his sleeve! He quickly untied the pouch, revealing a row of silver needles of varying lengths, gleaming with a cold light!

"What...what are you going to do?" Xiao Qiyun's consciousness struggled amidst the burning sensation, and upon seeing the silver needles, he instinctively felt a trace of resistance.

“Acupuncture will help release some of the heat toxins and relieve the pain,” Su Zhelan’s voice was calm and composed, carrying an unquestionable authority. “Your Highness, trust me, relax.”

He didn't have time to explain further. His fingers shot out like lightning, precisely piercing Xiao Qiyun's acupoints. These acupoints were for relieving heat, calming the mind, and clearing away stagnant fire!

The moment the silver needle pierced through, Xiao Qiyun's body stiffened abruptly! A very subtle, cool, stinging sensation came over him, a stark contrast to the overwhelming heat within his body! This stinging sensation did not intensify his suffering; instead, it felt like a crack had been carved into molten lava!

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Su Zhelan's forehead. He was completely focused, not daring to be distracted for the slightest. While twisting the needle, he whispered a "reprimand" to Xiao Qiyun, who was struggling in pain on the bed. His voice was filled with heartache and lingering fear: "Why did you have to be so reckless? You dared to drink anything! Is that something you can just drink casually?! That bastard Zhao Cangqu gave you... he could..." His voice choked, unable to continue, his eyes filled with heartache and anger, "Do you know how dangerous that was?!"

Xiao Qiyun struggled to open his eyes in pain, his blurry gaze meeting Su Zhelan's eyes, which were filled with heartache and reproach. He forced an extremely awkward, pained smile, his voice broken and intermittent: "I don't know... but I definitely can't... let you drink it."

He gripped Su Zhelan's hand tightly, his strength still formidable, as if it were his only support. "I...I can endure...I...don't want...to hurt you...don't want...to lose my senses..."

"Fool!" Su Zhelan's voice was thick with nasal tone, and his eyes were slightly red. "You are a fool!" But his movements became even gentler and more firm as he continued to twist the silver needles, guiding the scorching airflow out slowly.

Acupuncture does have an effect. Xiao Qiyun could feel that the violent desire that was about to burst him was indeed relieved under the guidance of the silver needles! His extremely tense nerves got a chance to breathe! The burning heat in his body also seemed to subside a little.

But the effect... was too weak! Like a drop in the ocean! The domineering medicinal properties, like a leech, continued to wreak havoc within Xiao Qiyun's body! After a brief respite, an even more violent wave swept in again! More turbulent and more ferocious than before!

His eyes were bloodshot, and the dam of his reason was teetering on the brink of collapse under the onslaught of lust! He bit his arm hard, his teeth digging deep into his flesh, and blood gushed out instantly! He could only fight against the desire that was about to devour him in this almost self-destructive way!

"No!" Su Zhelan cried out in alarm, frantically trying to pry Xiao Qiyun's mouth off his arm! He saw the deep teeth marks and the gushing blood, and his heart ached!

Xiao Qiyun abruptly flung Su Zhelan's hand away, the force so great it nearly knocked her to the ground! He curled up on the couch, his body trembling violently, a suppressed, trapped-beast-like sob escaping his throat: "Go... Zhelan... go... stay away from me... I... I can't control myself anymore..." His voice was broken, filled with extreme pain and fear—the fear that he would hurt Su Zhelan!

Su Zhelan was thrown aside, staggering back a step, looking at the man on the bed struggling painfully in the throes of passion, even resorting to self-harm to maintain the last shred of consciousness, looking at the glaring blood on his arm, looking at the pain and despair in his eyes that almost burned him to ashes...

Acupuncture has limited effects... the medicine is too strong... if this continues, His Highness will be tortured to death! Or... he will completely break down and do something irreversible!

A thought flashed through Su Zelan's chaotic thoughts like lightning!

It's not like they haven't had their share of troubles...

Rather than watching him be tortured to death, or watching him completely break down and do something he himself can't forgive... it's better to...

Su Zhelan's eyes instantly became incredibly complex, filled with struggle and shame...

“I know you can endure it! I know you don’t want to lose your mind! But Your Highness…” Su Zhelan’s voice choked with emotion, “Seeing you like this… I can’t bear it. Let me help you.”