Chapter 30 Pain is Insignificant "Sister, aren't you afraid I'll cripple him?..."
Qi Baitong hesitated slightly: "If Xi Feng is really in His Highness the Crown Prince's hands, I might know where he is."
Gu Shanyue immediately said, "Take me there."
With Qi Baitong in front and Gu Shanyue behind, the two arrived at the side door of the study behind the courtyard. An inconspicuous mechanism opened to reveal a tunnel, from which came out a musty smell of decay accumulated over the years.
The guards at the entrance were startled and were about to make a move, but they stopped when they saw Gu Shanyue's face and turned to run into the tunnel.
Gu Shanyue kicked him to the ground, yelling, "Why are you running?"
The guards resisted and were about to get up when a series of hurried footsteps approached.
"What are you doing! No one is allowed to lay a hand on Miss Yue! I think you're all asking for trouble!"
After reprimanding the guards, Bai Yan wiped the sweat from his face and bowed to Gu Shanyue: "Miss Yue, this dungeon is filthy. Who was so blind as to bring you here?"
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Qi Baitong, carrying a warning.
"Shut up," Gu Shanyue said impatiently. "Where is Xifeng? If you say another word, I'll cut your tongue out."
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Yan immediately shut his mouth, turned around and led the way, but his face was covered in sweat and his eyes were darting around.
The three of them wandered around and finally stopped in front of a closed cell.
Bai Yan looked at Gu Shanyue and pointed into the cell. Gu Shanyue raised her foot to kick the door, but the door creaked open by itself.
A handsome face with golden features appeared in the dimly lit cell. Li Yuheng smiled and asked, "Why have you come, sister?"
His tone was as usual, as if he were in a tea room for receiving guests, not a dungeon.
Gu Shanyue cut to the chase: "Where's Xifeng?"
"They're asking me for people again. My sister always thinks the worst of me," Li Yuheng sighed softly.
Gu Shanyue's expression turned slightly cold: "Get out of the way."
“Of course I can step aside, you know I listen to you the most,” Li Yuheng frowned slightly, as if aggrieved, “but first tell me, what’s so good about this Xifeng that he’s worth protecting? He hates Mother, hates you and me, and hates Zhuoguang Mountain even more, doesn’t he?”
Gu Shanyue's eyelids twitched: "What he thinks is none of my business. I'll just do what I'm supposed to do."
Having said that, she ran out of patience and reached out to pull Li Yuheng away.
Despite his bad mood, Li Yuheng restrained his strength and only staggered slightly before regaining his balance.
The door was wide open, revealing everything: a bloodstained torture rack and various instruments of torture.
There is no Xifeng.
Gu Shanyue turned around: "Where's Xifeng?"
Li Yuheng laughed: "Sister saw it with her own eyes, and you still want to ask me? He's probably hiding in some corner like a mouse."
Gu Shanyue stared at him intently, while Li Yuheng smiled and looked back at Gu Shanyue, showing no sign of guilt.
"Yu'er, don't lie to me."
Gu Shanyue is an easy person to fool, but sometimes she can be frighteningly perceptive.
Li Yuheng's eyes flickered slightly: "Why do you say that, sister?"
Qi Baitong, who was behind Gu Shanyue, was scanning every inch of the cell when suddenly his gaze fixed on something, and he quickly walked over and picked it up.
As soon as the soft bell rang, Gu Shanyue turned around, and Li Yuheng's gaze instantly turned cold.
In the outstretched palm of Qi Baitong, a small, bright silver bell lay quietly.
Gu Shanyue exhaled and picked up the small bell.
"I'll ask one last time, where is Xifeng?"
"elder sister……"
"Don't force me to destroy your dungeon."
For a moment, all was quiet. In the dark dungeon, only the flickering candlelight stretched the shadows of each person, intertwining and then dispersing.
After a long while, Li Yuheng walked up to Gu Shanyue, looked at her and said softly, "He wants to kill you, and he wants to kill me too. Don't protect him anymore."
Gu Shanyue said with certainty, "He can't kill me."
Li Yuheng shook his head: "What about me? What if he kills me?"
Gu Shanyue's gaze slowly fell on his face: "I will not let him kill you."
“Even the best plans can have flaws. Sister, you refused to stay, so how could you stop him from killing me?” Li Yuheng smiled coldly, with a hint of annoyance.
“If he kills you, even if he escapes to the ends of the earth, I will find him, torture him, and kill him.”
Gu Shanyue remained calm, but no one doubted her words.
She does what she says.
Being chased by a swordsman with top-notch lightness skills is probably the most terrifying nightmare for people in the martial arts world.
Li Yuheng stared at her blankly, and Gu Shanyue raised her hand and slapped his forehead hard.
Where are they?
Li Yuheng was jolted by the slap, and a red mark appeared on his forehead.
He rubbed his forehead, then suddenly smiled: "Bai Yan, hand over the person."
Bai Yan made a gesture to the person behind him, and the silent dungeon came to life. Soon, the dying Xi Feng was dragged up. His clothes had just been put on, and blood was slowly seeping through them, like a bright red flower slowly blooming.
Gu Shanyue quickly stepped forward and checked his breath.
Li Yuheng spoke slowly and deliberately: "Don't worry, the person is alive."
He hadn't expected Gu Shanyue to ask him for her person, and he didn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes.
Gu Shanyue breathed a sigh of relief.
It's good that he's not dead. As for his injuries, they can be treated.
Seeing that she relaxed instantly, Li Yuheng suddenly said, "Sister, aren't you afraid I'll cripple him?"
Gu Shanyue didn't even turn his head: "So be it."
Li Yuheng burst into laughter, his pale face regaining some color.
“I knew it, my sister will always be on my side.”
Gu Shanyue ignored him.
Although she was willing to save Xifeng for her senior sister's sake, Xifeng was truly focused on revenge. With her senior sister dead, Li Yuheng was the most likely target for him.
If he really killed Li Yuheng, Gu Shanyue would definitely kill him too.
It's better if he's crippled; at least he can live a more peaceful life.
The concept of "distance" and "closeness" is most applicable to Gu Shanyue.
Xi Feng groaned softly like a dead dog. Just as Gu Shanyue was about to pick him up, Qi Baitong suddenly appeared and steadily helped Xi Feng up.
Just as the two were about to leave, Li Yuheng spoke again: "Lord Qi."
Qi Baitong turned around: "Your subordinate is here."
"Have you forgotten who your master is?" Li Yuheng was always cold and arrogant when facing Qi Baitong.
Qi Baitong simply replied, "This subordinate dares not."
Gu Shanyue hissed and raised his hand towards Li Yuheng: "Want to get beaten up again?"
Li Yuheng pretended to dodge, let out a "ouch," and smiled brightly at Gu Shanyue: "Sister wouldn't bear to hit me."
Gu Shanyue: "...Shameless."
She ignored Li Yuheng and, together with Qi Baitong, brought Xifeng, who was covered in blood, back to the courtyard.
Xi Feng was unconscious and covered in injuries; they couldn't just throw him out like that.
Gu Shanyue's courtyard was spacious with many empty rooms. Qi Baitong settled Xifeng in a small house next to the west room, adding, "This way I can hear his movements at all times and take better care of him."
Gu Shanyue readily agreed: "Okay."
She glanced at Xi Feng, who was still bleeding on the bed, and casually lifted the robe he was wearing.
Xi Feng was naked, with the leather rope and silver bell still on his body. However, his body beneath the rope was covered with crisscrossing whip marks. In addition to the whip marks, there were also injuries on his chest, abdomen, back, wrists, and ankles. It seemed that his martial arts skills were truly ruined.
Gu Shanyue frowned, but she knew this was Li Yuheng's bottom line.
For Li Yuheng, sparing the life of a Blood Mirage orphan who was hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to take revenge, was already a favor to Gu Shanyue.
Gu Shanyue was deep in thought, while Qi Baitong held Xi Feng's robe in her hand, looking slightly anxious.
The instant Gu Shanyue looked away, Qi Baitong immediately covered Xi Feng with the robe.
Although being covered in blood was disgusting, he didn't want Gu Shanyue to keep looking at the naked man, especially since he was the same man who had once seduced Gu Shanyue.
"I'll go find a doctor."
Just as the lacquered white tung tree covered the western maple tree and was about to leave, the doctor arrived.
Bai Yan politely explained that this was a doctor specially invited by His Highness, who was skilled in treating both internal and external injuries.
Gu Shanyue didn't listen to what he was saying at all. With a glare, Bai Yan felt a chill down his spine and immediately ran away.
The doctor examined him and found that although he was covered in wounds, they were all superficial and not life-threatening.
However, his hands and feet are indeed useless, and even if he recovers, he will find it difficult to pick up a weapon again in the future.
Gu Shanyue looked at Xi Feng, who was covered in cold sweat on the bed, but felt nothing.
If it weren't for her senior sister's words that Li Yuheng didn't need to take action, she would have already taken Xifeng's life during the battle at the Blood Mirage Tower. How could he have survived to this day?
But senior sister...
Even though her senior sister wasn't around, Gu Shanyue didn't want to do anything that her senior sister disliked.
The doctor treated Xi Feng's injuries, with Qi Baitong assisting him. Gu Shanyue watched for a while before leaving.
After Xi Feng was bandaged and given medicine, Qi Baitong searched around and found Gu Shanyue curled up on the small couch in the main room.
She is always very strong, both physically and mentally; nothing can shake her resolve.
But when she meets Wu Shanyu, she seems to turn back into the child she once was.
Qi Baitong moved quietly, fetched water, and came to the small couch to wipe her face and hands. The moment the damp cloth touched her cheek, Gu Shanyue's eyes snapped open, her gaze clear and sharp, and her hand gripped the sword sheath.
Qi Baitong's eyes were like spring water as she smiled gently, "Let me wipe your face before you sleep, okay?"
A single sentence acted as a switch, and Gu Shanyue's clear eyes dimmed. Like a startled little animal that had sensed safety, he closed his eyes again in a daze and mumbled something.
Qi Baitong then wiped her face and hands, and even after taking her hands from the scabbard of the Wugou sword and wiping them carefully one by one, Gu Shanyue did not open her eyes.
The lamplight, dim and soft, fell on her face as she slept with her eyes closed, casting dappled shadows as she breathed softly.
She was sleeping soundly; she must have been exhausted.
Qi Baitong felt a pang of tenderness in his heart. To have such a peaceful moment with her by his side, sleeping peacefully beside him, what more could he ask for?
With such a piece of candy around, all the gloom, bitterness, and sleepless nights seem insignificant.
Qi Baitong lowered his head, cupped a tuft of her cool, smooth hair in his palm, and gently touched it with his lips.
A faint scent of hibiscus wafted into her nostrils; it was the fragrance of hibiscus leaves he had prepared for her.
At the end of happiness, another layer of happiness is added.
The small couch was a bit narrow, so Gu Shanyue turned over and one leg fell off. Qi Baitong's voice was low and soft as he whispered in her ear, "A-Yue, shall I carry you to bed?"
Gu Shanyue hummed softly, closed her eyes, and reached out her hand. Qi Baitong restrained her almost frantic heartbeat and steadily pulled her into her arms.
Gu Shanyue rested her head on his shoulder, her long hair tangled around him, her warm breath like a damp breeze hitting his neck, instantly making several veins bulge.
Qi Baitong restrained herself, her muscles tense to the point of near aching, yet her movements remained as gentle as a lotus leaf holding dewdrops, as tender as a cradle.
Gu Shanyue felt comfortable and at ease, nuzzling her face against his shoulder, her fluffy hair brushing against his ear, making his back tremble involuntarily.
After walking such a short distance, Qi Baitong was almost drenched in sweat before she finally settled Gu Shanyue on the bed, then took off his shoes and outer clothes, and loosened his hair tie.
As soon as she was put down, Gu Shanyue rolled into the quilt, stretched out her limbs comfortably, and fell into a deep sleep with her head tilted to the side.
She lay on the bed, while Qi Baitong curled up on the footstool beside her, his dark eyes gazing at her quietly, like a joyful yet silent house dog.
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