Chapter 25 Unraveling the Knot
After the group returned to their room, Bai Qianfan secretly found Chu Jianshan and sat down by his bedside, hesitant to speak.
Chu Jianshan understood his meaning and asked first, "Is my poison difficult to cure?"
Bai Qianfan nodded and said, "If I had half a month, I would be more confident, but seven days... the hope is really slim."
An ordinary person would have been filled with despair upon hearing Bai Qianfan's words, but Chu Jianshan showed no reaction, as if he had long been accustomed to such things.
He piled up the pillows to make himself more comfortable, and said calmly, "Actually, not necessarily. I don't think I'll die."
Bai Qianfan was moved by his words and said with tears in her eyes, "You trust me so much."
"Oh, no, that's not it."
Chu Jianshan promptly shattered his untimely fantasy, saying, "I believe in the person behind this."
Bai Qianfan asked, "What do you mean?"
Chu Jianshan said, "The more I think about what happened today, the stranger it seems. If they already knew my identity and wanted to kill me to silence me, then these people alone would not be enough. If they didn't want to kill me and just wanted to test our strength, then why did they poison me before leaving?"
"And the timing of this poison is so coincidental, just enough to give you not enough time to prepare an antidote, so you have to settle for other methods. What's even more coincidental is that Qingyao City happens to have an antidote that can cure all poisons in the world."
Chu Jianshan looked up at Bai Qianfan and said in a low voice, "Don't you feel like we're being led around by someone?"
Bai Qianfan lowered his head and pondered Chu Jianshan's words for a while, feeling that what he said made sense. This matter was definitely not simple, and the true purpose of the person behind it was unclear. But regardless of whether they were being lured by others, they still had to go to Qingyao City. They absolutely could not watch Chu Jianshan die.
Seeing that Bai Qianfan's expression was still solemn, Chu Jianshan could only comfort him, saying, "Don't worry, since he still wants to watch this play, he won't let me die so easily."
"Alright, enough of this. You're poisoned, yet you're still talking so much." Bai Qianfan stood up, composed himself, and said, "You should rest first. We'll take care of the antidote."
Chu Jianshan nodded. Only after Bai Qianfan left could he finally breathe a sigh of relief. His wounds were starting to hurt more and more, and a thin layer of sweat was seeping from his forehead.
He slept in a daze for an unknown amount of time, then began to wake up again. After failing to fall back asleep repeatedly, he had no choice but to get up and go out without even putting on his outer clothes.
He was unfamiliar with Qingyao City and had no idea where he was. He only saw a river that was not narrow. The sound of the rushing water was even more obvious in the quiet night. The biting cold wind kept blowing against his thin body, making him slightly unsteady on his feet. He regretted not bringing any clothes with him.
But he still didn't want to go back; the cold wind would at least clear his head. After standing there for an unknown amount of time, Chu Jianshan felt someone drape a garment over him, blocking the relentless chill. He turned around and saw it was Cheng Yuan.
Chu Jianshan subconsciously wanted to smile at Cheng Yuan, but his lips were pale and his face was bloodless, making his smile look worse than a cry.
Cheng Yuan glanced at him twice, then pulled his clothes closer together and said, "Actually, I've always been curious why you're so good to me. It was at the Liang residence last time, and it's the same this time. What is it about me that makes you risk your life to save me?"
Instead of answering his question directly, Chu Jianshan smiled and asked in return, "Then, considering how good I am to you, can you please stop being angry with me?"
Cheng Yuan said defiantly, "I'm not angry."
Chu Jianshan simply said "oh" and then fell silent.
Seeing that Chu Jianshan really didn't intend to press the matter, Cheng Yuan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately changed his mind and said, "I'm angry."
Chu Jianshan suppressed a laugh and pressed, "Are you angry that I kept it from you?"
"I'm angry that you don't trust me. Wasn't your resolute departure before because you felt that Ji Shi and I couldn't help you?"
Chu Jianshan frowned, somewhat curious as to why he would think that way. Was he really that insecure about himself?
Then he said, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just that this matter is too dangerous, and it’s a grudge from the previous generation. There’s really no need for you to get involved.”
Cheng Yuan retorted, "But this is a matter for Changjin Mountain. If we're really talking about status, wouldn't you, as an outsider, be even less qualified?"
What a stranger! He left Chu Jianshan speechless, unsure how to refute him.
Cheng Yuan continued, "I will write to the sect leader about this matter; it's better than you taking the risk yourself."
Chu Jianshan shook his head and said, "It's no use. Do you think he didn't have any doubts about what happened back then? It's just that we are facing the Linyi Sect. In the face of such a powerful force, right and wrong are no longer important. As the sect leader, Jiang Yan would never gamble with the future of the entire sect."
He raised his eyes to meet Cheng Yuan's gaze and said, "Therefore, someone must be willing to sacrifice themselves in this situation."
"So you're willing to sacrifice yourself?" Cheng Yuan sneered, his tone sarcastic. "You really are righteous. You were willing to get hurt for me back then, and now you're willing to die for someone you have no connection with. What, are you planning to have someone erect a monument to your selflessness after you sacrifice yourself?"
As Cheng Yuan bent down to approach him, Chu Jianshan slowly lowered his eyes, not daring to look up, and said softly, "Brother Xie has been kind to me, and I must avenge him."
Cheng Yuan said, "I don't care what debt of gratitude or revenge you want to repay, but you can't abandon us, at least... at least you can't be like my master."
He raised his hand and grabbed Chu Jianshan by the back of the neck, forcing him to look up at him. The distance between them suddenly shortened, and they were almost chest to chest. It was unclear whose heart was beating faster.
Cheng Yuan said solemnly, word by word, "Chu Jianshan, listen carefully. No matter how dangerous this matter is, I will never let you go alone. No matter what excuse you make in the future, don't even think about getting rid of me again."
These were perfectly normal words, but for some reason, Chu Jianshan's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
In the thirty-odd years he had lived, he had always been taught to climb higher. When his cultivation was at its peak, he was given one identity after another, forcing him to shoulder responsibilities. This seemed to be the first time that someone had chosen to stand firmly by his side without fear of anything else or for any reason.
"Chu Jianshan, did you hear me?" Cheng Yuan urged him to answer.
Chu Jianshan turned his head, gently pushed him away, casually wiped the corner of his eye, and whispered, "I heard you."
He heard the grievances he had kept in his heart for many years, and he also heard Cheng Yuan's choice for him. He suddenly felt that having someone by his side to advance and retreat together was not a bad decision.
"So..." Cheng Yuan asked cautiously, trying to ask, "You won't push me away again, right?"
Chu Jianshan gave a soft "hmm" and said, "I shouldn't have abandoned you all before. I admit my mistake."
Then he added, "This time it's for real!"
Cheng Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "So you mean your previous apology wasn't sincere?"
Chu Jianshan frowned and remained silent. Cheng Yuan lowered his head and chuckled softly, saying, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Your health isn't good to begin with, so don't stay here in the cold wind. Go back."
He gently pushed Chu Jianshan's back to urge him to leave. Chu Jianshan turned around and took two steps, but then stopped with his back to him.
For some reason, he felt a strong urge to tell Cheng Yuan who he was, to pour out all the emotions he had buried in his heart over the years, to make everything clear, and even... to hug him.
"He's gone mad..."
Chu Jianshan shook his head slightly, trying to dismiss these absurd thoughts. This was his disciple, his own disciple! He couldn't possibly have any improper thoughts about his disciple.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Yuan asked from behind Chu Jianshan when he saw him stop.
Seeing that he didn't speak, I assumed he was worried about the clothes, so I added, "You don't need to return the clothes, you can keep them."
Chu Jianshan hummed in agreement and then hurried away.
Back in his room, Chu Jianshan still couldn't sleep. As if possessed, he took out Cheng Yuan's clothes and put them on.
His clothes had a very faint fragrance that Chu Jianshan found familiar but couldn't quite place. It was comforting, and slowly, he was even able to close his eyes and rest for a while.
Chu Jianshan vaguely remembered that Cheng Yuan was very clingy to him when he was little. At that time, he was afraid that Cheng Yuan would be a weak person when he grew up. But now, the situation has been reversed. It seems that he has started to rely on Cheng Yuan more often.
With a heart full of emotions, Chu Jianshan's consciousness began to slowly fade. When he opened his eyes again, he saw a familiar house.
"Master, you're awake?"
Cheng Yuan came in carrying a bowl of porridge. No, to be precise, it was sixteen-year-old Cheng Yuan.
Chu Jianshan was stunned for a long time before he realized he was dreaming. Before he could react, Cheng Yuan had already come over, put his coat on him, and folded the quilt. His movements were so smooth and efficient that Chu Jianshan felt like he had returned to the old days.
Chu Jianshan stared intently at sixteen-year-old Cheng Yuan, trying to discern something from his face.
Cheng Yuan felt awkward under his gaze and asked in confusion, "Why is Master staring at me?"
Chu Jianshan coughed lightly twice, covering his lips with his hand, and said in his old, unreasonable tone, "I am the master, you are not allowed to ask the master why."
Cheng Yuan chuckled softly and replied, "Yes, disciple obeys."
Chu Jianshan turned to look outside the door. The lush bamboo forest swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound, occasionally punctuated by the clear chirping of birds.
The morning sunlight shone on the stone table outside the door, where the two were still playing a game of chess, which was covered with a layer of golden dust in the morning light.
Cheng Yuan was always better at chess than him, but he always let him win so as not to embarrass his master. As a result, Chu Jianshan was very proud of himself for a long time.
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