Chapter 15 Injured
Since that morning, a thorn has been planted in Li Lianhua's heart.
He was no longer the Li Lianhua who could sleep peacefully on the same bed with Di Feisheng. Whenever night fell and she saw Di Feisheng walking naturally towards the bed in the flickering candlelight, Li Lianhua's heart began to beat uncontrollably.
On the third night, Di Feisheng was about to undress when he saw Li Lianhua coming over with a bowl of dark brown medicine, looking solemn.
"Drink this before you go to sleep." Li Lianhua handed the bowl to Di Feisheng with a tone that did not allow for refusal.
Di Feisheng frowned and took it, sniffing the contents of the bowl: "What is it?"
"Heat-clearing tea." Li Lianhua remained calm. "You've been too hot-tempered lately. You need to calm your nerves."
Di Feisheng raised his eyes to look at him, his gaze as sharp as a torch: "I didn't feel any anger at all."
Li Lianhua's ears felt slightly hot, but she forced herself to remain calm. "A doctor is like a caring parent. If I say you have a fever, then you have a fever. If you don't drink it, don't even think about going to bed."
The two stared at each other for a moment before Di Feisheng finally took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp. The bitterness of the medicine was tinged with a hint of sweetness, and a refreshing feeling spread across the throat.
"Can we go to sleep now?" Di Feisheng put down the empty bowl and walked towards the bed.
Li Lianhua reached out to stop him: "Wait a moment, until the medicine takes effect."
After just a cup of tea, Di Feisheng felt his eyelids heavy and his whole body weak. He forced himself to look at Li Lianhua, his eyes filled with doubt: "This tea... is problematic..."
Before he could finish his words, he could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep on the bed.
Li Lianhua finally breathed a sigh of relief, carefully settling Di Feisheng down and covering him with the quilt. Under the moonlight, Di Feisheng's sleeping face looked less fierce than usual and more peaceful.
"I'm sorry, Ah Fei." Li Lianhua whispered to herself, "If it weren't for that day... I wouldn't have resorted to such a desperate measure."
He sat by the bed, gazing at Di Feisheng's sleeping form, a chorus of emotions welling up in his heart. The image of that day flooded his mind uncontrollably, making his cheeks flush. He had never imagined such intimacy with Di Feisheng, much less that he would actually...
Li Lianhua shook his head, trying to shake off those shameful memories. He took out a silver needle and gently pricked Di Feisheng's wrist, confirming that he was deep asleep. Only then did he undress and lie down beside Di Feisheng, but deliberately kept a distance.
In the middle of the night, Li Lianhua woke up from his dream and found himself in Di Feisheng's arms again. He stepped back hurriedly, his heart pounding, but he was relieved to see that Di Feisheng was still asleep.
This continued for several days. Every time it was time for bed, Li Lianhua would punctually serve her a bowl of her special "fire-clearing tea." Di Feisheng was displeased, but seeing Li Lianhua's insistence, he had no choice but to drink. Then, he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Li Lianhua gradually felt relieved, thinking that she had found a way to have the best of both worlds.
On the seventh night, Li Lianhua handed over the medicine bowl as usual. Di Feisheng took it but did not drink it immediately. Instead, he looked directly at Li Lianhua and said, "This tea contains tranquilizers. Why did you lie to me and say it's a heat-clearing tea?"
Li Lianhua was startled, but she pretended to be calm: "Calming the mind is also a way to clear heat..."
Di Feisheng suddenly reached out and grabbed Li Lianhua's wrist with lightning speed. "You keep me asleep every night. What are you afraid of?" His eyes were clear and sharp. "Are you afraid of a repeat of what happened that morning?"
Li Lianhua couldn't break free, her face flushed. "What nonsense! I just, just..."
"Since you're so worried," Di Feisheng suddenly put down the medicine bowl, "I won't drink this tea tonight. You were obviously very happy that day..."
Li Lianhua panicked: "Don't say it! Please stop talking!"
As the two were arguing, they suddenly heard Fang Duobing's voice coming from outside the door: "Li Lianhua, Di Feisheng, are you asleep? I cooked a midnight snack..."
Li Lianhua took the opportunity to withdraw his hand. Di Feisheng gave him a meaningful look and said loudly, "Not yet in bed."
That night, Di Feisheng drank the tea to reassure Li Lianhua. Li Lianhua lay on the innermost side of the bed with her back to Di Feisheng, not daring to close her eyes the entire night.
But the sound of the flute flew in a deep sleep until dawn, without any further progress.
At daybreak, Li Lianhua, with dark circles under her eyes, looked at Di Feisheng, who looked refreshed, and suddenly realized that she might have been worrying too much.
But why, there is an inexplicable disappointment in my heart?
On the rugged mountain path, the three followed the cryptic markings left by the Si Gu Men. Li Lianhua's face had turned pale from days of travel, but she still forced herself to analyze the clues she had discovered along the way.
"The Nan Yin secret technique is indeed related to Senior Brother," Li Lianhua pointed at the almost illegible marks on the stone wall, "These symbols are exactly the same as what we saw in the ancient books in Senior Brother's room."
Di Feisheng listened silently, his eyes occasionally glancing at Li Lianhua's profile, noticing that he looked even more exhausted than usual. Ever since that morning, Li Lianhua had avoided him everywhere, forcing him to drink that bowl of "heat-clearing tea" every night, which made Di Feisheng quite unhappy.
Fang Duobing was about to speak when suddenly countless birds flew up in fright from the forest.
"Be careful!" Di Feisheng was the first to notice something was wrong and his hand had already pressed on the hilt of the knife.
Instantly, dozens of assassins from the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance leaped out from the surrounding forests, surrounding the three. The leader, a woman with a fiery red dress and a face as beautiful as a flower, had eyes as cold as ice—it was Jiao Liqiao.
"Your Majesty," Jiao Liqiao bowed to Di Feisheng with a fascinated look in her eyes, "I respectfully invite Your Majesty to return to the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance."
Di Feisheng's face was stern: "I don't know you."
A trace of pain flashed across Jiao Liqiao's eyes, and then turned fierce: "It must be these two people who have deceived the king! Especially you, Li Lianhua!" She suddenly attacked, and several poisoned silver needles shot directly at Li Lianhua's face.
Di Feisheng swung her sword to block, and the silver needles fell to the ground with a tinkling sound. However, Jiao Liqiao's move was a feint, and the real killing move followed - a golden silk flew out from her sleeve, and like a venomous snake, it went straight to Li Lianhua's heart.
The blow came too fast and too hard. Li Lianhua, exhausted from dodging the flute's whirring sound for days, was a moment too slow to react. Although the golden silk missed his vital spot, it grazed his left arm fiercely, causing a sharp tearing sound and staining his plain clothes with blood.
"Lotus!" Fang Duobing screamed in surprise, and his sword was already unsheathed.
But someone was faster than him.
Di Feisheng's figure vanished from the spot, only to reappear before Jiao Liqiao the next moment. No one could see how he moved, but they could only sense a terrifying murderous aura suddenly filling the forest, weighing down everyone's hearts.
"You hurt him."
Di Feisheng's voice was chillingly cold, no longer his usual calm voice, but rather contained something terrifying that was about to erupt. His eyes—those eyes that were always as calm as a cold pond—now glowed with a terrifying bloodshot color.
Jiao Liqiao was so shocked by this sudden change that she took a half step back. Then a look of crazy joy appeared on her face: "Is the Lord finally willing to look me in the face? Even if it's out of anger..."
Before he could finish his words, Di Feisheng's sword was already unsheathed.
There was no warning, no hesitation. The blade struck with unnatural speed, its flash slicing through the shadows of the forest like lightning. Jiao Liqiao raised her blade to meet the blow. Amidst the clash of metal and stone, her knuckles burst open, blood trickling down her wrist.
"Your Majesty...you have great skills..." Jiao Liqiao licked the blood on the corner of his lips, and his smile became more and more crazy.
Di Feisheng's face remained expressionless as the second strike followed. This one went straight for the throat, showing no mercy. The sharp wind from the blade made Jiao Liqiao's long hair dance wildly, and a flicker of fear finally flashed in her eyes.
"Di Feisheng, you can't kill her yet!" Li Lianhua shouted in pain.
The blade suddenly stopped inches from Jiao Liqiao's throat. Di Feisheng turned back to look at Li Lianhua, his eyes still bloodshot. "She hurt you."
These four words were spoken with gnashing teeth, carrying a murderous intent that was almost solidified into reality.
In that moment of distraction, Jiao Liqiao sprinkled a handful of red powder, a strange fragrance filling the forest. Di Feisheng retreated breathlessly, immediately protecting Li Lianhua and waving his sleeve to clear away the red mist.
When her vision cleared, Jiao Liqiao and the members of the Golden Yuan League had disappeared, leaving only her manic laughter echoing in the forest: "My Lord, you are reluctant to kill me after all! I will come looking for you again!"
Di Feisheng paid no attention to it and hurriedly turned around to check on Li Lianhua's injuries. When he saw the black wound on Li Lianhua's arm, his face turned pale instantly - this was an expression that rarely appeared on Di Feisheng's face.
"It's poisonous." His voice was hoarse and his fingers were trembling slightly.
Before Fang Duobing could even retrieve the detoxification pill, Di Feisheng had already ripped open Li Lianhua's sleeve and leaned over to suck out the poisonous blood. His movements were hasty yet meticulous, sucking out mouthfuls of the black blood and spitting it out until it turned bright red.
Li Lianhua stared at Di Feisheng's lowered profile, noticing the sweat on his forehead and the tightly pursed lines on his lips. This was the first time Li Lianhua had seen Di Feisheng so panicked—although he remained calm on the surface, his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner fear.
"No need...to do this..." Li Lianhua tried to stop him weakly.
Di Feisheng ignored it. After sucking out the poisonous blood, he took out a delicate porcelain bottle from his bosom and carefully sprinkled the powder on the wound. His movements were extremely gentle, as if he was handling some fragile treasure.
"Don't move." Di Feisheng whispered, with a tension in his voice that Li Lianhua had never heard before.
Even after the bandage was complete, Di Feisheng remained concerned and took Li Lianhua's wrist to carefully feel her pulse. His fingers were icy cold, a stark contrast to their usual warmth. Li Lianhua could sense a slight tremor in their fingertips, though Di Feisheng was clearly trying hard to control it.
After confirming the poison had been cleared, Di Feisheng's expression softened slightly, but the anger in his eyes remained. He stared at Li Lianhua's wound and said in a low voice, "I won't let anyone hurt you again."
This sentence is not like a promise, but more like a blood oath.
Fang Duobing was stunned watching from the side. He had never seen Di Feisheng show such emotions so openly, and he never expected that this cold man would have such a side.
After finding a cave to rest, Di Feisheng insisted that Li Lianhua rest while he himself stayed at the cave entrance. But every once in a while, he would turn back to check on Li Lianhua's condition, his eyes clearly filled with worry.
When Li Lianhua frowned slightly because of the pain, Di Feisheng immediately came to him and silently handed him the water bag, with his other hand still tightly holding the hilt of the knife, as if ready to fight to protect him at any time.
Late at night, in the stillness of the night, Li Lianhua awoke from a light sleep to find Di Feisheng still sitting nearby, his gaze fixed on him. Those eyes, always sharp as a knife, now held a complex mix of emotions Li Lianhua couldn't decipher—anger, fear, worry, and a deep, almost overflowing emotion.
"I'm fine, you can rest." Li Lianhua said softly.
Di Feisheng shook his head, his voice particularly clear in the silent cave: "I can't let you get hurt again."
The words were spoken so softly, yet they carried a weight of weight. Li Lianhua suddenly realized that Jiao Liqiao's blow had not only injured his arm, but had also carved a deep fear into Di Feisheng's heart.
Di Feisheng, who was always calm and composed, showed panic for the first time because of his injury.
What made Li Lianhua even more frightened was that she actually felt an inexplicable throbbing because of this panic.
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