Chapter 24: Heart to Heart
The bamboo curtain of Yaowang Valley moved slightly, and a dark figure suddenly rushed in, filling the room with the fragrance of medicine.
"How can we cure the poison he has been poisoned with?" Di Feisheng's voice was hurried, with bloodshot eyes from days of running around. The old wound on his shoulder was bleeding slightly due to his hurried journey.
Medicine King looked up and saw it was him. He was not surprised and said calmly, "The leader is finally here."
Di Feisheng took a step closer, his tone anxious, "Since the Medicine King knew I was coming, he should know why I'm here. Is the poison of the green tea... truly untreatable?"
The Medicine King gestured for him to sit down, tapping the table with his fingertips. "There is a solution, but..." The old man's gaze was sharp. "Is the leader willing to pay the price?"
"Any price." Di Feisheng said without hesitation, "As long as he can survive."
The Medicine King stared at him for a moment, then slowly said, "You must transform your inner yang energy into spiritual energy, and infuse it into his body through dual cultivation. This will be supplemented by the Forgetful River Flower nourished by your blood. But there is a fatal condition—" He paused deliberately, "You two must be in sync with each other, otherwise your inner energies will clash and both will die."
Di Feisheng froze in place, his previous anxiety frozen in an instant. Dual cultivation? Telepathy? He and Li Lianhua were in this situation now...
"Does he...know this method?" Di Feisheng's voice was dry.
The Medicine King nodded. "I know. But I refuse to tell anyone, especially... you."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid of getting you into trouble," the Medicine King sighed. "He said, 'His life is more important than mine.'"
The flute sounded like it had been struck hard, and it stumbled back a step. That always calm person would rather die alone than risk him taking any risks? So, the harsh words they spoke that day during their breakup, the silence they kept each night while they expelled the poison, were all because...
"How long...does he have left?" Di Feisheng's voice trembled slightly.
"Three months at most." The Medicine King's eyes were sharp. "But now, I want to ask the Alliance Leader: are you his kindred spirit?"
Di Feisheng opened his mouth to speak, but his words were stuck in his throat. In the past, he might have been certain. But after being exploited, deceived, and broken up...how much trust was left between them?
He didn't dare to guess what that person was thinking.
Seeing this, the Medicine King shook his head and sighed, "Love is the most torturous word. One of you is afraid of bringing trouble to the other and would rather wait for death, while the other is afraid of losing his heart and endangering his life... You miss each other so much, yet you are suspicious of each other. It's really..."
Di Feisheng suddenly looked up: "Senior, what you mean is..."
"I don't mean anything." The Medicine King waved his hand. "I'm just reminding the leader, if you're really interested, you might as well give it a try. Otherwise..." He pointed to his heart, "The poison in this is more harmful than the green tea."
Di Feisheng stood there in a daze, with countless images flashing through his mind: Li Lianhua's concentration when she sucked out the poisonous blood for him, her seriousness when she swore an oath under the moon, the pain in her eyes when they broke up... and those late nights when he quietly transferred his internal energy and that person unconsciously leaned towards him for dependence.
Really...without any intention?
"I... need to see him." Di Feisheng finally said, the light in his eyes rekindled, "No matter what the result is, I must get to the bottom of it."
The Medicine King nodded. "He's recuperating in Hongye Town, thirty miles away. But remember—" The old man said solemnly, "If you force it, you'll be retaliated. If you don't understand, you'll die."
Di Feisheng bowed solemnly: "Thank you for your guidance, senior."
He turned and walked away, his steps firm but heavy. The Medicine King gazed at his back and muttered to himself, "Foolish boy... I hope I don't miss this opportunity again."
The Lotus Tower was parked by the stream. Li Lianhua was teaching Su Xiaoyong how to identify medicinal herbs when she suddenly saw dust and smoke billowing in the distance and a horse galloping towards them.
The man in black clothes and riding a black horse, who else could it be but the sound of a flying flute?
Li Lianhua dropped the herbs in his hand and subconsciously took a half step back. Fang Duobing immediately drew his sword to protect him, and Su Xiaoyong also stood up vigilantly.
Di Feisheng dismounted and walked straight to Li Lianhua, his eyes piercing: "Why don't you tell me the method of detoxification that the Medicine King said?"
Li Lianhua's face turned pale instantly, but she forced herself to remain calm. "What detoxification method? I'm afraid the leader has misunderstood."
"Dual cultivation." Di Feisheng spoke each word with emphasis, staring into his eyes. "Using Sad Wind and Poplar to transform spiritual energy into your body, supplemented by the Forgotten River Flower—why are you hiding this from me?"
Fang Duobing and Su Xiaoyong gasped and looked at each other in surprise.
Li Lianhua's fingertips trembled slightly, but her tone was cold and hard: "Nonsense. Alliance leader, please go back."
"Li Xiangyi!" Di Feisheng grabbed his wrist, "You would rather die than be with me..."
"Yes!" Li Lianhua shook him off fiercely, her voice shrill. "I'd rather die than do something so... absurd with you!"
Di Feisheng felt as if he had been hit hard. He stumbled back a step, his eyes filled with pain. "Why? Just because you hate me?"
Li Lianhua turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. "You and I are enemies, how can we talk about hatred? We are just two men...how could it be possible..." His voice gradually trailed off, with an awkward tone, "It's simply against human ethics!"
The air suddenly froze. Di Feisheng stared at him intently, as if trying to see through all his disguises.
After a long moment, Di Feisheng suddenly laughed, his laughter desolate and bitter: "I understand...it turns out you've never had any feelings for me."
Li Lianhua bit her lower lip and remained silent.
"Those days and nights spent together..." the flute's voice drew closer, "those vows made under the moonlight...those tender moments when you healed me...were they all fake?"
Li Lianhua closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly: "Alliance leader, you're overthinking it."
"Then why don't you use the Forgetful Flower? You use my blood to nourish the Forgetful Flower. Are you planning to leave the flower to me?" Di Feisheng suddenly grabbed his shoulder and said, "Tell me!"
Li Lianhua felt pain, but she stubbornly refused to make a sound. Fang Duobing wanted to go forward, but Su Xiaoyong quietly pulled him back.
Their eyes met, one was questioning with pain, the other was forbearing and avoiding.
Li Lianhua knew clearly that the Bicha poison in his body was incurable, but the poison in Di Feisheng could be detoxified by the Wangchuan flower. That was why he used Ah Fei's blood to nourish the Wangchuan flower. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise... But how could he bring himself to tell Ah Fei?
Finally, Di Feisheng slowly loosened his grip, the light in his eyes gradually extinguished: "So that's how it is... I was just being sentimental after all."
He turned to leave, his back as desolate as an autumn leaf. Li Lianhua stared at him, her heart aching, and she almost called out to him.
But Di Feisheng suddenly stopped, took a deep breath, turned around and looked directly at Li Lianhua——
"Li Xiangyi, listen carefully."
"I used to want to win you, to make you have eyes only for me. Later I realized that it wasn't about winning—it was about having you."
Li Lianhua suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at him in disbelief.
Di Feisheng's voice was low and firm, filled with a desperate determination: "You said that two men violated human ethics... But in my life, I, Di Feisheng, have only ever been moved by you."
The brook gurgled, the birdsong was silent. Fang Duobing opened his mouth wide, and Su Xiaoyong covered her lips and exclaimed.
Li Lianhua was stunned, his mind blank. He looked into Di Feisheng's eyes, which had never been so open before. There were too many emotions in them that he dared not understand.
"You..." His voice trembled, "What nonsense..."
"If we don't have a mutual understanding, we will die if we practice together." Di Feisheng said word by word, "I am willing to risk my life on this one try - not to detoxify, but to ask you a question..."
He took a step forward, almost breathing in her ear: "Have you ever been sincere to me, even for a moment?"
Li Lianhua stumbled back, his back pressed against the wall of the Lotus Chariot, with nowhere to retreat. He looked at the desperate sincerity in Di Feisheng's eyes, and all his pretense shattered.
"I..." He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Di Feisheng's question was like thunder exploding in Li Lianhua's ears. She trembled all over and almost couldn't stand.
"You..." He opened his mouth, his voice breaking, "What nonsense..."
Those eyes, usually calm and composed, were now as frightened as a frightened deer, and he subconsciously wanted to escape. But Di Feisheng's arms clamped around his waist like an iron clamp, not allowing him to retreat even a little.
"Answer me." Di Feisheng's voice was low and dangerous, with an oppressive tone that brooked no refusal. "Have you ever been truly sincere?"
Li Lianhua turned her head away, avoiding the burning gaze: "No... never..."
Before he could finish his words, Di Feisheng suddenly grabbed his chin and forced him to turn around. The next moment, her hot lips pressed fiercely against his.
"Huh!" Li Lianhua opened her eyes wide in shock, her mind going blank.
This kiss was overbearing and unyielding, yet it also contained a subtle tremor. Di Feisheng's tongue pried open his teeth with a frenzy bordering on despair, as if she wanted to convey all her unspoken words through this kiss.
Li Lianhua struggled desperately, pressing her hands against Di Feisheng's chest, trying to push him away, but was held tighter in his embrace. Black and white garments intertwined, casting tangled shadows by the stream.
Fang Duobing and Su Xiaoyong were stunned and didn't know how to react for a moment.
The kiss was long and suffocating, lingering with the scent of blood. Li Lianhua gradually lost her strength, her struggles turning into powerless rejections, and finally into trembling acceptance.
Just when he was almost suffocated, Di Feisheng finally let him go, their foreheads touched, and their breaths intertwined.
"Now..." Di Feisheng's voice was hoarse, and his fingertips gently stroked Li Lianhua's lips, which were red and swollen from being kissed. "Are you still going to say no?"
Li Lianhua panted rapidly, her eyes sparkling with shame and anger. "Di Feisheng! You...you are so outrageous!"
"Yes, I am presumptuous." Di Feisheng looked at him directly without avoiding the question. "If I wasn't presumptuous, how would I know that your—" He tapped Li Lianhua's chest with his finger, "is beating so fast?"
Li Lianhua pushed him away abruptly, stumbling back, her sleeve covering her lips as if to wipe away the heart-pounding feeling. But the warmth and scent left on her lips burned like a brand.
"Li Lianhua!" Fang Duobing finally reacted and drew his sword, pointing it at Di Feisheng. "You devil! How dare you..."
Di Feisheng didn't even look at him, only staring at Li Lianhua: "Tell me, did you feel disgusted just now?"
Li Lianhua bit her lower lip, her ears reddening with shame. Disgusted? No... At that moment, he was shamefully lost in it, even unconsciously returning the kiss...
This realization made him even more ashamed.
"Alliance leader, please return." He forced himself to remain calm, but his voice trembled slightly. "I will just pretend that what happened today never happened."
The light in Di Feisheng's eyes dimmed, but he remained unyielding. "You can lie to me, but you can't lie to your own heart." He took a step forward and lowered his voice. "Those days and nights we slept together, you helped me out and resolved my problems. It was all because you cared about me!"
Li Lianhua was shocked, his eyes widening in disbelief. After regaining his memory, he could still remember those ridiculous times?
"You...you..." His voice trembled, and he was filled with shame and anger.
Di Feisheng looked at him deeply, then suddenly turned around and said, "I'll come get the answer in three days. If you still deny it..." He paused, his tone resolute, "I'll let you go completely, as you wish."
As the black clothes fluttered, the man rode away on his horse, leaving Li Lianhua standing there in a daze.
Fang Duobing hurried forward: "Li Lianhua! Are you okay? How dare that devil..."
"Stop talking." Li Lianhua interrupted him, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her swollen lips, "Let me be quiet."
He walked into the Lotus Building alone, closed the door, and slowly slid down to the floor with his back against the door. His heart was pounding wildly, and the touch of that domineering kiss still lingered on his lips.
It turns out that Di Feisheng still remembers... the night they embraced each other intimately... It turns out that he has always remembered...
Li Lianhua buried his face between his knees, his ears burning. Although the kiss was rough, he shamefully sensed the deep affection and despair hidden within it.
Just as the Medicine King said, Bei Feng Bai Yang needed to expend a third of his energy each time he crossed over. Di Fei Sheng did this for him every night, so how could she not be sincere?
And what about me? I also...
"Doctor Li?" Su Xiaoyong's worried voice came from outside the door, "Are you okay?"
Li Lianhua took a deep breath and managed to calm herself down: "No problem."
He stood up and straightened his clothes. His eyes fell on his swollen lips in the mirror, and his face suddenly flushed again. The mark was so obvious that anyone could see what had happened.
"Xiao Yong," he suddenly said, "If someone... risked their life for you, but you didn't dare respond for fear of getting in trouble... is that right or wrong?"
There was silence outside the door for a moment, and then a young girl's gentle voice came: "Xiao Yong feels that since it's sincere, it shouldn't be let down. Besides..." She paused, "How does Doctor Li know that the person is not happy with it?"
Li Lianhua stared at herself in the mirror and suddenly smiled bitterly.
Yes, he always thought he was doing it for the other person’s good, but had he ever asked Di Feisheng if he was willing?
If there's a genuine connection... maybe it's worth a gamble.
Behind a tree in the distance, Jiao Liqiao fiercely broke the branch in her hand, her eyes filled with crazy hatred.
"What a mutual understanding... I will let you... follow me through life and death!"
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