Inside the simple house, Lin Xi suddenly woke up from her dream, sitting up in a cold sweat.
“Zi Que, Zi Que…” Lin Xi’s pale and haggard face was instantly covered with tears, but her eyes were filled with joy.
She had dreamt of Zi Que for three days in a row. In her dreams, Zi Que was waiting for her in Jiaxing City, waving to her incessantly.
He's not dead yet.
"I want to go back, I want to find him, I must go back, Zique is still waiting for me." Lin Xi muttered to herself as she threw off the covers, got up, quickly put on her shoes, and was about to run outside. She hadn't gone far when Hong Yufei, who was healing nearby, grabbed her and hissed, "You can't go out!"
During this period, they were relentlessly pursued by the imperial army. In order to protect Lin Xi, almost all of her men were killed. They themselves were nearly captured several times, only managing to escape with great difficulty.
Her internal injuries hadn't healed, and she had several new external wounds. Lin Xi was also unusually uncooperative, always causing trouble for her, and even throwing away all the medicine she carried. Without timely treatment, her injuries worsened.
Due to her severe injuries and persistent high fever, she was completely exhausted and could only find a room to rest for a day.
Unexpectedly, after only a few hours of calm, Lin Xi's madness relapsed.
"Get away!" Lin Xi forcefully pulled her hand away.
In the past, she would have been unable to break free, but at this moment, Hong Yufei's internal energy was chaotic and she was weak all over, so Lin Xi succeeded with just a little effort.
Lin Xi stumbled and ran outside.
"Stop..." Hong Yufei was extremely anxious. She covered her wound and struggled to her feet to catch up with her, trying to find a way to acupuncture her.
Lin Xi pushed her away, knocking her to the ground.
"I'm going to find Zique, and no one is allowed to stop me!" Lin Xi shouted hysterically, and fearing that she would chase after her again, she kicked her hard.
Hong Yufei collapsed to the ground, her face pale, and coughed up blood. She watched helplessly as her friend ran away.
...
After Yuan Sang forced Lu Zhao to confess his feelings that day, Jiang Chuting and Lu Zhao's relationship did not become awkward, nor did they deliberately avoid each other, but there was still a slight sense of distance between them.
In just a few days, Lu Zhaoren lost a lot of weight and often stared blankly into space, looking somewhat listless.
Yuan Sang strongly suggested, "There are pursuers everywhere now, and the Lin family will definitely not escape retribution. Master, let's go home as soon as possible. The food outside is not good, and you've lost so much weight."
Just then, Lin Zhi passed by their door and overheard this. He paused, then pushed open the already half-open door and asked Yuan Sang, "The Lin family? The Lin family from Anyang? What grudge do you have against them?"
The three people inside looked over at the same time. Yuan Sang's eyes widened, and he said, "It's that Lin family. Why are you asking these questions?"
Lin knew: "Curious."
“What’s so curious about that?” Yuan Sang glanced at Lu Zhao’s cold face, but still explained roughly: “Back then, the previous head of the Lin family went to our hometown to rob things and killed a lot of people. We came out to find an opportunity to take revenge, but before we could even make a move, they got their retribution and will soon be arrested and executed.”
Lin Zhi lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Yuan Sang suddenly thought of a possibility: "That's right, your surname is Lin, you wouldn't happen to be a member of the Lin family, would you?"
Lin Zhi's expression was inscrutable. He was about to leave without saying a word when Yuan Xia, who had been silent all along, suddenly called out to him: "Wait, I see dark energy between your eyebrows. Just a heads-up, be careful of impending disaster. Be extra cautious."
He spoke very seriously, not like he was joking, and he didn't seem like the type to joke around.
Lin Zhi turned around and glanced at him, saying, "Thank you for reminding me."
After he left, Yuan Sang asked Yuan Xia, "What calamity?"
Yuan Xia replied, "I don't know. Actually, even if I had reminded him, he wouldn't have been able to avoid it this time, but fortunately, we were able to resolve it in the end."
"Oh." Yuan Sang quickly regained his composure and asked Lu Zhao, "Master, why are you ignoring me? Should we go back now?"
Lu Zhao pondered for a long time, then said in a low voice, "Let's talk about it in a few days."
After returning to her room, Lin Zhi sat at the table and opened the letter that Zhao Chengyang had sent.
That day, Pei Jing arrested him and Zhao Chengyang together, then released them both. Lin Zhi was in a hurry to go back to find Jiang Chuting, so he quickly said goodbye to him.
Although Lin Zhi is temporarily out of danger, Zhao Chengyang still feels that the situation is still uncertain and advocates that he should lay low for a while. This letter is a heartfelt attempt to persuade him.
Lin Zhi was of course not going to leave; any further words he said would be futile. After reading the letter, Lin Zhi had just put it away when suddenly his eyelids began to twitch uncontrollably, and he felt a vague, indescribable sense of suffocation.
Could it be because of what Yuan Sang said?
Misfortune... What kind of misfortune will he face?
Lin Zhi's unease continued into the evening. He was somewhat absent-minded when trying to put Xing'er to sleep, until Xing'er rubbed his face vigorously with her little hands, which brought him back to his senses.
Then he noticed that Jiang Chuting was also looking at him.
These days, they've been putting the child in the middle and having them sleep in the same bed.
Perhaps he was being too obvious, because Jiang Chuting couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you?"
Although the tone was calm, Lin Zhi could still take it as concern for her. She felt a pang of sadness and was touched. She forced a smile and said, "I'm fine."
It's not that he's unwilling to talk about it, it's just that he can't explain it himself.
Jiang Chuting hummed in agreement, looked away, and said, "If there's nothing else, go to sleep early."
Lin Zhi still couldn't sleep until dawn before she finally drifted off to sleep. Before she could fall into a deep sleep, Xing'er pinched her cheek and scratched her eyes, waking her up halfway.
"Daddy, Daddy, wake up! Time to get up!"
"Xing'er, don't make a sound." Jiang Chuting lowered her voice and was about to pick him up when Lin Zhi, whose eyes were still half-open, immediately said in a hoarse voice, "It's okay."
He ruffled Xing'er's hair, then immediately sat him up, squinting his eyes and smiling: "Go play over there for a while, Daddy will get up soon."
After Lin Zhi finished washing up, he brought up breakfast. After they ate together, he planned to take him downstairs for some fresh air to help him digest.
Jiang Chuting had something to say to Lu Zhao, so she didn't go downstairs with him, and told him, "Don't go too far."
"Okay," Lin Zhi readily agreed, then carried Xing'er out the door.
Although Lu Zhao is still caught in the middle, Lin Zhi clearly heard Chu Ting reject him that day, so he wasn't as tense as before.
Moreover, he could sense that Chu Ting's attitude had softened, so what he needed to do now was to be obedient and well-behaved, and not be too willful and domineering, lest he annoy him.
"Xing'er, slow down." Lin Zhi had promised Jiang Chuting, but the child was completely out of control. Her little legs were running forward as if they were having fun, and she had run two streets in no time.
Lin Zhi quickly grabbed him and said, "You can't run anymore, or Daddy will get a scolding later."
Xing'er smiled, her big eyes crinkling as she covered her mouth.
"You're still laughing?" Lin Zhi pretended to be angry, reached out and pinched his nose, then laughed as well: "Let's play here for a while and then we'll go back."
Xing'er nodded obediently and said softly, "Okay, I'll listen to Father."
I bought him a bamboo dragonfly from the stall. Xing'er played with it, and Lin Zhi took a few steps back, propped himself up on the steps, and watched over him like that.
Suddenly, her right eyelid started twitching again, and the smile on Lin Zhi's lips slowly disappeared. She raised her hand and rubbed her eyes.
But they jumped even harder.
It felt like a series of sharp, stabbing pains tugging at his heart, a dull ache and a sense of unease. Lin Zhi clutched his chest in bewilderment. What was wrong? Was it because he hadn't been sleeping well these past few days?
Or... did something happen to his mother?
Lin Zhi dared not think any further.
It was only for a moment that I lost focus, and when I looked up again, I saw that Xing'er had run far away to pick up the bamboo dragonfly.
"Xing'er!" Lin Zhi hurriedly stood up and walked over quickly.
Xing'er picked up the bamboo dragonfly, turned around, and raised her rosy little face: "Daddy, I'm here!"
Lin Zhi smiled at him, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a gray figure rapidly approaching Xing'er. A dagger gleamed from the cuff of its sleeve, and Lin Zhi's eyes widened in shock: "Xing'er, come here quickly!!!"
He gathered his strength and headed straight for Xing'er. Xing'er had no idea what was happening, but she was scared. She dropped what she was holding and instinctively ran towards Lin Zhi.
"Father, Father!"
The man in gray was spotted. His eyes were fierce, and he immediately revealed a dagger. He caught up with the child in a few steps, and with a sudden thrust of the dagger he was holding, the sharp blade was about to pierce Xing'er's body.
At the critical moment, the gray-clad man's hand was clamped, and with a jerk of his wrist, the dagger clattered to the ground.
Lin Zhi arrived just in time and pulled Xing'er behind him, protecting her unharmed.
Although this person was not as glamorous and spirited as before, Lin Zhi quickly recognized him as Qiao Xun, who was currently wanted by the police!
The two started fighting. Qiao Xun was seriously injured by Jiang Chuting last time and was unable to recover. He was quickly defeated and could only barely hold on.
Qiao Xun's hands were failing, but his mouth didn't stop. He smiled sinisterly and said, "Young Master Lin, you're really something. After ruining everything for us, you can still escape unscathed?"
Lin Zhi completely ignored him; Xing'er was still behind him, and he needed to finish the job quickly.
Lin Zhi showed no mercy. Qiao Xun was struck by his palm and forced to stumble against the wall. Lin Zhi viciously grabbed his throat, causing blood to flow from the corner of his mouth.
Just as he was about to make a move, Qiao Xun said in a hoarse voice, "Your own mother has been arrested and executed, and you still have the leisure to play with the child of your mother's killer? So Young Master Lin has no conscience at all."
Lin Zhiyi was clearly distracted upon hearing this; his movements froze, his heart pounded wildly, and his face turned pale. Could his mother really be…?
Qiao Xun seized the opportunity, looked behind him, and shouted sharply, "Do it now!"
Xing'er! Lin Zhi was terrified and turned around abruptly, only to see Xing'er being carried away by a kind old woman to a corner and hidden away. The old woman was wiping away his tears. No one was hurting him at all. Realizing he had been tricked, he turned back and was hit in the face by yellow powder!
Lin Zhi couldn't dodge in time; a sharp pain shot through his eyes, and he screamed, "—Ah!!"
My head was buzzing, my body was suddenly hot and cold, and I was almost completely blank for a while, not knowing or hearing anything.
It wasn't until he regained his senses that he heard Xing'er's cries, Jiang Chuting's urgent calls, and other noises.
"Father, Father, sob sob sob..."
"Lin Zhi, Lin Zhi! Open your eyes and look at me!"
Open your eyes? His eyes felt as if they were being scorched by flames. He felt as if he were obediently opening them slowly, but all he saw was darkness.
He can't see anything.
"Lin Zhi...?" Jiang Chuting waved her hand in front of his eyes in disbelief.
Lin Zhi swayed and softly fell into his arms.
Within a single day, Jiang Chuting consulted nearly ten doctors for Lin Zhi, but all of them gave the same explanation.
"Young master, I am truly powerless to help with this eye problem. You should seek help from someone more skilled."
After seeing off the last doctor, Jiang Chuting returned to the bedside with a somber expression.
Lin Zhi's eyes were bandaged with white gauze and covered with medicine, but this medicine could only relieve pain and had no curative effect.
According to the doctor, the powder was too toxic, and Lin Zhi's eyes were ruined; he would never be able to see again.
He's so young, not even twenty years old yet.
Jiang Chuting's eyes were bloodshot, and she felt a sharp pain in her heart.
He never expected that these things would happen after they had only been apart for a short while that morning. He had eliminated Pei Jing, his biggest threat, but he had neglected Qiao Xun.
If he had arrived even a fraction of a second later, Qiao Xun's weapon would have plunged into Lin Zhi's heart, leaving no chance of recovery.
Qiao Xun was a vengeful man. Knowing he wouldn't be able to escape for long, he was determined to kill someone to take him down, even at the risk of being exposed. Unable to deal with him, Qiao Xun targeted Lin Zhi and Xing'er instead.
Lin Zhi protected Xing'er, but he lost his own sight.
Jiang Chuting gazed silently at the unconscious person on the bed, her eyes reddening.
Why is it that the more he tries to distance himself, the more fate forces him to stay?
After a while, Lin Zhi moved his head, frowned, and slowly raised his hand.
He woke up.
Lin Zhi's lips moved, her whole body tensed, and she asked tentatively in a low, hoarse voice, "Chu Ting?"
Jiang Chuting took his hand and leaned closer, saying, "It's me."
Lin Zhi relaxed considerably upon hearing his voice. After a moment of silence, she raised her other hand and touched the gauze over her eyes.
He probably already had a premonition, and his reaction was much calmer than Jiang Chuting had expected: "Chuting, my eyes... is there any hope?"
Jiang Chuting did not answer directly, but said gently, "Don't be afraid, I will take you to see a doctor, you will get better."
He didn't say it directly, but Lin Zhi quickly understood her situation. Her breath trembled noticeably, her throat tightened, and she curved her bloodless lips into a smile, saying, "You don't need to coax me. If you can't see me, you can't see me. In short, as long as... as long as you're here, I ask for nothing more."
Lin Zhi seemed to accept it, pulling her intertwined hands with Jiang Chuting's to her heart, as if she could draw strength from it.
Jiang Chuting closed her eyes, suppressing her terrible emotions, and raised her hand to gently stroke his pale cheek. She didn't know if she was speaking to him or to herself, but she repeated softly, "It will definitely get better."
If the doctors here say they can't cure it, then go find another doctor; there's always a way.
Moreover, Lu Zhao and his group might be able to...
Jiang Chuting had been watching over Lin Zhi all day and hadn't gone to find them yet. Instead, Yuan Sang came to find him first, gesturing for him to come out from the open doorway.
At that time, Lin Zhi was half asleep and half awake. When he heard Jiang Chuting about to get up, he immediately sat up, feeling panicked and groping for her: "Chuting, Chuting!"
Jiang Chuting held out her hand for him to take, saying, "Don't worry, I won't leave you. I'm just going out for a little while, I'll be right back."
Lin Zhi pouted. He felt as if he were in an extremely unfamiliar and dark world. Only Jiang Chuting's presence and voice could calm his heart and make him not want to leave for even a moment.
Lin Zhi knew that he must have something to do when he went out, and if she didn't want to bother him, she shouldn't be so clingy. But her fingers trembled twice, completely disobeying her brain, and she couldn't let go no matter what she did.
Lin Zhi pleaded, "Where are you going? Don't leave me alone, take me with you, I'll go with you."
Jiang Chuting felt a pang of sadness and said, "You need to rest now and don't move around too much."
Just then, Xing'er ran over from the next room, and Jiang Chuting put Xing'er on the bed to keep him company. Lin Zhi held the child without saying a word, still looking anxious and uneasy.
Jiang Chuting went to Lu Zhao's room, and Yuan Xia and Yuan Sang both left.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Chuting spoke first: "Brother Lu, I have come to ask you for a favor."
"You've come to beg me for his sake?" This morning he came to say goodbye, and now he's begging him. Lu Zhao's hand, hidden in his sleeve, slowly tightened. He retorted, "Do you know where we come from?"
Jiang Chuting asked, "Penglai Island, right?"
Lu Zhao was not surprised by this and admitted, "Yes." He did not press Lu Zhao on how he knew this and said, "Penglai Island is full of spiritual herbs, which may indeed have a miraculous effect on his eyes. I can take you to the island without any problem."
Hearing him say there was hope, Jiang Chuting's eyes lit up.
Lu Zhaoshen's unfathomable black eyes stared straight at his face, and then he said, "But... don't you have to grant me a request?"
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The end
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