It hurts, it hurts so much, it hurts everywhere...
This was Tang Ning's first reaction upon regaining consciousness. She tried to move her eyes several times before finally opening her sticky eyelids.
Slowly sitting up, she gently shook her slightly dizzy head and gradually recalled that she seemed to have fallen off a cliff with Yan Xingzhi. Like Fang Yunyang in the story, they also fell into a deep pool below the cliff. Unfortunately, the cliff was too high and the impact of falling into the water was too great. Even with Yan Xingzhi's internal energy protecting her, Tang Ning still completely lost consciousness after entering the water.
It was pitch black before her eyes. Even with her eyes wide open, Tang Ning could only make out the general outlines of some things that were close by inside the cave, and that was only with the help of a few rays of light shining in from the cave entrance.
Wait, the cave entrance.
She glanced in surprise at the cave entrance not far from her, only to find it completely covered by vines and weeds, with even the light filtering in through the gaps in the leaves. She subconsciously touched her still-drenched clothes. How did she end up here…?
She sniffed lightly and smelled a faint stench of blood in the air inside the cave.
She didn't have any major wounds on her body, and there were other people in the cave...
Yan Xingzhi!
At this thought, a glint flashed in Tang Ning's eyes. She then shakily got up from the ground. Because she couldn't see clearly, she tentatively touched the cave wall to one side, her face filled with helplessness and panic. "How... Brother Xingzhi, Brother Xingzhi... are you here? If you are here, please answer me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, there was no other sound in the cave except for the echo of her own voice.
"Brother Xingzhi..."
Seeing no response from inside the cave, Tang Ning, who was leaning against the inner wall, couldn't help but cough lightly and swayed as she tried to walk out.
"I'm here."
Just then, a hoarse voice suddenly came from the inside of the cave.
Upon hearing the voice, Tang Ning turned around with a look of surprise and delight.
"Brother Xingzhi, is that Brother Xingzhi? Where are you? I can't see you. Did you bring me here? How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Tang Ning stretched out her arms and groped her way inside.
"Don't come any closer..."
Yan Xingzhi's deep, hoarse voice came from the darkness once again.
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning paused. Her keen observation revealed the restraint and exhaustion in Yan Xingzhi's words, and her face immediately fell with anxiety. "You're injured, aren't you? After falling off the cliff, you were badly injured protecting me, weren't you? Brother Xingzhi, where are you? Please take a look at me, okay? I know medicine, my medical skills are very good..."
Unfortunately, no matter how she asked, Yan Xingzhi in the darkness did not give her any answer.
It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't.
The intense pain that swept through his body once again left Yan Xingzhi completely without the strength to even open his mouth and speak.
Today is only the fourteenth, not yet the fifteenth, but due to his severe internal injuries and the fact that he injected his remaining internal energy into Tang Ning's body, his bone-tempering poison has erupted a day early.
Not long ago, he was seriously injured and unconscious, but was awakened by the excruciating pain of the poison. Every month when the poison flares up, he suffers from a pain that feels like his bones are being torn apart and ants are gnawing at his body. His martial arts skills will gradually decline until they disappear completely, and even... his appearance will undergo a dramatic change.
In the past, he would spend the fifteenth of each month alone in the secret room of Yangyue Manor. Even Ye Xiao still doesn't know where he went or what happened on the night of the full moon.
So when he realized that his bone-tempering poison had taken effect prematurely by the pool, his first reaction was to immediately find a place to completely hide himself.
At this point, the entire Jiyue Sect, including Yan Wuyai, probably already knew how much he had manipulated things during the battle at Guixiao Cliff. He didn't know about others, but he couldn't possibly know anything more about his good adoptive father, Yan Wuyai.
Even if the losses in this battle are so heavy, he will immediately send his generals to dig three feet into the ground to capture him and bring him back, skin him alive, torture him in every way possible, to vent his hatred and at the same time to intimidate the others in the sect.
He had already planned everything meticulously. Ye Xiao's martial arts had been restored, and Yan Wuyai was unaware of his existence. Once he discovered that all the protectors he had sent had failed to return, they would eventually come to capture him personally. At that time, he and Ye Xiao would be able to take him down together.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Not only did he fall off a cliff unexpectedly, but the poison that had been used to temper his bones also took effect prematurely.
For a moment, he couldn't even predict whether he could escape the Silent Moon Sect's search without his martial arts skills.
As for Tang Ning, who also fainted by the water, he originally did not intend to bring her along. When the Bone Tempering Poison took effect, he did not want anyone to see his appearance, nor did he trust anyone.
But before he could even get past the unconscious Tang Ning and take two steps, as he fell off the cliff, the image of her resolute act of jumping off the cliff with him without hesitation began to appear in his mind again and again.
Perhaps it was the effect of the toxins, or perhaps it was a moment of pity on his part, but by the time he realized what was happening, he had already led Tang Ning into such a secluded and remote cave.
Upon entering the cave, the sudden onset of the poison within him left him no time to find another place to rest.
Wave after wave, his bones, meridians, and flesh were forcibly crushed and healed, then crushed and healed again. In this recurring cycle, Yan Xingzhi couldn't even muster the strength to move a finger. He could only let the sweat pour down his ears and cheeks like rain. The reason he had forced himself to speak to Tang Ning in the excruciating pain was simply because he was worried that she, who didn't know martial arts, would rashly run out and not only be unable to escape, but would also attract the people of the Jiyue Sect to the cave by leaving footprints.
It has to be said that Yan Xingzhi regretted it.
Now that he is in such a helpless state, completely at the mercy of others, with his life not in his own hands but entirely in the hands of others, he is beginning to regret it.
Not to mention the Jiyue Sect, even Tang Ning, who has no martial arts skills, could take his life in an instant if she wanted to.
He couldn't trust her.
"Brother Xingzhi..."
Not hearing Yan Xingzhi's reply, Tang Ning suddenly became anxious and stumbled towards the place where Yan Xingzhi had spoken.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Yan Xingzhi, enduring the excruciating pain in his body, used all his strength to reach for the three poisoned needles he had been hiding in his sleeve.
Three poison needles would be enough to deal with Tang Ning, who doesn't know martial arts and whose Cold Jade Ice Body is almost destroyed.
In the darkness and silence, Yan Xingzhi's fingers, holding the poisoned needle, trembled incessantly, but his eyes were filled with sinister calmness as he waited for her to approach.
Unexpectedly, just as Tang Ning was groping her way closer to him, she suddenly stopped.
Upon seeing this, Yan Xingzhi's eyes suddenly sharpened. He raised his eyes, which were already soaked with sweat and aching, and vaguely saw Tang Ning standing there taking something out of her bosom.
And then—
A faint light suddenly appeared in the previously dark cave.
Following the faint light, Yan Xingzhi saw Tang Ning holding a tinderbox, looking up at him, but frozen in place, startled by his current appearance.
Seeing her standing there motionless, a hint of mockery flashed in Yan Xingzhi's eyes.
Others may not know what he looked like when the poison took effect, but doesn't he know it himself?
He's a monster now!
The skin from head to toe was so white it was almost transparent, and the bones and flesh beneath the skin seemed to be alive, constantly writhing. Every now and then, a piece would collapse here and a lump would bulge there. Apart from being able to roughly distinguish where the head and feet were, the whole body was so ugly and unbearable.
He's a disgusting monster!
He waited for the poor woman, who had finally seen his true face, to scream and run away as fast as she could. Maybe she would even dream of him looking like this in her nightmares. Ha.
Yan Xingzhi forced a wide grin, and a wicked glint flashed quickly in the depths of his eyes.
But the next second, his smile froze on his lips.
Just because he saw Tang Ning, who had been standing there in disbelief, tears fell without warning. She even raised her hand and bit it hard so that her crying might disturb him, but even so, she still made soft sobs.
Holding the tinderbox, she slowed her movements and took small steps toward him. When she was right in front of him and could see his face clearly, she touched his cheek with trembling hands. Unfortunately, a small piece of bone on his face shattered the moment she touched it. She felt as if she had been pricked by a needle and quickly pulled her hand back, tears streaming down her face.
"OK……"
She had barely opened her mouth when her voice choked with emotion. She then raised her hand and forcefully wiped away the tears on her face, calmed herself down, and reached out to take his pulse.
Her profile, illuminated by the dim light of the tinderbox, appeared exceptionally serene and gentle.
Yan Xingzhi, who had imagined a thousand different reactions but never expected Tang Ning to react this way, couldn't help but feel a sense of bewilderment and helplessness in his eyes.
Why?
Why are you crying?
Why are you still willing to come and get close to him?
Doesn't she think that he's no longer a human being, but a complete monster?
Even he himself was so terrified when he saw himself like this in the mirror the first time he was poisoned that he vomited.
But this is the path he chose, and no matter how difficult it is, he will grit his teeth and persevere.
What was the reason for Tang Ning's actions?
Why was she so unconcerned about herself? Aside from heartache and sadness, he saw not a trace of disgust or fear in her eyes.
Why……
Yan Xingzhi was genuinely puzzled, yet his heart couldn't help but flutter slightly.
Just then, Tang Ning released his wrist, wiped away her tears again, and turned to look at Yan Xingzhi beside her. "You were born with poor aptitude for martial arts, so you must have ingested some potent poison that forcibly tempered your aptitude. After taking it, you'll be able to achieve twice the results with half the effort when practicing martial arts. I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly what kind of poison it is, but if it is poison, even if my blood can't completely neutralize it, it can help suppress some of the pain. It's alright, Xingzhi-gege, it's alright. My blood is very powerful. As long as I feed it to you, it definitely won't hurt so much in a while..."
As she spoke, she reached into her boot and pulled out a dagger. This dagger was the one she had seen and liked while strolling along the roadside, which Yan Xingzhi had bought for her. He had told her to hide it in her boot for emergencies, but she never expected to use it here.
When Yan Xingzhi saw Tang Ning pull out the dagger, his eyes widened in shock and panic.
He doesn't understand, he really doesn't understand...
Why?
That was a Thread-Pulling Gu, not the legendary Mind-Bewitching Gu that could completely bewitch a person's mind. It could only make her forget Fang Yunyang and imply that he was the one she loved most. Moreover, this implication would gradually weaken over time. Not to mention that the Gu he cultivated only had a lifespan of three months, and more than a month had already passed. The Gu's effect should have been reduced to less than half. He was sure that she might have already begun to recall some things between her and Fang Yunyang.
If that's the case, then why do it this way...?
Just as she was thinking this, Tang Ning had already cut her arm. Yes, because she was afraid that there wouldn't be enough blood flowing from her palm, she risked cutting her arm.
Her face paled slightly, and she immediately presented the bleeding wound to Yan Xingzhi's mouth with an expectant look.
"No……"
Unable to say anything, Yan Xingzhi pursed his lips, his eyes filled with rejection.
Tang Ning tried to feed him the blood several times, but she couldn't get it into his mouth. She was so anxious that tears were about to come out, but Yan Xingzhi just stared at her stubbornly. Seeing this, she didn't think twice and caught the blood with her mouth first. Then she cupped Yan Xingzhi's face and pressed her lips to his.
Feeling the soft, warm touch on his lips, Yan Xingzhi's pupils dilated slightly, and he swallowed a mouthful of blood with a faint iris scent.
But soon, the mutation of his throat bone made it impossible for him to even perform a simple action like swallowing. Tang Ning watched as she clearly fed him her blood, but the blood would quickly flow down the corner of Yan Xingzhi's mouth again.
Seeing this, she finally broke down and cried uncontrollably.
The calmness and rationality I had forced myself to maintain vanished completely at this moment.
His face showed nothing but panic and fear.
She held Yan Xingzhi tightly in her arms with trembling hands, wiping the sweat from his forehead with her sleeve.
The woman's helpless and desperate eyes, and the tears that kept rolling down her cheeks, completely shocked Yan Xingzhi, whose only movable part was his eyes.
In an instant, apart from Tang Ning who was shedding tears, the whole world seemed to disappear from his sight.
At that moment, all he wanted to do was raise his hand to wipe away all the tears on her face, then hold her tightly in his arms and tell her that he was fine, that he didn't hurt at all, that he was used to it, that he really didn't hurt at all, and that she shouldn't cry anymore or show such a heartbroken expression.
But he couldn't even raise his hand, let alone move his fingertips, or even open and close his lips.
Why, why does it hurt so much this time? It hurts more than ever before.
He was in pain all over, so much so that he was about to lose control and couldn't take it anymore.
It really hurts...
It hurts so much...
He stared intently at Tang Ning, who was holding him and crying. He had already cried all his tears when he was nine years old, and his eyes started to feel hot and dry again.
Just then, the excruciating pain in Yan Xingzhi's body suddenly reached its peak. Based on past experience, this was a sign that his body was beginning to shrink.
"ah!"
Unable to endure the excruciating pain any longer, Yan Xingzhi let out a roar from his throat.
Through Tang Ning's blurry, tearful eyes, every bone in her body—from head to neck, from chest to waist, from hands to feet—began to tremble violently.
"Xingzhi...brother..."
Tang Ning called out to him in disbelief, and then watched helplessly as Yan Xingzhi in front of her began to shrink at a visible speed.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the person who appeared before her was the yellow-clad boy she had seen in the original owner's memories—the one who had saved her.
As soon as Tang Ning met Yan Xingzhi's dark eyes, a series of emotions flashed across her eyes, including astonishment, confusion, and ecstasy.
Soon, she couldn't help but laugh, and tears welled up in her eyes again. She covered her mouth in disbelief and quickly moved in front of Yan Xingzhi. With her other hand, she pulled open his wide collar. When she saw the familiar gourd-shaped birthmark, her tears flowed even more fiercely.
"you……"
Although he was still unable to move and the fluctuations within his body had not stopped, Yan Xingzhi was much better and could speak a little more. Seeing Tang Ning's appearance, he was about to say a few words to comfort her when Tang Ning suddenly pulled him into her arms.
"I knew it was you, I knew I hadn't mistaken you for someone else, it really is you, young man..."
Upon hearing this, Yan Xingzhi frowned in surprise and doubt.
who?
Tang Ning, afraid of hurting him, let go of his hand, saw the confusion in Yan Xingzhi's eyes, wiped away her tears, and said with a smile, "Don't you remember? It's me, the little girl you saved from the clutches of the Eastern Depot thirteen years ago. If it weren't for you, I might have died thirteen years ago. Thanks to you for saving me, I was able to find Medicine God Valley and meet my master. In these thirteen years, I haven't forgotten you for a single day. You even told me your name is Fang Yunyang, which is why I agreed to my master's question and got engaged to Brother Yunyang..."
At this point, Tang Ning's expression showed a moment of confusion, but she quickly continued, "Back then, I was only this tall. When I said I was going to Luozhou to find someone, you even pried the jewels off your boots and gave them to me. Do you remember? Before, when I asked you, you denied it to me. But now you look exactly the same as you did thirteen years ago. Now, Brother Xingzhi, you can't deny it anymore!"
Tang Ning's face was filled with the purest joy and pride.
Looking at her, Yan Xingzhi felt as if his head had been cleaved in two from the very center.
My head was buzzing so loudly that I could barely hear Tang Ning's voice.
What is she saying? Why can he hear each word clearly, but he doesn't quite understand them when they're put together?
What thirteen years ago, what Eastern Depot henchmen, what searching for someone in Luoyang, what he said his name was Fang Yunyang...
What are all these?
Why can't he understand anything?
But soon, all the things from thirteen years ago flashed through his mind, including the dirty little girl who called him "little brother" Yan Xingzhi. His heart felt as if it had been thrown directly into the deepest and coldest ice cellar. The sudden cold and freezing made his teeth chatter.
ha.
I see……
So that's why she insisted on coming to ask him the day before his wedding if he had encountered any unusual people or events thirteen years ago.
So that's why she developed feelings for him, and why even the Silk-Pulling Gu worked.
So that's why she was willing to fall off a cliff with him and die.
So that's why she felt only heartache and sadness when she saw him, who was like a monster.
...
Even her engagement to Fang Yunyang was because...
In an instant, Yan Xingzhi began to tremble uncontrollably. No matter how much pain he felt, he could not suppress the panic and fear that was spreading through his heart.
He had such high expectations and joy for her, and had longed for and loved her for thirteen years. What did he do?
He cast a mind-altering spell on her, plunging her into the most unbearable situation on their wedding day. He sent her to Ye Xiao's bed, who was poisoned with a rare toxin, to help him extricate himself from the poison, leaving her with only three months to live. After the extrication, he tried to kill her more than once...
But she hadn't done anything wrong. From the moment they met until now, she had been single-mindedly thinking of him, loving him, and caring for him. She was even willing to die for him...
Clearly...
Yan Xingzhi reached out and tightly grasped Tang Ning's fingers, then moved his lips.
There should still be a chance. After the poison takes effect, he will take her to her master, the Valley Master of Medicine God Valley, to find the Poison Hand Medicine Saint who lives in Youlan Valley. There will definitely be a way, there definitely will be...
Just as he was thinking this, a commotion suddenly came from outside the cave, followed by a man's stern command.
"The leader has ordered a full-scale manhunt for the traitor Yan Xingzhi. Once discovered, use fireworks as a signal to capture him and bring him before the leader."
"yes!"
Upon hearing such a voice, Tang Ning immediately lowered her head and met Yan Xingzhi's gaze, who was tightly holding her fingers.
"Brother Xingzhi..."
She called his name in a whisper.
Yan Xingzhi, who also heard the sound, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
The most dangerous situation he had anticipated was about to unfold, but luckily, Yan Wuyai always preferred to deal with traitors personally, so his life was temporarily safe. As long as he survived, everything else could be planned.
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly realized that Tang Ning had picked him up and carried him to the narrow entrance of the cave. He watched as Tang Ning picked up some dry branches and leaves and began to cover him with them.
Yan Xingzhi, who immediately realized what she was about to do, stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
"You do it..."
Before he could finish speaking, Tang Ning, whose eyes were filled with determination, covered his mouth.
"Shh, Xingzhi, don't speak. Those martial artists have the sharpest ears; they can hear the slightest sound. Don't speak, just listen to me. Your poison should subside after a while, and then you'll be able to move freely again. I'll hide you here for now, and in a little while I'll run out and lure everyone away. I'll try my best to hold on a little longer. You have to... you have to be well. Even... even without me, you have to be happy and joyful."
Upon hearing these words, tears finally rolled down Yan Xingzhi's dry eyes.
Even though he had no strength left, he struggled desperately.
But his strength was far too little for Tang Ning. Before long, he was completely buried in the pile of dead leaves, with only two fingers still tightly holding onto Tang Ning's hand.
"No...no...no...Ningning..."
Seeing this, Tang Ning glanced at Yan Xingzhi, whose eyes were the only remaining feature in the pile of fallen leaves, and even with tears streaming down her face, she gave him a bright smile.
"Brother Xingzhi, meeting you and marrying you is the happiest thing in my life!"
After saying that, she forcefully pulled her hand out of the other person's fingers and ran away.
"No... Ningning... don't..."
He raised his hand and gripped the hard soil beneath him, trying to move out.
Just then, another commotion arose outside the cave.
"There are people here!"
"Chase!"
Upon hearing these words, Yan Xingzhi gripped the soil with even greater force, and blood quickly flowed from his fingertips.
Ningning, Ningning, Ningning...
The pain spurred him to exert even more force with his fingertips, and using both hands, he quickly crawled out a trail of blood on the ground.
Helpless, he once again found himself in the same predicament as thirteen years ago, a desperate situation where he could only watch helplessly as his parents and relatives died before his eyes, and he had no other recourse but to hide.
Thirteen years ago, she was my parents and sister; thirteen years later, she is my wife.
In these thirteen years, he has made no progress at all; he has always been the same useless person!
Tears blurred his vision, mingling with the blood beneath him, quickly staining his white clothes. Yet, he seemed oblivious to the pain, stubbornly and relentlessly crawling forward.
Just like these past thirteen years, he has been fighting against the most unfair fate.
Tireless, unwilling to admit defeat, and unwilling to compromise.
He didn't know how long he had been climbing or how far he had climbed, until the excruciating pain returned, and his body recovered. His inner strength gradually regenerated, and as the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, he stood up, but before he could even use his lightness skill...
A white figure suddenly emerged from the hillside on one side.
The newcomer was limping, with dark blood seeping from his shoulder. His face had been scratched by something, leaving a bloody mark. When he looked up and saw him, he immediately flashed him the most delighted and radiant smile.
"Brother Xingzhi... I've shaken them all off..."
She said this with a proud and smug look on her face.
Seeing her expression, Yan Xingzhi, who was exhausted, could not fully open his smile.
The next second, he saw Tang Ning, who was running towards him, suddenly change his expression, then open his mouth and spit out a mouthful of blood. With a smile still on his face, he slumped to the ground.
“Ningning…”
Yan Xingzhi immediately flew over and caught her, but his eyes froze for a second.
He saw that the blood vessels behind her ears had spread to her jawline. It was the poison in Ye Xiao's body that had finally caused her icy body to malfunction.
From the onset of this attack, death is certain within six months to three months, if it is delayed.
Certain death...
Yan Xingzhi held the completely unconscious Tang Ning tightly, his eyes looking around blankly, revealing a helpless expression like that of a toddler learning to walk.
Ningning...
Who will come?
Someone please save his Ningning...
Yan Xingzhi's current favorability rating: 95.
Tsk.
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