At the foot of the mountain, in the courtyard.
Yun Wunian sat motionless at the doorway, staring blankly at the gate as if waiting for something, frozen in place.
His white clothes were already stained with blood and dirt, and his face and the back of his hands were covered with wounds. His ten fingers looked as if they had been pulled out of blood, and the tips of his fingers were a bloody mess.
He has maintained this position for a day and a night.
As soon as I close my eyes, I can almost see Jiang Fei leaping off the cliff.
He jumped off a cliff to protect other men.
But he couldn't find her anywhere at the bottom of the cliff, only a patch of dark bloodstains.
He couldn't find her.
He didn't know what to do or where to go. He felt as if he had been abandoned outside the three realms, and this world had nothing to do with him anymore.
When Lin Ningyan entered the courtyard, she saw Yun Wunian sitting blankly at the door. In that instant, she seemed to see a lifeless feeling in him, without any vitality.
Only his hands were trembling uncontrollably.
Lin Ningyan would never forget the terrifying scene that happened on the cliff two days ago: the moment Miss Jiang jumped off the cliff, his whole body froze and he could not move, only staring at the place where Miss Jiang fell off the cliff with bloodshot eyes.
The black-robed figures continued their assault, but the light emanating from his body was rampant, carrying a surging killing intent that instantly reduced the surrounding demons to dust, filling the sky with blood mist and scattering their souls.
The black-robed man's blood fell like raindrops onto her face.
It was then that Lin Ningyan learned that her Wunian brother had ceased to exist long before she left that dilapidated temple.
Lin Ningyan stopped a short distance in front of Yun Wunian: "Father has invited the best doctor, Brother Wunian, shall we have him apply the medicine for you?"
Yun Wunian continued to stare straight at the door, without saying a word.
Lin Ningyan pursed her lips, mustered her courage, and stepped forward again: "Brother Wunian, if this continues, your body won't be able to take it."
As she spoke, she placed the food box on the table and took out a bowl of porridge to bring it to him.
Before she could deliver it, Yun Wunian dodged backward as if avoiding a flash flood, the blood droplets on her fingertips falling silently to the ground.
Lin Ningyan was stunned.
Yun Wunian didn't look at her; his gaze was blank.
He thought it was his fault.
Since he was Jiang Fei's childhood sweetheart, he shouldn't be thinking about other women.
If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have met Rong Yu, and she wouldn't have fallen off the cliff for him that day.
She would still sit under the elm tree, smiling as she read her storybook; she would suddenly appear and ambush him while he practiced martial arts; she would pinch his cheek and say, "Little Wunian has grown taller again..."
It's all his fault.
That night, she said he smelled of someone else and that he was at the age to settle down and start a family, and she was serious about it.
After that night, she began to associate with Rong Yu and started creating opportunities for him to spend time alone with Lin Ningyan.
So he doesn't let anyone get close to him anymore, and he doesn't want to be associated with anyone else. Will she come back?
He should wash off the smell of other people on him.
Yun Wunian's eyes flickered, and he stood up.
But the moment he stood up, everything went dark, and he could no longer hold on, losing consciousness completely.
Yun Wunian's favorability rating: 85.
...
A cave at the foot of a cliff.
Rong Shu leaned lazily against the stone wall, toying with a withered blade of grass in her hand.
Outside the cave came the mournful cawing of crows. Rong Shu raised her eyebrows, reached out and threw out some dry grass. A black crow fell with a "thud" into the withered woods in the distance.
Rong Shu smiled faintly.
A slight noise suddenly came from beside me.
Rong Shu lowered her eyes. Jiang Fei, who was still unconscious, frowned slightly, and his eyelashes trembled gently, a sign that he was about to wake up.
Rong Shu narrowed his eyes, recalling the scene of her holding him as they jumped off the cliff. He smiled with interest, then reached out and sealed his five senses. He gathered his magic power in his palm, pressed it against his chest, and after feeling a dull pain, he "created" some minor wounds. Then he collapsed to the ground, his face deathly pale.
Jiang Fei had a good sleep, but was awakened by the system's voice. She slowly opened her eyes.
Yun Wunian's favorability rating has risen to 85.
Rong Shu's favorability rating rose to 15 the moment she jumped off the cliff with him in her arms.
Jiang Fei was very satisfied.
When she fell off the cliff, she hugged Rong Shu, and it wasn't just for the sake of gaining favor.
The small cliff meant nothing to Rong Shu, but to her, who had no magical powers, it was an abyss. She could only stay safe by clinging tightly to Rong Shu; otherwise, who knew what tricks that bastard would play on her next?
As it turned out, she made the right bet.
When she fell from the sheer cliff, apart from a minor injury to her left leg, she suffered only minor abrasions and was otherwise unharmed.
And Rong Shu...
Jiang Fei struggled to sit up and called out softly, "Young Master Rong?" His tone was full of worry.
Several heavy breathing sounds came from behind me.
Jiang Fei turned his head sharply, and his expression paused slightly when he saw the injuries on Rong Shu's body.
He should have been unharmed, but now it seems he is much more seriously injured than she is.
A trickle of blood slid down the corner of his lips, and his hands and legs were covered in wounds, especially a pool of blood on his chest, which seeped into his blue robe, turning it into a dark stain.
Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow.
Their acting skills are truly superb.
"Young Master Rong?" Jiang Fei called out to him in a worried whisper, dragging her injured left leg toward him. She tried to touch him several times, but was afraid of touching his wound. Her voice trembled slightly at the end, "Are you alright?"
Rong Shu looked at her. Even though her face was covered in dirt and dust, it couldn't hide the fair skin. Her eyes were red, just like the way she looked when she was holding him when she fell off the cliff.
He shook his head, and after a long while, he murmured in a hoarse voice, "I'm fine."
"How can you be alright after losing so much blood?" Jiang Fei reached out and gently touched the back of his hand, but her expression changed slightly when she touched it. "Why is your hand so cold?"
Like a block of ice.
As she spoke, she carefully placed her palm on the back of his hand.
Rong Shu lowered her eyes and glanced at the hand that was holding hers.
Her palms seemed to possess a natural warmth, even in such a cold and damp cave.
Unlike him, who inherited the title of the owner of Qianjin Tower and possessed treasures from the three realms, the price he paid was that he would never have the warmth of a human body.
"If this continues, you'll catch a cold," Jiang Fei murmured, releasing his hand.
Rong Shu frowned slightly and glanced at her hand with displeasure.
Jiang Fei, supporting himself with his injured left leg, struggled to his feet: "I'll go find some firewood, and maybe I can find some herbs too."
After saying that, he limped toward the cave entrance.
Rong Shu narrowed her eyes, rubbed her cold fingertips together, and scrutinized her back.
So this is what it feels like to be protected by her?
However, that's not enough.
He believed that if he were replaced by someone else today, she might still do the same, but whether it was for Xin Qi or Yun Wunian, she was risking her life.
It is currently winter, and there are many dead trees and withered grass.
Jiang Fei returned shortly afterward, carrying withered branches and fallen leaves. He struggled back into the cave, supporting his injured leg. Without saying a word, he silently took out two stones to start a fire.
When the stones collide, they only produce sparks or wisps of smoke, but no flames.
Rong Shu looked at her clumsy movements: "Miss Jiang?"
"Just wait a little longer, everything will be alright," Jiang Fei comforted softly, her hands moving even faster, though her grip on the stone was trembling slightly.
Rong Shu narrowed her eyes, her fingers twitching slightly as she lightly tapped the other side.
Suddenly, a flame rose from the flint, igniting the dry grass below.
Jiang Fei smiled and turned to Rong Shu: "Young Master Rong, the fire is lit."
Bathed in the firelight, the woman's features appeared even more vivid.
Rong Shu lowered her eyes; the freshness was no longer as dazzling as before.
The dry firewood burned even more vigorously.
Jiang Fei walked to Rong Shu's side and paused, then said, "Young Master Rong, let me help you over there."
As she spoke, she struggled to lift his body and carefully moved him to the fire.
Rong Shu could feel the heat of the flames around him, but unfortunately, his limbs were still cold.
The sky gradually darkened.
A cold wind blew in from the cave entrance from time to time, causing the flames to flicker.
Rong Shu lay beside the fire, her eyes closed.
But the events of the past few days kept replaying in my mind. I have to say, it's more pleasing to watch someone make sacrifices for you than to turn someone into a lifeless puppet and let them do whatever they want.
Suddenly, a footstep sounded beside me.
Rong Shu snapped out of her daze and immediately became cautious.
But if that person is "disobedient," he still wouldn't mind having an obedient puppet.
Rong Shu heard the footsteps getting closer and closer until they finally stopped beside him.
He frowned slightly, listening intently to the sounds.
The next moment, after a rustling sound, Rong Shu felt that she was wearing another garment, still carrying the woman's elegant and light fragrance.
Rong Shu was slightly taken aback.
He knew very well that these were Jiang Fei's clothes, and they seemed to still retain the warmth of her body.
Then, his hands were enveloped by a pair of warm hands, which were unusually hot.
But after only a moment, those hands left his, only to return to him in an instant.
Rong Shu slightly opened her eyes.
Jiang Fei brought her hands close to the fire to warm them, and then covered them with his cold hands.
In the firelight, her palms were roasted red.
Rong Shu felt that strange pleasure return to his heart. After a pause, he murmured softly, "...cold," as if talking in a dream.
Jiang Fei paused in her grip on the back of his hand, then used her other hand to tuck the clothes covering him tighter: "You won't be cold soon," she said softly, as if coaxing a child.
Rong Shu ignored him and continued to whisper, "Cold..." As she spoke, her teeth chattered slightly, and her lips turned deathly pale.
Jiang Fei stopped speaking, and the hand holding him froze.
Rong Shu smiled inwardly, suddenly curious to see how she would react, still muttering, "So cold..."
Before she could finish speaking, Rong Shu felt Jiang Fei's hand leave the back of her hand, followed by a moment of silence.
Just when Rong Shu thought she was at a loss and about to distance herself from him, a faint smell of rust wafted over.
It smells like blood!
Rong Shu was puzzled.
The next moment, Jiang Fei brought her hand to his lips, and drops of blood dripped from the corner of his lips into his mouth, making the taste of blood even stronger.
Rong Shu froze, only then remembering that although Jiang Fei's Heavenly Spiritual Root was destroyed, he was still a spiritual body, and the blood flowing in his body was the blood of a spiritual body that had been cultivated for decades, which was extremely nourishing for mortals.
“You’ll be fine after drinking it,” Jiang Fei murmured, “Drink it quickly…” but her voice grew weaker and weaker.
Rong Shu neither moved nor drank, but a complex mix of thoughts surged within her.
After the Xinqi incident, he didn't understand why Jiang Fei still showed kindness to others.
He pretended to be injured, just for fun, wanting to experience what it felt like to have someone do something for him, but she actually used her own blood as medicine...
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Fei finally withdrew her hand.
Just as Rong Shu breathed a sigh of relief, her lips softened.
His body stiffened slightly, but he could only feel the faint fragrance of Jiang Fei and the taste of blood in his mouth rushing towards him at the same time.
She fed him a mouthful of blood. Rong Shu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he swallowed it without realizing it, his teeth filled with the taste of rust and... a strange bitterness.
Before long, Jiang Fei withdrew her lips.
Rong Shu remained stiff, not only because of the mouthful of blood, but also because of... that kiss that could not be called a kiss.
"Is it still cold?" Jiang Fei murmured, touching his arm with her hand.
Rong Shu remained silent.
The next moment, he realized that he was being embraced by a soft arm, and then a warm body was pressed against him.
Rong Shu was completely stunned.
Jiang Fei lifted his outer garment and covered the two of them with it. She reached into his arms and hugged him tightly, her warmth gradually transferring to his cold limbs.
Rong Shu could feel that her body trembled slightly when it touched her, and her limbs gradually became cold.
But she held him tighter and tighter, her voice gentle: "It's alright, it's alright..." she comforted him again and again.
Rong Shu's favorability rating: 30.
Jiang Fei leaned against him, a slight smile playing on her lips.
That night, Rong Shu didn't know how she fell asleep.
When she woke up the next day, it was already bright outside. Jiang Fei, who had taken off his outer robe and slept with her the night before, was nowhere to be seen.
Rong Shu narrowed her eyes. Had she left?
But the thought had barely formed when it was interrupted by a breathless voice from the cave entrance: "You're awake?"
Rong Shu turned her gaze toward the cave entrance.
Jiang Fei was standing there, wearing only a thin coat, her nose red from the cold, her lips extremely pale, and her eyes filled with surprise.
She entered the cave: "I looked around and found a path leading up the cliff. Once you're feeling better, we'll leave here."
Rong Shu looked at her, and unconsciously looked down at her hand, where there was still a very deep bloodstain.
He licked his teeth, seemingly still able to smell the blood between his lips and teeth.
Jiang Fei noticed his gaze, looked down at him, then looked slightly flustered, pursed her lips and said awkwardly, "When I was looking for the way just now, my hand accidentally scratched a dry branch."
Rong Shu looked at her, remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Last night..."
“Nothing happened last night!” Jiang Fei interrupted him almost immediately, her ears turning bright red.
Rong Shu frowned, listening to her vehement denial of everything from last night, and felt a surge of displeasure. In the end, she remained silent and turned to look at the extinguished fire beside her.
The two stayed at the bottom of the cliff for seven days and seven nights.
On the eighth day, Rong Shu's health improved, and Jiang Fei half-supported and half-carried Rong Shu onto the mountain path she had discovered.
The mountain path was extremely narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time.
Jiang Fei tied herself and Rong Shu together with rattan, with herself in front and Rong Shu leaning against her back, following behind her.
At first, the road was gentle, and the two walked quite smoothly. However, the higher they went, the steeper the mountain path became, as if it were a road leading to the sky.
Jiang Fei pursed her lips and climbed upwards without saying a word.
Rong Shu looked at her, and he understood even less about this "medicinal herb" that he had taken a liking to at first sight. No other medicinal herb was as stubborn and dazzling as her.
His thin back, which looked like it was extremely difficult for him to even carry a few pieces of firewood, bore half of his weight as he climbed the mountain path step by step.
Rong Shu frowned.
I thought that satisfying my curiosity would be enough, but now it seems I'm even more curious.
After what seemed like an eternity, the end of the mountain road finally came into view.
Jiang Fei breathed a sigh of relief, straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and turned to Rong Shu with a smile, comforting him, "Young Master Rong, we'll be alright soon."
Rong Shu continued to stare at her without saying a word.
Everything that has happened so far has been under his control, so naturally he won't let anything happen to himself.
The two began climbing at dawn, and by the time they reached the top of the cliff, it was already dusk.
Jiang Fei threw away the rattan and laboriously helped Rong Shu walk down the mountain, seemingly tireless.
More and more people started to gather at the foot of the mountain, and people would occasionally glance at the two of them.
When the mansion came into view in the distance, Rong Shu narrowed her eyes.
The gates of the mansion were wide open, as if waiting for the return of its inhabitants.
The woman beside him looked at the distant mansion and gradually slowed her pace.
Just as Rong Shu was wondering, her body suddenly fell forward.
Rong Shu was startled and subconsciously reached out to support her shoulder. Only then did she realize that Jiang Fei's face was unusually pale, her lips looked like they were about to bleed from being bitten, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
“You…” Rong Shu paused, then suddenly realized something and looked down at her left knee, where bright red bloodstains stained her white dress.
Is this how she endured it all? And even carried him on her back?
It's not that I'm tireless, it's just that I'm enduring.
Rong Shu paused, and after a while bent down to pick her up in his arms, but stopped walking forward.
Ahead, at the entrance of the mansion, a pale-faced boy stood there, staring straight at them, surrounded by a deathly aura. When he saw the woman in his arms, a faint light finally appeared on his face.
He firmly believed that she was not dead.
She is still alive.
Now, she's back.
Yun Wunian lifted his foot and walked in that direction, but his legs suddenly went weak and he almost fell.
He quickly calmed down, stood in front of Rong Shu, and reached out to take Jiang Fei from her.
Rong Shu lowered her eyes. Yun Wunian's fingertips were still covered in blood and flesh, presumably from when he was looking for someone.
"I'll take her there." Rong Shu nodded and tried to avoid Yun Wunian's hand.
But Yun Wunian stopped him again, his lips pressed tightly together, still stubbornly stretching out his hand, his gaze cold as he looked at him.
He was nothing like a supreme, emotionless, and desireless immortal being undergoing tribulation.
Rong Shu narrowed her eyes, meeting Yun Wunian's gaze, feeling a surge of displeasure.
Rong Shu was startled to realize his emotional change, but it was just a passing fancy; he didn't need to be so emotional.
Rong Shu suddenly smiled, casually handed the woman in his arms to Yun Wunian, and turned to leave.
Yun Wunian's hand flinched slightly from the pain, but he still held her tightly.
He looked down at Jiang Fei in his arms, at the small wounds on her cheeks, the scrapes on her hands, the cuts on her palms, and the bloodstain on her left knee. His hands trembled slightly. After a long while, Yun Wunian, who had not spoken for several days, finally spoke, calling her in a hoarse, low voice, "Jiang Fei." His voice was tender and affectionate.
...
When Jiang Fei woke up again, she was in her inner chamber, with familiar curtains above her head.
Her wounds had all been treated, and her hand was being gently held, their fingers intertwined in an intimate manner.
Jiang Fei looked in the direction of the hand holding hers and met Yun Wunian's gaze. He was looking at her anxiously, his eyes slightly sunken and bloodshot.
"Xiao Wunian?" Jiang Fei smiled, raised his hand slightly, and was about to loosen their tightly clasped hands.
Yun Wunian suddenly grabbed her tightly, his eyes filled with fear and unease.
Jiang Fei frowned, then raised her eyebrows slightly: "Has Xiao Wunian taken the wrong medicine?"
Yun Wunian's lips trembled slightly, and he softly called her name: "Jiang Fei".
"Um?"
"Jiang Fei."
Jiang Fei did not respond.
Yun Wunian didn't mind, lowered his head, and said again, "Jiang Fei."
His voice was slightly choked.
“I told you to call me that before, but you wouldn’t. Now you’ve gotten addicted to it,” Jiang Fei snorted, paused for a moment, and then said, “Go and get that wooden box from my trunk.”
Yun Wunian took a long time to calm down before letting go of her and turning around to take the wooden box.
Jiang Fei opened the wooden box, took out a piece of paper, and handed it to Yun Wunian.
Yun Wunian glanced at it; it was a land deed for a mansion in Liu'an City.
"Do you know this place?" Jiang Fei asked slowly.
Yun Wunian nodded; he had passed by this place many times.
Jiang Fei then asked, "How do you feel?"
Yun Wunian looked at her, puzzled, without saying a word.
Jiang Fei smiled and said, "Here you go."
Yun Wunian stared at him blankly.
"This is what I prepared for you. When you get married and have children, you'll need a place to live."
Yun Wunian's hand, gripping the land deed, trembled violently. After a long while, he managed to ask with difficulty, "What does this mean?"
"Hmm?" Jiang Fei asked back, then explained seriously, "We've been together for so many years, how could I not give you anything? From now on, this will be your residence. You can marry Miss Lin if you want, or choose whichever girl you fancy..."
Looking at her earnest expression, Yun Wunian felt a sharp pain in his heart, so intense that it made it increasingly difficult for him to breathe. His vision blurred, and he suddenly shouted, "I am your childhood sweetheart."
So don't push him onto someone else.
Jiang Fei was interrupted by him and fell silent for a moment: "But didn't you not want to be a child groom?"
Yun Wunian's face turned pale at her words, and he opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.
Jiang Fei smiled and said, "Don't worry, if you'd like, you can call me 'elder sister' from now on."
Yun Wunian swayed slightly.
Sister.
She always says it so easily.
The next moment, Yun Wunian suddenly moved closer to her, as if eager to prove something, and awkwardly tried to kiss her lips.
Jiang Fei stepped back.
Yun Wunian's pounce landed empty-handed. His pale lips moved slightly as he murmured, "There's no one else's scent..."
Jiang Fei frowned, then realized what he meant. He was probably responding to her comment that night that he smelled like someone else.
"So what?" she feigned ignorance.
Yun Wunian looked at her so close to him and said, word by word:
“I am your childhood sweetheart.”
"so?"
I want to marry you.
"Um?"
Yun Wunian repeated, "I want to marry you."
Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow, looked at him for a while, and suddenly said, "Okay."
“I’m not the same person I was back then…” Yun Wunian was about to say something when he froze, staring at Jiang Fei in disbelief: “What did you say?”
Jiang Fei looked at him and said, "Okay."
Yun Wunian's favorability rating: 90.
...
Seven days later.
Jiang Fei slowly walked to the front of an unfamiliar house and knocked on the door.
Before long, footsteps sounded in the courtyard, and Rong Shu appeared at the door, her smile as gentle as ever: "Miss Jiang?" she said, stepping aside. "Please."
"No need," Jiang Fei hurriedly said, "I came only to check on Young Master Rong's injuries and to express my gratitude for saving me on the cliff back then..."
“Miss Jiang, you’re too kind,” Rong Shu said, looking at her. Her gaze unconsciously swept over her lips and landed on her palm, where she could still see the scar that ran across it. “I should be the one thanking you, Miss Jiang.”
Jiang Fei smiled, paused for a moment, and then took out a bright red wedding invitation from her sleeve: "I'm getting married. If Young Master Rong doesn't mind..."
Rong Shu's smile froze slightly as she stared intently at the wedding invitation in her hand, remaining silent.
"Young Master Rong?"
Rong Shu snapped out of her reverie, refusing to accept the invitation, and instead looked at Jiang Fei: "Miss Jiang, at the foot of the cliff that night, was it really true that nothing happened?"
Jiang Fei's face paled slightly, but her ears turned red. She still shook her head and said, "Nothing happened."
Rong Shu narrowed her eyes; her features remained vibrant.
He realized he was wrong when he said, "Her vibrancy is not glaring."
Her vibrant life at that moment was dazzling.
After a long while, Rong Shu smiled and took the wedding invitation: "Okay, I will definitely go."
Jiang Fei smiled, nodded slightly, raised her eyebrows slightly as she turned around, and left on her own.
Rong Shu remained standing at the door, watching her retreating figure. After a long while, she turned her gaze back to the bright red wedding invitation in her hand.
Shall we get married?
He finally got interested, so why would he give it up so easily?
Moreover, even if he loses interest, she should still be a valuable ingredient in his brothel.
Rong Shu flipped her palm over, and a crimson pill appeared above her hand, surrounded by a red mist.
The Forgetfulness Pill is made from the first drop of dew that grows on the Forget-Me-Not herb each day, and from blood and tears.
The original plan was to give Yun Jue to Jiang Fei when she was in great grief after Yun Jue's tribulation, so that she could peacefully serve as his "medicinal material" and he would save himself the trouble of tearing out her heart.
Looking back now...
Hopefully, Xin Qi won't arrive too late.
Hopefully, Yun Jue's ordeal will end before his wedding.
Otherwise, there are some things he wouldn't mind doing himself.
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