Chapter 32 Don't move, completely limp in his arms
Their figures blended completely into the thick darkness, their rapid breathing mingling and amplifying infinitely in the deathly silent forest.
Behind them, the torches of the pursuers drew ever closer, like the venomous tongues of venomous snakes, and the chaotic footsteps and harsh shouts were almost right next to their ears.
"Search separately! Find it inch by inch!"
A rough, hoarse voice roared, and the glow of the torches flickered and scattered among the trees.
Zhou Ling suddenly grabbed Fang Ru and darted behind a dense thicket of thorny vines.
The space instantly became cramped, forcing the two to huddle together tightly to minimize their presence.
Fangru's back sank completely into Zhou Ling's firm, burning chest. She could even clearly feel the lines of his muscles taut from the tension, as well as the scorching body temperature from his vigorous run and the heavy, powerful impact of his heart, transmitted through the fabric, as if trying to pierce through her bones.
She struggled slightly, trying to gain a moment to breathe, but Zhou Ling's arms tightened around her, his burning palms almost searing her arms.
His deep, threatening breath, mixed with the heat of his sweat, sprayed onto her sensitive earlobe and neck: "Keep moving if you want to be discovered."
Fangru froze instantly, even holding her breath.
The footsteps of the pursuers were close at hand, and the light from the torches almost shone through the gaps in the branches and leaves onto their faces.
Because of the terrain, she was almost face to face with him at that moment.
She nervously tilted her head, trying to peek outside through the crack, but as soon as she turned, the tip of her nose almost brushed against his chin, which was covered with fine stubble, and her lips were only millimeters away from his skin.
Their warm breaths intertwined completely, each inhaling the other's scent, a mixture of sweat, blood, and bits of vegetation. A primal, dizzying intimacy forcefully assaulted every sense.
Fangru could see the shadow cast by his thick eyelashes when he lowered his eyes, and she could count the lines on his lips where the blood had dried and cracked.
Her cheeks and ears burned uncontrollably, her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest. She frantically tried to get away from the close distance, but her eyes were suddenly locked in by a darkening gaze. There was not only a warning in his eyes, but also an undisguised aggression ignited under extreme danger.
Just then, a night breeze swept by, lifting Fangru's wide skirt.
The silky fabric, as if alive, quietly slipped out from under the protection of the thorny vines, gleaming faintly in the pale moonlight.
"!"
Fangru felt a sudden alarm bell ring in her mind, and instinctively reached out to grab the unruly hem of her skirt.
In the chaos, there was a soft "ripping" sound. Instead of being pulled back, the fabric was bitten tightly by a sharp barb!
She was extremely anxious and tried to tear it apart with force.
Just as she exerted her strength again, Zhou Ling moved!
He tightened his arms around her waist, pressing her down even more heavily. His other large hand quickly covered her hand that was tugging at her skirt, forcefully inserting his fingers between hers, holding her cold fingertips tightly, pressing them against her violently heaving abdomen, forcing her to stop all movement.
This posture was like a possessive embrace coming from behind, completely locking her in his arms.
"Don't move." His voice was hoarse and barely audible, his burning lips almost brushing against her earlobe. "If you move again... I can't guarantee what will happen."
Fangru completely melted in his arms, all her senses amplified at that moment.
Behind me was his hard, iron-like chest and his pounding heart; in front of me were his tightly clasped, burning hands; and beside my ear was his hot, dangerous breath.
The footsteps of the pursuers lingered just a few steps away, the flickering light of the torches casting uncertain shadows.
In stark contrast to this extreme danger was the powerful and aggressive heat emanating from the male body pressed against her, and the terrifying and chilling primal attraction that grew wildly on the edge of life and death.
Ice and fire intertwined wildly where their skin touched, causing her to tremble uncontrollably, unsure whether it was from fear or something else.
Finally, the suffocating sounds of searching and the flickering firelight gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing completely into the depths of the dense forest, leaving only the whistling of the night wind blowing through the treetops and a few distant chirps of insects.
The surroundings were plunged into a deathly silence and darkness.
Fangru's nerves, which had been stretched to the limit, suddenly relaxed, and she almost collapsed to the ground, but was steadily supported by Zhou Ling's arm.
The two quickly broke free from the thorny vines, both of them inevitably getting some cuts and bruises, their clothes in disarray.
"Can you still walk?" Zhou Ling's voice was still a little hoarse, but the tension from before had eased slightly.
Fangru pursed her lips, unwilling to show weakness. She nodded and took the first step, but ignored her torn skirt and weak legs. She stumbled with each step.
Zhou Ling quickly caught her again, this time without making any sarcastic remarks. He simply supported her silently, half-carrying her as they stumbled through the darkness.
He stopped only when he found a narrow cave hidden under the mountain wall.
"Let's make do here for tonight." He released her, bent down first to check the situation inside the cave, and only after confirming that there was no danger did he gesture for her to go in.
The cave wasn't large, but it was enough to shelter us from the wind and cold, and it was relatively dry inside.
The two sat down against the cold stone wall, and a silence filled the air, a silence born of the ordeal, with only their still-breathing sounds clearly audible.
In the end, Fangru couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere, especially when it quieted down, the blush-inducing touch and warmth from the bushes resurfaced in her mind.
She had to say something to break the ice.
“…Hey,” her voice was a little hoarse, “were you…doing that on purpose just now?”
Zhou Ling was looking down at the bloodstains on his arm from the thorns when he heard this, he lazily lifted his eyelids: "Deliberately what? Deliberately pulling you out from under the noses of the pursuers? Or deliberately not letting you trip over and fall face-first into the mud?"
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about!" Fangru's cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice rose a little. "It's...it's what happened in the bushes just now..."
“Oh,” Zhou Ling drawled, as if suddenly realizing something, then gave a half-smile that, combined with the injuries on his face, made him look a little mischievous. “You mean that… Miss Shen, in that situation, do you think I should first consider how to make you more comfortable, or how to keep both of our heads safely on our necks?”
Fangru choked, but insisted, "Then...you don't need to hug me so tightly!"
"Is it a tight hold?" Zhou Ling pretended to be deep in thought, then nodded. "Next time they come at me with their swords, I will remember to loosen my grip a bit so that Miss Shen has more room to move around and can dodge more easily."
"Zhou Ling!" Fangru was so angry she wanted to throw a stone at him. "How can you be so annoying!"
"You flatter me." He accepted it readily, even adjusting his posture to make himself more comfortable. "It's better than some hypocritical people who kick you when you're done with it."
"Who's being hypocritical!"
"Oh? Who was it that was so scared that they burrowed into my arms and wouldn't let go of my clothes?"
"That was a critical situation! I would have caught any dog there too!" Fangru blurted out without thinking.
Zhou Ling raised an eyebrow and gave a meaningful "Oh," drawing out the last syllable: "So Miss Shen has this kind of peculiar hobby."
"You!" Fangru was completely speechless, and could only glare at him fiercely, not knowing whether he could see her clearly in the darkness.
Zhou Ling chuckled softly, seemingly aggravating his wound, and hissed slightly before slowly saying, "Save your energy, we still have to escape tomorrow. If you can't sleep, you can continue to think about the 'change of dog' issue."
Fangru turned her head away, determined not to say another word to this bastard.
The cave fell silent again, but it no longer seemed so suffocating.
The cold stone walls, the narrow space, the subtle body temperature and shallow breathing of the person next to me... a strange, yet not unpleasant, warmth quietly dispelled the chill of the night.
...
As the faint morning light shone through the sparse vines at the cave entrance, Fangru awoke to a strange warmth and an uncomfortable stiffness.
She blinked in confusion, then realized that she wasn't leaning against a cold, rough stone wall, but rather resting her head on a warm, solid surface.
A faint scent of blood, grass, and Zhou Ling's unique, crisp aroma lingered around his nose.
She suddenly realized something and sat up as if she had been electrocuted!
Zhou Ling was sitting against the stone wall, and just now... she had been resting her head on his lap!
He remained alert, with a hint of weariness in his eyes, but his gaze was as sharp as ever, clearly indicating that he had not slept all night and remained vigilant.
"Awake?" He looked down at her, his tone flat and indifferent, as if it were perfectly normal for her to have slept with her head on his lap all night.
Fangru's cheeks flushed instantly, and she hurriedly moved to the side, her tongue almost tied in knots: "I...I...why...why didn't you wake me up!"
Zhou Ling stretched his legs, which were clearly numb, and said slowly, "Wake you up? And then listen to you complain about the stones being uncomfortable, or complain that I disturbed your sleep?" He glanced at her, "Compared to that, it's more worthwhile to let you sleep peacefully for a while."
Fangru was speechless, feeling embarrassed and flustered by a strange emotion.
Zhou Ling stood up and dusted off his robes: "I'll go see if there's anything edible nearby. Stay put and don't wander off."
Not long after, he returned with several washed wild fruits.
He tossed the fruit to Fangru, then leaned against the cave entrance, keeping an eye on the movements outside.
Fangru was taking small bites of fruit, just about to say something, when she saw Zhou Ling's expression suddenly harden and he quickly gestured for her to be quiet.
"Here we go again?" Fangru's heart jumped into her throat.
Zhou Ling listened intently for a moment, his brows relaxing slightly, even revealing a hint of barely perceptible amusement.
He grabbed Fangru and whispered, "The footsteps were orderly and heavy, the armor clanged... They are my men."
Sure enough, not long after, a squad of Imperial Guards, dressed in royal standard armor, with ceremonial swords at their waists, and moving swiftly and solemnly, appeared at the cave entrance.
The leading commander spotted Zhou Ling at a glance, immediately knelt on one knee, and said excitedly, "Your Majesty! This humble general has arrived too late to save you! I deserve to die!"
All the soldiers behind him knelt down in unison.
Zhou Ling raised his hand indifferently: "Get up. Let's take care of business first." His gaze swept over everyone, and the slight laziness and leisure he had shown in the cave vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and unquestionable pressure.
"The traitors of the White Sun Society," he began, his voice low but chilling, "their camp is located five miles northeast of a cluster of abandoned houses. Issue my decree..."
He paused, and Fangru could almost feel the air freeze.
"Within the camp, regardless of age or gender, anyone who has been tainted by the White Sun Society," Zhou Ling's voice was completely flat, chillingly calm, "exterminate them all, leave no one alive. Turn over every inch of their hiding place, I want to see their lair reduced to ashes."
Without hesitation, the commander of the Imperial Guards clasped his hands and accepted the order: "As you command!"
He accepted the menacing order without hesitation, as if it were just a routine task.
Fangru stood beside Zhou Ling, listening to the order that so casually decided the lives of dozens or even hundreds of people. She felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and her blood almost froze.
She turned her head in disbelief to look at Zhou Ling. His profile was as cold and hard as an ice sculpture, as if the man who had fled alongside her last night and even let her sleep with his head on his lap was just an illusion.
This is the true emperor... ruthless, violent, and treating human life as worthless.
She instinctively pulled the large cloak she was wearing closer, which a vigilant Imperial Guard soldier had quietly draped over her earlier.
However, the fine fabric seemed to insulate against the temperature, and the chill still seeped into her heart, leaving her feeling no warmth whatsoever.
The Imperial Guard Commander was about to obey the order when, with his head bowed, his keen eyes caught Zhou Ling's unusual expression and the bloodstains under his clothes. His expression immediately tightened: "Your Majesty, you are injured?! Imperial Physician! Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!"
The accompanying imperial physician immediately stepped forward with his medicine box and bowed to take the patient's pulse.
Zhou Ling raised his hand to avoid the imperial physician's hand, turned his gaze to Fangru, who was standing to the side, her heart chilled by the cold order, and instructed the imperial physician: "Take a look at her first."
The imperial physician and the commander were both taken aback and looked at Fangru.
Fangru was also stunned, and quickly waved her hands: "I'm fine! I'm really fine! It's just... I just twisted my ankle a little while running, it's nothing! Your Majesty, your injury is more serious..."
"I said, show it to her first." Zhou Ling repeated, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable authority.
He looked at Fangru, a familiar smile curving his lips, but his tone was deliberately slow, tinged with a hint of teasing, "A sprained ankle is still an injury. Do you expect me to carry you all the way back?"
Fangru's face flushed red. In front of so many imperial guards and physicians, she felt both ashamed and embarrassed, yet she couldn't refute them.
Seeing this, the imperial physician dared not disobey and could only respectfully ask Fangru to sit aside for a brief examination.
Fangru had no choice but to extend her ankle, which had indeed only twisted slightly, feeling extremely embarrassed.
After a careful examination, the imperial physician reported back: "Your Majesty, this young lady has only slightly twisted her foot and has not injured her bones or muscles. Applying some ointment to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis will allow her to rest for two days and she will be fine."
Zhou Ling breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Then he extended his wrist and handed it to the imperial physician, saying calmly, "Now it's my turn."
The imperial physician carefully stepped forward, lifted his torn sleeves and collar, revealing large areas of bruises and several deep wounds.
After a careful examination, the imperial physician's expression turned serious: "Your Majesty, you have multiple bruises and signs of minor rib fractures. You need immediate medication to immobilize the ribs and rest quietly. Under no circumstances should you move or exert yourself!"
Fangru stood aside, looking at Zhou Ling's injuries, which were far more serious than she had imagined. She recalled how he had protected her all the way last night, fighting and fleeing, and even letting her sleep with her injured leg as a pillow, without uttering a sound from beginning to end, and even occasionally arguing with her calmly... She felt a strange feeling in her heart. The fear she had felt when he ordered the killing of Baiyang Society was now covered by a more turbulent and complex emotion.
Zhou Ling seemed completely unconcerned about the imperial physician's diagnosis, merely giving a faint "hmm" before turning to the commander waiting nearby and issuing another order: "Search the camp thoroughly for a string of Buddhist prayer beads. Fourteen beads, made of purple jade. Once found, return them to us immediately, intact."
Fangru suddenly looked up at Zhou Ling, her heart feeling as if it had been unexpectedly struck by something.
He... he actually still remembered her Buddhist prayer beads?
Having just issued such a bloody order, he so clearly remembered to find an ornament for her.
Tyranny and meticulousness, coldness and concern—these two extremely contradictory traits simultaneously manifested in him, leaving her completely confused.
The Imperial Guard Commander once again responded firmly, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhou Ling nodded slightly, only then noticing Fang Ru's pale face and complicated gaze.
He turned his head, a familiar yet now enigmatic smile curving his lips, and asked softly, as if it were just a casual remark: "What? Are you moved by me?"
Fangru suddenly snapped out of her daze, so angry at his extremely narcissistic interpretation that she almost choked. The complex emotions she had just felt were instantly dissipated.
She couldn't help but glare at him, muttering under her breath in annoyance, "...Touched? Touched that Your Majesty could order the killings while still having the leisure to think about my old bracelet? This 'favor' is really too special."
Zhou Ling was not annoyed at his words; instead, the smile in his eyes deepened. He stood up, walked over, and leaned closer, speaking slowly in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Oh? It seems I misunderstood. I thought Miss Shen was worried about my injury, her eyes almost red."
Fangru's cheeks flushed instantly, and she immediately retorted, "Who, who has red eyes! I was just blew by the wind! Your Majesty, you not only have a heavy heart, but your eyesight isn't very good either!"
"Is that so?" Zhou Ling drawled, his gaze sweeping over her flushed earlobes before he nodded meaningfully. "It seems I didn't rest well last night; my eyes are indeed a little blurry. However..."
He changed the subject, his tone slightly mocking, "Miss Fangru is quite energetic, still having the strength to argue with me about eye contact."
"You!" Fangru was furious, realizing that she couldn't win the argument no matter what she said, so she simply turned her head away. "Your Majesty should hurry up and have the imperial physician examine you properly, lest the injury get worse and you blame me again."
Zhou Ling chuckled softly, finally stopping teasing her, but his gaze remained fixed on her puffed-up profile, carrying a hint of barely perceptible pleasure.
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