Lingwu and I stayed on the mountain for ten days, and every day we went with him to see the medicinal herbs he planted. They grew up soaking in medicinal baths, which is why their medical skills are so unique.
My favorite thing to do is go to the caves in the back mountain where they set up their formations. Every time I go in, it's different, and the way out is different too.
That day, the snow outside stopped, and seeing Lingwu taking a nap, I secretly slipped away to the back mountain. I had walked this path many times before, and although I had taken the wrong turn, I always managed to find my way back, though it took a little longer.
When I went out, I felt someone behind me. I looked back a few times, but all I saw was white and I couldn't see any shadows.
It's very safe here, and the disciples inside are all very polite. Besides, I'm dressed as a man, so even if someone wanted to take advantage of me, they'd be blind.
I continued walking; the snow was deep, almost up to my knees. Luckily, I was wearing suede snow boots, which allowed me to get through.
I've already found the entrance to the back mountain. After passing the pavilion, I headed towards the corridor. There was a sound behind me, and just as I drew my Phantom Sword, the blade was taken away.
As soon as I turned around, I saw Xie Yuancheng standing outside the pavilion with a displeased look on his face.
I blinked a few times to make sure it was him, then ran away, but didn't hear a sound the whole way. I found an inconspicuous cave to hide in, and when I looked back, there was nothing there.
"Thank goodness it was just a hallucination!" I rubbed my head, guessing that I must have missed Xie Yuancheng so much that I saw him.
"Ying'er, it's only been a little over a month since we last met, and you're already having hallucinations."
That voice was definitely his. I turned around and saw him squatting next to me.
"You, you're not him." Xie Yuancheng must be doing well in the Western Regions now; he wouldn't look like this. His hair was unkempt, his beard was unshaven, and his clothes were tattered.
He was always dressed up nicely and had a pleasant fragrance about him, even when he was traveling in the Western Regions.
"I'm not him, I'll show you if I am." Xie Yuancheng lunged at me, and I rolled twice to dodge.
His skills were exactly the same. I was worried that he was one of those mischievous people who had transformed into him. They were very naughty, and I even followed them down the mountain and scared the passersby once.
They were all harmless jokes; those passersby will stay away from the entrance and won't get so close anymore.
Xie Yuancheng's eyes were red with anger. I didn't care about anything else and climbed straight out of the cave. The cave wasn't very big, and it could probably accommodate about ten people.
"Ji Ying! Let's see if you run away again!" Xie Yuancheng dragged me back. Now I'm sure it really was him who came looking for me.
"You, let go." My wrists were red from being squeezed. If Xie Yuancheng knew that Lu Fengjun and Ling Wu had helped, would they be harmed?
"Let go!" Xie Yuancheng sneered. "You secretly ran away from me, do you know how I've been coping for the past month or so!"
He threw the sword aside and started tearing at my clothes. I struggled desperately, but I was no match for his strength.
It was already dark outside, and I felt unwell. Xie Yuancheng leaned against me, refusing to let go. His eyes were covered in dark circles, and his skin wasn't as smooth as it used to be.
"Yuancheng, I feel so uncomfortable~" My body doesn't feel like my own anymore, I feel uncomfortable everywhere.
Xie Yuancheng then opened his eyes, buttoned up all his clothes, took two swords, and led me out.
With every step he took, I was in excruciating pain, and eventually I fainted. I was the one who felt wronged; I allowed him to take control of the Western Regions, and even if the old emperor and the crown prince were dissatisfied with him, they wouldn't touch him.
I started dreaming again, dreaming that his journey was extremely dangerous, and that he was almost buried by avalanches twice.
"Yuan Cheng!" I was jolted awake by a nightmare. I saw a fierce man wielding a spear and thrusting it at him, and he was almost trampled by a dozen camels.
"You still know how to call me!" Xie Yuancheng said through gritted teeth. He had changed into clean clothes and washed himself thoroughly.
Aside from his face being a little rough, the expression on his face looked like he wanted to devour me alive.
"I...I had a bad dream."
"It's a good thing you dreamed about it, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to achieve military merit in the Western Regions."
His voice was icy cold. I don't know how long I lay there, but I changed my clothes, and the heater next to me was still warm.
"I'm tired, I need to rest~" I don't know how to face him, so it's better to run away and wait until he vents his anger.
"Where are you trying to run off to this time!" Xie Yuancheng pulled me up abruptly. "You left a note and ran away, without a trace. If the teacher hadn't happened to come by and said you were with Lingwu, I wouldn't know where to look for you!"
"Lingwu, he, he is innocent. Don't blame others. I was the one who threatened them."
"Who else helped you escape?" Xie Yuancheng's eyes looked like he wanted to devour me. I felt wronged and burst into tears.
Tears streamed down my face. I'd cried a lot since I escaped, always hiding when no one was around. I threw a pillow at Xie Yuancheng and cursed him for being a heartless man, daring to come looking for me after marrying someone else.
Xie Yuancheng sat beside me watching me make a fuss. Only when my strength subsided did he speak: "Who told me I was going to marry the sister of the King of the Western Regions!"
I didn't reply to him. I rolled into bed with the blanket. I was still upset, so I didn't want to talk to him.
"Ji Ying, stop trying to cuckold me!" Xie Yuancheng was anything but gentle this time. He pulled me out and insisted that I answer his question.
I kicked him several times: "You clearly like pretty women, stop pretending with me, I hate you! Anyway, whether you divorce me or not, I won't give you any of the children!"
Xie Yuancheng subdued me quickly. I knew he was strong, but I didn't know he was this strong.
"Tell me! Who told you that?"
His eyes were bloodshot, and he stared at me like a ghost.
I turned my head to the other side to avoid looking at him: "I found out myself. You smell like her. Don't think I didn't know."
"What fragrance? I keep a great distance from everyone. Don't try to fool me with fragrance."
I struggled for a long time but couldn't break free: "It's the faint fragrance on you, exactly the same as hers, get out!"
Xie Yuancheng leaned over and pinched my cheek: "A faint fragrance made you so angry. Which wild men did you run away with? I searched all the way here but couldn't find a trace of them. We even came all the way to Xiling City and then came back."
His hands were shaking. I gritted my teeth and didn't reply. Xie Yuancheng squinted and tightened his grip.
“Speak up, aren’t you very good at escaping? I chased after you as soon as I came down from the battlefield, wearing a red cloak. Even if you ride at full speed, it would take you more than twenty days to reach the edge of the town.”
"Let go!" My face hurt, but he was still holding on tightly, and I could hardly breathe.
"You're just adding charges against me because you're unhappy, and you even dare to run away. Do you think I'll let you go?"
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