Chapter 77 Being seriously injured and dying isn't scary; what's scary is being bound while still alive…
With Xi Yu gone, Mingying's days at Jinghui Temple became peaceful again.
Without Xi Yu's constant chatter, she felt a little unaccustomed to it. Every day, she would go alone to pick mulberry leaves and wild fruits, and to fish in the pond halfway up the mountain. She would often think about Xi Yu's future.
Under the clear sky, the world is like a great mountain; people may feel resentful and dissatisfied.
But in the face of absolute restraint and suppression, all resistance and struggle are futile, just as Xi Yu eventually returned.
She was luckier than Xi Yu; she was able to come to Xuzhou alone, and no one could find her.
She was truly prepared to live at Jinghui Temple.
A month passed quickly, and the people who had stayed at Jinghui Temple gradually expressed their gratitude and returned to Langzhou.
Mingying saw them off one by one. This past month, spending time with the gentle breezes of the mountains and fields had truly calmed her mind considerably.
The only thing she can't let go of now is her brother.
It seems that these siblings are destined to spend most of their lives apart.
However, as long as you live well, that's enough.
The women who came to Jinghui Temple with the same intention of becoming nuns, all left after less than a month because they could not bear the hardship and boredom of the mountain. She was the only one left behind.
Perhaps seeing her resilient character and the ability to endure hardship, Master Yuanyin came to her and said, "You've been here for a month now, what do you think of this place?"
Mingying smiled faintly: "The mountains and fields are clear and open, with mist and clouds, and my home is wherever my heart finds peace."
Her unspoken message was that she still wanted to become a nun.
Master Yuanyin understood her words, put her hands together, and nodded deeply: "The young lady has made up her mind, so this humble nun will grant her wish. On the day of her enlightenment five days from now, this humble nun will shave her head and she will enter my Buddhist sect."
Whether from excitement or something else, Mingying's eyes sparkled, and she solemnly returned the greeting: "Thank you, Master."
After Master Yuanyin left, she sat by the empty valley behind the mountain for a long time.
Mist rose from the cold pool, like billowing white smoke, the rustling of bamboo shadows blending with the splashing water. Though the sound was deafening, her heart remained strangely calm.
She hoped that in five days, all those old grudges, all those loves and hates, would truly come to an end.
—
Pei Xiaoyun still couldn't find Mingying.
People were sent to Xuzhou City to search for her, but they all returned empty-handed.
His wounds had not healed, and He Lianqing used slow-acting medicine to prevent him from recovering too quickly, so that his wounds would reopen and bleed as soon as he put down.
Pei Xiaoyun summoned Shen Mingshu again, and as before, got straight to the point, but his tone softened a bit: "Tell me, where is she? Is she still in Xuzhou? The northwest is not peaceful right now. Are you not worried about her safety as you leave a woman to wander alone?"
He guessed that Shen Mingshu must know where she had gone, but just wouldn't tell him.
In just a few days, tormented by pain and consumed by longing, his face grew thin, his eyes were puffy, and perhaps due to the reflection of light and shadow, two strands of hair at his temples had turned white.
Shen Mingshu remained unmoved; Ah Ying's knife had nearly cost him his life, and it was his own fault.
"I don't know." He turned his face away, unusually indifferent. "If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, I will go to the city to oversee the reconstruction of the houses."
Pei Xiaoyun sighed softly, his fists clenching at his sides: "I will not force her. I just want to know where she is so I can secretly send people to protect her."
Shen Mingshu turned around abruptly: "I don't believe a single word you say, and she doesn't need anyone's presumptuous protection."
He will never let go. If he finds Ah Ying, he will try to control her like a madman.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know where she went either." Shen Mingshu's eyes were a little red, and there was a hint of worry in them. "If anything happens to her, it's because you forced her to. If you hadn't shown up, she would have continued to live a good life."
Amid Pei Xiaoyun's astonishment, he added, "She once told me something: 'Death is not scary; what is scary is being bound and becoming like a dead person.'"
These words struck Pei Xiaoyun like a heavy hammer, leaving him momentarily dazed and unsteady on his feet.
It was as if he had heard her say it to him personally; he could imagine her cold face and sharp gaze, just as she had told him that she didn't love him.
"When...when did she tell you this?"
Shen Mingshu replied, "Two years ago, when she first arrived in the Northwest."
Pei Xiaoyun nodded absentmindedly, her eyes seemingly devoid of light.
Perhaps.
She wasn't afraid of death; otherwise, she wouldn't have repeatedly begged him to kill her in prison before going to the Northwest, nor would she have risked the lives of both herself and her unborn child to eat the Five Elements Herb, nor would she have been so fearless of being punished as she still wanted to kill him.
She just wanted to escape him; if she couldn't leave, she'd rather die.
"If you truly love her, then don't go looking for her. Let her hide somewhere and live a good life."
Shen Mingshu left.
Pei Xiaoyun ultimately did not press him further about Mingying's whereabouts.
Because nobody knows where she went.
He was pondering whether he should really do as Shen Mingshu suggested and let her leave like that...
Three days later, on another mountain in the suburbs of the city, Yunming Mountain, more than a dozen households were infected with the epidemic.
Pei Xiaoyun first sent local officials to investigate, and then summoned He Lianqing and the local doctor to go together to find out what the illness was.
His wounds finally healed, and he was able to get out of bed and ride a horse again. He temporarily put aside his obsession with Mingying and took the lead in traveling incognito to the county town most affected by the war to supervise the local officials in repairing dams and building bridges.
He traveled in a black casual outfit, accompanied only by a few disguised guards, and no one knew that he was the king of a country.
Therefore, when he returned, two funeral processions made no attempt to conceal their presence, carrying the coffin and scattering paper money as they passed by him.
The sky was covered in white snow, the suona horns blared, and cries of grief shook the heavens and the earth.
Kong Qing changed his form of address and said to Pei Xiaoyun, "Master, shall I go and disperse these people?"
“No need.” Pei Xiaoyun waved her hand and stood there for a while.
The two funeral processions were of two different people. The first was a man who had lost his wife and was weeping bitterly while holding the coffin. The second was a woman who had lost her husband and was also heartbroken, needing to be supported to stand.
He had seen too many dead people and killed too many people. Blood flowed through his hands like colorless living water, and he was no longer moved by human lives.
The man and woman's cries were simple and powerful, devoid of any other emotion, expressing only their boundless mourning for the deceased.
His ears were ringing, as if he were frozen in place, seemingly understanding for the first time what separation by death meant.
It's possible that when one person is gone, the other will grieve and be heartbroken. The two people are separated by a distance greater than ten thousand rivers, not under the same sky, nor on the same land.
The man and woman looked young. Perhaps they never imagined that one day in the future, their lover would leave so quietly, separated by life and death.
Life is short, and even an emperor cannot change the changing times. Therefore, some things are unexpected.
If he and Mingying were in the same situation, one lying inside and the other standing outside, then there would be no chance for them to be together again.
He still wanted to find her and be with her.
"Kong Qing, go and find out where these two families live." After a long while, he finally snapped out of his reverie.
Kong Qing returned quickly and said, "Reporting to Master, both families live in Yunming Mountain. I heard that the man's wife and the woman's husband both fell ill after drinking well water."
Upon learning this, a glint of light appeared in Pei Xiaoyun's eyes.
It seems that he needs to go to Yunming Mountain in person.
—
Many people have died in a village in Yunming Mountain.
The people all said that they felt unwell because they drank water from the well.
The village well was built inside an abandoned Taoist temple. In order to find out the source of the epidemic, He Lianqing and the county magistrate went to the well first.
Pei Xiaoyun also sent several trusted subordinates to come with He Lianqing, including Xing Wei.
The two stood one in front of the other, without saying a word.
Magistrate Xu had already sent doctors to the wellhead to check the water source, but the doctors couldn't find anything unusual.
When He Lianqing arrived, he ordered someone to scoop up a ladle of water and, without any hesitation, reached down to dip his finger in it and smell the aroma.
Xingwei suddenly stopped him in a deep voice: "This water is poisonous."
“I’m not drinking it.” He Lianqing turned his back, not looking at her, his knuckles submerged in the water. “This poison can’t be that potent, that even a little bit is unacceptable.”
Otherwise, so few people would have died.
He brought it close to his nose and sniffed carefully. After a moment, he noticed something and frowned: "This is—"
With a loud "clang," the wooden ladle in his hand was pierced by a hidden arrow that shot from an unknown source, soaking him completely. The arrow grazed his arm and struck the tree trunk behind him.
A chill ran down his spine, and he staggered a few steps.
Who is it?
The surrounding guards immediately became alert, and Magistrate Xu and his men were also shocked, looking around blankly, searching for the source of the hidden arrow.
There was no movement for a few breaths. Just as everyone caught their breath, several more hidden arrows flew through the air, killing two county officials on the spot.
He Lianqing leaned against the tree trunk when a hidden arrow pierced through the dense foliage and shot towards him. His pupils dilated suddenly, and his heart skipped a beat.
In the blink of an eye, a dark shadow flashed before my eyes.
Xingwei caught the hidden arrow with his bare hands; the arrowhead was less than two fists away from his heart.
"Let's go!" She shoved He Lianqing and said to Magistrate Xu and the others, "We've been ambushed here, let's go back to the village!"
Xingwei paid attention to the direction from which the hidden arrow was coming. He saw the branches and leaves of the trees on the left rustling and making a soft sound.
"It's in the woods on the left. Follow me!" She led several guards up the mountain to give chase.
Those people were skilled in using concealed weapons, and were most likely remnants of enemy forces lingering in the mountains and forests, who had not yet been completely wiped out.
Although Pei Xiaoyun and Shen Mingshu traveled different routes, they arrived at Yunming Mountain at the same time.
He Lianqing came to her senses, her brows furrowed with worry, and explained the whole story to them.
"...They went after the people. I smelled the water in the well, and it is indeed a kind of Gu poison from the Wuhuan."
Upon hearing this, Pei Xiaoyun's expression turned solemn, and a crimson light ignited in his eyes.
It turns out that all those lives lost on Yunming Mountain were committed by them.
Shen Mingshu also said solemnly, "The open areas of the mountains have been searched, but due to the large terrain and complex mountain shapes, the hidden areas have not been fully searched. Perhaps some Wuhuan people are disguised and mingling in the depths of the mountains, intending to retaliate and harm the people."
Without saying a word, Pei Xiaoyun drew his sword and headed towards the hilltop on the left.
Since there were still remnants hiding here, Shen Mingshu could not feel at ease until they were all eliminated. Therefore, he also led his men to go into the mountains with Pei Xiaoyun.
Xingwei led four or five people in a chase along a forest path, but they couldn't find anyone when they got there. Many people were injured by hidden weapons along the way, and she herself was cut on the arm by a hidden arrow.
She didn't realize the arrow was poisoned until she chased after it for a while longer, when she felt weak all over and her vision blurred, and she collapsed against a tree.
Fortunately, Pei Xiaoyun and Shen Mingshu arrived and saw her. Pei Xiaoyun ordered someone to take her back for treatment.
He and Shen Mingshu each led a team, searching various caves without success, before meeting up again on the mountainside.
He vowed that once the poisoners were caught, he would hang them on the city wall of Langzhou and let them bleed dry.
“There’s still one place I haven’t found.” He suddenly remembered a location that was less likely to be discovered than the caves and grottoes.
Shen Mingshu looked at him, waiting for his words.
He said, “There are several cold pools on this mountain. Search them all. The Wuhuan people are good at swimming.”
Shen Mingshu thought it made sense, and he was about to lead his men there when he heard several muffled sounds coming from above.
They were at the bottom of a cliff, above which the rocks had collapsed and piled up. It was unclear which rock had become loose and, with the help of someone, was hurtling towards them.
He looked up and saw a huge boulder reflected in his eyes.
Being hit by this stone would be unimaginable.
But it seemed he had already fallen into the enemy's sights. Before he could react, rocks rolled down. Martial arts practitioners are highly vigilant, and he immediately drew his sword to block.
"careful."
Instantly, a powerful arm struck his chest, almost shoving him away with a single blow.
His expression changed drastically, and he was so shocked that he took a few steps back. He used his sword to support himself as he got up, and then he saw the boulder smash into Pei Xiaoyun's back.
Pei Xiaoyun knelt on one knee, her face deathly pale, and coughed up several mouthfuls of blood...
—
In the dead of night, the mansion was filled with hurried footsteps, and the area from the gate to the steps was soaked in blood.
The boulder that struck Pei Xiaoyun was thick and sharp; it was deliberately pushed down by the enemy. The sharp edges of the boulder pierced his internal organs from behind, almost piercing his heart.
If it were someone else, they would have died much earlier and wouldn't have had such good luck.
All the famous doctors in Langzhou came, and they used all the most precious prescriptions on Pei Xiaoyun. They saved her for two days and two nights, until no more blood could be drawn from her body, and finally she was saved and kept on her last breath.
He lay in bed for half a month before waking up.
While he was unconscious, Shen Mingshu led his men to search all over the mountains and forests, capturing a large number of people. They then extracted information from the remaining accomplices and searched the mountains day and night until they were finally able to ensure that there were no enemy bandits on any of the mountains.
Many clinics in the city were offering free medical treatment to people who had been poisoned by drinking well water, and their conditions gradually improved.
He also ordered people to dig up the well in Yunmingshan Village and led the villagers to dig several new wells. With fresh mountain water flowing in, the villagers could drink the water with peace of mind.
Upon hearing that Pei Xiaoyun had awakened, he came to the mansion with mixed feelings. He reported the recent events in Langzhou City to the person lying under the bright yellow tent, and finally asked, "Why did you save me?"
Pei Xiaoyun pushed him aside and stood in front of him, something he probably never expected in his life.
Pei Xiaoyun's two dark eyes were like deep sandalwood beads, and no one could see what was hidden inside them.
Even the slightest breath caused him pain in his internal organs, so he could only speak softly: "In the end, I owe you a life."
Shen Mingshu knew what the person was referring to when he said "life," and thinking about it still filled him with resentment, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.
“Although it’s still not clear.” Pei Xiaoyun said again when he was silent.
Shen Mingshu gradually loosened his fist, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "This is not what you owe me, it is what you owe her. As you said, it is indeed not enough."
After he finished speaking, he stormed out the door without saying another word.
Once the footsteps were completely out of earshot, a strange light appeared in Pei Xiaoyun's eyes. Suddenly, he chuckled softly, feeling as if his sternum had been shattered and ground into dust.
The pain had become numb, so he could no longer feel it.
How could he genuinely want to save Shen Mingshu?
He was just hoping to risk his life for a chance to win her back.
Therefore, the person he saved could only be Shen Mingshu.
When Kong Qing heard that his master had woken up, he came in to visit him. Before he could even speak, Pei Xiaoyun asked him, "How is he?"
He was asking about her whereabouts.
Kong Qing shook her head to indicate that there was no solution. Seeing that he was seriously injured, she suddenly had a plan and boldly discussed it with him: "Why doesn't Your Majesty send the news of your injury to Xuzhou? Perhaps Miss Ming will have a soft heart and come back."
Pei Xiaoyun immediately rejected the idea, a cold smile playing on her lips: "She probably wishes I were dead. She won't come back once she hears I'm injured."
Kong Qing lowered her head and remained silent, intending to retreat, but then heard his deep voice again.
"However, I have another way to make her come back on her own."
-----------------------
Author's Note: This self-inflicted injury scheme [doge emoji] deserves a beating.
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