Cold Night (2)
"Ugh!" Gu Jinghong groaned in pain as he was violently dragged backward by an irresistible force, staggering and crashing into a chest as hard as iron.
A strong masculine scent, mixed with the smell of medicine and icy anger, instantly enveloped her.
Gu Jinghong was both shocked and furious, and struggled desperately.
By the moonlight, she could see who it was—Xiao Chengyan's face was sickly pale in the dim light, but his deep eyes burned with a terrifying crimson, like a wild beast on the verge of losing control.
His shirt was slightly open at the chest, and the outline of the bandages was vaguely visible. Clearly, the wound had been aggravated, but he was completely unaware of it.
Gu Jinghong spoke up: "Xiao Chengyan! Let go!"
"Let go?" Xiao Chengyan's voice was hoarse and low, carrying a chilling mockery and a crazy obsession. Instead of letting go, he carried her on his shoulder and, without saying a word, carried her back to his room.
He kicked his own door shut, then put Gu Jinghong down, flipped him over, and slammed him against the cold wall!
His tall figure completely enveloped her, his hot and angry breath spraying onto her face.
With his other hand, he roughly grabbed her chin, forcing her to raise her head, her eyes bloodshot.
"Staying up all night to guard him?" Xiao Chengyan's voice was a suppressed roar, and he exuded a strong stench of blood.
The scene of Gu Jinghong sleeping peacefully by Xie Yan's bedside flashed before his eyes again, "Letting him hold your hand? Lying by his bedside... sleeping so soundly?!"
"Is this how you 'maintain propriety' and 'respect yourself' towards me? Huh?!"
"You acted flawlessly in front of me, but then... you could sleep so peacefully in front of another man?! Just how thick is your mask?!"
Gu Jinghong's eyes widened suddenly—these hurtful words pierced her heart like needles into the place she least wanted to be touched.
Her care for Xie Yan was a heavy shackle, a whip mark of atonement, and certainly not the unbearable feelings he described.
A surge of intense humiliation and an unprecedented sense of injustice welled up within me.
She bit her lower lip hard, trying to suppress the surging emotions, but her clear, stubborn eyes uncontrollably welled up with a thin layer of tears, like fragile glass.
Xiao Chengyan's fingers, which were gripping her chin, trembled suddenly, his eyes fixed on the barely suppressed tears in her eyes.
His tearful eyes reflected his ferocious and angry face, but it was like a bucket of ice water poured on his burning rage, instantly causing an even more intense and chaotic burning pain!
What did he see?!
He saw Gu Jinghong, who was always aloof and cold, seemingly devoid of emotion, now showing such a wronged and broken expression in front of him for another man?!
No... or is this yet another heartbreaking scene in her masterful disguise?
This thought, like poison, instantly corroded the heartache that arose from his vulnerability, twisting the flames of jealousy into darker, filthier suspicion and... the anger of being fooled.
He hates her!
I hate her for her deliberate deception!
I hate that she manipulated me like this!
I hate myself even more... Knowing that she was full of lies and a complete charade, I still felt heartbroken for those tears that I couldn't tell were real!
Thinking of this, Xiao Chengyan almost secretly bit his lip until it bled.
He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and forced himself to calm down.
A moment later, he loosened his grip, finally managing to regain his composure. His voice, once again devoid of emotion, became cold and distant.
"Xie Yan... how is he?"
At the same time, Gu Jinghong's tears had already dried, and a faint wariness flashed in her eyes.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My sworn brother has been partially cured of the cold poison by Master Xuangu's skillful hands and his life is out of danger. However, he is still unconscious and needs to be well taken care of."
"It's good that his life is not in danger... I heard that Xie Yan was afflicted with the 'Cold Marrow Inducing Technique'?"
Gu Jinghong looked up at him, her eyes filled with even greater vigilance.
Xiao Chengyan removed his hands from Gu Jinghong, habitually placing them behind his back, keeping an arm's length distance from her. But his eyes remained fixed on Gu Jinghong.
He pretended to be relaxed, but the question he blurted out was actually a barb.
"The Cold Marrow Poison... This poison is insidious and domineering, unlike any ordinary martial arts method. I am curious how someone as skilled as Xie Yan could have been poisoned by such a vicious poison? And how... how could he have survived for so many years while carrying such a deadly poison, and even... how his skills could have increased rather than decreased?"
Gu Jinghong silently clenched her fingers—he…again?
She considered how to say it, but maintained her composure: "The world is dangerous, and people's hearts are unpredictable. My sworn brother made many enemies in his early years, and it was common for him to be plotted against. As for how he persevered... perhaps it was his strong will, or perhaps... he had reasons that he had to persevere."
Xiao Chengyan's eyes flickered—she skillfully avoided the specific reasons, emphasizing "having no choice" and "perseverance," while implying that Xie Yan had her own difficulties.
Yet she—still protects him in this seemingly gentle but actually tireless way!
A nameless fire suddenly surged within him, difficult to suppress, and his voice rose slightly: "A reason we have no choice but to persevere?"
"He's quite a tough nut to crack. With such determination and skill, even when poisoned, he can unleash astonishing fighting power. If he joined the army, he would surely be a fierce general. Miss Gu, what do you think of me recruiting him to serve under my command?"
Miss Gu... Ha.
From Ah Hong, to Jing Hong, to Miss Gu?
Xiao Chengyan's words, seemingly an invitation, were actually a test of Xie Yan's identity and controllability.
But why did he have to do this, when Xie Yan was seriously ill? Or when Gu Jinghong learned that Xie Yan might have suffered for her for many years?
Gu Jinghong looked up, her eyes showing a hint of firmness: "Your Highness is too kind, and I thank you on behalf of my sworn brother! However, my sworn brother is still seriously injured and has a proud and unruly nature, so I'm afraid he will have difficulty adapting to the rules of the army. Furthermore, he has been poisoned for a long time, which has damaged his foundation, and his future is still unknown. I really dare not delay Your Highness's important matters."
Another blatant act of protection!
Xiao Chengyan unconsciously tightened his grip on his hands behind his back.
But he still suppressed his anger and tried to keep his voice as calm as possible: "Jinghong understands him very well and protects him very well."
When she looked at Gu Jinghong again, Gu Jinghong was as cold, hard, and unmoved as a stubborn rock.
Xiao Chengyan suddenly felt that he couldn't hold back anymore.
He leaned forward slightly. "He can't take responsibility, so what about you? You treat him like a brother, and you care about him so much. Why don't you... take on this 'deep affection' for him? What do you say?"
Looking into Xiao Chengyan's deep, unfathomable eyes, Gu Jinghong subconsciously straightened her back: "If Your Highness has any orders, as long as they do not endanger my sworn brother's life, Jinghong... is willing to take the blame for him!"
Xiao Chengyan slammed his hand on the table.
The teacups clattered, and one of the taller aroma cups wobbled a few times before suddenly toppling over, rolling along the long table to the edge, and crashing to the ground with a "thud," shattering into pieces.
"Gu Jinghong! You're protecting him like this?! For him, you... In your eyes, am I such a despicable person? Is Xie Yan so unworthy that you can't even spare his protection?!"
Gu Jinghong suddenly frowned.
This anger is rather inexplicable. Wasn't it he who initiated the attack on Xie Yan, who was lying in the hospital bed, and even said he wanted to recruit him? Now that his wish has been fulfilled, he's unhappy again.
Gu Jinghong rolled her eyes subconsciously—such a prince's manner!
That eye roll was seen by those phoenix eyes.
She actually rolled her eyes at him for that guy's sake!
This is intolerable!
Xiao Chengyan looked down at her, his chest heaving violently, oblivious to the aggravation of his wounds: "Is this why you haven't appeared these past few days?!"
Gu Jinghong: "...Hmm?"
What is he doing? Is he questioning himself about why he didn't show up?
But why did she even show up? Was she vying for a spot as a "stand-in"?
She was already exhausted from Xie Yan's injuries these past few days, and he just had to make things difficult for her at this crucial moment.
Well, if I can't afford to offend them, I can at least avoid them.
She suddenly stood up to take her leave: "Your Highness, if there's nothing else, Jinghong will return..."
"stop!"
He strode forward, grabbed her wrist again, and forced her to turn around and face him.
It's so close.
"What are you going back for? To take care of Xie Yan?!"
Gu Jinghong instinctively tried to break free, but failed.
She glanced at Xiao Chengyan clutching his wrist and said, "He's still sick..."
Xiao Chengyan's deep eyes were now churning with a terrifying storm. He stared into her eyes, his gaze flickering yet shrouded in darkness. His voice was hoarse and low as he asked, word by word.
"Gu Jinghong... tell me, do you... like him?"
Gu Jinghong looked puzzled: "...Hmm?"
Xiao Chengyan's fingers tightened further: "To me, you're merely following orders, but to him... between the two of you, isn't it..."
He carefully chose his words: "Hate and love each other."
The only way to describe it is as a love-hate relationship. Xiao Chengyan had seen Gu Jinghong almost risk her life to kill Xie Yan... but he had also seen Gu Jinghong repeatedly and uncontrollably come into contact with Xie Yan.
Perhaps Xie Yan is like an addictive poison... toxic, yet capable of making one succumb.
Xiao Chengyan looked at Gu Jinghong, his eyes flashing even more intensely.
He would immediately believe her if she said no!
Just say it!
He wouldn't even care about her relationship with the Qianyuan Pavilion!
Just say it!
But Gu Jinghong clearly didn't think that way.
Xie Yan is currently extremely weak, and the slightest disturbance could take his life.
If Xiao Chengyan doesn't intend to let Xie Yan go, Xie Yan probably won't be able to leave this Medicine Master Valley.
Therefore, Xie Yan must be protected.
Besides, what did he mean by that questioning tone?
He might cling to her relentlessly, but on what grounds?
Didn't he also have no intention of explaining the matter between Mu Chuchu and Princess Yongning to her?
Their eyes met, but each had their own calculations.
A moment later, Gu Jinghong broke free from Xiao Chengyan's grasp, her eyes cold and clear, and said calmly, "Yes."
He looked at her, his eyes shifting from shock to disbelief, then to despair and self-mockery.
"Heh..." A very soft, very cold laugh, filled with boundless bitterness and self-mockery, escaped from Xiao Chengyan's lips.
"...What a touching display of brotherly and sisterly affection. You two...have such a good relationship."
Gu Jinghong felt a pang in her heart as she looked at his face, which turned ashen in an instant, and the chilling despair in his eyes. But she forced herself to ignore the strange feeling.
"Your Highness is too kind. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
So... she's leaving again?!
For Xie Yan, who's lying in a hospital bed?!
Who isn't a patient at some point?
Xiao Chengyan silently clenched his fist.
Just as Gu Jinghong was about to leave—
"Stop!" Xiao Chengyan grabbed Gu Jinghong's shoulder again, pulled her forcefully, and locked her into his arms.
In an instant, a kiss sealed their lips.
Suddenly enraged, Gu Jinghong bit Xiao Chengyan back, then grabbed Xiao Chengyan's injured left hand and with a forceful pull...
"ah!!--"
Gu Jinghong leaped into the air, her legs clamping around Xiao Chengyan's neck...
Suddenly, a series of clanging sounds filled the room, along with Xiao Chengyan's occasional shouts: "Gu Jinghong, what are you doing?" "Let me go!" "Release me!" "Ah—oh—"...
A few breaths later, the noise inside suddenly stopped.
After hesitating outside the door for a long time, the guard Changfeng finally mustered up the courage to push the door open and enter: "Your Highness, are you alright...?"
The words came to an abrupt halt.
The sight before him made him gasp, and he froze on the spot—
Gu Jinghong was seen kneeling beside Xiao Chengyan with her head down, while Xiao Chengyan lay on the bed with his clothes disheveled and his upper body half-naked, his hands firmly locked by Gu Jinghong... The atmosphere was indescribably ambiguous and violent.
Changfeng's pupils dilated in shock—Your Highness, was... was you forced?!
That doesn't make sense! The prince's martial arts skills far surpass Miss Gu's, and Xuan Ru has already unsealed his inner strength...
Changfeng looked at Xiao Chengyan with a puzzled expression.
The next moment, Xiao Chengyan suddenly swept his cold gaze over, a mixture of shame, anger, and warning!
Startled, Changfeng suddenly patted his head as if he had remembered something, said "Oh," and then quickly closed the door.
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