Ein verlorenes Vermögen kann durch - Kapitel 97
He touched her dry, dust-covered face, desperately hoping her dark, jade-like eyes would open and look at him, but her eyes remained tightly shut; she was completely unconscious and wouldn't wake up anytime soon. He touched her eyelashes, but those long lashes didn't blink either. He smiled and lay down on the sand, pressing his cheek against hers, as if in the most comfortable and warm room, and soon fell asleep as well.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Tuosang opened his eyes. Although the person in his arms was breathing weakly, their heartbeat had become much more stable.
A gentle breeze blew by, and fine sand covered her face again. He gently brushed the dust off her head and face, laid her gently on his robe to continue sleeping, and then got up to check on Zhu Yu's condition.
In the brighter light, Tuosang could clearly see the two wounds on Zhu Yu's wrist, confirming his suspicions. He sighed, took the bowl again, cut his arm, and fed Zhu Yu most of the blood. He then helped Zhu Yu up and used his internal energy to heal him for a while. This time, Zhu Yu's limbs warmed up, and his heart began to beat again.
Tuosang sat back down. Seeing that Junyu had not yet woken up, he held her in his arms, pressed his face against hers, and continued to rest with his eyes closed.
“Zhu Yu…”
He heard a faint, startled sound and immediately opened his eyes. Junyu in his arms still had her eyes closed, seemingly muttering in her sleep.
He sat up and hugged her, whispering softly, "Junyu!"
Those dim eyes slowly opened, and she glanced at him dazedly, her voice barely audible: "Tuo-san... Tuo-san?"
Tuosang smiled, gazing at the withered and haggard woman in his arms, feeling that she was more beautiful than ever before. That was life, beautifully brimming with hope and joy.
Her soft voice rang out again, slowly and somewhat intermittently: "Am I already in heaven? I actually saw Tuosang..."
He gently stroked her disheveled face and said softly, "Yes, Junyu, this is paradise. As long as we are together, anywhere is paradise."
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Chapter 354: Paradise in the Desert 2
That gentle embrace, those tender words, the warmth on her cheek—it all felt so real. Junyu snapped back to reality, her heart pounding with joy: "Tuosang...it's Tuosang..."
"Yes, it's me! Junyu, no matter where you are, I will find you."
How did you find me?
I heard you calling me!
"I heard you calling me too!"
Tuosang took her hand and noticed her pulse had suddenly quickened. He knew she was very excited, but in this situation, such excitement wasn't good for her health. He held her hand tightly and whispered in her ear, "Junyu, I'll always be by your side, I won't leave..."
Where is Zhu Yu?
"He'll rest well and come back to life, don't worry."
She tried to turn over, but only her eyes could move; she had almost no strength left in her limbs.
Tuosang laughed, put his arm around her and turned to the side. She immediately saw Zhu Yu next to him, whose face was deathly pale and covered in dust.
How is Zhu Yu?
"He has two cuts on his wrists and has lost a lot of blood. His condition is much more serious than yours. He probably won't wake up for at least three to five days. I've already given him water and medicine, Junyu, don't worry."
"Yes. He did this to save me. If it weren't for him, I would have... I would have..."
Seeing the fleeting sadness in her eyes, Tuosang said softly, "Don't worry, I will do everything I can to help him fully recover."
Junyu nodded, feeling slightly happier at the thought that Zhu Yu was finally out of danger.
"Junyu, rest a bit more. Your hands are so weak, you have no strength at all!"
"Um."
A moment later, she opened her eyes again: "Tuosan..."
"Silly child!"
Tuosang smiled at her and slowly poured her some water. The water contained some crushed dried food that had been soaking for a while and was now quite soft.
She ate something and regained some energy; her eyes moved more easily. Tuosang gently rubbed her back and asked softly, "Are you feeling any better?"
Junyu nodded, then couldn't help but speak again: "Tuosang..."
Tuosang completely understood her feelings. Seeing how eager she was to speak, he whispered in her ear, "Junyu, what do you want to say?"
"I thought I would never see you again!"
Tuosang recalled the heart-wrenching pain he felt when he searched for her in vain, and couldn't help but hug her a little tighter: "Junyu, you will never fail to see me. Whether I live or die, I will find you."
"Um."
She managed to lift her soft hands to hug his waist, looked up, and found Tuosang staring intently at her. Suddenly, she couldn't help but laugh: "Tuosang, do I look bad right now?"
"As long as you're alive, even if the situation is a million times worse than this, it's still the most beautiful thing in my eyes! Only by living can there be hope!"
He recalled the terrible feeling of almost utter despair when he couldn't find her, and looking at the person in his arms, he felt the joy of stepping from hell to heaven: "Junyu, you are more beautiful now than ever!"
Junyu smiled and closed her eyes, leaning against her most familiar embrace. It felt as if she was no longer in the desert, but in a peaceful and beautiful place like springtime, with flowers, grass, water and trees.
Chapter 355: The Most Beautiful Person
A fiery red sun peeked out from behind the massive sand dune opposite. The sky was so bright that the texture of each grain of sand was clearly visible. The morning breeze carried the scent of burdock, along with faint hints of camel thorn and tamarisk. A thin haze of varying shades of blue veiled the distant sky, its moist air contrasting with the undulating sand dunes, some ochre, some crimson, some a mixture of various shades of yellow. As the sun rose higher, the sky grew ever bluer.
Tuosang looked at the strange sky he had never seen before, and then at Junyu, who was sleeping peacefully with a smile in his arms. For the past few days, he had been cursing the damned sun almost every day, but now he realized that the damned sun was not so hateful after all.
He brushed aside her disheveled, straw-like hair. Her once warm, jade-like face was now dry and bloodless, her lips completely chapped, and even her hands were almost like chicken claws. Yet, a quiet smile graced her face—a serene smile that only comes when the whole heart is completely at ease. He looked up at the sky, and that immense joy and excitement filled his chest once more. He couldn't help but clasp his hands together, sincerely thanking Heaven: She was alive! As long as she was alive, that was enough! He tenderly stroked her face, not calling her, letting her sleep sweetly.
After a while, Junyu opened her eyes and met those eyes full of gentle and considerate smiles. For a moment, she felt as if she were in a dream.
"Junyu!"
"Takusan!"
Only then did Junyu get a clear look at Tuosang's face. Tuosang's eyes were sunken, his body was emaciated, and his hair and beard were disheveled. He looked more like a wild man than Junyu himself, having completely lost his former spirit and handsomeness. Only his eyes, those bloodshot and tired eyes, still radiated a tender and loving joy.
Seeing her staring blankly at him without saying a word, Tuosang asked softly, "Junyu, what's wrong?"
Junyu grasped his hand: "You must have had a hard time looking for me these past few days!"
"Silly child, no matter how hard it is, it's not as much suffering as you've endured!" Tuosang smiled, using his fingers as a comb to gently smooth her disheveled hair. "Junyu, I'm not only looking for you, but also for myself—if I can't find you, I'll have no choice but to go too! But I'm truly unwilling to accept this. Why must we face death when there are no obstacles between us? So, I must find you no matter what, even if we die, we must die together. Otherwise, how can I be at peace?"
Junyu hugged his neck and smiled, "From now on, I will never be separated from you again."
Tuosang recalled the two times she had been in dire straits in the desert—once when she was being chased and once when she got lost. Each time, it nearly cost her her life, and each incident was chilling. It was time to completely abandon those nightmares. He hugged her tightly and said loudly, "Junyu, even if the sky falls, we will never be apart."
"Um."
"Junyu, look what this is!"
Junyu watched in confusion as he split something in two, when suddenly he smelled a pleasant fragrance.
"Don't you recognize a melon? Silly child!" Tuosang laughed at her dazed look and offered her a melon. "The master found these in an oasis he passed by. He said he'd give them to you when he saw them. I wonder how happy you'll be! He brought several. Zhu Sihuai and I each took two. Let's see who can find you first..."
Is Zhu Sihuai also looking for Zhu Yu?
"Yes. He is truly loyal."
"Sigh, he's probably the best person in the world to Zhu Yu."
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Chapter 356: Oasis Charm
Junyu paused for a moment, then looked at the sweet, juicy melon flesh and smiled: "When I was little, I traveled with my husband. Once, we passed through a city that had been massacred by Zhenmutier. My husband and I were separated by the fleeing crowd. I hid behind a big tree and saw the soldiers killing many women and children and stewing them in a pot to eat. At that moment, I was so scared that my legs went weak. I was about to run for my life when several soldiers spotted me and immediately came to capture me. I ran for my life, and they chased after me. Fortunately, my husband arrived in time and rescued me. That night, I fell ill with a terrible fever. My husband brewed many herbal medicines, but I couldn't get better. This dragged on for two or three days. Then, my husband somehow found some melon and ice. I ate them and got better quickly... My husband always gives me the best things. I really want to see my husband right now!"
"The gentleman went in another direction to search, and he's been very anxious these past few days. We've arranged a meeting place, and you'll be able to see him soon."
"Um."
Tuosang smiled and placed another piece of melon to her lips, saying softly, "Junyu, from now on, I will give you the best of everything and never let you suffer again."
Junyu nodded, smiling as she gently took his hand. Suddenly noticing the deep scar on his wrist, she was taken aback. "Tuosang, you're injured?"
Tuosang smiled and shook his head, looking at Zhu Yu, "He lost too much blood, otherwise he wouldn't have survived..."
Junyu turned to look at Zhu Yu, who was still unconscious. A heavy boulder seemed to weigh on her chest. She knew that this heavy boulder would stay with her for almost the rest of her life. She whispered, "I can never repay the debt I owe Zhu Yu. Now, my only wish is to selfishly pray that he can live, and live well."
"I also hope that Zhu Yu can live a good life. Besides, there's nothing more we can do for him! We're so sorry for him!"
Junyu remained silent for a long while, then gently stroked the deep scar on Tuosang's wrist. "Tuosang, you've done so much for me and suffered so much, but I've never thought of thanking you, nor have I felt any unease or guilt. I've always taken it all for granted..."
Tuosang looked at her with a grin, feeling a sweet and excited warmth flowing into his heart like a clear spring. Junyu continued, "Even when we first met, you gave me such a precious healing elixir, and I accepted it, without ever feeling anything was amiss. It's really strange..."
"Silly child, what's so strange about that? It's only right that I do anything for you."
Junyu hugged his waist: "Hehe, that's always been my opinion."
That tender and affectionate smile instantly enlivened her ashen face, and her eyes gradually regained a glimmer of light, like ink on jade. Tuosang felt both relieved and joyful. Looking around, he saw two birds flying low over the lifeless desert, emitting lively and clear calls. The oasis was just ahead.
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Chapter 357: Mr. Nongying's Plan
"Junyu..."
"Um."
"Junyu..."
"Um?"
Seeing his infatuated gaze, even though it was someone he knew so well, someone who looked at his own shadow, Junyu's heart pounded, and her pale, ashen face flushed slightly. She didn't dare to meet his fiery gaze directly, so she buried her head in his chest and chuckled softly, "What are you looking at? What's so interesting? Hehe."
Tuosang pressed his face against her hair and whispered in her ear, "Silly girl, you're beautiful in every way. I want to look at you for the rest of my life!"
Zhu Yu remains unconscious.
Despite the suffering he had endured over the past few days, and the fact that he was completely exhausted, Junyu still took the water pouch and personally fed him slowly. She also gave him one of the pills that Tuosang had made himself. She reached out to touch his breath and listened to his gradually returning vitality, finally feeling relieved.
At this moment, she so desperately wanted him to open his eyes, to see the hope of escaping death, to see the water, to see the blue sky. Yet, she was also so terrified. If he really opened his eyes and saw her and Tuosang, how much pain and despair would he feel?
She gently brushed the sand off his hands and face, and then slowly stood up.
"Junyu, I'll do it."