Er kämpft in allen Himmeln und unzähligen Welten

Kapitel 48

"Go to sleep."

His tone was essentially equivalent to "I'm not going to talk to you anymore." Although I understood, I was still unwilling to give up. All I could see were his wet, dark eyes, and I longed to turn back and look at him one more time.

But he never let go of my hand, nor did he seem inclined to hold me any longer. I tried for a while without success, and eventually ran out of energy and calmed down.

The room fell silent. The previous chaos subsided, and my mind finally had some energy left. Once again, I couldn't help but recall what he had said before he kissed me.

He said that with the two countries at war, the situation inside and outside the border is already unimaginable. But here in this underground valley, it's like a paradise, where is there even a trace of war?

And what about my imperial brother? How is he feeling right now?

As I thought this, I couldn't help but tremble, and a low, hoarse voice came from above me, like a dream.

It was Mo Li speaking, asking me, "Ping An, who am I?"

I didn't quite understand why he asked that, but I was feeling sad, so I didn't have the same eagerness to turn over as before. I just answered softly, "Who are you? You are Mo Li."

I felt a warmth on my back as he finally stopped and pulled me into his arms.

The next day was the night of the full moon. Mo Li didn't leave again; she stayed in the valley with me to wait for the sunset. He Nan was busy making preparations all day long, which made the two of us seem quite idle.

Mo Li rarely had such a leisurely time, but he actually became interested and led me to the back of the wooden house. He took out the golden silk cord from the long whip, lowered his elbow and turned his wrist, and showed me a few moves.

He was accustomed to using a long whip, and his few swings were naturally fierce and swift. The golden silk rope was actually just a thin chain with a sharp end, which could be used as a chain or a weapon. When he swung it out with his last move, the sharp end pierced through a tree as thick as a beam with a thud. When it was pulled back, there was a transparent hole, and just looking at it made people feel a chilling aura.

I watched without blinking. He stopped, turned his head, and asked me, "How was it?"

I blinked and immediately clapped my hands loudly.

"Mo Li, you're amazing!"

He closed his eyes briefly, as if a throbbing pain had shot through his forehead, and when he opened them again, his voice had turned several degrees colder, "Have you learned it yet?"

I gasped, stunned.

He didn't waste any more words with me. He walked over and handed me the chain. "These techniques are simple, but very practical. If you encounter danger, escape if you can. If you really can't escape..." He paused slightly here, then added, "Just in case."

He forced me to practice a few times. Although I had some martial arts skills, I had never used such a weapon before, so my movements were naturally not very graceful. He wasn't annoyed at all. He stood patiently to the side watching and even came over to correct my movements. He bent down, put his hand on my wrist, and corrected my movements for me.

Suddenly, many memories flooded back, including the Five Animal Frolics in the small courtyard of the palace that year. The courtyard was shaded by thick foliage, and Ji Feng, though not talkative, was very patient. If my posture was incorrect, he would never speak, but simply come over and rearrange it for me. He was tall, so he always had to bend down, but he never looked at my face, his expression focused. My heart was stirred by those long-lost memories, and a layer of sweat involuntarily broke out on the tip of my nose.

Mo Li had just straightened me up when he saw my face and was taken aback. "What's wrong?"

I stared at the post with a dazed look in my eyes, and asked in an extremely eager tone, "Would you like to... watch me perform another set of Five Animal Frolics?"

For a fleeting moment, his face showed confusion and bewilderment, which then transformed into anger. This anger was fierce, unlike anything I'd seen on his face in a long time. And it was directed at me!

"Mo Li?" I met his gaze, speechless. I really didn't know what I had done to offend Lele. My previous excitement had long since vanished. All I knew was that I had called his name.

His reaction was to turn around and leave, not giving me a chance to speak again.

And so, our rare day of leisure ended with me sitting alone on the rooftop, wondering what I had done to anger Lord Mo Li. By the time I finally saw him appear with He Nan, the last vestiges of sunlight in the crack in the ground had almost completely vanished.

I had high expectations for this night.

I thought that although I couldn't witness how the worm was put into my body, at least I had the chance to see how it got out.

Unexpectedly, I was still the one who knew nothing about what happened from beginning to end. That damned He Nan used a golden needle to put me to sleep before the moon had even risen that night, while Mo Li just stood with his hands behind his back in a corner of the room watching me collapse, his whole body shrouded in shadow, his expression completely obscured.

When I woke up, the sunlight shone from outside the cabin all the way to the edge of the bed; it was already noon the next day.

Fortunately, Mo Li was still there, which calmed me down a bit.

The bed wasn't big. He slept on the outer side, his arms tightly wrapped around my body, his chin touching my cheek, his breath falling on my brow.

He didn't sleep well; his face showed signs of fatigue from days of travel. His usual cold and indifferent expression disappeared as his facial features relaxed, revealing a slight vulnerability that made me hesitant to touch him.

My body didn't feel anything different, but my hand unconsciously pressed against my chest under the covers. Sure enough, those subtle bumps and undulations had disappeared, and my chest was smooth. The dark cloud pattern that had haunted me for three years seemed like just a dream.

I was initially surprised and then delighted, but eventually a strange sense of emptiness arose, as if someone had grown something unwanted on their body that they couldn't get rid of. But after years of living with it every day, it gradually became a habit, and then one day, it suddenly disappeared.

It turns out that even the ugliest and most repulsive arrivals will become a part of the body with the passage of time. I carried it with me for three years, met Mo Li with it, resented it, and feared it. But now that it's gone, I suddenly feel empty and apprehensive, as if the most important bond between us has been severed, and I don't know how to go on.

There was a voice above me, low and familiar.

"Safety."

I looked up at him, a little uneasy. He smiled slightly, his eyes, just awakened, softened, and he had a unique charm.

My mind was still preoccupied with the image of him storming off yesterday, and the way he stood with his hands behind his back in the shadows before I lost consciousness. Now, seeing this smile, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Is she awake yet?" A noisy shout came from outside, ruining the rare tenderness between us. I was so angry that I almost jumped up and yelled back.

Doesn't this person know the basic courtesy of keeping quiet when others are sleeping?

But clearly He Nan was unaware that the man outside was shouting and had the audacity to push the door open and enter.

A chill ran through me as Mo Li stood up, her back to me, and said, "She's awake."

Those three simple words sent a chill down my spine, and the outside fell silent immediately. Clearly, He Nan was also startled.

Mo Li didn't look at me again, walked out of the house alone, and closed the door behind her.

I don't know what they said outside the door when I opened it. I was anxious and didn't feel anything unusual when I moved my hands and feet. So I got out of bed. I was wearing simple white clothes. I had been living in the valley for days, and He Nan couldn't possibly have brought me a change of clothes that fit me. Fortunately, Mo Li brought them back from outside the valley. They were all the right size. I don't know how he found them.

I remember that I was definitely not wearing this outfit before I fell asleep. I stood by the bed and looked down for a long time. When I thought that it was very likely that Mo Li had changed me into this outfit, I suddenly blushed.

I reached for my coat by the bedside, put it on, and then went out to find them. I didn't tiptoe or use any special skills, because there was no need.

Mo Li and He Nan stood by the stream talking. The sunlight was perfect, and He Nan was well-preserved; even from a distance, he didn't look old. Mo Li, needless to say, had a tall and slender figure that dazzled my eyes even in the shade of the trees.

I saw them as soon as I stepped out the door, and then I didn't know whether I should go any closer. Mo Li noticed me and turned around to look at me.

I remember that look even years later. Under the soft, transparent light that streamed in from a crack some distance above the ground, the gaze that emanated from his deep black eyes was both gentle and resolute. It made me feel that he was looking at something he loved and was determined to have.

Even if that thing doesn't belong to him.

Although I didn't feel anything unusual about my body, at He Nan's insistence, we stayed in the valley for a few more days.

Mo Li never mentioned anything more that had happened outside the valley, and I, like an ostrich, pretended that nothing had happened, and the days passed by like flowing water. Every morning, Mo Li would get up early, take me to the back of the house, and watch me practice the moves he had taught me over and over again.

When he was silent, he always exuded a tremendous sense of pressure, compelling me and making it impossible for me to stop moving. But every time I turned around, I could always see his gaze on me, a gaze that was both resolute and tender with a hint of restraint. As you practiced, you would vaguely feel that being able to be looked at by him like that, even if it was a little tiring, was not bad.

By the time I had practiced these moves to a reasonably good degree, the full moon had already turned into a crescent-shaped eyebrow.

That evening, He Nan prepared a table full of delicious dishes and even opened a jar of wine. It was made from some strange and unusual ingredients, and the aroma was wonderfully fragrant when the jar was opened.

After dinner, the three of us went up to the rooftop and drank under the moon. The valley was picturesque, and several kingfishers boldly landed and hovered around us, their calls melodious. Mo Li was as silent as ever, but He Nan kept talking non-stop. Later, he got a little drunk and mumbled something to himself to the moon, his eyes brimming with tears.

I wanted to make fun of him, but when I opened my mouth, all I could manage were a few muffled, silly laughs. I didn't even know what I was laughing at.

Mo Li put down the cup, pulled me to my feet, and spoke in a clear and lucid voice.

"You're drunk. Go to bed. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow."

I understand what he means; after such a long period of leisure, I finally have to leave this place.

Yes, no matter how beautiful or wonderful this place is, it ultimately doesn't belong to me; I will eventually have to leave.

I knew this day would come eventually, so I wasn't surprised. I just felt a little sad. When he led me off the roof, I looked up at the sliver of night sky above me with lingering affection.

Although it was very narrow and small, I think I will hardly see such a peaceful sky again in the future.

He Nan lay on the eaves, talking to us with his head down, not afraid of falling and breaking his neck.

"Hey, you stupidest kid in the world, don't go, come up here, let's drink some more."

I glanced at him with admiration, pretending I hadn't heard.

Unexpectedly, He Nan shouted at me again, "Xiao Ping'an, do you want to know why he's so stupid? Come on, pour me a glass of wine, and I'll tell you."

I heard a soft whooshing sound, the kind of sound I was familiar with, the sound of a whip cutting through the air, and then with a crackling sound, He Nan and the small section of roof he was on fell down together.

"Let's go." Mo Li pushed open the door and entered the room, his face expressionless.

I glanced down at the horribly injured Mr. Shengshou, silently turned around, and quietly followed my master Moli into the house.

The next morning, Mo Li and I left the underground valley. He Nan didn't come to see us off; he just casually left a small gold box outside the wooden house.

I heard He Nan say that once the Soul-Suppressing Worm leaves the human body, it dissolves in water and dies in wood. It can only be preserved with gold and silver. This gold box must be used to hold the white worm that was drawn out of my body.

Seeing the gold box reminded me of the box my brother showed me on the day he was escorting me to my wedding, and a wave of nausea washed over me. I couldn't bear to look at it for long. Mo Li bent down and picked it up, pried open the lid slightly to look at it, then closed it again, tucked it close to her body, and placed it right next to her heart.

Still feeling uneasy, I looked around but couldn't see He Nan, so I had to ask Mo Li myself, "Didn't he say he wanted to take something? Did you give it to him?"

He glanced at me and said, "There's no rush."

I was completely confused. What did he mean by "not in such a hurry"? Did He Nan's fall last night wake up the natives, and because of Lord Mo Li's terrifying level, they decided that saving their lives was the priority and they didn't want the exchange conditions?

I followed Mo Li out of the valley and walked out through the passage. I looked back several times but didn't see He Nan chasing after me. The further we walked, the more I felt that my guess was reliable. By the time we got back to the bottom of the tree hole, I was almost certain.

It seems even the most deserving of a beating cherish their lives, and He Nan, despite being a divine physician, is no exception. Sure enough, there was a mechanism in the tree hollow; the large net slowly lifted us up until we reached the bottom of the hollow. Mo Li flipped open the cover and stepped out, then turned back and extended a hand to me.

I looked down into the dark, bottomless tree hollow. "From now on..."

"Just remember the place."

I nodded, thinking to myself that it's true; it's not like I'll never be able to come back and see it again in this lifetime.

Mo Li led me out of the tree hollow, and before us lay another vast grassland. Blue sky and white clouds rushed towards us; I hadn't seen such a large expanse of sky in a long time, and I was instantly filled with joy. The large tree was still lush and green, its canopy drooping low, almost touching the ground. I wondered if it had rained last night; the leaves were damp, as were the knee-high grass beneath my feet. The whole world carried a fresh, damp scent.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from the grassland, growing louder as it approached. I strained my eyes to see what it was, and saw a white shadow flash like lightning, arriving right in front of us in the blink of an eye—it was the white horse.

The white horse galloped up to us, let out a long neigh, and stopped. As it swung its tail, its large head rushed over to Mo Li, showing an extremely affectionate manner.

I exclaimed in surprise, "It's you, Xiaobai!"

Mo Li's gaze, noticing the similarities and differences between the white horse and me, shot towards me. I was about to reach out and touch its head when I saw their gazes and paused, asking, "Can't we call it Little White Horse? Then what should we call it? Big White?"

Mo Li closed his eyes. The white horse reacted directly, raising its neck at me and blowing hot air in my face, which startled me so much that I jumped back a long way.

Then came the sound of hooves. It was the ranch people, a large group of them, waving at us from afar, accompanied by long whistles. The fastest were Elizabeth's herd of large black horses, with Gebu riding behind her. She rode up to us, reined in her horse, jumped down, and grabbed Moli's hand.

"Brother Mo, we've come to pick you up."

My body reacted faster than my brain could process; as if by instinct, I was in front of Mo Li in the blink of an eye, and Elizabeth grabbed my arm. Her grip was quite strong, making me gasp.

Although Elizabeth didn't catch Mo Li, she still looked happy when she saw me and affectionately rubbed my shoulder. "Little brother Ping An, oh, no, little sister Ping An, we've come to pick you up."

I looked back at Mo Li, and the others had also arrived. Sangza jumped off his horse, walked up to Mo Li, and clasped his hands in greeting, "Brother Mo, we've arrived."

Mo Li was polite to him, clasping his hands in a fist salute before saying, "Old owner, I entrust the safety to you."

Sangza immediately patted him hard on the shoulder, "You are our savior. What's wrong with our savior? It's nothing to help with this little thing. Don't worry, I will definitely bring her safely to Mongolia."

I stood to one side, and at first I couldn't understand what they were saying at all. Later, when I listened more carefully, I felt a buzzing in my ears and couldn't hear any sound clearly.

"Mo Li, you want to..." I stared at him as I spoke, my voice hoarse.