Young Prime Minister, a Hermit

Chapter 44

Sure enough, I finally found the soft, damp soil beneath the rocks. According to the records, this type of rock is a mineral sedimentary layer, indicating that there is a seepage point nearby, with water slowly flowing out from the aquifer. All I had to do was build a small dam to block the water flowing into the desert, and soon I would have plenty of water. A surge of joy welled up inside me; I almost wanted to shout it out, but fearing I might disturb some poisonous snakes or wild beasts, I suppressed my excitement and, completely disregarding the mud on my hands, built the dam. In no time, the murky water had filled a full "bowl."

I knew that the water was absolutely clean and hygienic after being filtered through the rock wall, and it was also rich in minerals. I couldn't help but let out a joyful shout and rushed out to find a plant called Desert Weed, whose stems were hollow and perfect for using as straws.

I lay sprawled beneath the rocks, sipping water slowly from the mud bowl. After such a long period of thirst, I couldn't drink quickly, or I would vomit from the discomfort. The spring water, like sweet nectar, slid gently down my throat, so delicious I almost wanted to scream.

However, after only a few sips, I suddenly stopped drinking, lowered my head slightly, and jumped up to run back. After a couple of steps, I couldn't help but laugh. How could I have forgotten? In the desert, it's crucial to avoid wasting energy, and running is the worst thing you can do.

Carrying Yihan down to the bottom of the canyon was indeed very difficult. We bumped and bruised ourselves several times along the way, but I felt numb from the pain in the desert. When we finally reached the water source, I looked up and saw Zimo's warm smile, and couldn't help but smile back at him.

Since Yihan was unconscious, he couldn't drink water on his own, so I carefully fed him mouth-to-mouth. Hearing the water gurgle as he swallowed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, and tears streamed down my face.

Suddenly, a pair of hands gently touched my cheeks, wiping away the tears from the corners of my eyes with tender gestures.

I had my head held high, and though my heart was overflowing with a complex mix of emotions—surprise, anticipation, and longing—I dared not look down. Instead, I ran my hand over his disheveled, bearded face, feeling the soft breath he exhaled, stroking him again and again, tears streaming down my face like a burst dam.

"Young master... I'm alright now." Those hands patiently and carefully wiped away my tears, the voice weak yet filled with a warm glow, "I'm sorry for making you worry."

I finally lowered my head slowly and saw that haggard and pale face looking at me with a faint, almost imperceptible smile. The dark green light in her black pearl-like eyes flickered, clearly reflecting my tear-streaked face.

I felt all the pain, grievances, and confusion that I had suppressed and restrained for the past seven days surge up all at once. It was as if, in an instant, I remembered who I was, remembered my forgotten joys and sorrows, my pain and grief. I burst into tears, bent down and hugged him tightly, crying and shouting, "Yihan... Yihan! You scared me to death! How could you scare me like this?! I thought you abandoned me! I really thought you abandoned me!"

Yi Han reached out and gently embraced me, allowing me to comfortably lean against his chest and vent my emotions, even though his clothes were soaked with my tears, even though he was too weak to support my weight, even though I was so weak and helpless that all I could do was cry.

Although he had woken up, Yi Han was still very weak, and he told me with a hint of bitterness that he couldn't use even a trace of internal energy. I was startled, but he comforted me and said helplessly, "This is only because of the internal energy cultivation method I practice. After losing all internal energy, one will be like a cripple for up to a month, unable to use martial arts. If one forces oneself to use them, at best one's martial arts will be completely destroyed, and at worst one one will die. But if one can endure these thirty days, one's martial arts can advance to the next level. However, since ancient times, very few people have dared to try losing all their internal energy, so I don't know if such an outcome is truly possible."

I immediately felt relieved, but then I saw Zi Mo looking at Yi Han with a thoughtful gaze, before turning his head away to ponder. He ignored me when I asked him anything.

With Yihan by my side, the journey became much easier. He followed my directions, searching for plants that could point the way, such as cacti, poplars, and sedges. Although he lacked internal energy and couldn't leap or fly, ordinary climbing was still effortless.

In the desert, travel is all about traveling at night and resting during the day. I thought to myself that now that Yihan was awake, I wouldn't need to take sleeping pills anymore. Staying here for two days would only take one night to get back, and I could reconcile with Xu Lie in time. With that in mind, we, as one spirit, began to work together, traveling through the night. But little did I know then how unpredictable life is. Sometimes, a difference of a few hours can mean missing each other for a lifetime.

However, the Devil's Continent was no joke. The two of them had already exhausted ten days' worth of energy, and could only manage one bag of water at most. When hungry, they could only eat a few bird eggs, but even that wasn't always successful. In this situation, we walked for another three days, only to find that unless we crossed this last stretch of shifting sand desert, we had no way to reach the western border of Xiangxi. Suddenly, a feeling of helplessness washed over us—a desperate struggle for rescue, yet death drawing ever closer.

I looked up at the sky, as black as silk, the moon as beautiful as a painting, the stars as numerous as brocade, and the ground as white as a crystal pool in a fairy tale. I lay down with my head on Yihan's lap and said in a deep voice, "I want to sleep for a while."

Yi Han gently brushed the hair from my forehead with his cool hand, then covered me with his coat and whispered, "Young Master, go to sleep."

I nodded and closed my eyes.

When I woke up, I found myself lying on the bed, my clothes disheveled and torn, my whole body aching terribly, covered in bruises and hickeys, especially my lower body. I forced myself to sit up with a bitter smile, looking at my pathetic state; it was as if I'd been raped, and by my own husband no less. The floor was also a mess, with torn clothes, overturned ornaments, and a bottle of sleeping pills.

Thinking of Xu Lie's pained and hurt look that night, and his passion that seemed to burn us both to ashes, my heart aches. Thankfully, Yi Han is awake now, and as long as I explain things to Xu Lie, everything will be alright.

Thinking this, I quickly got up and rushed into the bathroom to wash away my fatigue and grime. I picked out a decent outfit, put it on, and went downstairs. When Xu's mother saw me come down, her furrowed brows relaxed slightly, but she still looked worried. Before I could ask what was wrong, she grabbed me and said, "Lanlan, what happened between you and Lie'er? He drove off before dawn, and I've never seen him look so bad."

"It's okay, Mom," I comforted her, holding her hand. "We just had a little disagreement. I'll go apologize to him."

"That's good." Mrs. Xu breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on her face. "Lanlan, I can see that Lie'er has fallen deeply in love with you. He's just a little bad-tempered sometimes, so don't take it to heart..."

I smiled and gave her a gentle hug: "Mom, I know."

After dinner, I made a small pastry under Xu's mother's guidance and took it to Xu Lie. Eating the delicate pastry I made myself, I couldn't help but feel great. My skills haven't declined at all; I refuse to believe that Xu Lie wouldn't forgive me for such delicious food. By the time I arrived at Xu Tian Building by taxi, it was almost evening. Looking at the beautiful water jets spraying everywhere in the fountain, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Yi Han and I barely drink any water all day, and yet we can't even take some of this wasted water.

Before even entering the gate, I could hear two people gossiping and chatting at the service desk.

"What's your relationship with the general manager of that beautiful woman who just went in?"

"Look at how nervous Mr. Xu was when she almost collapsed just now. What kind of relationship do you mean by that?"

My heart skipped a beat; I knew it was probably Xue'er looking for Xu Lie. I hesitated, wondering whether to go up and find him. Just then, a clear female voice called my name from behind.

I turned around and smiled at her, but the smile was a little stiff. I said, "Yingying, it's been a long time."

Yingying was dressed in a black business suit with a knee-length skirt, her long hair was styled in an updo, and she wore light makeup, making her look charming yet dignified. She walked over quickly and said with a smile, "Yes, yes! It's been seven or eight days since we last met."

I was taken aback, and then I realized that what was more than half a month for me was only a few days for her.

"Lanlan, are you still blaming me?" She looked at me sadly. "I swear I will never help Shao Junyi harm Xu Lie again. I have already... broken up with him."

"Really?" I grabbed her hand in surprise. "Yingying, it's so good that you've come to your senses!"

Yingying felt a little awkward and tried to pull her hand away. She looked around before laughing and saying, "Galan, your personality of not caring about the situation around you hasn't changed at all."

I smiled awkwardly, withdrew my hand, and was about to say that I would go upstairs to find Xu Lie first. But she grabbed my hand and said with a smile, "I just moved to a new house, Longjing Garden, a three-bedroom, two-living-room house. Come on, let's go take a look together."

"Yingying, don't you have to go to work?" I asked in surprise as she pulled me forward.

"I'll just make a phone call to ask for leave," Yingying said with a smile, quickening her pace. "If you don't go, I won't consider you my friend anymore."

My words of refusal stuck in my throat, and I had no choice but to get into the taxi with her, still holding the cake I had specially made for Xu Lie.

Yingying's home, like her personality, was modernly furnished yet not cluttered. There were many slippers by the door, both men's and women's. I sat on the sofa, randomly flipping through TV channels, my mind wandering to the memory of Xu Lie and Xue'er going up together, occasionally glancing out the window at the darkening sky. "It's okay," I reassured myself. Xu Lie had said that he and Xue'er were a thing of the past.

Just as I was lost in thought, Yingying's voice came out: "We just moved in, and there's not much in the house. Let's have a glass of juice first."

I laughed and said, "Why are you being so polite with me?"

Yingying's eyes glazed over for a moment, then she laughed and said, "I was afraid that Xu Lie would spoil you and you would look down on our cheap goods."

My face flushed, and I took the juice she offered, about to drink it, when she suddenly called out, "Lanlan!"

I looked up at her in surprise, only to see a torrent of emotions surging in her eyes that I couldn't understand, which she then suppressed in an instant, and smiled very naturally: "I just wanted to scare you, to see if you would still spew out your words like you did back in the dorm."

I laughed out loud, picked up my juice and took a big gulp before saying, "Do you think I'm still a child?"

Yingying's gaze flickered, her expression slowly turning into a solemn sorrow: "Lanlan, you... you've always just been a child. So innocent, you have no idea how wicked people can be."

I blinked, staring at her in astonishment. "Yingying, what's wrong?" But after waiting for a long time, she didn't speak, only staring at me. Just when I couldn't wait any longer, she spoke, her voice plaintive, sorrowful, and distorted.