Lanting - Capítulo 19
His right hand held the long sword to the ground, while his left hand clutched his left chest and abdomen. A soft sword had pierced through his body, and blood was shockingly stained his blue robe.
Staring at the sword, I was momentarily stunned, then suddenly snapped out of my daze and rushed forward to support Lu Li. I felt someone bump into me from behind, and a beautiful figure stepped in front of me and pulled Lu Li into their arms.
“Li, you…” Xi Wen frowned, and a few clear tears fell.
Lu Li's face was pale, and he forced a smile, "It's just a minor injury, it's... not serious."
Xi Wen exclaimed, "A minor injury? You call this a minor injury? You don't..."
“Go save Fourth Brother…” Lu Li’s voice was weak and panting, “He alone… can’t… withstand…”
My fourth sister-in-law looked like she was about to collapse, so I held her hand tightly, trying to give her strength.
"Where is Fourth Master?" I asked.
Lu Li looked up and saw me, and was taken aback.
"In the southwest..."
I bit my lip, refusing to look at his expression, mounted my horse, and rode deeper into the hunting grounds.
Fresh bloodstains and scattered swords were seen on the ground. Further ahead, several men in black lay dead on the ground, and the sounds of swords clashing from behind the hill ahead gradually became clearer.
Sure enough, they hadn't gone far when they saw a group of men in black surrounding Fourth Master. He was injured, with blood on his forehead and hands.
Upon hearing the sound of horses' hooves, everyone turned to look at me behind them...
I sat on my horse, watching Fourth Master with worry. He was startled, and a man in black seized the opportunity to raise his sword and charge forward. In a panic, I drew my soft sword from my waist and threw it straight at the man in black. I hoped my sword could be faster, before he could hurt Fourth Master...
The longsword pierced deeply into the back of the man in black. I dismounted, ran into the crowd, and reached Fourth Master...
A light drizzle began to fall. I gripped his sleeve tightly, looking at the wound on his face…
He frowned in disbelief, "Zhao'er?"
I looked at the wound on his cheek and was relieved that it wasn't too deep.
I turned around, pulled my sword from the man in black, and wiped the blood off the sword with my sleeve.
Raindrops fell amidst the bloody carnage; the enemy's attacks grew increasingly fierce, and our resistance became ever more strained.
He did his best to protect me, shielding me from most of the attacks, and his body sustained more and more injuries...
There were no more threats around me. I glanced at him and saw that he was panting heavily, leaning against the ground with his sword, barely able to stand. Blood dripped onto his clothes, staining the front of his gray robe red...
My heart skipped a beat.
The man in black opposite him raised his broadsword and swung it down at his head...
A jolt went through my chest, and my legs, as if obeying my will, surged forward...
He shoved Fourth Master aside and used his soft sword to block the knife... like throwing an egg against a rock...
The sword was cleaved in two, and the blade was aimed straight at my forehead... In that instant, many people flashed through my mind, but then my mind went completely blank...
The man in black suddenly froze, his eyes filled with a ferocious yet pained expression...
Fourth Master suddenly pulled me away, shielding me with his body. The man fell straight backward, blood spreading rapidly beneath him, slowly flowing to my feet under the impact of the rain…
I looked up, still shaken, and saw Lu Li sitting on his horse with a calm gaze... His right hand was still holding a bow and arrow, but it was trembling slightly. Blood was flowing down his sleeve and chest, running down his fingers. The soft sword in his chest was clear and shiny, piercing my eyes as I looked at him...
The black-clad assassin was already surrounded by Imperial Guards...
The man on horseback looked at me indifferently until Xiao Si gently called out to him, "Master, your injury."
He snapped out of his daze, turned his horse around, and galloped back. I turned to look at Fourth Master; his eyes were red and swollen, and his hand was still gripping mine so tightly it hurt.
"You're insane..." The voice was so cold it could seep straight into your heart.
I was taken aback, and just stared at him without saying a word.
"Next time... don't be so reckless..." His eyes remained sharp.
I snapped out of my daze, breathing softly, "I just don't know why I don't want you to die—"
He loosened his grip on my hand, and his tone softened, "I won't die..."
I stood there, stunned, my face wet with what I couldn't tell was tears or rain...
The imperial palace outside the hunting grounds was in complete chaos.
The imperial physicians came and went, each time with their brows furrowed.
Four cups of tea had gone cold on the table. Fourth Sister-in-law sighed softly, "Aren't you going to go and take a look?"
I turned my head and looked out the window, my voice unusually calm, "Is Fourth Master alright?"
Fourth Sister-in-law pursed her lips, "He's alright, but what about Seventh Brother... you haven't even shown your face? He's still unconscious..."
"Didn't they say that Eighth Master had passed away? Eighth Master's medical skills are renowned throughout the capital." I smiled faintly, but my palms were clenched with cold sweat.
The image of him sitting on his horse, covered in wounds, his hand trembling as he gripped the bow, kept flashing through my mind... Why did he come along? Was he courting death? Or was it because of me... because I was, after all, his nominal legal wife.
“Even if your relationship with your husband is strained, he still saved your life, didn’t he?” Fourth Sister-in-law looked at me with a worried expression and a hint of expectation in her eyes.
I got up, exhausted, and walked outside, saying, "I'm going to see Fourth Master." Fourth Master leaned quietly against the headboard, his eyes unfocused.
"Does it hurt?" I asked softly, applying medicine to his shoulder. He gently shook his head.