Le paysage est comme une peinture

Chapitre 94

Zhu Yu grasped her weak hand, pressed it to his lips, and his eyes were full of laughter: "Junyu, actually, you've been very, very good to me. Even when I went berserk and wanted to kill you, you still wouldn't give up on me and wanted to save me... I met you so early, I originally had many opportunities, but I never seized them and made many mistakes. Now, alas..."

Junyu gazed silently at his childhood companion: So many years have passed, have I ever been kind to him? Why does the thought of him always bring such profound sorrow, suffocating despair, and cold sweat? Compared to his selfless rescue during the avalanche and his death-defying pursuit deep into the desert, what have I done for him? What can I do for him?

How fortunate I am to have received such favor from him!

She sighed softly, "Zhu Yu, I'm so sorry. If there is an afterlife, we never want to meet again."

Zhu Yu nodded: "Yes. I hope that after I die I will go to the eighteenth level of hell, never to be reborn or reincarnated, so that I will never meet you again and never repeat everything in this life..." He laughed, "If I am reincarnated, I hope I will become a cow or a horse and be separated from you into two different worlds; and if I am reborn as a human, I hope we will be strangers at the ends of the earth, and even if we pass each other by, we will never know each other, never look back, and never cross paths..."

His already cracked eye sockets could no longer shed tears, only throbbing with the pain of his heart. Junyu grasped his hand, but it was completely powerless, and drooped down like a withered branch.

Zhu Yu hugged her, looking into her increasingly dim eyes, and said softly, "Junyu, you must hold on... Even if you're about to breathe your last, let me breathe my last breath with you..."

Junyu closed her eyes, barely able to hear what he was saying. Another wave of dizziness washed over her; it seemed that love, hate, and attachment were all about to end.

"Junyu, here you go..."

"What is this?" She stared blankly at the crimson rose in the moonlight, but when she touched it, it felt like a cold stone.

"I found this in the desert, do you like it?"

Junyu pinched the cold desert rose, not even seeing clearly what it was, before closing her eyes and falling into a semi-conscious, semi-sleep state.

Zhu Yu gently stroked her dry, chapped lips, which had cracked open again and were now covered in blood. Listening to her increasingly faint breaths, he knew that these faint breaths would soon cease.

The "Chasing Flying" sword lay on the ground, emitting a faint yellow glow. He picked it up, made a light cut on his wrist, and placed it near her mouth. Hot, metallic blood dripped into her mouth, and Junyu barely managed to open her eyes, but ultimately couldn't, falling into an even deeper sleep.

Zhu Yu embraced her, looking at her completely disheveled hair. His incredibly sharp sword cut off a long strand of her hair, which he set aside. Then, he cut off the same length from his own hair, slowly tying it together in a knot. He chuckled and whispered, "I remember when I got married for the first time, before the ceremony, I ran to the door and looked around, thinking, 'If Junyu appeared at this moment and said, "Zhu Yu, how could you marry someone else?", I would immediately run away overjoyed… But… that was just my ridiculous fantasy! You wouldn't care when I marry or who I marry!"

He gazed at Junyu's face, which was deathly pale under the starlight. "Junyu, if only time could turn back! Then my life wouldn't have so many stains, and I wouldn't have sunk deeper and deeper into despair, drifting further and further away from you..."

Under the starlight, he slowly wove a hair knot, taking quite a while to finish it before placing it close to his body.

A soft sound—Junyu's hand loosened, and the desert rose fell to the ground. He picked it up, placed it back in Junyu's hand, checked her breath, and breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had accomplished a long-awaited moment in his life. The temperature difference between day and night in the desert is huge. Now, in the dead of night, the cold wind was biting, yet it did nothing to alleviate his thirst. Fortunately, the overwhelming exhaustion temporarily suppressed the deadly thirst. He lay down on his side on the sand, holding Junyu against his chest, and slowly closed his eyes.

***************************************************************************

Chapter 343: Debt

It was another cloudy day.

Junyu forced her eyes open; Zhu Yu lay motionless beside her. She reached out and weakly nudged him: "Zhu Yu?"

Zhu Yu remained motionless. Jun Yu's vision went black; she sat up but fell back to the ground. After a while, she managed to catch her breath and struggled to sit up again, helping Zhu Yu to her feet. Zhu Yu slowly opened her eyes and managed to stand up with difficulty.

"Zhu Yu, you ride the horse!"

"No, I'm fine, Junyu, you should ride the horse."

Zhu Yu laughed, suddenly perking up. He patted the big black horse, and its front hooves automatically knelt down. He helped Jun Yu up: "Let's go, maybe we can find a water source today!"

Junyu nodded. The dying horse carried a dying man, and another dying man followed beside it. And so, the two men and the horse slowly made their way through the boundless desert.

The overcast weather slightly lowered the temperature of the sandy area.

The two men and their horse had given up on escaping the boundless desert; instead, they sniffed for water like hunting dogs. An oasis, where was the oasis? A miracle, where was the miracle?

"Junyu..." A low, desperate, and sorrowful voice was followed by a thud as he fell to the ground, and then the twilight sky fell completely silent once more.

Junyu barely opened his eyes. The big black horse let out a mournful neigh, and Zhu Yu had already fallen to the ground.

Junyu took a breath, jumped off her horse, helped Zhu Yu up, and tried to massage several acupoints on his body, but she couldn't get any strength into it. Zhu Yu slowly opened his eyes, trying to reach out and hug her, but his hand barely lifted a few times before falling limply to the sand.

Junyu helped him lie down on the sand. He stood up, picked up his longsword, looked at his dying black horse, closed his eyes, and swung the sword. The black horse let out a miserable neigh and fell to the sand.

Junyu lifted the empty water pouch and aimed it at the gushing blood. Perhaps it was the pungent smell, perhaps it was the large, obvious tears in the black horse's eyes, perhaps it was the man opposite her whose life hung by a thread, but even though she was completely dehydrated, Junyu couldn't help but shed tears.

She rushed over with the blood bag, helped Zhu Yu up, placed the blood bag near his mouth, and poured a few mouthfuls down his throat. Only after seeing him barely open his eyes again did she take a sip herself.

She turned around, drew her sword, cut off a large chunk of bloody horse meat, sat down next to Zhu Yu, chopped it into many small pieces with her sword, and first brought it to Zhu Yu's mouth, saying softly, "Have some."

Zhu Yu nodded, and the two of them, like savages, gulped down the bloody horse meat.

The two men, their heads and faces covered in blood, looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.

Zhu Yu looked at the stunningly beautiful woman, who was almost turning into a savage who ate raw meat and drank blood. And the horse she killed was the fine steed that Tuosang had given her.

He sighed, "Junyu, that clever steed didn't die of thirst, but we ate it. What a waste!"

Junyu's sorrowful gaze swept over the black horse's carcass, the fine steed Tuosang had found for her. Now, the steed was gone, and where was Tuosang? Tuosang must be searching for her frantically right now. He had endured countless hardships and even been burned alive to be with her. But in just half a year, the two of them would probably only be able to meet again in the afterlife.

If I could see Tuosang one more time, even if it was the last time, what would it matter if I died immediately?

However, this last meeting was nothing but a crazy fantasy!

She was heartbroken, but she didn't show it on her face. She looked at Zhu Yu and smiled slightly: "You should eat as much as possible, so that we can have a better chance."

Zhu Yu gazed at her slightly drooping eyelashes and nodded: "Okay. Junyu, we'll just have to struggle as hard as we can."

The raw horse meat and blood restored much of their strength. However, under the twilight, the desert remained vast and endless. After today, where would they go tomorrow?

Zhu Yu held her hand tightly, looking into the distance: "Junyu, I've done many bad things in my life, wronged many people, and to be where I am today is a testament to God's kindness. But you... you're so good, so incredibly good. How could God be so blind..."

Junyu recalled his scream before the avalanche, and the death that followed him deep into the desert. Her heart ached, and she gripped his hand tightly, smiling slightly. "I may not have wronged anyone else, but I have wronged you a great deal. So, Heaven wants me to repay you."

***************************************************************************

Chapter 344: Tying the Hair and the Hair Knot

After a moment of silence, Zhu Yu spoke again, his spirits lifted and his words becoming more abundant: "Junyu, if you could leave this desert, what kind of life would you most like to live?"

"Me? I'll go sightseeing with Tuosang first, and then we'll open an academy. What about you?"

“Me?” Zhu Yu said casually, “My initial thought was that now that Zhenmutier’s power has collapsed, once I leave this desert, I can establish myself as king. Then, according to the plan, there are a few political marriages to strengthen my power and accumulate strength. ‘Is the emperor born with a special destiny?’ One day, I will lead my army south and drive the current tyrannical emperor off the dragon court…”

Junyu smiled and said, "Oh, so there are several more political marriages waiting for you?"

“Yes, I’ve become numb to marriage all these years, and I have no heart for marriage anymore! If I die in this desert or never go back, it will be a good thing for them. I’ve left them enough property, and they can freely choose other men, which is far better than suffering a lifetime of pain with me.”

Junyu shook his head and did not speak.

Zhu Yu gazed at her and smiled: "Junyu, haven't you ever realized that I'm actually quite handsome? In those arranged marriages, those women all willingly married me, and most of them even took the initiative themselves."

"Hehe, I know you've been a handsome man since you were little."

"Then, we've known each other for eighteen years, why do you like Tuosang but never like me?"

Junyu shook her head with a grin: "Because Tuosang is more handsome than you, and Tuosang won't have multiple wives and concubines. He will always, always be good to only me. You're much worse than Tuosang, aren't you?"

Zhu Yu nodded, but then shook her head vigorously without answering.

Junyu suddenly said, "We've known each other for eighteen years? That long?"

"Do you think it's been a long time? I think it's been a long time too. I often wonder why that heartless woman has never cared about me in eighteen years?"

Junyu laughed, ignoring his words, and said, "What you just said was your initial idea. What are your plans now?"

"Even a mighty ruler like Zhenmutier, who roamed the world, ultimately met his end in the desert; a hero like Fengcheng Feishuai, invincible in his benevolence, was not tolerated by Heaven and eventually died of thirst. My father served as prime minister for many years, wielding absolute power. I was born into extreme wealth and privilege, no less than princes and nobles. Even after my clan was exterminated, I still held high office and great wealth in the Crimson Gold Clan. Perhaps because I was born with all this, I never felt that wealth and privilege were anything special. In truth, power, wealth, the world… who can hold onto them for eternity? These days spent stranded in the desert, beautiful wives and concubines, gold and silver, and the view of the world are not as delightful as a drop of clear water… If I can survive, my only wish is to see you often!"

Junyu gazed into his sorrowful eyes and said softly, "We've found a wonderful place. We're going with you—a gentleman you know, Sister Shu, Manqing, Feiyan, and many interesting people from Phoenix Village. Zhu Yu, you're all alone in this world now, with no one to take care of you. If we can get out of the desert, will you come with us to that place?"

"Among these people, Mr. Nongying has always been protective of his own, and he'll beat me up if I bully you, how boring; Lu Ling, Geng Ke, and the others are only loyal to you, they're all boring; especially Tuosang, he's the most annoying, arguably the most boring person in the world... I don't like any of these people! But if Tuosang doesn't go, I can tolerate the others no matter how boring they are, sigh..." He saw Junyu's face full of amusement and laughter, and laughed, "However, Sister Shu is very interesting, your two 'fiancées' are not bad either, and the large group of women you rescue and take in everywhere, there must be some interesting ones among them, right?"

"Of course there are, quite a few."

"Okay, then I'll go with you."

Seeing her close her eyes with a hint of relief and a smile on her face, Zhu Yu thought of the hair knot he had hidden in his bosom and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "Junyu," he thought, "what chance do we have of getting out of here alive? So be it. In these final moments of my life, I finally have a duty to protect you even more, to be good to you forever and ever." Thinking this, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face again.

Junyu suddenly opened her eyes and saw his strangely gentle smile. Her heart trembled, and she hurriedly looked away, turning her gaze to the vast sea of sand.

When Zhu Yu first saw her evasive gaze and flushed cheeks, even though he knew it was just a momentary feeling of being moved, a bittersweet tenderness and joy welled up in his heart. He then turned to look at the vast sea of sand, as if everything had happened unintentionally.

Chapter 345: Extra Chapter: Zhu Yu and His Daughter 1

In March, the "Unnamed Island" is filled with peach blossoms and green bamboo, and the fragrance of flowers can be smelled for miles.

I just plucked three whiskers from a cat. The cat was in pain and jumped away with a whoosh, its hind paw stomping on my hand, leaving a red welt immediately.

I opened my mouth, about to burst into tears, when suddenly my eyes lit up. A clumsy-looking little boy was running towards me from the opposite direction, mumbling "Zhu Zhu, Zhu Zhu..."

My eyes lit up, not because the boy called me, but because of a bright bead on his hat. The bead emitted iridescent colors and was perfectly set on the brim of his hat, which was pulled down so low that it looked almost like a cat's eye on his forehead.

I was overjoyed and immediately pounced on him, grabbing his arm. The clumsy boy was pushed to the ground by my surprise attack, and his hat fell to the side. I quickly reached out and desperately tried to pull the bead off his hat, but the bead was firmly embedded and I couldn't pull it off no matter what I did.

I grabbed the boy desperately, and he struggled fiercely. I was about to succeed when suddenly a stern voice rang out above me: Zhu Zhu…

I was scared and let go. The clumsy boy immediately nimbly flipped over and got up. I saw that the bead was already half-broken but I couldn't pull it off. He immediately fell to the ground and rolled around, wailing and crying.

Zhu Zhu, get up quickly.

A pair of hands, as white as mutton fat jade, reached out to pull me, but the voice was stern: "You're so bad at such a young age, always bullying other children. What will you be like when you grow up?"

I glanced at the clumsy boy; he was stunned, and timidly reached out to grab the half-fallen bead: "Sir, I'll give the bead to Zhu Zhu..."

My heart leaped with joy, and I peeked open my eyes, only to see that alabaster-white hand embracing the clumsy boy: "Xiao Shu, you're such a good boy. Come on, put your hat on properly so the beads don't fall off. Your mother sewed this for you."

She actually hugged that silly boy but not me, so I slapped my hands and feet wildly on the ground and cried even louder.

Zhu Zhu, what's wrong again? Two strong hands picked me up, and when I heard that loving voice, I immediately stopped crying and hugged his neck: Daddy, bad people are bullying me, bad people are bullying me...

My dad laughed. "Zhu Zhu, you've made your mother angry again?"

Mother only loves my older brother and Xiao Shu, Xiao Fei, and Xiao Qing. She doesn't love Zhu Zhu. Mother isn't as good as Father...

My father looked at my mother and laughed: Junyu, Zhu Zhu is still young and doesn't understand things. Let her be. She'll be fine when she grows up.

Zhu Yu, this child is so naughty at such a young age. If you continue like this, you'll spoil her rotten!

Then, my mother, the woman named Junyu, shook her head, patted my face, turned around, took that silly boy's hand, and left.

The silly boy kept clutching the bead on his head, I didn't know if he wanted to pull it off for me or if he was covering it to prevent me from grabbing it again. Seeing his clumsy appearance, I spat at him, and he didn't dare to look back and ran off with my mother.

Zhu Zhu, look what good things Daddy brought you!

Dad pulled out something very novel and waved it in front of me. "Zhu Zhu, Dad brought you a lot of good things. Come on, let's go home. Dad hasn't seen Zhu Zhu for several days." My dad put me on his shoulders and carried me home.