L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 129

"Help! Help! Huang Ying..." Jin Xuan held Ao Jun tightly, shouting wildly towards the outside of the room. His panicked eyes were veiled with tears. The pain in his heart was no less than Ao Jun's. Seeing Ao Jun in such agony, suffering so much, he wished he could take her pain instead. At this moment, he realized how utterly useless he was. He couldn't protect the one he loved, he didn't even know why Jun was like this, he could only watch helplessly as she suffered. He hated it, he hated it...

"Sect Master..." Upon hearing Jin Xuan's shout, Sheng Cheng and the others, who had been waiting outside the room, rushed in anxiously, bursting through the door. Seeing Ao Jun in Jin Xuan's arms, writhing in pain, tears streamed down their faces uncontrollably. Was this the final outcome?

"Huang Ying, quick..." Jin Xuan shouted urgently as soon as he saw the yellow fence, his voice trembling with uncontrollable fear...

Huang Shan rushed over, grabbed Ao Jun's hand, took her pulse, and with trembling hands took out a needle and pricked Ao Jun a few times, but it was completely useless. Ao Jun was still in so much pain. He then took out a pill and fed it to Ao Jun, but it was still no use. Ao Jun seemed to be in more and more pain, and all the black hair on her head turned white.

Despair gripped her, and Huang Ying's hands fell limply to her sides. She knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down her face. She sobbed, "Sect Master..." The poison had already taken effect, and she was powerless to help. She couldn't even alleviate the Sect Master's pain. This was the "Grief-Torn White Hair," a sign that those poisoned would suffer endless torment until death.

"Why are you kneeling down? Can't you see how much pain Jun is in? Quickly heal him!" Jin Xuan's heart sank, and he roared at Huang Zha. No, it can't be, Jun is only injured, he'll be alright, he can't be...

Huang Ying continued to weep with her head down. Jin Xuan's words only made her cry harder. Sheng Cheng, Sheng Qing, Sheng Lü, and Sheng Zi all knelt down, their cheeks streaked with tears. Sheng Cheng punched the ground, tears streaming down her face, but felt nothing. Sheng Qing and Sheng Lü wept with their heads down, unable to look at Ao Jun, unable to bear seeing her pain. Their fists clenched so tightly that their nails dug into their flesh, drawing blood. Yet, the painful cries of their sect leader echoed in their ears, each sound striking their hearts.

"What are you all doing? Don't kneel! Get up!" Jin Xuan's expression gradually turned crazed as he roared at Sheng Cheng and the others kneeling on the ground. Why were they kneeling? Jun was perfectly fine; he only had an internal injury flare-up. Didn't they say Jun was alright? Why were they kneeling now? No, no...

"Ah!" Ao Jun howled again, his blood flowing backward. Overwhelmed by pain and completely losing his reason, he gripped Jin Xuan's arm tightly, digging his hand deep into it. Blood flowed out, staining both the white and blue robes—some Jin Xuan's, some Ao Jun's...

"Jun, where does it hurt? Tell me, don't scare me, okay? Jun..." Jin Xuan waved his sleeve, wiping away the blood that kept flowing from Ao Jun's mouth and the sweat seeping from his forehead, while his voice was hoarse and choked with sobs, his eyes reddening.

But the only response he received was Ao Jun's painful, unconscious groans and cries, though they were no longer as intense as before, because she was powerless and her breathing had gradually ceased.

"Your Highness, the Sect Leader... the Sect Leader is... going to pass away..." Sheng Chengwei raised her head slightly, choking back tears. At this moment, there was no longer any need to hide it from Prince Jin. Perhaps it was time to prepare Prince Jin. Although it was cruel, they were powerless to do anything about it. The Sect Leader was on her deathbed.

"What nonsense are you talking about? You're not allowed to curse the Emperor..." Jin Xuan raised his bloodshot eyes, his body trembled, and he roared. With a flick of his robe, Sheng Cheng was immediately slammed against the wall, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Jin Xuan lowered his head, gazing affectionately at Ao Jun, a slight smile playing on his lips. He murmured as if to himself, "Jun...Jun promised last night to be my queen, to travel the world with me. Jun is always the most trustworthy; she won't break her promise. Jun, she won't break her promise, she won't, Jun, don't you think so...?"

Jin Xuan's mutterings made Sheng Qing and the others cry even harder: Had the Prince lost his mind because of this blow? He was too calm and aloof at this moment, so calm that it frightened them. They would rather he were as furious as before, they would rather he hit them, than be like this. God, you are too cruel. Such people, such a perfect match, why must they be separated by death? Why?

"What's wrong? Jun, what's wrong with Jun?" Ao Xue heard the commotion and immediately ran over. She was completely stunned by the scene. She rushed to the bedside and shouted. Seeing Ao Jun's painful groans, her heart sank and a sense of unease gradually rose.

Zhengxuan and Yelü Ying also rushed over. They both rushed to the bedside. Zhengxuan stood behind Aoxue, frowning as he looked at Jun in Jinxuan's arms.

"Ouyang Jinxuan, how could this happen to you?" Yelü Ying asked loudly, his voice trembling, his eyes filled with deep unease and pain.

Ke Jinxuan seemed not to hear their words, holding Ao Jun tightly, as if this would relieve Ao Jun's pain. His lips were bitten until they bled, and he was still whispering something.

"What's wrong with Jun?" Ao Xue finally couldn't hold back and shouted, grabbing Huang Shan's collar and yelling, "Huang Ying, tell me! Why is Jun suddenly in so much pain? Why does it seem like... why are you, the goddess doctor, just standing by and doing nothing? Tell me!"

"Emperor, sob... Sect Leader... I can't save her, I can't do anything... sob... I... can only watch helplessly as Sect Leader... suffers so much before she passes away... sob..." Huang Ying cried out, continuing her sobs. She hated herself more than anything.

"What departure? No, no, Jun was perfectly fine yesterday, laughing and talking with me, it can't be, it can't be..." Ao Xue shoved Huang Ying away abruptly, roared, rushed back to the bedside, and tightly grasped Ao Jun's limp hand. She wiped away her tears, murmuring as if this could give her hope. But Ao Jun's cold hand extinguished her hope like a bucket of cold water. Jun's hand, though always cold, had never felt so completely devoid of warmth before...

"My lord, no, my lord, you said we were still friends. Did you lie to me? Are you going to punish me for hurting you like this? I beg you, don't punish me like this. You can kill me, you can hurt me deeply, but please don't punish me in such a cruel way, okay, my lord..." Yelü Ying suddenly knelt on the ground, trembling as he pleaded with the groaning Ao Jun. His heart, which had only recently come back to life, was once again tormented by excruciating pain.

Ao Jun could still hear Jin Xuan, Xue, and Yelü Ying's sorrowful cries and heart-wrenching sobs. She wanted to get up and comfort them, but she was too weak. Her body and mind were still suffering greatly, and she could only groan softly.

"My lord, I will search for you no matter where you are, from the highest heavens to the deepest hells. Please wait for me and don't leave me alone again." Jin Xuan suddenly smiled gently and whispered in Ao Jun's ear.

No... Jinxuan, no... Aojun tried to shout, but he was too weak to do so; his mind was fading.

Jinxuan smiled and slowly reached out to slap his forehead, but Zhengxuan was quick and grabbed Jinxuan's hand, lowering his head and saying in a deep voice, "Brother Jin, what are you doing?"

"Brother, let go." Jinxuan said coldly, still looking at Aojun with deep affection, he wanted to etch her deeply into his mind.

"Jin-di, Jun wouldn't want you to do this," Zheng-xuan said in a deep voice, still holding Jin-xuan's hand tightly. He understood how utterly devastated Jin-di was at this moment; he had been through it himself. But he still couldn't bear to see Jin-di harm himself in front of him.

"Let go, Your Majesty. You should understand how I feel, shouldn't you?" Jin Xuan's cold words escaped his lips, his tone filled with despair and exhaustion. When Yu Qing was poisoned, his brother had also wanted to die for love. He knew best the feeling of being worse than dead. Sure enough, Zheng Xuan hesitated slightly. Jin Xuan seized the opportunity, twisting his wrist to break free from Zheng Xuan's grasp. Before Zheng Xuan could react, he was about to strike his head again.

"Jinxuan..."

"Your Highness..."

The crowd could only gasp in surprise, but they were powerless to stop it.

"Ao Jun..." At the most critical moment, a pale blue figure rushed in from outside the room and called out urgently.

Jinxuan stopped, and Zhengxuan immediately grabbed his hand again, holding it tightly.

"Dongfang, you've finally arrived." Upon seeing the man, Shengcheng rushed over immediately, looking at the disheveled man with stubble and messy hair with hope in her eyes, and choked up uncontrollably.

"Ao Jun, I'm late. You've suffered so much. Seven-Colored Lotus, quick..." Dongfang Junhao looked at Ao Jun, who was suffering in Jin Xuan's arms, with eyes full of grief. His hands and feet trembled as he pulled a box from his robes and handed it to Sheng Cheng urgently. Upon receiving Sheng Cheng's letter, she immediately set off at full speed, but she hadn't expected that Ao Jun would still suffer so much. His white hair, his tightly closed eyes, the blood constantly flowing onto his white robe, his face covered in sweat—everything about him deeply pierced his eyes.

"Seven-Colored Lotus, the sect leader is saved, Huang Ying, hurry..." Sheng Cheng took the Seven-Colored Lotus and turned to Huang Zha with a joyful expression.

"Your Highness, please put down the sect leader. Huang Ying needs to take the medicine from the sect leader immediately." Huang Ying took the Seven-Colored Lotus, her tears turning into a smile. She took a breath and said to Jin Xuan, who was still tightly holding Ao Jun.

Jinxuan seemed to come alive again, gently setting Aojun down and looking at Huang Ying with hopeful eyes. Was Junjun saved? Was the seven-colored lotus that Dongfang Junhao sent meant to save Jun?

Yelü Ying, Aoxue, and Zhengxuan also stared hopefully at the box in Huang Ying's hand.

"Your Highness, let's go out first. With the Seven-Colored Lotus, the Sect Master... will be alright." Granny Shengqing said tearfully, glancing at the people gathered around the bed. However, she didn't mention that the Seven-Colored Lotus could only temporarily save the Sect Master's life; it was the last one.

Jinxuan took another deep look at Aojun and walked out: Will Jun really be alright? Can the Seven-Colored Lotus really save Jun?

Everyone had left. Huang Ying opened the box, and seven-colored light immediately emanated from it...

Everyone waited outside the room. Jin Xuan sat slumped down, like a lifeless puppet, staring intently at the closed door, his hands sweating with nervousness. Yelü Ying and Dongfang Junhao also stared helplessly at the door, motionless. Ao Juntian was sobbing softly in Zheng Xuan's arms. Everything was so quiet, even breathing was done carefully.

"Your Highness, rest assured, with the Seven-Colored Lotus, the Sect Master will surely overcome this calamity." Looking at the lifeless crowd, Saint Orange's peach blossom eyes flickered, and she smiled. But in her smile lay a deep worry that even she couldn't convince herself of.

"Yes! Dongfang, luckily you arrived in time! Hehe..." Sheng Qing reverted to his cunning Xu Qing demeanor, patting Dongfang Junhao's shoulder with a smile. His tone was incredibly relaxed, as if his tense heart had finally been relieved, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"Ha...timely? I said I wouldn't let Ao Jun suffer again, but I still failed. I'm so useless..." Dongfang Junhao laughed self-deprecatingly, then slapped his head hard, blaming himself. If he had been any later, he would never have seen Ao Jun again.