L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 130

"Dongfang, you've exhausted all your energy to help the sect leader find the Seven-Colored Lotus. Don't blame yourself anymore." Sheng Cheng patted Dongfang Junhao's shoulder, looking tired and reluctant.

They all knew of Dongfang's feelings for the sect leader. When he brought the sect leader back, rumors circulated that Mo Jun was dead. Dongfang then drank heavily every day, neglecting everything, and Dongfang Manor was in chaos. Even when he was seriously ill, he kept drinking. If it weren't for his timely arrival and telling him the truth, Dongfang Junhao, the richest merchant in the world, would probably be gone by now. In the past six months, Dongfang had almost spent all his wealth searching for the Seven-Colored Lotus and an antidote for the sect leader. He had personally risked his life many times, almost losing it in his pursuit of the Seven-Colored Lotus.

"Cheng, is there still no way to find an antidote? Elder Huang, is there still no solution?" Dongfang Junhao gripped Sheng Cheng's hand tightly, asking anxiously. There was only one Seven-Colored Lotus left in the world. If they couldn't find an antidote, even if they could save Ao Jun this time, there would be no more Seven-Colored Lotuses left. Would Ao Jun still be beyond saving?

Sheng Cheng and the others lowered their heads dejectedly, shook their heads, and sighed. Sheng Lü leaned wearily against the door frame and said weakly, "I have already sent a message to Elder Huang by carrier pigeon, but there has been no news at all."

"Antidote? What do you mean?" Jin Xuan stared at the closed door, his voice low and somber. Was Jun like this because he was poisoned? Could it be the incurable poison Cheng Wuying mentioned half a year ago? What kind of poison was it that even Sheng Huang couldn't cure?

The members of the Holy Immortal Sect exchanged glances and nodded. Sheng Zi sighed and said, "Alas, at this point, I can no longer hide it from you. The poison that the Sect Leader was afflicted with half a year ago is called 'Sorrowful White Hair,' a deadly poison that has been lost for hundreds of years. Very few people have even heard of this poison, let alone know how to cure it. Even Elder Huang has only heard of it but knows nothing about it. Even after searching through all the ancient books and records, we could not find any method to make or cure 'Sorrowful White Hair.' For the past six months, the Sect Leader has been temporarily suppressing the poison with the Seven-Colored Lotus that she found in the East. In fact, there has never been a cure for 'Sorrowful White Hair,' and the Sect Leader's white hair is due to this."

"'Growing white hair in sorrow'? You must have been tormented for the past six months, haven't you? Even with the Seven-Colored Lotus now, it can only protect you temporarily, right?" Jin Xuan asked calmly, his deep eyes revealing no emotion, his hands clenched tightly with cold sweat.

"Hmm." Sheng Qing hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. He had to find out eventually, didn't he?

"My lord, it's my fault, it's me, it's me..." Yelü Ying cried out to the heavens in utter grief, his heart filled with remorse and despair: Why wasn't it him who died? He was the one who harmed my lord, it's all because of him that my lord is in so much pain, that my lord...

"No, Xiao Xuanzi, it can't be. I finally saw Jun again, and I just found out that Jun Feng died. Why? Why do you have to tell me now that Jun could leave at any time? Xiao Xuanzi, I don't want this. I want Jun to live well. Xiao Xuanzi..." Ao Xue buried her head in Zheng Xuan's arms, shaking her head and crying.

"Qing'er..." Zhengxuan could only gently embrace Aoxue and soothe her agitated emotions. He felt a deep sense of loss for Yu Jun, but he was powerless to help.

With a creak, the door opened, and Huang Ying walked out looking exhausted. Jin Xuan quickly went to greet her and asked anxiously, "How is Jun?"

“The Seven-Colored Lotus has suppressed the ‘White Hair of Sorrow’ for a long time, but the Sect Master could be poisoned at any time. If that happens, the Sect Master will really be…” Huang Ying choked up and tears streamed down her face as she spoke, unable to continue.

"I want to go in and see you." Jinxuan took a step back, gave a bleak smile, and said calmly, his tone devoid of any emotion.

"Yes, the sect leader hasn't woken up yet; he's still very weak," Huang Ying nodded, stepping aside to let Jinxuan in.

"Qing'er, why don't you go and rest first? Let Jin'er and Jun have some time alone together." Zhengxuan stroked Aoxue's hair tenderly, glanced at everyone, and said softly.

“Hmm.” Ao Xue nodded knowingly and left with Zheng Xuan. Although she really wanted to go in and see Jun, she should leave the time for Jin Xuan. If... if he really didn’t have much time left, then let Jun and Jin Xuan spend some more time alone together!

Yelü Ying stopped in his tracks, watching Jin Xuan walk in thoughtfully. He gave a self-deprecating yet desperate smile, then turned and left.

Dongfang Junhao took a step forward, but ultimately turned and left: Ao Jun doesn't need him now, nor does he want to see him the most.

Saint Orange and the others also left quietly.

Jinxuan sat gently on the bed, his hands trembling as he gently wiped the cold sweat from Aojun's forehead. He looked affectionately at Aojun's sleeping face, which was gradually becoming more peaceful. His white hair had returned to just two strands at the front, which were scattered on the bed.

"Jun, sleep well. I will always be by your side to keep you happy every day." Jin Xuan gently held Ao Jun's hand, smiled, and murmured affectionately.

He had made up his mind; he would keep his promise and make Jun happy every single day, even if it was just for one day...

(To be continued!)

Chapter 89 of the Jianghu Arc: The Happiness That Followed

The wonder of nature lies in how it often imbues the birth of a new day with a magnificent and solemn atmosphere. The birth of dawn is not marked by the sound of horns or drums—only by changes in light and color, which replace enthusiastic and jubilant shouts.

After consuming the Seven-Colored Lotus, Ao Jun slept for a whole day, only waking up slowly the next morning. The faint light before her eyes told her that she was still alive, and the scenes from yesterday flashed before her eyes again...

"Jun, you're awake. Come and have some shredded pork porridge." Jin Xuan's gentle voice rang out as soon as Ao Jun sat up.

"Jinxuan?" Aojun turned her head and saw Jinxuan carrying a steaming bowl of porridge, smiling gently as he walked over. She couldn't help but ask in confusion. Jinxuan's appearance made her wonder if everything that happened yesterday was just a dream, and that Jinxuan didn't know she was poisoned, or that she might leave at any moment.

"What are you daydreaming about! You must be hungry after sleeping all day. Have some porridge first!" Jinxuan gently patted Aojun's head and presented the porridge to Aojun like a treasure, saying considerately.

Ao Jun frowned, cautiously sticking out her tongue to glance at the bowl of porridge. She swallowed, her stomach was indeed hungry, but she dared not drink it: it smelled quite fragrant and looked good, but could it be cooked by Jin Xuan again? She didn't want to return to the dead after just escaping death by drinking Jin Xuan's "love porridge."

"Don't worry, drink it! It was cooked by Sheng Lu." Jin Xuan scooped a spoonful of porridge to Ao Jun's lips and smiled. Seeing Ao Jun's expression, he knew she must be thinking about the pork rib porridge he cooked last time. That bowl of porridge, the best he had ever cooked in his life, made Jun Shang vomit and have diarrhea all day, and ever since then, she would turn pale at the smell of pork rib porridge.

"Really?" Ao Jun was overjoyed upon hearing this, quickly opened her mouth, and "Ah!" took a big bite. It was so delicious!

Green's cooking skills are not as good as Ying'er's, but they are definitely the best in the Holy Immortal Sect. It smells so good! Plus, I was hungry all day, so the big bowl of white porridge was quickly emptied.

"I didn't expect you to be such a big eater!" Jin Xuan said with a smile as he considerately wiped Wei Aojun's mouth.

"You, a prince, are you afraid I'll eat you out of house and home?" Ao Jun glanced at Jin Xuan and retorted with a mocking smile.

Her tone was light, without a trace of the sorrow and despondency one might expect at any moment. She and Jinxuan understood each other perfectly: not to spend their final days in grief, but to leave each other with the most beautiful memories.

“How could that be? I thought Jun was eating too little! So thin, that won’t do. You have to eat more in the future, at least three bowls of rice per meal. No, no, that’s too little, you have to add more…” Jin Xuan put down the empty bowl in his hand, helped Ao Jun off the bed, and looked Ao Jun up and down, thinking.

"Stop! Do you think I'm a pig?!" Ao Jun immediately made a stop gesture, his face darkening.

"Who's the pig?" Ao Xue poked her head out from outside the house, smiling broadly.

"Xue, do you know that scaring someone can be deadly? Coming in without knocking and eavesdropping on other people's conversations is very unethical." Ao Jun exaggeratedly patted his chest and rolled his eyes at Ao Xue.

"Ah!" Ao Xue jumped in from outside the door with a start, showing no regal bearing whatsoever. She raised her right hand, extended her index finger, shook it, and said with a look of disapproval, "No, no, numbenone, I didn't even come in; numbentwo, you were the one who didn't close the door and spoke so loudly, so I wasn't eavesdropping at all, I was listening openly; numbenthnee, I don't think a beauty as stunning as me, with a voice like a nightingale, would scare anyone to death. Ao, you dontaetupchangea (so your accusation is unfounded), doyouundenatand..."

Ao Jun shook his head, sighed, and said, "Sigh, now I finally know what it means to be a scoundrel and a narcissist. You can even make the dead seem alive. I give up." He then gave a thumbs up.

"Hehe... Now you know how powerful I am!" Ao Xue jumped in front of Ao Jun and said with a smug smile.

"Please, do you think you're still a child? You're already a mother." Ao Jun rolled her eyes at Ao Xue, then rubbed her forehead as if in exasperation.

"What?! She's just a nineteen-year-old girl. Don't make me sound like I'm some kind of old lady, okay?" Ao Xue pouted and retorted, even swaying her waist, showing no trace of the majesty of an empress.

“There’s already an eighteen-year-old Empress Dowager, how can you be like this? Do you even understand dignity? You’re supposed to be in high society…” Ao Jun shook his head as if to say “you’re hopeless,” and straightened Ao Xue, who was still twisting her waist, as if a teacher was instructing a student.

"What kind of scoundrel are you! Don't keep spouting such vulgar language all the time. I know you're a gang leader, but remember, speak more politely, speak more politely, don't embarrass the Ling family." Ao Xue angrily put on the airs of an older sister and reprimanded him. She got so carried away that she even said things she shouldn't have.