The fact that I'm unhappy inside is actually a lie.
I can finally stand up, and I can feel the warmth of the blood flowing through me. I can do so many things from now on. I can walk freely, jump, fly, and do the things I used to dream of.
Everything is a gift from these people; everything is the love they gave me.
Nan Xuzong didn't know how to repay such a person.
He could give Ji Wushang his whole heart. Now, he could completely stand against Yiyun City, and even defeat the Demon Lord single-handedly, without letting Ji Wushang suffer the slightest harm.
But how can I face Beigong Minhao?
Nan Xuzong understood everything he had said to him before. This person who treated him like a brother could have completely abandoned him and simply followed the agreement between them. However, he had always been putting his own needs first.
She felt that her love for Ji Wushang was too selfish, but she couldn't let go of such feelings.
Besides, Ji Wushang loves himself.
If Ji Wushang didn't love him, Nan Xuzong thought he would definitely back out, just like Bei Gongminhao did. But Bei Gongminhao had really sacrificed so much for him and Ji Wushang.
Nan Xuzong didn't want to discern whether the help he received stemmed from brotherly affection or from a wish for Ji Wushang.
Having such brothers in this life is enough.
How can I ever repay such kindness?
Find him a woman who loves him to the core? Would that be good? But who is truly the most suitable for him?
Nan Xuzong sat blankly in the chair, staring at Ji Wushang on the bed. He thought about it for most of the night. Just before dawn, he turned over and got into bed, holding her tightly, breathing in the fragrance of her hair, and then fell asleep.
At this moment, a tiny flame was burning inside a cave.
Yiyun Shangcheng was sitting on the stone bed. He had removed half of his clothes, and his face showed pain. Five elders surrounded him and treated him.
His eyes were tightly closed, but his mind kept replaying every little detail about Ji Wushang, from when she was six years old until now.
"Why are you here?" Ji Wushang asked in a childish voice. She was wearing the uniform of the Ji family army, and he couldn't imagine how she could put on that heavy armor!
He remained silent and snorted coldly. He would never bow down to the enemy, even if he became a prisoner! He thought she would lash him with her whip, because he had already endured several beatings and was slowly getting used to it!
“I’m letting you go, you can escape on your own.” She examined him carefully for a long time, then, seeing that no one was around, she went forward and took him off the sun-baked cross.
He seized the opportunity and grabbed her neck tightly, but she remained calm. "Run! Don't waste your time on trivial matters!" she replied coldly.
He slowly released her, then shoved her to the ground and immediately ran away.
Little did she know, just as Ji Wushang got up from the ground and was about to leave, she found herself standing in front of the Third Prince, Huangfu Xuan. His starry eyes were very beautiful as he looked at her and asked, "You let Yiyun Shangcheng go?"
“He ran away on his own,” Ji Wushang said, looking up at him.
Huangfu Xuan's eyes burned with fire, "They will not let you go!"
Ji Wushang watched his departing figure, then stood in the sand, letting the wind flutter her clothes.
Yiyun Shangcheng watched her from afar. General Murs and his men found him from behind, and he was able to return to the Western Regions to be his prince.
But the next day, he heard that Ji Wushang had been whipped.
He secretly went to see her, but she gritted her teeth and didn't say a word, didn't beg for mercy, didn't cry or make a fuss, and let those people interrogate her about where Yiyun Shangcheng had run off to. Yiyun Shangcheng would never forget her gaze until his death.
Yiyun Shangcheng thought of everything from the past, but what hurt her the most was being rejected by her time and time again, and being hurt by her time and time again!
Am I wrong? Is it wrong to love someone? All I wanted was for her to be by my side, is that wrong? Don't I deserve someone so unique? Since fate brought us together, why do I love her but she doesn't love me? I will give her the utmost happiness.
If Nan Xuzong can give her one, she will definitely give him a hundred! Nan Xuzong gives her warmth and love, so why can't she do the same? She can definitely do better than him! What's so great about that person in a wheelchair! How can a useless person who can't stand up compare to her?
No, you're standing up now, aren't you?
Ha! So what if you stand up? You only stand up by relying on the strength and help of others. Is that something to be proud of? Bah!
He reclaimed the Western Regions with his own two hands—that's true ability! What is Nan Xuzong anyway? He's just a marquis's son; he could crush the entire marquis's mansion with a single blow!
But she just doesn't love you.
Even controlling her with my mind doesn't work... Ji Wushang, Ji Wushang, how can I make you stay by my side with peace of mind? The Black Eagle of the Desert has only one mate. Once he has made up his mind, he will never change it. He will pursue her until he dies!
Wu Shang, you are the one I have been pursuing all my life.
Yi Yun Shangcheng struggled to open his eyes. His eyes were a deep, dark purple. He looked at the five elders who were healing his internal energy and nodded slightly.
The five elders slowly withdrew their power, stood on the ground again, and then lined up neatly one by one.
"Your Majesty, please take a good rest," Elder Jin said.
"I am now fine." Yi Yunshangcheng stretched his limbs, his deep purple eyes opening and closing repeatedly. "How is the Western Regions?"
"The people live in peace and contentment, and the country is stable both inside and outside. Your Majesty, please rest assured."
"Hmm." Yiyun Shangcheng glanced at them. "Is there any way to further improve my king's martial arts skills?"
"Your Majesty, haste makes waste!"
"Shut up!" Yiyun Shangcheng gave Elder Jin a cold look. "You just need to do as I say, and you don't need to say or ask anything else!"
"Yes." The five elders lowered their heads and dared not say a word when they saw Yiyun Shangcheng's anger.
"I'll ask again, what method is there to further improve my inner strength and martial arts?!" Yi Yun Shangcheng's gaze drifted outside.
"Neither dead nor alive, neither living nor dying, is the spirit. Immortal and eternal, living without dying, is the demon."
"magic!"
——
In the early morning, the wind was a little warm, blowing through the window and into the room, stirring the white curtains.
Nan Xuzong looked at the woman in front of him, his long fingers gently tracing her delicate face, touching her faint warmth, then sliding down to linger on her cherry lips, those slightly red lips making Nan Xuzong linger.
His other hand was placed on her waist; he was waiting for her to wake up.
His hand, which had been resting on her lips, moved down to her shoulder, his burning heat caressing her delicate skin through her gauze dress.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Nan Xuzong's thin lips moved in response, "Wu Shang." His tone was soft, warm, and his husky, sexy voice reached her ears.
It was him.
Ji Wushang's heart stirred.
I'm not dead!
She struggled to open her eyes, only to meet his deep, dark gaze. Those eyes were bloodshot, indicating he hadn't slept well or much the night before.
Her lips moved, but she found that she couldn't make a sound.
He was taken aback. "Wu Shang." His hand tightened.
Ji Wushang exerted a great deal of effort before raising his finger and pointing to his mouth.
He suddenly pulled her into his arms and said in a hoarse voice, "It's okay, don't speak yet." Apparently, he thought she had lost her voice.
"Water...thirsty..." Ji Wushang managed to utter these two words with great effort.
Nan Xuzong was startled, but his heart was filled with joy. He immediately used his martial arts to pull the teapot and teacups from a short distance away, and then quickly poured a cup of tea and brought it to her lips.
Nan Xuzong held the water in his hands and let Ji Wushang drink it slowly. "Do you want more?" he asked gently.
Ji Wushang shook his head.
Nan Xuzong put the tea aside. "I was so worried about you... I thought you were going to leave me. I was so heartbroken... Wushang..."
Ji Wushang shook her head, swallowed many times, and slowly managed to speak, "You...bullied...me." Because of the burning sensation from the fiery red water, she couldn't speak properly for a moment. But it was enough; Nan Xuzong felt a pang of heartache just hearing her voice, and he was determined to heal her throat!
Hearing this, Nan Xuzong was still taken aback, but then he kissed her lips. "No one taught me how to save you. Your body is so cold. This is the only way I can warm your heart."
Ji Wushang was being held by him, but her gaze was fixed on his legs. "Are your legs... healed...?"
Nan Xuzong snapped out of his daze and looked at his legs. "They're fine," he said. "But what you did for me, and what Beigong Minhao did, in return for these legs, isn't worth it, not worth it at all!"
Ji Wushang shook her head, unable to say much, only able to focus on the key points, "Minhao, is he alright?" Is he dead? Is he? Her eyes looked at Nan Xuzong, a hint of tears in them.
His heart felt like it had been tugged; after all, he was a man, and he still felt jealous when he heard the woman he loved caring for another man… Oh well.
“Very good.” Nan Xuzong looked at her and said again, “He is very good.”
“I want to…go see him.” Ji Wushang looked at him, hoping he would understand, right? Nan Xuzong knew he only loved him, and that his concern for Beigong Minhao stemmed from friendship, gratitude, and guilt.
“It’s not a good time to see him. First, you haven’t fully recovered, and second, he’s undergoing medicinal bath treatment.” Nan Xuzong looked at her. “How about we go see him together after this period of time?”
Ji Wushang nodded in agreement. It was good that he was alright, but he was still worried and wanted to go see how he was doing. He had lost a lot of blood; he had been crippled by Yiyun Shangcheng, and probably had many broken ribs... Just thinking about it reminded him of the look in his eyes when he was unconscious and still staring at him.
This is a kind of infatuation, a kind of helplessness, a kind of faint despair.
Nan Xuzong held her close, knowing she was probably thinking about what happened between her and Beigong Minhao... Let her think about it... Nan Xuzong sighed inwardly.
Just then, a dart suddenly flew in from outside. Nan Xuzong scooped up Ji Wushang and turned him over, then caught the dart with his other hand! His eyes were deep as he looked at the note pierced on the dart's head.
Ji Wushang tried to turn over with all his might, but he had no strength at all.
Nan Xuzong immediately put the dart aside, put the note in his pocket, then hugged Ji Wushang and lay back down on the bed, covered her with the quilt, and gently kissed her forehead. "You should rest for a while. I'll have Doctor Cui come and take a look at you."
Ji Wushang looked at him, her eyes flickering, indicating that he could go without worry. Her voice was truly too weak to speak.
Nan Xuzong got out of bed and went outside.
Closing the door, Nan Xuzong took the note from his pocket. His eyes grew even deeper, and his coldness became even more oppressive.
☆、216 The situation is unstable, and another treacherous plot is devised!
Nan Xuzong held the note in his hand, and it instantly turned into powder that flowed from his fingertips. His face remained expressionless as he quickly walked towards Doctor Cui.
Doctor Cui was helping to sort the medicinal herbs in front of him, and after that, he kept adding more herbs to Beigong Minhao's medicine.
Nan Xuzong pushed open the door, and Doctor Cui immediately turned to look at him, "Zong'er."
"We can't stay here any longer. Send Minhao back to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. Take good care of him there, and also keep an eye on Jueshi's injuries." Nan Xuzong walked over and looked at Beigong Minhao, who was soaking in the medicinal bath. "Has he woken up yet?"
"No." Doctor Cui shook his head, quickly putting the medicinal herbs in his hand inside. "Has someone discovered this place?"
"Yes." Nan Xuzong nodded. "Wu Shang and I are also going back to the Marquis's residence. How are Jue Shi and Princess Muchen doing now?"
"It's alright. Jue Shi's demonic nature is under control. Princess Mu Chen should wake up today," said Doctor Cui. "I wonder how the Prince and Princess of Zhenbei will react if we send Min Hao back to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion in this state."
Nan Xuzong sighed inwardly. He had dragged the Bei Gong and Min Hao brothers into this mess. Ultimately, all the responsibility lay with him.