The icy feeling made Nan Xuzong's heart skip a beat.
"I know you felt it, so please wake up, okay? I'm so tired... I want you to hug me." Ji Wushang looked at him, sobbing uncontrollably.
After crying for a while, Ji Wushang realized that he shouldn't cry. If Nan Xuzong suddenly woke up and saw him, wouldn't he be heartbroken? He quickly wiped away his tears and looked at Nan Xuzong, but to his surprise, tears were also flowing from the corners of Nan Xuzong's eyes. Ji Wushang stepped forward and wiped away his tears. "Zong, I'm not crying. Why are you crying? Wake up and look at me. Open your eyes and look at me!"
Nan Xuzong seemed to have been successfully coaxed by her and stopped crying.
A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken.
The number of tears a man can shed for you is not because he is incompetent, but because he loves you too deeply.
Ji Wushang sighed softly, looking at him. She had originally planned to stay by his side until he woke up before going to sleep herself, but she couldn't resist the lingering drowsiness and fell asleep.
The night was so alluring, yet so cold.
Ji Wushang felt nestled in a warm embrace and slept very soundly. Feeling her body warm, she suddenly opened her eyes and met a pair of dark, deep eyes.
She saw a world, his world, but she was all alone! The two of them just stared at each other, staring at each other, she looking at him, he looking at her.
She wanted to say so much to him, but when she met his eyes, she couldn't speak.
Nan Xuzong just looked at her, quietly, doing nothing, just watching. His arm was on her waist, holding her tightly, the warmth of his palm flowing through her body, making her warm, and making him even warmer.
Ji Wushang looked at him, feeling his intense gaze, but she couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness welling up inside her. Finally, tears streamed down her face silently.
Nan Xuzong looked at her, his eyes slightly closed. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, saying, "Wu Shang, don't do so much for me."
Ji Wushang trembled slightly, her shoulders heaving from crying. Nan Xuzong lifted her up, met her eyes, and pressed his thin lips to hers, holding hers firmly. "In my confusion, I heard you chanting mantras to pray for me. In my struggles in the darkness, I could always feel you calling out to me... I fear nothing in this life except your tears and your departure." He sighed softly in her ear, "But Wushang, don't do so much for me... It's not worth hurting you."
Ji Wushang gently pushed him away, her eyes meeting his. "Don't ask if it's worth it. Love doesn't need such torture. Nan Xuzong, since you know I'm heartbroken, why are you still so cruel, taking so long to wake up? Do you want to watch me suffer like this forever?"
"No..." Nan Xuzong cried out with deep emotion upon hearing her slightly angry words, "I'm sorry, Wushang... I'm so sorry!"
Ji Wushang smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in his expression. "If you do not abandon me, I will not leave you. If you die, I will follow you. Have you forgotten what I said?"
Nan Xuzong was taken aback. "I'll change, okay? I'll change. I won't die, and you won't grow old. We'll stay together like this forever."
Ji Wushang reached out and touched his face. "Okay." He reached out with one hand and then held her small hand that was pressed against his face. "I will never dare to do it again... Wushang, without you, I feel cold all over. I can't feel your warmth. I'm scared."
"I'm scared too. Without your embrace, I feel like the whole world is dark."
"Wu Shang..." he called softly, but it never seemed to be enough. He could only hold her tightly in his arms. "Wu Shang, if... if I really don't wake up, what will you..."
"I'll die with you," Ji Wushang replied.
He remained motionless and silent for a long time, as if time had stood still.
Just as Ji Wushang was about to ask him if he had another episode, he pulled her close to his eyes and said, slowly and deliberately, "I want you to live well, to live well for me, not to stay with me... understand?" He finally managed to say what had been lingering for so long. After this incident, he finally understood that he might really be gone, and if she were to go with him, that... was not what he wanted to see.
Ji Wushang sneered, "You're so cruel? You're willing to let me suffer like this, aren't you?"
"No, Wu Shang... that's not what I meant." He shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. Ji Wu Shang looked at him, her heart melting. She said, "I won't agree. If you want me to die, then go ahead."
Nan Xuzong felt a chill run down his spine. He had only managed a draw with Yiyun Shangcheng. If he were to fight against more enemies in the future, would he have any chance of winning?
Haha, I don't know!
“Let’s not talk about this…” Nan Xuzong uttered a sentence, his hot breath brushing against Ji Wushang’s neck, causing her to tremble slightly. “Okay.”
"How did we get here? How many days have I been unconscious?" Nan Xuzong asked, holding her in his arms.
"Seven days and seven nights. Today is the eighth day." Ji Wushang sighed. "This is the summit of the snow mountain. I brought you up here to find the Snow Mountain Elder for treatment... I can't find my master and the others..."
Nan Xuzong was taken aback, then smiled bitterly. He had actually slept for so long; poor her! Meanwhile, atop the snow-capped mountain, the Old Man of the Snow Mountain… his eyes darkened.
After a long while, he held her fragrant body in his arms, as if he wanted to melt her into his bones, and asked, "Can your body not be so cold?"
Ji Wushang sighed, "You're disgusted with me."
“No, I hate myself.” Nan Xuzong kissed her full forehead. “I hate myself for not being able to warm your body no matter what I do.”
"No need to say anything more," Ji Wushang blurted out.
Nan Xuzong remained silent, simply nestling quietly beside her. She wept softly, and he stayed by her side quietly.
Wu Shang, I mean it.
The sun was high in the sky, but neither of them showed any sign of getting up. Nan Xuzong looked at the beauty in his arms, who had fallen into a deep sleep from crying, and gently stroked her dark hair.
"Ji Wushang, this life is yours... If one day you want to take it, I will give it to you without hesitation."
"But you must live well for me..."
His gaze fell on her knees. After settling her into a comfortable position so she could continue sleeping, he propped himself up, still not fully recovered, and carefully lifted her trouser leg.
To make applying the medicine easier, she was wearing loose-fitting trousers. Nan Xuzong easily lifted the cuffs, revealing the injury at the hem. When he was holding her, he could feel her deliberately avoiding the area around her legs.
When he saw blood still seeping from the tightly bandaged wound, Nan Xuzong felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face, and his heart ached as if it had been stabbed open. He looked into her eyes; she was asleep, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
His large hands trembled, too afraid to approach the wounds on her legs.
How long had she been kneeling? How far had she knelt? Nan Xuzong placed his large hand on her knee, and she reflexively stepped back. Nan Xuzong pulled her leg up, gently applying his internal force to check if her bones and muscles were injured.
Ji Wushang felt a warm and comfortable sensation in his knees, as if all his pain had disappeared, and he fell into an even deeper sleep.
Nan Xuzong tenderly treated her for a while before holding her and lying down again.
There were people standing outside, and I didn't know whether I should go in to see what was going on, but I was also afraid of disturbing the two of them.
Gong Shu, Hong Fei, and Cui Wu exchanged glances, unsure whether to knock on the door.
Hongfei peered through the door, but couldn't see anything. After all, they were inside the room, and he could only see into the outer room.
“It’s been so long, I wonder if Master and Madam have woken up yet,” Cuiwu said. “Why don’t we go up and knock on the door? It’s been too long, I don’t know if something might have happened to Madam.”
Gong Shu and Hong Fei thought it made sense. They figured the master wouldn't wake up so soon. If the madam collapsed from exhaustion because they couldn't keep an eye on her, or if her legs didn't heal properly, these people wouldn't have enough heads to chop off!
The old man from the snow-capped mountain watched the three people whispering and discussing outside from a distance, guessing that the person inside hadn't woken up yet. He stroked his white beard, "A deep love between lovers... but alas!" After hesitating for a moment, the old man from the snow-capped mountain stepped forward, coughing lightly twice.
Gong Shu and the other two immediately turned around and stepped forward, saying, "Senior."
"What's wrong? They haven't woken up yet?" the old man from the snowy mountain asked, while simultaneously using a telepathic communication method to let Nan Xuzong inside hear him. He was trying to test the waters in this way. If Nan Xuzong woke up, he would definitely be able to hear his message, and he wouldn't need to push the door open to enter. If he didn't react at all, it meant that Nan Xuzong hadn't woken up, and he could push the door open to check on his condition.
Nan Xuzong opened his eyes in bed, looked at Ji Wushang, and found that Ji Wushang was still not awake. He decided not to get up either. However, if he didn't react at all, they would probably push open the door and come in to check on his condition.
"I'm fine. She's tired and resting." Nan Xuzong's lips moved slightly, and then he conveyed the message.
Upon hearing this voice, the old man from the snowy mountain nodded in admiration. Such a young age and such martial arts skill—that's wonderful!
"You don't need to worry anymore, they're both fine. Don't disturb them. Go pack your things and get ready to go down the mountain!" The old man from the snow mountain turned around and walked out.
Gong Shu, Hong Fei, and Cui Wu exchanged bewildered glances. How could the Snow Mountain Elder know they were alright without them even going in to ask? But honestly, the three of them didn't dare knock on the door directly. After a brief exchange of glances, they decided to follow the Snow Mountain Elder's advice and disperse.
Hearing no sound outside, Nan Xuzong adjusted his position and then held her again as they fell asleep. However, worried about her health, he held her wrist and checked her pulse.
Her heartbeat was a little slow, and her body was still too cold. Nan Xuzong's eyes darkened, and he pulled her into his arms.
Isn't this the summit of the snow mountain? The Snow Mountain Elder himself had heard of it before. His medical skills were indeed superb. He was once as famous as the Pan Yao Elder, and was a fellow disciple of Master Jing'an and Master Pan Yao Elder. But for some reason, Master Jing'an entered the Buddhist order, Master Pan Yao traveled all over the world, while the Snow Mountain Elder lived in seclusion on the summit of the snow mountain.
Nan Xuzong narrowed his eyes; perhaps he had a way.
Nan Xuzong gently kissed her lips before getting out of bed.
After calming himself down and feeling much better, he left the room. He glanced back at Ji Wushang before closing the door and walking out.
Based on his judgment of these places, Nan Xuzong quickly located the location of the Snow Mountain Elder.
Just as Nan Xuzong was about to knock, a voice came from inside, "Come in!"
This startled Nan Xuzong, but he quickly calmed down and went inside.
“You recovered very quickly, which is inseparable from her previous treatment, so there’s no need to thank me…” The old man from the snow mountain seemed a little ashamed.
"The purpose of Cong'er's visit is to ask seniors for help in removing the coldness from my wife's body," Nan Xu Cong said, immediately kneeling down.
The old man from the snow-capped mountain stepped forward and said, "There's no need to kneel. There's no other way."
After listening to the old man from the snow mountain speak, Nan Xuzong remained silent for a long time, dejected.
"Actually, it's nothing, let's just forget about it!" the old man from the snow mountain laughed. "However, alas, I've noticed something's amiss... I thought the thousand-year-old iron tree bloomed because you went up the mountain, but little did I know, after much calculation, I realized it was because she went up the mountain!"
Nan Xuzong was startled and looked up. "What do you mean, Senior?"
"Destiny. To protect the common people, you should act now!" the old man of the snow mountain said. "In time, you will forget her. Or, if you choose to forget, I have a potion of forgetfulness here to make you forget her, so you can bring yourself to kill her." As he spoke, the old man of the snow mountain handed a glass bottle filled with red liquid to Nan Xuzong. "She is a menace. I should have ended her life as soon as I saw her, but I saw that she still had a kind heart and could not bear to do it. After careful consideration, I realized that I could not kill her, but instead it would trigger the demonic nature within her, making her even more of a menace. Only you can kill her. This task is best suited for you."
Nan Xuzong took a few steps back in terror. "You, you all, all of you, are you forcing me to kill her?"
"No, I would never do that!" Nan Xuzong quickly added before the Snow Mountain Elder could speak. "She won't turn into any kind of demon. You people all just believe in those ridiculous legends! I, Nan Xuzong, don't believe in that stuff!"
"When she tries to kill you, then you'll believe it!" The Snow Mountain Elder frowned, placing the red glass bottle in front of him. "I know you're the disciple of the Medicine Master! Hmph, that old man must have mentioned something similar to you! Whether you do it or not, you still have to walk your path! Your fate, her fate, you can't change them! If you want to fight against fate, you must have extraordinary abilities! I won't go on and on, you decide for yourself!" Speaking of the Medicine Master, the Snow Mountain Elder's face was icy cold. Towards the end, a hint of anger crept in.
Nan Xuzong had no time to think about these things. These people, they all couldn't bear to see him and Ji Wushang happy together, could they? They were determined to force him to break them up! These people were truly despicable; she wasn't a demon at all, those were all fabrications! However, he was right; if he wanted to fight against the heavens, he first needed extraordinary abilities!
"The thousand-year-old iron tree blossoms, the withered tree springs back to life, the blood lotus appears, and the Demon Lord is born. You all better take care of yourselves!" The old man of the snow mountain sighed softly, then walked out. "I will never see you again."
Whether this world is filled with life or death, upheaval or destruction, it has nothing to do with him!
Nan Xuzong watched the old man from the snow mountain walk away, disappearing from his sight in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a bottle of red forget-me-not water in front of him.
Forget your worries, forget your worries, how can you forget your worries?
Nan Xuzong sat absentmindedly in the chair beside the table, his hand touching the red bottle, his heart unable to calm down for a long time. They said he couldn't change his fate, but he was determined to change it! He had already been fighting against the heavens, and even without extraordinary abilities, even if it meant being a moth drawn to a flame, he would still try! This Forget-Me-Not Potion, humph! Nan Xuzong raised the Forget-Me-Not Potion, intending to smash the glass bottle on the ground, but then stopped at that moment.
He silently wrapped the potion of forgetfulness and put it in his pocket.
I can't bear to see you suffer, and the only way to avoid suffering is to forget everything.
Nan Xuzong forced a smile, but it looked worse than crying.
As I walked out, I looked around and, sure enough, the place was deserted. Apart from some food left in the kitchen, there wasn't a single person in sight.
Nan Xuzong's eyes darkened. He went into the courtyard and called out to Gong Shu and the others. Gong Shu and the others were very happy to see that Nan Xuzong was already walking freely and in good spirits.
"Go get some food, Wu Shang is hungry," Nan Xu Cong said. "Old Man Xue Shan and the others have left."
Several people looked at Nan Xuzong in surprise, but in the end they all chose to disperse and go make food. Let those people go! As long as Master and Madam are alright!
When Nan Xuzong entered the room, Ji Wushang was still asleep. Looking at her sleeping so soundly, Nan Xuzong was overjoyed. He moved closer and stayed by her side. He noticed that snowflakes were beginning to fall outside.
His eyes were sharp; he noticed red petals mixed in with the snowflakes. Very few, but he saw them nonetheless. He recalled the thousand-year-old iron tree the old man of the snow mountain had spoken of, wondering if these were the flowers of that iron tree. He felt a sudden urge to take her to that iron tree and see for himself what the petals looked like.
Ji Wushang tossed and turned, but couldn't touch him. She suddenly woke up with a start, "Cong!" she exclaimed.
Nan Xuzong rolled onto the bed and then hugged her. "I'm here," he said in his deep voice, his hand gently stroking her back.
Ji Wushang looked at him with bright eyes and hugged his lean waist. "I'm afraid you'll be gone again."
"No." He smiled, looking at her, then at the outside. "It's snowing outside. This mountain peak is truly magnificent, with snowflakes everywhere."