"Who are you? Why did you save me?" Because of the poisoning, Shen Qianmo's strength had not yet recovered, and her voice was not as clear as before. She did not have the strength to raise her eyes, but only squinted her eyes slightly as she asked.
"Just doing it." The man's voice was cold and emotionless as he simply replied with the word "just doing it," seemingly unwilling to reveal his identity.
Shen Qianmo didn't bother to ask further. She just gave a self-deprecating smile. She, the dignified Palace Master of the Demon Palace, had actually fallen to this state. And the other party seemed to be merely rescuing trash, saying it was just a casual act. Oh well, never mind, she was already exhausted, all she wanted now was to rest.
She closed her eyes, ignoring the man in black. She didn't know why, but she had a strange trust in him; she felt he wouldn't hurt her, and that as long as he was there, she would be safe.
How strange. Why this inexplicable trust?! Since her rebirth, she hasn't been able to sleep soundly, only finding some peace when Qianqian is with her. Yet now, she feels an inexplicable trust, even more reassured than when Qianqian is around. What's going on?! Shen Qianmo frowned and drifted off to sleep.
Watching Shen Qianmo fall into a deep sleep, the black-clad man's cold demeanor slowly softened. He reached out and stroked Shen Qianmo's brow, his eyes filled with tenderness and affection.
He thought Shen Qianmo was frowning because she wasn't feeling well. He gently helped Shen Qianmo sit up and transferred some internal energy and true qi to her so that she could recover faster.
Beneath the bronze mask, his face was even paler. The Breathless Poison was an extremely potent poison. Although he used his internal energy to counteract its toxicity, he couldn't completely expel the poison. Therefore, Shen Qianmo's body remained weak, and he too was exhausted from expending too much internal energy.
Otherwise, there would be no need for him to hide in this secluded cave with Shen Qianmo. He knew that the Tang Clan and other sects could attack them at any moment. He wasn't confident he could safely bring Shen Qianmo back to the Seven Absolutes Manor's villa under these circumstances. They could only stay here to heal for the time being.
"Mo'er. What am I going to do with you?" The voice that came out was not the cold and harsh one from before, but a natural charm and domineering presence, containing both doting and helplessness.
Mo'er. I know that with your personality, you would never want me to help you. Nor would you want me to abandon the affairs of Tianmo for you. Therefore, I can only stay by your side as a stranger and protect you.
I was only a few days late getting here, and you've already suffered such serious injuries. Tang Yun is no simple man. Behind the Tang Clan is Yan Xiuling!
Situ Jingyan's hand slowly clenched. His knuckles turned white. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Fortunately, he arrived in time and saved Shen Qianmo's life. If anything had happened to Shen Qianmo, not only would the Tang Clan be wiped out, but even Linwei wouldn't escape responsibility!
Even if it were his closest friend, he wouldn't allow Yan Xiuling to lay a finger on Shen Qianmo! Taking the world was one thing, they could each rely on their own abilities, and even if the world ultimately belonged to Yan Xiuling, he, Situ Jingyan, wouldn't utter a single word of objection! But to have his Mo'er harmed was unforgivable!
Yan Xiuling, you'd better know nothing about this! Otherwise, even if we're best friends, I will not let Linwei off the hook, nor will I let you off the hook!
Holding the unconscious Shen Qianmo tightly in his arms, Situ Jingyan's sharp gaze softened into one of tenderness and affection. His Mo'er, what was he going to do with her? Such a stubborn Mo'er.
When Shen Qianmo woke up again, it was already a day later. She moved her limbs slightly and felt that her strength had returned. Shen Qianmo slowly sat up and immediately heard a cold and emotionless voice, "The poison hasn't been cured. Don't use your internal energy."
Shen Qianmo raised her eyes, her eyebrows twitching slightly. This man in black was still here?! He hadn't abandoned her?! Are there still such kind people in this world?
"Here you go." The tone remained cold, devoid of any warmth.
Shen Qianmo took the roasted rabbit meat, raising an eyebrow again. This Qifeng Forest is surrounded by cliffs, and animals like rabbits must be rare. This man in black must have gone to great lengths to catch this rabbit.
By the dim moonlight, Shen Qianmo sized up the man in black. His well-fitting black clothes, while not ostentatious, exuded a natural air of dominance. A bronze mask concealed his face, but it didn't diminish his aura in the slightest; instead, it added to his imposing presence.
Shen Qianmo pursed her lips slightly, deliberately pretending to be unwell. Sure enough, the man in black came over to check if her poison had taken effect. Shen Qianmo quickly reached out to grab the man in black's mask, but because she was weak, her movements were not as fast as usual, and the man in black dodged her.
Looking at the cold aura surrounding the man in black, Shen Qianmo stuck out her tongue and said, "I just wanted to see what my savior looked like."
"No need." The tone remained cold, and the words were still few and far between.
Shen Qianmo frowned slightly. This man in black clearly cared about her, yet he deliberately feigned indifference. His taciturn nature and feigned coldness suggested he was hiding something!
Shen Qianmo looked at the man in black again, feeling a sense of familiarity. It was an inexplicable familiarity, as if looking at his back brought her a feeling of peace. This was a feeling she had never experienced before. Apart from Situ Jingyan, no one had ever given her this sense of security.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up slightly, a strange light flashing in them. She then composed herself and pretended to eat the rabbit meat nonchalantly, but her hands were trembling slightly.
In order not to arouse Shen Qianmo's suspicion, Situ Jingyan stopped looking at her and turned his back coldly, leaving Shen Qianmo with a lonely and desolate figure.
As Shen Qianmo ate the rabbit meat, a happy smile appeared on her face.
It was Situ Jingyan. It was her Jingyan. The ring on his hand, gleaming in the moonlight, was the symbol of the Tianmo royal family. She had always seen Situ Jingyan wearing that ring, the one he never took off.
Although the moonlight was dim and Situ Jingyan's ring was not very noticeable, she still spotted it immediately.
Actually, she had sensed it long ago. She just wasn't sure. A person's temperament can be deliberately changed, but their inherent domineering nature cannot be concealed. A person can change the color of their clothes, but the feeling they give off cannot be altered.
Moreover, there's someone who would inexplicably make her feel safe and dependent. In this world, besides Situ Jingyan, there would never be another person like him.
But why would Situ Jingyan deliberately conceal his identity? Was it because he didn't want her to worry? Or was there another reason?
Regardless. Since Situ Jingyan didn't want to say, she wouldn't expose him. Now that she had confirmed Situ Jingyan's identity, Shen Qianmo felt even more pleased. Although she didn't want Situ Jingyan to neglect state affairs for her sake, his arrival meant that Tianmo was alright; otherwise, Haoyue wouldn't have allowed him to come.
"My savior. Would you like some too?" A sly glint flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes as she smiled sweetly at Situ Jingyan.
Situ Jingyan turned around and saw Shen Qianmo's radiant smile. Damn it, didn't she know how charming her smile was?! He was a stranger now, and she was smiling so sweetly at a stranger?! Thinking this, Situ Jingyan's face darkened further, and his tone became even colder, "I don't want to!"
Seeing Situ Jingyan's reaction, Shen Qianmo's smile became even sweeter. She took the rabbit meat and ran to Situ Jingyan's side, sat down next to him, and flatteringly held out the rabbit meat to him, saying, "My savior, please have some."
Shen Qianmo's actions were partly to tease Situ Jingyan. After all, he had kept his identity a secret. However, she was also worried that Situ Jingyan might be hungry. After all, there wasn't much game in this area, and Situ Jingyan might still be starving.
"You!" Situ Jingyan's eyes flashed with displeasure when he saw the smile on Shen Qianmo's face. How could she be so enthusiastic towards a strange man? Wasn't she afraid he would get jealous?!
Hmm! It must be to repay a life-saving debt. He endured it! After all, this stranger was actually him, wasn't he! But if it were any other man, he would definitely have dealt with him!
As Situ Jingyan made this plan, he took the rabbit meat from Shen Qianmo, tore off a piece, and put it in his mouth, but he couldn't taste it! Looking at Shen Qianmo's pale face, he felt extremely distressed and wanted to hold her in his arms and ask her how she was, if she was feeling unwell, but he couldn't!
Seeing Situ Jingyan eat a piece of rabbit meat, Shen Qianmo's smile softened even more. Her eyes were filled with tenderness as she looked at Situ Jingyan, like a wife looking at her husband.
As Situ Jingyan ate, he noticed something was off about Shen Qianmo's expression. That expression?! Situ Jingyan absolutely believed Shen Qianmo wasn't a fickle woman, but this expression... could it be that Shen Qianmo had discovered his identity?!
Situ Jingyan immediately went to check Shen Qianmo's reaction. He saw that Shen Qianmo had already sat down on the other side and started gnawing on rabbit meat, not even looking at him! It seemed he had been overthinking things.
Although Shen Qianmo appeared to be focused on eating rabbit meat, she was actually glancing at Situ Jingyan out of the corner of her eye. When she saw Situ Jingyan looking at her cautiously and then looking away, pretending to look away casually, a smile appeared on her lips.
Her Jingyan... He's just so awkward! But it's precisely because of this that he touches her heart so deeply, isn't it?
She felt a sharp pain in her body. Shen Qianmo knew the poison hadn't completely dissipated. However, given Situ Jingyan's abilities, he must have already found a way to contact the outside world. The fact that he hadn't taken her away meant that this cave was safer than the outside world.
Since it was him, she would wholeheartedly follow his arrangements, without thinking about what the best course of action should be. Because what he did was always the right thing to do.
However, she wouldn't let this Silent Poison go so easily! She would annihilate the Tang Clan without leaving a single survivor! She, Shen Qianmo, was no saint; daring to offend her and causing her such a sorry state, the Tang Clan—this enmity had truly become enormous!