He had been feeling very unwell these past few days. In fact, he had a vague feeling that the poison that had accumulated in his body over the years was finally beginning to seep into the depths of his body. He knew why the poison hadn't spread too much for so long, but the accumulated self-destruction was finally about to cause everything to explode.
A smile played at the corners of Qingchen's lips. He still didn't want to take the medicine, but even he himself didn't know when his body would completely collapse. He didn't mind dying; there was nothing left in this world for him to cherish, but not now.
He had to live because—he still needed to avenge Zhuang Su. He couldn't die, at least not before he wiped out Black Wind Stronghold.
Qingchen's eyes were somewhat deep. He started with a few soft coughs, which gradually became more complex. He covered his mouth with his hand, slowly suppressing the discomfort in his chest, and his breathing became slightly labored. When the coughing subsided, he felt a sense of relief and lay weakly on the chair, gradually taking deep breaths.
Qingchen closed his eyes slightly, feeling somewhat weary. If he could, he would rather die to save that person's life. However, he had no other choice at this moment.
The wind outside was faint, accompanied by a soft cough, sounding somewhat drawn out and ethereal. The chirping of birds could be heard indistinctly. Qingchen fell into a deep sleep; for the past few days, he seemed unusually sleepy.
Chapter 36 An Old Friend Asks from Afar (Part 1)
Zhuang Su handed over the bowl of medicine, and only after watching Qingchen drink it did a slight smile appear on her face, though it was concealed by her mask. Li Jiu, who was waiting nearby, knew they were going to discuss something, so she turned and left, closing the door behind her.
The wind outside was a bit chilly, and the people inside seemed to be deliberately waiting for her to leave, but Zhuang Su didn't seem to care. Looking into the distance, the plants and trees in the courtyard seemed somewhat sparse, which only made her heart feel even more restless. Zhuang Su let out a soft sigh, feeling somewhat helpless.
Just then, she saw someone rushing in from outside, heading straight for Qingchen's room. Zhuang Su's eyebrows twitched slightly, a hint of displeasure in her eyes. Regardless, Qingchen's health had been poor ever since returning from Black Wind Stronghold, yet these people seemed unusually busy, always having so many things to worry about for him.
This Shengxiao Valley feels different from before. I vaguely sense that the pleasant feeling I had when I first came here is gone, and instead, it is filled with an atmosphere of intrigue and scheming.
She... doesn't like it.
Zhuang Su had just arrived at the kitchen with the bowl of medicine when she noticed a strange man inside. Judging from his attire, he must hold a high position within the One Leaf Alliance, at least a significant one. The woman beside him had a slightly flushed face, but clearly showed a hint of joy.
Zhuang Su couldn't help but smile, and stepped aside, not intending to go in and disturb them. Judging from the situation, the two lovers must have managed to steal a moment from their busy schedules to get together, and she naturally didn't want to disturb their rare sweetness.
"Are you really going to raze Snow Doctor Manor to the ground?"
Just as Zhuang Su was about to leave quietly, he heard these words and stopped in his tracks.
The man replied, "Yes, I'll be leaving in three days. You...you don't need to worry about me. I'll definitely come back safely."
"But..." the woman hesitated, clearly still not at ease.
Zhuang Su didn't have time to listen to what was said after that, and hurriedly walked back. Before she knew it, nearly a month had passed since she returned to the One Leaf Alliance. Every day she felt that Qing Chen seemed to be making some kind of arrangement in secret. She had always thought that he was only targeting Black Wind Village, but she never expected that the target would be Snow Doctor Manor? What Zhuang Su couldn't understand was that, from any perspective, Snow Doctor Manor, with Sai Huatuo as its leader, had never posed much of a threat to the One Leaf Alliance.
Why is that...?
Zhuang Su was in a state of turmoil. She hurried to Qingchen's room, and without knocking, pushed the door open and went in. The people inside, who had been talking, fell silent at her sudden action. All eyes were on her, but Zhuang Su paid no attention. She went straight to the desk with paper and pen, and with a few strokes, wrote: "Why did you attack Xueyi Manor?"
When she handed the note to Qingchen, she only saw a half-smile on his face. His gaze swept briefly across her, and he chuckled, "How did you know who I was targeting? Finally willing to slip up?" Zhuang Su was taken aback, but Qingchen moved closer, gently pinching her chin with two fingers, his smile cruel: "Alright, since you couldn't hold back this time, then… tell me, what exactly are you trying to find out?"
Zhuang Su was in a daze, and slowly digested the meaning of his words. She stared at him without blinking, feeling a slight pain in her jaw.
Qingchen waved her hand, tossing her to the desk, and said softly, "If you can't speak, then write."
The impact, neither too hard nor too light, sent a shiver through Zhuang Su's body, leaving her feeling slightly numb. She silently glanced back at Qing Chen, then picked up her pen and wrote: "You only need to tell me why you targeted Xueyi Manor."
"Why? Because... that old man Sai Huatuo knows too much." Qingchen's tone was indifferent.
Zhuang Su gritted her teeth, glared at him resentfully, and turned to leave. Suddenly, someone appeared in front of her—Li Jiu. Zhuang Su was blocked, unable to take even half a step out the door.
A soft voice came from behind her: "Li Yin, where are you going?"
Zhuang Su remained silent, not turning around to look at him again.
"Do you want to go back and report this?" Qingchen chuckled softly, her tone rising slightly at the end. "I'm afraid that won't work..." As soon as she finished speaking, several gatekeepers entered and quickly seized the stake.
"Lock her in a cell." Qingchen's words were indifferent and devoid of any emotion.
Zhuang Su looked up at him in surprise, only to find him icy cold. She struggled slightly, but gradually stopped struggling altogether. Her gaze remained fixed on Qing Chen, watching him intently as she was led away. The doorman's actions were somewhat rough, but Zhuang Su didn't even furrow her brow.
It was because he didn't know it was her that he treated her this way… Zhuang Su thought silently to herself, but she still couldn't suppress the sadness. She didn't want to go back to her past identity, yet she also hoped to stay by his side and silently accompany him—how contradictory!
Only then did Zhuang Su realize that she was such a cowardly person. It was because of her cowardice that she had ended up in this situation. It was simply her own fault.
Qingchen's icy words made her feel suffocated for a moment.
Sai Huatuo certainly knew a lot, and as someone in power, he shouldn't have been so merciful. But why was it Qingchen, and this particular person, who was determined to take action...?
Zhuang Su kept looking back as the corridor gradually receded into the distance, and the figure in white finally faded from her sight little by little.
Inside the house. For some reason, when the mute girl was taken away, Qingchen felt a strange pang of pity in the gaze she cast upon him. Although there was perhaps more sadness in that gaze than anything else, he didn't know where this sadness came from. He almost called out to the doormen, but in the end, reason prevailed and he didn't do anything further.
"Li Jiu, have someone keep an eye on her." Qingchen rubbed her temples wearily, suppressing the faint dizziness that was rising within her.
Li Jiu noticed his expression and felt vaguely uneasy, but he could only grit his teeth and respectfully say, "Yes."
No one in Shengxiao Valley dared to spread the news that the physician had been imprisoned, and for the time being, all was calm.
Zhuang Su huddled in the corner, vaguely unaware of how many days she had spent there. She was somewhat worried about the situation outside, but the place was damp and cold, and after a few days, she felt increasingly drowsy. Zhuang Su knew that her body temperature was slightly unusual; she must have a fever.
Looking back now, after living in Shengxiao Valley for so many years, she had never known there was a place called "Prison Cell" here. The surroundings were empty and vast, with only the faint sound of water flowing from somewhere, which, against the backdrop of the serene atmosphere, seemed even colder.
Gently pursing her dry, slightly cracked lips, Zhuang Su shifted slightly, finding a more comfortable position.
What happened to Xueyi Manor? Was it attacked? What happened to Qingchen? Without her medicine, did the poisonous incense Liusu sent harm his body again? And what about her? In this awkward identity and awkward situation, should she tell him that she is actually his Susu? Should she tell him that she is not dead?
Zhuang Su was so disgusted with his own cowardice that he almost wanted to harm himself.
The outside world was silent until suddenly there were light footsteps. The door creaked open, and Zhuang Su looked up, startled. In the dim moonlight, she could vaguely make out the person's face. Zhuang Su's pupils widened slightly, surprised that Qing Chen had suddenly come here.
The door was opened, and a cold wind blew in.
Qingchen walked a few steps to Zhuang Su, reeking of alcohol, yet his expression was clear; he was not drunk. He glanced at the surroundings, his gaze finally settling on Zhuang Su, and said, "I'll give you one last chance."
He tossed the items in his hand in front of Zhuang Su. On one side were paper and pen, and on the other was an incense box. When opened, the box revealed small, mottled fragments and a faint lingering fragrance.
Qingchen coughed heavily a few times, then gradually calmed down before asking in a low voice, "Tell me, what exactly is mixed into this incense box?"
These are all incense medicines that neutralize those poisonous incenses, which were arranged by Shen Jian... How could Zhuang Su possibly speak after hearing this? She could only bite her lip and remain silent.
Seeing his expression, Qingchen leaned closer to her, her breath falling on her face, her smile indifferent: "If you don't tell me... I can kill you anytime." As she finished speaking, a smile appeared on his lips, tinged with a faint smell of alcohol, making him exceptionally alluring.
Zhuang Su felt a splitting headache. Being watched so closely, she instinctively reached out to protect her mask, afraid of being exposed.
Qingchen narrowed his eyes slightly, a deep meaning hidden in his long, narrow peach-shaped eyes: "Are you afraid of people seeing your face? Is there something you're ashamed of?" As he spoke, he reached out to remove her mask.
Startled, Zhuang Su abruptly fled to the side, causing Qing Chen's hand to miss its mark. Turning back, she saw Zhuang Su's unusually tense appearance, and a deep light flashed in her eyes: "Could it be someone I know?"
The words lingered in the air, and Zhuang Su's heart skipped a beat. She felt his gaze gripping her like a hand, and instinctively, her only action was to flee. The door was wide open, and no one was holding it. She moved with lightning speed, forcefully suppressing the hazy, indistinct scene before her. A headache swirled in her mind, and as the discomfort of the past few days enveloped her, a feeling of dizziness swept over her.
Zhuang Su's steps were somewhat unsteady, but he could only run as hard as he could.
Caught completely off guard, still torn between revealing her identity, her current dazed state only allowed her to run like this. It was all too sudden, catching her completely off guard and leaving her unprepared…
Qingchen watched the figure gradually disappear into the distance, casually raising the wine jug in her hand to take a sip. With a faint smile, she tossed it down, and as the wine spilled on the ground, she took a step forward. In an instant, the figure in white, as alluring as a ghost, followed closely behind.
Zhuang Su felt a whistling wind behind her. The only path in front of her was a small lake in the middle, paved with a few stones. She cleared her mind and steadied herself as she stepped onto the stones. At first, she stepped relatively steadily, but suddenly a sharp pain shot through her head, and Zhuang Su felt a slight darkness before her eyes, and her feet suddenly lost their footing.
With a "plop," the sound of someone falling into the water stood out starkly in the silence. Zhuang Su could swim, but at this moment, a feeling of dizziness overwhelmed her. She was somewhat disoriented and just instinctively thrashed about in the water.
Something suddenly peeled off her face, and water rushed towards her, engulfing her. In the distance, someone had already landed on the lakeside. Suddenly, she saw the person's face clearly in the water, and her whole body seemed to freeze instantly. Her clothes fluttered wildly in the wind.
Chapter 36 An Old Friend Asks from Afar (Part 2)
Without any visible movement, Qingchen leaped into the lake. The surroundings were instantly chillingly cold, but Qingchen simply held the person who had fallen into the water tightly in her arms. His body temperature was also icy, but when pressed against hers, it felt slightly warm.
He held her tightly, and if it weren't for their skin pressed together, he would have wondered several times if he was drunk again. Yet only at this moment was it real, exceptionally real, and he could hold her firmly in his hands.
She was the woman he loved, and he would never let her go again, never!
Suddenly, everything that had happened before became clear. Qingchen felt incredibly stupid this time. Sai Huatuo would take on disciples he valued, and Liusu would pay special attention to people, yet he was the only one who had been kept in the dark all along.
Qingchen felt a slight burning sensation in Zhuang Su's body and hurriedly pulled her ashore. Upon closer inspection, she vaguely noticed a few specks of pale white on her lips and teeth. Her body temperature seemed unusual, and Qingchen felt uneasy, momentarily flustered.
But the person before him was Su, not the phantom he constantly recalled in his drunken state, but the most real person. Having never experienced life and death, her breath was somewhat slow and light, yet it truly existed.
Qingchen brought Zhuangsu back to the house, then turned around and ordered someone to wake up Li Jiu from his sleep and tell him to find a doctor.
"Alliance Leader, where am I supposed to find a doctor in the middle of the night? What's wrong with you..." Li Jiu's words stopped when he saw the pile of slender clothes on the bed. His eyes widened and he subconsciously rubbed them.
"Hurry up and go." Qingchen was soaked to the bone, but he had no intention of changing his clothes. He coughed a few times, his calm tone revealing his anxiety. Seeing his flustered expression, Li Jiu fell silent and ran away as fast as he could.
Qingchen gently wiped the water from Zhuangsu's hair, who had already changed into dry clothes. Seeing her furrowed brow, his heart ached inexplicably. His movements were extremely gentle, as if afraid of disturbing her. At this moment, Qingchen felt a burning anxiety. She wasn't dead, but—she was mute. He would rather she were safe and sound, even if it meant he had to suffer this pain in her place.
The doctor was summoned in the middle of the night, but dared not utter a single complaint. Sweating profusely under Qingchen's indifferent yet stern gaze, he performed the diagnosis, wrote the prescription, and hurriedly left. Li Jiu gave Qingchen a deep look, naturally not wanting to disturb him further, and quietly closed the door.
The room was empty, leaving only silence.
Qingchen leaned against the bedside, gazing absently at Zhuang Su's face. In a moment of reverie, his expression turned distant. He slowly lowered his head and gently kissed her lips. Long, long ago, he had actually wanted to kiss her like this without any reservations, even if only without her knowledge.
After the kiss, the surrounding silence seemed somewhat desolate.
Zhuang Su seemed startled by the slight movement, her brow furrowing slightly, her fingertips fidgeting restlessly. Qing Chen caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye and gently took her hand. This grasp was somewhat indulgent, seemingly calm, yet comforting.
Zhuang Su felt a strange sense of peace, and in a daze, she was somewhat disoriented. She opened her eyes groggily. The first thing she saw was a pair of long, deep, peach blossom eyes looking at her gently. They seemed somewhat familiar, yet it was the first time she had seen him with this expression, and Zhuang Su was taken aback. Gradually, she came to her senses and instinctively tried to back away, only to find that her hand was being held by him.
Zhuang Su's head throbbed slightly, and her whole body still felt a bit cold. However, she then realized that her face was bare; there was no trace of the mask anymore. Her whole body suddenly stiffened.
"Susu, do you really not want me to know you're still alive?" Qingchen's lips curled up slightly, but her eyes were full of loneliness.
Zhuang Su lowered her eyes, avoiding eye contact, and shook her head, unable to bear it any longer.
Qingchen tightened his grip on her hand slightly, then suddenly reached out with his other hand and pulled her close. Zhuang Su felt a rich aura wash over her, and her entire body was momentarily enveloped, leaving her in a daze.
"Susu, you must have heard what I said to 'Liyin' that day, right?" Qingchen's smile descended from above, and one could vaguely imagine the slightly upturned corners of his lips, a hint of cunning in them.
He once said that he loved her.
Zhuang Su's face flushed instantly at his reminder. Yes, she had heard it, and remembered it all too clearly. Yet, all she could do now was bury herself deeper into his arms to hide her embarrassment.
Qingchen noticed her actions and was overwhelmed with emotion: "Susu, you're not dead, that's good..." His words trailed off, sounding somewhat faint, and the last syllable carried a particularly poignant sense of vicissitude. He tightened his embrace around Zhuangsu, and she vaguely felt his body trembling slightly, her lips becoming dry.
Perhaps she should have told him sooner; she never knew he was so afraid of losing her.
"Never leave my side again." Qingchen's words were not a question, but a statement.
Zhuang Su buried her head in his chest and slowly nodded, almost without hesitation. At that moment, a finger silently reached out and gently lifted her chin. When Zhuang Su looked up, she saw a pair of smiling, clear eyes, and Qing Chen's kiss landed on her lips. Zhuang Su felt lost in the moment, and instinctively, she didn't struggle at all.
She loves him...
Zhuang Su lowered her eyelashes, not wanting to think about anything else for the time being. Whether staying by his side was right or wrong, she had no other choice now. Since she had no choice, then—let it be…
"I'm sorry." Qingchen released her after the kiss, their lips still lightly touching. His eyes were close to hers as he spoke softly. Yes, he was sorry. He shouldn't have failed to recognize her, he shouldn't have doubted her and tested her at every turn, he shouldn't have imprisoned her, he shouldn't have—made her sick…
In short, it was his fault.
At this moment, Qingchen felt extremely regretful.