Укротитель зверей

Глава 35

I rolled my eyes at the sky. Sure enough, if the soft approach didn't work, I'd resort to the hard one. If I'd known you were going to say that, I wouldn't have bothered with all that nonsense.

"You want to force me to stay? What makes you think you can? Just these archers hiding in the shadows?" Mo Li's eyes widened, and the men in green gripped their weapons tightly, creating a tense atmosphere.

The man said, "Mr. Mo single-handedly killed dozens of elite cavalrymen, and even Elder Bai could not escape death. He fought against the Third Elder in Lan Family Village, moving in and out freely as if he were in an empty place. Such divine skills are invincible, and I am far from being able to match him."

He's right. I stared blankly at Mo Li's back. Mo Li, your martial arts are so superb, I admire you to the point of prostration. But even the most unparalleled master is still made of flesh and blood, right? Are you really alright with such serious injuries?

"Enough with the nonsense. I don't know the origin of the master you're talking about, but you colluded with the elders of my sect and tried to ambush me. I have no interest in cowards and I don't want to see this person. Stop arguing. If you want to fight, then fight. If not, then get lost."

As soon as Mo Li finished speaking, the burly man who had been kneeling on the ground suddenly stood up and roared, saying something that was unclear.

The man in the lead raised his hand to stop him, about to speak, but suddenly a bowstring twanged in the forest. Before I could react, a volley of arrows rained down with incredible force. There was nowhere to hide on the cliff, and behind us was a sheer drop of thousands of feet. The scene was extremely dangerous. Fortunately, everyone was already on high alert. They immediately brandished their weapons to parry, the clanging of weapons ringing in the air. Then Mo Li shouted, "Retreat!" Everyone began to move towards the iron chain bridge.

Protected by Mo Li, I took only a few steps back before stepping onto the narrow surface of the iron chain bridge. Several people who had already crossed the bridge protected us from behind, while in front, someone in green was deftly blocking arrows. Mo Li and I walked in the middle, our bodies almost touching. Although the situation was dangerous, I felt no fear except for worrying about his injuries getting worse. I felt that as long as I was with him, nothing was scary.

The man shouted angrily amidst the rain of arrows, "Stop!" His voice was extremely angry, as if he was very dissatisfied with his subordinates for not obeying his orders. However, the attack on the other side did not stop; instead, the rain of arrows intensified, as if they were deliberately trying to oppose him.

By this time, I had already walked more than halfway across the iron chain bridge with everyone else, and I was just a few steps away from the other side of the valley. I felt more and more relaxed, and when I heard his shout, I almost laughed out loud. But then I heard a roar from the other side, which came from that burly deputy general again.

Suddenly, the woman in green cried out, "Oh no! They're going to destroy the bridge!"

I didn't know what was happening, but the ground beneath my feet suddenly shook, and the narrow surface of the suspension bridge bounced like a leaf in the wind. Then, with another huge jolt, it seemed as if it was about to flip over.

I was originally holding onto the iron chains on both sides of the bridge, but with this huge tremor, I couldn't hold on anymore and was thrown off in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, Mo Li freed up a hand and grabbed me. I only had one hand held by him, and my whole body was hanging in the air. The two people behind me were originally waving their weapons to deflect the rain of arrows. They couldn't keep their balance and fell off the bridge. White mist filled the air below the bridge, and screams pierced the void, the last sound lingering and echoing in the valley for a long time. I don't know how steep and deep this broken valley was.

In the blink of an eye, only a few of Mo Li's men remained, barely hanging on the iron chains. If another volley of arrows came, they would all surely die. I strained to look up, trying to see Mo Li through the thick fog, but suddenly my face felt wet and the smell of blood was strong. I reached out in horror to touch it, only to find my hand covered in blood.

Mo Li's voice rang out through the thick fog, "Everyone climb up the iron chains, quick!"

Someone answered "yes," but before they could act, the iron chain suddenly sank, as if the part connected to the other end of the valley was also loosening.

I heard a loud shout from afar, "Temur, no! Stop!"

It was too late. The iron chain bridge was only connected to the broken valley by a single line. The mountain wind brought the final sound of cracking and collapsing. I heard Qingyi's exclamation, and then my body felt light as I fell down along with the entire bridge.

The roar continued through the thick fog, "Don't hurt that woman! The Lord wants her unharmed! Timur, how dare you disobey orders!"

I was still in mid-air when I heard that and I completely broke down.

So it all happened because of me! So the person they wanted was me!

Why? Why!

I've faded from the public eye, changed my name, faked my death to escape, and never wanted to show my face again. Why is it that some people still won't let me go? Why is it always me, me, whoever I am!

~~ ...

Hai: It's in the final stages; I'm aiming to submit the manuscript early next month...

Safety:……

Narrator: Ping An, I understand, I understand you...

Chapter 85

I woke up to the sound of water, fearing that I was dead, and also afraid that I would find myself in the underworld, surrounded by countless evil spirits, and for a moment I dared not open my eyes.

But the sound of water kept running in my ears, and every part of my body ached. Suddenly, I realized, how could a dead person feel pain? In a flash, my eyes snapped open.

The sunlight pierced my eyes like sharp arrows, stinging them. I closed my eyes in fear of the light, my forehead throbbed, and my head buzzed. My body was half-submerged in water, which flowed endlessly over me with a rushing sound.

The last scene before I lost consciousness came back to me. My hands groped unconsciously, trying to find the hand that had always held mine, the person who had always been by my side, but only water kept flowing between my fingers, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't grasp anything.

Don't leave!

I tried to call out to him, but my throat was in excruciating pain and I couldn't make a sound. My panic grew stronger and stronger, and I could no longer lie there. I struggled and finally climbed out of the water.

I don't know how long I had been soaking in the water. My limbs felt heavy, and it took me a long time to climb ashore. Before I could even stand up, I looked around. In front of me was a wide river with a gentle surface. The banks were covered with pebbles of various shapes. Looking back, I saw towering cliffs in the distance, with the mountain peaks on both sides looking as if they had been cleaved by a knife and axe. That must be the cliff where the iron chain bridge was located.

When the suspension bridge collapsed and everyone fell, I thought I would be smashed to pieces, but I never expected that there was an undercurrent at the bottom of the valley that swept me here.

Since that's the case, the others who fell with me should also be nearby. I searched around along the shore, but my legs were too weak to support my body, so I simply used my hands and feet. The sharp edges of the rocks on the shore were cut and torn in no time, but as long as I thought of the blood that had dripped from Mo Li's body onto my face before the fall, I was filled with anxiety and panic. I couldn't feel the pain anymore; I only had one thought in my mind.

Mo Li, where are you?

Despite his severe injuries, he still carried me all the way, and then fell off the cliff. What if he hadn't fallen into the water... what if he hadn't been washed ashore... what if he was already...

These thoughts flashed through my mind. I tried to move forward, but suddenly I found myself trembling all over. My hands were clasped on the ground, and my fingers were shaking so much that the pebbles beneath me were making a slight noise. In my terror, I was unable to move.

The sound of water never stopped. I gritted my teeth and cursed myself: Ping An, you useless thing, are you so afraid of him when he's not by your side? I have to find him, alive or dead. Even if I have to crawl through this entire river, I have to find him.

After I finished cursing those two sentences, I felt like I had regained some strength. When I looked up again, a crimson color suddenly appeared in the water not far away. From where I was, it was floating and disappearing, like a phantom.

I let out a low cry, scrambled to my feet, and rushed straight toward him. My feet sank into the water, splashing everywhere. The pebbles at the bottom were slippery, and I was running so fast that I slipped and fell in the water after only a couple of steps. I coughed and choked as I got up to look again, but he had already been swept far away.

I was frantic with worry and chased after him relentlessly. The current became more and more turbulent as I went forward, and I watched as he was swept further and further away from me. I don't know where I got the strength, but I flipped myself onto a huge rock in the middle of the river. With all my remaining strength, I used my lightness skill to leap up and stretch my fingers forward with all my might. Finally, I managed to grab a piece of his clothes.

The waves surged in, sweeping him away again. How could I let go? I clung tightly to the hem of his clothes, and with my other hand I grabbed a low-hanging branch on the bank, trying to stop us. But the current was too strong, and the branch I grabbed the first time was too thin. It snapped in two with a snap. I reached out and grabbed again, repeating this several times until I finally managed to stop myself.

I dragged him ashore, turned him over so I could see his face. The sunlight was shining brightly, but his body was cold. His face was as pale as paper, his dark eyebrows and eyelashes were covered in water, smooth and flat, yet deathly still.

I grabbed his hand, wanting to see him again, but all I could see was a vast expanse of white, and my mind was filled with the same thing. It was as if everything in the world had suddenly vanished, and I was left alone in a desolate wilderness, with no way out.

He's dead, he's dead!

He's already dead, what am I doing here? What am I doing still alive?

I sat on the shore holding his hand, feeling only emptiness and desolation, devoid of any joy. Suddenly, my hand trembled, and I was so lost in my heartache and confusion that I didn't even realize it. My hand trembled again, and I snapped back to reality. The white mist suddenly dissipated, and his face was right in front of me.

I held his hand tightly. His eyes were still closed and his face was pale, but there was a dark blue aura between his brows, his fingertips were trembling, and his shoulders were slightly hunched. Even when he was unconscious, I could tell that he was enduring great pain.

But he's still alive!

After the initial shock of grief, I was suddenly overjoyed, but then I feared that I was delirious and that what I was seeing was all an illusion. I immediately bent down and pressed my face against his chest. His clothes were soaked and cold, with only a faint, almost imperceptible beating of his heart.

"you……"

A hoarse voice sounded in my ear. I looked up abruptly and saw him looking at me with his eyes slightly open. He had woken up.

I felt as if I had suddenly ascended from hell to heaven. Overwhelmed by ecstasy, I stared at him blankly, speechless.

The bluish tinge between his brows was still there, his eyebrows furrowed, and when he tried to speak again, his lips trembled, and he couldn't suppress a groan.

I snapped back to reality from my euphoria, placed my hands on him, hesitant to move, and asked anxiously, "Mo Li, how are you? Are you alright?"

"What...what have you done now?" He hunched his shoulders, barely managing to raise his hand, which trembled as he reached for his heart.

I suddenly realized what was happening, and immediately knelt down on the spot, grasped his hand and swore, "Don't worry, as long as you are safe, I will never want to die. I will persevere and live on. No one can force me to die, I will never die."

His hands were weak and I could only hold them, but his face was stiff and his eyes, which had been open, closed again. It was clear that he could no longer tolerate what I had done, but I only saw the blue aura between his brows begin to dissipate and his tense body relax. It was as if the strange movements in his body had gradually subsided.

At that moment, I was overjoyed and couldn't help but try to see him clearly, but everything in front of me was blurry again.

"Why are you crying? What happened to your hands and feet?" he asked again, his voice low and weak.

I wiped my face with my other hand, and sure enough, my face was covered in hot tears.

"I'm so happy you're not dead. My hands and feet are fine, nothing at all." In my joy, I didn't care about the scratches on my hands and feet. With a sigh of relief, I wasn't afraid of losing face, so I simply held his hand and cried my heart out.

I grabbed his hand and he wiped away his tears. His brows furrowed again, but strangely, this time he didn't scold me. He just turned his face away and didn't look at me.

After I calmed down from crying, I reached out to help him up. He asked me in a hoarse voice, "Where are the others?"

I shook my head, very sadly, "I don't know."

He remained silent for a while, and I grew anxious and asked nervously, "How is your wound? Do you want me to bandage it for you?"

He gave a low hum, "No need, I've already sealed the acupoints on the injured area."

I went to check the wound on his side and, sure enough, there was no more blood seeping out. I was immediately surprised. "When did you seal it? When I was on the bridge, I thought your wound had reopened. It scared me."

He remained silent, and his eyes slowly closed again.

I became uneasy. If his injuries were not serious, why couldn't he get up yet? He was recovering even slower than me. Could it be that he injured himself when he fell?

I was afraid he had really fallen somewhere, so I reached out to touch him, but he opened his eyes as soon as my fingers touched his shirt.

"What are you doing?" His voice was low, but his tone was sharp.

"I want to see where else you're hurt," I said honestly, then belatedly blushed.

What am I doing? Am I taking his clothes off?

Indeed, the martial arts world is a poisonous place. Even I, a royal daughter who grew up in the deep palace, quickly became shameless in this environment.

"No need to look, I'm not injured, I'm poisoned."

"Poisoned?" I exclaimed.

He gritted his teeth, "Take off my shirt."

Huh? I was stunned. He's asking me to take his clothes off...?

Although I was stunned for a moment, I still obediently took off his clothes. He was completely weak and leaned heavily against me. I never thought he would be so weak. I was worried and nervous, and my hands and feet wouldn't obey me. It was not easy to take off his shirt. I took one look and couldn't help but gasp.

His body was covered in scars, most of them old wounds. I remember Ji Feng saying that he had been fighting alongside his father and brothers on the battlefield since he was fifteen, and injuries were inevitable. But when I looked at him in the sunlight, I saw so many old sword and knife marks, mixed with fresh, blood-stained wounds. Especially above his heart, there was a long scar that looked as if his heart had been ripped out. Even though it had long since healed, it was still shocking to me.

"On my shoulder," he whispered.

"Where?" I looked away, not daring to look at his body. I leaned closer to look at his shoulder, but I couldn't find a trace of blood.

"Look carefully."

I leaned closer to take a closer look, and sure enough, there was a tiny black spot on his shoulder, like a pinhole.

"Was it from a needle prick? There's no blood." I tried to reach out and touch it, but was stopped before I could even touch his skin.

"Don't touch it, this is Elder Qing's Bone-Piercing Nail, it's highly poisonous, be careful."

I've suffered from the poisons those elders used, and the mere mention of "deadly poison" makes me tremble. I was anxious, "What should we do?"

He glanced down at the pinhole, gritted his teeth and spoke, but his breath was weak and his voice was always low.

"This is a hidden weapon that old man concealed in the iron fan. Once inside the body, it travels through the blood vessels, causing complete paralysis. I didn't have time to force it out before, and I've been suppressing it with my internal energy. But when I fell into the water, I lost consciousness and still fell victim to its attack. Now we're in trouble. To detoxify, we have to remove it first."

He spoke so much in one breath, his face turned even paler, his body went limp, and he just leaned back. I quickly clasped my hands together and hugged him tightly, not daring to let go. In my anxiety, my voice trembled.

"How can it be removed? Is surgery required?"

His breathing weakened, and after a long pause, he finally answered, "Can you?"

Even at a time like this, he still asks me that question. I'm almost going crazy. I shake my head desperately. "How could I? Oh, right, Cheng Weihui. He operated on me. He can definitely cure you."

"You dare..." he began to answer, his voice almost audible, "You dare hand me over to Wen De's men..."