Орден Красного Лотоса

Глава 87

He seemed to have fainted again.

The old servant hesitated: "This..."

"Is his word more important or his life!" Yang Nianqing snapped out of her daze, her voice trembling with anxiety and tears. "It's already like this, don't listen to him, hurry back!"

The old servant hurriedly nodded and went out, instructing the servants behind him to hurry back.

The carriage sped along, and Yang Nianqing, oblivious to the bumps, simply held him tightly, both anxious and frightened.

In her arms, his handsome face was completely drained of color, and blood still seeped from the corner of his lips. She kept wiping it with her sleeve, but she could never get it clean; his chin and the front of his shirt were covered in crimson...

The beautifully shaped lips seemed to be moving.

Is he speaking?

Yang Nianqing hurriedly wiped away her tears, leaned closer, and tried hard to hear what he was saying.

The sound was very faint, floating aimlessly, like a kite with a broken string.

"Don't go back."

As soon as the carriages and horses stopped at the gate, a commotion began, and a person walked out from inside the gate.

More than half a month had passed since they last saw each other, but he was still as dashing and leisurely as ever in his white robes, bright and vivid. When he saw them return, his long, slender eyes immediately shone with an unusual light.

The strength that had sustained her all the way suddenly vanished. Yang Nianqing disregarded everything else and ran up to him, grabbing his arm and stammering, "Quick... Brother Nangong... save him... Where is Brother Qiu? Hurry and save him, he's in the car!"

Only then did he notice her face covered in tears and the bloodstains. Li You paused for a moment, said nothing, and walked towards the carriage. When he saw Nangong Xue, his expression changed.

The room was completely silent.

Two slender fingers joined together, imbued with intense force, struck different acupoints swiftly and accurately, like a gust of wind. Finally, a large amount of dark, slightly greenish blood spurted out.

Nangong Xue remains unconscious.

The tan silk scarf lit up, and Qiu Bailu stood up, bowing her head to carefully wipe her hands, her expression calm.

Yang Nianqing couldn't help but ask, "How is it?"

"Heart-Eating and Bone-Attaching Powder"

"Impossible!" Yang Nianqing exclaimed. "We haven't rested at all on the way here, we haven't even gotten off the carriage, how could he have been poisoned?"

“I didn’t say he was poisoned on the way. Not all poisons take effect on the spot,” Qiu Bailu glanced at her coldly and scoffed. “I’m just wondering how he managed to hold on until now before coming back.”

He Bi nodded, a hint of admiration appearing on his cold face: "It's already quite remarkable that one can endure this Heart-Corroding and Bone-Piercing Powder for even half an hour."

Yang Nianqing was stunned.

It turns out that this "Heart-Corroding and Bone-Attaching Powder" is colorless and odorless, only becoming apparent when it takes effect. Fortunately, although this poison is tormenting, it is not the kind that is immediately fatal, so it seems that the person who poisoned him did not intend to kill him.

What kind of pain was he enduring? No wonder he said strange things. Perhaps he already realized it then, but why didn't he tell me? Why did he insist on not coming back even though he knew he was poisoned?

What is he afraid of?

Is he the murderer? He's been trying to stop everyone from investigating, and now that someone has given up and left, it should suit his purposes perfectly. Why is he stopping them now? What is his purpose in doing this?

Now that the poison has been neutralized, although Nangong Xue is still unconscious, her condition has improved considerably, and by dusk, her complexion has gradually improved as well.

He would rather endure the torment of pain than come back. What is he afraid of? Is it really only for her?

Yang Nianqing stood by the bedside, lost in thought.

On his handsome face, his two noble, sword-like eyebrows were always slightly furrowed, carrying a heartbreaking melancholy, as if he had endless sorrows that he could not unravel.

What secrets could such a person hold? Back then, he would grieve for half a day over the deaths of those who were completely unrelated to him. He probably didn't want to get involved in these things, but in the end, he was just like her, innocently and inexplicably dragged into it.

There's a really good saying:

When you're in the world of martial arts, you're not always in control of your own destiny.

In this seemingly calm but actually turbulent world, are there many things beyond everyone's control? Before him stand Li You, He Bi, Qiu Bailu…

Qiu Bailu did not leave.

He stood quietly by the bed and looked at Nangong Xue for a long time. For the first time, his sharp eyes were devoid of pride and sarcasm, and even showed some sadness.

Smelling the unique fragrance emanating from the earth-yellow clothes, Yang Nianqing thought of the phrase "gentle as a chrysanthemum," and that familiar feeling welled up in her heart again.

Like He Bi, he was ultimately not a "god".

"God" is ruthless, yet he stays by his friend's side, and their long-standing friendship is just like that of He Bi and Li You.

Looking at Nangong Xue on the bed, and then at him, the two of them were worlds apart in terms of appearance, status, and temperament. One was handsome, the other ordinary; one was a noble young master from a prestigious family, the other a detached and skilled healer from the martial arts world; one was as elegant as jade, the other as proud as a chrysanthemum in frost.

Upon close comparison, they had absolutely no similarities whatsoever. However, Yang Nianqing felt that they were still quite alike—to become friends, there must be some similarities.

"Perhaps... you shouldn't have come back." A sigh.

He turned and walked out.

Yang Nianqing was taken aback.

Before she could react, another person walked in—

Sent in a hurry, didn't have time to make many changes, please forgive the quality.

Thank you to the friends who put in the effort to write reviews, and thank you to Yan Yue for the long review :)

Volume Four: The Slaps People Get in the Face in the Martial World

He Bi glanced at the bed: "Brother Nangong is alright now."

Yang Nianqing nodded.

"Old Li is back."

Suddenly, a mix of emotions welled up inside me, but I also found it somewhat amusing.

What good would it do to come back? If at first there was some escapism in her mind because he was the one who gave up on her first, because he told her to leave, now it's real. She really doesn't want to see him. She finally made up her mind to end it, so why should she go back for a relationship that's already incomplete? To be summoned at will and dismissed at will, even if Yang Nianqing has no principles, she wouldn't go to that extent. Even for the sake of the person in front of her, she can't do that.

Li You hasn't said a word yet.

Ever since he kissed her in Tangjiabao, their relationship seemed to be set. Who could have imagined that such a series of events would follow?

That woman gave everything for him, and after she died, he still regretted it and chose to go and be with her.

In the same situation, however, Nangong Xue chose herself.

Should we be angry at him for being heartless? Even if he was heartless to her, wasn't Nangong Xue just as heartless to Tang Kesi? It can only be said that, in matters of the heart, most women are selfish and want to possess "him" completely.

Looking at the pale face on the bed, Yang Nianqing shook her head: "Brother Nangong might wake up. He hasn't eaten anything all day, so it's more convenient for me to stay here and keep watch..."

silence.

"When he left, he asked me to take good care of you, but... Brother Nangong was unusually happy, so when you were leaving, I couldn't say anything."

He Bi turned and walked out.

Would he worry about himself?

No, he should be afraid that if something happened to him, he would feel even more guilty...

Yang Nianqing was lost in thought when a hand suddenly reached out from the side and gently took hers. Startled, she exclaimed happily, "You're awake?"

In that instant, her smile became so captivating again.

Nangong Xue leaned against the headboard, quietly watching her. Her phoenix eyes regained their usual melancholy and complexity, and the cheerful and bright look that had appeared in the carriage was gone.

Looking into those eyes, Yang Nianqing suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Why had things turned out this way?

"How...are you feeling now?"

There was no response.

After a while.

He looked around and said softly, "I'm back."

She didn't keep her promise and eventually came back.

Even though she was back, she couldn't let him down. Yang Nianqing immediately blinked and said, "It's not that I'm back, it's just that I'm resting for two days. We'll go home when you're better."

go home?

He smiled slightly, but his gaze gradually dimmed.

Their home?

After a long silence, he suddenly released her hand: "Would you mind going to ask Brother Qiu to come over?"

Yang Nianqing was taken aback.

There were clearly servants waiting outside the door, so why did he insist on making her go? She knew perfectly well that if she went out, she would definitely see… What did he mean by this?!

She suppressed her anger and stood up: "I'll have them go and call them."

“No need,” he interrupted her with a smile. “Brother Qiu doesn’t like seeing outsiders, and they can’t explain it clearly either. I’d appreciate it if you could go for me. I suppose Brother Li has already returned. Please send your regards to him as well.”

Yang Nianqing was stunned.

Why would he do this? He's already hinted so clearly at "our family"—could it all just be wishful thinking on his part? No, when that sword came at him, he stood up to shield him, and on the carriage, his pure joy was absolutely genuine.

Just because he "came back"?

So what if she came back? She didn't intend to disappoint him. Didn't he know what she meant? Or was she not as important to him as he thought? Or was he feeling guilty, pushing her out for the sake of friendship? What do these grown men take her for!

Yang Nianqing suddenly became very angry.

Before making a decision, you don't even ask me?

However, upon seeing that pale face, all the anger in my heart immediately dissipated.

She looked into his eyes in bewilderment, seeking answers, but his gentle, melancholic phoenix eyes had already slowly closed, no longer looking at her.

"Brother Nangong..."

“You go first,” he interrupted her abruptly, regaining his usual elegance, his tone strangely distant. “I’ll rest for a bit. Remember to tell Brother Qiu to come over quickly.”

He remained silent for a long while.

Yang Nianqing walked out.

He slowly opened his eyes and stared silently at the door. Dusk crept into the room, carrying a thin veil of desolation and sorrow, veiling his handsome face.

Sure enough, just as I reached the corner of the veranda, I saw that familiar and bright white expanse, still so conspicuous in the shadows of twilight.