Chapter 180:
All directions fell silent for a moment, even Jin Wuji’s shocked pupils dilated.
At that moment, Ming Feng, eyes red, nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and released it in one fluid motion.
The sharp arrow tore through the air straight toward the opposite side. Jin Wuji wanted to push the person in front of him out to block the arrow, but then realized Miss Xie’s importance and subconsciously let go of her, hastily twisting his body to dodge.
Who knew that arrow’s aim was off, as if afraid of hitting them, it veered directly onto a nearby guard. Jin Wuji’s expression changed as he realized, but Lu Ziyan, already on his knees, was leaping through the air toward them.
Xie Wanning had just been flung aside by Jin Wuji when she was pulled into a familiar embrace.
Her hair ribbon slipped off from the excessive movement, her black hair scattered by the wind. Before she could react, her shoulder felt heavy, her long hair wrapped into a cloak along with it. Lu Ziyan’s fingers trembled lightly as he carefully avoided the wound on her neck and tied the fastening for her.
Jin Wuji behind them had a cold, sunken expression as he drew the sword at his waist and lunged toward them. Lu Ziyan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, shielding the young lady in his arms as he sidestepped. He had no intention of engaging in battle himself, only wanting to take her away from this place and properly bandage the wound.
The wound was on her neck, posing a constant risk to her life; he couldn’t afford that risk.
Late autumn days were short and nights long; the sunset on the horizon had fully sunk in the west unbeknownst when, and the sky was dim.
The two sides’ forces clashed fiercely. Lu Ziyan scooped the person in his arms around the waist, leaped into the air, vaulted dozens of feet, and returned to his own boat.
Upon landing, Xie Wanning saw Ming Feng and several deputy generals blocking Jin Wuji, but they seemed to be falling short. Jin Wuji seized the opportunity to flip and leap, falling into the dark river water.
She was extremely anxious, but with her mute acupoint sealed, she could only watch helplessly.
There was a traveling doctor on the boat. Xie Wanning was carried into a warm side room, away from the heart-pounding danger, and only then did she feel how painful the wound on her neck was.
She didn’t want to cry, but when the top-quality gold wound medicine was sprinkled on the torn flesh, physiological tears welled up one by one.
Lu Ziyan stood bedside, emanating a chilling aura. He didn’t move, just stared at her unblinkingly.
Only when her tears were about to slide from her cheeks onto her neck did he reach out to wipe them away.
“Don’t cry. The grievances you’ve suffered, I’ll get them all back for you.” His face showed no expression as he spoke.
He neither softly comforted her for falling into the Jin raiders’ hands nor showed any disgust toward her ordeal.
He seemed to remember nothing, his gaze stubbornly fixed on her neck, watching the wound being properly bandaged. Only when the doctor said there was no danger to her life did his tense back visibly relax.
He waved his hand, and the doctor bowed and retreated.
Xie Wanning felt the boat beneath her feet slowly moving.
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Neither spoke, only the sound of each other’s breathing lightly rising.
After surviving death once, Xie Wanning no longer knew how to face him.
Logically, it was because of him that she was targeted by the Jin raiders and suffered this undeserved disaster.
But it was also he who rescued her from the raiders’ hands.
At her most helpless, most despairing, most needy moment, he descended like a heavenly soldier.
Having lived two lives as a person, Xie Wanning had always been in a nest of wealth and luxury; she had never experienced such desperation, nor felt the sensation of glimpsing a chance at life in desperation.
She would never forget the moment of her daze when he was on his knees.
A woman who had fallen into the enemy crown prince’s hands was verbally humiliated and indecently toyed with by him in front of everyone.
And he, as the commander of the nation, knelt to the enemy and begged mercy for such a woman.
The time she loved him most was at sixteen, joyful and elated just seeing him.
But she had never felt such shock.
In the silence, Lu Ziyan moved.
He slowly sat on the edge of the bed, reached out to unseal her mute acupoint, his lips moved, and he said softly, “…Does it hurt?”
After asking, he realized, his breathing stalling.
Such a wound, for a young lady raised in the depths of her boudoir—how could it not hurt.
He raised his hand, wanting to pull her into his arms, but feared scaring her. When he spoke again, his voice was low and hoarse, “No matter the situation in the future, don’t harm yourself again.”
That scene just now had nearly scared him to death.
The deepest fear in his heart stirred, his mind trembling, wishing he could kneel and kowtow, pleading with the gods above.
Xie Wanning heard the tremble in his voice and couldn’t help looking up, only to see the man before her with reddened eyes at some point, those usually knife-like cold eyes now full of lingering fear.
Seeing her look over, he could no longer hold back, carefully clasping her shoulders, wanting to pull her into his embrace.
Xie Wanning hurriedly shifted back, “Don’t touch me!”
Her expression panicked, like a startled bird.
Normally, such a state would only make Lu Ziyan feel she was repulsed and annoyed by him, but now…
His hand froze in midair, his face stiff as a dead man’s.
After a long time, he slowly turned his neck, his gaze locking onto her, eyes filled with pain, word by word, “I’m sorry. It was my men who failed to protect you well.”
“…” Xie Wanning was stunned, understanding his attitude, a flash of discomfort on her face. Her fingers gripped her clothes tightly, and she murmured softly, “They… they…”
They!
Lu Ziyan suddenly doubled over, the familiar pain amplified several times, surging in his chest and spreading to his limbs and torso, his whole body chilled.
He clenched his teeth hard, his face alternately pale and green. After enduring for a few breaths, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Xie Wanning jumped in fright, “What’s wrong with you?”
A few drops of blood splashed onto her skirt hem, the scene reminding her of the past, her brows furrowing involuntarily, “…You’ve suffered an internal injury again?”
Or rather, the previous injury hadn’t healed at all?
How long had it been.
Finally hearing her voice of concern again.
Lu Ziyan thought hazily in his daze, lifting his head blankly, “I’ll chop them all into minced meat and wash away your shame with their blood.”
“Wanwan, don’t think darkly,” his lips opened and closed, his hand lifted with resolve, grasping her wrist, his voice breaking, “Don’t harm yourself.”
His teeth still bore crimson bloodstains, looking extremely tragic. Xie Wanning swallowed, staring blankly at him, murmuring, “I was humiliated by the Jin army…”
“It’s alright,” Lu Ziyan interrupted urgently, “No matter what happens, as long as you’re alive, Wanwan, I only want you alive.”
…How absurd.
How could he say such absurd words.
He actually said such absurd words!
She had been in foreign hands for half a month, and she told him she had been repeatedly humiliated by the raiders during that half month.
And such a domineering, tyrannical man, jealous by nature with possessiveness far beyond ordinary, told her it was alright.
