Inside the cabin, Gou'er blocked Tao Sanniang from examining Lin Chaoying's injuries. Hai Zhuanhao said, "My family's ancestors were all imperial physicians, so rest assured." Gou'er angrily retorted, "She drugged us!" She thought that if the young lady hadn't been clever, they would have been caught. They suspected that on the first day, to make them relax, the attackers hadn't dared to act. They had eaten their fill, then discarded all subsequent food, otherwise they would have fallen into their trap. However, hearing Wang Chongyang's soft call, she had no choice but to obey. After Tao Sanniang examined her, she said, "Miss Lin first suffered from liver qi stagnation and reversed blood flow. Now, by forcefully using her inner energy, both her heart and liver are damaged." Gou'er glanced sideways and interjected, "And there's a trauma to her abdomen." Xu Guang, remaining silent, drew his saber to slit his throat, but Hai Zhuanhao stopped him in time, chiding, "This solves nothing! Don't be impulsive again." He then turned to Tao Sanniang. Tao Sanniang sighed softly and said, "I have a palace-grade spiritual medicine that can help Miss Lin clear her meridians, invigorate blood, and relieve qi." Gou'er asked, "What is your origin, and why did you harm us? Explain it first. My young lady will not accept favors for no reason." Tao Sanniang glanced at her husband and respectfully stepped to his side.
Hai Zhuanhao said, "My real name is Shu Tianbao. My clan has served as the imperial guards for the Liao Dynasty for generations. In the third year of Baoda, Hui Libao declared himself emperor. My father was ordered to escort Prince Xu in his escape. We were separated along the way, so I had no choice but to take the remaining imperial relatives and hide in the mountains and wilderness of Taizhou, where we lived for twenty-five years. Thirteen years ago tonight, we were betrayed. The Khitan dogs sent Dark Swordsmen to exterminate us... my infant son who was just one year old, my parents who shielded my grandson with their bodies, my relatives, friends, and my second brother who was dismembered into five pieces while holding off the enemy to let us escape..." Shu Tianbao choked, unable to speak. Tao Sanniang turned her back and wiped away tears, while Xu Guang covered his face and left the room. A moment later, Shu Tianbao regained his composure and continued, "That day, seeing Miss Lin dressed in black and exuding an imposing aura, we suspected she was a Dark Swordsman..." Gou'er said, "My young lady is indeed a Dark Swordsman." Shu Tianbao's expression changed drastically, his chest heaving. Wang Chongyang said, "She was expelled from the Demon Peaks long ago."
"Are you a Song person, sir?" Tao Sanniang asked. Seeing him nod, she recalled how she had risked danger for her beloved Langning, refusing to flee to the Song border with her family. She gazed at her husband and softly said, "We are both lovers." Shu Tianbao took a deep breath and said, "A life for a life, then." With that, he turned and left. https:/
Gou'er held the medicinal tea brewed by Tao Sanniang, looking at Wang Chongyang hesitantly.
Afraid of making the wrong decision again, but the sleeping Lin Chaoying had just vomited another mouthful of blood. Wang Chongyang resolutely nodded and said, "I will guard outside." He sat cross-legged at the door, listening for any movement within the room. His heart swayed more than the boat itself, praying that this risk would not go wrong. After an unknown period, amidst his anxiety, he heard Gou'er report that she had woken up.
She lay on the couch, her eyelids tightly shut. He gently brushed aside her disheveled hair on her hand, noticing she slightly avoided his touch. Later, she simply turned her face to the right. She was still angry about his recklessness and haste. It didn't matter. Seeing her breathing evenly and the sallow color fading from her face made him happy. "Tao Sanniang's elixir is truly effective." After a while, receiving no response, Wang Chongyang tried to strike up a conversation, "Because of what happened with Madam Shangguan, you saved him?" Seeing her expression as she tasted Tao Sanniang's food, he always felt she was recalling the incident with Madam Shangguan. Alas, why blame himself again? Lin Chaoying did not answer, and Wang Chongyang stopped speaking, content and happy just watching her gradually recover. A while later, Lin Chaoying half-opened her eyelids and said, "'Golden Boy Swordplay' has a complementary internal energy set. Why didn't you use it when we fought or when our swords met? Do you look down on me?" Wang Chongyang was speechless. He himself couldn't figure out why he hadn't used it; he simply felt it wasn't needed, and it had nothing to do with looking down on her. Lin Chaoying closed her eyes and said, "I'm very tired. You can go." Wang Chongyang left with a chest full of frustration.
"A lover? Hmph, all my mistakes are remembered, all my bad deeds are considered, while your own affairs are vague and ambiguous. What kind of lover is that? The cold and heat have receded. I haven't felt this comfortable in a long time, yet my consciousness is gradually blurring. In a daze, I hear him return. Alas, didn't you hear the Khitan man's accusation? I am a bloodthirsty demon, how can I be worthy of your chivalrous spirit? No wonder heaven has separated us so many times, even meeting without recognition. No need to tidy my bedding for me, leave! ... Huh? Why are your lips so close to my forehead? Do you want to kiss me? If this isn't a dream, what should I do if you act like this? You picked up my hand, are you trying to stop me from struggling? You held it tight! A warmth quickly transmitted from my hand to my heart, making me lose the reason to resist."
"Brother Shixiong, you've been guarding all night. Let me take over," Gou'er said, waking Wang Chongyang, who was propped by the bedside, tightly holding Lin Chaoying's left palm. He stepped onto the deck and met Tao Sanniang, who smiled and said, "It's finally cleared. After three hours of strong winds, the boat has moved forward by nearly two days' journey. I'll check on Miss Lin first, then prepare breakfast for you, sir." Wang Chongyang nodded in thanks, but his gaze fell on the stern, towards the silently observing Shu Tianbao. "To accept what cannot be helped as fate." He heard this, turned around, and his look of indignation turned to sorrow. Wang Chongyang continued, "Do you still deeply cherish your deceased relatives?" Shu Tianbao nodded. Wang Chongyang added, "Then don't let them worry about whether you, who are still alive, are happy."
Shu Tianbao shivered, lowered his head, and thought for a moment. "Are you also a cultivator, sir?" Seeing Wang Chongyang nod, Shu Tianbao said sincerely, "Could you offer some guidance?" The two sat down on the spot and chatted. Tao Sanniang occasionally brought them tea, stealing glances at her husband. Since the tragic incident, he hadn't been so gentle. The lively and simple young man from those years had regained three or four parts of himself. "I have benefited greatly from True Master Chongyang's teachings," Shu Tianbao said, bowing deeply in thanks. Wang Chongyang clasped his hands and thought that such a good way to guide people towards the Dao was also beneficial and joyful for himself, a truly wonderful thing.
Although Gou'er didn't explicitly state it, Wang Chongyang, judging by her expression, believed that after taking Tao Sanniang's medicinal tea twice, Lin Chaoying had largely recovered. However, the weather had worsened again since the afternoon, and he worried about potential changes, thus he did not dare to enter and check on her.
Hearing Xu Guang report that the main sail could not be lowered, Shu Tianbao secretly regretted his impulsive decision the previous night not to furl the main sail and let the strong winds blow, wanting to send away the "thorn in his heart" as soon as possible. He, along with two other boatmen, craned their necks to look around for where the ropes of the sail were caught.
Wang Chongyang went over to observe the situation and volunteered to go up the main mast to inspect.
The main mast was slippery with rain and battered by the wind. Wang Chongyang, despite his excellent lightness skills, had to tread carefully. Halfway up, he saw a rope tangled in the top pulley of the main sail. As he pondered how to solve it, the surging water suddenly intensified, destabilizing his body and nearly causing him to fall.
A wisp of black smoke swept past, pulling Wang Chongyang towards the mast, then floating to the top pulley. With a flash of green light, the main sail dropped onto the deck with a loud crash. Lin Chaoying, whose body had just recovered, managed to circulate her energy. She staggered and landed, and Gou'er rushed to support her.
The boat did not stabilize because of this. In the high winds and rough seas, it began to spin. Everyone scrambled on the deck, looking for anything to steady themselves.
The surroundings suddenly turned dark, and a roaring wave pushed the boat sideways to the right. Lin Chaoying and the others were thrown into the sea. Wang Chongyang flew to grab her hand, and they were both caught in the tempest. Amidst the raging waves and chaotic currents, Wang Chongyang desperately tried to pull Lin Chaoying towards him, but the successive surges left him empty-handed, and they were separated.