“Thank you for your trouble, Liu'er,” Nangong Yue’s gentle voice resounded, his gaze lingering on her with an adoring intensity.
Dai Mei and Hong Xiu, standing beside Liu Liu, felt a surge of annoyance at Nangong Yue’s bold and fervent gaze directed at their mistress. What did this man want? They had once hoped their mistress would be with Nangong Yue, but things had changed. The Emperor was willing to risk his life for the Consort; where else could one find such devoted love? They no longer wished for their mistress to change her heart.
“Right, I have something to discuss with you,” Liu Liu remembered the matter of the poison蛊 and intended to ask him. Nangong Yue walked past Liu Liu and headed downstairs, softly saying, “I haven’t had dinner yet?”
“Alright, I’ll accompany you then,” Liu Liu turned and followed Nangong Yue downstairs. Seeing her subordinates preparing to follow, she waved them away, “You don’t need to follow. Go and rest. Haven’t you all been complaining about being tired? I have something to discuss with Nangong Yue.”
Hong Xiu pouted and called out, “Mistress, I’ll accompany you!”
“Go on, go on,” Liu Liu waved her hand. What company was needed in this small shop? She waved them upstairs, wondering what was wrong with these few. They all stared at Nangong Yue with resentful eyes. Nangong Yue hadn’t done anything to wrong them. On the contrary, he was her confidant and had always helped her in times of difficulty. Even though they couldn’t be lovers, it didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends.
“Yes, Mistress,” The few of them, with no other choice, spoke reluctantly and turned to go upstairs. Fearing they weren’t at ease, they looked back at Nangong Yue, wondering strangely why Nangong Yue would appear in this inn so coincidentally. Could it really be that the world was so small that they could meet everywhere? That didn’t seem right either. This place was remote and desolate; his presence here was truly puzzling. However, this man was unlikely to bully their mistress. The few of them went upstairs to rest.
Downstairs, a waiter had already prepared a delicious meal. Nangong Yue ate with elegant, unhurried movements. Even the act of a man eating looked pleasing to the eye. The waiter and shopkeeper, who had been guarding the door, were mesmerized. They were captivated by this immortal-like man every time they saw him. Now another appeared, and they shifted their gazes to Liu Liu’s face. This young master was no less captivating than the elder gentleman who had arrived earlier. He was so delicate and fair, like a dazzling star from the heavens. The sight of these two handsome men, one tall and one small, sitting together, was truly enough to make one’s mouth water.
Liu Liu ignored the two at the door. Her heart was filled with anxiety. The thought of Feng Xie’s current suffering weighed on her like a thousand-pound burden, causing her inexplicable heartache. Her face turned grim as she looked at Nangong Yue.
“Nangong, let me ask you, is there a way to cure a worm蛊 called the Blood-Eating Flower?”
As soon as Liu Liu finished speaking, Nangong Yue’s movements stopped. He looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment. After a long moment, he replied, “I cannot cure that worm蛊. What happened? Who has been infected by that worm蛊?”
“It was me. Originally, I was poisoned by that worm蛊, but Feng Xie absorbed the worm蛊 into his own body.” Liu Liu’s voice was somewhat choked, and her nose felt sore. Nangong Yue’s hand trembled slightly when he first heard that Liu Liu was poisoned, and he felt distressed. Later, he heard that Feng Xie had cured her, and he felt relieved. Then, he recalled something. That man was willing to die for her, so could she remain indifferent? Thinking of this, he looked up quickly. Her radiant, slender, small face was full of sorrow, and her dark, watery eyes twinkled with pain. The pain of aching for a beloved man stimulated his eyes, and his heart suddenly ached. If he could trade his life for her deep longing and sorrow, he would rather die.
“Nangong, did you hear me? Is there really nothing you can do?” Liu Liu, seeing Nangong Yue’s lack of reaction for so long, spoke anxiously, staring at his face. Nangong Yue took a deep breath, concealing the pain in his heart, and a smile appeared on his face. “I have no way. I have never been proficient in蛊術. However, I’ve heard that there is a fruit in the world called the Blood Droplet, which can cure all poisons in the world.”
Liu Liu lowered her head, her heart growing sadder. Even Nangong Yue had no solution. How could she make him suffer less? Although the Blood Droplet was useful, no one knew where it grew. In this vast world, where could she find that tiny Blood Droplet?
“But I don’t know where the Blood Droplet grows!” Liu Liu’s heart was bleeding. Ever since she left the palace, whenever she closed her eyes, she would dream of Feng Xie losing his breath. The thought made her unable to bear it, so she had been rushing day and night.
“Then where are you going?” Nangong Yue asked softly. Seeing her so heartbroken for another man, his heart ached greatly, but he was also grateful to that man for saving her at the cost of his own life. Fortunately, she was alright. Even if she was worried about that man at this moment, he felt no anger. If not for him, Liu Liu would have suffered the torment of the poison蛊. Thinking of this, a watery curve appeared on the corner of Nangong Yue’s lips.
“We are going to find Ah Bao’s master, the old man Ah Song. He lives on Li Song Mountain, not far from here. Once we reach the mountain, we can ask him. Master Ah Song has lived for over a hundred years, so I believe he might have heard something about the Blood Droplet.” Liu Liu sighed helplessly. This was the lowest plan they could think of. They hadn’t come up with any better solutions yet, and Feng Xie was suffering from the poison蛊; she didn’t know how long he could hold on.
“I’ll accompany you to find Master Ah Song,” Nangong Yue put down his bowl and chopsticks, reaching out to hold her hand. His gaze conveyed a message of unwavering resolve, hoping she wouldn’t worry and that there would be a solution.
“Thank you,” Liu Liu said, releasing Nangong Yue’s hand. She stood up and walked upstairs, her slender figure appearing forlorn. Nangong Yue watched her, seeing this side of her, who was usually cold and composed, in such a state of panic. He felt suffocated, almost as if he were dying. Who was more pained than whom? That man, lying there, received her complete attention and care, while he stood here with a heartache. Perhaps the sleeping person was the happier one. He stood up and went upstairs. This pain was even harder to bear in the long, silent night.
In the deep night, Nangong Yue sat silently in his room at the inn. Liu Liu slept in the room next door. The surroundings were quiet and still. It was the first time he had been so close to her, so close that it felt as if she were right beside him. The faint sound of her breathing reached his ears. He remained motionless, not missing a single breath of hers. If time could stop, he would rather cherish this moment forever.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from the tiles above his head. His eyes instantly became profound, and a bloodthirsty killing intent surfaced at the corner of his lips. He quietly slipped out of the room and leaped onto the inn’s rooftop, seeing two dark figures fleeing. Just as he was about to pursue them, another shadow appeared beside him. It was Liu Liu. He immediately stopped. In the darkness, the white snow illuminated the night as if it were day, clearly revealing her clad in a thin inner garment. He was distressed and immediately reached out to pull her back into the inn. As they met, her subordinates, who had been alerted, rushed to her side, asking questions.
“Mistress, what happened?” Liu Liu shook her head. She had been sleeping soundly when she suddenly heard a noise from above. She had leaped out onto the rooftop but hadn’t seen the thieves. Instead, she saw Nangong Yue standing against the wind on the rooftop. Liu Liu shook her head, “It’s nothing. It seems someone passed by just now.”
“Who? Could it be the remaining members of the Iron Blood Thirteen Eagles, or Prince Xiang?” Dai Mei frowned, guessing anxiously. The others shook their heads in denial, “How would they know we are here? Perhaps it’s someone else.” Nangong Yue saw them merely discussing and that Liu Liu was still dressed so thinly. He immediately waved his hand, “Everyone go back and rest. Liu Liu isn’t wearing a cloak and can easily catch a cold. We still have to enter Li Song Mountain tomorrow.” Upon hearing Nangong Yue’s words, everyone knew their mistress had confided in him and said nothing more. It was understandable that their mistress must have asked Nangong Yue if there was a way to cure the worm蛊. Nangong Yue’s medical skills were renowned, but good medical skills didn’t mean he could cure all poisons or detoxify. Therefore, everyone nodded in understanding.
“Alright, Mistress, go in and rest quickly.” Liu Liu walked into her room under everyone’s gaze. After she left, everyone dispersed. It was already the third watch, and dawn would break soon.