Jian Lin was still in a daze when the Demon Lord, as if a dam had broken, continued to recount events from the past.
"The Grand Steward and Xie Jin don't know about this," the Demon Lord said slowly. "I don't know why I want to tell you, perhaps because you keep probing, and I'm too lazy to feign anymore."
Jian Lin suddenly reached out and covered the Demon Lord's forehead. It was burning hot to the touch, his temperature quite high.
No wonder the Demon Lord was acting so strangely. The answer was here.
"You have a fever, caused by the inflammation of your wound," Jian Lin pressed the back of her hand against his cheek, letting him feel a hint of coolness. "You can't feel it yourself, but a person with a fever is always fragile, which is why you're saying many things you wouldn't normally say."
The Demon Lord came to a sudden realization, his pupils widening slightly. "No wonder I have no interest in practicing cultivation. I was sickly as a child and often had fevers. But that was so long ago, I'd forgotten what it felt like."
Jian Lin's heart softened. The Demon Lord's widened pupils made him look like a docile kitten.
"I'll go call Xie Jin in to examine you." Jian Lin turned to leave, but the Demon Lord tightly gripped her hand, refusing to let go.
She asked him with her eyes. The Demon Lord, slow to react, still managed to threaten, "Don't you dare tell anyone about that matter, or I will definitely deal with you!"
Jian Lin was exasperated. This man was truly something. "I won't tell, Your Lordship. Please rest assured!"
She shook off his hand and went out to call the other two. The Grand Steward was wailing, and Xie Jin was flustered.
Not many people knew about the Demon Lord's injury. The personal attendants who had served him before were all dismissed. Only the Grand Steward, Xie Jin, and Jian Lin remained by his side.
When they were helping the Demon Lord change his clothes, the Grand Steward wrung out a cotton cloth and thrust it into Jian Lin's hand.
Jian Lin had no choice but to step forward and attend to the Demon Lord. After a period of busyness, by the afternoon, Jian Lin was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and emerge from the Demon Lord's chambers.
Xie Jin and the Grand Steward went to a secret chamber, busy with some unknown task. The Demon Lord, having taken his medicine, closed his eyes to rest, too weary to speak.
Jian Lin tiptoed out and stood guard outside the bedroom door, her mind filled with thoughts of the Demon Lord and that mortal girl.
Xie Jin had said that the Demon Lord had wanted to abandon his cultivation and leave with that girl to live a mortal life. Such a sacrifice indicated that, at least at that time, the Demon Lord had deeply loved her.
Not only that, but he had loved her unrequitedly, which was even more profound love.
Now, a hundred years later, that mortal girl must have reincarnated. The most unfortunate one was the Demon Lord, for he was the only one who hadn't forgotten.
The old Demon Lord's intentions were clear. Whether due to injury or natural aging, the old Demon Lord must have reached the end of his life. For the sake of the entire demon realm, he could not allow his successor to run away, so he decided to seal the Demon Lord's memories.
Clearly, the old Demon Lord still had some affection for his son. As long as he did not abandon the demon sect, the old Demon Lord would hand over the initiative to his son, giving him a chance to reclaim his memories.
Furthermore, he left a dying wish for the loyal Xie Jin: to see the Demon Lord marry and have children, and to have others constantly remind the Demon Lord of this matter.
As for the Demon Lord himself, judging by his actions, he had no intention of marrying and having children, clearly unwilling to betray that mortal girl.
Ultimately, it fell upon Jian Lin, and at this moment, she truly gave up.
She was completely unable to bring herself to seduce a man who loved someone else; it made her feel like she was undermining someone else's relationship.
She solemnly announced to A'Zha, "A'Zha, I give up on trying to conquer the Demon Lord. But don't worry, I will definitely cultivate diligently. In ten years, twenty years, a hundred years, I will ascend to godhood sooner or later!"
A'Zha: ...
After a long pause, A'Zha officially replied, "Host, this method is indeed feasible. I will continue to provide you with the assistance you deserve."
Jian Lin was moved to tears. "Wuwuwu, A'Zha, you're so good. Thank you."
As evening approached, it began to rain in the demon realm again, and the entire world fell into coldness and silence.
The Demon Lord awoke and walked step by step towards the underground secret chamber. Xie Jin led the way, Jian Lin supported the Demon Lord, and the Grand Steward brought up the rear.
The secret chamber was lined with smooth stones, and large luminous pearls were placed on shelves in the four corners. The ground was covered with various medicinal herbs arranged in a formation, and a bitter medicinal fragrance filled the entire space.
In the center of the formation was a small couch. On the low table beside it, a black box containing dragon sinews was placed, along with white cloth, scissors, and a dagger, resembling a surgical setup.
Upon reaching the entrance, Jian Lin stopped. She looked up at the Demon Lord and said hesitantly, "I'll stand guard outside for you."
Someone like the Demon Lord surely wouldn't want his vulnerability exposed to more people. Jian Lin decided not to go in.
The Demon Lord was indifferent. He released her hand and slowly walked in. Xie Jin stood in the center of the formation, his large eyes rolling. Suddenly, he said, "Miss A'Pei, come in and help me."
"But I don't know any medicine. I might just be a hindrance." Jian Lin knew her own limitations well.
"It's fine, I'll tell you what to do," Xie Jin insisted. "Come in. With the Grand Steward guarding the door, it's absolutely foolproof."
Jian Lin was unaware of Xie Jin's subtle intentions. Since she had already decided to abandon the mission, she naturally wouldn't cooperate with him. "Divine Doctor Xie, actually, I'm prone to fainting at the sight of blood."
Xie Jin was about to say something more when the Demon Lord suddenly spoke, "Enough, all of you, be quiet."
When the Demon Lord spoke, no one dared to disobey. Xie Jin immediately fell silent.
The Demon Lord slowly unfastened his outer robe, sat down on the couch, and lay down. He looked towards the entrance of the secret chamber and said, "Jian Mu Sheng, you come in."
Huh?
Jian Lin was stunned. She dared not disobey the Demon Lord's words and chose to enter.
She carefully stepped over the medicinal herbs and walked to the side of the couch, softly repeating, "But, Your Lordship, I really don't know how to do anything."
"You don't need to do anything," the Demon Lord closed his eyes and reached out to grasp Jian Lin's wrist. "Be my human sandbag."
Jian Lin's wrist throbbed with pain, and her legs went weak, causing her to kneel beside the Demon Lord. This scoundrel! What did he take her for?
The Grand Steward cast a final, worried glance at the secret chamber, then muttered a few more instructions. The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed, and the heavy door of the secret chamber slowly closed.
Xie Jin sat down cross-legged, straightening his arms and drawing circles. Instantly, demonic energy filled the air, activating the entire formation, which began to hum.
He put away his usual roguish demeanor, his lips pressed together in extreme seriousness. He placed a thin blade over the candlelight to sterilize it and said in a deep voice, "Your Lordship, I am beginning."
Jian Lin was even more nervous than the Demon Lord. She immediately clasped his hand in return, silently offering comfort, and turned her head away, unable to watch.
Since she couldn't see, her hearing became exceptionally sharp. She could hear the blade cutting through flesh, the flow of blood, and the squishy sound of something being removed.
It sent shivers down her spine, and she gripped the Demon Lord's hand tightly, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Jian Mu Sheng, you're pinching me too hard..." the Demon Lord's voice was slow and steady.
"I'm sorry, I..."
Jian Lin's heart sank. She couldn't look away because, in her peripheral vision, she saw the Demon Lord's flesh and blood floating in the air.
Regardless of anything else, Divine Doctor Xie's skills were truly impressive. He used demonic energy to hold the Demon Lord's injured area, marking each part with demonic energy, preparing for suturing.
This bizarre scene was both terrifying and captivating. Jian Lin couldn't tear her gaze away, her face turning pale with fright.
What's more, she noticed that the Demon Lord himself was watching with his eyes open, and he was remarkably calm, showing no fear.
Jian Lin inexplicably recalled a Japanese restaurant she had visited previously, the octopus sashimi.
Fresh octopus, taken out, quickly sliced and arranged on a plate, served on crushed ice. The octopus head was still moving, watching its eight legs being eaten. Jian Lin remembered that scene vividly, just like this moment.
Xie Jin even had the leisure to explain, "Your Lordship, look, these few sections are all mangled. I'll have to cut them off and reattach them."
"Mm," the Demon Lord replied softly.
Jian Lin stared in disbelief, grateful for modern medicine and general anesthesia.
After marking all the injured areas, Xie Jin breathed a sigh of relief. He solemnly opened the black box with both hands, and a powerful force suddenly emerged. The formation fluctuated in response, trembling as if being disturbed.
That was the dragon sinews!
Jian Lin couldn't help but look over. The familiar blue stream of light, surrounded by golden specks, felt more advanced than dragon bone spiritual veins.
Xie Jin, however, treated it like ordinary thread. He formed hand seals and guided the dragon sinews to the wounds. "I'm about to begin. Suturing will be very painful, Your Lordship. You must bear with it and not move."
"I know," the Demon Lord's voice was calm, but the hand holding Jian Lin's wrist unconsciously tightened.
Jian Lin rested her hand on his, saying softly, "It's okay, it will be over soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, Jian Lin's wrist suddenly hurt. She glanced sideways and saw that Xie Jin had already begun the first stitch.
Soon, a thin layer of sweat covered the Demon Lord's upper body, his jawbone tightened, and his eyelashes trembled incessantly. Although he made no sound, it was evident that he was in immense pain.
Jian Lin took out a handkerchief and wiped his sweat, silently praying for this torture to end quickly.
From nightfall until midnight, approximately three hours, this arduous torture finally concluded.
When Jian Lin saw Xie Jin channeling demonic energy to place everything back into the Demon Lord's abdomen, it would not be an exaggeration to say she was moved to tears.
"Your Lordship, it's over, it's all over!" Jian Lin exclaimed happily, realizing the handkerchief in her hand was already soaked. She directly used her hands to wipe the sweat from the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord's eyes flickered, and he gave a weak smile. "Stop making noise, my head hurts."
Jian Lin didn't care. She tightly grasped the Demon Lord's hand and wiped away her own tears.
Xie Jin also breathed a sigh of relief and became more boisterous. While suturing the abdominal wound, he said with great interest, "Your Lordship, don't worry, I will definitely sew you the most imposing scar."
"You..." The Demon Lord tried to resist but eventually gave up, too weak. "Whatever."
Jian Lin's tears turned into a smile, her eyes shining as if filled with stars.
She kept her gaze fixed on Xie Jin as he sutured the wound, not noticing that the Demon Lord had been watching her, observing her tears and worry, as well as her genuine happiness and relief.
"She's so worried about me," the Demon Lord thought. "Are her tears real? If they're fake, she's truly remarkable."
But he desperately hoped they were real.