"My lord, it's the Prince of Su's men!"
The cold moonlight cast a desolate shadow over the bamboo forest.
Xiao Chi Zhan strode forward, his crimson pupils burning with fierce intent. "Kill them!"
Xue Ren bowed respectfully. "They've already been detained by the Crown Prince's men and apprehended. If we act now, we'll be contending with Xie Bei Han for them, and that would escalate the situation."
This was the northernmost, sparsely populated, and desolate part of the Northern Qi Imperial Palace, with lax security.
They had followed Xie Bei Han's secret guards all the way here.
It was a coincidence, really. As soon as the Prince arrived, he saw Miss Ye running out from the other side of the bamboo forest from afar.
"Find out how many people Xie Bei Han has captured, and how many were involved in this. I want to know everything."
They were all tired of living!
"Yes," Xue Ren paused, then continued, "The Crown Prince's men will likely follow the trail and come looking for Miss Ye soon. Should we intercept them?"
Xiao Chi Zhan looked at the bloodstains left along the path, his gaze so terrifyingly murderous it seemed he could kill anyone.
"First, clean up the bloodstains and lure their men elsewhere."
"Yes."
With so much blood, the person must be injured.
Xiao Chi Zhan asked, "Do you have any blood-coagulating pills on you?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Ren quickly took out a porcelain bottle from his embrace and respectfully handed it over.
He took it. "Attend to it immediately."
"Yes."
Xiao Chi Zhan followed the trail of blood until he found Ye Luan. She was curled up behind a stone pool, in so much pain that she looked as if she were about to jump into it.
"Ye Luan!"
Ye Luan could barely control the chaotic energy raging within her body. The discomfort made her want to jump into the cold pool to cool down.
"Luan Luan."
Xiao Chi Zhan immediately rushed over and pulled her into his arms.
The next second, a sharp blade whizzed towards him, striking at his heart with lightning speed and fierce intent. The blade whistled through the cold wind.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he firmly gripped her outstretched wrist, forcibly pulling her into his embrace.
Ye Luan's muddled mind made it impossible for her to distinguish who was approaching. She only felt immense pain throughout her body.
"Get lost, get lost! Don't touch me."
She supported her abdomen, flipped her palm, broke free from his grasp, and swiftly retaliated with the blade.
Xiao Chi Zhan looked at her bleeding abdomen, feeling as if his heart had been clutched by a giant hand, leaving him numb with pain.
As the blade lunged towards him, he let out a soft exclamation, forcefully grasped her hand, then swiftly knocked the blade away and pulled her into his arms.
Ye Luan gritted her teeth tightly, forcing herself to stay conscious.
But she was in too much agony. She was injured and poisoned, her eyes were red and teary, and her entire body was extremely weak and powerless.
"Get lost! Get lost!"
Xiao Chi Zhan's icy, bony fingers immediately clasped her jaw, forcefully feeding her the hemostatic medicine.
Ye Luan tightly clenched her teeth, curled her legs, and violently thrashed out, aiming for Xiao Chi Zhan's thigh.
"Don't move!"
The familiar yet sharp voice startled Ye Luan, who was in a daze, and she became slightly more lucid.
She suppressed the chaotic poison within her and laboriously raised her eyes to look at him.
It was a face of demonic handsomeness, with a pair of crimson eyes carrying a cruel, untamed ferocity, as if burning with the fires of purgatory.
His lips were tightly pursed, his expression indifferent and terrifying. In the night, he resembled a bloodthirsty demon.
It was him!
Xiao Chi Zhan!
Ye Luan instantly relaxed her tense nerves, her head lolled, and she slumped weakly into his embrace.
Her head was heavy, her breathing faint, and she gasped in pain. Suddenly, she coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining his clothes.
Xiao Chi Zhan held her in his arms. Seeing that she no longer resisted, he immediately tore off a piece of his own clothing, sprinkled medicine on it, and bandaged her abdominal wound.
The wind blew, feeling cool.
Ye Luan trembled, clutching his neck. "Save... save me..."
"You've been poisoned?"
Her face was flushed, her mouth slightly parted, and the cool moonlight glinted on her face, making her stunningly beautiful.
Ye Luan felt a strange sense of peace upon hearing his chilling voice.
She clutched his lapel and let out a low, pained groan.
Xiao Chi Zhan's expression turned grim. He scooped her up in his arms and walked back through the thorny weeds.
She gasped for air. "No~, don't go yet. Put me in the pool over there—..."
"You're injured. The cold pool is too icy; you'll get sick if you soak in it."
He coaxed her in a low voice, his tone softer than usual.
Ye Luan didn't want to listen to him at all. She struggled unconsciously, murmuring.
"~"
Her voice trembled, and her expression was no longer the cold one she usually showed him. Lying in his arms, her face was alluring and charming.
Xiao Chi Zhan's hand around her waist tightened.
"Xiao--Chi Zhan--"
Ye Luan's half-closed eyes became misty, drawing him in, and she unconsciously murmured his name.
He lowered his gaze. "What is it?"
"It hurts."
Xiao Chi Zhan looked down at her. Her face, delicate as spring, was flushed red. Her moist lips were bitten, as if beckoning him, holding a fatal allure.
His eyes darkened. He remained silent, carrying her away swiftly.
Ye Luan felt a burning sensation all over her body. Her hands gripping his lapel fell away, and the pain from her abdominal wound resurfaced. Fearing she would fall, she instinctively hooked her arms around his neck and held him tight.
Her fingers ached, her abdomen hurt, everywhere hurt. The agony of the poison's onset made her grip him so tightly that her nails almost dug into his flesh.
"Xiao Chi Zhan, I--"
"I'm right here. What cold bath are you trying to take?!"
As soon as he spoke, Ye Luan's hazy nerves immediately became alert, and her blurred vision cleared slightly.
She kicked her legs, trying to get down. "Let--let me down--"
"Don't move!"
"You crazy lunatic, you have ill intentions! Let me down--"
Although she was scolding him, her voice was soft and weak, carrying a hint of desire, making her words quite harmless.
Xiao Chi Zhan ignored her struggles, tightened his grip on her waist, and lifted her higher, holding her firmly. He threatened, "If you keep struggling, I won't mind."
Hearing his words, Ye Luan bit his neck fiercely. But as soon as she bit down, she lost her strength, her head lolled, and she fell against his chest, spitting twice.
She suppressed the urge within her and tried to pull her hands away, but he suddenly leaned down and kissed her.
The moment their eyes met, she could clearly see the undisguised affection in his eyes.
Whether it was the effect of the medicine or his kiss, Ye Luan's cheeks instantly flushed.
She cursed herself in her heart, yet she couldn't help but look at his face. His eyes were beautiful, impossibly captivating, especially the mole beneath his eyelid, which made him look like a bewitching demon.
With such a beautiful face, why did he not appear feminine at all? The cold glint in his eyes was like a devil's.
No!
Ye Luan wanted to push him away, but his kiss was deep and passionate.
"Why are you pushing, you."
He smiled, and his beautiful crimson eyes became even more captivating.
.
The moonlight illuminated the forest, falling upon them and casting a cool, silvery glow.
Xiao Chi Zhan's tall and upright figure stood in the bamboo forest, holding her. He looked down at her with deep, lingering affection.