Su Muqing didn't not want to speak, but rather, besides her head spinning and the corners of her eyes burning, her throat felt terribly uncomfortable. The sensation of being unable to swallow or spit it out made her feel nauseous and queasy.
Seeing Su Muqing's state, Huo Qiyuan felt a pang of anxiety. Normally, after she occasionally used the healing术 (shù), she would only be a little weak. She had never been as fragile as she was now.
Huo Qiyuan didn't know what was wrong with Su Muqing. His hand trembled as he took out several pills from his sleeve.
Seeing Su Muqing's lips pressed tightly together, with blood at the corners and her teeth gritting audibly, Huo Qiyuan gently forced her mouth open. He poured all the pills in his hand into her mouth, then took out the spirit spring water and poured some in.
After doing all this, Huo Qiyuan didn't know what else to do. He could only hold Su Muqing and sit on the ground, observing her condition.
Usually, when something happened to them, or someone felt unwell, it was Su Muqing who took care of and treated them. Even if she didn't do it personally, the medicines, divine water, and even the surgical robots were all provided by her.
This was the first time he was facing such a situation alone, and with the patient being Su Muqing, Huo Qiyuan was completely flustered. His mind went blank, and he lost the ability to think.
However, Su Muqing's condition did not improve. Instead, the look of pain on her face became more and more apparent. She gritted her teeth, as if something was trying to break out of her body.
Feeling the extreme pain in her body, Su Muqing writhed and struggled in Huo Qiyuan's arms. The burning sensation on the corners of her eyes grew heavier, turning as red as if dyed with fresh blood, dazzlingly bright…
Seeing Su Muqing in so much pain, Huo Qiyuan felt powerless and helpless. The young girl's body was stretched taut, and her body temperature began to rise, making her feel light and ethereal, as if she might float away…
Float away? Lose…
Huo Qiyuan was completely panicked. He couldn't do anything now, only hold the person in his arms tightly. Tighter, even tighter!
It was as if, by doing so, Su Muqing would no longer be in pain, and that terrifying outcome would not occur…
Don't leave, don't leave me…
Huo Qiyuan couldn't imagine, dared not imagine, what life would be like without Su Muqing?
He definitely wouldn't be able to live. As for this world, it might even be destroyed along with him.
But he didn't want to lose Su Muqing. They hadn't officially married yet, hadn't held a grand wedding, hadn't built Hua Xia Tian Chao into what he envisioned, and hadn't wandered the world, exploring mountains and rivers…
Su Muqing! You said we would be together for eternity, never parting.
Don't lie to me, don't leave me…
Just as Huo Qiyuan was overcome with pain along with the person in his arms, a beam of golden light burst out from Su Muqing's body.
And Su Muqing, who had been struggling violently in pain, trying to break free from something, gradually relaxed her body and her furrowed brow.
Feeling the person in his arms grow still, Huo Qiyuan's heart chilled. He tremblingly extended a finger to Su Muqing's nose. Feeling the warm breath she exhaled, he trembled and lowered his head to press against her forehead.
Still breathing, she was still here…
Huo Qiyuan whimpered softly and finally cried louder, holding the person in his arms. He had truly thought he was going to lose her just now…
Su Muqing's face was soaked, not only from the sweat caused by pain but also from the tears of Huo Qiyuan's unrestrained crying.
"Tsk! What are you crying about?" a pleasant but emotionless voice sounded.
The sudden voice startled Huo Qiyuan, who looked up. Qing Qing had said the space was her sea of consciousness, existing only in her mind. Unless she allowed it, no one could enter.
Who was that speaking?
A woman dressed in a pale golden neon feather gown stood in the distance, radiating golden light behind her.
Huo Qiyuan stood up, holding Su Muqing, and stared at her vigilantly. "Who are you? How did you get in?"
"I am the Phoenix God, and also Su Muqing's guardian deity." The woman's tone was flat, her gaze equally so, even a bit cold.
Knowing Su Muqing's identity, Huo Qiyuan immediately believed the woman when she claimed to be a god.
Since she was a deity, and moreover, the one who guarded Qing Qing, this goddess must know why Qing Qing had suddenly become like this and must have a way to save her.
Huo Qiyuan suppressed the hostility in his eyes and asked with urgency, "What happened to Qing Qing? Why did she suddenly become like this? Can you save her?"
The Phoenix God glanced at Su Muqing, her expression unchanged. "She's fine. She just received some punishment and hasn't recovered yet."
Huo Qiyuan was shocked. "Punishment? What punishment? Why did she have to be punished?"
The Phoenix God looked at Huo Qiyuan, then at Su Muqing in his arms, and finally revealed the truth.
"She did it to pray for the reincarnation of your parents!"
Seeing that Huo Qiyuan didn't understand her meaning, the Phoenix God continued, "You were originally a person with a righteous soul. Due to Su Muqing's mistake, the paths of all of you were altered."
"And because of her, your parents could no longer reincarnate. Their souls were trapped within their bodies, and they would completely disappear after you left this place."
"When Su Muqing learned of this, she begged to bear the pain of incineration and summoned me to help. To take away your parents' remains and aid their reincarnation."
"Her current appearance, and the pain she suffered earlier, were all self-inflicted."
Huo Qiyuan heard her clearly, yet it felt like he hadn't understood. He looked at the woman with a dazed expression, hoping she would explain it more clearly.
However, the Phoenix God clearly lacked patience and was unwilling to elaborate further. "My time is limited. I am currently attached to Su Muqing's soul. The longer you delay, the more intense the pain of incineration her soul will endure."
The Phoenix God was about to say more when her eyebrows suddenly rose, a different emotion appearing on her face, then she lowered her eyes again.
At this moment, in the void invisible to Huo Qiyuan, Su Muqing lay on the ground, her face pale, her entire body so weak it had become transparent.
"Phoenix God, I can still hold on… Please! Let Brother Huo say his final goodbyes to his parents! I don't want him to have regrets forever… I don't want him to be unhappy in the future…"
After Su Muqing finished speaking, her soul writhed in pain again. 217 hadn't lied to her; the pain of incineration was truly excruciating.
Seeing her in so much pain yet still trying to buy time for that man, the Phoenix God's eyes flickered, and she finally nodded in agreement.