"Don't talk nonsense,"
Li Qianfan lowered his head, looking at the girl with a flushed face and unfocused eyes. He said softly, "You only suffered internal injuries from the curse backlash, and then you severely overused your stamina while taking me south, caught a cold, and have a fever. If you had fever-reducing medicine, you would only need to take one pill."
The symptoms he described were entirely accurate.
Given Murong Mingyuan's healthy physique, one pill of fever-reducing medicine would be enough to lower her temperature.
The problem was—
All the various medicines Murong Mingyuan had specifically brought from her supplies were forgotten on the snow sled when she fled with Li Qianfan, due to the appearance of that polar bear.
The crucial point was that they were now in the ice and snow at the edge of the Arctic Circle. Looking around, there was nothing but colorless white.
Even if Li Qianfan were a divine physician, what could he do without any herbs or Western medicine?
He could only cool Murong Mingyuan down physically or massage her acupoints.
However, Murong Mingyuan's severe internal injuries and nearly depleted stamina left her unable to fight the illness.
"Don't lie to me anymore."
Murong Mingyuan smiled weakly, closed her eyes, and said, "Stop walking for now. Sit down and talk with me properly."
Li Qianfan stopped walking and sat down cross-legged on the snow.
He opened his collar, allowing Murong Mingyuan's burning cheeks to rest directly on his chest.
He hoped his strong heartbeat could have some positive effect on her.
Even if it was just psychological?
"Li Qianfan, I had a dream before I woke up just now."
Murong Mingyuan murmured, "I dreamt of the Yellow Springs road, and the Mandara flowers blooming on both sides of the road. I dreamt of the Bridge of Helplessness. I dreamt of many people in the river beneath the Bridge of Helplessness. I was one of those people. Cough, cough, cough."
As she said this, she coughed violently.
Although her cough was not loud and her movements were not significant due to her near-exhausted state, it made Li Qianfan think of four words:
Heart-wrenching!
He quickly patted her back a few times, then quickly reached under his clothes with his left hand, and began massaging her acupoints that could stop coughing.
Li Qianfan smiled, but his eyes held indescribable pain and hatred as he looked at Murong Mingyuan!
He could see that Murong Mingyuan was like an oil lamp about to be extinguished.
But he, a divine physician taught by his grandmother, was helpless because he couldn't find any herbs or Western medicine!!
Nothing could be more painful than being able to easily save Murong Mingyuan if only he could find herbs, but being unable to find them anywhere and having to watch her life force gradually extinguish.
Li Qianfan's hatred.
It was directed at the War Demon Temple.
And at Luo Huayin!!
He didn't swear that he would eradicate the War Demon Temple in the future.
Nor did he swear what he would do to Luo Huayin in the future.
But he knew—
He would definitely erase the War Demon Temple, using all his power, by any means necessary, at any cost!
He would flay Zhuang Wujian alive.
He would sever Luo Huayin's limbs and tendons, gouge out her eyes, deafen her ears, cut off her nose, pull out her tongue, and then put her in a jar!!
Cough.
Finally, with Li Qianfan's massage, Murong Mingyuan stopped coughing.
Her lips were bleeding, her breathing was rapid, and her heart rate was fast.
Her eyes were even more unfocused.
Yet, she was smiling.
Smiling, she continued, "The water beneath the Bridge of Helplessness is sometimes icy cold, sometimes scalding hot, and it emits a strong, foul odor. The water is bright red. It's a river formed of fresh blood, with many corpses, severed limbs, and maggots floating on the surface. Beneath the river, there are poisonous snakes, crocodiles, and the like, all biting my body."
"Is that so?"
Li Qianfan showed great interest. "Why were you soaking in the river? You should have crossed the Bridge of Helplessness, stepped onto the Wangxiang Terrace, and taken a look at your hometown and loved ones. Then, you should have drunk that bowl of Meng Po soup and gone to reincarnate."
Yellow Springs Road.
Wangxiang Terrace.
The Bridge of Helplessness and other legends were known even to children.
"Because,"
Murong Mingyuan said, "only those who cannot let go and do not want to let go of their beloved will jump from the Bridge of Helplessness into the river after passing through the Yellow Springs road, and soak in the bloody water. Only then can they refuse to drink Meng Po soup and not forget the appearance of their lover. Only then can they desperately wait in the river for their beloved to pass over the Bridge of Helplessness, shout his name, and imprint a destiny for a reunion after three lifetimes in the depths of his heart."
Oh, oh.
Li Qianfan nodded. "Is this the legend in your hometown?"
Murong Mingyuan retorted, "Isn't this the legend in yours?"
"I don't know."
Li Qianfan shook his head and answered truthfully, "You may have already known that, according to legend, my mother is a ghost infant. Yes, that is a child born from a mother who has no vital signs. It is said that ghost infants are born with teeth and can bite people. Some people also say that my mother is related to the legendary Nine-Child Ghost Mother. In short, my family does not casually discuss topics related to these ancient legends. Otherwise, my mother would get angry."
What he said was true.
Legends like the Bridge of Helplessness were taboo in the Li family and even in Longxu.
Even Empress Dowager Xiao, who could make Li Wujiang kneel with just a glare, never mentioned it to anyone.
Li Qianfan also consciously never discussed this topic with anyone.
But now—
Li Qianfan said to Murong Mingyuan, "Continue."
Murong Mingyuan asked, "Do you know who I was waiting for in the water beneath the Bridge of Helplessness in my dream?"
Li Qianfan's eyes flickered, and he chuckled, "Don't tell me you were waiting for me."
"Yes, I was waiting for you."
Murong Mingyuan slowly nodded. "In my dream, the man I was desperately waiting for was you."
"Really?"
Li Qianfan appeared very surprised.
In fact.
He didn't believe any of what Murong Mingyuan was saying.
He thought it was just her feverish delirium.
Given his relationship with Murong Mingyuan—
This little mare hated him the most!
Li Qianfan pretended to be proud and surprised, naturally, to make her happy.
Now.
No matter what Murong Mingyuan said, Li Qianfan would nod and believe her without hesitation!
Murong Mingyuan asked again, "Do you know who else I saw in the water beneath the Bridge of Helplessness in my dream?"
Li Qianfan immediately played along, "Tell me quickly, who did you see?"
"I saw—"
Murong Mingyuan closed her eyes and said softly, "Chu Yazhi. Dai Paipai. Mo Hongti. Shen Yun. Du Junlin. Jiao Yin. Bai Ziyan. Su Zui."
The women she mentioned were all people with some connection to Li Qianfan.
Some, Murong Mingyuan was very familiar with, like Jiao Yin and Chu Yazhi.
Some, Murong Mingyuan had only met, like Mo Hongti, Shen Yun, Su Zui, and Dai Paipai.
Some, Murong Mingyuan had only heard of, like Bai Ziyan and Du Junlin.
Li Qianfan naturally didn't care why she mentioned these women.
As he nodded, he heard Murong Mingyuan say, "I also saw the two women you hate the most in the river."
Li Qianfan subconsciously asked, "Who?"
"One is Luo Huayin."
Murong Mingyuan opened her eyes again.
Li Qianfan nodded. "Yes, I hate that wicked woman more than words can express. Who is the other woman?"
Murong Mingyuan replied, "It's Su Nanyin."
When Murong Mingyuan was about to activate the curse and Li Qianfan asked her to deliver messages to many people, he had specifically mentioned Su Nanyin.
Su Nanyin?
Li Qianfan paused, his brow furrowed.
Then, it relaxed.
He said casually, "Yes, for some reason, I suddenly started to dislike her. Actually, I don't know if I should dislike her. After all, she has always been very good to me. I also enjoy the feeling of being with her. It's so relaxed, I just want to be by her side. But Luo Huayin told me... Heh, forget it. Maybe that wicked woman was trying to sow discord. Anyway, I will pay close attention to my relationship with Su Nanyin in the future."
Of course, Murong Mingyuan didn't care whether Li Qianfan liked Su Nanyin or not.
She continued, "Besides the women I mentioned, there were also some women I didn't know who were also soaking in the water beneath the Bridge of Helplessness, desperately waiting for you to appear."
Li Qianfan became proud. "It seems that in your dream, I have a connection with all of you. Oh, right, didn't you see Su Ziyu in your dream?"
"She's your wife, of course I saw her."
After saying so much, Murong Mingyuan's gaze visibly dimmed, and her voice grew weaker.
"I saw her getting out of a sedan chair and walking across the Bridge of Helplessness. The bearers were your maids (Zhai Xing and the others). She was wearing a bright red wedding dress and a phoenix crown, looking incredibly beautiful. You were by her sedan chair, holding her hand, fingers intertwined, looking very affectionate."
Murong Mingyuan closed her eyes, her voice barely a whisper. "Everyone else walks onto the Bridge of Helplessness, but you and she walked down from the Bridge of Helplessness, walking against the flow of the Yellow Springs road where the Mandara flowers were blooming. And three little ghosts followed behind you, beating gongs and drums, looking very joyous."
Li Qianfan lowered his head, his forehead touching Murong Mingyuan's.
He could no longer suppress the pain in his heart. Tears dripped from the corners of his eyes onto the girl's increasingly pale face.
He knew—
He couldn't keep Murong Mingyuan any longer!
She could only slowly leave him in his arms.
Even though Li Qianfan held her tightly, wishing he could fuse her into his body!!
"Luo Huayin, War Demon Temple!"
Li Qianfan roared inwardly.
"Look—"
Murong Mingyuan suddenly cried out softly and abruptly lifted her head from Li Qianfan's embrace.
Look at what?
Li Qianfan was stunned.
Murong Mingyuan looked towards the distant south and shouted, "Your sedan chair has stopped! Su Ziyu got out of the sedan chair and stood by the railing, looking at us below the bridge. She said to you, 'Husband, they are all waiting for you. Let's rescue them from the river and take them away!'"
Guang—
Li Qianfan's heart skipped a beat.
He also looked towards the south.
Through blurry tears—
There were lights.
Were they car headlights or stars?
The bright light was rapidly moving towards them from the south.