"Awake?"
As Li Qianfan lifted his head from the pile of quilts beside him, he heard Luo Huayin's gentle, even tender, voice.
She was no longer dressed in her cool black attire.
She had changed into a white down jacket.
Even the fox mask she wore had been swapped from black to white.
It seemed she understood perfectly what was most important when balancing showing off and evading pursuit.
Li Qianfan ignored her and struggled to lift his head, looking around.
He saw six more people.
They were also wearing thick white down jackets, sitting on the snow not far away, using the firewood they had brought to boil water and cook.
Murong Mingyuan was surrounded by Old Ba and the others, hugging her bent knees, her gaze vacant as she stared into the distance, occasionally letting out a whimper.
"I'm very sorry, but to ensure our safety, I had to keep you unconscious for a long time."
Luo Huayin spoke again, "You've been in a deep sleep for four full days and nights. I know you are Yang Xiao's legitimate eldest grandson, and you have astonishing medical skills. The crucial point is that your original 209 has been activated. Certain commonly known drugs wouldn't be able to keep you unconscious for so long. Fortunately, my Battle Demon God Hall possesses an antidote that can even subdue 209."
Li Qianfan remained silent, slowly lowering his head, his eyes hollow as he stared at the sky.
"After you fell unconscious, I personally pierced your pipa bone."
Luo Huayin's voice grew even gentler, "And I also threaded iron wire through your lower leg. I twisted the wire together. This ensures that when you wake up, your hands can't move, and your feet can't be lifted."
Li Qianfan still didn't speak, like a lifeless piece of wood.
Luo Huayin continued, "You might become permanently disabled because of this. Every time I think about it these past few days, I feel guilty and very regretful."
Despite her words of guilt, the eyes that looked down at Li Qianfan held no trace of remorse; instead, they gleamed with a hint of excitement.
This was enough to prove that she considered crippling Li Qianfan to be the most entertaining endeavor!
Li Qianfan's eyeballs finally rolled, and he looked at her.
"However."
Luo Huayin's tone shifted, "When I consider that even if I hadn't done this to you, you only have about a year to live after your original 209 was activated. Then I don't feel guilty at all, only amused. Ha, haha."
She suddenly threw her head back and burst into laughter.
Her laughter vibrated with endless triumph!
Yet, her laughter was crisp and even pleasant, evoking images of "silver bells."
Luo Huayin's laughter startled Murong Mingyuan, who had been crying even in her sleep these past few days.
She suddenly stood up and lunged forward, "Has Li Qianfan woken up?"
But as soon as she lifted her right foot, she fell heavily to the ground.
It was Old Ba who stuck out his leg and tripped her.
This had happened to Murong Mingyuan several times in the past few days.
She always wanted to go to Li Qianfan's side.
But Luo Huayin wouldn't allow it!
Because she feared Murong Mingyuan might help Li Qianfan remove the iron wires piercing his pipa bone and calf.
Murong Mingyuan's nature was one of unwavering defiance.
The more you pressured her, the more she would resist you!
Even if she were kicked to death, she would still try to find Li Qianfan.
It was only when Luo Huayin, in the most gentle of voices, warned her that if she dared go near Li Qianfan, she would gouge out her left eye with her own hands, that she finally quieted down.
Murong Mingyuan wasn't afraid of Old Ba and the others.
But she was afraid of the gentle-spoken Luo Huayin.
This was because, deep down, she knew that Luo Huayin was the truly ruthless one, and if she said she would gouge out her left eye, she would certainly do it!
Murong Mingyuan might not fear death.
But she truly feared becoming a one-eyed person.
"Let me go!"
Murong Mingyuan lifted her head and cried hoarsely at Luo Huayin, "I need to be by Li Qianfan's side! Let me go."
Luo Huayin turned to look at her and smiled, "If you dare to shout again, I'll cut off your left ear first. If you don't believe me, you can try."
Murong Mingyuan immediately raised her hand and covered her left ear, no longer daring to utter a sound.
"Don't mind her. She's just a child with a volatile temper."
After frightening Murong Mingyuan into silence, Luo Huayin looked back at Li Qianfan and asked softly, "Where were we just now?"
Li Qianfan met her gaze, his eyes unmoving.
"Ah, I was saying you have at most a year to live. Even if you become disabled, I don't need to feel guilty anymore."
Luo Huayin remembered, "Of course, I also know that your grandmother and the others must be racking their brains to find a way to stop your death. I sincerely hope she can find it. Although becoming disabled is unfortunate, it's far better than being dead."
Li Qianfan closed his eyes.
Luo Huayin, with her gloved left hand, gently stroked his cheek and asked, "If you're tired, rest. If you're not tired, listen to me tell you how important you are to our Battle Demon God Hall."
"I'm not tired."
Li Qianfan finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "But I'm a bit hungry."
He had slept for too long.
He was not tired at all, but he was very hungry.
Luo Huayin immediately turned and asked, "Old Ba, is the meal ready?"
The meal being prepared now was a meat broth that Luo Huayin had specially made for him, anticipating his waking.
When they evacuated the camp, they had taken seven snowmobiles and a large amount of supplies.
But after the snowmobiles ran out of fuel, they buried them in the snow and used the carried supplies to fashion sleds, dragging Li Qianfan and the provisions, continuing north.
They had carried a great deal of supplies.
Enough for the six of them to live for about a month in the icy wilderness without worrying about food or drink.
Old Ba brought the meat broth over.
Luo Huayin reached out, pulled Li Qianfan into her arms, and personally fed him.
The meat broth was well-cooked and tasted quite good, but the portion was a bit small.
For safety's sake.
Luo Huayin wouldn't allow a conscious Li Qianfan to eat his fill and cause trouble.
After half a bowl of meat broth, Li Qianfan's spirits visibly improved.
But the wounds on his shoulders and legs also began to ache more.
This was because his nerves, which had been dormant along with his sleep, had become active with the replenishment of nutrients.
Luo Huayin handed the metal bowl to Old Ba and smiled, "Technically, you should thank me."
Li Qianfan complied readily, "I thank you, and I'd like to thank your mother very much. If conditions permit, I'd be willing to be your stepfather and dote on you like a treasure. As for your mother being an old woman, I wouldn't mind too much. I'll discipline her."
*Pa!*
The moment Luo Huayin raised her hand, her glove automatically came off, and she struck Li Qianfan hard across the mouth.
Li Qianfan's lip immediately began to bleed.
Yet, the eyes looking at him remained as gentle as ever.
Li Qianfan smiled and continued, "If the old woman isn't swollen and bruised, she's no good."
He didn't care at all that Luo Huayin had slapped him.
This bit of pain was nothing compared to the pain in his shoulders and calves.
In fact, the pain in his mouth had significantly lessened the suffering in those two areas.
What made Li Qianfan even more inclined to use his sharp tongue was that Luo Huayin had injured him so severely without cause, yet spoke of it as if it were trivial.
Luo Huayin could tell what Li Qianfan was thinking.
"You can blaspheme my mother if you like."
She smiled and turned back, "Old Ba, whip Murong Mingyuan with the belt. Stop when she's whipped unconscious."
Since she couldn't control Li Qianfan, she would take it out on Murong Mingyuan!
Li Qianfan's expression changed drastically.
He finally realized that being stubborn with Luo Huayin seemed to offer no benefit.
But he didn't yell or beg Luo Huayin not to torment Murong Mingyuan.
This wasn't because he enjoyed seeing Murong Mingyuan beaten.
It was because he suddenly realized—
The more he tried to stop her or plead, the more cruelly Luo Huayin would torment Murong Mingyuan!
And it was indeed true.
Luo Huayin had already prepared herself for the possibility of Li Qianfan intervening, at which point she would have ordered Old Ba and the others to break Murong Mingyuan's leg alive.
Li Qianfan, however, remained silent.
This disappointed her—
Old Ba and Old Six immediately lunged at Murong Mingyuan.
Murong Mingyuan cried out and struggled.
It was all in vain—
Soon,
She was stripped bare, and the belt was brutally whipped across her body.
She rolled on the ground.
Li Qianfan's expression was cold and indifferent.
"You should be thankful that Old Ba and the others sacrificed all their masculine rights to become invulnerable to blades and spears."
Luo Huayin said calmly, "Otherwise, I wouldn't care whose woman she was."
She was telling the truth.
Li Qianfan asked, "And you? Did you sacrifice your womanhood to become invulnerable?"
Luo Huayin replied, "As long as I can reclaim Misty Village, does it matter if I can't be a woman?"
Li Qianfan said nothing further.
He just watched as Murong Mingyuan gradually stopped crying, curled up there, and stopped moving altogether.
"Remember, if you displease me again in the future, I will make that woman the most hideous woman in the world."
Luo Huayin placed Li Qianfan's head back onto the padded clothing, solicitously propping up the back of his head. She then took out a box of cigarettes.
After lighting a cigarette for Li Qianfan, she asked, "How have I treated you?"
Li Qianfan nodded, "Very well."
Luo Huayin asked, "And will you be obedient from now on?"
Li Qianfan nodded, "Yes. I'll do whatever you ask."
"Good."
Luo Huayin said slowly, "Next, I'll tell you just how important you are to my Battle Demon God Hall."