Chapter 191: The Prince Has Gone Mad

Jiu Yue hurriedly helped Gu Jiu Ling sit up from the bed, but she saw Zuo Feichen supporting a person covered in fresh blood striding in.

"Prince?" Gu Jiu Ling saw Xiao Yin being helped in, she jumped in shock, quickly got out of bed and rushed over, her steps so hurried she almost fell, thanks to Jiu Yue steadying her from the side.

Xiao Yin's condition at this moment was simply terrible to the extreme, his eyes tightly shut, his complexion turned blue, yet his expression bore a hint of madness and ferocity.

His shoulders, waist, cheeks, neck...

Wounds covered him, it felt as if he had struggled out of a thicket of swords, a horrifying sight.

"Quick! Quick! Help him onto the bed!" Gu Jiu Ling's voice grew hoarse.

These days, Zuo Feichen often cooperated with Gu Jiu Ling during surgeries, forming a tacit understanding; his movements were efficient as he helped Xiao Yin onto the bed.

"What happened?" Gu Jiu Ling asked softly while examining Xiao Yin's body.

Zuo Feichen stared fixedly at the man on the bed, who looked like a blood‑filled gourd; despite having experienced so much bloodshed and life‑and‑death, even his earlier encounter with Xiao Yin had left him deeply shaken.

When they and the reinforcements went to the canyon to check the situation, they found the entire canyon almost burned to ashes, the floor littered with charred limbs and torsos from the burning fire oil.

It was as if they had fallen into Avici Hell, yet on this pile of corpses several people were still being surrounded and attacked by hundreds.

The one most surrounded was Prince Rui Xiao Yin, but when they arrived they found his condition extremely abnormal, as if he didn't recognize anyone, almost like a different person.

The Longquan Sword in his hand had completely lost control, its bright blade swinging, instantly filling the air with blood.

The surrounding Royal Iron Guards who were attacking him couldn't even get near his body, from the time he was besieged until they now discovered Xiao Yin.

He had held out in the canyon for three full days and nights, sleepless and relentless, refusing to die.

His swordplay had later become utterly formless, relying solely on his breath as he inch‑by‑inch moved outward, fighting.

He had completely lost his reason; the poison he had barely suppressed flared up, sharp pain nearly robbing him of his senses.

He didn't even dodge the blades stabbing into his body, gritting his teeth and pressing forward.

His heart was utterly lost; he didn't know where he was going or who he was!

He only knew that a certain woman would surely wait for his return, no matter how long, she would wait for him to come home!

Yes! Come home!

After years of wandering through wind and rain, he finally had a home.

Although the gu poison in his body was now flaring up, and he had exhausted the last of his gu worms, there was no way to suppress it; that tearing sensation drove him mad, making him want to rend anyone to pieces.

Zuo Feichen recalled that scene, and his body suddenly shuddered violently.

They had all heard of the Southern Qi War God Xiao Yin's fearsome reputation, but they had never seen him so brutal and terrifying; he even tore enemies' arms off with his bare hands, like a beast—where was any noble bearing?

"Speak!" Gu Jiu Ling growled low.

Zuo Feichen swayed, then said slowly, "Prince… he's probably gone mad!"

The news Gu Jiu Ling least wanted to hear arrived as expected—Xiao Yin's gu poison had flared up.

Emperor Longqing and Empress Dowager Ning'an were truly vicious; they not only wanted his life, but also wanted him to die insane, destroying his reputation.

Gu Jiu Ling could no longer worry about anything else; she raised her hand to touch Xiao Yin's neck, when he instinctively slapped out, striking straight at her face.

"Careful!" Zuo Feichen rushed over, shoved Gu Jiu Ling aside, but took a heavy palm from Xiao Yin himself—this strike carried some of his inner force, and Zuo Feichen spat out a mouthful of blood.

Cheng Ming and Lin Rujun, who had followed in, retreated in a rush; they were truly afraid of Prince Rui.

Cheng Ming said in a deep voice, "He's mad! Prince Rui is probably mad!"

"He's gone blood‑mad, and he almost killed me, your little master!"

Lin Rujun's face turned ashen; she had always longed for the chivalrous jianghu vibe, but having witnessed this bloody scene, she was already scared witless, now unable to speak, she simply hid behind Cheng Ming.

A Xiao Yin gone mad—who knows how many times more terrifying than those enemies.

Xiao Yin tried to open his eyes, but utterly exhausted, he had fallen into a nightmare from which he could not escape.

He gasped heavily, low‑voice urgently shouting something; the Seven Kill Valley of seven years ago merged with the present carnage, making his nightmare especially protracted.

He was like a lone intruder into a forbidden land, also harboring fear and dread, on guard against everyone around him.

At this moment Zuo Feichen nearly got slapped to death; everyone retreated a little, only Gu Jiu Ling walked over slowly.

"Master!" Jiu Yue hurried forward, but Gu Jiu Ling was already standing before Xiao Yin, who struggled violently, growling and roaring, wanting to tear apart anyone who approached.

"Xiao Yin! It's me! I am your wife—Gu Jiu Ling!"

Gu Jiu Ling seized Xiao Yin's arm; his body suddenly shuddered, and he reflexively grabbed her hand.

Although he was already mad and frenzied, only this familiar voice gradually calmed his body and mind.

He—had come home.

Where she is, that is Xiao Yin's home.

Lost and helpless in his nightmare, suddenly someone took his hand and gently led him forward, step by step.

From then on, the nightmare lingered behind, that warm hand guiding him ever onward, onward…

After Xiao Yin had steadied, Gu Jiu Ling injected anesthetic; she had already taken his pulse, which was extremely chaotic, feeling like qi deviation.

The lesion previously under his left rib felt like cellular division; besides the left side, it seemed the right side had one too, and even his heart harbored one.

Earlier Xiao Yin had suppressed it with gu worms, but now the worms are exhausted; though he has steadied, his breath is as thin as a silk thread—if not treated soon, he may not last the night, a spent bolt.

"Zuo Feichen, prepare for surgery!"

Zuo Feichen had just barely recovered; hearing Gu Jiu Ling's words, he almost couldn't catch his breath again.

"Princess Consort, shall we first return to Shang Jing…"

"Too late!" Gu Jiu Ling's eyes turned icy; though her heart was in turmoil, her expression grew resolute.

"His condition isn't good; returning to Shang Jing would take several hours, and if it fully flared up on the way, there might be no chance."

"Let's start the surgery now, right here!"

"But…" Cheng Ming was about to speak when Lin Rujun yanked him.

"What are you pulling me for?" Cheng Ming cursed low, "We risked our lives to drag him out of hell; if we don't hurry back to the capital, do we really want to stay here and die with him?"

"Tuo Ba Yu that kid probably can't hold them off much longer; those troops will be chasing us soon—"

Lin Rujun furrowed her brows and looked at him, saying: "Our helping the Princess Consort is meant to save the Prince; if something happens to the Prince, what's the point of our trip?"

"Besides, we might not necessarily be unable to hold out; those people only have superiority in numbers. How about it? Young Marquis, are you afraid?"

Cheng Ming instantly bristled, coldly laughing: "I, the young master, fear nothing; at worst I'll die here!"

He strode out, bringing people to guard the courtyard gate.