Chapter 52: Guardian for a Lifetime

The guards in the room seemed to vanish in an instant, leaving the vast, cold chamber with only me, immobilized, until Xin Hui and the others hurriedly arrived.

I lifted my only functional hand, bit into a spoonful of the already chilled fermented rice dumpling, and thought, "Poison… was it placed here?"

The reason Bu Sha was poisoned while I was unharmed is that the toxin only affects those who have just suffered internal injuries. Bu Sha happened to sustain a minor, inconsequential internal wound on his way back, and it worsened precisely because he was trying to open my meridian for me.

I turned to look at the worried Xin Hui, the bewildered Xin Luo, and Xiao Yin rubbing against me with its black‑glass‑like eyes; finally my gaze fell on Wu Ye, whose expression revealed nothing.

I looked up at him, feeling my heart sink bit by bit: "I've been wondering— the food was clearly cooked by Xin Hui herself, and no one else touched it except me. How could there still be poison?"

Facing him, I raised my slender, fair palm; in the dim candlelight, a faint glow flickered on my palm—could it be that the powder transferred from Wu Ye's hand, falling into the bowl, turned it into a gut‑piercing toxin?

I walked step by step toward him, each step draining almost all my strength: "Wu Ye, tell me why?"

My voice was weak yet resolute: "Why would you frame me in this way? I admit it was my fault for not telling you about Bu Sha's existence. You may be angry, you may scold me, even refuse to acknowledge me as a friend, but why make me harm Bu Sha? He is my friend!" I leaned against the wall, trembling, and let my voice pour out in a hoarse roar, "He is a friend more important to me than my own life; how could you force me to harm him with my own hands?"

Wu Ye stared at me silently, not uttering a word; only a desperate, painful light glimmered in his eyes. From beneath his heavy iron mask, a deep voice resonated: "Master, his existence will inevitably threaten you. Even if I have wronged you, I must eliminate him…"

"Shut up!" I abruptly raised my left hand and clenched it into a fist; my bones seemed to creak "clack—clack", and true qi gathered from my limbs into a single point, ready to burst forth as I swung my hand…

Sadness, lingering affection, and relief flashed in Wu Ye's eyes; he gazed at me deeply, then silently closed his eyes.

"Bang—" a thunderous crash reverberated throughout the vast palace, making the ground seem to tremble and sway gently.

"Miss!!" Xin Hui and Xin Luo shouted in panic, their voices intermingled with a series of Xiao Yin's shrieks, rushing straight to my side.

Wu Ye opened his eyes blankly, only to see my blood‑soaked back of the hand and my face splattered with a snarling, bloody mess.

His eyes could no longer retain any cold indifference; a sudden, innate surge of pain erupted, turning into a voiceless, broken scream: "Bing Yi! —"

I… I couldn't land the blow. I knew the punch wouldn't harm Wu Ye a hair, yet my anger was so fierce I wanted to kill, and still I couldn't strike.

That man, who lives in agony worse than death yet clings to my existence; the man I once told, "Better be Wu Ye"…

Landing that punch would negate all the storms we've endured together.

If I threw that punch, we would truly no longer be friends, and we could never… return to how things were.

Xin Hui's face bore tear stains as she gently cradled Xiao Yin, letting it lick my wound; I hung my hand down, eyes unfocused, allowing them to tend to me.

"Master." Wu Ye's low, feeble voice sounded as if echoing across a millennium, "That day… in the cave, the Emperor had already recognized my identity. Later, when you were swept away by water, the Emperor gave me three choices…"

Dazed, I came to my senses, slowly lifted my head and asked, "What choices?"

"First, return with him to become the Lord of the Flying Eagles; second, die at his hands…"

"Then… the third?"

Wu Ye lifted his head and gazed at me silently, his eyes filled with pain and helplessness: "The third choice is that I may stay by your side, but I must do three things for him."

"The first task is to tell him how you entered the Lan family, and about your relationship with Prince Fu Junmo of the Yue Kingdom, including… Xin Luo's matter."

I jolted sharply, trembling as I asked, "Does Wei Lingfeng know Xin Luo's identity?"

"Miss." Xin Luo's cold hand clasped my unbleeding left hand; she glanced at the pallid Xin Hui, then at me, hesitantly saying, "Miss, what is Xin Luo's status? Xin Luo doesn't want to be separated from you."

I squeezed Xin Luo's small hand tightly, listening as Wu Ye continued: "I don't understand the Emperor's intentions at all. The second task… is to help him capture Bu Sha."

I frowned at the only eye visible beyond his mask, seeing traces of melancholy, sorrow, and a faint fear: "Although this is the Emperor's will, the second task is one I willingly accept."

"Wu Ye!" I growled in anguish, "Do you have to say it that way?"

Footsteps suddenly echoed outside; a chill ran through me as an unfamiliar, high‑pitched male voice called from the doorway, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has issued an edict; please come at once for an audience."

I moved my injured hand—it hurt! I bit down on my paling lips, realizing I'd damaged tendons and bone. I inhaled deeply and said calmly, "I understand."

Upon entering the Fengyin Hall, I saw Wei Lingfeng staring blankly at a dagger in his hand, truly dazed, unlike his usual habit of twirling it. His expression was a solemn, profound, and… contemplative look I had never seen before.

"Bing Yi," Wei Lingfeng said without looking up, his voice deep, "If, after a year, I do not let you leave…"

"Your Majesty!" I cut him off sharply.

Wei Lingfeng carefully slipped the dagger into his chest, then looked up at me. His handsome face, usually flamboyant and regal, now bore a faint fatigue and gauntness as he whispered, "Do you hate me?"

I gave a cold smile and replied, "Hate? Such an expensive feeling—how could I waste it on you?"

Wei Lingfeng's mountain‑like refined eyebrows tightened slightly; he rose slowly, a faint smile at his lips, his beautiful eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint, and he walked step by step toward me.

His smile remained inscrutably profound, his brows still sharp and soaring, making me almost think his earlier melancholy was merely my illusion.

"You don't think I will continue to indulge you forever, do you?"

"Your Majesty, do you call that indulgence?" I glared at him, "I thought it was just the novelty of acquiring a rare pet!"

"Bing Yi." Wei Lingfeng looked down from his height, his tone tinged with uncertainty, "Are you angry with me?"

I was startled; my lips, devoid of any color, trembled slightly, and the hand bound behind my back throbbed with a piercing pain.

Am I… angry? Angry at him for using Wu Ye to frame me, angry that he used me to harm Bu Sha, and even angrier at myself for being foolish enough to call someone like him a friend.

"What do I have to be angry about?" I averted my head, eyes lowered to the beautiful stone patterns on the ground, and said lightly, "I just feel like an idiot for being naive enough to consider you a friend…"

"Friend?" Wei Lingfeng suddenly sneered mockingly, extending his right hand to seize my bound hand, flipping it and gripping it tightly; his eyes flashed with aggressive intent as he forcefully pressed my body against his chest.

The stabbing pain in my wrist nearly made me faint; my already pallid face grew even whiter, cold sweat beading on my forehead. I clenched my teeth hard, clearing my dazed vision, refusing to utter a single whimper.

"Do you think I cherish those two words?" Wei Lingfeng stared at me fiercely, squeezing my hand even tighter, his breath so close it brushed my twisted, pain‑distorted face, "Bing Yi, are you truly slow‑witted or merely pretending? What kind of feeling do I want, what response do I expect—you know it, don't you?"

His words left me genuinely stunned, the searing pain in my wrist momentarily forgotten. What was Wei Lingfeng saying? What feeling? What response?

I suddenly sprang up in panic, whispering, "Let go of me!"

Wei Lingfeng stared deeply at me; I hurriedly dodged the glint in his eyes. He released his right hand, and the forgotten pain surged suddenly; my legs went weak, nearly collapsing into his embrace, but I clenched my teeth and barely stayed upright.

"Wei Lingfeng." I stepped back, lifted my head to look at him, my gaze mixing anger with an unprecedented seriousness and solemnity, "I cannot love anyone in this world, and even if I could, I would never love someone who has used me. So, please stop demanding a response from me, because that will never exist."

At the moment I turned, Wei Lingfeng's deep voice rang out, "Is it that you cannot, rather than will not? Then, Bing Yi, you truly still have someone to love?"

"If not…" he said with a hint of mockery, pausing, "Let me guess who it is that will make you fall in love."

I slowly halted my movement, a strong unease spreading within me. His voice returned to its usual leisurely and shrewd tone, as if toying with his prey, "I originally thought it was Bu Sha, but alas… it is not."

"The trio from the old days, besides you, Bing Yi, and the cold‑hearted swordsman, only one remains."

I slowly turned to face him; his wickedly handsome smile now resembled a demonic horror from hell. He looked at me, a smile at the corner of his mouth, a hint of warmth in his eyes, and softly said, "Bing Yi, the one you love is him, right? The unparalleled Divine Physician—Xiao Qiran."

"Or perhaps, Bing Yi, you already knew his true identity: Bing Ling… Young Master!"

I trembled as I spoke, my voice cracking and unable to form sound: "Why… why do you know?"

Wei Lingfeng's smile at the corners of his mouth grew wider; that smile, like his sharp eyes, was bright yet icy: "You think, for such a secret matter, besides you three from Wuyou, who else would know?"

Was it Bu Sha who told him? No! How could that be? My heart surged with a thousand waves, even the intense pain in my wrist was drowned out, I forced myself not to look at his hands hanging at his sides, knuckles whitened from gripping, and said lightly: "Your Majesty, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Just as I stepped out of the doorway, I seemed to hear the sound of a hand striking a pillar, muffled and dull, making me almost think I was having an auditory hallucination.

Wei Lingfeng's voice, mixed with too many complex emotions, sounded from behind: "I have already released Bu Sha and will not move against him again. Your hand, I will soon send the Imperial Physician to treat it properly; don't… hurt yourself again."

I ran desperately back to Luoying Gong, into my own room, and shut the door tightly.

My body trembled uncontrollably; I slid down the door and sat, pulling my knees tight to my chest. I buried my head in my body, feeling a pair of hands lightly stroking my hair, and I said: "Is the poison gone?"

Bu Sha spoke softly: "It's gone."

I wanted to ask Wei Lingfeng why he agreed to let you come back, why he knew about Qi Ran, and what his relationship with Qi Ran was that made you willing to tell him our affairs.

I wanted to ask all of this, but I couldn't get the words out.

I really want… to go home, I want to put on my clothes right now and never have to worry about the rights and wrongs here…

I'm afraid that if I stay even a second longer, I'll throw caution to the wind and let Bu Sha take me to Qi Ran's side.

I'm afraid that if I feel even a bit more longing, I'll forget that original world and remain here forever.

"Bing Yi, let me protect you." Bu Sha said lightly, his tone as indifferent and calm as when we used to say "I've eaten" when together.

I lifted my head to look at him, gazing deep into his eyes as dark as night; how much loneliness, sorrow, and worry he kept hidden there?

I said sullenly: "I don't need protection. You still have many things to do: find the Four Sacred Stones, kill Yin Ziheng, investigate the secrets…"

"These are all for Qi." Bu Sha interrupted me.

I nodded: "I know. That's why I let you keep doing it—what good would guarding me do? I'm not a head of state, I don't possess a treasure map or peerless martial arts; even if I sold myself by the catty, I wouldn't be worth much…"

Bu Sha lifted me from the ground, carefully placed me on the bed, his black eyes fell on my left hand where blood had congealed, then he silently shifted his gaze to my face and said coldly: "Also for him, that's why I must protect you."

"Those matters, I will still continue to do them. The precondition is that you are all safe."

"Unless you find the way back, unless you are willing to be with Qi, otherwise let me protect you both for a lifetime."

"A lifetime?" I lifted my eyes to Bu Sha's clear, cold black pupils, deep and unfathomable, calm and traceless. But what heavy secrets lie hidden there, that make this cold, strong man utter these three words?

With my uninjured right hand I grasped one of his hands, palm down, covering my eyes; the rough, cold sensation rubbed against my eyelids. A wave of soreness welled up in my heart, gradually moistening my eyes and his hand.

I choked out: "Bu Sha, I miss Qi Ran, I miss him so much. Why, even knowing it's impossible, do I still long for him so… love him so?"

Bu Sha let out a soft sigh, quietly allowing me to hold his hand while I whispered my sobs. The palm pressed against my eyelids grew slightly warm, like winter sunlight, gradually warming my heart that feared the cold.

My hand injury healed after a week.

As the weather grew colder day by day, I often spent the whole day with a heater in my room, playing with Xin Hui and Xin Luo.

The days passed in a dazed blur for over two months.

My relationship with Wu Ye and Wei Lingfeng became rather delicate after that night, as if a thread that wanted to break but couldn't had been pulled; we interacted daily, like walking on thin ice.

Over these past two months, aside from asking about warship matters, Wei Lingfeng never summoned me; when we met he never said anything beyond the topic. Occasionally we ran into each other on the road, he would always chat and laugh with Qian Qian beside him, and upon seeing me he acted as if he hadn't noticed.

Qian Qian, like Yan Jing, naturally came to see me as usual; she knew I didn't want to hear anything about Wei Lingfeng, so she never brought it up. Only the worry she constantly hid in her brow also prevented me from asking.

As for Wu Ye, he still stayed by my side. Just like Bu Sha, who hides in the darkness and only appears at night, he never left my side, guarding me closely.

Sometimes I unconsciously wonder if I'm really too weak, which is why so many people say they want to protect me. But whether you call me lazy or lacking ambition, my heart has never had the desire to become strong; being protected is fine as it is.

To me, this is no different in essence from not wanting to cook or wash clothes myself.

But I really don't know what feeling to use to face Wu Ye. Although Bu Sha ended up unharmed, although he had his own hardships… I can only say that perhaps with time I'll grow indifferent, but right now I truly cannot.

Today is a very special day; I absolutely refused to let Wu Ye, Xin Hui, and Xin Luo follow me, even tossing Xiao Yin to Xin Hui, and I ran out of the palace alone.

Outside, the cold wind was biting; the sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain. I came to a secluded spot where there was a round stone table and a few stone benches, roofless and wall-less, yet hidden behind layers of trees, hard to find.

I clenched my icy, stiff hands together, yearning for a bit of warmth. Is it that winter in Qi State arrives late and departs late? I recall that a year ago today it was cold, but not this bitterly freezing; or perhaps it was because back then there was sunshine-like warmth beside me.

A soundless shadow fell beside me; Bu Sha grasped my intertwined fingers, his clear, cold voice sounding above my head: "Afraid of the cold, why did you come here to do this?"

I gave a faint smile, pulled my hand from the warmth, tilted my head and said: "Bu Sha, stretch out your right hand."

Bu Sha looked at me with slight doubt, his lips moving but saying nothing; he transferred the sword to his left hand, and his broad, slightly bronzed palm lay open before me.

I took out a black velvet-like object from my bosom, carefully slipped it onto the wrist he always grips his sword with, and said with a smile: "This is a wrist guard; when practicing swordplay or fighting, it can buffer the injury to your wrist. Although for someone like you, a master, this protection has no practical use… actually, it's just a small keepsake."

I lifted my head, looking at Bu Sha's shiny black eyes and the black hair hanging over his forehead, and showed a bright yet faintly sorrowful smile, speaking cheerfully: "Let's celebrate our one-year anniversary."

A faint luster flickered in Bu Sha's eyes; he withdrew his hand, gazing at the barely visible 'Bu' character embroidered in white thread on the black velvet wrist guard, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Cough, I know I embroidered it poorly, but this… I don't want to pretend it's Xin Hui's hand!"

I took out another light-blue wrist guard from my bosom, spread it before him, gave a faint smile, and said: "If I ever get to see Qi Ran again, please give this to him."

Bu Sha took it, his gaze falling on the 'Ran' character embroidered in dark blue thread, nodded lightly, and carefully tucked it into his bosom.

Suddenly a chilly sensation touched my face, then the back of my hand, my eyelids; I stared up in astonishment at the white snowflakes drifting down from the sky, like goose feathers swirling and fluttering above my head.

I spread my hand, watching snowflake after snowflake land in my palm, and couldn't help but exclaim happily: "Bu Sha! It's snowing!"

In Bu Sha's icy eyes there was a hint of softness; he silently gazed at me standing amidst the falling snow, saying nothing.

"I've never seen real snow before." I turned my head to look at the black-clad, black-haired Bu Sha, his hair and clothes already dusted with many snowflakes. "And it's the first snow of the year. If Qi Ran were here too, it would be great; the three of us could leave an unparalleled photograph in this season."

Moreover, with Qi Ran, a god-level handsome guy, if we brought him back to the modern world, he would surely drive countless people crazy.

Bu Sha's icy black eyes flickered slightly as he looked at me, but he did not speak.

I smiled and explained: "Did you see the phone I left for Qi Ran? It can record a person's voice and image, then freeze them, making it like the most lifelike portrait—that's called a photograph."

Bu Sha's angular lips twitched slightly, he reached out his hand, and said coldly: "It's too cold; let's go back."

I always felt that Bu Sha was born without any curiosity; if those words were spoken to anyone in ancient times, wouldn't they all be considered shocking and outrageous?

I shrank my neck, really cold, and placed my chapped, red little hand into his broad palm, letting him pull me back.

Seeing his expressionless profile, I couldn't help but feel dissatisfied and pouted: "If it were before, on such a special holiday, I and Xiao Yu would definitely exchange gifts and then go out to pig out."

Although this habit, it was absolutely cultivated under Xiao Yu's influence.

Even the most cold-blooded older brother and a father who works himself into exhaustion day after day would, on a certain day each year, surely return voluntarily to that humble little hut to commemorate the day Father led us out of darkness.

"But Bu Sha, you have no reaction at all? Don't even mention celebrating—I see you've completely forgotten what day today is, right?" Bu Sha's steps paused, then he grasped my hand tightly and continued forward. I, however, kept chattering on: "I just knew that your head never stores anything trivial…"

Bu Sha suddenly stopped his steps, turned his head to look at me; his black eyes were like the snowflakes falling on my face, icy cold, yet his hand holding mine remained warm and gentle. He spoke lightly, saying: "I will remember from now on."

Looking at his earnest expression that he tried hard to conceal, I couldn't help but break into a smile; since he said he would remember, from now on he will surely not forget again.

I gazed out over the Imperial Palace Garden gradually being covered by white snow; my heart held a faint sorrow and longing that grew and spread. I spoke softly, as if inquiring, as if murmuring: "Will Qi Ran remember today? At this very moment, is he…… also under the same sky of flying snow, …… missing the past……"

(End of chapter)