Chapter 180

Li Qingluo only hesitated for a moment, then she did just that.

Translation: Li Qingluo only hesitated for a moment, then did just that.

Anyway, he doesn't know, and I'm not at a loss either.

Translation: Anyway, he doesn't know, and I'm not losing out either.

The Prince of Su has a breathtaking, unparalleled appearance; normally no one can get close to him, and in Jinling City no one dares to speak disrespectfully of him, so today I consider myself fortunate to have had this chance.

Translation: Prince Su's appearance is stunningly beautiful; normally no one can get close to him, and in Jinling City no one dares to speak disrespectfully of him, so today I also count as having taken advantage.

Having convinced herself, Li Qingluo again pinched his cheeks according to the method, then held a mouthful of water in her mouth, lowered her head and passed the water to Duan Rongshi mouth-to-mouth.

Having convinced herself, Li Qingluo again pinched his cheeks according to the method, then held a mouthful of water in her mouth, lowered her head and passed the water to Duan Rongshi mouth-to-mouth.

Translation: Having convinced herself, Li Qingluo again pinched his cheeks as prescribed, then held a mouthful of water in her mouth, lowered her head and passed it to Duan Rongshi mouth-to-mouth.

She then immediately closed his jaw and kept it shut; after a moment, she finally saw a slight swallowing motion in his throat.

Translation: She then immediately closed his jaw and held it shut; after a moment, she finally saw a slight swallowing motion in his throat.

Li Qingluo exclaimed with delight: "Great! If he can drink water, he will surely survive!"

Translation: Li Qingluo exclaimed delightedly: "Great! If he can drink water, he will surely survive!"

After half an hour, Li Qingluo examined all of Duan Rongshi's wounds, big and small.

Translation: After half an hour, Li Qingluo examined all of Duan Rongshi's wounds, big and small.

It turned out that, aside from the poisonous hidden weapon wound on his shoulder and back, he also had several other minor injuries.

Translation: As it turned out, aside from the poisoned hidden-weapon wound on his shoulder and back, he also had several other minor injuries.

One of the largest wounds had torn flesh, with blood soaking through his pant leg and the blood had already turned black and hardened.

Translation: One of the largest wounds had torn flesh open; the blood flowing had soaked his pant legs, and the blood had already turned black and hard.

For every visible wound, Li Qingluo gathered herbs, crushed them, and applied them.

Translation: For every wound she could see, Li Qingluo went to gather herbs, crushed them, and applied them.

After finishing these tasks, she finally let out a temporary sigh of relief.

Translation: After finishing these tasks, she finally let out a temporary sigh of relief.

Lowering her gaze to the Prince of Su's face, Li Qingluo whispered: "I don't know if this will work for you, but from now on we can only leave it to fate and rely on yourself."

Translation: Lowering her head to look at Prince Su's face, Li Qingluo whispered: "I don't know if this will work for you, but from now on we can only leave it to fate and rely on you yourself."

Also, I hope that Zhui Yu and the others can hurry and come find us.

Translation: Also, I hope Zhui Yu and the others can hurry and come find us.

After all, the Prince of Su is in this state, and I can no longer drag him along while we wander aimlessly, ignorant and lost.

Translation: After all, in Prince Su's current state, I can no longer drag him along while we wander aimlessly, ignorant and lost.

Fortunately, today our luck has been decent; we merely fell into a cave that is like a separate world.

Translation: Today our luck has been not bad; they merely fell into such a cave with its own hidden world.

But if our luck were bad, we might have fallen into an abyss of immeasurable depth.

Translation: But if our luck were bad, we might have fallen into a bottomless abyss.

Li Qingluo could no longer gamble; she could only place her hope in the guards attending the Prince of Su.

Translation: Li Qingluo could no longer gamble; she could only place her hope on the guards beside Prince Su.

Exhausted, Li Qingluo lay down for a moment, then got up again.

Translation: Exhausted, Li Qingluo lay down for a moment, then got up again.

Because her own stomach had been growling "gurgling" several times already.

Translation: Because her own stomach had been going "gurgle" several times.

Li Qingluo had been scrambling around in the mountains since childhood, so catching fish in the river, hunting in the mountains, and making a fire to feed herself were trivial tasks she excelled at.

Translation: Li Qingluo had been roughing it in the mountains since childhood, so for her, catching fish in the river, hunting in the hills, and making a fire to feed herself were nothing more than trivial tasks she excelled at.

To catch fish, Li Qingluo took off her shoes, rolled up her pant legs, and lifted her skirt's hem to tie it around her waist.

Translation: To catch fish, Li Qingluo took off her shoes, rolled up her pant legs, and lifted her skirt hem to tie it around her waist.

Then, barefoot with her legs and feet now whitened by her grandmother's care, she stepped into the stream.

Translation: Then, barefoot with her legs and feet now snow-white from her grandmother's care, she went down to the stream.

The stream murmured, the icy snowmelt stinging to the bone.

Translation: The stream babbled; the snowmelt water was icy enough to cause a piercing pain.

But she was already accustomed to it; after gritting her teeth and sucking in a few breaths of cold air, she quickly adapted to the water's temperature.

Translation: But she was already accustomed to it; after gritting her teeth and sucking in a few breaths of cold air, she quickly adapted to the water's temperature.

After catching the fish, Li Qingluo went to gather some wild fruits edible in winter.

Translation: After catching the fish, Li Qingluo went to look for some wild fruits edible in winter.

Such as persimmons and winter jujubes.

Translation: Such as persimmons and winter jujubes.

Although they hung high in the trees, she climbed up like a little monkey, clinging to the trunks.

Translation: Although they hung high in the trees, she climbed up like a little monkey, embracing the trunk.

The jujube trees have thorns, so she used other branches to hook them down, making picking the jujubes easy.

Translation: The jujube trees have thorns, so she used another branch to hook them down; picking the jujubes was therefore easy.

But if anyone saw her like that, they'd probably be shocked enough to drop their jaws.

Translation: But if anyone saw her like that, they'd probably be shocked enough to drop their jaws.

She is now a noble lady of Jinling City.

Translation: She is now a noble lady of Jinling City.

When she remains still and quiet, she still bears a rather dignified and composed demeanor.

Translation: When she stays still and quiet, she still bears a rather dignified and composed demeanor.

But now, with no one around, she is climbing trees and going into the river, bearing no trace of a refined lady from a prestigious family.

Translation: But now, with no one around, she climbs trees and goes into the river—where is there any trace of a well-bred young lady from a prominent family?

Actually, it is precisely in this state that she feels most at ease.

Translation: But in fact, precisely this way is when she feels most at ease.

The fragrant grilled fish soon filled the entire cave with its aroma.

Translation: The fragrant grilled fish soon filled the whole cave with its aroma.

Li Qingluo smelled it and immediately began to eat heartily.

Translation: Li Qingluo smelled it and immediately began to eat heartily.

Now that she has a dagger, cleaning the fish is naturally quick and clean.

Translation: Now that she has a dagger, cleaning the fish is naturally quick and neat.

She also stuffed some herbs into the fish's belly to substitute for lacking seasoning.

Translation: She also stuffed some herbs into the fish's belly to substitute for lack of seasoning.

Not only does it remove the fishy odor, it adds considerable fragrance; a bite now is practically a heavenly delicacy!

Translation: It not only removes the fishy smell but also adds considerable fragrance; taking a bite now is practically a delicacy fit for heaven.

Having been hungry all day, Li Qingluo ate all the grilled fish and also gnawed on four or five fruits.

Translation: Having been hungry all day, Li Qingluo ate up the grilled fish and also gnawed four or five of the fruits.

After she had eaten her fill and drunk enough, the sky had already begun to darken.

Translation: After she had eaten her fill and drunk enough, the sky had already gradually darkened.

It turned out that almost a full day had passed.

Translation: As it turned out, nearly a whole day had already passed.

At this moment, the Jingyun Mountain Villa, a hundred li outside Jinling City.

Translation: At this moment, the Jingyun Shan Zhuang estate lies a hundred li outside Jinling City.

Zheng Lingzhou slapped his subordinate's face with an iron palm: "Damn it! You know she's a Miss Li, so why did you strike a lethal blow to drive her off the cliff? If she loses her life, I will have you buried with her!"

Translation: Zheng Lingzhou slapped his subordinate's face with an iron palm: "Damn it! Since you know she is a Miss Li, why did you still strike a deathblow to drive her off the cliff!? If she loses her life, I will have you buried with her!"

Zheng Lingzhou's towering rage made everyone in the hall lower their heads, silent as cicadas in winter.

Translation: Zheng Lingzhou's towering anger made everyone in the great hall lower their heads, silent as cicadas in winter.

Zheng Wanxiu stepped forward and grabbed her brother by the collar: "Lingzhou, since this has already happened, we should hurry and send people to search the bottom of the cliff."

Translation: Zheng Wanxiu stepped forward and grabbed her brother by the collar: "Lingzhou, since this has already happened, we should hurry and send people to search the bottom of the cliff."

Zheng Lingzhou's eyes turned red: "Sister, how can we search? The cliff base is full of wolves, tigers, and leopards; even if she fell, she'd be torn to shreds and dragged away to be devoured—how could we possibly find her?"

Translation: Zheng Lingzhou's eyes turned red: "Elder sister, how can we search? The cliff bottom is full of wolves and tigers; even if she fell, she would have been smashed to pieces and dragged away to be devoured—how could we possibly find her?"

Having said that, Zheng Lingzhou, unable to contain his anger, drew his sword and slit his subordinate's throat.

Translation: Having said that, Zheng Lingzhou, unable to contain his anger, drew his sword and slashed his subordinate's throat.

The others were all startled, never expecting him to actually do that!

Translation: The others were all greatly startled, never expecting him to actually do that!

Moreover, haven't we not yet confirmed whether that Miss Li is alive or dead?

Translation: Moreover, isn't it the case that we haven't even confirmed whether that Miss Li is alive or dead?

Someone, filled with chilling dread, stood up and said: "Chief Zheng, you, you act like this—how can the brothers still be loyal to you?"

Translation: Someone, filled with chilling dread, stood up and said: "Incense Chief Zheng, you, you acting this way, how can the brothers still be sincerely subservient to you?"

"And even if Chief Cao made a mistake, you should give him a chance—how can you so easily throw away his opportunity over a woman?"

Translation: "And even if Cao Tangzuo made a mistake, you should still give him a chance. How can you lightly take away his opportunity just because of a woman?"

"Furthermore, I believe that even if Chief Cao acted this way, he must have done it for the sake of our sect."

Translation: "Furthermore, I believe that even if Cao Tangzuo acted this way, he must have done it out of consideration for our sect!"

Zheng Lingzhou sneered: "Consideration? What consideration? Since you're speaking up for him, tell me how Chief Cao has been considering our sect."

Translation: Zheng Lingzhou sneered: "Consideration? Consideration of what? Since you're speaking up for him, why don't you tell me how exactly Cao Tangzuo has been considering our sect?"

That person, with a resolve to face death, continued speaking despite others' objections: "Chief, you once said that whenever we encounter a Miss Li, everyone in our sect must show her three parts of respect and let her act. Yet this operation was also planned by our Lotus Sect for months, with meticulous planning and great effort."

Translation: That person, with an air of regarding death as home, ignored others' dissuasion and continued: "Incense Chief, you once said that whenever we encounter a Miss Li, everyone in our sect must show her three parts of respect and let her act. Yet this operation, too, was planned by our Lotus Sect for months, with meticulous planning and exhaustive effort."

"Even a slight mistake would still be a loss despite effort."

Translation: "Even a slight slip would still be a case of near success but ultimate failure."

"Nearly a thousand brothers have risked their lives this time: first disguising as rebels to create a diversion, then luring people into the formation, and finally launching a frenzied counterattack—all of this serves only one purpose: to kill the Prince of Su!"

Translation: "Nearly a thousand brothers have risked their lives this time—first masquerading as rebels to feign betrayal, making a show in the east while striking in the west, then luring people into the formation, and finally launching a frenzied counterattack; all of this serves only one purpose: to kill Prince Su!"

"The Prince of Su is the greatest threat to our Lotus Sect from the current Dalian court, so killing him is imperative."

Translation: "Prince Su is the person in the present Daliang court who poses the greatest threat to our Lotus Sect; therefore killing him is a must."

"Even if we sacrifice hundreds of brothers' lives, we all must eradicate him like ghosts."

Translation: "Even if we sacrifice several hundred brothers' lives, we all must exterminate him like ghosts and specters!"

"I also heard that during yesterday's operation, this Miss Li happened to be right beside the Prince of Su."

Translation: "I have also heard that, in yesterday's affair, this Miss Li happened to be present beside Prince Su."

But why would the two of them have any interaction?

"Could it be that this Cavalry Great General's Jiangjun Fu has now already pledged allegiance to Prince Su?"

"If that's the case, even if this eldest legitimate daughter of the Li family dies, what of it?"

After that person finished speaking, Zheng Lingzhou angrily thrust a sword across his throat.

"So you all want her dead? Even though you know she is a daughter of the Li family, the one I must protect, you still think she should die?"

"Only then would we leave no room and push her together off that ten‑thousand‑foot cliff!"

Zheng Wanxiu could no longer watch her brother go mad like this, so she hurried forward and shoved him aside.

"Enough!"

"Aren't you all rushing down already!"

That person still refused to leave, saying, "Zheng Xiangzhu, in a fury today, rushed to the crown for a red face; the brothers who once fought side by side with me now say 'kill' and kill—how can that not chill one's heart?"

"If today Xiangzhu does not give an explanation, we will of course be dissatisfied!"

After speaking, that person even lunged at Zheng Lingzhou's sword; Zheng Wanxiu turned, blocked in front, and with the hilt of her knife shoved the person hard.

"If you truly wish to die, why not try my knife first?"

The person, with a shocked and terrified face, then stepped back hard.

Although Zheng Wanxiu is merely a woman, in their Lotus Sect, women are equal to men and can both bear great responsibilities.

Moreover, Zheng Tangzhu is usually the most steady and proper, never would he so biasly side with his own brother.

She should clearly know what grave mistake Zheng Xiangzhu committed today!

But Zheng Wanxiu said, "Not to hide from everyone, that Li family girl, my brother and I protect her because she is Lingzhou's beloved disciple; moreover, she is the niece of both me and Lingzhou."

"Although there is no direct blood relation, we both lost all our clan relatives when we were young, so we cherish family especially."

"If anyone tries to harm our family members, we would naturally be extremely angry; even if we act extremly, I would not think they are truly at fault."

"So, what do you think?"

Below, a wave of discussion erupted instantly.

"It turned out to be this kind of relationship?"

"If we truly are family, and this time we didn't watch carefully and ended up causing death… then Cao Tangzhu's death wouldn't be unjust…"

"How can one say that? Cao Tangzhu also acted for our Lotus Sect! What about their family? Once they join the sect, we followers are all brothers and sisters!"

"Indeed, our former sect leader once said, those without a home are each other's family. Today Zheng Xiangzhu is truly overstepping!"

"I say, do they also have some connection with the Jiangjun Fu?"

Hearing the growing chatter, Zheng Wanxiu slowly drew her knife and said, "If anyone objects, first duel me, Zheng Wanxiu!"

The result was that the two fearless ones who came up all ended up lying in a pool of blood.

However, throughout, Zheng Lingzhou never moved his hand again.

Finally, after Zheng Wanxiu sheathed her blood‑stained knife, Zheng Lingzhou stepped forward and said, "My brother and I are by no means seeking enmity with all of you! But from now on, if anyone in the sect disregards my three admonitions and five orders, acts on their own and remains defiant, they will meet this fate someday!"

In the middle of the night, Prince Su suddenly broke out in a high fever.

When Li Qingluo placed her hand on his forehead, the heat was already scorching, causing a slight sting in her palm.

"So hot?"

Unsure whether it was due to toxins, Li Qingluo shook him, but Prince Su still showed no reaction.

But if it continues to burn like this, even if the person awakens, they'll likely become a fool!

Li Qingluo held her breath, anxiously scrambling to her feet.

She thought for a moment, lifted the hem of Prince Su's robe, tore a large piece from his pant leg, then hurried out of the cave to soak the cloth in the icy river water.

She then returned, folded the cold cloth and placed it quickly on his forehead.

Soon, the cloth became warm again.

Li Qingluo, pinching the cloth, thought: At this rate, it's indeed too slow.

Even if I tear countless strips of cloth, run all night nonstop to replace his wet cloth, I'm afraid I still can't save him tonight.

It's like pouring a cup of water on a raging fire—cannot extinguish it.

She slowly rose, watching his peacefully sleeping visage as if he were merely asleep.

Li Qingluo closed her eyes, as if making a certain resolve, and slowly shed her own garments.

"I said, if I save your life and bring you back, I will not break my word."

"Consider it my secret… in this life, you will never know that this ever happened."