Chapter 25: Don

That yellow-skinned corpse fiend is too poisonous; its fangs almost bit through my arm, the corpse poison has entered my body, and detoxifying will take time.

I've been running a fever, my body feels like a furnace is burning inside.

My brow hurts, my eyes hurt, especially the area of my shoulder blades on my back, as if they were about to split open, the pain goes deep into the marrow.

I was groaning in pain, and Liu Junyan seemed to know exactly where it hurt most, his large hand constantly covering my shoulder blade area, infused with true qi, gently massaging.

Tears welled at the corners of my eyes, and Liu Junyan leaned down to kiss them away.

I heard him say in my ear: "Xiao Jiu, stay strong, hang in there—I'll find a way to help you open your bones and retrieve your natal magic artifact."

Open the bones?

Natal magic artifact?

Me...?

Liu Junyan's words seemed to carry a kind of magic; two days later, under his attentive care, my fever finally broke and I sank into a deep sleep.

I don't know how long I slept; in my half‑awake state I heard low voices talking outside.

"Seventh Lord, I've brought the thing back, but Xiaoye said that although it can help you, its backlash is also strong, so you must use it with caution."

"No problem, I have it figured out."

"Seventh Lord..."

"Qingying, Xiao Jiu needs me."

After a moment of silence, Liu Junyan added: "Don't mention this to Xiao Jiu."

I didn't know whether I was dreaming or really hearing that, and, exhausted, I eventually drifted back into sleep.

When I woke again, it was the morning of the third day.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Liu Junyan sitting cross‑legged at the foot of the bed, meditating.

His face was weary, his chin covered in stubble, his body sat ramrod straight, and the veins on his long neck stood out prominently.

I lay still, not moving or making a sound, afraid to disturb him.

But soon Liu Junyan seemed to sense it and opened his eyes.

The moment his amber eyes met mine, they softened with a smile: "Xiao Jiu, you're awake?"

He said this as he got out of bed, reached out to embrace my back and help me sit up, felt my forehead, then checked the wound on my right arm—all was fine—before asking, "Are you hungry? Qingying made some porridge; have a sip."

I nodded, struggling to get up to wash up, and Liu Junyan turned and called Li Qingying in to help me.

I had finished the porridge and was chatting with Li Qingying when Liu Junyan came over from the main hall.

I was a little surprised, since every time I saw him our meetings were always brief.

He always appeared in a rush, kept me company for a while, then returned to the black coffin.

Just now I naturally assumed he had gone back to the black coffin.

Instead, he had gone to wash up, shaved, re‑tied his hair into a knot bound with a jade crown, changed into a dark‑blue narrow‑sleeved long robe whose cuffs were embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns and whose hem bore gold‑thread ruyi motifs—he looked utterly fresh and noble.

I was completely dazed.

Such a high‑caliber man… does he really belong to me?

But Li Qingying, standing beside him, saw Liu Junyan like this and her expression turned unpleasant.

She turned her face away, said nothing, and clenched her hands tightly, as if enduring something.

Liu Junyan walked over, smiling, and asked, "Have you eaten enough? Do you have strength now?"

Only then did I snap out of it, nodding, "Yeah, I've got strength."

Liu Junyan then reached out, pulled me up, and said, "Xiao Jiu, come with me for a walk."

I exclaimed in surprise, "Aren't you not allowed to leave the pawnshop?"

That night's heavenly punishment is still vivid in my mind!

Liu Junyan didn't explain, merely saying, "We have a whole day, Xiao Jiu—don't waste it."

Liu Junyan led me out the door, and watching him slide into the driver's seat of Li Qingying's cool off‑road vehicle left me still dazed.

I recalled the faint snippets of conversation I'd heard in my dream; it seemed I hadn't been dreaming after all.

Liu Junyan may have paid a price I can't imagine for this day of freedom.

I opened my mouth to press for details, but seeing his focused profile as he drove, I held back.

Whether I asked or not, he had already made his choice.

With only one precious day, I didn't want to waste it on this fearless argument.

All I felt was a growing ache for the man before me—he was too good.

At least toward me, he was so good that sometimes I felt it wasn't real.

Under my fervent gaze, Liu Junyan suddenly curled his lips into a smile: "I didn't expect Xiao Jiu to be so enamored of my looks."

My face instantly flushed to the base of my neck, and I deflected: "I just didn't expect you to be able to drive."

And you seem to be pretty good at it.

"It's not hard," Liu Junyan said. "Once you get your license, I'll give you a car."

I half‑joked, "Sure, but I'm picky—I'm afraid you can't afford it."

Liu Junyan chuckled lightly: "Don't worry, I can afford to keep you."

I suddenly felt a bit at a loss, turning my face toward the window, afraid to look at him.

But the corners of my mouth still twitched upward involuntarily.

Along the way, Liu Junyan focused on driving, chatting with me off and on.

I, too, was just recovering from a serious illness; my strength ultimately wasn't great, and I unconsciously leaned back and fell asleep.

When the ride grew bumpy and I jolted awake from my sleep, I realized the vehicle had somehow gotten onto a mountain road at some point.

I rubbed my eyes, waited to make out the scenery outside, and could hardly believe it: "Is… this the mountain road to Tafengcun?"

Liu Junyan nodded: "Hmm, yes."

My heart pounded wildly; Tafengcun could be said to be another nightmare of mine.

As a child, I was thrown away many times, even pawned off to Dang Pu; my memories are actually not very deep.

But when I was nine, that beating from my grandmother, my mother's hostility, and my father's inaction deeply hurt me.

At nine years old, I started to remember.

The closer I got to Tafengcun, the more nervous I became, my body unconsciously sitting upright.

Liu Junyan gripped the steering wheel with one hand and patted my shoulder with the other: "Xiao Jiu, don't be afraid; Tafengcun is not a nightmare, it's the road you came from—face it bravely."

I nodded, but I still felt a bit uneasy inside.

The car stopped at the village entrance; I and Liu Junyan got out and entered the village.

Sure enough, not long after entering the village, my grandmother somehow got the news and rushed over, holding a willow whip.

She seemed not to see Liu Junyan, pointing at me and shouting: "Jinx, why are you back again! Did you forget the pain after your wound healed! Get out! Get out of Tafengcun!"

Seeing the willow whip about to strike me again, I raised my hand and gripped it tightly.

I am already eighteen years old, 1.67 meters tall, a head taller than my grandmother.

The old lady, though advanced in age and still full of vigor, is ultimately in her twilight years.

She jumped up, still wanting to slap my face, but I shoved her hard; her footing unsteady, she staggered backward and fell.

The villagers quickly helped her up; she glared at me with fierce eyes.

I shrugged, trying to stay calm: "Aunt Jiang, I am Xiao Jiu from Wufu Town Pawnshop; I have no relation to your Jiang family. I came to Tafengcun on business—what does it have to do with you?"