Chapter 342

I flung myself into Liu Junyan's arms and described everything that had just happened to him.

While I was in the midst of it, I didn't feel particularly afraid, but returning to reality, in the embrace of the one I love, only then did I realize what had happened.

"Āyàn, it's Feng Xianqiu; he said we were engaged, but the letter the Great Witch left me says that engagement has no sun or moon, so I can break it off!"

I'm not afraid of Feng Xianqiu; I'm afraid of my own physical condition just now.

"Just now half of my body couldn't move; it might be related to my having just merged with the other half of my soul, and Feng Xianqiu likely used some kind of witchcraft to control that other half of my soul, thereby controlling me."

Liu Junyan listened seriously to my description; when I finished, he scooped me up in his arms: "Come on, let's go to the Bai Family clinic."

I struggled to jump down from his arms, changed clothes, and then went out with Liu Junyan.

The street at half past three in the morning was very quiet.

Liu Junyan knocked on the door of the Bai Family clinic.

The one who opened the door was Bai Jingmo, his eyes heavy with sleep; as he let us in, he asked, "Xiao Jiu, what's wrong?"

Liu Junyan frowned: "Go summon your Immortal Clan."

Before Bai Jingmo could respond, Bai Shulan came from behind.

Coming at this hour, Bai Shulan obviously knew what was up; her face grave, she said, "Xiao Jiu, are you feeling unwell?"

I then told her everything that had happened that night.

Of course, I only mentioned being drawn into the phantom mirror and my half-body paralysis, concealing the engagement and the bridal sedan.

Those have nothing to do with my condition.

Bai Shulan listened, then nodded: "Indeed, as I thought, the merger is only the beginning; as long as the birth-tied curse remains, it will bring endless trouble."

She said this while already reaching out to lift my chin, staring at the 'slave' character on my right cheek, then took my pulse.

After a thorough examination, she shook her head: "The problem isn't the other half of your soul; you've merged well, but the better the merger, the greater the impact on you, making it easier for whoever is behind it to control you. Also, I must remind you, Xiao Jiu, as your soul approaches true completeness, the instincts of your true self will emerge, but your mortal body can't bear them, so you will suffer more and more."

Liu Junyan's brows knotted into a shape resembling the Chinese character for river as he asked: "Even you can't suppress it, not even just delay it?"

"There is, but it's unnecessary," Bai Shulan said. "Temporary suppression will only bring a fiercer backlash; it won't change the final outcome, so why endure that suffering?"

I nodded, then confirmed: "In other words, the only path open to me is Nirvana?"

"Yes," Bai Shulan said firmly. "You don't even need to make the choice yourself; your Phoenix Lord nature will guide you to do what you must, Xiao Jiu. If you have any special concerns, take care of them now, for I fear there will be no time later."

She then brought out a small porcelain bottle, handed it to me, and said: "Apply a little when your cheeks feel hot; it will make you a bit more comfortable."

I took the small porcelain bottle, opened it, and had a look.

The liquid inside the bottle was clear, smelled of medicinal herbs, cool and refreshing, soothing to the heart.

I capped it while saying thank you.

Bai Shulan then turned to Liu Junyan and solemnly warned: "Xiao Jiu's condition means she should not become pregnant before successful Nirvana; childbirth would kill her! Please, Seventh Lord, keep this firmly in mind."

My mother died in difficult labor giving birth to me.

Liu Junyan knows this, so he has always been careful.

Moreover, too many things have happened lately, and we haven't had the energy…

But that Bai Shulan would think of me like this moves me from the bottom of my heart.

She didn't tell me what I should do; instead she made the request directly to Liu Junyan, which is all the more precious.

Especially given her feelings for Liu Xingyi, facing Liu Junyan's face, anyone else might not be able to do what Bai Shulan does.

Liu Junyan also cooperated: "I will protect and cherish Xiao Jiu well."

As we left the Bai Family clinic, the horizon already showed a fish-belly white.

Liu Junyan took my hand, and we walked slowly back along the curb, his thumb constantly rubbing the back of my hand; I could feel he was preoccupied.

"Tomorrow we'll proceed as usual…"

"Xiao Jiu, I'll first take you back to Cangwu Mountain for Nirvana…"

We both spoke almost at the same time, but we weren't saying the same thing.

Liu Junyan stopped, gripped my shoulders with both hands, and with unprecedented solemnity said: "Xiao Jiu, you must listen to me on this; first go back to Cangwu Mountain, your only task now is Nirvana—you must succeed, no failure allowed; leave everything else to me, and I'll wait for your return."

I shook my head.

Liu Junyan gave me no chance to rebut: "If it weren't for Nirvana, I couldn't replace or help you; I won't let you face these alone, Xiao Jiu. With me here, the sky of Wufu Town won't collapse, but if something happens to you, I'll lose my spiritual pillar, and the sky will truly come crashing down—do you understand?"

Those amber eyes with golden rims, vertical pupils, stared fixedly at me, making refusal impossible.

I knew I held a very high place in Liu Junyan's heart, but I never imagined it would reach the level of being his spiritual pillar.

I opened my mouth, but realized any words before those four words 'spiritual pillar' would sound pale and powerless.

Liu Junyan rubbed my cheek and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

Before I could come to my senses, he squatted down and hoisted me onto his back.

I let out an "Ah!" and instinctively clung to his neck.

This was the first time Liu Junyan carried me on his back.

His back was broad and solid, making me feel secure.

The road from the Bai Family clinic to the pawnshop isn't that long, but Liu Junyan walked very, very slowly.

The fish-belly white on the horizon gradually took on a glow of morning clouds, bit by bit lighting our way forward.

I lay my whole body against Liu Junyan, turned my head, rested my cheek on his shoulder, and murmured: "Āyàn, do you say this road will have an end?"

Liu Junyan understood my meaning and answered succinctly: "There will be an end."

I asked: "Then if we keep walking like this, we will surely reach the end, right?"

Liu Junyan replied: "Right."

"Then let me accompany you, okay?" I said. "Āyàn, compared to the danger of Nirvana, the underground tower is really nothing, isn't it?"

Liu Junyan's steps slowed further; he seemed to be thinking of reasons to object.

"I'd be afraid on my own, Āyàn." I continued, "I fear never returning; I fear heaven not answering when I call, earth not responding when I cry; I fear that after struggling out of Cangwu Mountain covered in wounds, no one will rush to embrace me first and tell me, Xiao Jiu, it's all right, I'm here with you…"