Chapter 443: This is his choice

Li Qingying placed Yu Nian in her own room for convenient close care.

Yu Nian lay on the bed, her body curled into a ball, constantly trembling, emitting painful moans.

Her face was flushed abnormally; I reached out and touched it, and it was scorching.

She must have a high fever.

Li Qingying turned and went again to find Bai Shulan for fever-reducing medicine.

Bai Shulan was more cautious; she came over personally to check Yu Nian's condition.

In this process, we only then followed Bai Shulan's hand movements and saw a place we hadn't seen before.

Bai Shulan examined while analyzing: "They opened her chest and sewn something inside, possibly causing her entire body except her eyes to lose all function; she likely had a temporary paralysis, and only after her bodily functions gradually recover can she stand and walk."

Her toes are newly grown, her fingers are also sprouting, her tongue is still numb, eating and swallowing are very difficult, her ears... hearing completely lost, her intelligence... awaiting recovery.

Almost in an instant, everyone burst into tears.

I asked in a trembling voice: "Can the chest cavity be opened again to take out what was sewn inside?"

Bai Shulan shook her head: "First, not saying whether her current body can withstand it, that thing's impact on her body is so great that it must have fully merged with her body; ordinary means cannot extract it."

I persisted, asking: "Can her intelligence recover to its original state? Can her hearing also recover?"

"Xiao Jiu, I cannot answer these questions right away," Bai Shulan said. "We don't know what she has endured these days, so I cannot immediately give her targeted treatment."

I abruptly turned my head to look at Tang Tang: "A few days ago, when we talked on the phone, wasn't it said that the aunt hid the senior sister? Why did the senior sister fall into the hands of those beasts on Wangting Mountain?"

Only a few days have passed; it's obvious that shortly after my phone call with Tang Tang, Yu Nian was sold!

The foul play in this... makes it hard not to suspect!

Tang Tang kept waving her hands: "Xiao Jiu, I really don't know; I swear to heaven, if I lie, may heaven strike..."

Li Qingying clapped a hand over Tang Tang's mouth, scolding: "Enough, we're all sisters; no one suspects you."

I nodded: "I'm not doubting you; I'm worried that the aunt is kept in the dark, knowing nothing, otherwise she would never allow the senior sister to come to harm."

"I can't contact the aunt," Tang Tang's worry is no less than ours: "If it really was that person from Hu Shan who did this, then... that would be too terrifying!"

Yes.

If it really is that person, even we would find it hard to save anyone.

The true situation, I'm afraid, is known best only by that person from Hu Shan and Yu Nian.

And also those beasts on Wangting Mountain.

Unfortunately, Yu Nian's intellect has deteriorated, so she cannot give us answers for now.

"Don't use medicine to reduce her fever for now," Bai Shulan changed the subject. "Her fever might be part of the body's effort to heal itself; first, just assign someone to watch over her."

Li Qingying and Tang Tang said in unison: "I'll take the watch!"

After discussion, it was decided that Tang Tang watches during the day and Li Qingying watches at night.

At that moment, thunder boomed repeatedly on the horizon, approaching as rapidly as cannon fire; my heart jolted, and I lifted my leg to run outside.

I ran all the way to Xijiekou, and I saw the lightning in the direction of Linghai connecting into a net, waxing and waning, endless.

"Āyàn's Millennium Great Tribulation is coming," I said firmly. "You stay to guard Wufu Town; I'll go accompany him."

Earlier I had urged everyone to prioritize the bigger picture; Wufu Town needs guards, and Liu Junyan's rear must hold.

But a few words from Feng Xianqiu made me realize I cannot not go.

This tribulation, he probably... really will have a hard time getting through.

This has nothing to do with his ability; it's related to his fate and choices.

Just like a hundred years ago.

I must accompany him.

I had promised the Little Guy.

No one stopped me, and no one insisted on following, because everyone clearly knows their own duties.

Li Qingying said: "Xiao Jiu, go ahead, drive slowly, pay attention to safety."

I gave an affirmative hum.

Li Qingying reached out and hugged me, whispering in my ear: "Xiao Jiu, no matter what happens in the end, you must remember that you still have a child in your belly; nothing is more important than yourself, do you understand?"

My throat tightened, my nose felt sour, and I couldn't utter a word.

Li Qingying let go of me and waved her hand: "Tomorrow morning... tomorrow morning I will prepare breakfast, waiting for you to come back and eat."

My tears were about to burst; I turned and walked away.

After walking a few steps, I turned back, strode to the corridor, took down the Soul-guiding Lamp, covered it with black cloth, and held it in my hand.

Finally, after bidding farewell to everyone, I got in the car, started it, and headed straight for Linghai.

The rain was already heavy, but the water flow in the Zhu Pan River was calm.

As the car drove out of Xijiekou and onto the riverside road, I vaguely saw shadows moving on the opposite hill.

Even though it was far away, I couldn't see clearly, but I knew it was Zhao Zixun and them.

They were holding firm there, ready to move out at any moment.

I have traveled this road many times, and I have ridden the electric scooter back and forth many times, but never has it felt as long as today.

In the direction of Linghai, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled; when the first heavenly thunder struck, the car had just reached the junction of the Zhu Pan River and Linghai.

The whole ground gave a violent jolt; I almost couldn't hold the steering wheel steady, my chest pounded thump-thump, someone rushed up ahead, and I slammed the brakes.

It was Xiaoye.

He patted the car window; I lowered the window, still somewhat shaken.

He asked: "Xiao Jiu, how did you come here?"

"How is Āyàn?" my voice trembling, "Did you get the sword?"

The Millennium Great Tribulation will surely come; I only hope he can first retrieve his personal magical artifact, at least to help him block a bit.

"Not yet." Xiaoye said, "Originally the heavenly thunder should have come in the latter half of the night, but because Āyàn entered the sword tomb, it prematurely drew down the heavenly thunder."

I understood: "You made arrangements, right?"

Xiaoye nodded: "Yes, when Āyàn enters the sword tomb and activates his natal magic artifact, Longling will lend him aid there; little sister, you don't need to worry about him for now."

For now…

I couldn't help but recall Feng Xianqiu's words, pondered a bit in my mind, and still asked: "Xiaoye, regarding Āyàn's acknowledging his ancestors and returning to his clan, having his name entered into the genealogy, is there any follow-up?"

The four words 'acknowledging ancestors and returning to the clan' are not important to Liu Junyan.

But if this tribulation is destined for him not to pass, 'giving the child a name' would very likely become his greatest obsession at present.

Xiaoye obviously hadn't expected me to ask this at such a critical moment.

He did not answer me immediately, but he had already given me an answer.

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks: "Are you just letting him go like that?!"

"Xiao Jiu, this is Āyàn's choice." Xiaoye said helplessly and earnestly, "As a man, no one would allow his child to call another 'father'…… If it were me, I would also make the same choice as Āyàn……"