"Li Chenxi, Changyu is coming back to save us." Her eyes, as flawless and clear as beautiful jade, looked at him. He turned his head and left.
Mingyu shook her head and smiled. Li Chenxi was as he always was. The sunlight on him felt truly comfortable. She really loved such days, such leisure, but she wished Hua Yun dan was here with her, living in seclusion.
Hua Yun dan, where are you? Do you miss me as much as I miss you?
Li Chenxi gazed at Mingyu, bathed in sunlight, from afar. His heart felt a mix of joy and unease. Joy that she was there.
He knew he shouldn't have such thoughts, but he did, simply because of her smile, her gentleness towards him, which had made him lose his way.
"Ah!" a scream echoed from a distance.
Li Chenxi's heart jolted, and he dashed towards the sound.
"Snakes, snakes..." Mingyu was so terrified she leaped and hopped, seeing many colorful snakes with their tongues flicking, closing in on her. Although she had raised Greenie, it was because she knew Greenie wouldn't bite, but seeing so many colorful snakes made her dizzy!
"Li Chenxi, there are snakes!" Mingyu cried out in panic.
"Fear not." Li Chenxi drew his long sword. The sword light swept across, and several snakes that were lunging forward were decapitated.
"These snakes are poisonous," Li Chenxi said worriedly. He himself wasn't afraid, but she had no martial arts skills.
"Ah! Li Chenxi!" A scream came from behind him. Li Chenxi quickly turned back, and a small, mottled snake bit Mingyu on the ankle.
"Damn it!" Li Chenxi slashed down the small snake with his sword, scooped up Mingyu in his arms, and sprinted back to the cave. As he ran, he sprinkled some powder at the cave entrance.
It was a pity that Mingyu had already fainted. Otherwise, she would have seen those colorful snakes turn into a puddle of water, their bones completely dissolved, upon passing through the powder.
Li Chenxi could no longer worry about propriety. He removed Mingyu's shoes and socks, and her snow-white, jade-like foot appeared before him. But he had no mind to dwell on this. A black and purple wound had appeared on her ankle, and upon closer inspection, the wound was constantly expanding its territory.
Li Chenxi's heart sank. Was this the legendary Jade Venomous Snake? He had only heard of this snake in legends; hadn't it gone extinct long ago? Why would it appear here? Was someone here? But he had found no trace of anyone else.
He couldn't think about these things now; he had to cure her, or her foot might be crippled, and the expanding wound could be fatal.
Li Chenxi quickly went out to find the small snake he had cut down. Fortunately, it hadn't been corroded by his Bone Dissolving Powder. He used his sword to retrieve a piece of flesh, chopped it finely, found some herbs, mixed them together, and applied the poultice to Mingyu's foot.
Mingyu woke up that evening. "Does it still hurt?" Li Chenxi asked.
Mingyu shook her head. "Li Chenxi, I had so many dreams."
"Dreams are false; they cannot be believed."
Mingyu's eyes suddenly widened. "Li Chenxi, you smiled."
Li Chenxi then realized he was grinning. "I... I..." He shyly looked away.
"Li Chenxi, you look very handsome when you smile." Mingyu encouraged him. This Li Chenxi was not so cold.
"Are you hungry? I'll go grill you some fish." Li Chenxi fled in a fluster.
Mingyu smiled. So, Li Chenxi had moments of panic too. But this Li Chenxi was more like a person with flesh and blood. He had been so cold before, making her feel like he was lacking something.
Changyu had been searching for Mingyu and Li Chenxi day and night for three days. He knew they had fallen off the cliff here, but why couldn't he find a way down?
Nangong Hua saw Changyu's pale face and bloodshot eyes. He wanted to persuade him, but the words stuck in his throat. Losing someone most important is the greatest pain. If he knew she might still be alive, what could be more maddening?
"Brother, have you not found them yet?" Nangong Yu also looked anxious. Seeing Changyu's frantic actions, she remembered her second brother. If she hadn't lost him due to her playfulness back then, her second brother wouldn't have suffered such a tragic fate, been persecuted, and become a wandering soul, unable to rest in peace.
Nangong Hua shook his head. The Nangong family had mobilized everyone, but after three days, their efforts were in vain. None of those who went down returned, their fate unknown. This made them even more worried. Was the bottom of the cliff a dangerous place? Then it was even less likely that those who fell would survive.
"I'm going down." Changyu could no longer wait. His master was still in Jingming City, his fate unknown. If Miss Mingyu met with an accident, what would happen to his master?
"Young Master Changyu, the bottom of the cliff is unknown, and those sent down have all perished. You cannot risk it," Nangong Li, the Nangong family patriarch, dissuaded Changyu.
"I can't wait for them to return. Even if it's a dragon's lair or a tiger's den, this prince must break through," Changyu declared.
"This..." Nangong Li hesitated.
"Father, let me accompany Young Master Changyu," Nangong Hua said.
"Father, I'll go too." Nangong Yu also volunteered.
Nangong Li nodded slightly. "Hua'er, you and Yu'er must protect Young Master Changyu's safety. Nothing must happen to him."
"Father, I know..." Nangong Hua looked at Nangong Li with a serious expression. Changyu was Bai Jinli's man. He absolutely did not want Bai Jinli to retaliate against the Nangong family because of Changyu's affairs. The Nangong family was already in decline; they could not endure another blow.
"Come with me for a moment." Nangong Li called Nangong Hua to a secluded spot.
"Father, is there anything you need to instruct me on?" Nangong Hua knew his father must have something to say.
Nangong Li's expression was cold and stern. "Rong'er, this incident may be an attempt to alienate the Nangong family from the Prince. Therefore, you must be extra cautious in all matters, so as not to let the Nangong family's loyalty across generations be ruined in my generation."
"Father, don't worry, I will protect Young Master Changyu."
"And protect your own safety and Yu'er's. Father only has you two left. Don't let Father send his children to their graves prematurely," Nangong Li's voice choked slightly, his expression filled with sorrow.
"Father, you can rest assured..." Nangong Hua's eyes welled up. Although his father was very strict with them, he knew that his father merely wanted them to have the ability to protect themselves and their master.
"Go!" Nangong Li waved his hand, his back to Nangong Hua, tears streaming down his face. These were his sons. Although both were loyal and righteous, his heart still leaned more towards his sons. He only hoped his two children would return safely. He could no longer bear the grief of losing his beloved son.
"Young Master Changyu, let's go!" Nangong Hua said respectfully.
Changyu nodded. The three slowly descended from the end of the rope. The cliff was shrouded in dense fog, making it impossible to see what lay below. They could only descend carefully and slowly.