The world momentarily fell silent, even Jin Wuji’s pupils widened in shock.

At that instant, Ming Feng, eyes red, drew an arrow, pulled the bow, and released—swift and seamless.

The sharp arrow sliced through the air, heading straight towards the opposite side. Jin Wuji instinctively tried to push the person in front to block it, but realized the importance of Miss Xie, released her subconsciously, and hastily turned to dodge.

Who would have thought the arrow’s aim would be off, seemingly afraid to hit them, and veered directly onto a guard nearby? Jin Wuji’s expression changed upon realizing this, but Lu Ziyuan, already on his knees, had leaped into the air towards them.

Xie Wanqing was just flung aside by Jin Wuji when she was pulled into a familiar embrace.

With the excessive movement, her hair tie slipped off, and her long, black hair was blown loose by the wind. Before she could react, there was a weight on her shoulder, and her hair was wrapped in a large cloak. Lu Ziyuan’s fingers trembled slightly, cautiously avoiding the wound on her neck as he fastened the tie for her.

Behind them, Jin Wuji’s face was cold and dark as he pulled out a sword from his waist and rushed over. Lu Ziyuan seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, protecting the girl in his arms and sidestepping the attack. His intention was not to engage in combat personally, but to get her away, secure her wounds properly.

The injury was on her neck, a threat to her life at any moment—he couldn’t risk it.

Autumn days are short, nights are long; the sunset had unknowingly completely sunk into the west, and the sky was dim.

The two forces were fiercely battling. Lu Ziyuan grabbed the person in his arms around the waist, soared through the air, and leaped over dozens of yards back to his own ship.

When they landed, Xie Wanqing saw Ming Feng and several deputy generals surrounding Jin Wuji, yet seemingly struggling, as Jin Wuji took the chance to roll over and plunge into the dark waters of the Jiang River.

She was desperate but silenced; she could only watch helplessly with wide eyes.

On the ship, there was a doctor traveling with them, and Xie Wanqing was carried into a warm cabin, away from the terrifying danger. It was only then that she felt the pain in the wound on her neck.

She didn’t want to cry, but when the top-quality golden sore medicine was applied to her raw wound, physiological tears welled up one after another.

Lu Ziyuan stood by the bedside, an icy aura surrounded him; he did not move, only staring at her without blinking.

Only when her tears were about to fall onto her neck did he reach out and wipe them away.

"Don’t cry, the grievances you’ve suffered, I’ll make sure you get justice." He spoke with no expression on his face.

He offered neither gentle comfort for her ordeal in the hands of the Jin Thief nor did he show any disgust for her experience.

He seemed to remember nothing, his gaze stubbornly fixed on her neck, watching the wound being carefully bandaged. Only when the doctor assured there was no life-threatening danger did his tense back relax visibly.

He waved his hand, the doctor bowed and retreated.

Xie Wanqing felt the ship beneath her slowly gliding.

Now, the room was left with just the two of them.

Neither spoke; only the soft sound of breathing echoed between them.

After surviving such a ordeal, Xie Wanqing was unsure how to face him.

Logically, it was because of him that she got targeted by the Jin Thief, suffering this undeserved disaster.

Yet it was him who rescued her from the bandits’ grasp.

When she was most helpless, most desperate, most in need—he was like a divine force descending.

In two lifetimes, Xie Wanqing had always lived in the warm embrace of wealth, never experiencing such extremity, nor feeling the spark of life in dire circumstances.

She would never forget, when he knelt, her momentary distraction.

A woman captured by an enemy prince, publicly humiliated, wantonly harassed.

While he, as a commanding general, knelt to plead with the enemy for such a woman.

She loved him most at sixteen, seeing him brought joy, her heart leaped.

Yet never had experienced such shock.

In the silence, Lu Ziyuan moved.

He sat slowly on the edge of the bed, reached out to unlock her silence spell, his lips moved softly, "...Does it hurt?"

Upon asking, he realized, his breath caught.

Such a wound, to a girl sheltered in the deep boudoir, how could it not hurt.

He raised his hand, wanting to hold her in his arms but feared scaring her, when he spoke again, his voice was low and hoarse, "In the future, regardless of circumstances, don’t harm yourself again."

Just now, the sight nearly scared him witless.

The deepest fear within him was stirred, his soul trembled, wishing to kneel and implore the gods.

Xie Wanqing detected his voice trembling, couldn’t help but glance up, only to see the person before her had unknowingly reddened eyes, those normally cold, knife-like eyes were now full of lingering terror.

Seeing her look over, he couldn’t hold back, cautiously held her shoulder, yearning to embrace her.

Xie Wanqing quickly shifted back, "Don’t touch me!"

Her expression panicked, like a startled bird.

Under usual circumstances, in such a state, Lu Ziyuan would only feel she’s resisting him, but now...

His hand paused mid-air, his face hardened like a corpse.

After a long while, his neck slowly turned, gaze locked on her, eyes filled with anguish, one word at a time, "I’m sorry, my people didn’t protect you well."

"..." Xie Wanqing paused, gaining clarity on his attitude, a trace of discomfort flashed across her face, fingers tightening on her clothes, murmuring softly, "They... they..."

Them!

Lu Ziyuan suddenly bent over, familiar pain seemed multiplied, surged in his chest, spread through his limbs, chilling. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He clenched his teeth, his face turned greenish-white, after enduring a few breaths, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Xie Wanqing was startled, "What’s wrong?"

A few drops of blood splattered on her skirt, the scene reminiscent of the past, her brow furrowed, "...Did you injure yourself internally again?"

Or, did the previous injury never heal?

How long had it been?

Finally, she heard his concern again.

Lu Ziyuan pondered confusedly, dazedly lifted his head, "I will grind them into mincemeat, use their blood to wash away your humiliation."

"Wanwan, don’t lose hope," his lips parted and closed, hand raised, determinedly held her wrist, his voice breaking, "Don’t harm yourself."

Bloodstains lingered between his teeth, looking utterly tragic, Xie Wanqing swallowed, stared blankly at him, murmured, "I was humiliated by the Jin Army..."

"It doesn’t matter," Lu Ziyuan interrupted urgently, "No matter what happens, as long as you’re alive, Wanwan, I just want you to stay alive."

...How ludicrous.

How could he say such absurd words.

He actually said such absurd words!

She had fallen into foreign hands for half a month; she told him she had been repeatedly humiliated by the bandits during this time.

Yet such a dominant, jealous, possessive man told her, it doesn’t matter.