Chapter 25

Chapter 25

That Yellow Weasel Corpse Fiend was incredibly toxic. Its fangs had nearly pierced through my arm, and the Corpse Poison had seeped into my body. Drawing it out would take time.

I was constantly feverish, as if a furnace were burning inside me.

My brow throbbed, my eyes ached, and my shoulder blades felt as if they were splitting apart-a pain that reached the very marrow of my bones.

I couldn’t stop whimpering in pain. Liu Junyan seemed to know exactly where it hurt most; his large hand remained over my shoulder blade, gently massaging the area with his True Qi.

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

I heard him whisper in my ear, “Xiao Jiu, be strong. Get through this, and I’ll find a way to help you with the Bone Opening so you can reclaim your Lifebound Artifact.”

Bone Opening?

Lifebound Artifact?

For… me?

Liu Junyan’s words seemed to carry a magical weight. Two days later, under his meticulous care, my fever finally broke, and I fell into a deep, heavy sleep.

I don’t know how long I slept, but in my grogginess, I heard the sound of low voices talking in the outer room.

“Seventh Master, I’ve brought the item back. But Lord Xiao said that while it can help you, the backlash is severe. He warned you to use it with caution.”

“It doesn’t matter. I know what I’m doing.”

“Seventh Master…”

“Qingying, Xiao Jiu needs me.”

After a moment of silence, Liu Junyan added, “Don’t mention this to Xiao Jiu.”

I didn’t know if I was dreaming or if I had actually heard them. Lacking the strength to stay awake, I eventually drifted back into a slumber.

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.

He looked exhausted, his chin covered in stubble. He sat perfectly upright, the veins on his slender neck clearly visible.

I lay there quietly, not moving or making a sound, afraid of disturbing him.

However, Liu Junyan soon sensed I was awake and opened his eyes.

His amber gaze met mine, and a smile instantly touched his eyes. “Xiao Jiu, you’re awake?”

He climbed off the bed, reached out to support my back, and helped me sit up. He felt my forehead and checked the wound on my right arm. Seeing that everything was fine, he asked, “Are you hungry? Qingying made some porridge. Do you want some?”

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

After I finished the porridge, I was chatting with Li Qingying when Liu Junyan walked over from the direction of the Main Hall.

I was a bit surprised. After all, every time I saw him, it was only for a brief moment.

He would always appear in a hurry, stay with me for a short while, and then return to the Black Coffin.

I had naturally assumed he had gone back into the Black Coffin just now.

To my surprise, he had gone to wash up. He had shaved his beard and tied his hair back up in a jade crown. He had changed into a raven-blue robe with narrow sleeves, featuring auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on the inside of the cuffs and golden ruyi patterns along the hem. He looked incredibly refreshed and noble.

I was dazed just looking at him.

Does such a high-class man… really belong to me?

But when Li Qingying saw Liu Junyan like this, her expression soured.

She looked away without a word, her hands clenched tightly as if she were suppressing something.

Liu Junyan walked over and asked with a smile, “Are you full? Do you have your strength back?”

I snapped out of my daze and nodded. “Yes, I have my strength back.”

Liu Junyan reached out to pull me up. “Xiao Jiu, come for a walk with me.”

I asked in surprise, “Aren’t you unable to leave the Pawnshop?”

The memory of that night’s Heavenly Punishment was still vivid in my mind!

Liu Junyan didn’t explain. He simply said, “We have a whole day, Xiao Jiu. Let’s not waste it.”

Liu Junyan led me out the door. I was still in a daze as I watched him climb into the driver’s seat of Li Qingying’s cool, rugged Off-road Vehicle.
I recalled the fragments of conversation I’d overheard in my sleep; it seemed I hadn’t been dreaming after all.

Liu Junyan might have paid a price beyond my imagination for this single day of freedom.

I opened my mouth, wanting to get to the bottom of it, 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 day available, every second was precious. I didn’t want to waste time on a futile argument.

My heart simply ached more for the man before me. He was too good.

At least to me, he was so good that it sometimes felt surreal.

Under my intense gaze, Liu Junyan suddenly curled his lips into a smile. “I didn’t realize Xiao Jiu coveted my beauty so much.”

My face instantly flushed red down to my neck, and I looked away, searching for a distraction. “I just didn’t expect you to know how to drive.”

And he seemed quite skilled at it, too.

“It’s not difficult,” Liu Junyan said. “Once Xiao Jiu gets her driver’s license, I’ll buy you a car.”

I joked half-earnestly, “Alright, but I have very discerning taste. I’m afraid you won’t be able to afford it.”

Liu Junyan gave a light chuckle. “Don’t worry, I can afford to provide for you.”

I was suddenly at a loss, turning my face toward the window, not daring to look at him.

But the corners of my mouth couldn’t help but turn up slightly.

Throughout the journey, Liu Junyan focused on the road, chatting with me occasionally.

I was still recovering from a major illness, and my stamina wasn’t what it used to be. Before I knew it, I had leaned back against the seat and drifted off to sleep.

When the car began to jostle and I jolted awake, I realized we had turned onto a mountain road at some point.

I rubbed my eyes, and as the scenery outside became clear, I couldn’t believe it. “Is… is this the mountain road leading to Tafeng Village?”

Liu Junyan nodded. “Yes, it is.”

My heart began to thud wildly. Tafeng Village was essentially my other nightmare.

No matter how many times I had been abandoned as a child, or even the fact that I had been given to the Pawnshop as a Dead Pawn, those memories weren’t actually that deep.

But when I was nine years old, the lashing I received from my grandma, my mother’s hostility, and my father’s inaction had wounded me deeply.

A nine-year-old child is old enough to remember.

The closer we got to Tafeng Village, the more nervous I became, my body instinctively sitting bolt upright.

Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, Liu Junyan patted my shoulder with the other. “Xiao Jiu, don’t be afraid. Tafeng Village isn’t a nightmare; it’s the path you came from. Face it bravely.”

I nodded, but I still felt a sense of unease in my heart.

The car stopped at the village entrance. Liu Junyan and I got out and headed inside.

Sure enough, not long after we entered the village, my grandma appeared from somewhere-having apparently caught wind of my arrival-rushing toward me with a willow switch in hand.

She seemed unable to see Liu Junyan, pointing at me as she shrieked, “You Jinx! Why are you back again? Have you forgotten the pain now that the scars have healed? Get out! Get out of Tafeng Village!”

Seeing that willow switch about to lash down on me again, I reached out and caught it firmly.

I was eighteen years old now, and at 167 centimeters tall, I was a head taller than my grandma.

The old woman was aged now; no matter how much momentum she had, she was ultimately in the sunset of her life.

She jumped up, trying to slap my face, but I gave her a forceful shove. Her footing faltered, and she went stumbling backward.

The villagers were quick to steady her, and she glared at me with vicious, hateful eyes.

I simply shrugged, trying my best to remain calm. “Madam Jiang, I am Xiao Jiu from the Wufu Town Pawnshop. I have no relation to your Jiang Family. I’ve come to Tafeng Village on business; what does that have to do with you?”