"....... don't know.........."

"I know.......... but........injured............"

"I bet............ because.......... handsome..........."

"N-no........"

Unfamiliar voices echoed through the room. Lifting his heavy eyelids, Shen Qingqiu's hazy eyes gazed at the roof.

"Ah! You're finally awake!" An enthusiastic voice called out.

Shifting his head, Shen Qingqiu met the clear, honest eyes of a young girl. His eyes widened, and he nearly jumped out of his bed if not for a twinge of pain stopping him.

Wait what?

"Who.....?" His slightly coarse voice whispered out.

"Ah, I'm Yuanling, and my father is a doctor!" Her warm smile and spirited enthusiasm brought back the memories of his cheerful disciples......

"I don't know what happened, but you were drifting across the river, so......." Her voice quietened towards the end of her sentence.

Still having woken up after a long sleep, Shen Qingqiu's brain was slower than usual. He was still drifting between dreamland and reality.

Unable to see its host from looking so stupid, the system prompted him.

[She saved you from drowning]

"...."

"Oh...." With a slight smile on his face, Shen Qingqiu softly thanked her.

Yuanling, standing still, blinked twice until she managed to get herself together and reply with a bunch of jumbled words.

"N-n-n-no n-n-need, hahaha..... I mean, a-as a daughter of a doctor, saving people is going to be my future anyways..... hahahaha"

Yes. She was mesmerised by Shen Qingqiu's beauty. After taking him in and having her father treat this person, she would always come back to take a glimpse of his sleeping face.

This was the first time she saw someone as breathtaking. As a mortal, and as a human living in this secluded village, she had not stepped into the world of cultivation and therefore only knew the "standard" looks.

After seeing him smile, she could only blush and somehow manage to return an answer. Too embarrassed, she quickly took her leave.

After a moment of silence, Shen Qingqiu stared at the wooden walls, the fresh scent of nature and the handmade furnitures. It was still unbelievable for him.

He actually..... actually escaped? Did he really..... manage to get away?

Was this a trap? Was this some sort of trick? Did "Luo Binghe" really give up on his chase?

All these questions jumbled up into his mind. It was constant fear and alertness that had been engraved into him. Even just remembering the happenings of the chase made his body shake. Clasping his shaking hands together, his shoulders scrunched up as he lowered his head.

Resting his head on his knees, Shen Qingqiu was internally calming himself down until before he knew it, he had fallen asleep again.

*******

~Luo Binghe's castle~

The days passed by. Every single day was like an eternal number of hours passing.

"Luo Binghe" never realised that the absence of a single person would make him feel this way.

Restlessness, longing, craving.

His mood seemed to become worse as more time passed. For some reason, he wanted..... he wanted..... someone to be by his side. He wanted.... yes, he wanted.....

He just wanted.......

.......

******

With his bandaged newly wrapped, a man inside a room dressed himself. His previously blood-soaked bandages were placed on the side. About to get out of the bed, he shuffled when he heard a soft knock and light footsteps.

A female cultivator stepped into the room, and upon seeing him, her expression had vast changes between happiness, relief and surprise. Her face had lit up in joy until she saw that he was about to grab his sword. In a hurry, she stopped the male cultivator from standing up.

"You shouldn't move too much..." She coaxed him.

As if ignoring her, the man got to his feet. This caused his brows to frown as he slightly winced from the pain in his chest. This caused him to falter and the female cultivator hastily supported him. Noticing his determined, fierce expression, the female cultivator further tried to make the male cultivator to stay.

"You are still injured, stop, STOP!!!" A worried tone turned into alert.

Off to grabbing his sword, the black clothed cultivator gently pushed the female cultivator aside. Grimacing slightly but then standing upright, he reached out for his sword. Seeing this, the female cultivator panicked and tried to stop him by standing in front.

However, he just evaded her pleas and walked onwards.

"No, no! Please stop him!" She turned to all of the other disciples, however no one had the power nor courage to do so.

"Please..... please, at least after your wounds have healed..... AH-LUO!!!" Ning Yingying pleaded.

Luo Binghe stopped in his tracks. His hesitation came from going against his shijie. But nothing could stop him. Remembering that his lover was in the hands of that b*stard, he clenched his fists and continued to walk onwards.

Behind him, Ning Yingying held a small smile to her face. The moment Ah-Luo had passed her, she clearly witnessed his deep love and affection that was driving him to be like this. Although she was extremely worried about his recklessness, she was also quite distressed by the whereabouts of her, no, their Shizun.

But she knew already, that she was most likely going to be a hindrance if she insisted to help. Their positions had become so far away - to the point that she was too weak to help....... Her eyes were filled with worry, powerlessness and helplessness. An almost inaudible whisper made its way to Luo Binghe through the soft blowing of the winds.

"Please....... take care of Shizun....."

Surprised, Luo Binghe glanced back. Realising her intentions, he gave a slight nod. With a stern gaze, he mouthed, "I will."

******

Thank you so much for your amazing, warm comments!

This author is tearful with joy 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧

I would also like to say - this is just the beginning

MUHAHAHAHA 😈

System [Of course it is. You haven't even revealed-]

*muffled screams of a certain system*

After a few jumbled whispers...

System[*coughs*, anyways, since the author will be writing more parts regardless, the debt chapters shall still remain.... but in the author's head.]

Author: *whispers* Sorry!