Chapter 70: A Drop of Blood, a Slur of Speech Part 1

Was she happy?

To be honest, Feng Yun’ai wasn’t entirely sure. However, after the truth of Feng Rong’s death was revealed to the world, it felt as though a massive boulder had been lifted from her heart.

With that weight gone, she had only one wish: to follow her heart. Feng Rong, who had been trapped by her own pride and refused to ever bow her head, perhaps…

Perhaps she would have wanted Feng Yun’ai to follow her heart as well.

In truth, Feng Rong likely never insisted that Feng Yun’ai inherit the Hantian Alliance.

In the beginning, Feng Yun’ai never saw any fault in Feng Rong. Perhaps it was only after she descended the mountain and traveled the world that she suddenly understood so much more.

Feng Rong’s kindness was undeniable; she had sacrificed much for the martial world of the Central Plains. Yet, she had also spun a cocoon around herself, sinking into a quagmire from which she could never find an exit.

At the root of it all, it was because Feng Rong could never find a balance between the world’s needs and her own heart’s desires.

Feng Yun’ai realized that she and Feng Rong were truly different. Even if she held the world in her heart, that world existed only for the sake of Feng Rong.

And with Feng Rong’s death, her world had already withered away.

“You aren’t happy.” Sang Chencao gave a light, mocking huff. Somehow, she had managed to read the slight movement of Feng Yun’ai’s eyes.

Feng Yun’ai was surprised. It wasn’t hard to hear that Sang Chencao’s words were sincere, devoid of her usual playfulness.

This woman must be a demon in disguise, she thought. How else can she read minds?

Sang Chencao took another mouthful of medicine and leaned down to feed her. Seeing the dark liquid spill from the corner of Feng Yun’ai’s lips, she reached out a finger to wipe it away. “It’s fine,” she said softly. “Then don’t walk Feng Rong’s path. Feng Rong probably didn’t think much of that old road herself.”

She had actually guessed right again. Feng Yun’ai was stunned once more.

Despite her maverick behavior and her appearance of not caring about anything, Sang Chencao’s mind was incredibly sharp and delicate. She saw everything, even if she looked down upon it all.

Such a person must know best how to weigh the desires of her own heart, Feng Yun’ai mused.

Sang Chencao leaned down to finish the feeding until not a single drop remained in the bowl. She then lay down on her side next to Feng Yun’ai. “This medicine makes one drowsy. Sleep, Xiuxiu. When you wake tomorrow, you should feel a bit better.”

As the herbal soup slid down her throat, it wasn’t just her throat that felt hot; even her internal organs felt strangely scorched, as if her constitution was becoming more like Sang Chencao’s.

She became increasingly certain that Sang Chencao was using herself as an ingredient in the medicine.

A person who used to be so cautious, someone who had countless ways to protect herself, was now cutting her own flesh to save her. Why?

Feng Yun’ai’s heart burned with anxiety. She hated that she couldn’t recover faster; she wanted so badly to see Sang Chencao’s injuries with her own eyes.

In her desperation, she actually managed to gather a sliver of internal energy in her barren Dantian. Sadly, it was only a tiny wisp, enough only to make a single finger twitch.

“Hmm?” Sang Chencao propped her chin on her hand and lightly poked Feng Yun’ai’s eyelid. “For someone with a cold constitution, drinking this must be quite uncomfortable.”

It wasn’t that Feng Yun’ai’s body was uncomfortable; it was her heart that was uneasy.

“What do you want to say?” Sang Chencao leaned in closer, pressing her ear toward Feng Yun’ai’s lips.

Feng Yun’ai found it nearly impossible to make a sound, but since Sang Chencao was so close, she decided to try.

Having just been fed medicine, her lips and teeth were still slightly parted and difficult to close. Her tongue was numb, making movement agonizingly hard.

After a long time, and with a great deal of effort that caused a drop of sweat to roll down her forehead, her lips finally moved. She managed to mumble, “Whe… meh… cah… fro…?”

The moment she spoke, Feng Yun’ai’s cheeks burned. She quickly closed her eyes, not wanting to see the inevitable teasing smile in Sang Chencao’s gaze.

She wanted to ask where the medicine came from, but she couldn’t even enunciate the words. It was a joke.

Sang Chencao lowered her head, resting her forehead against Feng Yun’ai’s shoulder. Her entire body trembled with laughter. Once she finished laughing, she said pointedly, “I didn’t hear that. Why don’t you say it again, Xiuxiu?”

Feng Yun’ai did not want to say another word.

Sang Chencao stopped teasing her and said plainly, “Xiuxiu is so smart, you must have already guessed where the medicine comes from.”

Feng Yun’ai’s heart sank. The warmth in her cheeks vanished, replaced by a chilling sensation down her spine.

“But you see that I’m perfectly fine now, so can you put your heart at ease?” Sang Chencao said leisurely.

Feng Yun’ai kept her eyes closed. Without seeing it for herself, how could she be at ease?

Sang Chencao asked with mock consideration, “Do I need to undress for you to see before you’ll believe me? Oh, Xiuxiu, I didn’t realize you had those kinds of thoughts.”

Feng Yun’ai’s cheeks heated up again. She wanted to deny it, but in her urgency, she couldn’t squeeze out even half a sound.

“You’ll know everything once you’re better.” Sang Chencao touched the corner of Feng Yun’ai’s eye. “Sleep, Xiuxiu. It’s easier for me to wipe your body down while you’re asleep, so you won’t feel so self-conscious.”

Feng Yun’ai’s mind went blank. How could she possibly sleep now?

“Not sleeping?” Sang Chencao teased. “Then I’ll just have to wipe you down while you’re awake. You can’t move anyway, so you can’t run from me.”

Feng Yun’ai’s tightly closed eyes snapped open, and she stared intently at the woman beside her.

Sang Chencao didn’t move her hands yet, merely scoffing. “On the day we first fell down here, you were delirious with pain and thrashing about. I was afraid you’d ruin this skin of yours and make your injuries even more gruesome, so I applied a minor poison to paralyze you.”

So it wasn’t blocked meridians, Feng Yun’ai thought.

“Xiuxiu, you can’t blame me for this,” Sang Chencao said slowly. “I did it to save you.”

Feng Yun’ai’s eyelids flickered.

Sang Chencao’s eyes curved into a smile, looking quite proud of herself. “The best part about this poison is that only I can cure it. Once you’re fully healed, I’ll naturally release you. If I did it now, the pain would probably make you cry.”

She spoke as if Feng Yun’ai were a child who would weep at the slightest sting. Feng Yun’ai felt a twinge of annoyance.

“I misspoke. How could Xiuxiu be afraid of pain? I was overthinking it,” Sang Chencao corrected herself.