Chapter 44

 "As expected, it spread again.

The last time she saw it, it was still the size of a fist, but now it covered her entire forearm. The thin black mesh-like grid looked alive, pulsating, and moving.

Baoning felt her heart shrink, a deep sense of powerlessness overcoming her.

Suddenly, she felt as if they were just pretending everything was peaceful now. Every day seemed normal, busy, arguing, making up, but Pei Yuan was clearly not normal. Baoning couldn't imagine what they would do if the Golden Silkworm Leech didn't work as expected.

Would Pei Yuan die?

Or, if they were lucky, would the leech forever trap him in the pain that could strike at any moment?

Baoning's throat suddenly felt dry. She lifted her hand, fingertips slowly touching Pei Yuan's arm, wanting to touch those terrifying black meridians.

"Don't move."

Pei Yuan woke up at some point, opened his eyes to look at her for a moment, then closed them again, pulling Baoning into his arms. "Don't touch it, it's ugly."

Baoning leaned against Pei Yuan's chest, still in a daze. Pei Yuan rested his chin lightly on her forehead and sighed, "What time is it?"

"The morning hours are passing," Baoning replied softly.

Both deliberately avoided the somewhat heavy topic. "I fried some yellow croakers and made rice porridge for you. Get up and eat quickly."

Pei Yuan hummed a couple of times hoarsely. "I won't eat porridge, it's not filling."

"And there are buns and shrimp dumplings," Baoning smiled, pulling his arm to get him up. "Hurry up, don't be lazy. I've never seen you so lazy before; the food will get cold."

With her help, Pei Yuan sat up and Baoning fetched his clothes for him.

He dressed quickly and then took the splint to secure his left leg.

The original wooden splint was light but not sturdy enough to support Pei Yuan's movements. He had another set made of pure iron, weighing about seven pounds, which was much more stable. Although his left leg was weak, with this splint, he could withstand attacks aimed at his lower body, at least resisting a full-force kick.

Naturally, his walking speed had slowed down. However, because the toxins were slowly breaking through the seals on his acupoints, Pei Yuan's left leg function had improved somewhat. With diligent practice, he could still achieve a normal walking pace.

Baoning lifted his trouser leg and looked. The blisters that had previously formed had burst, forming thick scabs. She felt uncomfortable looking at them and asked, "Does it hurt?"

"A little, I can hardly feel it," Pei Yuan quickly secured the splint and felt his waist. "Hmm? Where's my belt?"

"Yesterday's almost broken. Didn't you notice?" Baoning fetched a new one. "I prepared it this morning and forgot to bring it to the bedside."

She stretched out the belt in her hand. "Stand up, I'll tie it for you."

Pei Yuan chuckled softly, obediently standing up and watching Baoning's movements.

She was serious, tilting her head with her lips pursed. Pei Yuan pinched her cheek gently and said softly, "Hmm, you've really toughened up. You say anything now."

Baoning paused her movements. "Your skin is getting thicker and thicker. You dare to say anything." She tied the knot and adjusted the tassel on his waistband, then raised her head, hesitating to speak.

Pei Yuan tousled her hair and walked towards the dining table. "Say whatever you want to say."

Baoning cautiously asked, "Can you take a day off? Just one day, you shouldn't exert yourself like this; it's not good for your health."

Baoning bit her lip. "There's at most half a month left. When the Golden Silkworm Leech grows up, we can try it." She tentatively asked, "Is that okay?"

Pei Yuan was silent for a moment before nodding. "Once I finish this matter at hand, I'll accompany you out."

"I don't want to go anywhere; I..." Baoning turned to face Pei Yuan, tiptoed, trying to meet his gaze. "Or can I help you with something?"

Pei Yuan smiled and hugged her waist, lifting her into his arms. "You're useless."

Baoning's gaze flickered, and in an instant, she was sitting on his arm.

She had gotten used to Pei Yuan's actions like this. He always liked to lift her up as if to show off his strength. And he really was strong, holding her in his arms effortlessly, just like holding Ah Huang. But it was too high, and Baoning was still a little scared, her hands nervously gripping Pei Yuan's ear. "How do you know I'm useless without saying anything?"

Pei Yuan carried her to the table like this, pulled out a chair, and sat her down. "Men's matters, women should meddle less."

Baoning lowered her eyes, murmuring, "Really arrogant."

She asked, "What if I'm useful?"

Pei Yuan peeled an eggshell in his hand, casually saying, "Then I'll be your warhorse for a month. Wherever you say, I'll go, and you can whip me as you please."

Baoning laughed. "No need to be a warhorse. Just listen to me. For a month, what I say goes, and the wife is the husband's authority."

Pei Yuan chuckled. "You keep dreaming your little dreams."

He smiled, lips curved, without looking up, and slid a fresh, tender egg into Baoning's bowl. "Eat."

...

Pei Yuan went to the martial arts training ground in the western garden of the General's Mansion.

During these days, the first thing he did every morning was come here. He needed to regain his former strength as quickly as possible, even surpass it.

The matter of the Tiger Talisman had reached a stalemate. Pei Yuan investigated everyone around Zhou Jiangcheng and found no suspicious figures. Even Zhou Jiangcheng himself seemed to have no memory of that night's events. The Tiger Talisman seemed to disappear into thin air.

The only suspicious person was the deceased Lv Yun. She was dead, but her bones disappeared inexplicably.

However, even if this suspicion was valid, finding the real Lv Yun would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

The martial arts training ground was paved with green bricks, and in the center was a wooden platform three zhang wide and three zhang long, surrounded by various weapons.

Pei Yuan took off his shirt and casually draped it over a rack. He rubbed his neck and picked up a heavy sword.

Martial arts were not about hurting people, so the sword had no edge. The soldiers standing guard below smiled at Pei Yuan, who waved his finger. "Come up and play."

The soldiers couldn't laugh. People around them laughed.

Pei Yuan said, "Everyone come up."

...Those few people slowly came up, each choosing a convenient weapon: two long spears, a pair of double swords, and a crescent moon knife.

Five men faced off.

Pei Yuan had many tough generals. He had spent ten years in the North, where everyone knew his name. A wild breath, he fought without fear and refused to admit defeat. Qiu Mingshan entrusted him with a heavy responsibility, drawing from the ranks of serious criminals to form a wolf-chasing army for the vanguard, led by Pei Yuan, who was only fourteen at the time, like the sharp arrowhead of an arrowhead, invincible.

This appointment was sought by Pei Yuan kneeling at the gate of Qiu Mingshan's camp.

Life and death on the battlefield, but afterwards, he gained brothers who had experienced life and death, and a martial arts skill no less than Qiu Mingshan's.

Pei Yuan attacked, and fortunately the heavy sword was not sharp, otherwise the heads of those four people would have been cut off several times.

The first three had been knocked out, leaving only the last crescent moon knife wielded by a skilled martial artist.

He noticed Pei Yuan's weak spot and planned to distract him with a fake move to cut his upper arm, then attack his right leg while he was distracted.

The crescent moon knife used its strength to chop down. Originally, Pei Yuan was expected to panic and dodge, exposing his lower body flaws. But he didn't even blink and waited there.

The lieutenant could only continue to chop down, but Pei Yuan kept his eye on his weaknesses. Pei Yuan punched him in the chest, and the lieutenant screamed in pain and staggered back four or five steps, falling off the wooden platform."

Pei Yuan squinted his eyes, loosened his left shoulder where blood was already flowing from the deep bruise, swelling up in moments.

A deep voice came from behind him, slightly anxious: 'Yuan'er, why didn't you dodge? On the battlefield, your arm would have been useless!'

'One arm for his life, that's worth it.'

Pei Yuan turned to look at Qiu Mingshan, raising an eyebrow: 'General, care for a sparring match?'

Qiu Mingshan clenched his fists at his sides, sighed after a while: 'Your life is not child's play, how can you be so reckless?'

He continued, 'My greatest regret is bringing you into the military camp, raising you with such a peculiar temperament, so peculiar!'

Pei Yuan's eyes turned cold: 'General, you overestimate yourself. It has nothing to do with you.' He tossed the heavy sword back onto the weapons rack, not in the mood for further competition, and descended the platform to dress.

Today wasn't great weather, with dark clouds overhead. Pei Yuan's back was sweating, oily; he wiped it casually with his clothes before putting them on neatly.

Qiu Mingshan followed him: 'The Wolf-Chasing Army has arrived in Bashu. The Southern Barbarians attempted three attacks, all repelled, but it has drained our strength. They won't strike again in the short term, buying us time for the Tiger Talisman.'

Pei Yuan grunted in acknowledgment.

Qiu Mingshan felt resigned to this aloofness.

Suddenly, he spoke again: 'I've done all this for you.'

Pei Yuan frowned: 'How's that my concern?'

'I...' Qiu Mingshan began to reply but was cut off by Pei Yuan.

'Then let me make it clear today—I'm not doing this for you or for that position.' Pei Yuan turned to him, 'I just want to know the truth about my mother's past. Keep that in mind.'

Raindrops fell on his forehead.

Pei Yuan looked up; it was a rainy day.

Perhaps to match the atmosphere, he suddenly felt the subtle pain of his muscles and veins, a sign the Red Dan toxin was flaring up, more so on rainy days.

Pei Yuan furrowed his brow, quickening his steps towards the study. After a few steps, he saw one of Zhou Jiangcheng's subordinates rushing over anxiously, saying, 'General, Fourth Prince, just received a secret report. The Emperor dispatched the Third Prince to oversee Bashu's military affairs. He departs in three days; it's likely the matter of the Tiger Talisman can't be hidden any longer!'

Qiu Mingshan drew in a sharp breath.

...

Baoning stood at the door, watching the pouring rain, increasingly worried about Pei Yuan.

She had expected him to return early today, but as evening approached, with no sign of the rain stopping or Pei Yuan returning, Baoning's anxiety grew. She knew rainy days were hard for Pei Yuan, and after another quarter-hour, unable to shake her concerns, she asked Liu Mama for an umbrella and went with her to Qiu Mingshan's study.

Even if they couldn't bring Pei Yuan back, seeing him would ease her mind.

Baoning wore a light green dress, fitted at the waist, not quite filling it. Her steps were slow, hurrying and slow until she reached the study door. The wind and rain were so strong that they soaked half her body, and the sky was completely dark.

Two soldiers stood guard at the door, one recognizing Baoning, going inside to report.

When the door opened, Baoning heard Pei Yuan's cough from inside, her heart shrinking, unable to help but peek through the crack in the door, hearing Qiu Mingshan scolding:

'Zhou Jiangcheng, are you crazy? Did Green Cloud feed you some kind of aphrodisiac that you love her so much you won't recognize the ironclad evidence? If you dare act recklessly again, I'll have you slaughtered on the spot!'

Zhou Jiangcheng seemed out of his mind, as if he couldn't hear a word of truth, muttering incessantly. Suddenly he stood up, his eyes misted, and rushed towards her with his arms wide open, calling out, 'Green Cloud...'"

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