494 Poisoned (1/2)
”Here, give me that,” Yu Zhen said whilst sticking a hand out for her lantern.
Li Xueyue's heart raced in disbelief. She didn't want to part from the lantern—the only thing that reassured her. Without it, it would be like losing her security blanket.
Tightening her grip on his hand, Li Xueyue resolutely shook her head. ”No.”
Yu Zhen softly laughed. He turned his head, knowing she was too terrified of the darkness to part from her light source. But some sacrifices had to be made. She stared up at him with sheer defiance. But her lips trembled and jutted out in a tiny pout.
”It'll be alright, Sunshine,” Yu Zhen gently said. He reached a hand out and tenderly touched the side of her face but she recoiled back and shook her head.
”No. I need this lantern.”
”I will give it back to you soon.”
Li Xueyue's grip over the lantern tightened. Her palms were growing moist with fear. ”D-do you swear?”
Yu Zhen pressed his lips together and hid an amused smile. Her voice quivered like a small, hesitant child. Fear flashed on her face.
”Do you swear?” she repeated.
”Of course, Sunshine.”
Yu Zhen watched as she shakingly held out her hand with the lantern which lightly swayed. He took the cover off of the lantern and pulled out the candle. It was long, and flickered at the smallest movement.
”I'm scared,” Li Xueyue whispered when the light was brought away from her face. She stepped closer to Yu Zhen and gripped his hand.
”And I'm worried.”
Li Xueyue's head shot up at his words. Her face paled and she dropped the lantern. With her free hand, she grabbed his shirt.
”O-of?”
”My hand, that is numb because you are gripping it so tightly.”
Li Xueyue looked down at their entwined hands, but was met with darkness. She heard his faint laughter. His muscular shoulders shook in response.
Be it out of spite and guilt, Li Xueyue attempted to release his hand. When her grip loosened, his grip tightened.
”But I didn't tell you to let go.”
Li Xueyue scowled at him. ”Give me back my candle.”
Yu Zhen turned his head back and smiled at her. ”Only a little longer, Sunshine.”
Just to tease her a bit, he quickened his footsteps. In an instant, she followed after him. Her face was close to his back, as she hid behind him.
”Don't do that,” she cried out.
Yu Zhen immediately felt guilty. He released her hand and she squeaked in fear.
”Yu Zhen!” she exasperated. ”You know I am terrified of the dark. Don't do this to me.”
Yu Zhen turned around and wrapped an arm around her. He pulled her close to his side and held her. ”Better now?”
”I hate you.”
Yu Zhen merely smiled at her words. He bent his head and kissed her forehead. ”And I love you.”
Li Xueyue glared up at him, wishing he would not be so mean. Just then, he shifted his arm and lit a tall candle sticking out from one of the walls. Her heart relaxed a bit, as he began pulling her towards the other three corners of the room.
One by one, the candles were being lit, illuminating the place.
Finally, Li Xueyue's racing heart slowed down. She stopped fidgeting out of fear. ”Oh, this is truly a cellar,” she commented.
Li Xueyue looked around her surroundings. It was a small room, with rows of bookshelves, all of which were filled with bottles, ranging in size and color. There were labels, some new, some old.
It was a simple room. The walls, ceiling, and floor were covered in stone, most likely to reduce the risk of a fire hazard. It was dreary and cold in here, despite the lack of windows.
”It's adequate to store all of the poison known by me.”
Li Xueyue didn't want to ask where he acquired these bottles. But she did warily glance at him from the corner of her eyes.
”Looks like I would have to restock on a few of them,” Yu Zhen noted. He picked up a nearly empty bottle that was in his line of sight and showed it to her.
Li Xueyue took the bottle from his hand and slowly read the little label out loud.
”Eternal Sleep,” she said.
Li Xueyue tilted her head. It was an ambiguous title.
”A drop will put someone to sleep, but two will knock them out for a few days, and three will kill them.”
Li Xueyue rapidly blinked. This potion sounded awfully similar to the one she had her physician concoct in Wuyi… She quietly handed the bottle back to him.
”Unfortunately, there are only three more droplets left in there,” Yu Zhen said. ”But it's reserved for a merciful kill.”
Li Xueyue tilted her head. ”It's unlike you to be merciful.”
Yu Zhen frowned. ”It was for injured soldiers.”
Li Xueyue instantly looked up at him. She already knew what he meant. On the battlefield, there were times when death was the best option. Sometimes, when soldiers were captured by the enemy, they were tortured until they became insane. It would be better to die, than survive with the terrors replaying endlessly in their minds. Or, when a soldier was far too injured to even make it back to camp to receive first aid and treatment.
”It was a new bottle as well,” Yu Zhen somberly said. Without another glance at her, he placed the bottle back into its spot.
Li Xueyue swallowed. It must've been used a lot during the war. She tightened her grip on his robes. ”I'm sorry,” was the only thing she managed to squeeze out.