Chapter 256: Treatmen (1/2)

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Ji Bo frowned deeply, his thoughts unreadable. Dulled by her pain, Jun Huang wasn't as observant as she usually was. She could barely opened her eyes. Ji Bo sighed and walked outside.

Nan Xun had already come back to the door. He immediately went up to Ji Bo. He wanted to ask how Jun Huang was, but he stayed quiet, worried that Ji Bo would find him troublesome.

Ji Bo huffed in amus.e.m.e.nt. Nan Xun was known as an undefeated general on battlefields, but at this moment, he was merely a man riddled with concerns for a woman.

Ji Bo took Nan Xun to the garden and drank some tea. “Do you know about her condition?”

“I know something about it. I tried to help, but someone like her would rather die working towards her goal than to do nothing. Doctors have said her body was deteriorating. The past few months have been taxing to her. I fear that...” Nan Xun choked, unable to continue. He closed his eyes to hide his sorrow.

Ji Bo thought for a good moment. “There may be a way to help her. I heard that the blood lotus in Southern Mu has magical healing quality. If she takes one, perhaps her poison will be cured. If you care about her this much, you can take her to Southern Mu once the situation is more stable. It's better than doing nothing and awaiting death.”

Nan Xun paused. He'd heard about the blood lotus. People often talked about it as a mythical item of great value. Few remembered that it was meant for cleansing poison. Ji Bo's words gave him a sense of hope.

Qi Chen was nowhere to be seen, and the emperor seemed close to dying. He couldn't afford to leave Northern Qi now no matter how concerned he was. He was torn between his duty and his love for Jun Huang.

Ji Bo could easily read his thoughts. He patted Nan Xun on the shoulder in comfort. “Don't worry. The poison isn't going to claim her life just yet. I have ways to suppress it for the time being. Not for long, mind you. Once Northern Qi became stable enough, you may go to Southern Mu to seek treatment. It's better that you go without the need to worry over Northern Qi.”

Nan Xun thanked Ji Bo earnestly. Even if he wanted to abandon his duty and take Jun Huang to Southern Mu, she wouldn't let him. It was imperative for them to stay on guard now. There was no room for mistakes.

“Is there a way for the gentleman to lessen her pain?” asked Nan Xun. He could hear the pained groan coming from the other side of the door. The sound hit his heart like the sharpest daggers. There was nothing he wanted more than to take her pain for her. “I'm willing to do anything to make her feel better. I can't stand seeing her in so much pain… Can you do that?”

Ji Bo thought for a moment before letting out a sigh. He nodded and requested for a set of silver needles and other equipment from Nan Xun. He went back to the room with Nan Xun at his tail.

Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang with unblinking eyes, his brows furrowed when he saw the pained look on her face.

Ji Bo sighed again. “I've read from an ancient text about methods to suppress poison and lessen pain. The process itself is painful, however. Not everyone can take it.”

Jun Huang slowly opened her eyes, her gaze s.h.i.+fting from Ji Bo to Nan Xun, then back to Ji Bo. She took a deep breath and said weakly, “I can take it.”

Ji Bo took out the silver needles. It was going to be painful enough to have her skin punctured. Having her wounds opened to let blood out? That would be excruciating.

Nan Xun went down on one knee and took Jun Huang's hands. “Hold onto my hand if it hurts, okay?”

Jun Huang gave him a small smile. This time, she didn't turn away his offer.

Ji Bo sterilized the needles by heating it up with a candle and had Nan Xun roll up Jun Huang's sleeve. Nan Xun looked at the needles in Ji Bo's hand, then at Jun Huang's fair skin. She didn't seem apprehensive of what was to come, while Nan Xun was already dreading the pain she'd be in.

As a general, pain had been Nan Xun's oldest friend, but he couldn't bear seeing Jun Huang in any pain.

Ji Bo glanced at Nan Xun. He'd never been in love before. He therefore didn't understand the reason behind Nan Xun's furrowed brows and pursed lips. Without a word, he placed Jun Huang's arm on a pillow and carefully inserted the needle into her flesh.

She'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt. She'd been through intense pain, but there were things you didn't get used to. There had been days when her master would drain her blood every day. The kind of pain burrowed into her bones. It didn't feel any easier now than it did before.

Her face went pale with a tint of blue. Nan Xun's heart seized up. Just when he was going to demand an explanation from Ji Bo, Ji Bo inserted another needle into her arm. Nan Xun shut his mouth with his fists clenched tight, forcing himself to calm down. He worried he'd disturb Ji Bo by breathing even a little heavily.