Chapter 754: I’m leaving, you don’t need to send me off (2/2)

Corpse Cripple poison wouldn’t just spread to the whole body, but had a terrifying side effect. If it stayed too long in the body without reacting, it would use it as fertilizing grounds to grow more of the poison within the organs! After the victim died, his or her body would be reduced to a feeding ground for the toxin. If he had used the antidote from the start, he could completely cure Corpse Cripple. But delaying so long meant that there was no way to fully eliminate the poison. They would have to use blood-seeking needles to expel the toxins. Not willing to delay any longer, Han Yunxi immediately took out an antidote from her detox system and wrote a quick letter before having Xu Donglin deliver it back.

Once he was gone, Long Feiye spoke up before she could open her mouth. “Do you have to leave the mountain?”

He had made all sorts of preparations to have her leave the mountain before him, but never thought he’d be so reluctant and worried when it was really her time to go. Even if Celestial Mountain hadn’t officially answered Medical City’s demands, everyone in the world knew she was supposedly the Poison Sect descendant! How much accusations and rejections, troubles and danger would she face down there?

“The antidote can eliminate 70% of the poison, but unless I expel the remaining 30%, the remnants will gather in his internal organs within half a month and start growing Corpse Cripple grass,” Han Yunxi intoned. “If I don’t leave this mountain, he’ll die.”

Long Feiye had just woken up from serious injuries and was currently weak and bedridden. How could Han Yunxi bear to leave him? How could she stop worrying? But another human life was at stake. She had to be cruel and ruthless, both to him and herself. Gu Beiyue was her best friend; how could she simply wait and watch him die? Moreover, it wasn’t easy to be poisoned with Corpse Cripple. She suspected a spy amongst their ranks.

In addition, Baili Yuanlong was a military man unskilled in political subterfuge. She and Long Feiye had been gone for so long that all of the matters at the commander-in-chief’s estate had been left to Gu Beiyue with his backing. Gu Beiyue had to stem the raging tide and stabilize the situation in the wake of her birth origins being exposed. If anything happened to him, the commander-in-chief’s estate would fall into chaos, especially since Long Feiye was weakened as well. Between public and private matters, emotions and pure logic, Han Yunxi had to get down there and save him as soon as she could. Naturally, Long Feiye understood these critical connections even better than sh did.

He hid his reluctance in his heart and said calmly, without hesitation, “I’ll immediately make arrangements for you to leave the mountain in secret. To the public, we’ll just say Celestial Mountain’s still investigating you. Until then, we’re supposedly keeping you here.”

“Good!” Han Yunxi also had no reservations.

“There’s only one path down the mountain. Leave tonight and have the shadow guards pick you up at the bottom,” Long Feiye added.

“Mm,” Han Yunxi was very obedient.

The two of them looked each other and didn’t waste any more words. By nightfall, Han Yunxi had already tidied up her things. Before she left, she found Long Feiye and said, “Take care of yourself. I’ll be back once I’ve cured the poison.”

“Mm,” Long Feiye was very obedient as well.

After some hesitation, Han Yunxi added, “I’m leaving, so you don’t need to send me off. Wait for me to come back. You can pick me up at the bottom of the mountain, alright?”

Long Feiye didn’t reply immediately, but stared at her for a long time before he finally said, “Alright.”

“Then I’m off!” Han Yunxi declared. Outside the door, the sword sect master and Xu Donglin had been waiting for ages.

“Mm,” Long Feiye nodded.

Han Yunxi still wanted to speak, but she bit her lip in the end and turned to leave. She’d hardly reached the door when Long Feiye spoke up. “Han Yunxi…”

Han Yunxi immediately stilled her steps, but she didn’t turn back. She waited for a long time, but Long Feiye still didn’t speak. Finally, she turned around. “Is there anything else?”

He smiled. “How about...your lordship go down the mountain with you?”

She grinned back. “Sure. Then I’ll help you pack your things too.”

“Alright,” he agreed easily.

But in the end, she did no such thing. Both of them knew this was only a joke. With his injuries, leaving the mountain was impossible.

“Long Feiye, goodbye!” Han Yunxi grew earnest.

He didn’t reply, but waved a hand to gesture her to leave quickly. This time, Han Yunxi kept walking and Long Feiye didn’t delay. As the door shut between them, they lost sight of each other. Life and death had almost kept them apart. Now they barely had time to exchange a few words before they were separating again.

Han Yunxi’s bright eyes were wet with the hint of tears beneath the moonlight. “Grandmaster, let’s go!”

The grandmaster arranged for a few guards and Xu Donglin to help her down the mountain. Despite her secret exit, Han Yunxi never would have known a whole crowd of people were waiting for her at the foot of Celestial Mountain!

Translator's Note: What do you know guys, the author had us all fooled! It wasn't Long Feiye who was destined for death, but Gu Beiyue! All that aside, take a break from cliffhanger woes to read up on exciting news for a PGC visual novel adaptation, woot! <3