Chapter 1056: Poison pill, will you take it? (1/2)
As soon as Long Feiye tugged on Chu Xifeng’s arm, Chu Xifeng stiffened all over.
“Relax!” Han Yunxi said.
But Chu Xifeng couldn’t relax at all. Sensing his tension, Long Feiye stood up and said coldly to Xu Donglin, “Xu Donglin, go lend a hand!”
Xu Donglin’s eyes were red-rimmed, but he listened to his chief’s orders and didn’t cry. Still, teardrops kept brimming at the corners of his eyes. Besides acting on his own and being disrespectful to the princess, ol’ Chief Chu had always been someone he admired and respected. In fact, he’d started seeing the man as his older brother a long time ago. He was even secretly happy that he was accompanying his masters to the mountain peak this time, because then he’d definitely see Chief Chu again. He had been trying to figure out a way to get him to apologize to the princess and beg her for forgiveness.
As long as the princess forgave him, then His Highness wouldn’t object anymore. In the future, Chief Chu would still be one of the shadow guards. Even without his martial arts, he knew more than any of them after following after His Highness for so long. Chief Chu could still lead them like before.
But who knew he’d be so injured?
--
Han Yunxi carefully examined Chu Xifeng before declaring, “Both of his legs are crippled and he has comminuted fractures in the lower legs. It’s been too long since they’ve been treated, so we’ll need to ask Gu Beiyue if there’s any chance to save them.”
Chu Xifeng laid without daring to open his eyes, much less consider the possibilities. But he still couldn’t help asking himself, has the princess forgiven me?
He always knew he was wrong, especially since acting on his own was the greatest taboo for a shadow guard. But he had never regretted his choice because he couldn’t discard his ancestors’ hatred and resentment. It wasn’t until...until Xu Donglin wrote to tell him the truth of the Great Qin Empire’s fall that he realized all the hatred stemmed from a mutual misunderstanding. He realized then that the princess was an innocent too and accepted His Highness’s exceptions towards her. However, now his mistake had turned completely inexcusable.
After finding out the truth, he never wrote to Xu Donglin again. He thought it over for a while and even entertained the thought of going off the mountain a few times, just to seek out the princess to apologize. More than anyone else, he knew that His Highness would agree to anything the princess accepted.
But he didn’t.
Day after day, he stayed at the mountain peak because he was no more than a useless man now. How could someone without his martial arts qualify as a shadow guard? He would need help just to get off the mountain. It wasn’t until Celestial Mountain Sword Sect’s three major faction heads and disciples rebelled to help Heretical Sword Sect launch a takeover that he realized he should do something for His Highness.
The three factions claimed control over the shadow guards’ training grounds first before leading Heretical Sword Sect up to the peak. He wasn’t there at the time and managed to escape; furthermore, no one thought to worry about a missing cripple. That was how he laid low until the snows and ice covered the paths, then slipped and slid all the way down the western flank.
--
Han Yunxi rapped against Chu Xifeng’s hand and asked, “Does it hurt?”
Chu Xifeng’s eyes flew open just in time to meet Han Yunxi’s. Subconsciously, he looked away.
“Does it hurt?” Han Yunxi asked again.
“It doesn’t hurt!” Chu Xifeng replied.
Han Yunxi hit his hand harder. “How about this?”
“No feeling. When I came down the mountain, my right hand hit a rock and broke its bones. I reattached it myself, but I don’t think I did it right,” Chu Xifeng admitted.
Han Yunxi creased her brows, but didn’t say a word. She checked his other hand and found that it was, at least, still alright. After looking over the key parts of his skeleton, Han Yunxi began to inspect Chu Xifeng’s abdomen for internal injuries. She’d barely touched him when Chu Xifeng cried out in agony.
How could a martial artist be so sensitive to pain, unless it was truly insufferable?
Han Yunxi creased her brows even further while Xu Donglin’s eyes grew more red-rimmed. Long Feiye stood on one side, his cold face turning frostier by the second. Whether it was Bai Yanqing, Heretical Sword Sect, or the three factions causing unrest, he wouldn’t spare a single one!
By the end of her examination, even Han Yunxi found it unbearable. She couldn’t began to imagine how much suffering Chu Xifeng had endured, including starvation, until they arrived. Not daring to delay, she said, “Long Feiye, he needs warm liquids and hot food. Also, arrange for a carriage here to deliver him to Gu Beiyue right away. Otherwise...I don’t know if we’ll be able to preserve his life.”
Chu Xifeng looked alert and vigorous, but his internal injuries were severe. Han Yunxi wasn’t versed in treating those kinds of wounds so her only choice was to get Chu Xifeng to professional care under safe circumstances.
“Chief…” Xu Donglin finally broke as tears streamed down his face.
Seeing this, Chu Xifeng immediately scolded, “Damned brat, how many times have I told you--”
“Xu Donglin, write a letter to Gu Beiyue,” Long Feiye interrupted. “Have him get here quickly and leave Tang Li to oversee matters at Three-Way Black Market.”