"Little one..."
Xue Xingyue awoke to a dark shadow looming over her, startling her into throwing a punch, though her fist lacked any real power.
"Little one, you're actually going to hit me? Do you know you're hitting your savior?"
Xue Xingyue froze. The voice... it sounded somewhat familiar?
"Who are you?" Xue Xingyue asked warily.
"Little one, have you really been gone for days that you've forgotten your Uncle Wen?"
Xue Xingyue leaped up entirely and lunged towards the dark shadow, "Uncle Wen, is that really you?"
"Enough, little one. Don't you usually maintain a good facade of being demure? Now you're showing your true colors?"
Xue Xingyue giggled, "I didn't expect Uncle Wen to find me so quickly."
Wen Yuxi picked her up and asked in a low voice, "From now on, whatever I ask you, you answer truthfully?"
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Okay, Uncle Wen, ask away!"
"Wen Nuan is also here?"
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Yes, but Aunt Nuan isn't well. She's being bullied."
Wen Yuxi's gaze emitted a chilling light in the darkness, making even Xue Xingyue feel a touch uncomfortable.
"Uncle Wen, I'm feeling a bit cold." Xue Xingyue couldn't help but burrow deeper into Wen Yuxi's embrace.
Wen Yuxi's large hand gently stroked her, "There, there, sleep now!"
Xue Xingyue nodded and fell into a deep sleep.
A figure in black suddenly burst through the door and knelt on one knee before Wen Yuxi, "My lord, that person is Wen Ling."
Wen Yuxi's expression showed a flicker of surprise. Wen Yu continued, "Your subordinate also finds it unbelievable, but that person is indeed Wen Ling."
Wen Yuxi frowned. Back then, in Nanzhuang, he had left Wen Ling alone to deal with those people. Later, he had sent people to look for him, but Wen Ling was nowhere to be found. He thought Wen Ling had died in battle there and regretted it immensely. If only he had stayed too.
He had erected a memorial tablet for Wen Ling. After so many years, he never expected to hear news of Wen Ling again, except that this time Wen Ling was no longer the foolish, simpleminded Wen Ling, but a healthy and intelligent one.
Perhaps heaven was fair to everyone. This time, he knew there would be a battle between him and Wen Ling. Very well, the guilt and regret from before could be resolved this time!
"What about Wen Nuan..." Wen Yuxi couldn't help but ask.
Wen Yu furrowed his brows, "Wen Ling keeping Wen Nuan might mean he has ulterior motives towards her."
He only knew that the still simpleminded Wen Ling used to like following Wen Nuan. Now that Wen Ling was healthy, he naturally wouldn't let Wen Nuan go.
"Find an opportunity. I want to see Wen Nuan," Wen Yuxi said slowly.
The weight by the bedside disappeared. Wen Nuan pulled the blanket over her head, unable to believe that she, the once spirited and decisive protector of Qianjin Tower, Wen Nuan, had fallen to such a state.
What was the difference between this and being a courtesan?
Yet, even so, she wanted to survive, hoping that one day she would hear news of him, know if he was well, and that would be enough.
She slowly got up from the bed, tidying her hair. Since she couldn't see, she had to rely on approximation to prepare herself. In Qianjin Tower, she was the only woman now, so dressing and combing her hair was something she had to do herself.
In the past, Wen Ling used to help her comb her hair, but she didn't want the person she touched on the bed to also serve her.
Therefore, she didn't want too much contact with Wen Ling. She feared that if she did, she might not be able to bring herself to act when the time came.
One day, Wen Ling would die by her hand. This thought was like her spiritual pillar, supporting her, allowing her to endure and remain solitary.
Her hair was very long. When Wen Ling brought her over, her hair was already quite long, and now it was outrageously so. She laboriously raised her hand to reach for the comb.
Suddenly, she didn't feel the comb but a hand. She showed no shock. Very few people could enter Qianjin Tower, especially her room, which Wen Ling had strictly secured against anyone entering. Thus, she didn't think anyone could get in.
But why did these hands feel so familiar, as if she had touched them somewhere before?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. Was it him? Was it the person she longed for day and night?
Was it the person who shared a bed with Wen Ling but thought of him in her heart?
Could it be?
"Wen Nuan." A deep voice echoed faintly. Wen Nuan stiffened.
She tried to speak, but she couldn't utter a word. She had no tongue and couldn't make a sound. Yet, she was extremely excited. Overcome with emotion, she scrambled off the bed, wanting to touch the person she had missed day and night.
But she forgot that she couldn't walk. She fell from the bed but was caught before she hit the ground. The person she longed for held her in his arms. She smelled his familiar scent, and heard his familiar voice by her ear, "Wen Nuan, I'm sorry, I'm late."
She shook her head. Just to see him again in this lifetime was enough to satisfy her.
Suddenly, she remembered something, pushed Wen Yuxi away, and made muffled sounds.
Wen Yuxi was taken aback, "Wen Nuan, what's wrong?"
She shook her head. She was tainted. She wasn't worthy of being held by him, Wen Yuxi, nor was she worthy of his gentle inquiries.
Wen Yuxi saw that the once radiant face was now devoid of its former allure, and the once brilliant eyes were now empty.
His throat felt tight. Everything Wen Nuan had done was for him. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have had to risk her life alone, nor would she have been framed and turned into this state.
He owed her. He, Wen Yuxi, owed Wen Nuan.
He stepped forward and slowly picked up the woman who had protected him with her life. "Wen Nuan, from now on, as long as I am present, you will be too. Will that be alright?"
Wen Nuan began to cry. Tears filled her empty eyes. She bit her lower lip and sobbed.
Her tears flowed into his clothes.
"Wen Nuan, are you alright?" he spoke again, this time not with his mouth, but with his internal energy.
Wen Nuan trembled all over and asked, "Why? Someone as tainted as me is not worthy of you."
"In my heart, you will always be the spirited and vibrant Wen Nuan."
"Master..." Wen Nuan cried, hugging Wen Yuxi tightly, gripping his shoulders, and questioning him repeatedly, "Why didn't you come sooner? Why?"
Wen Yuxi's body stiffened. "I'm sorry, Wen Nuan."
Wen Nuan trembled. At this moment, she suddenly felt at peace. The obsession in her heart, the anger within her soul, all vanished.
"Master, I don't want to stay here anymore. Take me away, please?"