Chapter 50: Breathless
After Wen Ning’an lifted the tent flap, he saw Feng Qi lying flat on the bed, his eyes tightly closed, unconscious, his face as pale as paper. The bloodstains on his robes had not yet dried, exuding a nauseatingly metallic smell. Fang Qingqing and the imperial physician who had come with the imperial army, Zhang Chongshan, stood by the bed, giving Feng Qi acupuncture, their faces grave.
Fu Che and several generals and adjutants also stood at the side, waiting for the physicians’ results. Wen Ning’an glanced at the crowd, then stood at the side, quietly waiting. Xingxing and Liangliang were nestled by the bed, their eyes fixed on Feng Qi without blinking.
Zhang Chongshan pulled out the silver needle from the Tianling acupoint on Feng Qi’s head. He saw that the end of the needle was dark black, shook his head, and knelt down, trembling. Seeing this, Fang Qingqing also knelt down with a “thud.”
Zhang Chongshan prostrated himself on the ground, shivering. “This sinful subject is incompetent. This sinful subject deserves to die… this sinful subject deserves to die…”
“What on earth is wrong?” Wen Ning’an said with a blank expression. “Speak clearly.”
Fu Che seemed to have guessed something. He reached out and checked Feng Qi’s breath, then also knelt down. In the army, it was a special situation. To avoid affecting morale or the battle, the death of anyone with an official rank could not be announced or publicized without the general’s permission, let alone the Son of Heaven, a national mourning. So, Fu Che said nothing, just kneeling by the bed and kowtowing, trembling. Among the generals, Li Huaisheng and Gao Lan had always looked to Wen Ning’an for leadership, so at this moment, everyone in the tent was kneeling in a group, waiting for his decision.
The surroundings were silent. Li Huaisheng raised his head slightly and saw that although Wen Ning’an’s face was expressionless, his eyes were misty. He frowned and lowered his head again.
Wen Ning’an felt as if he were in a dream. He had lost all perception of his surroundings. He didn’t know that the others were waiting for his orders, nor did he know that tears were uncontrollably welling up in his eyes. He only felt a fear that made his very soul scream and tremble. His body and soul seemed to have been split into two. Looking at the motionless Feng Qi on the bed, he didn’t even dare to get too close. He wanted to escape but couldn’t move his feet. He wanted to get closer but had no courage. His mind was blank and helpless.
Impossible… how could it be.
How could it be!
In a daze, the crowd seemed to have dispersed, and only Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi were left in the tent. Wen Ning’an stumbled to the bedside and sat down, holding Feng Qi’s hand and pressing it against his own cheek. It was cold.
Xingxing nestled in the crook of Feng Qi’s neck, curled up and whimpering.
Everything was like a sandstorm. Wen Ning’an was completely unable to react, only feeling a sense of unreality, as if in a dream, the world spinning. How could the person on the bed have suddenly stopped breathing in the blink of an eye?
In a daze, Wen Ning’an slowly picked up the long sword at the side and gently placed it on his own neck.
He’s so afraid of being lonely…
“Clang—”
Liangliang let out a low roar and pounced on Wen Ning’an, knocking the sharp sword from his hand. The long sword fell to the ground with a clatter. Wen Ning’an abruptly came back to his senses and saw the person on the bed frown slightly.
“Water…”
The voice was a little hoarse.
…
…
“Huaitian…?” Wen Ning’an murmured woodenly. The tears could no longer be held back and rolled down his face. He felt he had never been so fragile before.
“Cough, cough—cough…” Feng Qi struggled to open his eyes, propped himself up on the bed, and bent over, coughing violently.
Wen Ning’an was startled and stumbled out of the tent.
“Imperial physician! Imperial physician—”
Wen Ning’an’s voice even changed its tone. The imperial physician and Fang Qingqing were first startled, but after rushing into the tent, they were so surprised their mouths fell open. They stared wide-eyed at Feng Qi, who was being helped up and fed water by Wen Ning’an, feeling as if all their previous knowledge of medicine and herbs had been overturned.
A person who had stopped breathing, all of whose bodily functions had ceased, had suddenly woken up as if nothing had happened, no different from an ordinary person. This was… coming back from the dead?
Feng Qi’s abrupt movement made Xingxing fall from his shoulder. After rolling a few times on the bed, it let out an “awoo” and excitedly bit Liangliang hard.
Liangliang: “…”
The other generals and adjutants, including Li Huaisheng, all let out a sigh of relief. The death of the Son of Heaven would not bring peace to Bei Miao, and the instability of the state would ultimately be suffered by the thousands of desperate men on the battlefield.
“Huaitian…” Wen Ning’an held Feng Qi tightly. Xingxing and Liangliang also clung to Feng Qi, not moving at all.
Feng Qi smiled and said softly, “Sorry… I scared you.”
Although his voice was as faint as a thread, he was awake after all, and still alive and well.
Wen Ning’an lowered his head, his cheek pressed against Feng Qi’s without any gap, not speaking.
Feng Qi slowly raised his hand and wiped Wen Ning’an’s face, smiling. “Silly, how could I bear to leave you and go alone?”
The other soldiers coughed a few times. Seeing that nothing was wrong, they tactfully withdrew one by one. Li Huaisheng saw that Wen Ning’an’s mood seemed to have stabilized, and the calmness had slowly returned to his eyes. He sighed and left with the others.
Zhang Chongshan smiled. “His Majesty is blessed by heaven and earth, with ten thousand years of fortune. He is fine now.”
Wen Ning’an said, “Fine? No abnormalities at all?”
“Yes, His Majesty is uniquely blessed. There is truly nothing wrong with his body. But perhaps it is because this old subject is old, and my medical skills are not sharp enough to diagnose it. If General Wen is not at ease, this old subject suggests that you can find a famous physician from the martial world to take another look to ensure everything is fine.”
Fang Qingqing said, “If it’s a famous physician from the martial world, the most well-known is naturally the world-renowned Sword Saint, Zhou Wuxin! His martial arts are superb, and his medical skills are no less than his swordsmanship. It’s just a pity that he has already retired, and his whereabouts are hard to find…”
Wen Ning’an nodded.
After Fang Qingqing and Zhang Chongshan also left, Feng Qi pushed his luck even further, leaning against Wen Ning’an’s embrace. “Yixin, don’t be afraid. We haven’t even gotten married yet. How could I be willing to let go just like that? What if you get with someone else, and my own cabbage is eaten by a wild boar? Wouldn’t I cry myself to death in the underworld?”
Wen Ning’an gently changed Feng Qi’s blood-stained robes and smiled. “You’re in this state, with no strength to even speak, yet you’re still spouting smooth-tongued nonsense.”
“What this state? Besides being a little tired, I’m fine now.”
Wen Ning’an had someone bring a basin of clean water and, while wiping Feng Qi’s body, said, “If you’re fine, then you can wipe yourself.”
“Ouch.” Feng Qi immediately went limp on the bed, looking weak. “My limbs are suddenly weak, and my head hurts a little.”
“Heh.” Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but laugh.
Feng Qi looked at Wen Ning’an, his gaze gentle.
“You’re finally willing to smile.”
Wen Ning’an was stunned, then, a little uncomfortable, he retorted, “Weak limbs and a headache, that’s no small matter. I’ll go and get the imperial physician.”
“What imperial physician?” Feng Qi grabbed Wen Ning’an’s sleeve and pulled him into his embrace, smiling. “You are my best medicine.”
“Smooth-tongued…”
The embrace of the person behind him was unrealistically warm, making Wen Ning’an involuntarily think of the bone-chilling cold from a few moments ago.
“Huaitian, what on earth is wrong with you…”
Feng Qi was stunned and played dumb. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re hiding something from me.” It was not a question, but a statement.
Wen Ning’an broke free from Feng Qi’s somewhat weak and loose embrace, turned to face him, and looked at him seriously. “Tell me. If you see me as your other half, then don’t hide anything from me. You said we would slowly change.”
Feng Qi was stunned and was silent for a long while.
“Huaitian…” Wen Ning’an rested his head on Feng Qi’s chest, listening to the faint “thump, thump” of his heartbeat.
After a moment of thought, Feng Qi finally sighed. “I accidentally practiced an evil technique before. Although this evil technique can greatly increase one’s inner energy and make one unparalleled in the world, it is now becoming more and more uncontrollable. Master said that one day I will be devoured by this evil technique and fall into madness.”
Hiding it was not a solution, and it was necessary to let Wen Ning’an know so he could be on his guard. Otherwise, if he had an episode one day, and Wen Ning’an had no intention of dodging, the consequences would be unimaginable.
What Feng Qi feared most was accidentally hurting Wen Ning’an in a fit of madness.
Wen Ning’an frowned. “What evil technique?”
“…Annihilating Yang White Bone.”
Wen Ning’an felt as if he had been struck by lightning and said in disbelief, “The Murong family’s… Annihilating Yang White Bone?”
The nursery rhyme that everyone, from the common people, could recite: In the underworld, there is Murong; in the mortal world, no Asura. Annihilating Yang destroys kin; white bones in the heart. One strike, seventy or eighty; human blood drunk like sweet rain. Executed at the Soul Breaking Cliff; no place to return after death.
Feng Qi turned his head slightly, finding it a little difficult to face Wen Ning’an’s torch-like gaze.
“Huaitian!” Wen Ning’an’s voice was a little loud. Xingxing and Liangliang, who were playing by the bed, were stunned and turned to look at the two of them blankly.
Wen Ning’an trembled all over, his eyes bloodshot as he growled, “Why did you practice Annihilating Yang White Bone! Do you know… do you know…”
Feng Qi held Wen Ning’an in his arms and comforted him, “It’s fine. I’m not worried, so what are you nervous about? Master has already gone out to sea to find a solution for me. I also met Senior Zhou Wuxin before. Not only did he give me a harmonizing mental sutra, but he also promised to think of a way for me. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten. Just live one day at a time.”
Wen Ning’an was held in Feng Qi’s arms, feeling as if a large stone were pressing on his heart, making it hard to breathe. Besides, if not for his own carelessness, how could Feng Qi have been bitten by the centipede, causing his inner energy to fall into chaos and almost never opening his eyes again?
Wen Ning’an wished he could stab himself.
“Why did you practice Annihilating Yang White Bone?”
Feng Qi said, “I was young and reckless before, lazy and idle. I thought this evil technique was a shortcut to the top, so I was led astray.” After speaking, he even sighed, his tone full of remorse. “It’s all my fault for being short-sighted at that time. One misstep leads to eternal regret.”
Seeing that Wen Ning’an was too upset to speak, Feng Qi couldn’t help but be glad that he had hidden the part about practicing the technique to detoxify Wen Ning’an. Otherwise, how sad would he be?
“If your heart aches for me, then treat me better.” Feng Qi pinched Wen Ning’an’s cheek and teased, “Seven times a night, or eight? I hear that a life-saving grace should be repaid with one’s body. Hmm?”
Seeing that although Feng Qi was weak and had just come back from the gates of hell, he was still smiling and joking to cheer him up, Wen Ning’an also didn’t want to keep a long face and make the atmosphere stiff and heavy. He smiled, stood up, washed the blood-stained cloth in his hand, and continued to wipe Feng Qi’s body.
“Let’s talk about it after you’ve recovered.”
