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墨書 Inktalez
As the dawn broke, they finally collapsed in the center of a scorched wilderness. It was evident that this place had endured the ravages of war, with broken arrows and tattered banners scattered across the charred earth.
Ye Chen's fingers suddenly brushed against something warm and sticky. Looking down, he saw that Pei Guanjing's collar was soaked with blood, glistening dark red in the morning light. His breath quickened, and his fingers trembled as he tore open Pei Guanjing's outer robe, the sound of tearing linen echoing harshly in the desolate landscape.
When he saw the sword wound that pierced from Pei Guanjing's left shoulder to his right abdomen, Ye Chen bit down hard on his lip, the taste of iron filling his mouth.
"No..." Ye Chen's voice shattered like a paper kite caught in the wind.
He shook as he fumbled to open his medicine pouch. When the coagulant powder fell onto the wound, Pei Guanjing's body suddenly convulsed.
Tears streamed down Ye Chen's face, splattering onto the scorched earth and kicking up tiny clouds of dust.
He remembered back at the Military Camp when Pei Guanjing had demonstrated how to treat arrow wounds. At that time, Pei Guanjing’s hands had been steady as a rock, while now his own fingertips felt like withered leaves in an autumn breeze.
"Pei Guanjing!" Ye Chen suddenly threw himself against his chest, listening to the faint heartbeat.
If he had known it would come to this, he would not have quarreled with Pei Guanjing when leaving the capital. He was terrified this might be their last moment together.
At this moment, Ye Chen’s world seemed to consist only of this gradually cooling body in his arms and the distant sound of hooves approaching. In a frenzy, he tore at his own inner garment with his teeth, ripping it into strips. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the bitterness of the medicinal powder filled the air.
As he finished bandaging the last wound, blood caked under Ye Chen’s fingernails. He wanted to carry Pei Guanjing away from this place but stumbled and fell when he tried to rise under his weight.
A sense of helplessness surged from deep within him.
Why was it that every time he thought he could live a good life, fate would play a cruel joke on him, placing both of his loved ones in peril and leaving him alone with worry and fear?
"Pei Guanjing... please wake up..." Ye Chen curled up beside Pei Guanjing, burying his face in his unbloodied neck. He could feel Pei Guanjing’s warmth slipping away bit by bit.
Fortunately, just as despair threatened to engulf him, through his tear-blurred vision, he spotted someone approaching in the distance.
Initially thinking it was pursuing soldiers closing in on him, Ye Chen's heart tightened sharply, and his body tensed up as he warily stared into the distance. But as he wiped away his tears and looked closely, he realized it was a personal guard of King Huai'an Liu Jin.
And this guard was someone Ye Chen had happened to see at the royal residence.
Pei Guanjing suddenly opened his eyes in excruciating pain, the pale light of the waning moon filtering through the intricately carved window, casting mottled shadows of bamboo on the blue brick floor.
The oil lamp on the table flickered, its flame swaying in the draft, illuminating the coarse earthen jars lining the walls with a ghostly glow. Every wound on his body felt as if it were being licked by flames, particularly his right shoulder. He glanced down to see it wrapped in yellowed gauze, dark red stains seeping through.
Looking around, he realized he was alone in the room.
At that moment, the moonlight illuminated a dried bloodstain on the blue bricks in front of the bed, winding like a snake.
"Ye Chen!"
Recalling the events of last night, Pei Guanjing called out Ye Chen's name but received no response. He staggered to sit up, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Ignoring the sharp pain from his wounds as he moved, he braced himself against the edge of the bed, gritting his teeth to endure it. Then he hurriedly placed his feet on the ground, swaying as he stood up and rushed forward.
He threw aside the curtain hanging at the door and found himself in a simple hall.
Someone turned at the sound. Upon seeing him, a man raised an eyebrow and said with a mocking tone, "With such serious injuries, Pei Gongzi can wake up in just one day. Truly vibrant!"
He knows me? Pei Guanjing frowned; he had no time to respond now and urgently asked, "Where is Ye Chen?"
The man scrutinized him with raised eyebrows and continued leisurely peeling a bamboo strip in his hand. "What do you want with him?"
Pei Guanjing clenched his clothing tightly, ready to rush out of the door. "He is my fiancé; how can I not look for him? Haven't you seen him?" As he spoke, he anxiously pulled open the door and glanced back at the man. "Have you seen him?"
The man observed Pei Guanjing's anxious demeanor and slowly got up, pacing around him. "So what if I've seen him? What if I don't let you see him?"
Hearing this, Pei Guanjing assumed this man was holding Ye Chen captive. He gathered his energy into his right palm, preparing for a lethal strike.
Suddenly, familiar footsteps echoed from outside. He turned to look.
In that moment of clarity, he saw Ye Chen standing at the courtyard entrance, holding a bowl of medicine, blood still oozing from wounds on his face.
His breath quickened, his chest rising and falling violently as he stared at the ground, fingers tightly gripping the rim of the bowl.
Pei Guanjing gazed at him intently, suddenly bending down to meet Ye Chen's gaze at eye level.
"Are you alright?"
"You’re awake?"
The two spoke simultaneously, one with urgency, the other with concern.
Ye Chen's face bore the wound from the arrow that had scratched him yesterday, still unhealed, and Pei Guanjing felt a pang in his heart.
He gently extended his arms, cautiously wrapping them around Ye Chen. "A Chen."
Ye Chen's eyes burned with emotion; just as he was about to set down the medicine to return the embrace, a voice interrupted from within the room. "I say, are you two pretending I don't exist?"
Ye Chen abruptly pushed Pei Guanjing away. Pei Guanjing stumbled back two steps due to his injury and looked at the person in confusion.
The figure wore coarse cloth garments, a scruffy beard obscuring half of his face. His dark skin radiated the simplicity of a farmer, yet it was clear he recognized Pei Guanjing's identity. Could he be a spy sent by someone?
Just as he was about to inquire, he saw Ye Chen respectfully handing the medicine to the man. "Father, please drink your medicine. It will help you heal faster after being injured."
Pei Guanjing was momentarily stunned and looked closely again.
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