Liu Zhenqing awoke suddenly. His dreams were full of Huo Fenglie’s blood-red eyes, and the scene of him vomiting blood and falling unconscious.

Full of fear and uneasiness, he quickly got out of bed. As soon as he opened the door, he saw a boy standing guard. Without waiting for him to say anything, Liu Zhenqing hurriedly said: “Where is the person who came with me?”

“In the next room.”

Liu Zhenqing followed the boy’s directions at once and rushed to the next room.

Only, he saw two other people in the room, an old man and Yue Xuqian.

Yue Xuqian watched Liu Zhenqing barge in, and was a little surprised by this man’s gaffe.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Liu Zhenqing pass him and jump directly toward the bed.

Liu Zhenqing breathed a sigh of relief at last when he saw Huo Fenglie lying down well.

He instinctively reached out to feel Huo Fenglie’s pulse. The situation seemed to be improving, but it was still very complicated.

“Young Master?” Yue Xuqian asked.

Liu Zhenqing then turned around to look at the two of them.

Having seen Liu Zhenqing’s expression toward Huo Fenglie just now, Yue Xuqian raised his eyebrows slightly and said: “I invited this well-known doctor to treat Fenglie. How about we listen together?”

Liu Zhenqing quickly said to the old doctor: “Sorry to trouble you, thank you so much.”

Curiosity flashed across Yue Xuqian’s face. Logically speaking, it was reasonable for him to save Huo Fenglie. Why was it this young master’s responsibility to thank the doctor profusely on Huo Fenglie’s behalf? This made it seem as if they were closer.

“There is no need to thank me, because I can’t cure it at all,” the old doctor said directly. “This person seems to have lost control of his internal force a few years ago. It stands to reason that with such a serious illness, to put it bluntly, he should have died a long time ago. He has been able to survive until now only because people with great medical skills have tried to find ways to prolong his life and suppress his illness. He should not have too many mood swings or compete with his internal force in battle. Internal injuries and the like can trigger the old illness and cause it to break out, and an accident could happen if he’s not careful. I see that in addition to the old injury, he has a few new injuries. It seems he was in a life or death fight, is that right?”

Yue Xuqian looked at Liu Zhenqing and saw that his face was pale and expressionless, his thoughts unknown. Yue Xuqian hadn’t expected Huo Fenglie’s situation to be so dire, but he remembered that the Huo family sister-in-law was the disciple of a miracle doctor. Although the old doctor in front of him was also famous, he was not as good as Madam Huo.  So after hearing this, he was not too impatient for the time being.

“Then now…..”

“The internal injuries are easy to recover from, and he will wake up soon, but the old injury has worsened, and the effects of this bottle of medicine are also decreasing. This old doctor can’t do anything. You must find a more capable doctor. There are only two or three people in the world who can save him. It’s best if you take him for treatment as soon as possible, otherwise, if he has a few more outbreaks, he won’t be able to survive.”

When the old doctor finished explaining, he gave Huo Fenglie acupuncture and then prepared a medicinal bath.

Yue Xuqian paid a lot of money and asked the old doctor to stay and take care of Huo Fenglie until he recovered.

Then he took the silent Liu Zhenqing out.

“I haven’t asked yet, who is this young master? What is your relationship with Fenglie?” Yue Xuqian took the initiative to ask.

Liu Zhenqing returned to his senses and said: “I’m Liu Xiaozhu, of the Imperial merchant Liu family in the capital. I came south to investigate a case with Brother Huo.”

Yue Xuqian was instantly surprised, and asked, “Liu?”

“Yes, it’s the one you’re thinking of.” Liu Zhenqing knew that Yue Xuqian didn’t hate him, so he admitted it openly.

But how could Yue Xuqian not know of him, this descendant of the Liu family who had been pursuing his good brother for a long time and caused a stir in the capital. He was happily eating melons at that time.

He didn’t expect that in the blink of an eye, his good brother would be on the road with someone who loved him madly. It was too incredible.

Liu Zhenqing didn’t see Yue Xuqian’s changing expression. He just said: “It was during this process that we were hunted down and Brother Huo was injured.”

Yue Xuqian was still amazed over Liu Zhenqing’s identity. Upon hearing this, he said: “By the way, your other two companions have arrived and are recuperating in the courtyard next door. You can relax.”

“Thank you very much. They are Brother Huo’s good brothers.” Liu Zhenqing briefly introduced them.

Although Yue Xuqian had never met them, Huo Fenglie did mention them in his letters. Seeing Liu Zhenqing’s solemn expression after he spoke, he knew he was concerned about Huo Fenglie’s condition and said: “Young Master Liu, don’t worry. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll quickly send him to the capital where Sister-in-law Huo is.”

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t relax his furrowed brow. If Li Xingruo could treat him, why would she only use medicine to relieve the symptoms? He must still go to his master. His master was in the south. Before Huo Fenglie went south this time, Li Xingruo seemed to have told him something. Maybe it was for Huo Fenglie to see the doctor, so Huo Fenglie should know where his master was. Even if he didn’t know, he could just write a letter to Li Xingruo once Huo Fenglie woke up.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but feel a little angry. They had known each other for so long, but Huo Fenglie never even mentioned such an important matter.

Liu Zhenqing had previously felt that Huo Fenglie’s pulse was strange, but he never expected that it would be this serious. Hearing that he could have died long ago, Liu Zhenqing felt as if his heart was about to burst.

This was the first time Liu Zhenqing blamed himself for not being good at studying, and failing to understand Huo Fenglie’s condition. Now he could only plead to others. This feeling was extremely uncomfortable.

“By the way, how is your injury?” Yue Xuqian asked.

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback and touched his injured shoulder, which still hurt a little. “I’m fine. I’ll go check on the other two first and then come back to take care of Brother Huo.”

Yue Xuqian advised: “It’s okay to go and see them, but you had better rest more afterward. I will certainly arrange for someone to look after Fenglie.”

Liu Zhenqing smiled helplessly and said: “No, I have to stay by him. He’ll be anxious if he doesn’t see me when he wakes up.”

After saying this, Liu Zhenqing left Yue Xuqian scratching his head. Why had he said that so confidently? Wasn’t Liu Zhenqing pursuing Huo Fenglie? It sounded like Huo Fenglie couldn’t live without Liu Zhenqing. Were they already in love?

Yue Xuqian lamented the delay in news, turning around to enter the room. Seeing that the medicine boy had prepared a medicinal bath, he helped Huo Fenglie sit in the bathtub.

Because he was only wearing his inner robes and the collar was a little loose, he could clearly see the tattoo inside spreading due to the heat of his body.

Yue Xuqian was very astute, and understood something at a glance. He shook his head helplessly and chuckled. Suddenly, the person sitting in the bathtub frowned.

Yue Xuqian was about to step forward to take a look when he heard a low voice call, “Qing-ge.”

Pausing in his steps, Yue Xuqian raised his eyebrows helplessly. This…..fortunately Young Master Liu didn’t hear it, otherwise what would he think?

At this time, Liu Zhenqing had arrived at the courtyard next door. As soon as he entered, he saw He Lan sitting alone on the steps, holding his chin in his hand and looking at a loss.

“Brother He?”

It wasn’t until Liu Zhenqing approached that He Lan returned to his senses.

“Oh, you’re awake. You’re okay.”

“I’m fine, Brother Huo is still unconscious. But you guys, how are you?”

Liu Zhenqing’s simple inquiry caused the sensitive He Lan to say nervously: “What could we have done? Nothing, ah!”

There was a question mark on Liu Zhenqing’s face. He asked: “Really? I heard Young Master Yue say that you’re injured too.”

He Lan was distracted for a moment before reacting, and said: “I was slightly injured in the beginning, but Lao Qin was hurt worse and is still unconscious now.”

Liu Zhenqing nodded and said: “Fortunately the poison woman’s drug only had that effect, and there were antidote pills. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have just been slightly injured.”

He Lan instantly looked embarrassed.

When Liu Zhenqing finished speaking, he asked for the remaining antidote pills.

He Lan could only grit his teeth and say: “I accidentally threw them into the river.”

Liu Zhenqing didn’t think too much of it, and just assumed that He Lan had an accident after taking the medicine. Then he spoke of the fact that the assassins had all been killed by Huo Fenglie. Since there were no survivors, there was no way to track down their origins. They could only admit that they were unlucky and take care in the future.

While the two were talking, there was sudden movement in the room. He Lan ducked in instantly, and Liu Zhenqing, who was also concerned about Qin Yu’s situation, followed him in.

As soon as he entered, he saw that Qin Yu seemed to have woken up and tried to get out of bed, but suddenly fell to the ground as if his limbs had no strength.

He Lan quickly stepped forward and seemed to try to pick him up, but Qin Yu evaded him.

Qin Yu regarded He Lan with an unkind gaze and said coldly: “I can do it myself.”

He Lan could only stand aside awkwardly, as if he didn’t know where to put his hands or feet.

Liu Zhenqing naturally knew that the two of them got along at normal times, but it was very strange at this moment.

He watched for a moment, and saw the ambiguous marks on Qin Yu’s neck. He suddenly remembered that when they were separated, Qin Yu had no problem moving even though he had internal injuries. Why had he become semi-disabled now?

Looking at the embarrassment on He Lan’s face, Liu Zhenqing suddenly had an odd suspicion.

It couldn’t be that he didn’t take the medicine and just…..lost it.

And therefore He Lan’s antidote became a person?

Liu Zhenqing was shocked on the spot by this supposition.

His eyes continued to linger on the two until the moment Qin Yu sat down. His expression looked as ugly as if he had been stabbed, and Liu Zhenqing didn’t dare to look any longer.

After briefly explaining the situation, Liu Zhenqing quickly left this awkward and suffocating environment.

Watching Liu Zhenqing flee, He Lan really wanted to say, take me away too! He really didn’t dare to face the awake Qin Yu, ah!

The room fell into an eerie silence, and Qin Yu said abruptly: “You…..”

But before Qin Yu could finish speaking, He Lan’s heart collapsed and he said directly, “I’ll get you some food.” After saying this, he vanished in an instant.

Qin Yu frowned slightly, but quickly regained his composure and began to meditate.

When there was subsequent movement in the room, Qin Yu knew who was coming without opening his eyes.

Qin Yu kept his eyes closed and continued to meditate, but said bluntly, “You don’t need to have any hang-ups. It was just the situation.”

He Lan, who had just adjusted his mental state, felt uncomfortable hearing this familiar tone and expected words. How could he not mind? But the other party was so magnanimous, so what else could he say? After all, he had still taken advantage. After scratching his head and ears for a while, he took a step forward and said, “This matter is all my fault. You are my savior. If your anger isn’t enough, you can kill me or cut me to pieces.”

Qin Yu sneered and opened his eyes, which held a coldness that seemed to have never changed: “Are you stupid? If you were killed or cut to pieces, how would I save you? We are brothers, so there is no need to be so pretentious.”

Qin Yu had never admitted that they were brothers, and only acquiesced in his heart. But now that he suddenly heard Qin Yu say this, He Lan felt that the sound of  “brother” was extremely harsh.

Was it okay if they were brothers? He Lan couldn’t help but think of the scene at that time, and held a question in his heart: why didn’t Qin Yu resist? Although he was severely bullied later on and indeed resisted, in the beginning, he really sacrificed himself. Even if it was to save him, how could he accept it so easily?

What if it hadn’t been him? What if it was Zhanyuan or Brother Liu, what if…..He Lan truly couldn’t imagine that Qin Zichuan, whom only he had seen like that, would save his other brothers in such a manner.

He Lan felt that something wasn’t right, and couldn’t help but ask: “Lao Qin, you have such a big heart. Would you be willing to save our other brothers like that?”

After asking, He Lan regretted it. He didn’t know where this resentment had come from. He was obviously the one who was rescued, but everything was awkward.

Qin Yu looked at He Lan’s tangled appearance. After he saved him, this person even made derisive remarks, making him laugh in anger: “Are you out of your mind? Big-hearted? What does it mean to be big-hearted? Are you seeking death, wanting me to take responsibility? What do you think I am?”

Although he was used to Qin Yu’s sarcastic words, He Lan felt panicked in this moment, as if he was the one who was thrown away after being eaten.

“If you want me to take responsibility, I’ll take responsibility, ah!” He Lan couldn’t help but retort.

Qin Yu was instantly enraged. He raised his hand and threw something at He Lan. “Get out. Don’t make me regret saving you.”

He Lan easily caught it, and the awkward mood seemed to vanish after such a tit-for-tat confrontation. When he looked up, Qin Yu’s angry appearance became very vivid in He Lan’s eyes. The beauty seemed to have glared at him angrily like this back at that time.

He Lan felt inexplicably happy. “I’m not going out. The doctor told me to apply medicine for you every day.”

When Qin Yu heard the words ‘apply medicine,’ he couldn’t react at first. When he did, murderous intent accumulated in his eyes. 

Naturally, he had no regrets about saving this person, and had no intention of making a fuss or pursuing revenge afterwards. He just treated it as a normal detoxification process, and when it was over, it was over.

In the end, he didn’t know why He Lan had lost his mind. He was usually very eloquent. Forget about resolving the embarrassment, now he was being irritating again and saying such things. Was this something that could be said considering the awkward relationship between the two of them?

Qin Yu was full of pent up anger, and now it had been completely ignited by He Lan. It must be said that He Lan had a unique talent for angering Qin Yu.

Regardless of his internal injuries, Qin Yu promptly jumped up and attacked He Lan.

In the past, He Lan would tuck his tail between his legs and run away if he angered Qin Yu, but this time, He Lan didn’t run away, and instead faced him head-on. He barely gave Qin Yu a chance to take action. Grabbing his wrist, he said: “Don’t use your internal force, you still have internal injuries!”

“Get away!” Qin Yu couldn’t stand He Lan’s touch now. It reminded him of those scenes.

However, He Lan did not go away. He said with an innocent expression: “I will naturally take care of the injuries I caused. Why are you reacting so much? Who just said he has no grudges? Good brother, don’t be pretentious.” After saying this, he even slapped Qin Yu on the back.

Qin Yu looked at He Lan in disbelief. He Lan drew closer and said: “The wound there is serious. Stop moving, I’ll give you some medicine.”

Qin Yu’s face gradually turned from green to black. There was a bam, boom, slam, and He Lan was kicked out of the room.

He Lan rubbed his aching waist and sat down on the steps by the door again, proceeding to sigh incessantly.

Although he absolutely didn’t want to admit it, it seemed that after Qin Yu woke up, his own situation had not improved, but instead became more serious. The more icily arrogant Qin Yu looked now, the more he remembered the way he looked with tears in his eyes, which really made him…..excited.

He had a moment of silence for his body’s unscrupulous reaction. It was really too dreadful.

On the other side, Liu Zhenqing originally wanted to stand guard for Huo Fenglie, but Yue Xuqian felt that it was unsuitable for Liu Zhenqing to see Huo Fenglie’s tattoo, so he made excuses to delay time. It wasn’t until Huo Fenglie was returned to bed that Yue Xuqian left.

Liu Zhenqing remained by the bedside and helped dry his wet hair little by little. While wiping, he thought about the situation with He Lan and Qin Yu that he had just accidentally learned about. The more he thought about it, the more outrageous it felt. And seeing Qin Yu’s appearance, he must be in a great deal of pain. Liu Zhenqing’s thoughts were a mess, and he really couldn’t help but want to complain to Huo Fenglie. But when he glanced over, he saw that Huo Fenglie’s lips were particularly red due to his soak.

He suddenly recalled that time when he gave him medicine.

Liu Zhenqing pursed his lips in embarrassment. The more he remembered it, the redder his face became. Unknowingly, he reached out and touched those two lips.

In the next second, he heard a deep voice. “Qing-ge?”

Liu Zhenqing was instantly startled. He raised his eyes to look over and saw that Huo Fenglie had woken up at some point. A pair of dark eyes reflected his crime like clear obsidian. He didn’t know whether his rosy cheeks were caused by illness or embarrassment. Because Liu Zhenqing’s index finger was still between Huo Fenglie’s lips, when Huo Fenglie opened his mouth, it poked inside.

His finger was warm, and Liu Zhenqing was so frightened that he quickly retracted it, looking at Huo Fenglie at a loss. There was an embarrassment much like being caught red-handed doing something bad.

Huo Fenglie just stared at him blankly for a moment, then suddenly got up and grabbed Liu Zhenqing, saying: “Qing-ge, how are you? Are you hurt?”

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Chapter Sixty << Table of Contents >> Chapter Sixty-Two