Chapter Sixty-Four: I Am Still Alive

Update time: 2013-06-30

Beneath the fathomless cliff, the mountains rolled endlessly, lush with verdant grasses and thriving trees. Sunlight filtered through thick layers of leaves, casting coin-sized shimmering spots upon the ground. Two lovers, tightly embraced, were securely supported by the dense branches, gently swaying up and down.

These two, Yu Wen Lingxi and Yue Lian Yue, had fallen from the cliff, yet fortune favored them. Below the steep precipice grew a dense grove of banyan trees, whose sturdy branches caught their unconscious bodies, sparing them for the moment from mortal peril.

Two golden orioles chirped noisily on a nearby branch. From beneath the entwined couple, tender birdcalls responded, and through the thick foliage, one could vaguely glimpse the nest beneath them.

The orioles were about to fly over to rescue their young, but, sensing the trembling branches, hastily settled on another limb, continuing their anxious calls.

Yu Wen Lingxi, still unconscious, furrowed his brows slightly as pain surged through him like a tide. The corners of his mouth, beneath the mask, curved into a seductive smile—so even in death, pain could be felt.

No, something was wrong. This sensation was not what he expected. With a sudden jolt, Yu Wen Lingxi opened his eyes, startling the orioles into a flurry. Dazzling sunlight and a sea of green danced before his gaze; he was alive!

But then—

A trace of panic flickered in Yu Wen Lingxi’s eyes. He lifted his head abruptly, his eyes darting about, finally noticing the black hair resting on his chest. He exhaled deeply, letting his head drop back onto the branch beneath him, which immediately swayed more fiercely.

He held the person in his arms tightly, feeling the warmth against his chest, and an overwhelming sense of survival filled his heart.

Yu Wen Lingxi glanced sideways, estimating their height above the ground. He decisively abandoned the idea of unlocking Lian Yue’s sleep acupoint; if she awakened now, panic would make her move and might cause the branch to sway violently. He was certain that another fall awaited them.

Five fathoms up was not high, but enough to break an arm or a leg.

He gently moved his right hand, slowly reaching towards his chest, threading through the silken black hair, searching his bosom for the smallest porcelain bottle. Holding the bottle, he lifted his mask, bit off the stopper, poured all the pills into his mouth, and swallowed the four blood-ganoderma pills.

Yu Wen Lingxi closed his eyes, and embraced the person in his arms, waiting for the medicine to take effect. These were the last four blood-ganoderma pills he possessed.

The main ingredient, blood lingzhi, had become increasingly rare; not a single top-grade specimen had been found in the past year. The pills were dwindling, and their efficacy was not as before; he could no longer gift half a bottle at a time.

For this mission, he had brought five pills. He had already taken one when injured at Heluo Prefecture. Now, gravely wounded, he swallowed the remaining four to recover his strength quickly.

Years of training forbade him from being passive in unfamiliar environments, especially now, with someone he longed to protect with his very life held in his arms.

Embracing her, Yu Wen Lingxi savored the tranquility of the moment, imagining how wonderful it would be if time could freeze, and they could remain entwined for a lifetime.

These thoughts, however, were lost upon the still-sleeping Yue Lian Yue. She was dreaming a beautiful, warm dream.

She walked barefoot upon soft clouds; two celestial birds, wings snowy white, guided her towards a rainbow bridge. Lian Yue’s clear eyes took in everything with wonder—so death was not frightening after all.

A voice, as cheerful as silver bells, rang in her dream, “Are you leading me to my mother?”

The birds chirped, urging her onto the rainbow bridge.

Lian Yue waved joyfully at them, stepping onto the soft bridge, ascending step by step. At the summit, following the birds’ calls, she saw a figure approaching from the other end. Parting the mist, she gradually discerned a man’s silhouette. Could it be the black-robed man who had fallen with her? The figure moved slowly; Lian Yue grew impatient, raising her foot to meet him, but her step slipped and she tumbled from the bridge.

“Ah!” Her scream echoed through the dream.

In the forest below the cliff—

“Ah!” The cry startled a flock of birds. Yu Wen Lingxi watched as Lian Yue, suddenly thrashing and screaming in his arms, left him bewildered. Having just regained his strength, he swiftly carried Lian Yue, leaping from the banyan tree. With two fathoms still to the ground, a sudden scream from his arms nearly made him drop her.

Yu Wen Lingxi quickly released Lian Yue’s sleep acupoint.

Her eyes flew open. Staring at his clothes, she wondered if the person at the end of the rainbow bridge had saved her. She looked up and saw a bronze mask with fanged teeth and the eyes behind it—it was indeed him.

Lian Yue beamed at him. “How fortunate! It really is you. Thank you for saving me!”

Yu Wen Lingxi, enchanted by her smile, was about to reply when her next words stopped him cold.

“So there truly is a paradise after death. The clouds underfoot were so soft and comfortable, and that rainbow bridge was beautiful.”

She looked up, searching for the bridge she had just fallen from, but saw only trees, blue sky, and the man before her—no celestial birds, no bridge, no clouds. Her body ached with fiery pain.

Apparently, she was still alive.

“We’re alive!” Lian Yue stared at Yu Wen Lingxi in disbelief.

He understood her reaction; he’d felt much the same upon waking. He nodded to her.

Still incredulous, Lian Yue pinched the flesh at her side, “You’re lying. I pinched myself, and it doesn’t hurt at all.”

Yu Wen Lingxi couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “You pinched me, not yourself. Of course you don’t feel pain—I do.”

“Really?” Lian Yue looked down at her hand, realizing she’d pinched him. To confirm her survival, she pinched her own thigh.

“Ahh…” The pain was real, not an illusion.

“Waaah…” Her taut nerves relaxed, and she broke into tears, pounding Yu Wen Lingxi’s chest. “We’re alive! We didn’t die! I thought I was done for. I wasn’t mangled, nor eaten by wild beasts… I miss big brother and Sister Lan…”

Beneath the mask, Yu Wen Lingxi’s face grew paler with her blows, but he made no attempt to stop her. He gently patted her back, comforting her as she wept incoherently.

Her cries startled more birds, sending flocks fleeing in all directions. From above, one would see birds escaping the forest in waves.

Gradually, her sobs subsided, her movements slowed, and her mind cleared. Feeling the rhythmic pats on her back, she realized she was nestled in the black-robed man’s arms. Blushing, she pushed him away swiftly.

She pushed with all her strength. Yu Wen Lingxi, sustained only by the medicine, staggered and fell to the grass, coughing violently.

Lian Yue, hands still raised, panicked at what she’d done, remembering his injuries. She hurried over, crouching beside him, apologetic. “Are you alright? I’m sorry—I forgot you were wounded.”

“I’m fine. Just need to rest a bit… cough, cough!” He swallowed the blood rising in his throat.

Awkwardly, Lian Yue glanced at his exposed wound beneath his clothes, still bleeding. She hesitated, unsure what to do, then remembered to suggest applying medicine.

“Your wound is bleeding. Do you have any medicine? You should treat it.”

Yu Wen Lingxi had not treated his wound yet—first, he hadn’t had a chance; second, after taking the pills, the bleeding was slowing. But since Lian Yue insisted, he decided to at least pretend to address it for her peace of mind.

With a rip, he tore the damaged cloth from his wound, exposing his bronze-toned abs. Lian Yue quickly covered her eyes, stood, and turned away before lowering her hands. It was the first time she’d seen a man’s body, and her blush spread to her ears.

She looked down and saw bloodstains on her skirt, recalling the events after the fall. Her face grew even redder.

Yu Wen Lingxi, flustered by her reactions, hurriedly applied the wound powder.

When the blush faded and his strength returned, he rose from the grass, coughing lightly. “It’s done.”

Lian Yue’s blush lingered, and she didn’t wish to face him yet. So she sought a distraction, “Can you tell me what happened while I was unconscious?”

Then, regretting her words, she wished she could bite her tongue. She had awakened cradled in his arms—was she inviting embarrassment?

Fortunately, Yu Wen Lingxi seemed to understand and simply recounted the events. Listening, Lian Yue felt her fear rise, but her face cooled, and she suggested they explore beneath the cliff.

They weren’t far from the cliff’s base. Circumventing the banyan that had saved them, they walked ten meters or so. Lian Yue saw the mangled, bloodied bodies of the red-brown horses and felt even more grateful—if she had ended up like that, her remains would have been unrecognizable. Gratitude towards Yu Wen Lingxi blossomed in her heart.

“Thank you.”

Yu Wen Lingxi paused in surprise, then realized her meaning and felt ashamed. “Actually, I should apologize. If I hadn’t abducted you, none of this would have happened.”

Lian Yue was taken aback; it was true. But he had let her go, she had returned of her own accord, insisted on saving him, and had ridden with him to this point. Her life had been saved by him.

Perhaps it was balanced now. It seemed so.

Neither mentioned apologies or thanks again, and they walked in silence to the base of the cliff, where a sense of hopelessness began to settle in their hearts.