By daybreak, the cut on Song Liang’s forehead had almost healed, but the man beside him had developed another fever.
At first, Song Liang thought the arrow wound had become inflamed. Then he suspected poison on the arrow. Only when he saw black blood seeping from Xie Yun’s other wounds did he realize something was wrong.
【He’s poisoned,】 3085 said cautiously. 【But I can’t determine what poison it is, or how to cure it.】
“Mm.”
Song Liang’s response was unusually calm. He chewed the remaining herbs, then did as Xie Yun had done the night before, pressing his lips to the wounds on the man’s chest and shoulder to apply the medicine little by little. Then he left the cave.
Outside, it was not yet fully light. Mid-autumn nights were always longer than the days. The star Changgeng remained clearly visible overhead, while the rising sun returned to the eastern sky trailing boundless radiance, soon to illuminate this quiet valley, long empty of human presence.
He chose a conspicuous spot and carved a mark into a tree. Understanding his purpose, 3085 asked, 【…You’re leaving?】
“Yes.”
【You’re not waiting for Liang Fei?】
“We can’t wait any longer.”
Song Liang tossed the stone aside and headed back. “With both Xie Yun and me missing, there’s no one to keep Lady Qin in check. The first people to find us might be the Xiaoyi Guard or the Black Armor Guard, but they’re most likely to be her Golden Plume Guard.”
“I can wait. Xie Yun can’t.”
For a moment, 3085 did not know what to say. Its host was clever enough to foresee that Lady Qin intended to strike at him—and that the main villain, Xie Yun, would seize the same opportunity to move against him. Yet with all the meager strength available to him, he had disrupted both their plans and successfully kept himself and those around him alive.
Everything had been proceeding according to plan. He had even anticipated the cliff Lady Qin would choose as his burial place and made preparations in advance. But now, because of another person, he was abandoning that plan without hesitation.
【But once you miss your chance to rendezvous with Liang Fei, there’s no telling when you’ll get back to the palace. Lady Qin may seize power in the meantime and send men to hunt you down. Then—】
“I remember a path there on the map. Where does it lead?” Song Liang interrupted, pointing toward a low hill covered in thorns.
【The northern peak. But I don’t recommend going there. It has many large, dangerous predators.】
“We’ll skirt the edge.”
【Less risky than going straight through, but still not recommended.】
“Why?”
【Even if you’re lucky enough to avoid the beasts, you’ll encounter the imperial guards stationed there. There’s a strong chance you’ll expose your whereabouts.】
“Can’t we silence them?”
【In your current condition…】 3085 was about to say he could not possibly fight wild beasts as he was. Then it remembered that this was a ruthless man who could not be challenged without consequences. It faltered and changed tack. 【Even if you can manage it, Xie Yun can’t.】
“I’ll go back and ask.”
【…You expect a gravely injured man to agree to head to the northern peak and fight wild beasts with you?】
Song Liang rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “You never know.”
3085: 【…】
Did he think everyone was as abnormal as he was?
On his way back, Song Liang was still considering how to wake Xie Yun and persuade him to fight his way through the beasts on the northern peak when he spotted a familiar figure standing outside the cave.
It was Xie Yun, who should have been unconscious.
He paused in surprise. “Why are you out here?”
Xie Yun seemed only then to notice him. His face was pale and dark with tension, but that darkness gradually receded. In a hoarse voice, he replied—
“…I came out to have a look.”
Song Liang said briskly, “No need to look. I’ve checked everything. The eastern and southern peaks are certainly guarded by now. There’s only one route left, leading to the northern peak. Beyond the forest lies the main road.”
He looked at Xie Yun tentatively. “I plan to skirt the edge. Do you think that will work?”
“Yes,” Xie Yun replied.
3085: 【???】
Smiling brightly, Song Liang leaned closer. “There are plenty of dangerous beasts, you know. You’re injured, too. You could die. Aren’t you scared?”
Xie Yun watched the face approaching him, those lively eyes full of mischief, and held his gaze for a long while.
When he still said nothing, Song Liang’s smile deepened. He leaned toward his ear.
“Just teasing. I won’t let you die.”
“…”
The playful voice fell beside his ear, warm breath brushing its rim, intimate and suggestive as a lover’s whisper. Xie Yun swallowed, abruptly turned his head, and stepped back half a pace. Even the hand holding Song Liang’s wrist loosened.
“Mm.”
“…”
Song Liang glanced at his reddened ear, his expression becoming more serious. “Do you still have a fever?”
For a moment, Xie Yun did not know how to answer. “…It’s nothing. I endured worse on campaign.”
Both men suddenly fell silent.
This was the second time they had spoken of the past. The last time, they had still been bitterly opposed. Song Liang remembered Xie Yun’s cold, hateful expression, and even more clearly remembered his repeated references to the feud between the Xie family and the late emperor, along with everything the little emperor had done to his uncle.
Naturally, Xie Yun also remembered Song Liang’s mocking expression—and the hurtful words he himself had spoken.
Song Liang rubbed his nose and changed the subject with what he considered considerable tact.
“Well, don’t worry. Even with us both falling off the cliff, Lady Qin may not get her way. There’s still Xu Qingye, after all.”
“…”
Xie Yun’s expression abruptly darkened.
Song Liang: “?”
He could not understand the sudden change in the other man’s mood. “You—”
“My wound hurts.” Xie Yun clutched his chest, cutting him off.
Song Liang asked no more. He helped him into the cave and told him to remove his clothes so he could apply more herbs. Xie Yun agreed. Sitting with his eyes lowered, he took off his inner robe, revealing an upper body covered in injuries.
As usual, Song Liang first took a moment to admire his eight-pack and well-developed chest, then put the herbs into his mouth and began chewing. Once they tasted slightly bitter, he lowered his head toward Xie Yun’s chest.
Xie Yun’s expression changed sharply. He abruptly caught Song Liang’s shoulders.
“…What are you doing?!”
Song Liang frowned at him. “Applying the medicine.”
In his view, although Xie Yun’s method the previous night had been rather unusual, it was actually more scientific. Rather than touching the herbs with bacteria-covered hands, he had chewed them and applied them directly to the wound, greatly reducing the risk of infection. Just what one might expect from a man who had served and fought on the frontier.
Xie Yun looked strange, his face growing hot. “This morning, you did it like this too—”
Song Liang nodded. “Yes.”
Xie Yun: “…”
Xie Yun stared at the upturned face. Those usually proud, unrestrained features held a rare gentleness, even a hint of innocent simplicity, making him want to hold, caress, and kiss him endlessly.
He swallowed. Little by little, his hands loosened on Song Liang’s shoulders. Turning his head away, his heart almost leaping from his chest, he finally managed a low, husky sound.
“Mm.”
Song Liang lowered his head toward his chest again, only to have both shoulders suddenly caught once more.
Song Liang: “…”
He looked up expressionlessly to find Xie Yun hesitating, his gaze evasive.
“You mustn’t apply medicine to anyone else like this.”
Song Liang: “…”
Do I look like an idiot?
3085: 【You just want to take advantage of him.】
Song Liang: 【What else?】
3085: 【…】
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