The abstinent prince, practicing Buddhism, is seduced by a voluptuous beauty into breaking his vows.

Su Yaoyao's heart tightened, but she couldn't care less about anything else.

She watched his retreating figure.

His crimson robes were soaked in blood and clung to his body. His shoulders trembled slightly, and the veins on his hand gripping the sword bulged.

He's just putting on a brave face.

Footsteps could be heard outside.

Three people, or four.

He Qing took a deep breath and gripped his sword tightly.

The sound of swords clashing rang out.

Su Yaoyao wanted to go and help, but He Qing had just blocked the door tightly.

She couldn't push him away.

Hearing the sounds of fighting outside, her heart almost jumped out of her throat.

A muffled groan.

It is He Qing.

Then came the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.

Su Yaoyao couldn't help but peek out.

Three men in black were lying at the entrance.

He Qing knelt on one knee, his crimson robes stained beyond recognition, blood still seeping from the wound on his left shoulder. He supported himself with his sword, panting heavily.

He looked up at her.

"It's nothing," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Just a superficial wound..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he began to tremble violently and fell heavily to the ground.

"He Qing!" Su Yaoyao used all her strength to smash open the door of the dilapidated temple and rushed over.

He Qing curled up on the ground, his whole body trembling violently.

His veins bulged, his jaw clenched, and a suppressed whimper escaped his throat.

"Master...Master..."

His voice trembled.

"You...stay away from me..."

Su Yaoyao was stunned.

"Heqing! Heqing, what's wrong?!"

Su Yaoyao tried to help him up, but he pushed her away.

"No...don't touch me..." his voice trembled.

"The poison...the poison has taken effect..."

Su Yaoyao then remembered—the poison in his body.

She knew he had been poisoned, but she truly didn't.

When the poison takes effect...

It hurts this much!!!

At this moment, the vermilion tear mole at the corner of He Qing's eye was eerily red, as if it were about to bleed.

He trembled even more violently.

His fingernails dug into the ground, leaving bloody marks. Blood trickled from his mouth, flowing down the corner of his lips.

"ah--"

A suppressed groan escaped from his throat.

Su Yaoyao had never seen him like this before.

That always smiling, carefree, and nonchalant He Qing.

At this moment, it was like a dying beast, writhing in agony on the ground.

He gritted his teeth, trying not to shout out loud.

But that suppressed groan was more chilling than a scream.

Su Yaoyao knelt beside him, and looking at his appearance, her eyes suddenly reddened.

"Heqing! What should I do? What should I do..." She was so anxious that tears streamed down her face.

He Qing suddenly grabbed her wrist, squeezing it so hard it almost dug into her flesh.

"Walk……"

His voice was hoarse and intermittent.

"Hurry...they'll catch up...I can't...protect you anymore..."

Su Yaoyao shook her head.

"I'm not leaving."

He Qing looked at her, and in her peach blossom eyes, pain and despair surged.

"You..." More and more blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth, "Are you stupid..."

Su Yaoyao gripped his hand tightly.

"You saved me. I won't leave you. I won't go anywhere!"

He Qing was stunned.

He looked into her eyes, and there was no fear or disgust in them, only worry.

Suddenly, he smiled.

The smile was faint and gentle, yet more genuine than ever before.

"Yaoyao..." he murmured, "I...it was worth it..."

As soon as he finished speaking, his body convulsed violently again.

He released her hand, curled up into a ball, and pounded the ground forcefully.

The fist slammed into the stone slab with a dull thud, and blood quickly appeared.

But he seemed not to feel it.

Su Yaoyao felt a sharp pain in her heart as she watched this scene.

She remembered the knife he had taken for her.

I remembered the antidote he gave me.

I recall the ten cartloads of treasures he gave me.

I remember him saying...

"I'm doing this willingly."

This person did so much for her.

But she couldn't give him anything.

"Heqing..." she called softly.

He raised his head.

His face was covered in sweat and blood, but his eyes still held a smile.

"Master..." his voice trembled.

"No...don't look...don't look at me..."

"Please..."

Su Yaoyao walked in and touched his face.

"I'm not afraid," she said. "If you're in pain, just scream it out."

"What are you yelling for..." he said haltingly, "Even if I yell... no one will care..."

Su Yaoyao's tears fell.

Do you have to be like this...?

She knelt beside him, unsure of what to do.

He Qing watched her cry, then suddenly reached out and gently wiped away her tears.

My hands are shaking.

It was covered in blood.

"Don't cry..."

He says,

"I'm fine... I won't die..."

As soon as he finished speaking, his body convulsed violently again.

This time it's even more powerful than before.

He curled up like a shrimp, his muscles tense, and a muffled groan escaped his throat.

She knew he was in pain.

It hurts so much.

But he wouldn't utter a single sound.

They were afraid of attracting pursuers.

I was afraid she would worry.

"Heqing..." She grasped his hand.

She called to him, "I'm here."

That hand was burning hot, like it was on fire.

He Qing felt her warmth and held her hand in return.

They held it very tightly.

It was as tight as a drowning person clinging to the last piece of driftwood.

He Qing looked at her.

Tears glistened in those peach blossom eyes.

"Yaoyao..." his voice was hoarse.

"Could you... call me... A-Qing?"

Su Yaoyao was stunned.

He looked at her, his eyes pleading.

Su Yaoyao nodded.

"Ah Qing," she called to him.

He Qing smiled.

That smile was like that of a child who had just received candy.

"It was worth it..." he murmured, "It really was worth it..."

He Qing looked at her, his gaze gradually becoming unfocused.

"Master..." His voice grew softer and softer.

"I...I think I saw my aunt..."

"That's what she called me back then..."

Su Yaoyao gripped his hand tightly.

"Heqing! Look at me!"

"You're not allowed to sleep! Do you hear me! Look at me!"

He Qing's eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Su Yaoyao's heart tightened.

"He Qing! He Qing!"

no respond.

She reached out, her hand trembling, to check his breath.

There's still air.

Very faint.

She breathed a sigh of relief, sat down on the ground, and felt weak all over.

this person.

This person is always smiling and never serious.

This is the person who calls her "master" every day, cooks for her, accompanies her shopping, and takes a knife for her.

He never uttered a word of pain in front of her.

I never expected him to be in so much pain...

It hurts so much...

Ling Feng's voice came from outside.

"Your Highness! The pursuers are coming again! Come with me now!"

Su Yaoyao looked up at the doorway.

In the darkness, a dark shadow was vaguely approaching.

She looked down at the unconscious He Qing.

Then I looked at the dark figures outside.

He gritted his teeth.

They dragged the person into the dilapidated temple.

"Ling Feng," she said, her voice unusually calm.

"exist."

"Leave them away."

Ling Feng was stunned.

"Crown Princess...it's too late if we don't leave now..."

"Draw them away!"

Su Yaoyao interrupted him, "I can't abandon him. Lead the pursuers away, then come back for us."

Ling Feng looked at her and hesitated for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"Take care, Crown Princess!"

He led a few guards and rushed out of the dilapidated temple.

Soon, the sounds of fighting came from outside and gradually faded into the distance.

The dilapidated temple fell silent.

Only she and the unconscious He Qing remained.

Su Yaoyao leaned against him and held his hand.

"Ah Qing," she whispered, "don't die."

He Qing did not respond.

Moonlight streamed in through the hole, falling on his pale face.

That crimson beauty mark, under the moonlight, resembled a drop of congealed blood.