Bo Xichen looked at Bo Nianyao and gently nodded. "Okay."
Bo Nianyao patted his shoulder and turned to leave.
After Bo Nianyao left, Bo Xichen continued his covert approach, eventually arriving at the place where the core mbers of the Dark resided. Surrounded by green mountains and rivers, with its blue-brick and red-tile buildings, it was extrely elegant. The Dark’s security was very tight, with black-clad figures, all wearing different masks, constantly coming and going. Bo Xichen followed a group, silently covered the last man’s mouth and nose, and dragged him into the shadows. He fed the man a pill, then stripped off his clothes and mask, put them on himself, and rejoined the squad ahead.
This was clearly a patrol team, making rounds through various parts of the Dark’s territory until they reached a connected main building. Bo Xichen ducked into the shadows because he had spotted Bo Qing. In such a place, only Bo Qing and Song Jia, who was by his side, wore no masks, making them stand out, appearing sowhat out of place yet exceptionally distinguished. At this mont, Bo Qing seed sowhat anxious. He hurriedly lifted a small bamboo curtain and slipped inside, with Song Jia following him.
Bo Xichen lurked in the shadows, his eyes deep and dark. Inside the bamboo house, Gu Anxi lay on her side, her face pale. Bo Qing had already examined her. Her injuries were severe, however, and he had no choice but to summon the "doctor."
Lifting his robe, Bo Qing sat down and gently brushed her face, his voice low. "Anxi, how are you feeling now?"
Gu Anxi turned over to lie flat, a faint smile on her lips. Even that small movent caused her pain. After a long while, she said softly, "I’m just a hostage. Whether I live or die doesn’t really matter."
"That’s not true," Bo Qing said, his fingers tightening.
Gu Anxi smiled but said nothing more, simply closing her eyes.
Bo Qing then changed the subject slightly. "How did you suddenly get injured?"
As he spoke, Song Jia, beside him, flinched almost imperceptibly. Bo Qing looked at her. "Did you injure her?"
Here, only Song Jia possessed such audacity and ability. A murderous glint flickered in Bo Qing’s narrowed eyes.
Just as Song Jia was about to speak, Gu Anxi laughed softly. "Master, you overestimate her. Could she injure just because she wants to?"
Bo Qing stared at her, not uttering a word. After a mont, Gu Anxi turned her face away. "I injured myself."
"Why?" Bo Qing’s voice was colder than ice.
Gu Anxi remained silent. Only when Bo Qing gripped her shoulder, and the slightest movent sent such intense pain through her that sweat beaded on her forehead, did she react. Bo Qing imdiately withdrew his hand and looked at Song Jia. "You speak."
Song Jia looked at Gu Anxi, who was lying stiffly on the bed, and pursed her lips lightly before saying, "Why would I hit her for no reason?"
Bo Qing was skeptical but ultimately said nothing. He rely had soone bring the herbal dicine and prepared to personally feed it to Gu Anxi.
Gu Anxi had drunk this type of dicine countless tis, often administered by Bo Qing himself. He had personally sent her into harm’s way, and then personally tended to her wounds. She was in great pain. Sitting up against the headboard, her face was pale, and she looked incredibly weak. Bo Qing watched her, extending a spoon to feed her.
Song Jia winced at the sight, turned her head away, and finally just walked out. Outside, she kicked at stones to vent her frustration.
She didn’t understand why Bo Qing was so good to Gu Anxi. She knew Gu Anxi only had Bo Xichen in her heart; Bo Qing didn’t even rank among the top eighteen for her, faring worse even than King Jingyao. Yet, he was still so unrequitedly devoted that she found it unbearable to watch.
Inside the room, Bo Qing held the spoon out for a long ti, but Gu Anxi didn’t open her lips. He spoke, a note of displeasure in his voice, "I don’t mind using other thods."
Finally, she was willing to drink. She took small sips, her small face wrinkling at the bitterness. When she had drunk half of it, she refused to drink any more; it was simply too bitter.
Bo Qing’s voice was low. "Drink it all. Your injury is severe."
"It’s fine. It’s not that severe," she said, feigning nonchalance.
Bo Qing suddenly asked, "Your constitution wasn’t this poor before. Why are you so weak now from just a minor injury?"
Leaning back, Gu Anxi, despite the pain, still tried to provoke him. "You’ll have to ask Little Uncle about that."
"You know how it is, a married woman’s body naturally isn’t what it used to be," she rambled nonsensically.
Bo Qing’s eyes turned sowhat cold as he said, "It’s not as if you’ve given birth."
He continued to try and feed her the dicine, but she truly couldn’t stomach it. Her lungs felt as if they were churning. So, after swallowing another mouthful, she suddenly spat it all out.
Bo Qing was not spared, but he, ever the elegant man, gently wiped the splattered dicine from his face and sighed faintly. "I’ve called the ’doctor’. He’ll have a way."
Gu Anxi’s heart pounded as she carefully observed Bo Qing. Could Bo Qing possibly know Bo Nianyao’s true identity, or was he just feigning ignorance?
As she hesitated, Bo Qing gently helped her lie down. He was about to leave.
But Gu Anxi suddenly grabbed his wrist.
Bo Qing paused, his handso, deep-set black eyes lowering slightly. "What’s wrong?"
Her voice was strained. "Master."
Bo Qing sat down again by her bedside, gently placing his hand on her small head. His voice was husky, "Nothing will happen. And in the future... I won’t let you get hurt again."
Gu Anxi lay there, quietly watching him. After a long while, she said softly, "If you were a good person, if you were just my Second Uncle... I could wish you a Happy New Year and ask for red envelopes from you every year. I could even watch you marry Second Aunt."
"Stop talking," Bo Qing said, displeased.
Gu Anxi gently pulled his hand, her voice choking slightly. "Second Uncle, don’t you miss life in Si Garden? Do you really hate Father Bo, Little Uncle, Mother Bo, and Aunt Bo Jin? Do you really want them all to die?"
A chill seeped into Bo Qing’s eyes. "Is this what you wanted to talk to about?"
Gu Anxi shook her head. She said quietly, "Master, you once asked if I was willing to stay with you... Is that offer still valid?"
She gave a faint, distant smile. "To stay here forever, never taking a step outside, just to accompany you, Master."
Bo Qing exhaled deeply, his gaze filled with pity as he looked at her. "But you know what Master wants, and that’s sothing you cannot, and are unwilling to, give."
What was she even saying? That she was willing to stay with him? It was rely like keeping company with old n like Old Master Bo and Old Lin. He didn’t even rank higher than King Jingyao in her heart. What was the point of that? Bo Qing didn’t want to force her. He himself wasn’t particularly interested in won; what he sought was rely her wholehearted devotion. Her words, however, made his heart ache even more.
After a mont, Bo Qing rose and left.
Once he had gone, Gu Anxi let out a long breath and pushed herself up.
Damn it! I tried to feign weakness, but I genuinely have no strength left. Song Jia’s palm strike to my shoulder hadn’t been too severe; the main issue is the injury to my lungs.
She narrowed her eyes. If it weren’t for Zhou Yunchen’s sake, and if Song Jia weren’t still sowhat useful, she’d have pierced Song Jia’s lungs by now...
She sat up for a mont but couldn’t maintain the posture and lay down again.
Suddenly, a dark figure appeared beside her. She looked up in surprise.
Then, her eyes widened, and she gasped, "Little Uncle?"
Her voice was a re whisper, as if afraid of shattering a dream.
Bo Xichen squatted down, looking at her through his mask.
Gu Anxi grew anxious. She tried to get out of bed, but the slightest movent made her forehead break out in a cold sweat from the pain.
"Don’t move," Bo Xichen said softly.
Gu Anxi humd in agreent, lying still. After a mont, her small hand restlessly touched his mask. "Why are you dressed like this?"
Bo Xichen reached out and touched her small head. "I couldn’t have gotten in otherwise. How bad are your injuries?"
"My lungs are inflad." She rested her small head in his palm, murmuring, "Little Uncle, I feel a bit miserable."
He knew that such an injury wasn’t just ’a bit miserable’; it had to be excruciatingly painful.
Even if he wanted to take her away now, it was likely impossible. Her body couldn’t withstand the strain, let alone navigate the Dark’s heavy security.
Bo Xichen’s voice was gentle. "The ’doctor’ will be here this afternoon."
Gu Anxi was surprised.
After a mont, she blinked slowly. Then, as if rembering sothing, she said, "Bo Qing also has plans for the eastern front. Even if Beicheng achieves a successful interception, those on the eastern front won’t be able to escape. The only way now is to shut down the control system. From what I’ve observed, only Bo Qing and Song Jia have the passwords."
Bo Xichen’s voice was asured. "So, you an..."
Footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the door. Gu Anxi only had ti to quickly say, "Song Jia is Zhou Yunhua, Zhou Yunchen’s sister."
Bo Xichen was surprised.
Gu Anxi grew frantic. "Little Uncle, you have to leave first! I’m fine; I have dicine to keep alive."
Bo Xichen’s large hand paused for a mont. The footsteps were drawing very near. After a slight hesitation, he leaped out of the window.
Just as he left, the door was pushed open. It was none other than Song Jia.
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