I drifted in a sea of darkness.
In the haze, I heard Xiao Yuchen's voice:
"A Rou, you can't die..."
It hurt so much...
It felt as if all the blood in my body was on fire.
"Lord, no!"
Gu Yao's voice was filled with terror.
"If you use the Forbidden Technique, it will shorten your lifespan!"
"It doesn't matter." His voice was unusually calm.
"As long as she can live..."
No! I wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
Suddenly, a more intense burning sensation surged through me.
It felt like someone had ignited a fire within my body.
"A Rou," his voice grew closer,
"Come back..."
I opened my eyes wide.
The first thing I saw was his pale face.
"You’re awake."
He smiled with relief.
"What did you do?" I asked weakly.
He didn't answer, only gently stroked my face.
But from the whiteness of his hair, I understood the answer.
"You bastard!" I cried out in anger.
"Why did you use the Forbidden Technique?"
"Because..." he wiped away my tears.
"I couldn't bear to see you die."
"But you'll shorten your life!"
"Is it worth it?" he chuckled.
"If it can save your life, it's worth sacrificing any amount of my own."
I threw myself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Stop crying," he said, holding me close.
"Don't let the life I've fought so hard to save be wasted on tears."
"Then you have to promise me," I said through my sniffles,
"that you won't do this again."
He remained silent.
"Promise me!"
"Alright," he replied reluctantly.
Just then, Gu Yao rushed in, "My Lord, it's bad!"
"What happened?"
"Luo Ruyan... has surrounded the Ninth Prince's palace with her people!"
Xiao Yuchen's expression changed dramatically.
"She said... she wants to kill the Ninth Prince to avenge her mother."
"That madwoman!" he gritted his teeth.
"Hamu," I grasped his hand tightly.
"Let me go with you."
"No!" he refused firmly.
"You just woke up..."
I struggled to sit up.
"And I'm no longer the defenseless Embroideress I once was."
"Let me help you."
Finally, he nodded.
"Fine. But you have to promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"If things go wrong, leave immediately."
"Why should you be the only one risking your life?" I protested.
"Am I not capable?"
"A Rou..."
"This time, it's my turn to protect you," I interrupted him.
"Don't say no."
He smiled helplessly, "You..."
Outside the Ninth Prince's palace, flames soared into the sky.
Luo Ruyan, dressed in red, held a long sword.
"Come out!" she shouted at the tightly shut door.
"Let me see you, the murderer who killed my mother!"
" Luo Ruyan," Xiao Yuchen said coldly.
"Hamu?" She turned around and her gaze turned icy upon seeing me.
"You’re still alive?"
"Sorry to disappoint you," I smirked.
"You wretched woman!" She lunged forward with her sword.
Xiao Yuchen stepped in front of me.
"Are you really going to protect her?" Luo Ruyan gritted her teeth.
"Protect the daughter of an enemy?"
"I'm just correcting a mistake," he replied.
"The mistake your mother made."
"Bullshit!" she screamed.
"It was clearly the Ninth Prince's scheme that led to my mother's death!"
"No," Xiao Yuchen shook his head.
"Your mother chose her own path to death."
"You're talking nonsense!"
"The truth about how the Former Emperor was poisoned has already been confessed by your mother," I said.
"Including the reason for the death of my entire family."
Luo Ruyan's expression changed dramatically.
"Your mother, in her quest for power and revenge, betrayed everyone," Xiao Yuchen said.
"Even you."
"No... it can't be..."
"She used your feelings for me to make you commit unspeakable acts," he sighed. "And you were completely oblivious."
"Shut up!" she screamed hysterically.
"I don't believe it!"
"Believe it or not, it's up to you," he replied coldly. "But today, all of this ends."
"Fine," she suddenly sneered. "Then let's end it together!"
She pulled out a red porcelain bottle from her sleeve.
"What is that...?" Xiao Yuchen's face changed drastically.
"Tian Can Gu!"
"That's right," she said triumphantly. "This is a highly toxic concoction from the southern region. Even you can't neutralize it!"
"You've gone mad!" he shouted.
"This will ensure that everyone meets a terrible end!"
"So what?" she laughed maniacally. "I have nothing left to lose anyway!"
As she spoke, she was about to smash the porcelain bottle.
I suddenly rushed forward.
"A Rou!" Xiao Yuchen tried to stop me, but it was too late.
I snatched the bottle from her and uncorked it. A strange red mist poured out.
"You..." Luo Ruyan looked at me in shock.
I smiled at her, then downed the contents of the bottle containing the Gu Worms in one gulp.
"No!"
Xiao Yuchen's desperate voice echoed in my ears.
But I couldn't afford to care anymore.
Inside me, those Gu Worms were gnawing wildly at my internal organs.
It hurt...
Yet... it seemed like these Gu Worms were afraid of something...
Suddenly, a thought struck me.
Xiao Yuchen's blood...
Not only did it grant me the power to control poison, but it was also altering my constitution.
Could it be...
I closed my eyes and focused my mind.
I tried to control those Gu Worms with sheer willpower.
Gradually, the pain began to subside.
The Gu Worms actually submitted!
"Impossible!" Luo Ruyan screamed.
"How could Tian Can Gu...?"
I opened my eyes and met her terrified gaze.
"Because I not only have his blood, but also his heart."
"No... this can't be..." Luo Ruyan staggered back.
The Gu Worms within me had completely submitted,
and I could even sense their closeness to me.
"Do you know?" I stepped forward slowly.
"You made one critical mistake."
She looked at me warily. "What?"
"You shouldn't force him to use the Forbidden Technique to save me."
That Forbidden Technique not only saved my life but also allowed me to inherit Xiao Yuchen's bloodline power.
"Enough." He suddenly grabbed my arm. "Stop playing around."
"Why?" I asked, confused. "Shouldn't she pay the price?"
"Not this way." He frowned. "The Gu Worm is too dangerous."
"But..."
"Listen to me."
I bit my lip and eventually nodded.
"Hmph." Luo Ruyan suddenly laughed. "What a great performance."
"What?"
"You two star-crossed lovers," she sneered. "It's just a show for my benefit!"
" Luo Ruyan," Xiao Yuchen warned, "that's enough."
"Why should I stop?" she shrieked. "At this point, what else is there to say?"
"What do you want to say?" I stared at her.
"Do you really think he loves you?" she scoffed. "He's just repaying a favor."
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