#31: Man-Made Disaster (4)

The next day, when Yao Yin woke up, her first words were: “Where’s Zi Chen... Zi Chen... Is he still alive?”

“Don’t move. Your wounds haven’t fully healed.” Hua Jun Yan sat by the bed, using a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her palms and forehead, and said faintly, “Zi Chen is being looked after by Wen Ren Tong Tian, so you can rest assured.”

“How can I rest assured? Zi Chen became like that because of me, how can I be at peace?” Yao Yin struggled to get out of bed, pulling back the covers only to find that she had been changed back into that embarrassing inner garment. But she had no mind for such things now. All she wanted was to find Zi Chen.

Hua Jun Yan looked at Yao Yin’s anxious expression, knowing that persuasion was useless. He took a cloak from the rack and draped it over Yao Yin, then picked her up horizontally. As he walked, he said, “It’s cold outside. I’ll take you there.”

“Where?” Yao Yin froze, stiff in his arms, not daring to move.

“Aren’t you worried about Zi Chen?” Hua Jun Yan countered.

“...” Yao Yin’s heart tightened. Thinking of Zi Chen, she felt another wave of sadness. She buried her head in Hua Jun Yan’s shoulder, letting him carry her in and out until they arrived at another courtyard.

Unlike the main hall’s quiet solitude, the side courtyard was bustling with people. Maidservants carried basins of blood in and out, everyone’s face clouded with worry and gravity. After all, people of the demon realm were skilled at harming others, but terrible at saving lives. Yao Yin struggled to get down, but Hua Jun Yan held her tightly, making it impossible to move.

“Don’t go and cause more trouble. With Tong Tian there, you can rest assured,” Hua Jun Yan comforted her.

“No! I must stay by Zi Chen’s side!” Yao Yin adamantly refused, declaring that she would go into the room and stay with him no matter what. Hua Jun Yan, helpless, could only carry her inside.

The room was full of people. Wen Ren Tong Tian and two other witch doctors were gathered around the bed, meticulously cleaning every knife wound on Zi Chen’s body, little by little. His eyes were wrapped in several layers of thick gauze, but faint streaks of crimson could still be seen.

Upon seeing Hua Jun Yan’s arrival, everyone immediately cleared a path. Hua Jun Yan gently put Yao Yin down, and she immediately staggered forward, kneeling by the bed and tightly gripping Zi Chen’s hand. She felt his body become warm, his pulse normal, and her heart settled slightly. But then, a torrent of guilt swept over her again. In an instant, tears streamed down her face, and she sobbed uncontrollably by the bed.

Hua Jun Yan watched all of this, unmoved. But when he saw the dense, shocking knife wounds on Zi Chen’s body, he couldn’t blame Yao Yin for crying like this.

“Most of the injuries are superficial flesh wounds, but his eyes...” Wen Ren Tong Tian shook his head and sighed.

“Gouge out mine and give them to him!” Yao Yin interrupted him, her expression agitated, “My eyes were originally Zi Chen’s! He suffered so much for me, I cannot take his eyes again!”

Wen Ren Tong Tian suddenly understood. Hua Jun Yan also guessed what had happened.

Wen Ren felt sympathy for Zi Chen and concern for Yao Yin, but these eyes were already gone. How could the Master allow Yao Yin to lose her eyes again?

“This...” Wen Ren Tong Tian was a bit troubled. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. Killing was easy, but saving lives was not so simple, especially when Zi Chen was an immortal. Wen Ren Tong Tian glanced at Hua Jun Yan, who raised an eyebrow and said, “Since his life is no longer in danger, there’s no big problem. Eyes are dispensable for him.”

“I’d rather be blind myself than owe him this debt!” Yao Yin said anxiously.

“Perhaps this is what he’s meant to repay? Besides, for ordinary people, eyes are crucial. For immortals, the guardian stone in their body is their inner eye. The inner eye sees far more clearly than physical eyes. Why don’t you cut open his heart and see?”

“Cut open his heart?” Yao Yin’s eyes widened, staring blankly at Hua Jun Yan, unsure how to respond.

“I was joking.” Hua Jun Yan shrugged and smiled, “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, and you shouldn’t overexert yourself. I’ll take you back first.”

“I’m not going back! I’m staying here with Zi Chen!” Yao Yin held Zi Chen’s hand, shaking her head resolutely. The warmth of Zi Chen’s hand flowed into hers, making her feel as if something had quietly taken root and sprouted in her heart...

“Young Lady Yao Yin, please go rest first. Zi Chen is with me here, you can rest assured,” a pleasant female voice said. Yao Yin then noticed Xiao Qing standing beside them. She saw a smile on Xiao Qing’s face, but her hands, hanging by her waist, were veined with blue. From this small detail, Yao Yin could tell that although Xiao Qing was speaking to her with a smile, she likely resented her deeply.

“You are... from that night...” Yao Yin’s eyes widened abruptly, looking questioningly at Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing nodded generously: “Yes, Zi Chen and I have been in love for many days.”

Yao Yin didn’t understand love between men and women, didn’t understand what jealousy was, but whenever she thought that if Zi Chen were on the verge of death, and the person by his side was Xiao Qing instead of herself, she would feel a tightness in her chest. No matter whom Zi Chen loved, or who he was with, she wanted to be by his side. Just as he had been by hers.

“I’m not leaving. I’m staying here with him.” Yao Yin shook her head firmly again.

Hua Jun Yan sighed, saying, “Wen Ren Tong Tian, take care of Yao Yin. I’m going to check on Li Luo.”

“Yes,” Wen Ren Tong Tian nodded.

“Hua Li Luo isn’t dead yet?” Yao Yin suddenly looked up, her face filled with anger.

“How could the Master, who loves Madam Li Luo so much, bear to let her die?” Xiao Qing smiled triumphantly from the side. It seemed she would say anything to make Yao Yin uncomfortable.

“Li Luo is just a child, you don’t need to be so concerned with her,” Hua Jun Yan said in a relaxed tone, also appearing nonchalant and unconcerned.

“A child? Can a child injure someone to such an extent?” Yao Yin’s knuckles turned white as she tightly gripped Zi Chen’s hand. “I had no connection to you, so why was I tormented like this by her? If it weren’t for her, Zi Chen wouldn’t be like this!”

Just then, the door was pushed open with a “bang,” and a little girl in red burst in fiercely, burying her head in Hua Jun Yan’s embrace.

“Master, I was so scared. I woke up and couldn’t find you anywhere; it was so dark...” The little girl’s face was very pretty, her features well-defined, especially her eyes, which were sparkling and deep, sly, making it impossible to look away.

Hua Jun Yan said dotingly, “Are your injuries healed?”

“With Master healing me, of course they’re healed,” the little girl stuck out her tongue, and looked up, seeing a shocked Yao Yin.

Yao Yin froze, recognizing her only after a long moment, then exclaimed, “You’re Hua Li Luo?!”

“Why aren’t you dead yet?” The little girl, Hua Li Luo, opened her mouth wide, pointing at Yao Yin, speechless for a long time.

“That’s what I should be asking you!” Yao Yin rushed forward, grabbing Li Luo’s collar, and just as she was about to lash out with her fists, her raised right hand was once again grasped by Hua Jun Yan.

“Stop messing around,” Hua Jun Yan said faintly.

Yao Yin turned her head and retorted, “She injured Zi Chen to that state, shouldn’t she die?”

“Zi Chen suffered the harm for you. His injuries shouldn’t be blamed on Li Luo,” Hua Jun Yan’s tone was devoid of emotion, sounding neither happy nor sad. Hua Li Luo, hiding behind him, raised an eyebrow and chuckled, “Exactly! He himself was willing to bear it for you, that’s your problem! Not mine!”

“But my injuries were also inflicted by you without reason! I have no grudge against you, how could you be so cruel? Zi Chen just recently ascended to the upper realm, but he’ll never see again!” Yao Yin truly couldn’t equate this little girl in front of her with the venomous Hua Li Luo. As she spoke, when she saw Hua Jun Yan’s gaze gradually turn cold, she started to feel less confident. Hua Jun Yan’s favoritism towards Hua Li Luo was obvious, and she seemed to have no right to question them. After all, she was only relying on Hua Jun Yan’s indulgence. She herself had no power to seek revenge.

“Regardless of whether you harbored ill intentions towards the Master, now my eyes have been ruined by you too. We’re even,” Hua Li Luo smiled faintly, her face showing great arrogance and triumph. She paused, then added, “Oh, right, aren’t my new eyes beautiful? These are the most beautiful eyes in the Three Realms.”

“Li Luo, stop talking,” Hua Jun Yan interrupted her, saying, “When the eyes’ owner returns, you still have to give them back.”

“That woman’s been dead for so long, how could she possibly come back...” Hua Li Luo rolled her eyes and mumbled.

Hua Jun Yan’s face darkened, and he said coldly, “What did you say?”

“Nothing!” Seeing Hua Jun Yan a little angry, Hua Li Luo quickly shrank her neck and stuck out her tongue.

Yao Yin watched them openly flirting, and grew even more exasperated. Zi Chen lay in bed, his life hanging in the balance, while the culprit was alive and well, parading around with new eyes. Yao Yin clenched her fists, holding back tears. She didn’t want to show a weak side in front of them. She could only secretly resent her own weakness, completely unable to protect herself or the people important to her.

Hua Jun Yan glanced at Yao Yin, looking at the tears poised in her eyes, and said in a deep voice, “To prevent such incidents from happening again in the future, I have something to announce.” Hua Jun Yan walked over, took Yao Yin’s hand in his, and said softly, “There are ill intentions, but it’s not Yao Yin towards me, but me towards Yao Yin.”

As soon as Hua Jun Yan finished speaking, everyone in the room held their breath. Especially Hua Li Luo.

Then, he squatted down, looking at Yao Yin earnestly, “Will you marry me?”

“What...”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Hua Li Luo was struck as if by lightning, her smile frozen on her face, her eyes filled with shock: “How is this... possible?”

“You, you’re not joking, are you...?” Yao Yin chuckled awkwardly, the eyes of everyone in the room staring at her, making her spine crawl.

“I’m not joking,” Hua Jun Yan said earnestly, “I’m serious. As long as you nod, you will be the mistress of Nightfall Palace, my queen. From now on, no, from this moment on, no one shall ever disrespect you again.” As he spoke, a ring appeared in his hand, the very one that had once been on Yao Yin’s finger.

“It represents the supreme power of Nightfall Palace. As long as you nod, it will be yours.”

“Master! You can’t do this, that belongs to me!” Hua Li Luo said excitedly, making to snatch it. Yao Yin subconsciously snatched it back and said, “As long as I wear it, I can do anything I want in the Ghost Tribe, right?”

“Precisely,” Hua Jun Yan replied with a gentle smile, soft as water.

“No! I don’t agree!” Hua Li Luo bared her teeth and lunged forward.

Yao Yin dodged, holding the ring high above her head. She looked at Hua Li Luo’s face, a sinister smile forming, and said, word by word, “I want her eyes.”

“You can.”

“Hua Jun Yan!” Li Luo stamped her foot in anger.

“But not now. When the time is right, I will give you these eyes,” Hua Jun Yan finished, then turned to stroke Li Luo’s hair, saying, “And you, don’t act like an immature child, so impatient and unable to keep your composure when things happen.”

Yao Yin looked at Zi Chen. She saw his eyes wrapped in layers of white cloth, soaked with blood. Just thinking that his eyes were on her, and that he would never see again, made her heart incredibly heavy.

Yao Yin said, “I can’t wait. I want her eyes now.”

“Aren’t your current eyes better than before? Li Luo has already learned her lesson and knows her mistake. She’s just a child, don’t hold it against her.”

“A child again! Her intentions are certainly not small!” Yao Yin pointed at Zi Chen, angrily saying, “Didn’t you say that if I married you, you would grant any request? My only request is for Zi Chen to see again!”

“That’s easy. Cut open his heart, see his guardian soul stone, and you’ll understand everything.”

“He just ascended, where would he get a guardian stone? Aren’t you trying to kill him by cutting out his heart?!” Yao Yin blocked him.

Hua Jun Yan ignored Yao Yin and walked forward, raising his right hand high. His fingernails instantly lengthened, sharp as blades. They were about to touch Zi Chen’s chest.

“Master, don’t!” Xiao Qing knelt down, throwing herself over Zi Chen’s chest, crying, “Please, Master, spare Zi Chen’s life. I am already carrying his child, I beg you! Don’t let my child be born without a father!”

Yao Yin’s tears paused in her eyes, stunned.

“A child?” Hua Jun Yan paused, then retracted his blade, a smile playing on his lips, “This is truly interesting.” Hua Jun Yan thought for a moment, then said, “Alright, since you are pregnant, I shall betroth you to him, how about it?”

“This servant thanks the Master!” Xiao Qing cried tears of joy, kowtowing repeatedly on the ground.

Yao Yin saw Xiao Qing crying tears like falling pear blossoms, seemingly not feigned. The scene from that night floated into Yao Yin’s mind, and she suddenly felt a little stifled... Compared to Xiao Qing, she really seemed to have no right to interfere in Zi Chen’s affairs. But if Zi Chen loved her, then why was he so kind to her?

Hua Jun Yan once again said to Yao Yin, “Now that Zi Chen has someone to care for him, can you marry me with peace of mind?”

Yao Yin was completely immersed in Xiao Qing’s words and ignored Hua Jun Yan. On the other hand, Hua Li Luo was constantly wailing and complaining, “Master, you can’t do this to me! I’ve been by your side for so many years, how can you marry someone else? I won’t agree!”

At this moment, Zi Chen on the bed moved his fingers, his brows slightly furrowed, appearing to be in great pain. Seeing this, Xiao Qing immediately rushed forward, pushing Yao Yin aside, and wiped the sweat from Zi Chen’s forehead. At the same time, she said with concern, “Palace Master Hua, Zi Chen needs rest. Can you and Madam Li Luo please discuss outside?”

Hua Li Luo was about to scold her for overstepping, but Hua Jun Yan didn’t seem to mind. He lifted Hua Li Luo by the collar and carried her out. His movements were similar to how he carried Yao Yin, but with more tenderness towards Hua Li Luo, and Hua Li Luo was very compliant in his arms. After all, they had been together for millions of years, and every movement showed perfect understanding.

Yao Yin then looked at Xiao Qing, who was meticulously caring for Zi Chen. She realized that no matter which pair she looked at, she felt like an outsider. Her continued presence here could be summed up in two words: “superfluous.”

“I’m leaving now. I’ll come back to see Zi Chen later,” Yao Yin said, opened the door, and walked out. Xiao Qing’s eyes, meanwhile, had not left Zi Chen’s side the entire time.

Wen Ren looked at the room full of crying women and immediately felt a headache. He rubbed his forehead and also walked out, only to bump into Yao Yin, who was frozen at the doorway.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Ren Tong Tian asked, confused. Following Yao Yin’s gaze, he saw Hua Li Luo, transformed into a little girl, riding on Hua Jun Yan’s neck, laughing delightedly.

“Are you still going to marry Yao Yin?” Hua Li Luo playfully chided.

Hua Jun Yan smiled and shook his head: “No. If Li Luo says no, I won’t.”

“I knew it, Master is best to Luo’er!”

Their sporadic conversation drifted over, and Yao Yin’s face grew increasingly grim.

“Are you okay?” Wen Ren Tong Tian asked awkwardly, explaining, “They’ve always been like this; we’re all used to it. You’re about to become queen, so don’t worry too much about such things. I can tell the Master treats you differently...”

“Worry? What right do I have to worry? I know my place very well,” Yao Yin interrupted him with a smile. After speaking, she tried to remove the ring from her left middle finger, but found she couldn’t take it off again.

Yao Yin sighed, a self-deprecating smile on her face: “Your games are too complicated; I can’t afford to play them. I only hope that in the future, I can afford to avoid them.” With that, she left alone.