When Li Shuang met Jin’an’s gaze, a touch of bitterness mingled with the tenderness in her heart. She stroked his head without speaking, fearing her hoarse voice would only make Jin’an more distressed.
The prison cell fell silent for a moment. Wu Yin stood to the side watching, and seeing Jin’an’s calm demeanor, he cleared his throat gently. “General Li…” However, as soon as he spoke, Jin’an’s eyes suddenly turned to fix upon him.
The moment his gaze left Li Shuang, his eyes grew dark and turbid. On his bare chest, the flame markings slowly expanded, burning as they crawled up toward his neck.
“Jin’an.” Li Shuang called his name softly, her voice barely above a whisper, but loud enough for him to hear. She turned his face toward her, forcing him to look at her. “It’s alright.”
The chaos in Jin’an’s eyes seemed to settle at Li Shuang’s steady voice. After a moment, he raised his hand again, touching the wooden board around Li Shuang’s neck, remaining silent.
Wu Yin sighed. “It seems we can’t remove the chains yet.”
As he said this, Li Shuang spoke simultaneously: “Give me the key.”
“…” Wu Yin rubbed his brow. “I’ve heard that you military commanders are bold… General Li, as I mentioned earlier, he is…” Wu Yin paused, noting that Jin’an showed no reaction to him now, before continuing, “Even though you’re now the Gu Master, his condition remains unclear. It’s best not to be careless.”
“I understand.” Li Shuang’s voice was hoarse but her words were firm. “Give me the key and leave first.”
So she intended to lock herself in this room with the Jade Silkworm Gu.
Wu Yin raised an eyebrow, examining Jin’an’s current state. The boy was only frowning at Li Shuang’s neck, gently stroking it over and over, showing no signs of aggression.
Perhaps it would be good to let the Gu Master stay alone with the Jade Silkworm Gu – the master’s presence would gradually calm his inner turmoil.
Wu Yin took out the key from his sleeve and placed it on the ground. “I’ll wait outside the door, not far away.” With these words, he withdrew and closed the heavy iron door.
Hearing the iron door lock from outside, Li Shuang finally lowered Jin’an’s hand and went to pick up the key.
As she went to retrieve it, Jin’an watched her intently. Restricted by the chains, he raised his hand, unable to reach her but making a gesture as if trying to support her neck.
Li Shuang turned back, saw his posture and expression, and couldn’t help but smile. “My head isn’t going to fall off.”
Speaking softly, she walked back and naturally helped Jin’an unlock the fetters on his feet and neck. After removing the chains, Li Shuang saw that the skin around Jin’an’s neck had festered in a ring.
Li Shuang frowned.
As soon as she showed this expression, Jin’an withdrew his hand, covering his neck and averting his gaze from her. It was as if he feared his ugly wounds would frighten her.
“I’m dangerous,” Jin’an said. “You should chain me up again…”
Li Shuang ignored his words and simply stood up, turning away.
Jin’an watched her back for a moment, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. It was right for her to leave. For so many days, so much time, he had barely been able to control his body, feeling as if he had become a fireball, flames burning all over him, scorching out all the killing intent and murderous qi from the depths of his heart.
He wanted to break free from all restraints and bonds, to kill everyone who came near him. He wanted to go far away – in his subconscious, he vaguely sensed there was a place that could quiet him, a person who could cool his boiling blood.
But when he saw this person yesterday, he hadn’t recognized her and had instead hurt her.
Jin’an no longer had any confidence in his self-control.
So Li Shuang should leave him, the further the better. She shouldn’t see him, and he shouldn’t see her – not when he was this hideous and frightening…
“Bring me some medicine, his wounds need treatment.”
Li Shuang’s voice rang out from the doorway. Jin’an started, somewhat disbelieving as he watched her silhouette while she discussed what medicines were needed with Wu Yin outside in her hoarse voice.
Shortly after, Wu Yin opened the door to hand in clean water and medicinal salve, then closed it again.
Li Shuang took the items and returned to crouch before Jin’an, asking him to lift his chin so she could clean his neck wounds, then carefully applied the medicine.
As a general accustomed to fighting battles and wielding swords, she wasn’t quite able to master the gentleness needed for such tasks. Her touch was often too heavy, making his wounds sting more.
Jin’an remained silent, obediently enduring it. Compared to the tumultuous emotions in his heart, this minor physical pain barely registered.
“Aren’t you afraid of me?” Jin’an asked her.
Li Shuang gave him a calm look. “Why should I be?”
“I hurt you.”
“You just lost control for a moment.”
“What if… I still can’t control myself?” As Jin’an spoke, his emotions began to rise, and as his heart rate increased, the flame markings on his chest began to spread again.
“Aren’t you doing fine right now?” Li Shuang patted his head. “Want to rest for a while?”
Her demeanor was so calm that Jin’an’s agitation had nowhere to go. After a moment, she patted her leg, and Jin’an hesitantly lay down, resting his head in her lap.
“Get some sleep,” Li Shuang said softly, leaning against the wall. “You must not have slept well last night. I need to rest too.”
Jin’an carefully placed his head on her lap, worried his weight might hurt her. But Li Shuang’s hand kept gently stroking his head, her touch as soft as the most gentle spring breeze, warm enough to intoxicate.
All his anxiety and those sharp edges he had built up inside and out were easily smoothed away by Li Shuang. Her scent surrounded him, her skin against his, her warmth – everything filled him with peace.
His head grew heavy on Li Shuang’s lap, and under her soothing touch, he gradually fell asleep.
Li Shuang continued stroking him for a while and noticed that after he fell asleep, the wounds on his ankles began healing at a visible, rapid pace.
Li Shuang was startled, finally understanding why she had never suspected they might be the same person before.
On those many nights when the adult Jin’an came to help and save her, he always had various injuries, but the next day when he became a child again, all his wounds would be gone.
Such terrifying healing speed was probably unimaginable to ordinary people.
Li Shuang sighed, thoughts turning to the future. If Jin’an couldn’t be separated from her like this, what would become of him when she returned to court, surrendered her military authority, and married the emperor?
How could she arrange for his care? And… before becoming a Gu person, who was Jin’an? What was his true identity?
Amidst all these questions, Li Shuang leaned against the wall and gradually grew drowsy. There was nothing to fear about the future. She had rushed all this way to save his life. And now this person was still lying safely in her arms. No matter what the future held, at least she hadn’t failed in her initial purpose.