Xiao Yingtao let go of Xing Zizhou. She pressed her small hand to his forehead to check, and grew so anxious that even her breathing became somewhat rapid.

When Xing Zizhou opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Xiao Yingtao’s anxious gaze. He blinked, reached out his large hand, and gently touched her small face.

“Xiao Yingtao, you came to see me?”

He blinked, his gaze unfocused, as though he had not yet fully woken.

Xiao Yingtao clutched his hand tightly, her face a picture of worry.

“It’s all right. I’ll have Jiu’er come take a look at you. Don’t panic! You’ll be fine.”

Just as Xiao Yingtao was about to set Xing Zizhou’s hand down, he moved quickly and seized her arm.

“Xiao Yingtao, don’t go! Don’t… I don’t want to wake up only to find you gone again.”

“You’re not dreaming.” Xiao Yingtao leaned forward and pulled the blanket over, draping it over Xing Zizhou. “You have a fever. This isn’t a dream.”

“Xing Zizhou, your body is burning up. Do you know that?”

“Look at yourself — you’ve lost so much blood. Why won’t you let a physician examine you? Why won’t you…”

Xiao Yingtao was so worried she was on the verge of tears. All this time, she had thought this man was made of iron, that he was someone who would never fall. She never imagined there would come a day when he fell ill.

“Xing Zizhou, let go of me. I’m going to find Jiu’er. Your body is far too hot. If you don’t get treated, you’ll die.”

She tried twice to push his hand away but could not manage it. Xiao Yingtao’s voice had grown hoarse.

“What’s going on?” Tuoba Keyan heard the noise, stood up, and walked over.

Xiao Yingtao looked back, and though she greatly disliked that face, she still gritted her teeth and said quietly: “He has a fever. Please go ask Jiu’er to come.”

“He’s burning up — his body, his head.”

“All right.” Tuoba Keyan nodded, turned, lifted the curtain, and walked out.

“Xiao Yingtao.” Qiao Mu sat up, her eyes still somewhat bleary. “What’s wrong with Xing Zizhou?”

“I don’t know.” Xiao Yingtao gripped Xing Zizhou’s hand, her face a mess of panic. “His body is burning. I don’t know if he’s close to dying.”

“Qiao Mu, help! Is he really close to dying?”

Xiao Yingtao stared at Xing Zizhou without blinking, overcome with anxiety.

Xing Zizhou’s brow furrowed, as though he had only just fully registered what was happening.

He suddenly sat up and reached back to grip Xiao Yingtao’s cold little hand.

“Xiao Yingtao, why are you here? I’m not dreaming, am I? You came, you’re really here?”

“What are you doing?” Seeing the bandage on his arm soaked through with red, Xiao Yingtao’s brow knitted sharply.

“Don’t strain yourself! What will we do if the wound tears open again?”

“Right — you have a fever. You’re burning. You…”

Before Xiao Yingtao could finish, Xing Zizhou, who had sat up, gave a gentle pull and gathered her tightly into his arms.

“You’re really here. You care about me. Xiao Yingtao, I’m so happy!”

Xiao Yingtao accommodated his injured arm, pushing and struggling against him, trying to free herself from his embrace.

“Let go! You’re hurt — let go now!”

But Xing Zizhou, having pulled her close, had no intention of releasing her.

He held her with one arm, bowed his head, and buried his face in her hair.

“Xiao Yingtao, don’t leave me! Don’t go — never leave me. All right… won’t you?”

The last words had barely left his lips when Xing Zizhou’s body went limp and he released Xiao Yingtao.

Xiao Yingtao’s eyes flew wide open. She threw her arms around the man before her who was about to slide down and held on tightly.

“Xing Zizhou, what’s wrong? Xing Zizhou…”

She held him — held him tightly — as though the slightest loosening of her grip would mean losing him forever.

“Xing Zizhou, don’t die! Wake up! Don’t die! Xing Zizhou, wake up for me, right now! Hurry!”

Feng Jiu’er had not yet drawn close when the sound of Xiao Yingtao’s desperate cries stunned her into a halt.

“Keyan, is Xing Zizhou’s wound very deep?” She turned her head to look, and quickened her steps.

“I don’t know.” Tuoba Keyan shook his head. “I wasn’t there at the time. I only found out afterwards that he had been injured.”

“Understood.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and quickly reached the tent’s entrance, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

Inside the tent, Xiao Yingtao was holding Xing Zizhou and sobbing uncontrollably, while Qiao Mu stood nearby looking utterly helpless.

“Jiu’er, you’re here — hurry! Take a look at Xing Zizhou’s condition.”

Seeing Xing Zizhou’s face flushed so deeply red, combined with Xiao Yingtao’s weeping, even Qiao Mu was beginning to wonder whether Xing Zizhou was truly close to death.

Hearing Qiao Mu’s words, Xiao Yingtao gently eased Xing Zizhou down, looked back, and immediately shifted aside to make room.

“Jiu’er, look at him quickly. Is he going to die? He won’t say anything anymore… sniff…” Xiao Yingtao couldn’t hold back another sob.

Feng Jiu’er reached out and felt Xing Zizhou’s forehead, then immediately drew a small pill from her sleeve.

“Stop crying. He won’t die. Go prepare water and a cloth.”

“All right.” Xiao Yingtao drew a deep breath and gave a firm nod as she rose to her feet.

Jiu’er had said he would not die, so she believed it.

“Qiao Mu, do you have water? Give me a little — I need to get this medicine down his throat.”

“Let me prepare the water and cloth.” Qiao Mu reached for a water pouch nearby and placed it in Xiao Yingtao’s hand.

Xiao Yingtao nodded, turned, and settled back beside Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, what can I do to help?” Xiao Yingtao asked, her voice still rough.

“Help me get this medicine into him. It’s a fever-reducing pill — he must swallow it.” Feng Jiu’er placed the pill in Xiao Yingtao’s palm.

“If the high fever doesn’t break, even after I’ve pulled him through, his mind won’t be as sharp as before.”

Feng Jiu’er was not in the mood for jokes. By her conservative estimate, Xing Zizhou’s temperature was at least forty-one degrees, perhaps even reaching forty-two.

This man — he never stopped until his body reached its limit. Did he not know that people worried about him?

Feng Jiu’er shook her head, set Xing Zizhou’s injured arm flat, and gently began unwrapping the blood-soaked bandage.

The hand holding the pill was still trembling, but Xiao Yingtao could not afford to waste any time.

Setting down the water pouch, she leaned forward and pried open Xing Zizhou’s mouth with one hand, then with the other carefully placed the pill inside.

“Xing Zizhou, swallow it. Please.” She cradled his head, and careful not to disturb Feng Jiu’er’s treatment, kept her voice as low as possible.

“Xing Zizhou, swallow it. Jiu’er says you must.”

Seeing no response from him, Xiao Yingtao gently released his head, picked up the water pouch, and twisted it open with effort.

Carefully tilting a small amount of water into Xing Zizhou’s mouth, Xiao Yingtao’s voice rose again.

“Xing Zizhou, wake up. Swallow the medicine and then go back to sleep. Xing Zizhou…”

Xiao Yingtao gently shook Xing Zizhou’s uninjured shoulder, but the water she had just poured into his mouth slipped from the corner of his lips.

Watching his throat remain completely still without any swallowing movement, Xiao Yingtao bit down hard on her lip and shook his shoulder again.

“Xing Zizhou, wake up! I’m begging you, wake up! If you don’t swallow that medicine, you’ll become a fool.”

“I don’t want you to become a fool. Wake up for me, right now.”