Chapter Seven, The Pain of Parting (Part One)

Zhou Fei closed her mouth in confusion and grievance

He dropped this sentence and hurriedly turned around, escaping with a bamboo basket on his back, his steps surprisingly a bit awkward. The young poison doctor passed through the swaying shadows of the trees in solitude, with the corpse of his enemy behind him, yet he remained indifferent and could not feel triumphant.

Ah Fei, Xie Yun said, "When I previously mentioned making you the Princess of Duan, I was just joking with you, not being serious..."

Zhou Fei exclaimed, "There is no need to say more, I do not believe it!"

The sky is vast and the earth is deep, with no boundaries between the north and the south

Having just eliminated a formidable opponent, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief, momentarily forgetting the treachery of human nature. Upon hearing her words, he recalled that this might indeed be a viable option. His face, which always seemed to lack flavor and substance, momentarily blanked, appearing even more drained. Zhou Fei understood; this fellow's scheming was not ordinary. It required a deep-seated hatred to sustain it for a while. Thus, she no longer bothered to test him further and picked up the pill, asking, "Why is there only one?"

When he wandered aimlessly, finding himself in an unknown inn, sitting alone under a solitary lamp, Xie Yun had countless times imagined when and where he would die, and where he should be buried to return to his homeland. As he pondered these thoughts, he could not help but feel a deep sadness. At this moment, he finally sensed the impending end, yet suddenly felt a profound calmness within.

"I only know how to take revenge," he said, "I do not save people. They call me 'Poison Doctor,' and I am not... not a disciple of the Medicine Valley. Do you have any other matters?"

As for what to do: "It must be done, but it has to be something within my capability. For instance, if you ask me to resolve the poison of the Bone Blue, that would be impossible. I have already mentioned to you before that he has little time left. Today, he forcibly used his internal energy to clear the blocked meridians, which only exacerbated the poison and the injury. No one can suppress it—anyway, I cannot do it. There is a Bodhisattva temple two miles from here; I suggest you go there to pray, as there might be hope."

Zhou Fei carrying a knife weighing around 100 to 120 pounds is not a big deal, but carrying a person with long arms and legs is quite strenuous, making it very difficult. Gritting her teeth, she said: "Shut up!"

Xie Yun called out: "A Fei ... ... "

Zhou Fei listened to this brazen boast and coldly asked, "What a bold claim; are you not afraid that I will take the antidote and kill you right now?"

Zhou Fei was momentarily at a loss for words

Meeting by chance, we are all guests in a foreign land

The once beautiful carved railings and jade steps have changed, can they still be considered a hometown, apart from the unwilling memories?

Zhou Fei said sternly: "Stop dreaming, who said they would do ... ... "

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

"Afei." He called her name in his heart again, always feeling that she could hear him

Xie Yun then wrapped his thin arms around her shoulders, and in a daze, he felt as if he caught a faint floral scent, mingling with the fragrance of soapberry from her neck, creating a unique aroma that was both clean and understated. He became somewhat lost in thought and slowly said: "The Zhao family's empire, by the time it reached my grandfather's generation... that is to say, the late emperor's time, was already leaking from all sides. Many issues had become entrenched and difficult to resolve. This vast nation resembled an old relic on the verge of collapse, teetering precariously. My grandfather was an emperor born at the wrong time, who dreamed of finding a path to rejuvenation. He worked tirelessly day and night, governing diligently to the point of exhaustion. He stubbornly enforced his whimsical reforms in the court, eliminating many who stood in his way."

He no longer rummages through his memories of the gradually fading old capital, nor does he dwell on the splendid and flourishing Jinling, and he does not even think about the school where he grew up since childhood

And then gradually losing sight of the path ahead and the way back, gradually no longer troubled by the disturbances of the mortal world

Xie Yun wrapped one hand around to her front, exploring her face for a moment. Indeed, he did not feel a trace of moisture, and then he smiled and said: "Alright, beauty, I do like your heart of iron that remains unyielding even in death... Please let me down first, as I would like to say a few words to you"

Ying Hecong, accustomed to regarding others with disdain and apprehension, said without changing his expression: "I have been making this bottle of dew for three years, and I have never had the opportunity to use it. If it weren't for you forcing Chu Tianquan into a corner, with my meager skills, I would have been discovered by him as soon as I entered the forest. I thank you, so this time I will not harm you"

Xie Yun's eyelids felt somewhat heavy, so he did not open them, greedily leaning against the warm and soft body of the young girl, still unaware of where he should go. He continued to speak in a barely audible voice: "Every nation, every family, every faction, and every individual has their own destiny, and all things have their end. Young Master, this is nothing to worry about."

Xie Yun felt a dull ache in his chest from being pressed against her not-so-generous back, and could only helplessly whisper in her ear: "A Fei, you said that if you were me, even if ultimately the effort fails, you could still close your eyes and stand tall twenty years later... After hearing this, I believed it. Now, if it doesn't succeed, it simply doesn't succeed. What happened to your promise of standing tall? If I really end up crying, that would be breaking your word and gaining weight."

Zhou Fei: "This time?"

Upon hearing her words, his already thin lips lost all color, and his dark eyes seemed unable to contain the pain of his wandering existence. Because every word from Zhou Fei struck him like a whip, mercilessly lashing against him, he could only stiffen his back, trying to make his posture of "taking the beating" appear somewhat presentable, and said slowly and deliberately: "Indeed, I am the heir of the Great Medicine Valley, but I do not know how to heal. Even my skill in using poison is quite mediocre, as I was unlearned in my youth, always sneaking out to play while my master lectured on pharmacology. After the three thousand classics of the Great Medicine Valley were pillaged by Lian Zhen and Wen Qu, they were reduced to ashes, leaving only me, an unworthy disciple."

At that moment, Zhou Fei's heart, which had been lifted high, seemed to crash back down from thirty-three heavens, creating a large hole in her chest, as the northwest wind arrogantly and wantonly rushed in, subduing her wandering soul. Zhou Fei bit down hard on her tongue, using the slight taste of blood and pain to calm herself. With one arm around Xie Yun and the other picking up the Miao knife that had just fallen, she said with a forced smile, "The poison doctor has a hidden agenda, a clever tactic."

In the end, it turns out that where my heart finds peace is my hometown

The sun in Yongzhou sank below the mountains, its afterglow fading into solitude, while the white mist in the mountains grew increasingly dense

And suddenly, she realized that the reality was not like this; no matter how powerful one might be, there will always be certain things that are destined to be unattainable and beyond one's control

Ying Hecong waited for a moment and then said, "If not, then let's discuss it again when you have thought it through later."

Xie Yun felt cold, so cold that he could not feel any pain or itch on his skin. The meridians that had just been forcibly opened by him were now demanding their due with even greater intensity. He was trapped within a frigid shell, enduring the agony of skin being peeled away and muscles cramping, lacking even the strength to voice his suffering. He could only instinctively grasp Zhou Fei's hand, curling up into a tight ball.

He thought that by saying this, he had actually spoken, but in reality, no sound came out. Others could only see his lips move a few times, and the corners of his mouth even held a smile that seemed frozen in place. Zhou Fei was at a loss, half-kneeling on the ground. The last time she felt this way was when Zhou Yitang left the Forty-Eight Stronghold without looking back, separated by a mountain gate.

I want to go with you to the Forty-Eight Villages, to a place... anywhere really, to create a rustic villager, to die as a mountain ghost or a forest spirit, to vent my frustrations on you when I am idle, to run away when I am hit, to run for ten days or half a month, and return when you have calmed down, enduring the daily grievances without complaint

His voice grew fainter and fainter, until in the end it became so indistinct that even he could not hear it clearly, as if it had dissolved into the dreamscape he had envisioned.

Zhou Fei shivered, as if she had plunged into icy water. The thin layer of sweat that had formed while she was running around with the black-clad figures of the Big Dipper quickly evaporated. Xie Yun's grip on her hand was so tight that it felt as if he might crush her bones, but after a moment, he seemed to realize something. He suddenly loosened his fingers, gently gathered Zhou Fei's hand into his palm, and softly reassured her, "It's okay... I'm fine..."

Ying He raised an eyebrow with irritation and said, "Oh really, are you not full?"

Zhou Fei thought in confusion that she must find a path to continue on. Since she could not rely on that useless person, she would keep searching until she found a place that could save her. Whether that place was at the ends of the earth or the corners of the sea, as long as it was within the six directions, there would always be a day when she could reach it

Zhou Fei seemed to have been handed a lifeline, her eyes suddenly brightened, and she abruptly raised her head. However, the next words shattered her hopes.

Zhou Fei suddenly could not bear to listen any longer; she grabbed Xie Yun and with great effort carried him on her back

When Zhou Yitang was about to leave, he firmly instilled the path of the strong into Zhou Fei's heart. Whenever she encountered an insurmountable obstacle, she always felt it was due to her own inadequacy

Because I do not wish to be a 'Duan Wang' either. Xie Yun said softly, 'Having the same title as that fat Cao, even if I am more handsome and elegant than him, it is still not something to be proud of'

He nodded straight-faced and bluntly said: "This time I owe you a personal favor, and I will repay it when the opportunity arises. If you offend me, I will still show no mercy."

Xie Yun finally caught his breath and softly said to Zhou Fei in her arms: "Young Master Ying, could you please refrain from always using such a reverent tone when referring to Tokuqing?"

Xie Yun exerted effort to squeeze Zhou Fei's hand, half-closing his eyes, and interrupted her, saying: "Ah Fei, grievances have their source and debts have their owner; everyone has their own hardships. The deep-seated pain has nothing to do with others. Do not casually poke at others' wounds just because you are feeling unhappy."

"Afei." He called her name in his heart again, always feeling that she could hear him

He walked over slowly, first glancing at Xie Yun, then took out a small medicine bottle from his pocket and poured out a pill, handing it to Zhou Fei: "Hey, here you go."

Zhou Fei vaguely understood this point in her heart, yet she was unwilling to admit it, so she could only refute loudly in a way that was counterproductive. Xie Yun, being exceptionally clever, could discern her true intentions from her 'disbelief'—he immediately realized that she had actually come to believe it.

Zhou Fei held the antidote for the凝露 in her hand, yet she forgot to take it. With a hint of urgency, she turned to He Cong and said: "You just mentioned that you owe me a favor this time, can you resolve the透骨青?"

Is the old capital truly home?

A Fei ... ... "Xie Yun lay on her shoulder, his hand that was originally resting together lost its sensation and unknowingly fell down. He murmured, 'What I just said, mortals are like the mountains and rivers, many things, such as birth, aging, illness, and death ... ... since they are already destined, they are beyond human control ... ... '

No matter how fierce the knife winds blow or how proud and unruly she may be, there will eventually come a time when she is tamed by the world.

Is this not the life of a mortal

People are not afraid of towering strong men, but they fear ghostly apparitions. They are not afraid of ruthless blades, but they dread the invisible poison. Because of this fear, they tend to scorn even more. Over time, an unwritten rule gradually emerged in the martial world—regardless of your background or abilities, as long as you resort to poison, you will be regarded as inferior.

Ying He looked at Xie Yun and said, "He doesn't need it, you can rest assured. The '透骨青' is the most potent poison in the world. With this great Buddha protecting him, he is immune to all poisons. Not to mention taking a single breath of it, even if one were to drink it directly from a sea bowl, it would not harm him."

"Aren't you the heir of the Great Medicine Valley?" Upon hearing this, Zhou Fei became furious. In her desperation, she exclaimed, "Isn't it said that the Great Medicine Valley deals with life and death? Could it be that it's all just empty talk..."

"This is the antidote to the dew," he said ignorantly and cruelly. "Although you are a bit far away, you still have to breathe, and you must have inhaled a little bit."

The mountains and rivers are difficult to cross, who mourns for the lost traveler

Ying Hecong's small red snake lazily propped up a triangular head on his wrist, hissing twice as it flicked its tongue. Then, as if sensing an unfriendly presence, it timidly burrowed back into Ying Hecong's sleeve. Ying Hecong felt that if he took another step forward, Zhou Fei might very well stab him directly, so he wisely took a leaf from his pocket, placed the pill on the leaf, and stepped back a little.

Zhou Fei ignored him

Gradually, the path of arrival and departure becomes unclear, and one is no longer troubled by the disturbances of the mortal world

During his reign, there were two princes who rebelled one after another, and the influx of refugees became a disaster... Among the royal family and the powerful ministers, there was not a single one who shared his sentiments. My father was conferred the title of crown prince at the age of six and spent most of his life in the Eastern Palace. He was a gentle and timid person; he only knew that the late emperor had made mistakes, but he did not understand where those mistakes lay. He wanted to offer advice but did not dare to contradict his sovereign or speak out justly. Every day, he would go back and forth between the late emperor and the court officials, trying to mediate, and whenever he returned to the Eastern Palace, he wore a face of distress. He would engage in frivolous conversations about romance and poetry to alleviate his sorrow, lacking both literary and martial accomplishments, and was even inferior to a young eunuch who accompanied him in his studies... The Zhao family has exhausted its fortunes. From this point on, the map of power has changed, and it is only natural for the royal descendants to head south.

Those homes that feel so constraining will one day become unreachable. Those prescriptions and pharmacology seem to have no end, tedious and monotonous. The lazy child plays tricks day after day, always thinking of starting to study hard from tomorrow, yet is unaware that the most taken-for-granted "tomorrow" can also break its promise.

The苗刀 made a "clang" sound as it fell to the ground. In a state of panic, Zhou Fei could only awkwardly catch Xie Yun.

This is the mindset of a young person in their prime.

Because suddenly, he realized that regardless of whether he could take revenge, the Great Medicine Valley was already gone, its spirit and soul had long turned to ashes, erased by the merciless passage of time, leaving not even a trace of its meager legacy. He was unworthy to consider himself a "heir of the Medicine Valley"; he could only be regarded as a blade of grass on a forgotten grave.

The forest rustles in the evening breeze, the night is scattered and prolonged

She no longer cares about the corpse of Chu Tianquan, the seal of Shendu, or the escaped black-clad man from the Big Dipper