Chapter 70: Support, Returning Home…

Galloping at full speed, Liu Shen suddenly felt a sharp tug at his heart, as if a cold, ominous shadow enveloped him—he sensed death lurking just a breath away. He barely had time to glance back; instinctively, he pressed Pei Xueyan in his arms down, shielding her with his body. His own descent was not swift enough: a piercing pain shot through his shoulder.

A razor-sharp arrow burst through his shoulder, spraying a mist of blood into the rain-soaked air. Had he not pressed Pei Xueyan down, the force behind that arrow would have easily pierced through her as well, killing them both in one merciless stroke.

The pain was unbearable, intense enough to make his vision blur and his eyes redden with agony.

“Liu Shen!” Yu Shan stared wide-eyed, stunned as he watched Liu Shen nearly topple from his horse behind Pei Xueyan. Only then did he realize the arrow had come from behind.

Yu Shan’s expression was frozen; the words he’d spoken moments ago—“I swear to keep you safe”—echoed in his ears, burning his face with shame. To break his promise was worse than death.

Behind them, Zuo Shaosong saw his arrow strike true and flashed a cold smile. He kicked off his stirrups, vaulting with agile grace onto the galloping horse’s back, then launched himself forward like a bird of prey.

“Villain, where do you think you’re going!” Yu Shan heard the shout behind him. He hurled the scabbard in his hand at the haunches of Liu Shen’s horse.

The startled horse reared and bolted, hooves pounding faster than ever. “Go! Hurry!” Yu Shan roared, yanking his reins. His own mount reared, and he vaulted high, rushing headlong into the fray.

He recalled the hardships of the past days with Liu Shen—the disdain when told Yu Shan was cursed, the bold cry, “My fate is mine, not Heaven’s,” and the fearless roar in the Thousand Leaves Hall. Now, seeing the martial artists from the Four Realms approaching with graceful leaps, Yu Shan felt something stir in his heart, as if he’d grasped a truth from the ether.

“This move… I’ll call it…” he murmured. Then, his demeanor changed entirely; his face twisted with ferocity, eyes bloodshot, and he bellowed, “My fate is mine, not Heaven’s!”

With that thunderous cry, he slashed his blade through the rain. The blade’s aura tore the downpour as if it were tangible.

Zuo Shaosong’s face shifted. He braced his palms, summoning the protective energy unique to Four Realms martial artists above his head.

The blade’s force struck his shield with a deafening boom. Rain recoiled, water exploded outward, leaving a vacuum in their midst.

Yu Shan staggered back, blood trickling from his lips, only steadying after several steps. Zuo Shaosong retreated as well; though uninjured, his face was full of suspicion and caution. “You’ve reached the Fourth Realm?”

“Thanks to you!” Yu Shan grinned, spitting blood. “I lingered in the Third Realm for some time, but recent battles granted me insight.”

Zuo Shaosong’s gaze sharpened. He laughed and asked, “Still trying to buy time for your friend?”

He paused, his tone mocking. “You may not know, but I never shoot an arrow unless I'm certain. That arrow just now... was poisoned.”

“Bastard!” Yu Shan’s veins bulged, fury blazing at Zuo Shaosong’s taunts. He brandished his blade and charged.

“Come, then!”

...

“Liu Shen!” Pei Xueyan looked back, seeing blood streaming from Liu Shen’s shoulder, and wept uncontrollably.

Liu Shen’s face was as pale as gold foil; his lips moved with difficulty. “I’m... fine. Just a scratch,” he whispered.

He had used the Heaven and Earth Lifespan technique three times in the hall, exhausting his spirit and energy. His head throbbed as if churned by steel blades.

Now, with an arrow wound and a scratchy throat, his consciousness faded. He longed to collapse and sleep.

But reason told him it was not yet safe—if he closed his eyes now, he might never open them again.

In the rainy night...

The frightened horse ran wildly down the road, mile after mile, never allowed to rest—each pause met with another blow.

Only when the exhausted animal stumbled, foaming at the mouth, unable to rise, did Liu Shen let it be.

Pei Xueyan’s hands were scraped raw from the fall, but she tore a strip from her skirt to bind his wound, crying all the while.

They walked on foot.

At first, they supported each other side by side. As they walked, Pei Xueyan ended up carrying Liu Shen’s arm, his weight leaning heavily on her.

Seeing Liu Shen drained of strength, his body burning with fever, Pei Xueyan’s worry deepened.

He was gravely wounded and burning with fever after a night in the rain.

“Liu Shen, don’t sleep, you mustn’t sleep…”

“Day is breaking, we’re almost in Heyang.”

“We’re nearly home. You can sleep when we get home, all right?”

“It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have made you come to Xiyang. It’s all because of me. I was stubborn and insisted… It’s my fault…”

“Don’t leave me, please? I’ll be your wife... I’ll bear your children... I…”

With tears streaming down her face, Pei Xueyan kept talking to Liu Shen, fearful he might collapse and never wake. She was terrified of losing him again.

They walked for an eternity...

Day broke, and the rain stopped.

Pei Xueyan, soaked in mud, saw hope ahead and cried out excitedly, “Liu Shen, look! That’s the county town ahead—we’re back, we’re home!”

Liu Shen felt as if fire burned within him, his eyelids heavy as stone. Hearing Pei Xueyan’s voice, he summoned his last strength to lift his head.

Seeing the familiar town in his blurred vision, the breath he’d held seemed to release; consciousness slipped away, and he collapsed.

“Liu Shen!” Pei Xueyan’s face went white with panic; she quickly blocked his fall with her body, biting her lip as she tried to lift him.

She was barely as tall as Liu Shen’s chin, untrained in martial arts, hardly strong enough to lift a chicken.

His weight bore her to the ground, covering her in mud, yet she found strength from somewhere, biting her lip and struggling to rise, half-dragging, half-carrying Liu Shen toward home.

“I’ll take you... home…”

“I’m still waiting for you... to marry me in three years…”

“If you die, I’ll... go with you…”

Pei Xueyan no longer cried; her small frame erupted with astonishing strength as she dragged Liu Shen, whispering words that sounded like vows.

She fell again and again, but each time, she got up, inch by inch hauling the unconscious Liu Shen into town.

The Song family home was close to the south gate. The few from the Qingsha Gang, tasked with watching the Song family, lounged outside the gate, chatting idly.

Suddenly, one of them, as if seeing a ghost, nudged his companion. “Look at those two—isn’t that the Young Mistress of the Song family and our Hall Master Liu?”

The others glanced over, pupils contracting.

The pampered Young Mistress was caked in mud, her delicate hands bloody, carrying the obviously wounded and unconscious Hall Master Liu.

“That’s not just ‘like!’ It’s them!”

“Trouble! Quick, quick!”

They snapped to attention, tossing aside their snacks and sprinting over. As they helped, they explained, “Don’t worry, Young Mistress—we’re from the Qingsha Gang.”

“Qingsha Gang…”

Pei Xueyan, seeing Liu Shen taken by their hands, finally relaxed. Before she could say anything, her head swam and she collapsed in a faint.

“To the clinic! Take Hall Master Liu and Young Mistress to the clinic, hurry!”

“Notify the boss!”