Chapter 117: Are You Really That Afraid I’ll Die? (7,000)

Although his kiss was overbearing and intense, Jin'er could seemingly sense the restlessness and concern hidden within it. With a helpless sigh in her heart, she reached up to gently embrace his waist, tenderly returning his kiss.

Sensing her response, Mo Yan felt a surge of joy. Knowing she was comforting him, his inner unease vanished instantly. His originally aggressive kiss softened, transforming into something obsessive yet cherishing.

His tenderness and caution made Jin'er’s heart tighten, stirring an even deeper sense of pity for him. She curved her lips slightly, leaned in closer, and boldly sought more from him.

Feeling her passion, Mo Yan was filled with an indescribable delight, holding her as he kissed her until the world seemed to spin around them.

After a long while, they finally pulled apart, breathless. The interior of the carriage was dim, yet Mo Yan could still clearly see the flush on her face and her hazy, bewildered eyes—a sight truly and utterly alluring.

"You should be thankful I am severely injured; otherwise, seducing me like this would lead to a very miserable outcome," Mo Yan chuckled ambiguously, hooking her chin with his finger.

Jin'er smiled, pinched his finger to remove it from her chin, and raised an eyebrow, unyielding. "And who is in the most miserable state right now?" As she spoke, her gaze flickered downward to a certain part of his lower body, her face wearing a mischievous smirk.

Mo Yan followed her gaze and understood her implication. He threw his head back with a helpless laugh, nodding to himself. "Very good." He lowered his head again, pinching her soft cheek dotingly. "You little vixen, you’re becoming truly wicked."

Jin'er’s eyes crinkled with laughter. She shook her head triumphantly, adopting the tone of a pedantic scholar. "Not at all, not at all. As the saying goes, one who stays near vermilion gets stained red; one who stays near ink gets stained black."

Mo Yan chuckled and bit his lip, shaking his head in defeat. Yet, he truly adored this side of her.

After chatting and laughing for a while longer, the two lay down to rest.

Outside the carriage, by the campfire, Liu Ye lay on his back, hands pillowed behind his head, staring blankly at the moonlit, star-speckled sky.

Though he could not hear the specifics of their conversation, he could hear the sound of their laughter. Those joyous tones reached his ears like countless fine, sharp silver needles, piercing his heart repeatedly.

So, this is how painful it is to love someone. If he had a choice, he would truly rather return to the person he once was—devoid of emotions and desires, incapable of feeling heartache or sorrow.

Even now, he could not fathom how someone as cold and nearly numb as he had been could ever cross paths with a complete stranger like her, and step by step, reach this point today.

Did Heaven intentionally arrange for them to meet, turning him into her enemy while making it impossible for him to control his love for her, just to punish him? To punish him for his excessive bloodshed?

As soon as this thought emerged, Liu Ye couldn't help but laugh silently. The fact that he could even come up with such a reason was absurd. Yet, using it to comfort himself seemed not entirely unwelcome.

After a bitter, silent laugh, he closed his eyes. Though he desperately wanted to sleep, rest eluded him for a long time.

The next day, the group continued their journey to the Imperial Capital without a moment’s rest. They were not far now; at their current pace, they would arrive in three days.

Inside the carriage, Mo Yan sat with his back against the wall, one leg bent and the other stretched out, eyes closed in meditation.

"Eh? Why is your hair black again? Wasn't it fire-red yesterday?" Jin'er, sitting beside him, suddenly leaned over and curiously tugged at a small lock of his long hair, asking in confusion.

Mo Yan opened his eyes, turned his head, and caught her off guard with a quick kiss on her slightly parted, surprised lips.

Jin'er blushed, glared at him, and grumbled, "I'm asking you a question, all you do is take advantage of me."

Mo Yan grinned, pulled her into his arms, and said, "When the Fire Spirit erupts, hair color changes along with it. Yesterday, when you channeled the Fire Spirit within you, your hair changed color as well."

"Oh?" Jin'er’s heart leaped with joy. She quickly looked down at her own hair, only to find it was now the same pure, ink-black as his.

"It will change back. Once the Fire Spirit subsides, the hair color gradually returns to normal." Mo Yan rested his chin on the top of her head, his hand absentmindedly stroking her arm as he held her.

Hearing this, Jin'er pouted in disappointment. "Aww! I thought it could last as long as I wanted." What a pity—a completely natural and free dye job, tsk, tsk...

Seeing her sigh in frustration, Mo Yan chuckled softly, lifting his chin from her head. "What? Do you like red hair that much? Isn't black better?"

Jin'er pursed her lips. "Black is so ordinary. Changing to a different color would definitely be eye-catching."

Hearing this, Mo Yan amusedly hooked her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "You think you aren't eye-catching enough already?" Every time he saw other men looking at her with infatuation, he wanted to gouge their eyes out.

"It's not that, I just think you look very handsome with red hair." Jin'er’s eyes curved into crescents, though she thought to herself, who would ever complain about being too beautiful? It was like no one complaining about having too much money. If she could change her hair to red, she would surely be as enchanting as a spirit, right?

*Hee hee*, next time she would try to trigger it herself. Even if it didn't last long, she could still enjoy it—think of it as getting a temporary hairstyle at a salon.

Just as she was daydreaming, Mo Yan asked with a smile, "You like my red hair?"

"Yes," Jin'er nodded earnestly. "You look absolutely like an enchanting monster in that state."

Mo Yan burst into laughter, delighted by her unreserved praise. "I have never heard someone use 'enchanting monster' to describe a man's beauty, but it doesn't sound half bad." With that, he leaned down and pressed a heavy kiss to her lips, creating a soft "pop" sound as a reward.

However, Jin'er didn't appreciate the gesture. Her face flushed, she subconsciously glanced at the side window and whispered, "What are you doing?! What if someone hears us?!"

"What are you afraid of? Could it be... that you're afraid that Liu Ye outside will hear?" Mo Yan intentionally raised his voice when he said the name "Liu Ye."

Outside the carriage, Liu Ye, who had deliberately ridden his horse to the very front to avoid hearing their laughter, still could not find peace. It was his own fault for having such keen hearing...

When Mo Yan deliberately emphasized his name, he became curious about what they were discussing. But then, remembering the sound of the kiss that had caused him such distress moments ago, he felt an indescribable ache in his heart.

Inside the carriage, Jin'er hurriedly punched Mo Yan, blushing with annoyance. "If you say that again, I won't talk to you!" She bit her lip, annoyed, and tried to get up to leave, but Mo Yan tightened his arms, blocking her path with his body.

He tilted his head slightly and lowered it slowly, his thin lips lightly brushing against her cherry-red ones. He didn't kiss her, but gazed into her beautiful eyes, his heavy breath fanning across her nose and lips.

Jin'er found it hard to resist such seductive ambiguity. She tried to pull her head back, but the wall of the carriage was behind her, leaving her nowhere to hide. She could only stare at him in discomfort, her heart racing, not daring to even breathe.

"You are not allowed to ignore me." His thin lips moved, gently grazing hers, causing both their breathing to deepen.

Jin'er swallowed hard, unable to help herself. She now fully believed that the phrase "a beauty is a feast for the eyes" was not invented out of thin air. With such a handsome man before her, her saliva secreted uncontrollably—wasn't that exactly how people reacted in the face of delicious food?

Just as her thoughts drifted, her lips were suddenly pressed, and the next moment, that familiar tenderness began to swirl between their lips and teeth.

Her heart tightened slightly, and Jin'er slowly closed her eyes. With no other distractions in her mind, she wholeheartedly embraced the wonderful sensation he brought her.

A long time later, the two finally pulled apart, breathing slightly heavily. Jin'er licked the lingering fragrance from her lips, shyness overcoming her as she buried her head in his chest to calm the heat and restlessness in her body.

It had to be said that her body was far too sensitive. Ever since their intimacy, even just being held and kissed by him was enough to cause her body to react in this maddening way.

Just as she was feeling frustrated, Mo Yan kissed the top of her head, his hand stroking her back in a way that felt soothing. She closed her eyes, enjoying his caresses like a cat.

"I forgot to tell you earlier: those with a high level of Fire Spirit can control their hair color." Mo Yan’s voice, filled with a faint smile, came from above.

Jin'er opened her eyes wide, pulled away from his embrace, and asked joyfully, "Really?"

Mo Yan nodded. "As far as I know, besides me, the Emperor and the Grand General can do it too. Perhaps there are others, but it seems no one likes red hair, so everyone usually presents themselves like normal people."

"Tsk! They really don't know how to appreciate it. If it were me, I would change colors every now and then."

Mo Yan smiled, tapped her nose, and said, "I'll teach you how to try it when we have time."

"Okay!" Jin'er nodded like a pounding mortar, filled with anticipation.

***

Two days later, the group arrived at a forest on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. Twilight had descended. Considering they had been traveling day and night for the past two days with little rest, the horses were exhausted, so everyone decided to rest there for the night, planning to make the final dash to the Imperial City the next day...

As they neared their destination, Jin'er felt a growing sense of unease. Since the assassination attempt had failed, why had the Empress and her faction made no further moves? Could it be they were just waiting for them to deliver the Crown Prince?

On second thought, the Crown Prince was in their hands; even if the Empress wanted to kill him, she would be powerless. Yet, was she not afraid of them returning to face the Emperor?

In truth, Jin'er didn't quite understand. If the Crown Prince wanted her, he could have just sent people to steal her away, so why mobilize so many troops? If it was just rage, it wouldn't explain why he had killed those two million Imperial Guards, or why he was determined to get rid of Mo Yan as well. That was a capital offense...

Suddenly recalling that nearly half of the Imperial Guards had defected, Jin'er’s brows furrowed in shock. Could this be a struggle for the throne? But Mo Fan was already the Crown Prince; was there any need to eliminate Mo Yan?

Jin'er found this idea hard to grasp, yet she couldn't help but worry for Mo Yan. She turned to look at him, seeing him poking the fire with a stick, his brows slightly knit as if deep in thought. It seemed he wasn't entirely unaware of it either.

She wanted to ask him, but looking at the many people around, she had to let it go.

Just then, Mo Fan shouted that he needed to relieve himself.

Shi Yuan gave him a cold glance, stood up to unseal his acupuncture point, and dragged him aside, accompanied by the commander of the Imperial Guards.

Although Mo Fan’s movement restriction was lifted, he had been struck on another point on his back that prevented him from using his internal energy. Even if he wanted to escape, he wouldn't get far before being easily caught.

Walking behind a bush taller than a man, Mo Fan glanced back at Shi Yuan and the commander a few paces behind. He cursed, turned back, began to unbuckle his pants, and squatted down.

Shi Yuan, holding his sword, stood with arms crossed, staring unblinkingly at the bushes.

Suddenly, the sound of several powerful projectiles cutting through the air, "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh," rang out. Shi Yuan and the commander’s expressions sharpened, and they dodged with lightning speed.

The sharp arrows grazed their noses and necks; a hair’s breadth closer, and they would have been dead.

Shi Yuan and the commander were experts, yet they hadn't sensed anyone approaching. This meant the attackers were very far away and possessed the skill to hit a target from a hundred paces.

Before they could think further, more arrows whistled toward them. The two blocked with their swords, their peripheral vision catching Mo Fan pulling up his pants and running forward. At the same time, a group of men in black rushed out from the opposite side, clearly intent on rescuing him.

The two gritted their teeth, dodging the relentless arrows while chasing after Mo Fan.

Mo Yan and the others nearby heard the commotion. Realizing something was wrong, they rushed over.

Jin'er ran a few steps, then suddenly stopped. She looked at Liu Ye, who remained motionless, hesitated, and said, "Could you please help?"

Hearing this, Liu Ye glanced up at her, then lowered his gaze again.

A wave of disappointment washed over Jin'er. She took a deep breath and turned to chase after the others, but then she felt a black shadow flash past her like the wind. Stunned, she looked at the spot where Liu Ye had been sitting, but he was gone.

A warmth blossomed in her heart. She didn't dwell on it and turned to give chase. However, by the time they arrived, Mo Fan was already protected by the men in black, who had mounted horses and were fleeing rapidly under the escort of several guards.

"Chase him! Don't let him get back!" Mo Yan shouted loudly.

Seeing Mo Fan escaping and hearing the urgency in Mo Yan’s voice, Jin'er knew that if he escaped, Mo Yan might be in grave danger. Gritting her teeth, she forced her Fire Spirit to erupt, cut down the few men blocking her path, and used her light-body skill to chase after Mo Fan.

"Jin'er, don't!" Mo Yan cried out in alarm, but Jin'er did not stop.

Mo Yan was frantic, but his wounds were severe, leaving him temporarily unable to shake off the men in black surrounding him. Looking aside, he saw Shi Yuan was also tied down. Gritting his teeth, he ignored his splitting wounds and unleashed his ultimate technique.

A dazzling crimson aura surged outward like a tide. Amidst screams and the sight of countless figures being blown away, blood trickled from the corner of Mo Yan’s mouth. He didn't care; he turned to pursue Jin'er, but more men in black immediately surrounded him, blocking his path.

Glaring at them, Mo Yan gritted his teeth, endured the stifling pain in his chest, and gripped his sword. Fire Spirit sparked along the blade, and ignoring the flicker of fear in their eyes, he roared and slashed at them like a madman.

On the other side, although Jin'er’s light-body skill was good, the time delay meant she couldn't catch up to them. As the distance between her and Mo Yan grew, she became anxious and uneasy.

Just then, she sensed something flying past her. The next moment, the horses galloping ahead suddenly let out a shrill, pained neigh and collapsed to the ground simultaneously.

The riders were caught off guard and tumbled off. Although they reacted quickly enough to avoid being crushed by the rolling horses, they still tumbled clumsily on the ground.

Jin'er paused, realizing someone had come to her aid. She didn't stop to see who it was and charged forward. However, before she could get close, countless arrows flew toward her.

Her heart tightened. Before she could react, she felt a grip on her waist, and her body was spun violently. She watched as a cold arrow flew past her nose, carried by a chilling gust of wind.

A cold sweat broke out on Jin'er’s back, and her heart constricted. Coming to her senses, she realized the person was holding her tightly with one arm while using the other to deflect the arrows with a sword.

Glancing at the familiar black attire and the faint fragrance emanating from him, Jin'er knew without looking at his face that it was Liu Ye. An odd sensation rose in her heart.

But seeing him hold onto her tightly while the Crown Prince had already escaped a considerable distance, nearing those who had come to rescue him, Jin'er felt both anxious and angry.

"Let me go! We can't let him escape!" Jin'er snapped, trying to pry his large hand off her waist.

Liu Ye frowned, his arm tightening around her. "Do you have a death wish?!" He knew without looking that there were many reinforcements on the other side; what good would it do for her to charge in like this?

He vaguely heard a large group of men approaching rapidly in the distance. This was a head-on confrontation, not the ambush he had launched the other day. Even if they all charged together, they would likely be no match for the enemy.

Seeing Mo Fan back on a horse, fleeing with a group of men in black, and the arrows slowing to a trickle, Jin'er knew chasing was pointless. She turned her anger toward Liu Ye. "The people have already run away, are you still not letting me go?!"

Deflecting the last arrow, Liu Ye finally released her.

Jin'er stepped back, looked at Mo Fan’s retreating figure, and then at the "ice-face" before her. She wanted to scold him, but remembering he had just saved her life again, she swallowed the words.

"Is the poison in your body completely cured?" Having finally found a moment of privacy, Liu Ye had many questions, but after a long pause, this was all he could ask.

Jin'er raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a half-smile. "Are you concerned about me? Saving me time after time—are you that afraid of me dying?"

Liu Ye’s brows furrowed slightly, and he turned his gaze away, his heartbeat skipping a rhythm.

Jin'er saw his nervousness and felt a strange sense of satisfaction. She stepped forward to stand before him, looking up at his cold, handsome face softened by the moonlight, and said with a cold laugh, "Don't think that just because you saved me, I will give up on my revenge."

Hearing this, Liu Ye felt a pang of pain. He slowly brought his gaze back, staring intently into her charming apricot eyes, and a faint, cold smile curled his lips. "You don't think I saved you over and over just because I'm afraid of you seeking revenge, do you?"

Jin'er’s thick lashes fluttered, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes. She bit her lip, not knowing how to respond. After a long while, she managed to say, "Then why did you save me?"

"Don't forget, I went through a lot of trouble to save you in the first place. I just don't want that effort to go to waste."

Jin'er chuckled lightly. "Then why did you save me back then?" He was talking in circles and avoiding the point.

Sure enough, Liu Ye was stumped. Taking a silent breath, he turned away, standing with his hands behind his back, intending to stop engaging in this pointless question.

Why save her? Who knows what madness had possessed him back then.

"Jin'er!" Just as Jin'er was about to press him further, Mo Yan’s voice came from behind. Turning around, she saw Mo Yan sprinting toward them.

His face was pale, covered in blood, and there was still dried blood at the corner of his mouth. Jin'er’s heart tightened, and she hurried to meet him.

"Are you okay?" they asked in unison.

"I'm fine, what about you?" Mo Yan looked her over nervously, terrified she might be injured.

"I'm fine, too. It's just a pity he escaped," Jin'er said, annoyed, before looking worriedly at his bleeding wounds.

"If he's gone, he's gone. As long as you're safe," Mo Yan sighed, reaching out to pinch her cheek in frustration. "You're not obedient at all. I told you not to chase, and you chased anyway."

"Wasn't it you who ordered the chase?" Jin'er rubbed her cheek, which was stinging from his pinch, and pouted.

"My order was for Shi Yuan and the others, not for you! You silly woman! If you had charged in alone and something had happened, what would you have me do?" Mo Yan grew angrier as he spoke, and as soon as he finished, his throat grew hot, and he spat out a mouthful of dark blood.

"Ah! Are you alright?" Jin'er was startled, her heart jumping to her throat. His old wounds hadn't healed, and now he had gone through another fierce battle; she feared his body couldn't take it.

"I'm fine, just a bit of damage to my heart meridians," Mo Yan said, pretending to be relaxed.

"Just a bit of damage to your heart meridians?!" Jin'er emphasized the word "just" in disbelief, speechless at his nonchalance.

Mo Yan smiled, chose not to dwell on it, and turned his head.

Seeing Liu Ye staring at them, his cold eyes showing a hint of something unusual, Mo Yan dropped his smile, stepped forward, and said, "Thank you for arriving in time to save Jin'er."

Although he deeply suspected Liu Ye had other intentions toward his Jin'er, one thing was one thing; he wasn't that petty.

However, Liu Ye gave a cold snort and turned his face away in disdain. What a joke—he hadn't saved Jin'er for his sake, so why would he need his thanks?

Mo Yan turned back, feeling a bit awkward. Seeing Jin'er smile helplessly at him, his irritation dissipated.

Just then, the sound of fighting could be heard in the distance—the direction where Mo Fan had fled.

Mo Yan and Jin'er exchanged a look and rushed forward together. Liu Ye stood in place for a long time, brows furrowed, before finally following them.

When they arrived, they were surprised to find Mo Fan and the men in black surrounded by a large group of imperial soldiers. The disparity in strength was so vast that even if they fought to the death, they wouldn't be able to escape.

Mo Yan looked at a familiar figure on a tall horse across from them and let out a long sigh of relief. His earlier worries vanished, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

The person across from them saw Mo Yan and the others, pulled the reins to turn his horse, and rode over, bypassing the encirclement. By now, Jin'er had also recognized the man—it was Mo Yan’s good friend, Zi Mou. She felt a surge of joy, thinking she wouldn't have to worry too much about what would happen next.

In the blink of an eye, Zi Mou rode up, stopped in front of Mo Yan, and dismounted, walking over with long strides.

Under the bright moonlight, he could easily see that Mo Yan was severely injured. He frowned and shouted, "How did you end up in such a sorry state? Where are your men?" As he spoke, Zi Mou glanced at Jin'er and then behind them; seeing only the cold man, he realized there was no one else, and a trace of shock flickered in his heart. He marveled that the Empress and her faction were indeed capable.

He had been secretly keeping an eye on the Empress and the Crown Prince for some time, but hadn't noticed anything unusual until two days ago, when he heard that the Crown Prince’s personal shadow guard had gone to see the Empress in a panic. After some digging, he learned of the attack on Mo Yan.

Suspecting the Empress had made the first move, he consulted his father. Then, hearing that Wang Lin had secretly taken many men out of the city, he had quickly led a group of elite soldiers, following them from a distance.

Mo Yan looked ahead, seeing that Mo Fan had been captured, and turned to tell Zi Mou what had happened.

"That was close. If the Crown Prince had been rescued, the Empress wouldn't have any constraints, and the consequences would be unimaginable," Zi Mou said, frowning in fear.

Mo Yan nodded, patted his arm, and said with gratitude, "It's a good thing you arrived in time."

Zi Mou smiled, and just as he was about to speak, he heard the sound of a carriage approaching. Looking over, he saw Shi Yuan and Xiao Die arriving.

The group reunited, and without further delay, they escorted Mo Fan and the others back to the Imperial City through the night.