Chapter 28: It Hurts

Ji Yunhe updated Luo Jinsang on the things that had happened in the Demon Valley. Luo Jinsang listened silently.

"Forgive me, Yunhe. I can help you steal the medicine no problem. But stealing that fish… he is so big!"

Ji Yunhe did not intend on having Luo Jinsang break Changyi out. She knew it would be an impossible task. She had no idea how to take him away either.

"Yunhe, why don't you cooperate with Lin Haoqing. If you guys can kill Lin Canglan, then you will be free to search for the antidote. Plus Lin Haoqing also promised you freedom."

Ji Yunhe shook her head. "It's too risky. For one thing, I don't know if Lin Haoqing is that capable, and for another... I can't tell what kind of person Lin Haoqing is right now."

"What do you mean?" Ji Yunhe looked at Luo Jinsang and laughed.

"First of all, he could be swindling me into attacking Lin Canglan so he himself could stand on the sidelines. Lin Canglan would then see my treacherous ways and get rid of me. Secondly, even if he really did kill Lin Canglan, there's still no guarantee that he would keep his promise to let me go. If he could kill his own father, what would stop him from killing me?"

"True... but, he is not afraid of you telling Lin Canglan?"

"Lin Canglan is conceited and arrogant. He's always wanted Lin Haoqing to be like this. Someone he raised with his own hands, don't you think he'd have an idea? If Lin Haoqing really did kill him someday, that old man would probably be very proud. And as long as Lin Haoqing doesn't make a move, he will just let him be. To that old fox, this Demon Valley belongs to both father and son. Also..."

Ji Yunhe paused, "Lin Haoqing is certain that I will not tell Lin Canglan."

"Why?"

"My disgust for Lin Canglan, no one understands it better than Lin Haoqing."

Ji Yunhe could not help but laugh at herself. This was why Lin Haoqing said she had changed. She became as ugly as him because of her disgust and hatred for one man.

Calculating, deceitful, and switching from side to side. She wanted vengeance, but did not want to sacrifice anything of her own. It was truly shameful to look at.

"Every choice is wrong..." Luo Jinsang frowned.

"So other than getting rid of both father and son, there is no good solution?"Ji Yunhe did not respond. Luo Jinsang's eyes suddenly twinkled.

"Hey wait! Isn't there still Princess Shunde and the Grand Master of the imperial court? We can use them!" Luo Jinsang pulled Ji Yunhe's hands with excitement.

"Out of the three wishes, only the last one is left! Just tame the jiaoren, give him to Princess Shunde, let him send a message and tell her that Lin Canglan's been defying the law for years, using demons to make drugs..."

The antidote that Lin Canglan was giving Ji Yunhe had been refined from those demons. Ji Yunhe never planned on telling Luo Jinsang about the poison. But one time she did something wrong and Lin Canglan did not give her the antidote, Luo Jinsang happened to return right when she was suffering in her room. So she found out.

"Have the jiaoren tell them about these things and drag Lin Haoqing into it. The court hates demon masters who do things behind their back, both father and son are bound to be reprimanded. And then you can openly take the seat of the Valley Master," Luo Jinsang said. "By then, you will be truly safe and free."

Ji Yunhe turned her head and stared at Luo Jinsang.

"You hang out with a monk every day, and this is what you learn from him? Plotting and scheming?" Luo Jinsang froze then took a step back.

"Not from him... He barely even talks to me... These methods are common in the valley, people using tamed demons to send some good words in their favor..."

Yes, it could not be more common. But she never wanted Luo Jinsang dabbling in these things. And she definitely did not want to use Changyi...

"If I send the jiaoren to the palace, what about the jiaoren? What about him?" Ji Yunhe asked Luo Jinsang.

"Are you going to go to the palace and rescue him from Princess Shunde, under the watchful eye of the Grand Master?"

Luo Jinsang froze again. She, like many demon masters, did not see this matter from the demon's point of view at all.

"I'm... I'm unable to think of any other way..."

Ji Yunhe sighed. "Anyway, just help me keep an eye on Lin Canglan for now.

He has to hide the antidotes somewhere. First we get the antidotes, then we can plan our next step."

"Okay, I'll go and watch him right now."

Luo Jinsang's body slowly faded away. Ji Yunhe roughly put on her jacket and walked to the door.

"Hey? You're not going to rest for a while?" Luo Jinsang's voice came from thin air.

"No time for a break yet."

Ji Yunhe went outside. She headed straight for the dungeon where Changyi was being held. When she arrived outside the cell, she dismissed all the guards standing around and walked in alone.

Changyi was still sleeping.

Calm and relaxed as if none of the conflicts outside had anything to do with him. Ji Yunhe looked at his face, and in an instant, all the chaotic thoughts racing through her mind went quiet. The big-tailed fish was so talented in making people feel at ease, thought Ji Yunhe.

She sat down next to Changyi and placed his head on her lap, trying to make it more comfortable for him. The blue eyes opened. He looked at Ji Yunhe, blinking to disperse the haze from the first awakening.

"You're here."

Ji Yunhe felt as if they were not meeting in a dungeon. It was like he just woke up in the mountains to greet an old friend who had come to visit.

"Mhm."

Changyi sat up and moved slightly then stiffened. His hands touched the legs covered by Ji Yunhe's jacket. He did not lift that layer of clothing, and just felt his legs through the fabric. Ji Yunhe felt a pinch inside her heart.

"Changyi... I am sorry."

But Changyi had no sorrow or pain on his face. "I don't blame you."

"I know, but..." Ji Yunhe also gently put her hand on his leg.

"I am still sorry... It must hurt..."

"Mhm," Changyi nodded honestly, which made her feel even worse. Changyi suddenly moved the tip of his nose. He did not dwell on the topic of his legs anymore.

"I smell blood?" He leaned over and sniffed gently at Ji Yunhe's neck, his slightly cool breath brushed against her hair and skin. Ji Yunhe shifted a bit to the side. Changyi wrinkled his brows.

"Are you injured?"

"Just a small wound."

"The scent of blood is strong."

Ji Yunhe moved her lips, and what flashed in her mind was the image of Changyi hanging on the wall last night. How could her injuries be considered bloody in comparison...

"It's okay, just a flesh wound."

"Does it hurt?"

Ji Yunhe instinctively wanted to say no, but when she met his gaze and saw his sincerity, she suddenly felt that it was unnecessary to act tough and strong.

"It hurts."

Unprecedentedly, the iron walls and steel fences around her heart opened up a crack and allowed some vulnerabilities to show through.

"It hurts very much."

She did not cry in pain previously because it was not worth it. But now, she saw him as someone worth crying to.

Changyi raised his hand with some difficulty. It landed on the top of her head, then followed her hair down, stroke after stroke, earnest and meticulous.

"Touch it and it will get better." Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi, feeling the slight coolness of his fingertips.

Sigh...

This big-tailed fish was really too easy to fool. Then she felt like she too was probably a fool. If not, then why did her injuries really seem to heal under his touch?