Chapter 46: Gu Yuena’s “Illness”

That night, Zi Ji had yet to return. Gu Yuena explained that Zi Ji had gone looking for Dan Heng and had possibly lost her way.

Dan Heng asked if they should go search for her.

"It's fine, husband. She will return," Gu Yuena smiled, then instructed Zhu Zhuqing to lay out the blankets in the carriage, preparing to rest.

Once the blankets were spread, the three of them lay down fully clothed.

There was plenty of space—Dan Heng on the leftmost side, Gu Yuena beside him—and the entire carriage was filled with the faint fragrances of the two women.

Dan Heng closed his eyes to rest, though he did not actually fall asleep.

Instead, he focused on sensing Gu Yuena's internal injuries.

This matter troubled him greatly.

From his initial assessment, he suddenly realized that he might not be able to heal Gu Yuena at all.

After all, while he had learned some healing techniques later on, they were quite rudimentary—far from reaching the miraculous level of Bai Lu.

However, if Gu Yuena wasn't treated in time, he even suspected that she might be at risk of perishing.

By midnight, the breathing of the two women beside him had become steady.

Dan Heng suddenly sat up and left the carriage.

Outside, the starlit sky was brilliant. Gazing at the vast cosmos from this planet, the beauty of the stars made him somewhat mesmerized.

He wondered, among those shining stars, could there be someone he knew?

Without him, who was managing the intelligence network on the Astral Express now?

Dan Heng shook his head, dispelling his thoughts, and began contemplating Gu Yuena's condition.

Even if their relationship was merely that of bedfellows, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

"Teacher…"

Suddenly, a soft voice called from behind.

Dan Heng turned his head and saw Zhu Zhuqing emerging from the carriage.

She walked as silently as a great cat, approaching Dan Heng with a worried expression. "Was it a Titled Douluo who delayed you from returning?"

Zhu Zhuqing gazed at Dan Heng nervously, fearing that he would confirm her suspicion.

A Titled Douluo within the Star Luo Empire's borders most likely meant that ancient ancestor of the royal family!

If such a person had appeared, would her teacher refuse the Star Luo ancestor for her sake?

Dan Heng shook his head slightly. "No."

"Ah…"

Zhu Zhuqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't, she had nothing to worry about!

"What's wrong?" Dan Heng sensed that she was hiding something.

Zhu Zhuqing quickly shook her head. "N-No, nothing…"

"Actually, teacher, there's something I must tell you… Even though mistress told me not to, I feel like you should know." Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, looking deeply troubled.

Dan Heng watched her, waiting for her to continue.

"When mistress was eating roast meat earlier, she vomited blood… I could feel that, at that moment, her body was in a terrible state. Teacher, you must help her…" Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dan Heng with pleading eyes.

In her heart, her mistress was also an important family member.

Dan Heng nodded slightly and fell silent, gazing at the night sky.

Zhu Zhuqing followed his gaze. The sky was full of dazzling stars, and she suddenly found herself captivated.

Is teacher calming his mind by looking at nature's beauty?

Such a high state of mind… As expected of my teacher!

However, Dan Heng wasn't merely gazing at the sky—he was deep in thought.

"If I go to the Divine Realm, could I find a cure for her? But going there might stir up trouble…" Dan Heng frowned slightly. He hated trouble, and the Divine Realm seemed to dislike him as well.

Back then, he had seen a divine dragon being besieged and, feeling a kinship in their bloodline, had stepped in to assist.

He fought against the gods of the Divine Realm for some time.

Later, he realized that the dragon was a complete lunatic, so he helped the gods seal it away instead.

Despite this, the gods of the Divine Realm still did not welcome him.

If he were to go there seeking medicine now, would he be refused?

"Rustle, rustle…"

From the nearby bushes, a sound arose.

Dan Heng and Zhu Zhuqing both turned to look.

Zi Ji emerged from the foliage, moving stealthily as if afraid to make a sound.

Seeing Dan Heng standing beside the carriage, her face paled, and she asked shakily,"B-Brother-in-law… Why are you just standing there?"

Her heart was full of guilt, wondering if Dan Heng was planning to scold her.

Dan Heng shook his head, ignoring the troublemaking sister-in-law.

Zi Ji took a careful step forward, her toes barely touching the ground.

Like a guilty thief, she crept forward, step by step.

After a few more cautious steps, she saw that Dan Heng wasn't paying her any mind, and she let out a breath of relief, regaining her usual demeanor.

"Hah! Brother-in-law, where did you go? I was looking for you everywhere! How could you come back before me? That's too much!" Zi Ji instinctively scolded Dan Heng, about to continue her complaints.

Just then, a voice came from inside the carriage.

"Zi Ji, is that you? Come in. I have something to say to you."

"!!!"

Zi Ji's face instantly turned deathly pale.

She had deliberately chosen this late hour to return, hoping that everyone would be asleep so she could avoid punishment.

But there was no escaping it, after all?!

Zi Ji felt like crying, dragging her feet reluctantly toward the carriage.

At the doorway, she turned back to Dan Heng and Zhu Zhuqing."Brother-in-law, Zhuqing… You two… aren't you coming inside too?"

At this moment, she desperately wished they would go in together.

Dan Heng and Zhu Zhuqing remained motionless.

A delicate hand reached out from the carriage, grabbing Zi Ji by the collar and pulling her inside.

A moment later, the carriage began to shake slightly.

The red-brown horse, which had been dozing while standing, opened its eyes and snorted.

Dan Heng and Zhu Zhuqing, master and disciple, both smiled subtly.

Listening to Zi Ji's misfortune… was actually quite amusing.

Inside the carriage.

Zi Ji clutched her backside. The shaking earlier wasn't from a beating—Gu Yuena was too weak to hit hard.

Instead, she had pinched her.

On the inner thigh, grabbing soft flesh—anyone would know how painful that was!

And of course, her buttocks weren't spared either.

But since it was Her Majesty who punished her, Zi Ji didn't dare use soul power to resist.

She trembled so much from the pain that even the carriage had shaken along with her.

Her usually seductive eyes were now brimming with tears.

Gu Yuena smiled gently at Zi Ji, speaking softly,"Zi Ji, do you realize your mistake now? How could you wander so far? Did you not know we would worry about you?"

Zi Ji, snot running down her face, looked pitifully at Gu Yuena and nodded repeatedly.

"Sister… I was wrong… Wuu wuu wuu…"

Zi Ji couldn't hold it in any longer. The moment she spoke, her nose started bubbling with snot.

Her usually alluring face now looked completely out of place.

Gu Yuena chuckled softly and said warmly,"As long as you understand. Don't do it again, alright? Sister was really worried about you. There won't be a next time, will there? I wouldn't want to worry about you a second time."

Gu Yuena's voice was gentle, like a caring older sister.

Zi Ji nodded frantically, but she knew in her heart that if she ever made Gu Yuena worry again…

She might not live to see another day!

(End of chapter)