Chapter 168

Seeing that Duanmu Xi turned around without a lingering look, Xuanyuan Mo was flustered and subconsciously wanted to grab her. However, at the thought of her disdainful words for him, he just didn’t dare to touch her. He could only watch that lonely figure go away from his world.

The lightning flashed and the thunder rumbled. Within a blink of an eye, it started to pour with rain.

Xuanyuan Mo stood still in the rain, leaving himself soaked in the rain. He fixed his amber eyes on the place where Duanmu Xi disappeared and clenched his fists with blue veins standing out. Another bolt of lightning flashed by. He was still worried about her and with a flash, he ran after Duanmu Xi.

The cold rain lashed at Duanmu Xi. Very quickly, her clothes were totally wet but she didn’t feel cold at all because her heart was numb with cold now.

“Your Highness.” Seeing Duanmu Xi whose body was all wet walking out of the rain, Phoenix Five was freaked out and hastened to rush over with an umbrella.

Long Yue aside was also startled. He turned to look in some direction in the darkness and slightly knitted his eyebrows.

“Your Highness, why are you alone? Where is Mr. Xuanyuan?” Phoenix Five held the umbrella and stood next to Duanmu Xi while wiping the rainwater off her face with a handkerchief.

Hearing that, Duanmu Xi stiffened and covered her chest. She felt her heart aching so much that she wanted to rip her heart out.

Duanmu Xi waved away Phoenix Five’s umbrella and looked up at the sky. The cold raindrops splashed against her face and her heart. She closed her eyes. The tears streamed down with the cold rain as if only the cold rainwater could ice her pain.

Seeing Duanmu Xi like this, Xuanyuan Mo hiding in the darkness felt so painful that he could barely breathe. His nails sank into his palm deeply. The blood dripped through his fingers, dying the rainwater on the ground red.

Phoenix Five was startled to see Duanmu Xi act like this and approached her with the umbrella again.

“Leave me alone. Don’t follow me.” Her voice was extremely calm but it made Phoenix Five even more fretful and frightened.

Seeing that Duanmu Xi disappeared in the dark rain, Phoenix Five and Long Yue exchanged glances and meanwhile disappeared in situ.

It was dark around without any light. The world was so big but she didn’t know where to go. She just followed her heart and walked forward.

It was still raining. The path in the forest was not smooth. Maybe because she stayed in the rain for a long time, Duanmu Xi gradually became unconscious.

Suddenly, with a slip, Duanmu Xi tripped. She wanted to grab a branch aside but she caught nothing and felt that her body was dropping. She subconsciously covered her belly. At the moment, she was regretful. If anything untoward happened to her baby, she would never forgive herself for a lifetime.

The several people hiding the darkness were all startled to see Duanmu Xi sliding down the slope. Especially Xuanyuan Mo had his heart in his mouth. Phoenix Five, Long Yue and Xuanyuan Mo flew to Duanmu Xi at the fastest speed almost at the same time but a man acted faster than them.

Duanmu Xi felt an arm around her waist and then the next second, she arrived at the flat ground up there. She was instantly relieved and loosened her hand on the belly.

Xuanyuan Mo in the darkness was also relieved that see Duanmu Xi was saved. Upon seeing that man in black, he felt jealous.

When seeing that familiar face, Xuanyuan Mo was slightly surprised, “Lian Zhengyu?” Wasn’t he back to Xuanwu? Why did he appear here?

Lian Zhengyu took off his coat and covered Duanmu Xi’s head with it, “Are you okay?”

His deep voice carried an air of tenderness.

Hearing that, Duanmu Xi shook her head and looked at Lian Zhengyu’s eyes, saying seriously, “Thank you!” If it were not because he showed up in time, her baby might be in danger.

Lian Zhengyu slightly flushed and looked away, not daring to look at Duanmu Xi’s eyes.

“Let me take you over there.” Lian Zhengyu put his coat on Duanmu Xi’s body, carried her in his arms and then flew to a nearby cave.

Duanmu Xi blinked her eyes. They arrived in the cave before she could figure out what was happening.

Seeing that Duanmu Xi was carried away by that man, Xuanyuan Mo subconsciously ran after them. When he saw them enter the cave, he didn’t follow inside.

In the cave, Lian Zhengyu put down Duanmu Xi carefully.

Duanmu Xi looked at the dark cave and cracked a bitter smile, “Thank you!”

Even though she was hurt by Xuanyuan Mo, the place she wanted to come to still had something to do with him.

Hearing her sad voice, Lian Zhengyu felt his heart slightly aching, “I’ll make a fire.”

After saying that, Lian Zhengyu walked to a side of the cave but he was pulled by Duanmu Xi.

“Could you please not make a fire?” She didn’t want anyone to see her miserable and fragile look.

The warmth on his arm made Lian Zhengyu freeze at once. A while later, he said sulkily, “Do you need me to go out?”

Duanmu Xi was slightly dazed to hear that and then curled her lips, “No need. Actually, it is a kind of bliss to be accompanied by someone at the moment.”

Duanmu Xi’s words struck a blow at Lian Zhengyu’s heart harshly. If she could feel happy about his company, he would like to accompany her for a lifetime.

Xuanyuan Mo stood outside for a long time. A long time later, he suddenly turned to punch the tree aside. His fist instantly became badly mutilated. The blood slowly ran down the trunk but he didn’t stop for that. He punched the tree again and again like crazy. His hand bled nonstop but he didn’t feel any pain because his heart was numb with pain.

He was so jealous that he was almost going crazy. He really wanted to take her out of the cave but upon thinking of what she said–“You are so dirty”, he just lost the courage. His eyes became dim and lifeless. In dejection, he turned around and left.

Phoenix Five hiding in the darkness finally figured out what was happening. Her Highness must have a fight with Mr. Xuanyuan but why? They had been lovey-dovey before tonight. What on earth happened at the dinner party today?

Long Yue frowned, his dark eyes glittering with a bit of worry. He had a feeling that the matter must be significant this time.

Hearing the even breath aside, Lian Zhengyu slowly opened his eyes. With the help of the dim moonlight, he saw Duanmu Xi curling into a ball and instantly, his heart clenched.

He bent down to gently hold Duanmu Xi to his arms and exerted the mysterious Qi to dry her wet clothes.

Duanmu Xi seemed to feel the warmth and subconsciously leaned against him.

Lian Zhengyu immediately stiffened, not daring to move at all.

“Snow…” Duanmu Xi unconsciously mumbled. A tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.

Staring at Duanmu Xi talking deliriously with a red face, Lian Zhengyu had a sense of foreboding and gently covered his hand on her forehead.

The heat on his forehead startled Lian Zhengyu.

He put his coat on the ground and placed her on it carefully. He took out a clean handkerchief from his arms, soaked it in the rain and put it on her forehead gently. He did not know any medical skills so he could only lower her temperature in this way.

He turned around, found some branches in the cave and lit a bonfire next to her. Sitting by the bonfire, he looked at her quietly.

The yellowish flare shone her beautiful face warmly. He didn’t care about women’s appearance but somehow, he fell in love with such a beautiful woman. Maybe it was because of her warmth! Actually, as long as he could be around her, it was a kind of happiness for him.

Duanmu Xi had a fever for a night. Her fever wasn’t brought down until it was almost dawn. Lian Zhengyu took care of her for a whole night, sleepless.

Duanmu Xi didn’t wake up until this afternoon. When she saw Lian Zhengyu aside, she was dumbstruck for a moment.

Lian Zhengyu was slightly relieved to see her wake up, “You are awake. Are you feeling okay?”

Duanmu Xi slightly curled her lips and nodded, “Thank you.”

She was having a fever last night but somehow, she could feel that he was taking care of her.

She sat up slowly and felt dizzy.

Lian Zhengyu saw the scene and hastened to sit behind Duanmu Xi. He helped her up and said with worry, “You don’t look well. Why don’t you lie down for a while?”

Hearing that, Duanmu Xi slightly smiled, “No need. It is because I’ve lain down for too long that I feel dizzy. I will be fine after sitting for a while.”

Duanmu seemed to have thought of something and then asked, “Oh right, didn’t you go back to Xuanwu? Why are you here?”

Hearing that, Lian Zhengyu blushed, “Actually, I went back to Xuanwu half a month ago.”

He left after he sent Xiahou Shan’s remains back to Xuanwu. Before leaving, he disconnected himself from the Lian Family. Now, he was completely free. He lived for himself only, not for Xuanwu or the Lian Family.

“I… want to be your secret guard,” Lian Zhengyu finally said after hesitating for a while.

Secret guard? Duanmu Xi was slightly dazed to hear that and blinked her eyes rigidly, “Why?”

Wasn’t he Young General Lian of the Xuanwu Empire? Why did he suddenly claim to be her secret guard?

“Because… Because I want to protect you.” Although his handsome face was red, his dark green eyes were full of determination. He wanted to protect her for a lifetime.

Duanmu Xi’s heart suddenly thumped. He must have a crush on her. She slightly looked down and concealed all her feelings. After a long while, she looked at Lian Zhengyu and said seriously, “I’m married. You shouldn’t waste your time on me. I don’t want to delay you. You should go and seek your own happiness.”

Even if she wasn’t with Xuanyuan Mo in the future, she never thought about being with another man. Lian Zhengyu was a good man, a purely good man. She didn’t want to give him hope and then hurt him.

His happiness was her. He was clear about what he wanted. He didn’t want to gain her love or anything from her. He simply wanted to see her happy. That was all.

“Whether you agree or not, I will be your secret guard.” His voice was determined without any compromise.

Looking at his determined dark green eyes, Duanmu Xi felt touched and then smiled. It was a kind of bliss to be loved by such a pure person!