Chapter 462: The First Winter (IX)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
So skinny?
When she carried Wei Ci, Jiang Pengji realised that though he was tall, he was extremely light. Once he was in her arms, she felt his bones press painfully on her, his whole body seemed devoid of meat and he was just left with bones.
She unbearably suspected, this fellow had run to some famine district and live for a year there, losing the flesh he originally had.
She secretly used her thumb to brush against his waist, and her first reaction was that he was skinny, way too skinny.
Jiang Pengji wrapped Wei Ci tightly to her bosom while also ensuring White was moving at her fastest.
Sighing softly, with one hand she held the rope, and using her other hand, she assessed and pressed the back of his head and held him by his armpits. As much as possible, she helped block out the wind.
From the other side, Dian Yan witnessed his master being carried away by Jiang Pengji.
Her actions were smooth like the clouds floating and running water, with one breath she accomplished it.
Dian Yan didn’t stop her in time, he couldn’t even respond as it happened too swiftly. White was already galloping toward the vast plains.
Liyun mentioned, “Big brother, please don’t worry. My lord said she knows your master, then it must be so.”
Dian Yan’s lips quivered. He could only trust this youth who calls herself the magistrate of Xiangyang district. His master’s sickness needed to be treated immediately.
By the side, Liyun’s curiosity was unleashed, and his busybody genes became unusually active.
“Big brother, where is your master from?”
Liyun saw the entire episode from the corner of his eye, he also caught a glimpse of Wei Ci’s face.
Although the sick person was severely ill, he was wasting away in fact, but it didn’t reduce him to frighteningly ugly; rather, it added a weakness that stirred one to have pity on him. Even in his frailty he looked so handsome, Liyun had never seen such a person in his lifetime.
Dian Yan replayed the scene that had just happened; though Jiang Pengji’s actions were fast, they were far from rough.
Based on that detail, he could briefly be at peace.
Hearing Liyun’s question, Dian Yan kept silent. He wore a face that said, “I don’t wish to speak to strangers, please keep quiet.”
Liyun got no response, so he changed the topic.
He meticulously noticed these three people descended from the mountains, and he asked, “What befell you and your master? Why are you all in such a pathetic state? Yun feels that both of you, master and servant, are weird. You are born sturdy and strong, your flesh is in abundance, but contrarily, your master is so thin he’s left with a bag of bones. Does illness cause one to become so skinny? Say something.”
The first snow went on for three days and nights, the snow had already covered the mountain roads completely.
It couldn’t be that these people ran up the mountains to hide, then met with the snow but to find a cure for the disease, they had to stubbornly head towards the mountains?
Dian Yan didn’t want to entertain Liyun because this handsome youth was somewhat noisy.
But he hesitated upon thinking of over 500 people were still trapped on the mountain, his boorish face held a hint of pleading.
“Over 500 people are trapped in the mountains. We were ambushed by Tsing Yi army and had to escape from the danger.”
Once Liyun heard of people entrapped in the mountains, his face turned solemn. Suddenly, he exuded a mature aura.
“Both you strong men, follow Yun to Xiangyang district first. When the heavy snow subsides, we will dispatch troops to rescue the people tomorrow.”
Dian Yan heard this, and it was the best solution, so he paid respects to Liyun and thanked him.
“Hey, what’s there to thank.” Liyun scratched his head and said somewhat bashfully, “Speaking of which, this is our job.”
Whoever was within Xiangyang district, the people’s affairs were managed by the district headquarters. Liyun only missed slapping his bosom as a guarantee.
Meanwhile, Jiang Pengji spurred the horse to a gallop on the road, and she literally went at the fastest speed to return to Xiangyang district.
Still trapped in his nightmare, Wei Ci’s fragmented memories filled his mind, and it blurred his view of life and death.
Unknowingly, time passed, and his cold and stiff body slowly turned warm. A sudden jolt transformed his abstract illusions to something realistic …
Is this another dream or something else?
Wei Ci experienced great suffering and knitted his brows, and he expended energy just to cough twice. He thought he coughed very loudly yet in Jiang Pengji’s ears it was as soft as a kitten’s voice. If her hearing wasn’t so acute, she may have missed observing that he was awake.
A long time passed before Wei Ci barely regained consciousness; in his daze he realised his whole body was paralysed.
“He’s awake?”
The cold yet familiar voice drifted from the top of his head. Wei Ci’s facial features changed; even more so, he could not differentiate his dreams from reality.
“If you’re awake, speak, as there’s still some distance before we reach the district. If you sleep now, I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to wake up again.” Jiang Pengji slightly bent her body forward, to reduce the resistance from the wind, “I realise every time I see you, you are either sick or on the road to being unwell… then again, were you so frail since your youth?”
Wei Ci regained consciousness completely, and he registered his present circumstances. He was frightened, hugged his body and daren’t move.
Of course, in his present state, he couldn’t move even if he wanted to.
Jiang Pengji wanted to continue talking, the Wei Ci’s fan club amongst the viewers stood out in protest.
Cimeiren Jiawo: “Streamer, our pretty man Ci is already severely unwell, stop bullying him.”
Jintain Wugengyou: “Exactly, exactly – he is indeed a pretty man, though skinny as bones, he’s still such an alluring beauty.”
Zhaiwu Zhongyu Jianshaole: “Beauty lies within and not without. How can this be comparable to those popular faces online, their big eyes are attributed to plastic surgery, their nose bridge is from padding, their chins are transformed by cutting, their supple skin depends on injections. After the hyaluronic acid melts to naught, such a face will probably be unrecognisable by even their biological mother.”
Wanshangqu Yuehuichifan: “You went out of point. Don’t we want the streamer to stop bullying pretty man Ci?”
There was no need for reminders from the audience, Jiang Pengji had no intentions of bullying Wei Ci.
Her face turned sombre. In contrast, Wei Ci could not share his sorrows, he was so afraid that he couldn’t sleep.
Jiang Pengji was taller than most women by a foot and was comparable to males.
Wei Ci huddled up, and he appeared rather frail and weak and could totally lie against her bosom.
Coupled with her actions, they were both in a unique position, Wei Ci’s was the way he was facing her chest…That was rather awkward…Both Wei Ci’s cheeks reddened. He was still fine while in a coma, but now that he was relatively awake, he really wished to keep a distance if possible.
“Stop moving about! Be careful or I might throw you off the horse.” Jiang Pengji warned him impolitely.
Wei Ci hesitated for a while then said, “Man and woman… shouldn’t have such close intimacy…”
“I don’t believe your words.” She laughed mockingly, and her words were appalling. Wei Ci was so frightened he kept silent, even his heavy and dazed head regained consciousness somewhat. She added, “For someone who knows me, Liu Xi, so well, are you certain our relationship can stop at ‘should refrain from close intimacy’ and nothing beyond this?”
She has no clue what Wei Ci went through, but his reaction coupled with the system’s existence made her very troubled.
The colour on Wei Ci’s face changed, he resigned to fate and pretended to die, and he stopped struggling.