"Xin…" Lory called with a hoarse voice. She was surprised someone had approached her without her knowledge. She was also unsure if it happened because she had fainted or was in deep sleep. However, she dismissed her worry when she saw the man with a perfectly carved face and dark robes kneeling before her. A smile bloomed on her face. She was glad they were reunited.
"Your back? Does it hurt?" Zhao Li Xin's hand trembled. It pained him to see her endure the pain.
?
Lory noticed her robes falling off her shoulders to expose her bare skin. She thought of the mark on her back and quickly strengthened her robes. She winced at the sudden stab of pain as she adjusted her robes.
"Careful!" Zhao Li Xin helped her strengthen her robes. He thought she was probably embarrassed to show him her back as she was an unmarried maiden.
Bei Li Yan and the others soon made an appearance and they could not help but sigh with relief when they saw her alive. They cheered in their heads as they all thought, 'Thank God She's ALIVE!'
"Jin Hao, quickly checks her wounds," Zhao Li Xin ordered once he saw him.
Jin Hao was not surprised to see Lory hurt. He rushed towards her but Lory felt conflicted about him treating her. She didn't want anyone to see the mark on her body as it represented her mistakes and failure as a Lucient heir. She herself couldn't stand to look at the mark without being ashamed.
Lory tightened the grip on her robes. Jin Hao could see her reluctance but he didn't blame her. It was normal for women to not show their skin to men.
"Don't worry, Miss Luo. Let me take a quick look," Jin Hao comforted her.
Lory nodded nervously and Jin Hao slightly lifted her robes for a peek. He was relieved to see the blisters were not as bad as he thought. He only needed to apply a cooling ointment and cover them with gauze. They would heal without any scar after a week.
Zhao Li Xin attentively listened to Jin Hao's instructions and Jin Hao was rather conflicted to see this. Jin Hai was happy he had his lord's attention but on the other hand, he felt sad as he remembered the lord was not as attentive when he once reported about an alchemist society assault.
The other subordinates were much more relaxed as their search for Lory was over. The tense air around them dissipated. The Mong brothers set up a tent and mattress for Lory to rest without being asked. Bei Li Yan, on the other hand, made a bonfire and took out a small table as he needed to drink his wine to secretly celebrate. Jin Hao finished with his lord and joined Bei Li Yan. The Demon Lord was completely tamed by the girl.
Lory and Zhao Li Xin were finally alone in the tent but the two were busy with staring contest. Lory gripped her robes tightly as Zhao Li Xin held an ointment bottle in front of her but neither wanted to give in.
"I can do it myself," Lory said firmly.
"How?" Zhao Li Xin questioned her. The blisters were on her back and she couldn't apply the ointment thoroughly on her own. She also had wounds on her front but she could easily take care of them without his help.
"Don't worry. This lord would take responsibility for his actions. Your reputation won't be damaged at the very least," Zhao Li Xin genuinely comforted her but Lory was more perplexed by his words. Was she to marry everyone who saw her back? If that was the case, won't she marry many men?
She remembered she used to wear halter tops and leather jackets everywhere in her old world without a care. Lory sighed she didn't know how to persuade the Demon Lord. It didn't seem like he would relent if she were to judge him from how tightly he held the ointment bottle. He would apply the ointment on her one way or another.
Lory took a deep breath, "Okay, but you need to close your eyes."
"But…this needs to be applied thoroughly," Zhao Li Xin coaxed her like a child.
"No way! I'm still a maiden. How will I face my parents if I let this happen easily," This was the first time Lory was grateful for the strict customs of this world.
Zhao Li Xin couldn't refute her. He yielded with reluctance, "Fine, I'll close my eyes."
"Thank you, but wait… Do you have a scarf or something? I need to blindfold your eyes," Lory had to be sure.
"You don't believe me?" Zhao Li Xin pretended to be offended.
"I do but I need to be sure and avoid temptation," Lory clarified.
"Sure…" Zhao Li Xin sighed. He took out a red scarf from his ring and wrapped it around his eyes. He did it swiftly and with elegance. Lory was ashamed to see this as she could never do it with such elegance even after many years of training.
"Done, take off your robes now," Zhao Li Xin spoke with a low voice.
Lory's face turned red as his words sounded vague. They both sounded and looked sketchy. If someone entered the tent and saw a half-naked woman with a blindfolded man, they would think they were up to funny businesses. The red scarf was also ambiguous enough.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Li Xin asked casually. The truth was his mind was only filled with worry and he ached for her. Apart from the blisters on her back, he also saw other bruises on her arms and shoulders. He worried there were more bruises on her body. Jin Hao had secretly told him there was a possibility she may have broken a few ribs and her ankle also seemed dislocated. Zhao Li Xin struggled with guilt every time he saw her wince with pain and he couldn't stop blaming himself.
Lory took off her robes and covered her front with a blanket. Zhao Li Xin took a deep breath as he knew the ointment might hurt her a little. Lory jolted when the cool ointment touched her back. It felt like he was placing ice cubes on her heated skin. It was almost unbearable but she did not make a sound of complaint. She only panted to show her discomfort.
"Hold on a bit. It won't hurt after," Zhao Li Xin comforted her.
"Hmm… I'm fine…" Lory bit her lips.
Zhao Li Xin was aware she was tensed. He frowned every time his fingers touched her skin and her body twitched. He knew it was hard on her especially since she tried to be strong by not making a sound. His heart ached for her. It was like a thousand needles had pierced his heart. He wished he could consume her pain instead.
"I'm sorry…" Zhao Li Xin couldn't hold back anymore.
"Hmm…about what?" Lory still twitched at her back pain.
"I talked big about protecting you but failed in the end…" Zhao Lin Xin was ashamed of his previous confidence.
"What are you talking about?" Lory frowned in confusion. "I would have died a long time ago if not for everything you gave me."
Lory was honest with herself to know her situation might have been different if it were not for the spatial ring and the special robe he gave her. The robe protected her skin, the amulet healed her wounds and stabilized her, and the spatial ring stored all the things necessary for survival. The boots too had been of great help. She would have been long dead if she didn't have any of those things.
"But none of this would have happened if I was strong enough," Zhao Li Xin was still stuck on guilt.
Lory didn't want him to blame himself as what happened was not something he could control. Lory turned to face him. She cupped his face gently and reassured him, "Li Xin, listen to me… It's not your fault… It never was."
"There are somethings you can't control no matter how strong or competent you are. Do you know why? It is because you are human and that's okay. No one would blame you for what happened and I obviously would never ever blame you," Lory caressed his cheeks gently with her fingers. Zhao Li Xin touched her warm hand in return. He couldn't see her face but he could imagine her sweet smile. His mouth curved slightly.
"Li Xin, you must understand… This is not my first time and it would not be my last. Pain, wounds and scars are part of my life. Someone told me my life was not destined to be easy and I accepted my fate a long time ago."
Zhao Li Xin took off his blindfold and stared at her clear beautiful big eyes, "What are you trying to say?"
"If you are to stay with me, there would be a time where you may have no choice but to let me go… Trust me when I say I know the pain of letting go of someone very dear to you. But we all must choose our own path in the end and there is no turning back once we do. I'm afraid there might come a time where you will not be part of the path I choose. I need you to let me go so when such a time comes… Can you do that for me?"
"No!" Zhao Li Xin refused without hesitation. "You once promised me you will take me wherever you go. Are you gonna lie?"
"It's a long and arduous path and I don't know where it would end," Lory gave him a bitter smile.
"The more reason for you to take me with you. If we are together it would be less painful," Zhao Li Xin cupped her small face and gave her a dazzling smile. There was no doubt or hesitation in his eyes. He would follow her whether she wanted it or not. The path she chose didn't matter. He would gladly follow her to hell if she chose it. He didn't mind where they went as long as she was around.
Lory knew it was useless to change his mind. Although her heart felt warm, she couldn't help but feel scared for him. Lory placed her forehead on his chest and took a long breath. She murmured to herself, "Oh well, I just need to protect you then…"
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