Chapter 20: Grievance

Chapter 20: Feeling Wronged

Ling Yun dared not speak.

Seeing that they were about to enter Yan Huairong's mansion outside the palace, Yan Huaixuan had already put on a blank expression and no longer wished to watch. Just as he was about to turn away, Ling Yun suddenly gasped, "His horse's gone crazy."

Before Yan Huaixuan's mind could react, his body had already turned around.

Shen Lian's horse suddenly began to bolt, sending Shen Lian charging off in another direction.

Shen Lian's face turned pale. "Your Highness! Save me!"

Yan Huairong also looked panicked. "Quick! Grab his horse!"

But he was just a pleasure-loving prince with no real power, and the people around him were useless—they couldn't stop the horse.

Yan Huaixuan's hand instinctively lifted beneath his sleeve, but the next moment, he saw Shen Lian deliberately clamping his legs against the horse's belly.

The horse wasn't mad—Shen Lian was clearly controlling it himself.

Yan Huaixuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Ling Yun had clearly noticed too and looked a bit curious.

But then, Shen Lian's horse galloped straight into the wilds.

Once in the woods, Shen Lian dropped the panicked, pale-faced act completely.

Yan Huaixuan was briefly stunned. This Shen Lian was a stranger to him.

It was the first time he had seen him like this—calmly holding the reins, unhurried, his hat blown off by the wind, black hair cascading down his back.

It wasn't until Ling Yun asked in confusion, "Why is his route the same as yours, Your Highness?"

Only then did Yan Huaixuan snap out of it, and saw Shen Lian heading toward the exact spot where he'd just picked the Dragon Blood Orchid.

Shen Lian, meanwhile, was searching the woods. The Dragon Blood Orchid grew in the marshlands right in this area.

With the system's guidance, Shen Lian quickly found the spot.

He spotted it right away—a rather unremarkable plant, all emerald green, with only its leaf veins a vivid crimson.

But it was in the marsh, so the horse wouldn't go near it.

Shen Lian had no choice but to dismount. He carefully stepped forward, picking his way over the stones.

Seeing Shen Lian go after the Dragon Blood Orchid, Ling Yun was also taken aback. "This Shen Lian... he's really going out of his way to please you."

Yan Huaixuan watched Shen Lian carefully picking his way through the marsh.

The hem of his clothes was filthy, torn in many places by branches, yet his eyes were bright and sparkling, looking utterly delighted.

Shen Lian quickly dug up the Dragon Blood Orchid and held it in his hands.

"With you, I can cure Yan Huaixuan's poisoning."

Hearing that, Yan Huaixuan's breath caught slightly, and in that moment of his daze—

Shen Lian suddenly screamed. "Ah!"

From the marsh, a monster suddenly emerged—about eight chi long—its bloody maw wide open.

Shen Lian had known there were crocodiles here and had been on guard the whole time. He hadn't seen any on the way over and had assumed there were none, but who knew one was lying in wait?

The crocodile suddenly lunged, snapping at his leg. Fortunately, Shen Lian reacted quickly and dodged, but his leg sank into the marsh.

Seeing the crocodile crawling toward him, jaws wide open—

At that moment, Shen Lian's eyes were filled with genuine terror.

"System! Aren't you going to do anything?"

Cold sweat broke out on the system's forehead. "Stop yelling! I'm roasting!"

Fortunately, just as the crocodile was about to bite down, a sword pierced straight through its upper and lower jaws, pinning it to the ground.

Shen Lian froze. Trembling, he turned and saw a man standing not far away, dressed in blue, wearing a mask.

The man walked over, pulled out his sword, and cut off the crocodile's head.

Then he reached out his hand to Shen Lian. "Come on."

Shen Lian, shaking, was pulled up by him, but he couldn't even stand—his legs were so weak they had no strength at all.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shen Lian said quietly, "Let me catch my breath."

Before he could finish, the man scooped him up into his arms.

Shen Lian was startled. He looked up at the man's masked face. "May I ask my savior's name?"

The man said flatly, "Shen."

Shen Lian's eyes lit up. "What a coincidence—we have the same surname."

The man carried him to a safe spot and set him down. The horse had long since run off, and Shen Lian gave a wry smile.

The man looked at him and suddenly asked, "Why would you come alone to such a dangerous place? Didn't you know there are dangerous beasts here?"

This suddenly reminded Yan Huaixuan of that night, when Shen Lian had protected the rice and flour the same way.

"Is it really that important to you?"

Hearing this, Shen Lian said softly, "I knew there were vicious beasts here."

Yan Huaixuan paused slightly. He'd assumed Shen Lian didn't know.

Yan Huaixuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared hard at Shen Lian. "Then why did you still come? Is what you're holding in your arms really that important?"

Even when he'd nearly been torn apart moments ago, Shen Lian hadn't let go.

Shen Lian looked at the Dragon Blood Orchid in his arms and bit his lip.

Actually, he didn't know why himself.

Maybe it was because he didn't want to owe Yan Huaixuan too much.

He realized he was paying Yan Huaixuan... a little too much attention.

If he ever ascended to immortality, he would repay Yan Huaixuan, but for now, he'd pay back what he could.

Shen Lian gave a faint smile. "What I'm carrying is useless to anyone else, but it can cure my husband of his poison."

Yan Huaixuan suddenly asked, "Do you love your husband so much?"

Shen Lian's smile faded. He looked at Yan Huaixuan and said softly, "Thank you for saving me. Could I have your name and address so I can repay you later?"

Yan Huaixuan knew he was changing the subject and simply said, "No need. It's fate that we met."

Shen Lian insisted, but the next second he trembled all over and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Yan Huaixuan froze, instinctively pulling Shen Lian into his arms.

Realizing he was in Yan Huaixuan's arms, Shen Lian immediately started struggling. "Sir, let go—"

But Yan Huaixuan caught sight of the blood on the back of Shen Lian's head. "Don't move. You cracked your head on a rock when you fell."

Shen Lian was stunned. That explained why the back of his head had felt so chilly—he'd actually split it open.

Yan Huaixuan pressed his hand over the wound. "I'll take you to a doctor first."

But Shen Lian said, "No need! I'll just wrap it up myself."

Yan Huaixuan frowned, tightening his grip on Shen Lian's waist. "Stop being stubborn."

Shen Lian's fingers froze, and for some reason, he suddenly felt like the man in front of him was familiar.

But he still said, "No, it's fine. I have to get back now."

As soon as Shen Lian finished speaking, his vision darkened again, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

At the sight of him like this, Yan Huaixuan's voice went cold. "Why must you go back?"

Shen Lian's eyes fluttered, his mind foggy, and for some reason, he suddenly felt a bit aggrieved.

He had worked so hard, he'd been so close to getting the full diamond.

Then he was suddenly thrown into this world, forced to do tasks by a vicious system that electrocuted him.

Now he had developed inexplicable feelings for Yan Huaixuan.

But Yan Huaixuan was hot and cold toward him.

All the pressure Shen Lian had been carrying suddenly snapped in that moment, and his tears poured out in big drops.

"I don't know."

He suddenly cried with grievance, and Yan Huaixuan froze completely, his arm wet with large, warm tears.

The young man's voice was hoarse and aggrieved.

"I don't know. My husband suddenly got angry with me, suddenly ignored me."

He hadn't asked for much. If he couldn't complete the task, he would die, and if he completed it, Yan Huaixuan would die.

He only wanted a little, not asking for more, but why couldn't Yan Huaixuan budge just a bit?

Hearing the young man's unconscious, aggrieved words, a strange sensation suddenly surged up in Yan Huaixuan's throat.