Jiang Xingyan drifted in a void, alone, enduring boundless, excruciating pain.
The agony began at her left shoulder and spread throughout her entire body with her blood.
A scorching heat held within it a strange, maddening pain and itch, like a hundred ants gnawing at her flesh, a result of the poison’s erosion.
Then there was the deep, penetrating pain of broken bones, clashing with the swollen, throbbing agony of her nearly shattered shin bone. The two forces collided, tormenting her doubly.
Her entire being felt as if it were simmering in the deepest pit of hell, unable to move even a fraction.
She felt a handful of medicinal powder scatter across her wounds.
The pain didn’t lessen; instead, it intensified violently.
It was like throwing a large ladle of ice water into a vat of boiling oil.
A fierce conflict erupted along every single nerve.
Next, a sharp blade cut into her shoulder, removed something, and then sutured it closed.
She had no control over her body.
Her soul felt detached from its shell, connected only by this thread of pain.
It hurts so much!
Jiang Xingyan had always had a low tolerance for pain.
Compared to this torment, the lashes from her mother-in-law seemed insignificant.
She didn’t know how long this suffering would last. She truly wished to sink into the abyss, to just die.
Then the pain would stop.
“Mommy!”
In her sleep, Xiao Ya seemed to dream of her mother.
Mommy was in pain.
Xiao Ya quickly ran forward and held her tightly.
Just like she always did after Mommy was hurt by the bad grandmother.
Suddenly, Jiang Xingyan felt the warmth of the little one clinging to her. Her heart shuddered.
How could she die?
If she died, what would happen to Xiao Ya!
She gritted her teeth and endured.
Just like all those other interminable, difficult nights she had survived.
But the severe pain didn’t weaken because of her resilience.
Assaulted by waves of agony, each stronger than the last, she felt she was about to break.
Xiao Ya, Mommy is sorry…
Just as her consciousness was about to sink into the depths, a radiant light suddenly flashed, and all the pain inflicted upon her vanished in an instant.
Jiang Xingyan’s mind became startlingly clear.
After a moment of stunned disbelief, the joy of being alive flooded her chest.
She inspected her soul form incredulously.
How could this be? What exactly—
She looked up and saw Yun Chunfeng, clad in robes whiter than snow.
His cloak was very white, like that of a banished immortal.
But his face was even paler.
Ashen, like the leftover ashes by a vermilion gate.
“Yun-ge, what’s wrong with you!”
Jiang Xingyan rushed over and held him tightly.
Suddenly, she understood.
“It was you, wasn’t it?
You took my pain upon yourself?”
Yun Chunfeng didn’t speak, forcibly enduring agony comparable to transcending a heavenly tribulation.
For a cultivator to forcibly bear another’s suffering, the transferred pain is multiplied tenfold.
He buried his head in the crook of Jiang Xingyan’s neck, looking as pitiful as a large dog caught in the rain.
“Miss, I only hate myself.
If I could have found the key to return your souls sooner, you wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.
This pain… it’s what Yun-ge should have borne all along.”
Jiang Xingyan shook her head. “No, Yun-ge. Being able to live a second life is already more than I could ask for.
How could there be no price to pay at all?”
Yun Chunfeng tightened his arms around her. “Any and all prices will be borne by Yun-ge alone.”
Jiang Xingyan released him, cupped his face in her hands, and looked directly into his eyes.
“Yun-ge, I feel like I’ve forgotten some things I understood before, but that doesn’t stop me from knowing your heart.
You’ve already done well enough, done more than enough for me, haven’t you?”
She gently kissed Yun Chunfeng’s forehead and wiped away his falling tears.
“Wait for me a little longer, Yun-ge.
I will become stronger. Only then can I protect the people I want to protect!”
——-
Huo Ci stood dumbfounded in the courtyard.
There was no moon tonight, mirroring the desolation and lack of light in his heart.
Did he only bring harm to Jiang Xingyan?
They had drawn that red marriage slip at the Matchmaker God’s temple, the one that promised a heaven-sent union.
How had things come to this?
He had strictly observed propriety and hadn’t looked at the wounds on Jiang Xingyan’s body.
But he knew exactly how much it must hurt.
On the battlefield, where swords knew no mercy, he had naturally suffered such injuries himself.
In the past, he simply accepted it as normal. But now, his heart ached unbearably for her.
He didn’t possess mystical abilities like Yun Chunfeng. All he could do was pray, over and over again: “All gods and Buddhas, every celestial being, I beg you, transfer all of A-Yan’s future pain and suffering onto my body, Huo Ci.
Don’t let her suffer anymore.
I, Huo Ci, am willing to give all my accumulated merit from this life to her, to ensure her a lifetime free from worry, safe, peaceful, and happy.”
He pressed his palms together, standing quietly in the courtyard, repeating his prayer countless times.
Utterly devout, utterly sincere.
His eyes were closed, so he didn’t see a wisp of a cloud suddenly appear in the sky above.
“Master, it seems this fellow isn’t completely without redeeming qualities.”
“Must you always comment?”
On the cloud, Taoist Fuhai instantly covered his mouth and fell silent.
Beside her, her lotus root-like arms moved gracefully, and her tiny fingers quickly formed hand seals.
Light shimmered, and certain restrictions quietly changed.
Since this person had prayed so sincerely, she, as a celestial being, would reluctantly grant his wish.
Ahem! This is merely a celestial’s compassion for all living beings, a reward for the sincere, allowing them to provide this deity with more faith power.
It is absolutely not some transactional ‘take money, eliminate disaster’ repayment!
And it’s definitely not me intervening to help my own precious little disciple, Heavenly Dao, you better mark that clearly!
Heavenly Dao: ?
Would I dare say no?