Chapter 906: Are You Sick?

Chapter 906: Are You Sick?

"Ruoxi!"

Ye Chen murmured listlessly, stiffly turning his neck to look at those clear, bright eyes, his expression becoming even more bewildered.

The little girl still tilted her head up, her clear eyes full of innocent and unknowing purity.

Ye Chen forced a stiff smile and hugged the little girl in his arms.

At some point, the little girl had nestled in Ye Chen's embrace and fallen asleep, looking very peaceful. She would occasionally rub her little head against him, and in the dead of night, she would murmur "mother" in her dreams.

Outside, the wind and snow howled, and on the vast, desolate land, the ruined temple was the only warm spot.

As night deepened, Ye Chen also leaned against the stone pillar and fell into a deep sleep.

Now, he was white-haired and aged, with stubble covering his mouth, his face full of weariness and hardship. Dressed in tattered clothes, he looked like a beggar. Who would think that this was the Tian Ting Sheng Zhu who once commanded awe across the world?

"Princess, there is a ruined temple here."

In the flickering firelight, the temple's quietness was broken by a voice from outside.

"The snowstorm is too heavy; let's take shelter here for the night."

Soon after, a light and graceful female voice rang out.

The temple door was quickly pushed open. Along with the raging wind and snow, a person draped in a white feather cloak entered. It was a scholar, or more accurately, a woman disguised as a man.

Behind her followed several black-clothed figures, each carrying weapons and exuding an aura as cold and sharp as the wind and snow.

"Someone's here?"

One of the black-clothed men paused, glanced at the fire, and then noticed Ye Chen and Ruoxi sleeping beside it.

"Close the door; the child is cold."

Ye Chen was awakened, opening his dull eyes, his voice hoarse.

"How dare you... "

"Step back."

The black-clothed man hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted by the woman in the white feather cloak.

"Princess, this... "

"Step back."

As she spoke, the woman stepped forward, her eyes fixed straight on Ye Chen. She crouched down tentatively and reached out her jade-like hand to brush aside the messy white hair covering half of his face.

"It's really you."

As his tired face came into view, her beautiful eyes instantly filled with mist.

Ye Chen looked up, his expression dull and full of confusion as he gazed at the woman before him. Though her face was familiar, in his scarred memories, he couldn't find any trace related to her.

"Who are you?"

Ye Chen's voice was still hoarse.

"I'm Liu Ruyan!"

The woman suddenly grabbed Ye Chen's arms, her eyes brimming with tears. "Don't you remember me?"

"No."

Ye Chen shook his head dully.

"How could this be?"

"Princess, he seems to be out of his mind."

A black-clothed man behind her spoke up as a reminder.

"Out of his mind?"

Liu Ruyan was stunned. She looked at Ye Chen's dull expression, then at his messy white hair, full beard, and tattered clothes. This was nothing like the immortal who once soared through the nine heavens.

"How did you end up like this? What exactly happened?"

Suddenly, Liu Ruyan pulled Ye Chen into her embrace, her tears wetting his white hair.

At the sight, the several black-clothed men coughed awkwardly and turned away self-consciously.

This scene was completely unexpected for them. Their founding princess of Nanzhao Guo had always been as cold as ice, especially toward men. Who would have thought she would act this way toward a mentally unclear beggar? It left them utterly baffled.

The temple fell silent once more.

Ye Chen remained expressionless and let Liu Ruyan hold him, while the little Ruoxi in his arms opened her eyes wide, blinking curiously at her.

The black-clothed men stole a few glances, their expressions a bit odd. A princess, a beggar, and a little girl—this warm scene somehow looked like a family of three.

"Bring me my qin!"

After a while, Liu Ruyan's voice echoed in the temple.

Soon, the sound of a qin filled the air, its melody gentle and flowing like a murmuring stream from the distant mountains, making even the outside wind and snow seem to quiet down.

At this, the previously dull Ye Chen lifted his head. For the first time, a glimmer of light flashed in his murky eyes, and the confusion in them gradually faded with the qin music Liu Ruyan played.

He began to look around, his gaze shifting from the black-clothed men to Liu Ruyan, and then from Liu Ruyan to the little Ruoxi in his arms.

"Where is this?"

His voice was hoarse as he watched Liu Ruyan playing the qin strings. "Why am I here?"

"You..."

Liu Ruyan paused, surprise lighting up her beautiful eyes. "Have you recovered your memories?"

"Memories?"

The qin music stopped, and Ye Chen shook his head. His eyes, which had just cleared, quickly became murky again, and his expression returned to its dull state.

"This..."

Liu Ruyan, who had just stood up, froze in place.

"This guy really is sick!"

The black-clothed men murmured meaningfully.

"What did you say?"

Liu Ruyan turned sharply, a flash of cold light in her eyes, her voice colder than the wintry wind.

"Forgive us, Princess! Forgive us!"

The men knelt down hastily. "We—we meant that he responds to your qin music."

"Qin music?"

Liu Ruyan frowned slightly, then quickly sat down again and began playing the strings once more, using the same tune as before.

Under her watchful gaze, Ye Chen, who had just become dull again, gradually regained his clarity with the qin music, just as before. He looked around and even asked the same questions as earlier.

This time, Liu Ruyan didn't stop playing. Instead, she watched him tentatively and said,

"Are you sick?"

"Are you scolding me?"

Ye Chen replied, still scanning his surroundings.

"No, no, I didn't mean that."

"You haven't answered my question. Where is this? Why am I here?"

Ye Chen glanced at the little Ruoxi in his arms before turning his eyes to Liu Ruyan. "And why are you here?"

"This..."

Liu Ruyan parted her lips slightly but didn't know how to respond.

"This is within the borders of Nanzhao Guo."

One of the black-clothed men answered for her. "The person before you is the founding princess of Nanzhao Guo, who left the palace to observe the people's conditions. She ended up here due to the snowstorm. As for you, we truly don't know why you're here. What we can say for sure is that your mind doesn't seem quite right—well, to put it bluntly, you have amnesia."

"Amnesia?"

After hearing this, Ye Chen ignored the first part of the man's words and was stunned by the mention of amnesia.

He couldn't help but rub his brow. He did have some fragmented memories about why he was here, but for some reason, he felt like he was still missing something.

"The princess is playing the qin, so you're clear-headed right now."

The black-clothed man spoke again.

"So, if she stops playing, I'll fall back into that state?"

Ye Chen glanced at the man.

"I have to say, your brain is working pretty well right now."

The black-clothed man scratched his ear.

"That's the truth."

Liu Ruyan added, "Before, you were like a walking corpse. You didn't remember me or even who you were. As soon as the qin music stops, you'll go back to that state."

"Then don't stop."

Ye Chen continued rubbing his brow, as if trying to recall something. Everything felt like a dream—from Yunruo Valley, he had woken up in this forsaken ruined temple.

"Three of my Dao bodies were severed, and the Hundun Shen Ding's spirit fell into slumber."

Ye Chen's eyes flickered as he remembered the last scene in Yunruo Valley, though it now seemed like it had happened long ago.

"From tonight, how long has it been since we last met?"

Ye Chen looked at Liu Ruyan.

"Almost three years."

"Three years?"