Chapter 1279: Like a Startled Goose, Gone Like a Dream

Jiang Wang had to confront the depths of his heart. While his body was indeed frail, his limbs weak and weary, surely he was not so utterly incapacitated that he could not even open his eyes to observe his surroundings. His constant contemplation of myriad, trifling matters, preventing his mind from idleness, was in truth a form of evasion.

For he did indeed recall those eyes, and knew the one who had saved him…

Who it was.

He had always been a man of conviction, knowing what he ought to do and what he ought not. But he had to admit, this reunion under such circumstances left him at a loss for how to face it, especially as the other had just saved his life…

Yet face it he must.

Yuzhen stood by the bed, her hands clasped behind her back, and bent down.

The monastic cowl concealed her lovely hair, a half-mask adorned with a Bodhi branch covered her nose and lips, but her pair of utterly captivating eyes revealed their beauty without hindrance.

She gazed upon his face in this manner.

It was a face that now showed some definition, mercilessly sculpted by the winds and frosts of the mortal world, yet still retaining the clarity of its youthful appearance.

Between his brows lay tranquility, a power of settled stillness.

His long, fine eyelashes drooped quietly, as if concealing the matters of his heart.

Inciting in one an ever greater desire to peer within.

What emotions would this young celestial talent, so celebrated in the world, this young man branded as "に通魔" (consorting with devils) by the most powerful empire of the age, harbor when alone?

How did he confront his pain, how did he fight against his sorrow?

His eyelashes fluttered slightly, then parted.

This injured man lying upon the bed finally opened his eyes.

These eyes, neither large nor small, were not those that upon sight would make one feel the wonder of creation, nor were they as sharp and keen as they appeared upon the Guanhe Platform.

For the most part, they ought to be calm, serene, and resolute, like a clear mountain stream, winding its own path. Flowing placidly towards its own direction, over stones, through the woods, never looking back.

In this process, it would encounter fallen leaves, dead branches, pebbles, and naturally, it would not avoid mud, small insects, and algae.

But it was clear.

Despite having endured so much, witnessed so much, the fundamental essence remained clean. It could wash the bluestone, it could purify the bright moon.

She had once desired to change it, but in the end, she was drenched by that very gaze.

From then on, unable to forget.

Yes, it was this very gaze.

In this clear stream, Yuzhen saw her own reflection… the Bodhi branch on the mask, symbolizing wisdom and awareness, truly resembled a dead branch lying across the surface of the water.

Thereupon, she asked, "Are you willing to awaken?"

The word "willing" already explained everything.

After Jiang Wang opened his eyes, what he saw was this very scene—

A pair of soul-capturing eyes first dominated his vision.

They were too close.

Their gazes met for but a fleeting instant, already causing tension.

Perhaps due to his extreme weakness, this was not a safe distance…

His gaze forcefully escaped, only then seeing the exquisitely patterned Bodhi mask, sensing the purity and detachment within… proving that it was merely a mask.

Then he heard that question.

He naturally understood the hint of teasing and jest within, but the atmosphere should not be like this…

Their interaction should not be so relaxed.

Thus, his eyes grew cold.

"You are too close."

"Are you flustered?" she said.

Her voice was languid and enchanting, and even the fragrant breath that wafted seemed to brush against his face.

Jiang Wang, however, could not evade it.

"Do you think that because I am severely injured and not yet recovered, I should be at your mercy?" he asked in a calm voice.

The Dao Yuan within his body began to surge.

Like a torrent brewing beneath the surface of a dark river.

Moving rashly at this time would undoubtedly harm his body; they both understood this principle.

Yuzhen sensed this man's persistence.

So she slowly straightened up.

In this process, mountains rose and fell, as if pushed by the wind, thus gradually moving away.

The scenery was like a dream, unbearable to approach.

"I am very curious how you recognized me." She pointed a finger at her mask: "This mask conceals very well."

Jiang Wang no longer moved, only clenched his teeth and said, "Even if you turned to ash, I would recognize you!"

"Oh my, is this a declaration of love?" Laughter flowed within her beautiful eyes: "Truly moving words of affection. There will be no one else in this world who remembers me so clearly."

Perhaps due to his extreme weakness, Jiang Wang simply closed his eyes, no longer meeting her gaze. He only asked, "Why did you save me?"

The woman's voice was sometimes by his ear, sometimes in his heart, always restlessly circling around.

She said with a laugh, "It was convenient, you see."

"I am a very kind-hearted person; normally, when I see cats and dogs by the roadside, I feed them. It's perfectly reasonable to pick up a dying person, isn't it?"

With his eyes closed, he could not see her appearance, could not see her expression.

But surely in those eyes, at this moment, there was still a full, teasing smile.

She always enjoyed teasing and playing tricks on people.

An inexplicable anger arose in Jiang Wang's heart, and he said bitterly, "The food you feed to cats and dogs, I imagine, is not lightly poisonous?"

"I wonder… perhaps you should ask those cats and dogs themselves?" The woman's voice circled and circled: "I only know that some little dogs are still jumping and lively to this day, and it seems they can even bite people!"

Jiang Wang: …

He gritted his teeth and wanted to struggle up, no longer enduring this vexation here.

But a finger lightly pressed upon his forehead, dissolving the faint strength he had accumulated, holding him motionless.

Her hand was so cold.

But this truly resembled the action he used to suppress Silly Gray when it was mischievous.

Jiang Wang was a mixture of shame and anger, and at this moment, he utterly detested that black-clad demon from the Ten Thousand Realm Desolate Tomb… Had that demon not attacked indiscriminately, how could I, Jiang Wang, a dignified Heavenly Mansion cultivator, have fallen to this state!?

The woman likely saw that he had finally accepted reality, and only then moved her finger away, her fingertip lightly brushing over his straight nose as if by chance, her voice still light and airy: "See, you are still not honest."

If Jiang Wang could have leaped up, he would have done so by now, but alas, he could not. He only gritted his teeth and said, "I will not owe you anything! I will save you once more. Who treated my wounds? What precious items were used? Just say it! Once my wounds are healed, I will repay you double…"

His words stopped there. Because the woman's aura had vanished.

She had left the room.

Without farewell, without warning, without saying anything.

Coming like a flash of startled light, going like a dream, impossible to grasp, leaving no trace.

Jiang Wang was silent for a long time before opening his eyes again.

This was a canopy bed of an exquisite moon-gate style, he could not recognize the type of wood, but only felt a reassuring fragrance.

The carvings, however, were of lotus patterns.

The white curtains were hung up by exquisitely crafted silver hooks; this small world was open to him.

Jiang Wang closed his eyes once more.

He had no mind for exploration.