Untouchable Lovers

Chapter 216: Chapter 196: Regarding Death as Returning Home

Chapter 216 -196: Regarding Death as Returning Home

Tian Rujing was not foolish.

The first moment he woke up, he thought he should have died, but immediately he felt his body was bound and was missing an item he always carried with him, one he wouldn’t even remove while bathing.

Only Chu Yu knew the value of that item, and now it was gone; since he was captured by Chu Yu, it was naturally she who had taken the bracelet.

When Tian Rujing regained his consciousness, he reasoned through the situation after only a brief consideration.

Afterward, he felt a little sad; Chu Yu wanted his bracelet, and to her, his whole worth was probably tied to that Divine Artifact.

Chu Yu frowned slightly, somewhat surprised by Tian Rujing’s rare assertive tone, “I haven’t even said what I want yet, how can you be so sure I won’t agree?”

Tian Rujing quietly looked at her, “What else could it be? Aren’t you here for Rong Zhi?”

Pain stabbed at his heart like sharp needles, but Tian Rujing remained expressionless, very calm, and very sure as he said, “The Divine Artifact has always bound Rong Zhi, preventing him from utilizing his potential, a fact you are aware of. But perhaps you don’t know that although the Divine Artifact binds him, it also preserves his life. If the Divine Artifact is taken from me, it would inflict the final fatal injury on Rong Zhi. Right now, he must be in critical condition. Isn’t that so?”

Tian Rujing’s voice was as clear as a stream you could see to the bottom of, yet so merciless, “You want to save him, yet you ended up harming him, and now you seek from me the means to save him.” He paused, his tone suddenly became firmer, “But I will not tell.”

His beloved, for the sake of another man, used sedatives on him, seized his most important possession, and even now wants to interrogate him for that man’s sake.

A desolate feeling filled Tian Rujing’s heart; he lowered his eyelids to hide the sorrow in his eyes.

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He did not know if this was what heartbreak felt like. It seemed like many tiny knives were slicing back and forth in the area of his heart, brewing a strong sourness, making him wish for the first time to become someone else, to be the one she guarded in her heart rather than remain in this hostile state.

But, that was merely a fantasy.

Tian Rujing guessed some things right and was wrong about others; although Chu Yu came for Rong Zhi now, her initial reason was something he hadn’t anticipated.

Chu Yu looked at him steadily for a moment, silent, then in his presence, she began to open all the boxes inside the room, allowing him to see the items stored inside. Finally, she returned to him and asked coldly, “Seeing these, you should know what I plan to do, right?”

Tian Rujing’s gaze swept over the area in front of him, showing no fear on his face. After hearing Chu Yu’s question, he slowly closed his eyes, “As you wish.”

Since he had drunk that cup of wine, he had decided no longer to cherish this life.

What Chu Yu wanted to do was up to her.

But he would not save Rong Zhi, nor would he teach her how to save Rong Zhi.

It was not just because of jealousy, but also because of his master’s admonition.

Rong Zhi was not an ordinary person; he possessed abilities that could influence the fate of the world. Once such a person found a place to exhibit his talents, he would not remain obscure; he would either become a regional lord or be renowned across the world. However, the Heavenly Book that recorded history did not contain his name.

In other words, just as Chu Yu must vanish, Rong Zhi was also not meant to exist in this world.

On Tian Rujing’s face was calm, his expression serene, yet it carried a resoluteness of one thoroughly enlightened, as if he was ready to face all suffering and pain, even death itself.

This was the expression of a martyr, willing to sacrifice everything for what he believed in.

If pain came, he would resist it with his faith; if death arrived, he would see it as his rightful destiny, and die as deserved.

Chu Yu saw it, felt it, and was shaken by it.

Normally, if it were a matter not concerning her, she would have greatly admired Tian Rujing’s fearless demeanor, but now this fearlessness was the stubbornness she detested.

He did not show a trace of hesitation or consideration and rejected her outright, leaving no room for negotiation and no possibility of retreat.

Faced with such an obstinate attitude as steadfast as stone, Chu Yu simply did not know what to do.

She even had a premonition that even if she subjected Tian Rujing to the ten most cruel tortures one after the other, this stubborn young man would not utter a half-word of concession.

Moreover, if she really had to resort to torture, she might not have the heart to proceed.

************************************

Under the strict surveillance of the Princess Mansion, a slightly oversized black shadow quickly flitted through the darkness.

After a moment, the shadow slipped past everyone and silently entered Muxue Garden, arriving noiselessly at Rong Zhi’s bedside.

As the pitch-black cloak was removed, it revealed two people underneath, one of whom was dressed in bright red, Hua Cuo.

Hua Cuo didn’t look at the other person but quickly returned to the window, peeked through the crack to ensure that the guards outside were not alerted, and then lightly stepped back to the bedside.

By this time, the servant responsible for looking after Rong Zhi had already fallen asleep on a low stool outside, and Hua Cuo had made him inhale some sedatives when he had first entered, to ensure he was in a deep sleep.

Looking at Rong Zhi’s pale and haggard face, Hua Cuo frowned, reached into his robe, and took out a small jade bottle. He uncorked it, poured out a thumb-sized crimson pill, and fed it to Rong Zhi. After a moment, Rong Zhi’s eyebrows twitched, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes slowly opened.

Seeing Rong Zhi awaken, Hua Cuo’s tense expression finally relaxed slightly. He leaned over to help Rong Zhi sit up, touched his bony undergarments, and could not help but show a look of sorrow.

The other person brought by Hua Cuo, who seemed slightly frail compared to him, had a black mask covering most of his face, exposing only his attractive lips and chin.

As soon as this person saw Rong Zhi awaken, he hurriedly moved forward to bow, but stopped under Rong Zhi’s smiling gaze, straightening up again.

Rong Zhi slowly shook his head and smiled, saying, “I have told you many times, you can dispense with the formalities in front of me, let’s discuss the urgent matters.” He quickly took the lead in the conversation, leaving Hua Cuo silent by the side while the man listened obediently to his instructions.

“I don’t have much time left, and feigning weakness and collapsing was to deceive Tian Rujing, but actually, I have barely a month’s life left.” His demeanor was calm and serene, as if the dying body didn’t belong to him, “Thus, Hua Cuo, what I entrust to you is to always watch over the Princess. It is highly unlikely that the Princess can obtain the method to control the bracelet from Tian Rujing. I know Tian Rujing’s nature; he won’t surrender easily.”

“Three days, if within three days the Princess still has not succeeded, then, on my behalf, you will steal the bracelet and return it to Tian Rujing while also freeing his two fellow disciples.”

“Why?”

“This cannot be done!”

Hua Cuo and the person he brought with him simultaneously expressed their question and objection.

Rong Zhi smiled faintly, his smile distant and inaccessible as ice and snow on a mountain peak, the serene and sublime charm gradually calming them down.

“Just listen to me.” Rong Zhi slowly said, “Especially you, Hua Cuo, you are impulsive. I feared you might act on your own, and I have kept quite a few things from you in the past, but now I must tell you.”