Chapter 7: 第084章 我送你们回天辰

Seeing this, the anger in Dugu Xun's heart dissipated by more than half.

"Don't worry, I have already sent people to rendezvous with them. They will definitely be fine. For now, you only need to focus on nursing your body back to health. Taking care of yourself is the greatest help you can give them," Dugu Xun's tone softened as well.

He had naturally not missed the reluctance in his Imperial Brother's eyes before they departed. If anything happened to Xiao Wu on the journey, his Imperial Brother would surely wish to kill him to vent his rage. Therefore, how could he risk his own life?

Hearing Dugu Xun say this, Gu Xiaowu suddenly paused.

Had she overestimated her own abilities? What could they even do by going back now? She was already injured, and because of the recent flare-up of the poison, her martial arts had not yet recovered. Even if she went back, she would only be a hindrance.

If A-Xun hadn't said that, would she not have realized this?

No, she was simply deliberately ignoring the fact that she had lost all her martial arts during the poison flare-up.

Losing her martial arts so suddenly was indeed a huge blow to her, but since when had she started relying on escapism to solve her problems? When did she become like this?

She was such an idiot. She had only temporarily lost her internal energy; what was there to worry about? It should recover in a couple of days, right?

"I'm sorry, I was too impatient," Gu Xiaowu lowered her head, offering a rare, sincere apology.

"If you truly feel sorry, then tell me the truth: what is going on with the poison in your body?" He was skilled in medicine but did not know much about poisons. If he didn't know what kind of poison it was, it would be difficult for him to treat it.

Gu Xiaowu lay back down, smiling self-mockingly. "I'm not sure what this poison is either. This is the first time it has flared up."

She knew very well that she hadn't accidentally ingested anything poisonous after leaving the mountain stronghold, so she must have been poisoned while she was still there.

But the people in the stronghold were all trustworthy. When had she been poisoned? Could it be the influence of 'Zui Yue'?

Her mother had been afflicted by 'Zui Yue' while pregnant with her. Was it possible that she had become like this because her mother was poisoned?

One question after another troubled Gu Xiaowu until she felt she could hardly breathe, yet she could not find the thread of logic.

Dugu Xun watched Gu Xiaowu quietly, then suddenly spoke, "You seem to have thought of something?"

"No, just let me be alone for a moment!" Gu Xiaowu said with her eyes closed. She truly could not speak of things she was not certain about.

Hearing Gu Xiaowu drive him out again, Dugu Xun felt a surge of irritation. How many times had this been? Within a single hour, how many times had he been kicked out by her?

However... considering she was seriously injured, he would just make concessions to her for now.

*** ***

After cleaning up the aftermath, Dugu Chen was preparing to order their departure when he was intercepted.

"Dugu Chen, let's talk." The person who stopped him was none other than Si Jingjun!

Seeing that the newcomer was Si Jingjun, Dugu Chen merely hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Speak. What business do you have with me?" Dugu Chen folded his hands behind his back, a gentle smile still hanging on his face.

"Put away that coffin face of yours. I'm here for serious business," Si Jingjun said irritably. If it weren't for the fact that the people from the Southern Barbarian Royalty had laid hands on that girl Cheng'er, he wouldn't have bothered wading into this muddy water!

Dugu Chen's lip twitched involuntarily. *Coffin face...*

In all his twenty years of life, this was the first time someone had described him with those three words!

"Since it is serious business, then speak quickly!" For the sake of him having helped Cheng'er, he would not hold it against him.

"Before you reach the borders of Tianchen, it would be best if you didn't use the official roads anymore." As Si Jingjun spoke, he pulled a rolled parchment from his sleeve and tossed it to Dugu Chen.

"This is?" Dugu Chen caught the object Si Jingjun threw, but he was in no hurry to open it.

"A route map. When you head back, I hope you follow the route on this. Of course, as long as you follow the map I've given you, I can guarantee you won't encounter what just happened before you reach Tianchen."

If those people hadn't stabbed that girl Cheng'er with a sword just now, he wouldn't have bothered to help them.

Anyone who dared to touch the next Master of Spirit Island, whom Si Jingjun had taken an interest in, had to be prepared to die.

However, if he hadn't misseen, Cheng'er seemed a bit off just now. That appearance... was it a poison flare-up?

Si Jingjun felt something was wrong. Calculating the days, Cheng'er should have been at least fourteen years old before her first flare-up, yet she had only just passed thirteen. How could it have happened early?

If it truly was a flare-up, then... that girl's internal energy must have been completely lost by now?!

Dugu Chen opened the map and scanned it carefully.

As the Crown Prince of Tianchen, he had naturally accompanied the army on campaigns before. There was nothing wrong with this route map.

"Why are you helping us?" Although he was curious about how Si Jingjun intended to help them evade the pursuit of the Southern Barbarian Royalty, he was in no rush to ask.

Because, more than that, he was curious as to why Si Jingjun wanted to help *him*.

"Why would I help you? Hahahaha..." Si Jingjun couldn't help but laugh. After laughing enough, his expression suddenly turned cold. "Why should I tell you?"

Hmph, did he think he couldn't see the intentions Dugu Chen had for Cheng'er? Although Dugu Chen didn't intend to truly marry the girl, at least for now, she was Si Jingjun's betrothed. How could he show him a pleasant face when he was eyeing his fiancée?

Dugu Chen frowned slightly and did not press further.

"Alright, stop dawdling. Be decisive. Do you accept my proposal or not?" If they lingered any longer, the next wave of troops sent by that old man of the Southern Barbarian Royalty would likely arrive.

"Fine, I accept." Even if he hadn't proposed, Dugu Chen had no intention of using the official roads again.

"Good. You just need to take this path with your dim-witted younger brother and his attendant. I guarantee that by the time you reach Tianchen, the rest of my people will be waiting for you there." Si Jingjun seemed very confident.

"You intend to escort them back to Tianchen for me?" Dugu Chen frowned, seemingly disapproving of the proposal.

"Though it will cause them some hardship, I guarantee that by the time they reach Tianchen, they won't be missing even a single hair on their heads," Si Jingjun promised solemnly.

Dugu Chen knitted his brows in silence. This method was far too risky. Even though he was confident he could handle the aftermath if they weren't all brought back safely, he could not bring himself to stand by and watch them take such risks.

"What is your guarantee?" Dugu Chen asked.

"Based on the fact that I am the Enforcer of Spirit Island, I can guarantee that nothing will go wrong before they reach Tianchen." The only reason he had offered to escort them to Tianchen was to take the opportunity to let that group of idiots suffer a little hardship.

Seeing that Dugu Chen still remained silent, Si Jingjun grew impatient.

"If you're a man, then be decisive. Don't be so indecisive. Do you accept or not? Give me an answer," Si Jingjun said displeasedly.

"I refuse," Dugu Chen replied without hesitation.

Si Jingjun was stunned. Dugu Chen immediately tossed the route map back and turned to walk away.

As the Crown Prince of Tianchen, how could he abandon the people of Tianchen?

No matter how much this man guaranteed, a guarantee was nothing more than empty words to him.

"Hahahaha... Dugu Chen, stop right there." Si Jingjun laughed instead of getting angry. If Dugu Chen had readily accepted his proposal just now, he would have looked down on him. But now, Si Jingjun actually admired him.

Although Dugu Chen heard Si Jingjun's words, he did not stop as instructed.

"Dugu Chen, I told you to stop!" Si Jingjun shouted again.

This time, Dugu Chen stopped, but he did not turn around.

"I will go to Tianchen with you. However, there is no need to change the route; we will take the official roads." The Southern Barbarian Royalty surely anticipated that they would change their return route, so it was better to stick to the official roads.

Even if they had to fight, it would be more convenient. If they were in the mountains and forests, they would be more susceptible to ambushes.

"Why?" Dugu Chen turned around, his face filled with undisguised suspicion.

The Enforcer of Spirit Island had no connection whatsoever to his Tianchen. Why would he help him?

"Why all the chatter? A grown man acting so indecisive, how does that look? Since it's settled, let's set off immediately!" Si Jingjun urged.

If that girl Cheng'er truly had an early flare-up, it would be best for him to reach Jiangning City as soon as possible.

That girl Suyue was indeed very loyal to Cheng'er, but unfortunately, she wasn't smart enough; she didn't even realize she was being used.

But one couldn't blame her. Anyone who came from that place would likely be manipulated by that person.

He had to stop Cheng'er before she found Suyue, otherwise, Cheng'er would truly be in danger this time.

Dugu Chen frowned, but he did not prevent Si Jingjun from traveling with them.

Having an Enforcer of Spirit Island accompany them back to Tianchen would only bring benefits, not harm.

With him present, the Southern Barbarian Royalty would likely restrain themselves.

Thinking this way, Dugu Chen tacitly accepted Si Jingjun's decision to return to Tianchen with them.

*** ***

At night, Dugu Xun's group was still on the move.

Gu Xizhi and Dugu Xun took turns driving the carriage, aiming to reach Jiangning City a day earlier.

In the middle of the night, Gu Xiaowu suddenly developed a fever. Her entire body was as hot as a furnace, and her clothes were already soaked with sweat.

Dugu Xun gave her fever-reducing medicine, but it seemed to have no effect, and Gu Xiaowu even fell into unconsciousness.

"Dugu, Cheng'er, she..." Gu Xizhi wiped the sweat from Gu Xiaowu's forehead, looking at Dugu Xun with hesitation.

"Uncle, Xiaowu's condition is very bad. If the fever doesn't subside, then..." Dugu Xun frowned, unable to bring himself to continue.

Even if she hadn't been poisoned, that single wound alone could be fatal if not treated properly.