As he saw Meirong leaving in the distance, Jian Shen who was doing his best to keep up a calm appearance didn't feel like he could or needed to do anymore.
Therefore, in less than a few seconds Jian Shen's breathing turned hard while at the same times sweat swiftly covered his entire body.
"Are... You okay?"
"Husband?"
Listening to their concerned voices, Jian Shen once again remembered why he was trying to not reveal how he was actually feeling.
"Yess... I'm fine... Just a little shook up."
Saying those words Jian Shen who was sitting on the floor due to his weeks having turned weak did his best to get back to standing and tried to look like he usually did.
"Husband... If you're... "
Stopping herself from speaking, Juewang chose to follow Qingyu who was signalling her to be silent.
Despite trying his best, Jian Shen quickly understood that it was impossible to keep up an act as he was only feeling more and more awkward and uncomfortable.
"I... I need some fresh air."
Entering the World Crest since that was without doubt the most flora rich place that he knew and could access instantly, Jian Shen disappeared instantly from the outside world.
...
Panting loudly Jian Shen who kept on remembering what happened and how much badly it hurt him really couldn't think of anything else.
The way it felt when his arm was not there... How weak and powerless he felt without his dantians... How it felt like when he lost his memories... And the overbearing fear he had towards death when he made the final choice...
Remembering all of this made him once again turn nauseous.
This time however neither of the swords said anything and chose to remain silent because they already did what they needed to.
Standing not too far from Jian Shen with her beautiful red fair waving with the wind was Xinyi who herself didn't have any idea about what to do with this boy.
Going through so much in such a short time, she couldn't imagine how he was feeling right now.
Realizing that Xinyi was there even though he had teleported to a faraway place from where the houses were built, Jian Shen awkwardly chuckled and tried to act like nothing was different about him.
"What is it Xinyi? You look as if you've seen a.... "
Sighing loudly from the way Xinyi was looking at him, Jian Shen weakly said, "You saw."
Even though that wasn't a question, Xinyi nodded her head and said, "All of us saw what you did."
Hearing those words Jian Shen was about to look around when Xinyi continued by saying, "Don't worry, it's only the two of us here. The others are... Let's just say they don't know how to feel due to everything they witnessed. Though they're relieved and happy that nothing happened to you, I'm sure all of them are angry at everything you went through for that one woman."
Chuckling even in this situation Jian Shen felt like all women very really creatures of jealousy.
"Haaaah.... I.... "
Walking near Jian Shen who literally looked like he was in the worst state that she had ever seen him, Xinyi could only shudder when imagining how it would be to go through everything that he did.
"You don't need to hide it anymore, boy. Didn't I tell you, it's only the two of us here."
"How... How did you know?"
Asking with an exhausted face, Jian Shen who no longer cared about trying to put in a brave face really looked like bed faint at any moment.
"I've known you longer than the others, Jian Shen. Even though I wasn't there with you when you really needed me, it wasn't because I didn't want to be there."
"I know better than anyone else about the life you grew up in. Having to go through such a thing isn't simple for even someone like you who performed so many miracles."
Smiling pitifully, Jian Shen no longer said anything and just walked closer to Xinyi and hugged her.
Though in the end he failed and fell to his knees due to his nervousness finally getting the better of him, Xinyi who was closely watching him did the same so that he ended up hugging her anyway.
Patting the back of his head with one hand and rubbing his back with the other one, Xinyi whose face was resting on Jian Shen's shoulder started whispering into his ear.
"Everything's fine now. Everything's fine. You must've been so scared but still you held out till the end. I'm very proud of you, boy."
Smiling and not saying anything, Jian Shen felt that even though he wasn't looking cool anymore, it was fine to be like this with Xinyi.
At least as long as he didn't start crying like a scared kid, which he fortunately didn't do so.
...
Jian Shen himself didn't know how long he had been there hugging Xinyi, but by the end of it he no longer turned so nervous even when he remembered what happened.
Seems like hugging a woman didn't just get rid of the tiredness but even all the unnecessary negative emotions.
Smiling freely while looking upwards towards Xinyi's face which looked more kind than it ever did until now, Jian Shen who was sleeping with his head in her lap couldn't help it as his hands started reaching for her face.