Not long after Cao Fengge and others took off, Dong Lanying and Yuan Xiurong stood on the bottomless cliff.
Yuan Xiurong, "How far down do you think it is?"
Dong Lanying, "I don't know." She picked up a rock and threw it down the cliff, but for a long time, they couldn't hear anything.
Yuan Xiurong, "Could it be a bottomless cliff?"
Dong Lanying, "Maybe?"
Then from behind, they saw six people rushing over. Dong Lanying drew her sword and prepared to fight the group of six. When the group of six arrived, it was Cao Yanmei and five men.
Dong Lanying asked, "What are you doing here?"
Cao Yanmei panicky said, "My father and his men are coming."
Dong Lanying, "He came already."
Cao Yanmei, "He did…? Where is the stinky Taoist?"
Dong Lanying pointed at the cliff. She said, "Your father sent him over that cliff."
Cao Yanmei walked to the edge of the cliff and shouted, "Stinky Taoist!"
Yuan Xiurong said, "Cao guniang, don't get too close, it seems like a bottomless cliff."
Cao Yanmei said, "I don't believe it." She looked at the five men. "Go collect all the ropes and vines you can collect."
Xue Horan looked at his reflection in the flowing river. He clearly saw the handprint on his neck. Then he saw the reflection of Yongzheng approaching from behind him.
Yongzheng asked, "How it is?"
Xue Horan said, "Not too bad."
Yongzheng sat down behind Xue Horan and put his arms around Xue Horan's waist. He rested his head on Xue Horan's left shoulder. He whispered, "Horan, I am not a good person. You are right. In reality, you can never choose me, nor should you choose me."
Xue Horan asked, "Would you like to talk about it? Sometimes it's not good to keep things inside for a long time?"
Yongzheng said, "I'll tell you when I'm ready." He stared at the red handprint on Xue Horan's neck. He leaned closer and kissed the side of Xue Horan's left neck. "I'm sorry."
Xue Horan said, "Yongzheng look in the river. A couple without faces, although their faces are not clear, each has its own beauty."
Yongzheng took a peek from Xue Horan's left shoulder. He smiled and continued to watch their reflections in the water. He whispered in his heart 'Yes, indeed, the couple he saw in the river are beautiful together'. Then he suddenly remembered that Xue Horan had told him that in reality he could never choose him. He had to face reality, Rao Zhengsheng and Xue Horan had an agreement. The worst feeling is that Rao Zhengsheng and he are brothers. A good brother will not take away his brother's lover.
Yongzheng looked at Xue Horan who was smiling happily looking at the two reflections in the river. He said in his heart 'Horan, every time I see you, I hope to talk with you happily. Maybe it can warm my heart and take away my guilts. Maybe you don't even want to look at me or talk to me. Even if I know that in reality, I will never be able to express how much I love you, but it's nothing, because as long as I feel that you are mine in my heart, I am already very satisfied. No one needs to know my feelings for you. I will share my story with the sun and the moon, and I will tell them how much I like you'.
Xue Horan said, "Yongzheng, winter is coming soon, remember to wear a thicker coat."
Yongzheng said, "Hmm…"
Xue Horan took Yongzheng's hand and looked up. He saw a square shaped like a basket hanging from the thick fog. He said, "Yongzheng look." He pointed. "That looks like a basket."
Yongzheng looked up. He flew quickly over the bottomless pond to the other side. He grabbed the bamboo basket and flew back. He saw a letter, some food, paper, and ink. He handed the bamboo basket to Xue Horan and he read the letter. The letter was sent by Cao Yanmei, telling Yongzheng that they are preparing to rescue them.
Yongzheng looked at Xue Horan, "This letter is from Cao Yanmei, and she said they are going to help us get out of here."
Xue Horan smiled happily, "That's great."
They walked to the cave and awakened Rao Zhengsheng and Dong Shun. All three of them were a little excited.
Rao Zhengsheng said, "You and Horan are the only two people who are not injured. I will climb up first. If this is Cao Fengge's scheme, at least I will die alone. Yongzheng, since Dong shushu can't climb, you have to carry him up." He looked at Yongzheng. "Do you think you can do it?"
Yongzheng nodded.
Rao Zhengsheng picked up a piece of paper and wrote that they are still alive and will leave early tomorrow morning. As soon as the basket was tied to the rope, Rao Zhengsheng shook it twice, and the rope slowly pulled up.
That night, Rao Zhengsheng woke up and found that Dong Shun had disappeared. He looked into the cave and found that it was him and Yongzheng remain. Xue Horan was nowhere to be found. He quickly got up and walked out of the cave. He saw Xue Horan sitting on a small rock, overlooking the pond. He walked to Xue Horan.
Rao Zhengsheng asked, "Why are you still up?"
Xue Horan looked at Rao Zhengsheng, "I just woke up." He looked down then at Rao Zhengsheng. "Da shixiong, are you going to marry Xiurong?"
Rao Zhengsheng asked, "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly ask?"
Xue Horan said, "I just want to know."
Rao Zhengsheng said, "Horan, all you have to know is that I will marry you too."
Xue Horan asked, "Then let me rephrase my question. Da shixiong, if I were a woman and could have children, would you still marry Xiurong?"
Rao Zhengsheng, "Horan…"
Xue Horan smiled at Rao Zhengsheng and said, "I already know the answer, but I just want to hear it from you." He grabbed Rao Zhengsheng's left arm and leaned against his shoulder. "Zhen ge, please tell me honestly, you don't have to hide it. This will be the last time I will ask you this question."
Rao Zhengsheng held onto Xue Horan's hand. He said, "Horan, I like you, and I also like Xiurong. You gave me love and safety, and she gave me strength and courage. Whether you are a man or a woman, I will also marry Xiurong with you in the future. Because I owe her a lot." He pulled Xue Horan away and looked into Xue Horan eyes. "Horan, I'm sorry if I let you down. When I first developed feelings for Xiurong, I did try to keep myself away, but..."
Xue Horan smiled at Rao Zhengsheng, and said, "But, Zhen ge, just can't help your feelings for her. In my opinion, I think you two look good together." He continued to smile, holding back his tears. "I really meant it. I'm glad Zhen ge told me the truth." He paused and continued to rest his head on Rao Zhengsheng's left shoulder. "Zhen ge, can I name your first child?"
Rao Zhengsheng rubbed Xue Horan's head and said, "Yes, I will let you name all of our children."
Xue Horan chuckles and said, "No, I just want to name your first child."
Rao Zhengsheng asked, "What do you have in mind?"
Xue Horan said, "Rao Bu Hen, do you like it?"
Rao Zhengsheng chuckled, "Rao Bu Hen...I like that."
Two ropes fell down early in the morning. Before Rao Zhengsheng was about to climb up. Xue Horan put a piece of paper in Rao Zhengsheng's robe.
Xue Horan smiled at him, "It some good luck words I remember from the monks in the temple."
Rao Zhengsheng said, "If this is not Cao Fengge's trick, I will see you up there."
Xue Horan wrapped his hands around Rao Zhengsheng's waist and hugged him tightly. He murmured, "Be careful."
The group waited for a while, and the rope swayed, indicating that Rao Zhengsheng had made it up safely.
Yongzheng said, "Horan, is your turn."
Xue Horan looked at Yongzheng and said, "You and Dong qianbei go first. I'm afraid you and my da shixiong will have to pull me up."
Yongzheng said, "When we drop the rope for you and tie it around your waist, we will pull you up."
Xue Horan smiled at Yongzheng. Just when Yongzheng was about to pull himself and Dong Shun up. Xue Horan said, "Yongzheng…" Yongzheng turned around and Xue Horan smiled at him. "Thank you."
Xue Horan watched Yongzheng and Dong Shun slowly climbs into the fog.