Lin Wanrong, though somewhat annoyed in his heart, did not regret his actions just now. Killing a beautiful woman was evidently not a pleasant affair. If it were to be a "dry" killing, perhaps it could be considered. Lin Wanrong fully embraced the spirit of Ah Q and indulged in some fanciful thoughts about Xiao Qingxuan to console his wounded soul.
However, he was now soaked all over, his body burning with fever, bearing both severe injuries and poisoning. Even if he wanted to "dry" kill her, he probably only had the heart, lacking the strength.
Fortunately, the place he landed was not far from his temporary residence, and with the darkening sky, there was no need to worry about someone discovering his whereabouts.
After observing his surroundings and finding nothing unusual, Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth, persevered, and made his way towards his dwelling. Throughout the journey, no one paid attention to him, and the girl named Xiao seemed not to have intentions of searching in the city. Lin Wanrong could finally relax.
Upon reaching his doorstep, Lin Wanrong could no longer hold on. He collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.
A venerable figure slowly approached him. With hollow pupils, as if forcibly dug out, he spoke in a hoarse voice, "You're back."
Having spent nearly a month with this man named Wei, Lin Wanrong was no longer as fearful as in the beginning. He nodded, "Yes, Uncle Wei, I just took a stroll, never expected my life to be in such jeopardy."
The old man didn't speak immediately. He squatted down, placing two fingers on Lin Wanrong's pulse. After a moment, he withdrew his hand and said, "You're poisoned, a slow-acting soft muscle powder. It won't be fatal, but within two hours, your body will turn dark purple, weak and fatigued. It will take twelve hours to fully recover."
Relieved that the poison wasn't lethal, Lin Wanrong sighed deeply. He thought about the situation in the water earlier; if the poison had acted then, he might have met his end. The realization made him shudder.
"As for the internal and external injuries, a few days of rest will suffice for recovery," Uncle Wei continued, examining the wounds with his blind eyes.
Knowing he could survive, Lin Wanrong's mood improved. The external injuries were secondary; the pain seemed to lessen, possibly just a psychological effect.
"Endure a bit, and I'll pull out the arrows," Uncle Wei said, holding the golden arrows in his hands.
Lin Wanrong frowned and said, "Uncle Wei, is there no anesthesia? This rough method doesn't seem suitable for civilized people like us."
Wei looked puzzled, "What is anesthesia?"
Lin Wanrong suggested, "It's a substance that temporarily numbs a part of my body. You can then pull out the arrow without me feeling pain."
Wei shook his head, "Never heard of such a drug. There's a stupefying drug; do you want to try that?"
Lin Wanrong hastily declined, not willing to risk taking stupefying drugs for no reason.
Wei handed over his smelly shoe, "Bite onto this."
Lin Wanrong refused, finding two bound books to bite on. He mumbled to Wei, "Go ahead."
As Wei was about to proceed, Lin Wanrong suddenly said, "Wait—," seeing Wei's confused look, he smiled awkwardly, "Uncle, be gentle. That's my flesh and blood you're dealing with."
Wei nodded, and Lin Wanrong thought of the troublesome girl who caused his predicament. He swore vengeance upon her ancestors.
Facing the inevitable, Lin Wanrong's face showed a determined expression.
Wei gently gripped the golden arrow with both hands. With a slight pull, the arrow fell into his hands. Lin Wanrong clenched the books in his teeth, his face pale, beads of sweat rolling down. Yet, he endured without making a sound.
Wei nodded approvingly, surprised by Lin Wanrong's resilience.
Handing the extracted golden arrow to Lin Wanrong, he examined it. The arrow was crafted from pure gold, exquisitely made, with the seal script character "Xuan" engraved on the shaft.
Thinking of the self-proclaimed Xiao Qingxuan, Lin Wanrong understood. The girl's name was Qingxuan, and Qingxuan sounded like Xuan.
"Xiao Qingxuan, Xiao Qingxuan—" Lin Wanrong softly murmured. The name was indeed elegant; just hearing it gave a glimpse of the person.
This girl made him shed blood, and he vowed to make her do the same. An eye for an eye, meticulous revenge—this was how he intended to deal with her. A cold smile appeared on Lin Wanrong's lips.
Upon hearing Lin Wanrong mentioning the name, Wei's face showed a trace of surprise. "Xiao Qingxuan? Are you sure her surname is Xiao?"
Lin Wanrong couldn't confirm her surname, but Qingxuan was her name, and that shouldn't be false.
Wei said, "Wanrong, narrate the whole story of your encounter with her, every detail."
Wei was the first person Lin Wanrong met in this world, rescuing him from Xuanwu Lake. Grateful and respectful, Lin Wanrong shared the events by the lakeside and the conversation with Xiao Qingxuan.
As Wei listened, his face showed a hint of astonishment. He was evidently impressed by Lin Wanrong's profound words.
When Wei reached the part about the poem, his surprise deepened, "Wanrong, did you really compose this poem?"
Lin Wanrong recounted how he ended up in this different world, starting from that fateful day when he slipped and fell into the clouds after being forced to carry luggage by an annoying girl during a mountain trip with colleagues. Wei happened to pass by, rescuing him from Xuanwu Lake. Lin Wanrong felt deeply grateful, but to avoid potential trouble, he reluctantly admitted, "Yes, Uncle Wei, this poem was something I randomly came up with during my lakeside stroll. I hope you don't find it laughable."
Wei sighed, "Wanrong, I've been with you for over a month. During this time, I've seen you sitting idly, mumbling about travel, the company, and such. Never have I seen you recite poetry or read a book until these recent days. I thought you weren't interested in poetry, but it seems there's a hidden talent within you. With just these few lines, none of the so-called talented individuals in the present world can compare."
Blushing, Lin Wanrong accepted the praise, recalling that Xiao Qingxuan had also said something similar before. Facing the compliments from someone who saved his life, he felt a bit embarrassed but not shameless. In this strange world, he had to carry something with him, and he took it as compensation from a higher power.
Comparatively, the director's daughter, who caused Lin Wanrong's miserable state, was the truly shameless one.
Thinking of that annoying girl, Lin Wanrong once again felt the urge to explode. He quickly controlled his emotions, took a deep breath, and calmed himself. Compared to that wretched girl, Xiao Qingxuan seemed cute.