Liu Liu gasped sharply, her voice full of astonishment: "How on earth did you manage that???"
Sang Nian, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain, almost spilling over, sniffled and said, "I... I was careless and didn't dodge in time."
Seeing her like this, Liu Liu felt helpless and could only offer a heartfelt reminder: "Next time, make sure to dodge."
Sang Nian took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
At that moment, Xie Chenzhou's gaze grew even colder, as if capable of freezing the very air around him.
"Snap!"
The long whip cracked, creating a gust of wind. The sheer curtain fluttered wildly, like startled butterflies, while the tables and chairs were instantly split in two. The tea lid and porcelain bottles on the table were not spared, shattering into pieces on the ground. Nuts, dates, longans, and chestnuts from the fruit platter scattered everywhere, creating a chaotic mess.
Amid the chaos, Sang Nian accidentally stepped on a chestnut, lost her balance, and with a "thud," fell flat on the ground.
The room was in utter disarray, as though it had just endured a fierce battle. Only Xie Chenzhou, lying on the bed, remained untouched by the chaos, not even losing a strand of hair.
Sang Nian was utterly dumbfounded, sitting on the ground in a daze, staring blankly at the scene before her, her mind completely blank.
Xie Chenzhou: ...
Liu Liu: ...
For a moment, the air seemed frozen, suffocatingly silent.
"No... no wonder it's a Heaven-grade magical weapon," Liu Liu finally broke the awkward silence after what felt like an eternity. But her stammering words betrayed her inner shock, "Even without spiritual power, it still has such destructive force. If this room weren't protected by a formation, it would've been leveled entirely."
"I told you, I can't do this!" Sang Nian finally couldn't hold it in and shouted, "I've never even spun a top, let alone whipped anyone! This is an impossible task for me. I couldn't do it even if I whipped myself to death!"
Liu Liu looked troubled, pondered for a moment, and said, "How about we try simpler tools? If that still doesn't work, I'll think of another solution."
After much coaxing, Sang Nian reluctantly clutched her aching waist and struggled to her feet.
[This segment has been modified multiple times but still failed to pass review. A brief summary is as follows:]
[Review does not permit summaries.]
"Wait... Xie... Xie Chenzhou is—" Sang Nian suddenly stammered, her face filled with panic, "Is this a segment that's been rejected eighteen times—"
Liu Liu: ...
Her long-suspended heart finally fell completely cold.
After a prolonged silence, Liu Liu seemed to make a certain decision. Her voice carried a touch of helplessness and resignation: "Forget it. You've done your best."
With that, she transformed into a small yellow parrot, flying out of Sang Nian's consciousness. After circling a few times in the air, she gently landed on Sang Nian's shoulder and lightly patted her head with her tiny wings, as if offering her final comfort: "I've already applied to replace it with the simplest task."
Upon hearing this, Sang Nian felt a wave of relief, like a prisoner on death row suddenly receiving a pardon. She quickly asked, "What is it?"
"Don't worry, this task is absolutely foolproof," Liu Liu said with deliberate mystery. "You'll know when the system notifies you tomorrow."
Sang Nian was about to ask more when a sharp, stabbing pain suddenly erupted from her chest. The pain was like countless needles piercing her simultaneously, making it impossible for her to stand upright. Her face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of any color.
"You're about to die," Liu Liu's voice sounded in her ear, carrying a faintly "kind" reminder.
Panic-stricken, Sang Nian desperately searched her mind for an image of life-saving pills, repeatedly chanting in her heart, "What should I do? What should I do?"
Liu Liu said, "According to the original storyline, a maid outside the door would save you in time, leaving you unharmed. But now that she's left, if no one saves you, you'll undoubtedly lose your life."
Sang Nian tried to call for help, but even with all her strength, she could only force out weak gasps that were fainter than a mosquito's hum.
Liu Liu comforted her again: "However, according to the setting, Xie Chenzhou's physique is special, and your mysterious illness can be alleviated with some close contact between you two. If this happens frequently, it might even improve your constitution and significantly enhance your cultivation."
Sang Nian inwardly retorted helplessly, "So Xie Chenzhou has a naturally gifted dual-cultivation physique, huh?"
Liu Liu: "Your time is running out."
With no time to hesitate, Sang Nian staggered toward Xie Chenzhou, desperately signaling to him with her eyes. Her hoarse voice strained to utter one word at a time: "Quick... call... someone... to—" save me, save me, save me...
Before she could finish, the neckline she had hastily adjusted suddenly slipped open.
Sang Nian: revealing half of an "unreviewable" shoulder.
Xie Chenzhou: ('・) stunned.
Sang Nian: (>▫ Sip (ε) Xie Chenzhou: εâ(︿°) jolted. "What are you doing?!" Xie Chenzhou exclaimed loudly. "I'm dying; just let me take two sips," Sang Nian replied weakly, her pale face marred only by the crimson traces of blood on her lips, resembling a touch of bright rouge. Her delicate features, pale yet now slightly vibrant, appeared both fragile and breathtaking. Xie Chenzhou's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He pressed his lips tightly together, forcing himself to speak: "Get away from me..." "I swear I won't do anything else; just let me take two sips," Sang Nian pleaded softly, her voice as light as a whisper, almost coquettish. Xie Chenzhou's lips pressed into a thin line. He forcibly turned his head away, refusing to look at her. Taking this as silent consent, Sang Nian moved closer to his wound, performing an "unreviewable action." The night wind blew open the lattice windows. Moonlight poured in like flowing water, casting silver fragments on the floor. The soft silk curtains swayed gently, dancing in the tranquil night. The fragrance of gardenias from the girl's hair mingled with the faint metallic tang, wafting lightly past Xie Chenzhou's nose. The scent was subtle, carrying a hint of coolness. Xie Chenzhou clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his pale hands bulging, as if silently voicing his internal struggle. The red cord swayed, and the bell rang lightly. [Reviewers, this is purely atmospheric with no subtext.] Who knows how long passed before Sang Nian's body went limp. She rolled away just in time, resting her head on Xie Chenzhou's arm. "What are you doing now?" Xie Chenzhou's voice turned hoarse, tinged with a trace of panic. Sang Nian's eyelids felt heavy as lead. Weakly, she replied, "If I don't lie down now, I'll die. When I wake up... I'll untie you. The drug will wear off by dawn; bear with it..." Her voice grew fainter until it disappeared completely. Perhaps because she was too cold or too tired, Sang Nian slept soundly, curling up beside him in a pose of trust Xie Chenzhou had never seen before. She clung tightly to the warmth, motionless, her breathing so faint it seemed she might vanish at any moment. For a moment, Xie Chenzhou's gaze faltered, as if lost in some memory. But when he snapped back to reality, his pupils darkened like a bottomless abyss, his expression a mix of coldness and self-mockery. "Just another person coveting my blood and flesh," he thought coldly. "Nothing more, nothing different..." By the time the sun was high in the sky, warm light spilled into the room. Sang Nian gradually awoke. She reached out beside her but found the spot empty. The room had been meticulously tidied, showing no trace of last night's chaos. She tried to sit up, but her entire body ached as if it had been taken apart and reassembled. — Most likely thanks to the whip she had lashed herself with last night. At the thought, Sang Nian's expression twisted, the pain forcing her to suck in a breath. Just then, the door creaked open. A group of maids entered quietly, led by Chun'er, the personal maid who had grown up with the original owner. Chun'er gently lifted the bed curtain and peered at Sang Nian, asking softly, "Miss, shall we prepare for the day?" Sang Nian, struggling to maintain a neutral expression, gritted her teeth and replied, "Alright." She carefully pushed aside the blanket and got out of bed, but still couldn't suppress a sharp intake of breath. Chun'er immediately asked, "Miss, are you hurt somewhere?" "Do we have medicine for external injuries?" Sang Nian asked. Chun'er promptly handed her a porcelain bottle, saying, "This is from the Medicine King's Valley. I heard they've updated their formula, and it's highly effective for external wounds." The Sang family controlled the largest spiritual stone mine in Qingzhou, and many sects frequently interacted with them, offering rare treasures. After taking the medicine, Sang Nian indeed felt much better. She stored the remaining pills in her bag and instructed, "Keep these in stock. They might come in handy later." Chun'er covered her mouth and giggled, her smile carrying a hint of mischief. Realizing the misunderstanding, Sang Nian thought it necessary to explain: "It's not what you think..." "Last night's commotion was so loud half the Sang family heard it," Chun'er teased with a laugh. "That husband of yours, he's really something." Sang Nian's expression completely betrayed her, her face full of shock: "What?!" Chun'er continued, "But you do look better than usual." As they spoke, the two sat down in front of the dressing table. Sang Nian stared at her reflection. The girl in the mirror appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, her face pale and bloodless, her chin sharp, with a small crimson mole between her brows. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and clear. She bore some resemblance to her original appearance. But the sallow hair, overly frail body, and faint bluish tint between her brows—combined, they made it clear this was not the face of someone destined for longevity. "This is what they call 'looking better'?" Sang Nian thought to herself. "How bad must I usually look..." She shook her head and seemed to remember something, asking, "By the way, where's Xie Chenzhou?" "Oh, he's being strung up and beaten by the city lord," Chun'er said casually while washing her face. Sang Nian nearly choked, her eyes wide: "Strung up and beaten?!" At that moment, the long-silent system suddenly chimed twice. [Ding! Mission successfully changed. Please capture the supporting male lead, Xie Chenzhou, within seven months.] [Current favorability with Xie Chenzhou: -123060] Sang Nian: "..."