In the dead of night, a torrential rain suddenly began to pour. Mingzhang was startled awake by a woman's scream, lit a candlestick, and came out to investigate. Panicking, he rushed over to Leng Qingqiu's room and knocked on the door.
"Benefactor Leng, what is going on?"
"Little Daoist Mingzhang, hurry and save me—cough, cough, cough..."
To his horror, Xiangliu's eyes were bloodred, fangs bared, and his fingernails had grown out into a chilling, razor-sharp gleam! He looked ready to strangle Leng Qingqiu to death at any moment. Mingzhang instantly drew his peach wood sword. After a few exchanges, seeing that Mingzhang was gradually losing the upper hand and his life hung by a thread, Leng Qingqiu ran over, blocked Mingzhang, and shouted, "Xiangliu, if you want to kill someone, kill me!"
Xiangliu froze for a second, felt a sharp agony in his chest, and vomited a mouthful of blood. Seizing the opportunity, Mingzhang unleashed a surge of sword qi. Amidst flashes of lightning, thunder, and the raging storm, Xiangliu collapsed in a pool of blood...
"Little Daoist Mingzhang, take me away. He's a demon, he's too terrifying."
Grabbing Leng Qingqiu, Mingzhang ran out of the house without looking back. As soon as they stepped out the door, Mingzhang pulled out a Thousand-Mile Talisman and crushed it. With a flash of light, they vanished instantly from the spot and returned to Baiyun Temple.
Shocked pale by this sudden turn of events, Leng Qingqiu was struck speechless for a moment. Her eyes wide, she looked at the familiar surroundings before her, her heart filled with doubt and fear. After a long while, she finally recovered her wits and asked tremblingly, "Mingzhang... where are we?"
Mingzhang patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, we are back. That place just now was too dangerous; I had to get you away from there." He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Now, we need to find Master as soon as possible and tell him what happened."
Leng Qingqiu nodded and gripped Mingzhang's hand tightly. Although her heart was still filled with unease, she knew that only by relying on Mingzhang and his master could this problem be solved. And so, the two of them walked together into Baiyun Temple, searching for Master.
"Benefactor Leng, do not be afraid! Once we are at Baiyun Temple, everything is safe. With me and my master here, no one can hurt you. Look at me, I am Mingzhang, and I will protect you!" Mingzhang comforted Leng Qingqiu as they walked.
Leng Qingqiu nodded silently, grabbed Mingzhang's hand, and wrote three characters: "I trust you."
When they reached Chunyangzi's room, they found that Master was not inside. Mingzhang then took Leng Qingqiu back to his own room. During the day, the monastic room was exceptionally quiet, and sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow. Looking at Leng Qingqiu's exhausted face, Mingzhang signaled for her to rest for a while. Then he gently closed the door and tiptoed out to find some food.
Before long, Mingzhang returned carrying a food box containing a dish of greens and a bowl of millet porridge. Entering the room, he found that Leng Qingqiu had already fallen asleep. He gently placed the food box on the table and went to look for Master.
After leaving the main hall, Mingzhang headed straight for Master's quarters. However, when he pushed the door open, he found the room completely empty. His heart sank, and an ominous premonition welled up inside him. Could something have happened to Master? No, impossible! Master was so powerful, how could anything happen to him?
Mingzhang began searching everywhere within Baiyun Temple for Master, but to no avail. Finally, he had to accept a reality: Master had left Baiyun Temple, and there was no telling when he would return.
Master usually loved traveling the world, and every time he left, it took several months for him to return. Mingzhang was long accustomed to this situation. Only this time it felt different; he felt somewhat helpless and lost.
"Sigh, whatever, I'll wait until Master gets back." Mingzhang sighed and turned back to his room. After tidying up the room, he said to Leng Qingqiu, "Lady Leng, you can rest here tonight. I'll go squeeze in with some of my junior brothers."
Leng Qingqiu gave Mingzhang a grateful look and nodded. "Thank you, Daoist Mingzhang," she said.
Mingzhang smiled, turned, and walked out of the room. He went to the room next door and knocked softly. The door was opened by a young Daoist priest, who looked surprised upon seeing Mingzhang.
"Senior Brother Mingzhang, it's so late, is something the matter?"
"Junior Brother, can you take me in for the night? My room has been occupied," Mingzhang said with a wry smile.
The young priest hesitated for a moment, then nodded and let Mingzhang into the room. The two of them squeezed onto a single bed to sleep. Mingzhang closed his eyes and silently prayed for Master to return safely.
The next day, after finishing his routine duties in the temple, Mingzhang hurried back to his room to look after Leng Qingqiu and took her for a stroll in the back mountains.
"Benefactor Leng, do not overthink things. Just rest and recuperate your mind and peace here. As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood; we can plan for the long term later."
A bamboo-viper suddenly appeared on a tree branch, very close to Leng Qingqiu. Before she could react, Mingzhang grabbed the snake with his bare hands, though he accidentally got bitten in the process.
"I'm fine, I have medicinal pills with me."
"Where are the pills? I'll get them for you, your hand is hurt."
"In my bamboo back-basket," Mingzhang pointed behind him. "The purple bottle."
"Alright, sit down quickly, I'll get it." Leng Qingqiu nimbly rummaged through the basket, poured out the medicine, and fed it to Mingzhang's mouth.
That hand was fair, slender, and distinctly jointed, with fingertips tinged in a faint pink, resembling a meticulously carved work of art. It slowly moved closer to Mingzhang, finally stopping right at his lips.
Feeling the touch of those fingers, Mingzhang trembled all over and jerked backward as if struck by lightning, a blush spreading across his face as alluring as a ripe apple.
"What's wrong with you? Why is your face so red? Are you running a fever?" A trace of worry flashed in Leng Qingqiu's eyes. She reached out and gently stroked Mingzhang's forehead, checking the temperature change.
Mingzhang shook his head to indicate he was fine, but his gaze betrayed a hint of peculiarity. Looking at Leng Qingqiu's concerned gaze, his heartbeat accelerated involuntarily, and a warm current surged into his heart.
"Are you really okay? But your face is so red..." Leng Qingqiu furrowed her brows in puzzlement, placing her own hand on her forehead to compare their temperatures. Still seeming somewhat unconvinced, she gently pressed her forehead close to Mingzhang's, trying to measure the temperature more accurately.
"Mmm..." Mingzhang gave a soft, shuddering moan. His gaze grew somewhat hazy, and his breath turned ragged. The woman before him made his heart race uncontrollably, and this close proximity made his heart thump wildly against his ribs.
"Are you alright?" Noticing Mingzhang's abnormal reaction, Leng Qingqiu quickly raised her head and looked at him nervously.
"I'm fine, just a little dizzy, it'll pass in a moment." Mingzhang took a deep breath, struggling to calm the agitation within. He tightly grasped Leng Qingqiu's hand, fearing she might leave.
Just then, Mingzhang caught sight of Xiangliu standing behind them, those blue eyes gradually shifting to a bloodred, exuding a dangerous aura.
Mingzhang's heart tightened; he knew he could not drag this out any longer. He quickly reached out and pulled Leng Qingqiu into his arms, holding her tightly.
"I'll feel better once I hold you, don't move," Mingzhang said softly, his voice carrying an imperceptible hoarseness and tremor.
Leng Qingqiu's body stiffened slightly for a moment, but she quickly relaxed. Leaning against Mingzhang's embrace and feeling his warm breath, the corners of her lips curved upward in a faint smile.
Xiangliu felt an unbearable ache in his heart. His face was as pale as paper, and fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead. He pressed his hands tightly against his chest, trying to ease the violent pain, but to no avail. He knew that this agony stemmed not only from his physical body, but also from the deepest wounds within his soul.
He slowly turned around, his steps heavy and slow as if he were carrying the weight of the entire world. He walked away in silence, leaving not a single word, not even a parting glance for her. He knew she had made her choice, and he could only quietly accept that reality.
Perhaps he really was just a superfluous presence. He had once believed they shared a special bond, that they could face any hardship and challenge together. Yet now it seemed that everything was merely his own wishful thinking. Her heart held only that other person, and he could never replace that place.
Xiangliu's figure receded into the distance, eventually vanishing into the vast sea of humanity. His departure drew no one's attention, much like a solitary shooting star streaking across the night sky, disappearing quietly into the endless dark. No one knew the struggles and torment raging within his heart, nor could anyone understand his deep and devoted love for her.
In this moment, Xiangliu finally understood that love is not a fair game. Sometimes, no matter how much one gives, it may not bring a matching return. And all he could do was guard her silently, even if that guardianship meant enduring endless pain and torment.