Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 36 - Healing Embrace in the Silent Night

Jiang Cheng swiftly descended, pushing his limits to catch up to Qing Yi's falling form. Lan Xichen followed suit, rapidly descending with Jing Shi gripping him tightly as they plummeted toward the ground.

With an adrenaline-fueled burst of strength, Jiang Cheng unleashed his Zidian whip, expertly maneuvering it to encircle Qing Yi's legs mid-air. In one swift motion, he yanked the whip, bringing Qing Yi back into his embrace. His voice carried a blend of anger and deep concern as he chided, "What the hell were you thinking? Do you want to die?"

Qing Yi, however, remained fixated on the lost Aquamerald Pearl, tears welling in his eyes. It was a futile pursuit, and he couldn't tear his gaze away from it.

"My pearl...!" he tried to exclaim.

Once they had safely touched down on the ground, Jiang Cheng's frustration persisted, and he continued to berate Qing Yi with his voice raised in exasperation. "Forget about the pearl! Is it worth more than your life?"

Qing Yi's breathing had become coarse, his vision blurring as his limbs felt as though they might detach. "Yes... it's... worth it," he replied to Jiang Cheng, his consciousness slipping away.

Still holding Qing Yi tightly, Jiang Cheng felt the weight of his body sagging against him, growing increasingly concerned. "Koh Gongzi? Hey, Koh Gongzi?" he called out, his voice laced with worry.

As a bitter chill began to seep through Qing Yi's body, he held onto Jiang Cheng with desperate strength. "I feel... so cold," he managed to say, each word a struggle. Jiang Cheng was taken aback by Qing Yi's sudden declaration. Then, with great effort, Qing Yi continued, "I'm so... sorry... I'm so...cold... Could you bring me back to..."

Jiang Cheng's hand instinctively went to Qing Yi's forehead, where he could feel the feverish heat emanating. "You're burning up! You have a fever," Jiang Cheng stated, tightening his embrace around Qing Yi.

The rest of the group quickly joined Jiang Cheng and Qing Yi on the ground. Lan Xichen and Jing Shi rushed to their side, witnessing Jiang Cheng's unwavering grip on Qing Yi's limp form. Lan Xichen's heart constricted at the sight.

"Qing Yi!" Lan Xichen exclaimed, hurrying to join them, his eyes filled with concern.

Jing Shi rushed over and gripped her brother's arms. "Qing Yi? Qing Yi! Are you alright? Why would you do something like that?" Her voice was filled with worry and frustration, tears welling up from the fear of possibly losing her only brother when she watched him plummet from a dangerous height.

"I've got him. He's running a high fever," Jiang Cheng said urgently, his eyes meeting Lan Xichen's. Lan Xichen's discomfort was palpable, and he wanted to pry Qing Yi from Jiang Cheng's tight hold.

Yu Yan and Kai Ze also hurried over. "Qing Yi! Oh, thank the heavens you caught him in time," Yu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's get him back to the village. He needs immediate medical attention," Lan Xichen urged, his tone urgent.

With haste, they all mounted their swords and swiftly returned to Gusu Sylvatica. Yu Yan took charge, whisking her son away to their hospital building, located adjacent to the Koeh Tribal Hall. She called for her daughters to assist in caring for Qing Yi.

"We'll take it from here, Clan Leaders. Please, return to your quarters. I apologize for the disruption to our plans," Yu Yan offered a sincere apology.

"It was nothing. I was the one who insisted on taking him with us in the first place," Jiang Cheng expressed his regret.

Yu Yan shook her head and replied, "No, it's not your fault. Qing Yi shouldn't have accepted the offer. He did it because he wanted to hide his fever from us, driven by his own selfish desire to explore the sky. Such a stubborn child." She sighed in exasperation.