The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 138: Full Force Applied (3)

"It seems it's not going to work. Withdraw your hands!" Rongjing sensed that his true energy was nearly depleted and that Yun Qianyue's energy was also running low. He spoke softly, hoping to seize the last chance to save her.

Could it really end like this?

Yun Qianyue suddenly regretted her rashness, realizing she had acted impulsively without proper preparation. Perhaps if she hadn't acted on a whim and had waited for the right moment—if the time and circumstances had aligned, or if she had a fortuitous encounter with a hidden sage—maybe it could have worked out...

Biting her lip, she shook her head. "It's impossible! If I die, so be it. Eighteen years later, I'll just be a hero again. It's nothing significant. With you accompanying me in the afterlife, I won't feel lonely."

"Well then!" Rongjing had already lost the strength to help her further.

Yun Qianyue completed the last move of Taiji in her mind and braced herself for death.

Just as she finished the final move in her mind, she felt a sudden rush within her dantian, like a spring opening up, warm energy flowing upward and instantly coursing through her meridians, quickly rushing into Rongjing's body through her palms. In that moment, it saved both their nearly depleted true energies.

A miracle happened!

Yun Qianyue's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in disbelief as she looked at Rongjing.

Rongjing was equally shocked, staring back at her in astonishment.

They gazed at each other, speechless. At this moment, words felt too inadequate.

"We're saved!" After a long pause, Yun Qianyue finally spoke.

"Indeed! We're saved!" Rongjing nodded in agreement.

"Truly, heaven doesn't cut off all paths!" Yun Qianyue laughed heartily, her spirits soaring. It felt as if she didn't need to exert any effort; her true energy spontaneously flowed through her body and into Rongjing's hands, then into his dantian. The stubborn piece of ice that had lodged itself within him was quickly surrounded by the warm energy and began to melt away.

Rongjing's lips curved into a faint smile, his features seeming to come alive, like a blossoming lotus.

"Thank goodness I persevered! If I had shown even a hint of hesitation or been discouraged by you, we'd both be finished," Yun Qianyue teased, returning to her usual self.

"Indeed, I'm glad you held on!" Rongjing nodded with a smile.

Yun Qianyue raised an eyebrow proudly, choosing not to speak further. She focused on controlling her true energy, wary that if she let her excitement get the best of her, it might overwhelm Rongjing, nullifying all their efforts.

Rongjing understood her thoughts and kept silent. In the final moments of success, caution was paramount. He had no idea what lay ahead; they couldn't afford to be careless until the very end.

In critical moments, one's true nature is revealed.

Just like Rongjing and Yun Qianyue, both were resilient and prudent individuals.

Half an hour later, the stubborn piece of ice finally melted away. After its dissolution, Yun Qianyue seemed to see an endless expanse of charred ash and desolation before her—a place of deep wounds where all vegetation had withered away, leaving nothing alive.

She realized this must be the scar left by the aphrodisiac's burning and the devastating blow it had dealt. It was indeed severe. Had she not had Rongjing's help to eradicate the poison within her, she likely would have fared worse than him—beyond just bleeding from all seven orifices; she could have been turned to charcoal.

Those who had plotted against her better be prepared! Once she escaped, she vowed to seek revenge without delay!

"I'll try to see if I can restore some life here." Although she spoke this way, her heart was resolute. She felt the true energy within her like warm water, and if it had a fluid nature, could it not heal and revive this barren land?

"Okay!" Rongjing nodded. He too sensed that the true energy Yun Qianyue was channeling this time was different from before. This was likely her real internal force, the true essence of the Phoenix Scriptures; the earlier manifestations had only been superficial.

Yun Qianyue continued to control her true energy, gently caressing the area of the burn as if it were a light breeze or gentle rain. However, time passed, and there was no immediate response from the wound. Yet, she remained patient, growing ever more tender and soothing, like a small stream nurturing a parched rice paddy.

Rongjing closed his eyes, feeling the sharp pain that had once felt like life being cut away dissipate. Instead, he was enveloped in a comforting warmth. He had grown accustomed to the bitter cold over many years, and he had thought he would suffer this way until his death. He considered himself resolute, yet he found it hard to endure such a long stretch of ten years. He hadn't expected that heaven had not completely abandoned him.

After about a hundred cycles of soothing energy, Yun Qianyue suddenly felt a rush of joy. "It really works! Can you feel it? Your withered heart meridian is coming back to life! I can truly feel it!"

"Yes, I can feel it too." Rongjing opened his eyes and nodded with a smile.

Yun Qianyue's confidence surged. This miraculous occurrence thrilled her more than her first visit to the National Security Bureau. In that world, no matter how hard one tried, such miracles of martial arts, internal energy, or healing weren't possible, but here, it was real. The intricacies of it all left her bewildered, but what did it matter if she couldn't unravel them? As long as it was useful, that was sufficient.

She smiled brightly, like a child savoring candy, wholeheartedly repeating her soothing motions, lost in delight.

Rongjing watched her with a smile, his gaze radiating warmth that had never been present before. This warmth was not the fierce blaze of the sun, but rather the gentle, pleasant warmth of a spring day—calm and soothing. It felt like the gentle flow of spring water.

Time passed, second by second, and Rongjing's injured heart meridian was half restored.

Yun Qianyue had completely lost track of how long they had been there, and so had Rongjing.

One focused intently on mending his body, the other on feeling the long-lost warmth.

At that moment, voices suddenly drifted from outside, shattering the silence.

Yun Qianyue froze, and Rongjing opened his eyes as they both turned to the source of the sound behind them. It was very clear, as if only a wall separated them.

"This prince commands you to break this mechanism with all your might! Otherwise, you can forget about your head!" Ye Tianqing's voice came through, filled with authority and a hint of harsh urgency.

"Yes, Your Highness!" A respectful voice, presumably from a middle-aged man, responded from outside, trembling slightly.