Heart Protection (Back from the Brink)

CHAPTER 103

Distressed.

Incomparably distressed.

Yan Hui only had to think about it a little bit on her way here before knowing why Tian Yao would come here alone. If it wasn't for him being unable to take back his own neidan, then there would be no reason for him to take the snake's neidan. If he had his own neidan, then he wouldn't be in this condition.

He ought to be soaring in the sky, making everyone cower under his displeasure.

"Yan Hui." Tian Yao suddenly laughed in Yan Hui's ear. "You came again."  He patted her head with gentleness, ruefulness, and some other hidden emotions. He said, "Don't risk your life for me. I'll protect you."

The head on Yan Hui's shoulder became a little heavier. Tian Yao had passed out.

Yan Hui was silent, and then she somewhat heavily patted his back. Her voice was choked: "First protect yourself. Then we'll talk."

Yan Hui went to a place with clean water and washed Tian Yao's face. Then she pulled off his outer clothing and washed it in the water. Yan Hui was still scrubbing at the clothes when Tian Yao woke up behind her.

He slightly opened his eyes and saw Yan Hui bathed in sunlight. She was focused on washing the clothes in her hands. When water would occasionally splash onto her face, she would wipe it away. Her expression look natural. There was no depression nor despondence. Her eyes didn't have the grief that lingered on after Ling Xiao had died.

For a moment, the scene before his eyes was like an illusion. They were just an ordinary couple in the world. It would be best if the only thing Yan Hui had to worry about today was not wanting to wash the dishes and tomorrow not wanting to cook. Living an ordinary life with a bit of indolence.......

Perhaps because the gaze behind her was too strong, Yan Hui look back. She was a bit surprised and asked Tian Yao: "What is it? Why are you looking at me with such kind eyes? It's creepy."

Tian Yao coughed: "Are you helping me to wash my clothes?"

"You were swallowed by that nine-headed snake demon and then exploded out. You smelled......all that was need was a sprinkle of water, and you would be just like fertilizer. If I didn't wash them, there's no way I could carry you back."

Tian Yao nodded and was silent.

Yan Hui wrung out the clothes and hung them on a tree branch. With today's hot sun, the clothes should quickly dry out. After arranging the clothes, Yan Hui walked over and sat by Tian Yao's side.

Yan Hui's arm lightly touched his arm. She also stayed silent. They peacefully sat there, listening to the burbling stream, and watching the occasional bird fly overhead.

Tian Yao couldn't hold it back any longer and asked: "Why did you come?"

Yan Hui spoke: "I dreamed about shifu and Head Senior Disciple. It was when they were taking me to Chen Xing Mountain. That was the luckiest moment in my life. Shifu gave me a piggy-back ride. Head Senior Disciple was worried that I was missing my home, so he tried tell me so jokes that really weren't funny to amuse me." Yan Hui laughed as she talked.

Tian Yao looked down but also lightly chuckled along with Yan Hui.

"I really wished that the path would continue on forever, that it wouldn't end." Yan Hui paused. Her arm pressed a little tighter against Tian Yao. "But then someone told me someone was bullying you, so I woke up."

Tian Yao was stunned. When he finally processed what the words meant, his eyes lit up. Tian Yao looked over at Yan Hui, but her head was tilted and resting against his shoulder. She said, "The last part was fake. I made it up to make you happy. It didn't really happen."

"........"

Hearing Yan Hui's words was like riding a cloud when seriously injured.......up and down........

Yan Hui could sense that Tian Yao stiffened. She laughed like a child whose practical joke succeeded: "But once I remembered that you were waiting for me, I came out of the dream. In that moment, I didn't want to have that kind of dream anymore. When I thought that my actions hurt the great dragon Tian Yao, I got mad at myself." Yan Hui reached out and grasped Tian Yao's hand. She interlaced their fingers together: "I clearly said that I would protect you."

"Yan Hui......."

"First listen to me," said Yan Hui. "My memories of the 10 years with shifu are vivid in my mind. Any fragment of them can make my heart ache. To me, Ling Xiao is 10 years of my heart. He is my shifu, the one I looked up to, the one I admired. This kind of person throwing away his life for me.......I was stuck in pain and grief these past two days." Yan paused and sat upright. She looked at Tian Yao, "But I know that one day, I will move on."

Humans were always that strong of an animal. Wounds will heal. Pain will pass.

"I can walk out this haze myself, but I'll need time. Tian Yao, are you willing to accompany me during this time?"

If one were to say what was Tian Yao's most wonderful moment, it would be meeting Yan Hui when he was at the end of his rope. If one were to say what was Yan Hui's most wonderful moment, it would be having Tian Yao when she had nothing left.

Tian Yao didn't respond for a long time. It was so long that Yan Hui was starting to think his mind had wandered elsewhere. Tian Yao's mouth slightly curled......and he actually laughed.

Yan Hui was a little dumbfounded at his sincere smile: "What did I say.......that was so funny......."

"So cute."

"What?"

Thus Tian Yao repeated: "Yan Hui, when you say that so earnestly, it's so cute." It made his heart race and his mind blank out.

Yan Hui was a little stunned. She coughed and covered up her red face: "You talk. What were you going to say?

"You're holding my injured hand."

Yan Hui was dumbfounded. She looked down and finally realized her fingers were intertwined with his injured left hand. She felt pain in her heart and also a huge jolt of embarrassment. She promptly let go: "If it hurts, then say something. If you endure it, how am I supposed to know......."

Yan Hui hadn't finished talking nor completely withdrawn her hand when Tian Yao used his injured hand to pull Yan Hui forward. He made her fall into his arms and then hugged her.l

Yan Hui stayed startled for a long time. Then, her cheeks started to slowly warm up.

Although they both confessed to each other, there were very few intimate moments between them. It was like they had grown accustomed to the friendship manner between them. Normally, holding hands let alone hugging was rare.

In the current situation, the two of them didn't have time to think if anything was amiss between the two of them. Now with Tian Yao's hug, Yan Hui flusteredly thought that they had been acting too innocent with each other........

Tian Yao wasn't hugging Yan Hui with the suffocating vice used on full moon nights. It also wasn't the surprised hug when he thought Yan Hui had died. This was a gentle hug that slowly trickled affection. This was a tender hug that they have never done before.

"Yan Hui, there was an issue with your question."

Yan Hui was surprised: "What?"

"I'm willing to do anything for you. Just let me be with you."