Chapter 256
In the not-so-distant Qin Zheng Palace, smoke and fireworks enveloped the area, accompanied by continuous explosions that seemed to distort the space around them. Entire buildings were blasted into the air, and some debris even scattered towards them.
Lin Qingyang’s mind went blank, filled only with the incessant alarm bells. This level of frequency indicated that the male lead was nearing death.
Chu Lishu! Chu Lishu! Chu Lishu!
Lin Qingyang, overwhelmed with concern, broke free from Concubine Xu’s grasp and dashed towards the continuously exploding palace.
Concubine Xu tried to stop Lin Qingyang, but she couldn’t hold him back at all, so she could only frown and shake her head from a distance.
Amidst the chaos, Lin Qingyang still remembered to activate the navigation system, praying for a miracle, but the navigation led him to the epicenter of the explosions.
Soon after, a notification of mission completion echoed in his mind.
The Emperor… was dead.
Lin Qingyang stumbled and staggered through the shaking, rushing into the palace square. Along the way, he was hit by flying debris several times, but he didn’t feel any of the injuries.
Soon, the explosions ceased, leaving only the sound of raging fires and collapsing buildings, with no cries for help around.
Entering the main hall, Lin Qingyang witnessed several scenes of gruesome carnage. Jing Rouyin… Yuan Ye… Empress Cheng’s mangled remains seemed scattered, and in the distance lay the almost flattened body of the Emperor.
Lin Qingyang’s face had lost all color. In the face of such power, even the highest level of martial arts…
Finally reaching the spot marked by the arrow, Chu Lishu was buried under a heap of rubble.
Lin Qingyang felt numb all over. The alarm was still blaring; Chu Lishu must not be dead.
“Lishu…” Lin Qingyang painstakingly unearthed a complete figure. Just as he was about to sigh in relief and embrace him, he looked closely, and suddenly it felt like his soul was forcibly ripped from his body.
A sharp piece of lighting fixture pierced Chu Lishu’s body, and thick blood continued to gush out as his body involuntarily convulsed.
Could he still survive this?
Suddenly, a cough brought Lin Qingyang back to his senses. He desperately stuffed medicine into Chu Lishu’s mouth.
His voice trembled so much that it couldn’t accurately convey his plea, “Lishu… Lishu… Please, don’t let anything happen, please!”
Chu Lishu continued to cough up blood, his body feeling heavy and weary, longing to just drift off to sleep. However, upon hearing Lin Qingyang’s voice, he laboriously opened his eyes. His gaze was bloodshot, indicating that he had unleashed his full power in the face of crisis. Despite his efforts, he knew his life was hanging by a thread. This time, the force was even more potent than the attempt on Qi Ci’s life, rendering escape impossible. He had done his best, but he was painfully aware that his time was running out.
Chu Lishu strained to look up and saw Lin Qingyang’s face clearly. Tears welled up in his eyes again, and he weakly reached out, trying to touch Lin Qingyang’s face, but he couldn’t reach.
Chu Lishu was deeply worried. If he died, what would happen to Lin Qingyang? Lin Qingyang had said that his existence was for Chu Lishu.
He should have been more careful, should have thought more. But now, he felt he had let Lin Qingyang down. Yet, it seemed that fate wouldn’t even grant him the chance to speak a few more words. He couldn’t even make a sound, couldn’t even manage to call out Lin Qingyang’s name. All he could do was gaze affectionately at his lover’s face, conveying all his love through his eyes.
He couldn’t bear it, he really couldn’t bear it…
Lin Qingyang grabbed Chu Lishu’s hand, which was slowly slipping away, watching him gradually lose his life. He was in a daze, overwhelmed with sorrow. Tears flowed from his eyes, but he couldn’t feel himself crying.
Was Chu Lishu going to die?
The system had issued its final warning to him.
The world began to turn grey.
The world would collapse without the male lead, and his existence would lose its meaning.
But Lin Qingyang didn’t care about any of this. All he knew was that because of his mistake, Chu Lishu was dying.
How could he let Chu Lishu, who had worked so hard, come to this?
How could he…
There must be a way, he couldn’t give up… he couldn’t…
Right, Lin Qingyang decided to open both mystery boxes.
One contained an invisibility cloak? And the other, a ‘wish-fulfillment’ medicine box?
He didn’t bother checking the invisibility cloak, and the medicine box needed time to cultivate any effective medicine?
None of them seemed useful. None at all.
Lin Qingyang felt utterly helpless and could only pray to the system.
The system, reluctant to see the host fail the mission, had to inform Lin Qingyang that the self-rescue mode was only useful for himself.
Suddenly, Lin Qingyang’s pupils contracted, as if he had suddenly become clear-headed. He reached out and picked up another broken section of the nearby lamp.
Chu Lishu didn’t even have the strength to change his gaze, but he knew what Lin Qingyang intended to do.
No…
Chu Lishu was powerless to stop it, watching helplessly as Lin Qingyang plunged the broken section toward his heart. In that moment, Chu Lishu felt a fear even greater than his own impending death.
Lin Qingyang’s life ebbed away in an instant, the pain so intense that he lost the strength to even hold onto Chu Lishu, but he held onto his last breath.
Self-rescue mode triggered… he succeeded.
【Mode 1: Super Wound Recovery, consumes 2000】
【Mode 2: Time Reversal by 5 minutes, consumes 3000】
【Host’s total points: 3355. It is recommended to choose Mode 1.】
When Lin Qingyang saw the second mode available, it was like a drowning person finally breaking the surface, gasping for the breath of life. Tears welled up in his eyes.
【Male lead is about to die, world is about to close… Host’s mission is about to fail, entering countdown…】
“He won’t die! I choose Mode 2!”
【About to enter Self-Salvation Mode 2. Reminder for the host: First, do not kill anyone who shouldn’t have died during the time reversal period. Second, points that have already been calculated will not be recalculated.】
The pain gradually faded away, and the world began to blur. Lin Qingyang gazed at Chu Lishu, but his vision became increasingly unclear. He vaguely remembered that Chu Lishu seemed angry when he tried to intervene, but it didn’t matter. Chu Lishu wouldn’t remember this scene.
Lin Qingyang’s vision gradually turned black, then white. In the blink of an eye, the intense pain on his body disappeared, leaving only a lingering sensation in his heart. The voice of Concubine Xu echoed in his ears.
Time had truly reversed five minutes back.
They were talking, and in the distance, a group was approaching – it was Zhao Cheng and Prime Minister Li. Prime Minister Li saw them from afar, just as Lin Qingyang, seemingly gone mad, left Concubine Xu behind and ran forward frantically.
Concubine Xu hesitated for a moment, seeing the direction Lin Qingyang was running, she was both shocked and puzzled.
“Lin Qingyang, don’t go!” Concubine Xu couldn’t help but shout.
But Lin Qingyang had already rushed towards Qin Zheng Palace.
As he reached the entrance, Lin Qingyang ran while shouting, “Chu Lishu! Save me!”
It was the fastest way he could think of to get Chu Lishu to come out.
And at this moment, Chu Lishu had already handed a dagger to Empress Cheng.
When they arrived, Chu Lishu instructed the guards at the door to let them in.
Upon entering, they saw Chu Lishu had already inflicted numerous wounds on the Emperor, who was on the brink of death. They also heard the Emperor calling him Yuan Ran.
Chu Lishu, covered in blood, with eyes burning red, smirked coldly at them. “It’s your turn now.”
Chu Lishu, already engulfed in a menacing aura like a true tyrant, was about to continue pressuring Empress Cheng and Yuan Ye.
However, just as he was about to act, he heard Lin Qingyang’s panicked cries for help coming from outside.
Startled, Chu Lishu thought that Lin Qingyang might be in danger, and in an instant, the menacing aura dissipated, and he rushed out directly.
Across the vast square, Lin Qingyang finally spotted Chu Lishu.
At that moment, his heart settled.
Chu Lishu, unharmed and alive, his Chu Lishu.
“Lishu! Hurry!”
Chu Lishu, ignoring everything else, rushed towards Lin Qingyang with single-minded determination.
Lin Qingyang not only appeared unharmed but also, in the moment he grabbed Chu Lishu, he began to sprint.
“Qingyang, what’s happening…”
“There’s a thunderous explosion…” Lin Qingyang hurriedly shouted.
But as soon as the words left his lips, the explosion began… Two minutes of the five-minute countdown had already passed by the time Lin Qingyang found Chu Lishu, leaving him only three minutes to act.
Three minutes were not enough to get them completely to safety. They could only move as far away as possible from the most dangerous area.
The alarm sounded again in his ears, a warning shared by both of them.
Chu Lishu’s expression changed, whether it was due to the imminent recovery period or he truly sensed the danger, his internal energy surged instantly. His eyes turned an unnatural shade of red, and with a single hand lifting Lin Qingyang, he swiftly used lightness skills to fly outwards.
But they were still caught in the violent chain of explosions, directly hit by the shockwaves, and sent flying. They tumbled several times before crashing to the ground. Just as Lin Qingyang was seeing stars, Chu Lishu suddenly pressed down on him, tightly embracing him. Then came a completely different weight from all directions, pressing down on them.
Lin Qingyang had no other choice but to hold onto Chu Lishu tightly. If they couldn’t be saved this time, at least they would perish together.
Soon, everyone else rushed over.
Concubine Xu looked at the dead royal family members with great satisfaction. Soon, General Zhao’s men found Lin Qingyang.
Lin Qingyang, covered in dirt and bruises, leaned against a pile of rubble, holding Chu Lishu in his arms.
Concubine Xu’s expression changed slightly, and she said directly, “Kill Chu Lishu.”
Before anyone could act, Xu Wenze arrived with Mu Huichun.
“Stop! Sister, you can’t!”
Concubine Xu frowned and glanced at Xu Wenze. “Being softhearted is unacceptable. Chu Lishu is too unpredictable, we can’t let him live.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Wenze moved to intervene but was restrained by the guards.
Concubine Xu signaled the others to act, while Mu Huichun positioned himself in front, prepared to use poison. However, he knew that with so many people present and such an open space, he had no chance of success.
In this moment of crisis, Lin Qingyang suddenly spoke, lifeless: “There’s no need. My cousin… Chu Lishu… is already dead.”
Upon hearing this, both Mu Huichun and Xu Wenze were stunned, turning back to look with disbelief.
Mu Huichun’s eyes reddened instantly as he rushed forward to check Chu Lishu’s pulse. After a moment, he looked up at Lin Qingyang, dumbfounded.
Lin Qingyang firmly held Mu Huichun’s wrist. “You couldn’t save him either, could you?”
Mu Huichun’s wrist was almost crushed by Lin Qingyang’s grip. Finally, he nodded and burst into loud sobs, collapsing onto Lin Qingyang’s shoulder.
“How could this be? How is it possible…” Xu Wenze couldn’t believe it. He rushed forward, checking Chu Lishu’s pulse and listening for a heartbeat, but found nothing.
Xu Wenze sat down as if struck by lightning, then looked up at Concubine Xu. “Why… why are you so cruel? Are you still my elder sister? They were my friends! They never opposed you!”
Originally, Concubine Xu didn’t believe it. How could it be that Lin Qingyang was completely unharmed, while Chu Lishu ended up dead in the explosion?
But she knew Xu Wenze too well. He couldn’t fake this kind of performance. However, Concubine Xu, naturally cautious, still summoned a physician from her retinue of rebels to examine Chu Lishu’s body personally.
“What else do you want? He’s already dead, just as you wished. Are you going to desecrate his body too?” Lin Qingyang suddenly went berserk, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Concubine Xu ordered her men to pull Lin Qingyang away and let the medic examine the body. Watching Lin Qingyang struggling frantically, she frowned and asked, “How did you just find out…”
Lin Qingyang cried out, “I suddenly realized why you were so certain the Emperor would die, why you sent Empress Cheng and Yuan Ye there, and why you reacted so unnaturally when you heard about Qin Zheng Palace. I knew something was going to happen. Concubine Xu, you’re really ruthless… What did my cousin do to you to deserve such cruelty?”
Concubine Xu began to believe Lin Qingyang’s words, but she didn’t pay much attention to his despairing remarks. Seeing Lin Qingyang in so much pain, she remained silent until the physician confirmed that Chu Lishu, lying on the ground covered in bruises, was indeed dead. Only then did she feel relieved.
“Is it enough? Can I take my cousin and leave?” Lin Qingyang shouted.
“Where can you go?” Concubine Xu frowned.
“Can’t I take my cousin home? You said I saved you, you want to repay me… I not only saved you, but also saved the life of the child in your belly. Two lives, can’t you let me and my cousin leave in exchange?”
“Sister! Let them go,” Xu Wenze said with red eyes, looking at Concubine Xu. “If you don’t let them go, I’ll take them out by force.”
Concubine Xu took a deep breath and said directly, “Fine, but Lin Qingyang… you can only stay in the capital, you can’t go anywhere else. Otherwise… I have ways to make you stay.”
Lin Qingyang glanced coldly at Concubine Xu , then lifted Chu Lishu as if life held no meaning, and walked out with him.
Xu Wenze cleared the way while Mu Huichun followed closely, but Lu Shi was nowhere to be seen, his fate uncertain.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t afford to delay, so he hurriedly left with Chu Lishu in his arms.
Upon returning to their residence, they found Concubine Xu had already stationed people around their courtyard, clearly intending to monitor Lin Qingyang. She was probably afraid he would contact other forces associated with Chu Lishu, becoming a threat to her.
Lin Qingyang sent Xu Wenze away, despite the latter’s desire to stay and help. Although he knew Xu Wenze was innocent, Lin Qingyang couldn’t face him, nor could he trust him to stay. It left him with no choice but to dismiss him.
Finally, only Lin Qingyang and Mu Huichun remained in the courtyard.
Once the door was closed, Mu Huichun hurriedly began to check Chu Lishu’s pulse.
Only he could sense that something was amiss.
“Fake death… fake death potion? I haven’t made it yet.” Mu Huichun looked at Lin Qingyang.
It dawned on Lin Qingyang that Chu Lishu must have resorted to using the fake death potion to save him in a critical situation, despite sustaining injuries that rendered him unable to wake up. They had no choice but to leave like this.
After all, the palace was already under the control of
Concubine Xu and Zhao Cheng. Even if they managed to find the commander of the Imperial Guards, they wouldn’t be able to escape smoothly.
Lin Qingyang finally breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at Chu Lishu, who seemed relatively unharmed. He slumped down, feeling utterly drained.
“You’re injured too. Just wait here, I’ll attend to my Senior Brother first, and then I’ll take care of you…”
“I’m fine. Hurry and save him. He’s in a state of fake death now. If these injuries worsen, it could turn into a real crisis.”
Mu Huichun could only comply and quickly treat the wounds. Gradually, Chu Lishu began to emerge from the state of fake death. However, due to the activation of internal energy, he sustained severe injuries and fell into a coma. Mu Huichun also detected that his body seemed to be undergoing changes. This was indeed the worst possible time for recovery.
Typically, when the effects of Tianxuan Pill failed, it marked the weakest point for the host, requiring them to endure a phase of pain similar to the initial transformation.
But it had to happen now.
He didn’t dare to tell Lin Qingyang. Neither he nor his master had ever witnessed someone recovering. All they knew was that it would certainly be another life-or-death battle.
He glanced at Lin Qingyang, who sat helplessly at the door with a pale face. He couldn’t bring himself to say it. All he could do was to focus on treating Chu Lishu to the best of his abilities.
Lin Qingyang wanted to help, but…
He looked at the system interface.
Plot progress 98%, points: 2.
He felt powerless.
Lin Qingyang slapped himself, forcing himself to calm down. Chu Lishu’s body should be in good hands with Mu Huichun. Now, the most important thing was to ensure Chu Lishu’s safety.
Lin Qingyang was too afraid of Concubine Xu’s cunning and meticulousness. He was under constant surveillance now, and Chu Lishu couldn’t stay here indefinitely. There was always the possibility of being discovered at any moment. With Concubine Xu’s determination to kill Chu Lishu, she might come after him in the blink of an eye.
Although there were many of their own people in the capital, nowhere was safe to send Chu Lishu.
He could only…
“Big Brother Lin, it’s okay, don’t worry, let me take care of your wounds…” Mu Huichun was about to act when suddenly the distant neighing of horses sounded.
It was the sound of Chiteng.
Lin Qingyang’s eyes widened as he spoke, “Mu Huichun, take Lishu and flee from the capital.”
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