Chapter 5
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Male lead, high-risk warning!
“What’s going on? Didn’t I complete the novice mission? Besides, he’s the male lead, isn’t he invincible?” Lin Qingyang, amidst the alarm, hurriedly went to find the person.
【Butterfly Effect: Every time the host makes an influential action to complete a mission, it will change the future. Such changes beyond the original plot may affect the invincibility of the male lead.】
“So, whether the future changes I made are good or bad, you don’t know either. Aren’t you playing with me?!” Lin Qingyang was frustrated. After all, the high-risk situation for the male lead was caused by him?
Not sure if the system felt guilty, but this time it didn’t argue and kindly said: 【Host, please rest assured, there is still room to salvage the male lead’s crisis reminders.】
That’s just stating the obvious, isn’t it? If there’s no room for salvage, I might as well lie down and give up. What’s the point of struggling?
“So at least tell me, what happened to him? It’s not…someone trying to kill him, right? Going there won’t help at all!” Lin Qingyang said anxiously.
【You’ll find out when you see the male lead.】
“Why do I need you for?!”
【…】
Finally arriving at Chu Lishu’s courtyard, Lin Qingyang found no trace of him.
“Can’t find him!” If it weren’t for the even sound of the system’s alarm, indicating that the male lead wasn’t about to kick the bucket the next second, Lin Qingyang might have opted for a comfortable position to patiently await the end of the world.
【Host can activate the auto-navigation function to accurately locate the male lead’s position by consuming one point each time.】
Lin Qingyang: …Why do I feel like I’m being targeted by a swindler? “Just be honest, your system is trying to drain my points, with no intention of assisting me in completing missions and regaining freedom.”
【…Host, please decide whether to activate it.】
Fine, fine. In case something really happens to the male lead, he’ll go down with him.
Soon, a point was deducted, and a two-dimensional arrow diagram appeared in front of him.
【 Dear respected customer, hello. Navigation for you is now in progress. Destination: Male Lead. Please turn left at the exit, and walk straight for 50 meters…】
Following this very user-friendly navigation, Lin Qingyang was getting more and more off course. Just as he thought the system was unreliable and was about to demand his points back, he finally heard breathing coming from inside a secluded cave near the rock garden.
As Lin Qingyang walked in, he instantly froze.
There, he saw Chu Lishu, his slender figure completely curled up in a concealed recess of the cave. The darkness made it difficult to discern his expression, but he was not bound in any way, meaning he hadn’t been kidnapped by someone. He had appeared here on his own.
Abnormal breathing frequency, even though Lin Qingyang, who came over, didn’t notice. He remained in a deep sleep. Could he be sick?
Lin Qingyang reached out and touched him. Chu Lishu instinctively shivered but was too weak to avoid it.
It’s hot… He must have had a fever of around 40 degrees. How long has he been burning like this? He’s probably in a fever-induced coma.
Because of Lin Qingyang’s touch, the system quickly provided an answer: 【Continuous high fever for more than 20 hours, severely damaging the body. If not treated promptly, the male lead’s mind will suffer irreversible damage. Immediate rescue is needed.】
Lin Qingyang was filled with question marks. For now, let’s not worry about it. It’s damp and dim here; he should leave first.
He reached out to try to pull him out, but when he did, Chu Lishu instinctively squeezed himself deeper inside. He was on guard against the world and felt that this place was safe.
Lin Qingyang was momentarily speechless. Unable to restrain himself, he said, “Don’t worry; I’m here to save you. I won’t harm you. Come with me, I’ll take you to a safe place.”
Chu Lishu’s arms remained stiff, showing no signs of relaxation.
Lin Qingyang could only slowly squeeze inside. He reached out, patting Chu Lishu’s cheek, hoping he would regain some clarity.
The surroundings of the rockery were full of sharp protrusions. Lin Qingyang got scratched several times. He couldn’t fathom how Chu Lishu managed to wedge himself in there without getting hurt. Wasn’t it painful?
“Chu Lishu…” Lin Qingyang, seeing no response, took a deep breath and gently said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince?”
As soon as the words fell, Chu Lishu’s reaction changed. His body seemed to suddenly relax.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince… You’re safe now. Come with me; I’ll protect you,” Lin Qingyang hastily added.
Sure enough, with these words, Lin Qingyang finally succeeded in moving him. Because of the sharp rocks around, Lin Qingyang had to carefully feel for a safe direction to pull Chu Lishu out. His own hands were cut in several places, but he managed to cradle him in his arms.
When they reached a well-lit area and Lin Qingyang took a closer look, his pupils contracted.
Chu Lishu’s hair was somewhat disheveled, his entire body in a tense state. His cheeks were flushed, and his lips were cracked. His brows were tightly knitted, and he clenched his back teeth, refusing to relax. He kept his head tucked in Lin Qingyang’s embrace, seemingly wanting to bury himself deeper. His whole body couldn’t stop trembling. The heat could be felt even through the clothes.
He felt too light—much lighter than a sixteen-year-old should be. Even considering Lin Qingyang’s relatively chubby physique, he could effortlessly lift him.
Perhaps the appearance of a sixteen-year-old was too deceiving. Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity for the male lead. He held him even more gently and quickened his pace towards Chu Lishu’s courtyard, choosing less crowded paths to avoid any trouble.
After finally bringing him back to the warmth of the bed, Lin Qingyang attempted to release Chu Lishu, only to discover that he had grabbed onto his hairband at some point.
Unable to pry his hand loose, Lin Qingyang had no choice but to untie the hairband himself, allowing him to hold onto it. Fortunately, he still had hairpins; otherwise, he would have to let her hair fall loose.
The system warnings continued to echo in Lin Qingyang’s mind, but he faced a dilemma.
【You can seek a physician to treat the male lead.】
Lin Qingyang nearly rolled his eyes. “I guess if Chu Lishu wakes up, I’ll be the first to die, and the physician will be the second. Is this really a professional system? Even someone like me, who’s quickly forgetting the plot, knows that the male lead won’t see a physician.”
【… Isn’t it because you’re reluctant to spend points? So you can take a risk. What if it works?】
This system dared to mock him! Lin Qingyang was astonished.
Even with that slim chance, it was a one in a million possibility not to be silenced.
Seeing Chu Lishu’s condition and recalling the original plot, Lin Qingyang finally understood what was going on. This should be the perfect timing to encounter the male lead during the monthly medicine effects.
The Tianxuan Pill can alter the male lead’s physique and appearance, but it comes with severe side effects. Besides making the male lead frail and temporarily losing his martial arts skills, every month there’s a fixed period of extreme pain and weakness, during which he is highly susceptible to illness.
In the original plot, due to the male lead being drugged with an aphrodisiac, his body’s potential was triggered. The original body tortured him without regard for his life, and naturally, no problems were apparent. The male lead endured the pain in the overbearing effects of the aphrodisiac, so in the original plot, he was only discovered and brought out for recovery after three days, requiring a month of rest due to his depleted physical condition.
However, this time, unfortunately, Lin Qingyang provided an antidote to the male lead. While it lifted the aphrodisiac’s effects, the downside was that the antidote instantly weakened him further. He became too feeble to resist the onset of the condition, and being stripped naked and bound to the bed for a prolonged period during the cold winter exacerbated his situation. All these factors combined to make the male lead suddenly seriously ill.
So… isn’t this a dead end? Providing the antidote almost killed the male lead, and not providing it would force him to endure it on his own? If he ends up seriously harmed, won’t he bear even stronger resentment? The system is truly trying to trick him.
Lin Qingyang realized that when Chu Lishu left last night, he found his body wasn’t in good condition. It was impossible for him to seek medical attention because if a physician examined him, it would be easy to detect the abnormalities in his body. Such suspicions must not be exposed, or he would be in danger.
When he felt he couldn’t hold on any longer and was about to lose consciousness, he made a decision. As someone who crawled out of hell, how could he allow himself to faint in a place that made him uneasy? He was worried that Lin Qingyang might change his mind at any moment, so he couldn’t stay in his courtyard and let others take advantage. However, he couldn’t easily go outside, so he had to find a hidden place, endure the pain, and wait until the effects of the medicine subsided before coming out.
The outcome was that he almost couldn’t come out at all.
Lin Qingyang really didn’t know what to say. He would rather endure such pain, even if it might lead to death, than to go see a physician. How could Lin Qingyang dare to go against such madness?
Gritting his teeth, he opened the Exchange Shop. Powerful fever-reducing medicine was the best solution for the male lead’s current situation. Watching the ‘9’ turn into ‘7,’ and realizing this urgent situation wouldn’t count as a task, he had no rewards. He truly sacrificed a lot for the male lead. Lin Qingyang felt like his soul was being drained.
Lin Qingyang brought in some tea while opening the male lead’s mouth. “Here, Young Lord, drink the medicine.”
The Young Lord expressed a firm refusal to drink it.
Lin Qingyang suddenly had a mischievous thought. According to the usual novel plot, does this mean that the female protagonist has to feed the medicine with her own mouth to make the male lead open his mouth?
Amused by his own thoughts, Lin Qingyang directly pinched the male lead’s cheeks on both sides. The sensation in his hands was smooth, tender, and hot. Pinching hard, he finally managed to open the male lead’s mouth, quickly inserting the medicine and pouring water. He watched as the male lead choked on the water while swallowing the medicine, then finally let go.
Looking at the reddened areas on the cheeks, Lin Qingyang thought it was fortunate that he didn’t accidentally create dimples for the male lead.
After sitting on the edge of the bed for a while, observing the male lead’s pitiful appearance as a sick beauty, he wondered if this was the future tyrant who would dominate the world.
Lin Qingyang endured for a while but couldn’t hold back his resentment. Pinching the male lead’s well-shaped nose, he said, “You owe me three points; remember to pay me back.”
Soon, the warning sound in his mind was lifted. It seemed that the medicines in the Exchange Shop were indeed different from those in the pharmacy of his past life, acting more like special drugs.
Lin Qingyang decided to stay here and wait. When the male lead woke up and saw that he had saved him, he would surely be deeply moved. No more suspicions about Lin Qingyang’s intentions; trust would be established. Lin Qingyang didn’t expect the male lead to offer himself, but as long as the male lead could protect him, it would be enough. Maybe his role positioning would be upgraded, and he wouldn’t need to do tasks anymore.
As Lin Qingyang entertained these thoughts, he suddenly realized that this crisis could turn into an opportunity. Hooray!
“Second Young Master! I finally found you. Something bad has happened!” Shuncai, who appeared out of nowhere, pulled Lin Qingyang back to reality.
Seeing Shuncai rushing in, Lin Qingyang asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
Shuncai quickly explained the situation. He mentioned that when Lin Qingyang had suddenly run off, and by the time he caught up, Lin Qingyang was nowhere to be seen. Shuncai had discreetly searched everywhere and eventually reached the main gate. There, he saw Lin Qingxu welcoming Marquis An Nan. Shuncai had known about the strained relationship between his young master and the third young master. Hearing that the two were planning to go to their courtyard to gather evidence against Lin Qingyang, Shuncai worried that Lin Qingyang might be framed if he wasn’t present. That’s why he urgently searched for him.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t comprehend the situation. What evidence could there be against him? Wasn’t everything peaceful during those three days and nights, according to the original plot? What unexpected turn of events had occurred?
With a puzzled expression, Lin Qingyang, pulled by Shuncai, reluctantly returned to assess the situation.
Upon returning to the courtyard, Lin Qingyang heard the footsteps of a group of people behind him.
It was Marquis An Nan, accompanied by his servants.
As the Marquis entered and saw Lin Qingyang standing at the door, an uncontrollable anger flashed across his face. “Qingyang, let me ask you, where is Chu Lishu?”
Lin Qingyang replied, “Huh? In his own courtyard, of course, where else could he be?” Could it be that they also noticed the absence of the male lead? This wasn’t good. If they went to find him now and discovered that he was sick, they might call for a physician.
“Lin Qingyang! Stop acting up!” Marquis An Nan sternly rebuked, his face turning livid.
“Second Brother… Lishu is not in his own courtyard. Don’t anger Father, it’s not too late to admit it now. Let’s minimize the situation,” Lin Qingxu, supporting Marquis An Nan, earnestly persuaded, “No matter what you’ve done, we’re a family, and we’ll help you cover it up. But if you cause a fatal incident, we…”
“Ah… Ah? I see. You all think Chu Lishu is in my place?” Lin Qingyang gradually caught on to the situation, shifted his gaze to Lin Qingxu, and then looked at Marquis An Nan. “Father, without any evidence, just listening to others’ baseless rumors and rushing into the courtyard of your legitimate eldest son, doesn’t seem quite proper, does it?”
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