Chapter 154 - 94: Little Auntie, I Want to Hold You, Unrelated to Romance (3)

Chapter 154: Chapter 94: Little Auntie, I Want to Hold You, Unrelated to Romance (3)

So, she could only calm herself and focus on repairing his bones and sinews.

For a long time.

For a long time.

Gu Xiangzhu let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from her temples. Replenishing Zhao Ci’s True Qi hadn’t been very draining for her; after all, with the vast difference in their cultivation levels, the sheer volume of their respective True Qi wasn’t even in the same league.

However, the mental toll of performing the Celestial Demon Body Refining Secret Technique had reached an incredibly terrifying level.

Even with her immense cultivation, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of dizziness.

Fortunately, his injuries were now stable.

Although Zhao Ci’s frame was still fragile, as long as he nourished it with True Qi and took some time to recuperate, he would be able to return to his former condition.

’As for his vitality... that’ll just have to recover slowly!’

She touched the bedding, finding it thoroughly soaked with Zhao Ci’s sweat and blood.

’If he sleeps like this, he’ll probably be seriously ill by morning.’

She sighed softly.

She began to unfasten Zhao Ci’s clothes.

But then she heard a weak voice.

"Thank you!"

"Hah..."

Gu Xiangzhu shot him a sharp glare. "Instead of your thanks, I’d rather you just saved me the trouble."

Zhao Ci was speechless.

[Gu Xiangzhu’s Current Wish: For Zhao Ci to make a full recovery with no lingering injuries. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +100, Healing Talisman x1.]

’He couldn’t tell if this was genuine concern from the bottom of her heart, or just anxiety over her ’dog-taming’ plan. Still, he had to admit, he was a little touched. When it came down to it, this Witch was the one he could count on!’

Seeing his silence, Gu Xiangzhu’s simmering anger intensified. "Why didn’t you crush the warm jade I gave you? What, do you care that much about the people of the Northern Three Prefectures? Or were you trying to curry favor with that fiancée of yours?"

Zhao Ci’s voice was weak, but his tone was incredibly firm. "I just believe there are things a man must do and things he must not. Miss Luotang threw herself into the fray and was willing to risk her life to save me and protect the people of the Northern Three Prefectures. How could I do less than a woman? It was a matter of duty, not romance."

Gu Xiangzhu was silent.

She believed he was telling the truth.

Although she hated this feeling of things slipping from her control, her gaze softened considerably.

She liked that kind of stubbornness.

And she liked that kind of spirit.

Still, she said in an indignant tone, "Duty? What’s duty worth? Do you have any idea how close you came to dying? If I hadn’t used all my strength to protect you, you would have spent the rest of your life paralyzed in a bed!"

Zhao Ci sounded guilty. "I got carried away. I wasn’t thinking straight!"

"It wasn’t that you got carried away!"

Gu Xiangzhu’s expression was grim. "You let the power cloud your mind! The Celestial Demon Body is powerful, yes, but it makes you revel in slaughter and destruction. Once you fall into its trap, you become a slave to your bloodlust for all eternity."

Zhao Ci was silent again.

’To be fair, she kind of had a point. He was nowhere near the point of losing his mind, but the thrill of the slaughter was indeed intoxicating. Once it took hold, his ability to think clearly did plummet. Otherwise, his normal self would have tried to negotiate with the Sub-Insect before Kan Luotang had to step in.’

Gu Xiangzhu had wanted to ask him how he’d managed to forcibly use Tyrant’s Tomb Sweeping and the Overlord Dragon-piercing Spear, but seeing how weak he was, she didn’t have the heart to make him talk too much.

So she said in a low, serious voice, "You already owed me a great deal, and after today, you owe me even more. Until you’ve paid me back in full, don’t you dare put your life at the slightest risk."

Zhao Ci shook his head again and again, his voice filled with lingering fear. "The Northern Three Prefectures... I’m never coming back here again!"

Gu Xiangzhu was speechless.

’Oh, wonderful! So *now* you’re scared?’

She didn’t know whether to be angry or to laugh.

He was just a boy, after all—unstoppable when his blood was up, but helpless once he calmed down.

She stood up and said coolly, "Since you’re better now, you can change your clothes and the bedding yourself before you sleep."

"Wait!"

Zhao Ci called out to her.

Gu Xiangzhu turned. "What is it now?"

Zhao Ci avoided her gaze and whispered, "Can you... hold me for a little while?"

Gu Xiangzhu: "???"