jdhmnovel Chapter 491
Chapter 491
The night was thick and dark, utterly silent except for the howling wind, which seemed to whisper untold secrets. In the tranquil valley, an ancient courtyard was shrouded in darkness, a few flickering lights swaying precariously in the wind, as if they might be extinguished at any moment. On the stone table in the courtyard, a cup of medicine made from spiritual spring water had just been drunk, the wisps of steam still lingering. The person who had taken the medicine was none other than Ye Jiuchen.
Ye Jiuchen was once a renowned swordsman, but he was severely injured in a fierce battle not long ago, and his vitality was greatly depleted. In order to recover his strength, he found this precious spiritual spring medicine, which he had just taken. He should have been resting and recuperating, but his body was far from fully recovered. However, fate always seems to love to play tricks on people, and danger never gives people a chance to catch their breath.
Suddenly, a chilling aura swept through, shattering the tranquility of the courtyard. A dark figure appeared like a ghost—the mysterious man in black robes. He exuded a terrifying aura, as if he were a demon crawling out of the abyss of hell. Without a word, the man in black robes attacked Dongfang Wan'er directly. His target was clear, his moves ruthless, and every strike carried a deadly intent.
Dongfang Wan'er was someone Ye Jiuchen wanted to protect, and she was currently in danger. Seeing this, Ye Jiuchen's heart tightened, and he stepped forward without hesitation. Despite his extreme weakness, each step feeling like a thousand pounds, he forced himself to stay upright, channeling the last vestiges of his inner energy to protect Dongfang Wan'er. That energy was like a candle flickering in the wind, threatening to be extinguished at any moment, but with unwavering willpower, he wielded his longsword with tremendous force.
The man in black robes showed a hint of surprise upon seeing Ye Jiuchen appear, seemingly not expecting Ye Jiuchen to dare to attack despite still being seriously injured. But quickly, his gaze returned to its sinister look, a cold smile playing on his lips, as if mocking Ye Jiuchen's overestimation of his own strength. He suddenly increased the output of his inner force; instantly, the surrounding air seemed to be distorted by an invisible hand, emitting a hissing sound, and the dust on the ground was swirled up by the powerful airflow, forming small vortexes.
Ye Jiuchen gritted his teeth, a resolute expression appearing on his pale face. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his clothes. With each swing of his sword, he endured excruciating pain, his arms feeling as heavy as lead, yet he remained undeterred, giving his all in every move.
Standing behind Ye Jiuchen, Dongfang Wan'er watched him fight so desperately, feeling both moved and worried. Her eyes reddened slightly as she looked at Ye Jiuchen's somewhat frail yet incredibly determined back, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She knew that Ye Jiuchen was risking his own safety to protect her, and this deep affection moved her deeply. But at the same time, she also knew that Ye Jiuchen was physically weak, and if he continued to push himself like this, the consequences would be unimaginable. She took a deep breath, tried to compose herself, drew the soft sword from her waist, and prepared to fight alongside Ye Jiuchen.
The two exchanged blows, locked in a stalemate. Swords flashed and clashed in the night sky, their cold light piercing the silence. However, the black-robed man, with his superior skill and unbridled fighting, gradually gained the upper hand. Suddenly, the black-robed man feinted an attack, and Ye Jiuchen instinctively swung his sword to block, unaware that this was merely a trap. Taking advantage of the opening in Ye Jiuchen's defense, the black-robed man flashed forward, turning to attack Dongfang Wan'er. This attack was swift and ruthless, like a black lightning bolt, aimed directly at Dongfang Wan'er's vitals.
Ye Jiuchen was startled, his pupils contracting sharply. Without thinking, he quickly stepped aside to shield Dongfang Wan'er. His eyes widened, fixed on the black-robed man's attack, his gaze filled with determination. However, the black-robed man's attack was too swift; Ye Jiuchen couldn't dodge in time and was struck heavily in the chest. With a "pfft," a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth, splattering onto the ground, a stark and unsightly sight.
Despite the pain, Ye Jiuchen's legs trembled slightly, yet he gripped his longsword tightly, refusing to fall. His gaze was resolute and unyielding, as if declaring to the black-robed man that as long as he had a breath left, he would never allow the other to harm Dongfang Wan'er in the slightest.
Just at this critical moment, a series of hurried footsteps and shouts came from afar. It turned out that the Prince's reinforcements had arrived. Holding torches, they quickly surrounded the man in black robes like a fiery dragon. In the torchlight, everyone's faces were tense and serious, and the weapons in their hands gleamed coldly.
Seeing this, the man in black robes felt a sense of foreboding. He glanced around, knowing he was unlikely to succeed today, and if he continued to entangle himself, he would probably be unable to escape. So, he snorted coldly, lightly touched the ground with his feet, and transformed into a black shadow, instantly disappearing into the night, leaving only a faint whistling sound, as if telling the story of this thrilling battle.
Reinforcements surged forward like a tide, the sounds of footsteps and clashing weapons mingling together. A heavily armored general, his face filled with anxiety, strode forward, his gaze fixed on Ye Jiuchen's swaying figure. His voice was filled with concern and worry: "Hero Ye, how are your injuries?" Ye Jiuchen's face was deathly pale, blood still lingering at the corners of his mouth, his clothes soaked in blood, making him appear utterly wretched. Yet, he forced a weak smile, a smile that held a hint of determination, and said slowly, "I'm fine. Quickly escort Miss Dongfang back to her residence." His voice was hoarse and weak, each word seemingly uttered with all his might.
Dongfang Wan'er stood to the side, tears welling in her eyes, her vision already blurred with tears. Looking at Ye Jiuchen's haggard appearance, her heart ached as if being torn apart. She rushed forward and tightly grasped Ye Jiuchen's hand; his hands were cold and weak, making her heart clench even tighter. She said in a tearful voice, "Don't speak, I'll go find a doctor right away." Her voice was filled with anxiety and heartache; at this moment, her world seemed to consist only of Ye Jiuchen's safety.
The group hurried back to the Prince's mansion, which was immediately brightly lit and bustling with activity. The physician, having already received the news, rushed over and solemnly examined Ye Jiuchen. He carefully took Ye Jiuchen's pulse and examined his wounds, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. After a long while, the physician slowly shook his head and sighed, "Hero Ye has injured his heart and lungs; the injury is extremely serious. He needs to be treated with thousand-year-old ginseng and snow lotus, and carefully nurtured to stabilize his condition." These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly plunging everyone present into deep worry. Thousand-year-old ginseng and snow lotus were both rare treasures, priceless and invaluable. For a moment, everyone was at a loss, unsure of what to do.