Pei Ji had a nightmare.
In the dream he returned to the home where he once lived, the cellar that ran through his childhood.
The cellar was cramped and cramped, and there was no sunlight. My mother hated seeing him, and whenever she was unhappy, she would lock him in that small room. When Pei Ji stayed there alone, the rich darkness seemed to be the whole of the world.
—In fact, for him, the cellar was a very lucky relief. There is only him in that place, and he will not be beaten, scolded and punished by his mother for no reason. As long as he curls up in a corner and closes his eyes, he can spend a quiet and peaceful time in his sleep.
And at this moment, he came to the cellar again.
There was still a piercing chill all around. Darkness and cool air formed a web like cobwebs, shrouding him silently, accompanied by a suffocating sense of oppression.
Suddenly, the entrance to the top of the cellar was opened, and Pei Ji saw his long-dead mother.
The woman maintained the appearance she had when she died, and her once graceful face had changed beyond recognition.
The cheeks swelled into a strange light reddish brown color, and a pair of pupils turned up high, almost no trace was seen in the eye sockets, only the whites of the eyes mixed with red blood, as if oozing blood.
Her body twisted into an extremely unreasonable posture, as if every joint was broken and reorganized, and the bones made a rattling sound as she approached him step by step.
"You wild bastard! Demon!"
The woman's voice echoed in his heart over and over again, like a long bell in a cold night, making people feel cold all over. The hatred and disgust on her face became stronger and stronger, and her voice became sharper and sharper, like a long knife piercing her eardrum: "Nothing good has ever happened around you, and sooner or later it will drag everyone down. Disaster, you Why don't you die?!"
He was startled.
Then he gasped and opened his eyes.
All corners of the body were covered with severe tearing pains, and the places that Xuan Ye had injured before seemed to be burning with raging flames. He was used to the pain, but he couldn't help frowning subconsciously.
The head was buzzing and hurting, and the demonic energy and sword energy in the body finally returned to calm, but the pain was still there, like thousands of small bugs biting the marrow.
In the world of immortals, it is not uncommon to kill someone by leaps and bounds. However, the gap between Jin Dan Perfection and Yuan Ying Dacheng should not be underestimated, not to mention that Xuan Ye was once a master of the Spirit Transformation Stage, and to defeat him, he had to risk his life.
Unlike Ning Ning and others, Pei Ji has long been accustomed to fighting between life and death, so she is not afraid of death battles. As long as she can kill the enemy, she would rather bet everything including life.
- What's more, his life is unconnected and worthless. Even if he really dies, no one will suffer.
The boy's expression darkened a little, and he looked up at the surrounding scene.
After the battle with Xuan Ye, he lost consciousness and should have been sent to the hospital for treatment.
The tip of her nose was filled with the scent of light smoke of herbs, and because she was lying flat on the bed, Pei Ji opened her eyes and saw the dark brown beams of the roof. Then slightly tilted his head -
Someone was sitting on a wooden bench beside his bed.
Pei Ji never thought that when she woke up, she would see someone by her side.
Whether he was wounded all over his body when he was a child, passed out from cold and hunger, or was seriously injured in a coma later in battle, he always endured through gritted teeth alone, and when he woke up, he would find some herbs to heal his wounds by himself.
The smell of trees and the smell of medicine blended together on that person, which relieved the bitterness that filled the entire space to a great extent.
She was wearing a long lavender dress, and her black hair fell obediently on her chest. Because she was covering her entire face with a book, Pei Ji couldn't see her appearance.
He could only see a few large characters on the book.
"The 365 days between me and Zhenxiao Jianzun".
Pei Ji endured the pain, and hesitantly whispered, "...Little Senior Sister?"
Ning Ning didn't seem to expect that he would wake up at this time, his hands were dangling hurriedly. , and finally she slammed it shut and threw it onto the wooden table on the other side.
For some unknown reason, her face turned crimson, as if she had done some kind of wrongdoing, and she pretended to look at him calmly;
Chengying, who would yell every time she saw her, also closed her mouth inexplicably, as quiet as a chicken.
Pei Ji didn't know why, and frowned.
"You scared us to death!"
Ning Ning spoke in a deep voice after a brief silence, but due to the pale pink on his face and a slightly flustered tone, the whole sentence seemed less intimidating: "To actually introduce demonic energy into the sword... If you don't control it properly, Don't talk about dealing with Xuan Ye, you can't even save your own life, don't you know!"
A mocking sneer appeared in Pei Ji's eyes, and he responded perfunctorily: "Well."
Ning Ning is a delicate flower that has been carefully cared for since she was a child, so Pei Ji doesn't know it and doesn't want to waste time telling her that he has long been used to this kind of thing.
There is no retreat, no recourse, if he does not try his best to gamble, he will only die.
"Your 'um' is too perfunctory."
Ning Ning didn't like to hide and tuck when he spoke, and made a low-pitched voice, don't look away from him anymore, his tone was a little stiff: "It was the same in Gumu Linhai before, you always rushed to the front alone. Carry... there is obviously still us."
Pei Ji was slightly stunned.
"I know you used to be used to being alone, but it's completely different now."
She didn't seem to be used to saying such words, her expression was so awkward, and finally she broke the jar and looked straight into Pei Ji's eyes: "Anyway, in short, the younger brother has to look like a younger brother, don't always try to get away with it. Hero, occasionally give seniors a chance to express themselves! Your senior sister is not so weak that you can't help but I can protect you!"
Having said this, his tone softened again: "... But this time I still have to thank you, that's the one, for helping me stop Xuan Ye. Thank you, I'll treat you to a big meal when I go back - I'll give us some trust in the future. Don't always feel like you're alone."
Pei Ji never thought that Ning Ning would say such a thing.
It turned out that she didn't want to reprimand him from a high place for not knowing how to save her life, but she was angry that he deliberately excluded himself from the group and always walked alone.
No one had ever told him that I could protect you without rushing forward desperately alone.
He has grown savagely in the quagmire alone for many years, and has long been able to bear all malice and suffering with a blank face, but when he heard these words, he still felt an unprecedented sense of emotion, and he didn't know how to respond.
The pale-faced boy finally showed a somewhat confused emotion, and there was still a mist in his black pupils, covering up the darkness and coldness of the recent past.
Seeing that his expression softened, Ning Ning gave a smug snort: "I'm not nauseous! It's just because you're doing the limelight like this, you make me a senior sister so shameless."
Chengying finally spoke: "Have you noticed? Every time Ningning cares about you, she has to make silly excuses to distance herself from you. In fact, her intentions are so obvious that anyone can see it."
After speaking, he couldn't help laughing: "Hiding ears and stealing bells is so cute. She deserves to be her. Don't expose it, Pei Xiaoji."
As soon as it finished speaking, a strong herbal smell suddenly hit the room.
A doctor woman in white pushed in the door, holding a porcelain bowl full of soup and medicine in her hand, followed by an elegant young man, exuding a bookish air.
Ning Ning glanced at them and introduced patiently: "These two are Miss Xie and Langzhong Chen in the medical hall. Thanks to them, you barely survived."
"The little boy finally woke up."
Hearing Pei Ji thank you, the doctor smiled lightly and glanced at Ning Ning who was sitting beside him: "Since Miss Ning Ning brought you to this hospital, she has been standing in front of the bed without thinking about eating and drinking, you If I don't open my eyes again, I'll be worried for her."
Ning Ning suddenly widened his eyes: "I just, just want to lose weight on a diet! Can the matter of dieting be called 'tea rice without thinking'?"
After speaking, she paused for a moment, as if remembering something, and took out a few colorful and round little things from the storage bag. Pei Ji stared at it and found that it was a pile of candy.
"I went ashore with Senior Sister and the others today, and bought some candy to bring back. Anyway, I can't finish it all by myself, so I'll just divide it with you—I heard that this medicine is very bitter."
For some reason, the doctor girl and Lang Zhong on the side let out a low laugh at the same time.
Pei Ji hesitated for a while, then shook his head gently: "I'm not afraid of hardship, so I don't need this."
"Little son, just accept it."
The doctor girl smiled ambiguous, and covered her lips with her free left hand: "It's a kindness from Miss Ningning. If you refuse, she should be sad."
Lang Zhong is also mysterious: "This medicine is indeed very bitter. You will never suffer a loss if you eat sugar."
Ning Ning seemed to be a little angry, looking at him angrily, but she was angry and did not speak, and she still looked casual on the bright side.
So Pei Ji had no choice but to nod, and she forced a candy into her palm immediately, and heard Ning Ning's dry voice: "Try it first, how does it taste."
In fact, he rarely eats sugar.
As a child, Pei Ji was afraid of suffering and pain. Later, she became accustomed to these medicines. No matter how bitter the medicine was, she could swallow it in one breath. Although there will still be a lot of unpleasant taste in his mouth, he can always bear it slowly through gritted teeth.
Just get through the worst and most painful time.
He awkwardly opened the piece of paper wrapped around the candy, and saw a small milky white ball. It's a comforting color, like a rich mist or sweet milk that melts together without any impurities.
Pei Ji glanced at Ning Ning very quickly and put it into her mouth.
The sweet milk aroma swept the tongue, with a touch of honey. There was still a faint smell of blood in his throat, but under this fragrance, it disappeared silently, leaving a refreshing milk fragrance.
His pupils were often dark and hostile, but now they seem to be quietly dissolved by the aroma, turning into a quiet stream of water, finally taking on the appearance of an ordinary young man, appearing gentle and harmless.
Ning Ning's face was stern, her eyes and tone were light: "How is it?"
"… very sweet."
Pei Ji nodded: "Thank you, Senior Sister."
She seemed to be planning to raise the corners of her mouth, but as soon as her lips rose up, she was forcibly pressed back and turned into a thin, straight line: "That's good. You have eyesight."
"Miss Ningning, I heard news from the demons in the city that several elders from the Xuanxu Sword Sect came here and are waiting for you."
The doctor girl's laughter didn't stop from beginning to end. At this time, she increased her tone: "We will help you take care of the young master, don't worry."
Ning Ning gave Pei Ji another candy, and frowned upon hearing this: "Sister, what do you mean by 'take care of me', I'm not worried about him at all."
After she finished speaking, she said goodbye in a hurry, and before she left, she did not forget to remind: "Don't forget these candies! I bought them with private money, all of which are your sister's hard-earned money, you must take good care of them!"
Pei Ji had to nod.
"Young master, don't believe what Miss Ningning said."
When her figure disappeared from sight, the doctor girl whispered: "Recently, the young city lord appeared, and the elders were escorted into the trial court. There are so many things, big and small, how can we go there? Play on the shore. That candy, Miss Ning Ning bought it for you by herself."
"I heard that she was still lost in the city on the shore, she finally wandered out of the city, and got lost in the woods again - don't think she is stupid, Miss Ningning was too tired to move when she returned to Jialan City, The bandaged wounds on his body were all torn open.”
Lang Zhong on the side also smiled: "She said that our medicine smelled too bitter, so she bought a lot of sugar for you, and sat in front of the hospital to try the taste one by one, and got a toothache from several kinds of sourness—what you eat now Isn't this one very sweet? It's all chosen by Ningning girl one by one."
Pei Ji didn't respond, only made a low "uh", then took the porcelain bowl expressionlessly and lowered her head to drink the medicine.
But without warning, a thin burst of red rose from the base of the ear, like a light brush of ink, gently and softly touching the young man's white skin.
really weird.
The smell of the medicine that he once disliked entered his mouth at this time, but it didn't make him feel uncomfortable anymore.
The doctor girl pursed her lips and smiled, with a look of "I understand that you don't need to talk", and whispered to Lang Zhong: "Little Young Master is shy. Let's stop teasing him."
The latter nodded clearly and replied leisurely: "Young is good, young is good."
"Ouch."
Cheng Ying tried his best to hold back his laughter, and used a very exaggerated voice to recite the composition of a primary school student: "It's the tongue that tastes the candy, but the heart is the sweetest. Am I right?"
After a pause, a more unbridled smile broke out: "Did you laugh secretly just now? Did you? Don't deny it! Wow! Blushing! Pei Ji actually blushes! My God!"