Connected 3

At that precise moment, the tightly shut door creaked open. The guards straightened and rushed straight up toward the Saint Physician that looked pale. Their hearts instantly sank. "Physician…how is master?"

The white haired old man with the title of Saint Physician sighed. "I have tried my best to purge as much poison as possible from his body. But…"

"But…?" The physician solemn expression made them gulped nervously. It was obviously such a good news right? Then why did he seem like someone was dying?

"But the residual poison had infiltrated into some of his internal organs."

The guards hopeful expressions turned paled immediately. They were so anxious that no matter how hard the order from the physician was, they would certainly carry it without fail. "What should we do?!"

Alas, the physician shook his head. "There's nothing we can do anymore. It will all depends on him. Look after him carefully, this night should be the peak of crisis. If he can get through midnight, then he will be fine."

"Or else?"

"Or else…he will die." He sighed regretfully. He had finally discovered the huge secret behind the owner of the mysterious and prestigious manor. It was none other than the good-for-nothing young master from the Mo family! It was so unexpected, yet the chance for him to carry some favor was here.

He didn't expect to find him on the brink of death though.

Pity…such a pity.

Personally, he didn't have ten percent of faith that Mo Yujian could get through midnight safely. The moment he arrived, the poison had affected him too deeply that it was irrevocable. But as a physician, he had to give some hope to them no matter how faint it was.

Who knew…maybe some kind of miracle could appear.

After he had received the guard's gift of gratitude, the old man left the manor and discreetly turned to a dark and remote alley. He then took out a communication device from his sleeve and poured out some of his spiritual energy.

The communication device glowed with a faint sheen of light. A gruff voice was heard. "What's wrong old man? Didn't you say you had business on that manor?"

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Aiyah quick, contact boss. I finally have something to report!"

The voice on the other line quickly turned eager. "What? There was a development? After a few months of nothing? Are you really sure?"

"Yes!" He spoke in an anxious tone. "Come on, quick. Don't waste my time. Or else the boss will punish you ah! He had said that the information on that young man was to be treated as priority!"

"Okay okay!" Listening to the man's distress tone was making him a little flustered. "What is going on exactly to make you so anxious?"

The old man sighed and shook his head regretfully. "Well, it is not a good news. Who knows how the boss will react…"

***

Ling Xiaochen cupped her cheeks as she pouted her lips sulkily. She had been waiting in jittery for the last twenty minutes for the Princess and An Zhengnan to arrive. Yet not even a shadow was seen!

From the initial nervousness, anxiety and panic slowly turned into gloom and disappointment.

The Princess had promised her today. Could it be that they wouldn't come?

How could that be? She had been patiently waiting for today. Early in the morning, she had risen to prepare herself to be her most beautiful version. Today was the first time that Ling Xiaochen really felt that she was a woman.

A woman that was helplessly in love yet could do nothing when her loved one was avoiding her like some kind of plague.

Humph! Wanted to avoid her? Then she would chase him even to the end of the world! See where he could go!

Ling Xiaochen was re-imagining the scenario on how their conversation would be for the seventh times during her wait when she hear the sound of soft footsteps growing closer.

Even if she had turned to dust, Ling Xiaochen would never mistake that footsteps for somebody else! Those soft yet clear step that sounded firm and bold was something that Ling Xiaochen had engraved to the deepest of her soul.

She raised her head hastily…and there he was.

The man that had been occupying her heart for the last four years. The man that she had told herself to forget a thousand times over yet couldn't bear to. The man that she had wished for her whole heart for him to glance at her even for a second more.

There was An Zhengnan, walking toward her in his glory knight uniform. It was a white robe with red embroidery of a phoenix, the ancient holy beast that had gone extinct. The majestic uniform for the strongest knight in the mainland enhanced his aura to the fullest, that even if he's only standing there without doing anything, Ling Xiaochen would find herself attracted to him more and more.

Her tongue suddenly tied and she couldn't find any words that she had been preparing herself to say since yesterday.

The man arrived in front of her in a jiffy. He cleared her throat awkwardly. "Miss Ling."

Ling Xiaochen instantly sulked even though her heart was thumping wildly in joy and excitement. Even though she had told him a million times to call her with her name without any honorifics, but this man had never done so. He had always maintain his polite and distant way as if he couldn't wait to draw some kind of line between them.

She would forgive him today though.

Because he had finally stood in front of her! He didn't avoid her anymore. Finally she could talk to him face to face and told him her feelings earnestly. Once again, without sadness, without jealousy, just a simple confession that came from the bottom of her heart.

Ling Xiaochen bit her lips nervously and began. "Zhengnan…"

"Miss Ling." He cut whatever she had planned to say. "The Princess is not well today so she can't go out with you. I came to ask you when you will be free to go out with her again?"

A sharp pain pierced through her heart at his blatant refusal. But Ling Xiaochen is not Ling Xiaochen if she would give up easily. She had been loving him for four years after all! "Can you please listen to what I have to say?"

The wind was slightly breezy just like that day. It blew his hair and his robes fluttered. Ling Xiaochen could slightly catch the scent of his body. His scent. It smelled fresh and relaxing, reminded her of the warm sunlight very much.

Her heart was drumming that it was hammering in her ribcage. Yet she didn't seem to notice it as her eyes stared at him unblinkingly, trying to catch some kind of reaction.

He slightly lowered his gaze, hiding whatever was brewing inside them.

After what felt like a thousand years, he finally said. "I'm sorry…"