Tan Hua - Chapter 89: There Is More Than Just Him, Jun Qiyu

Chapter 89: There Is More Than Just Him, Jun Qiyu

Prince Xiao looked at Jun Qiyu with a changed expression.

“How is it possible… that someone like this, so badly injured, is still alive…”

Jun Qiyu had a penetrating wound in his chest, a deep blade wound in his back that could be seen to the bone, and a gaping wound in his abdomen still bleeding. He was clearly broken and on the brink of death, as if one more drop of blood would end his life, yet he stood there covered in blood, like an invincible, undead demon.

Prince Xiao had never met Jun Qiyu face to face, but he had gathered every detail of Jun Qiyu’s life in secret. He had heard that Jun Qiyu was not known for his statecraft skills but was renowned for his invincible military prowess, relying on brute strength. Prince Xiao had always looked down on him, thinking him to be a barbarian who could only fight wars. The so-called Western Region devil was nothing but an empty title.

But now it seemed… what was truly terrifying about Jun Qiyu was his ruthlessness.

There was a brutality in him that was not afraid of death.

It was this ruthlessness that made Prince Xiao shudder, his hands and feet turning cold.

“If he doesn’t die today, there will be no future for me as the crown prince!”

This kind of person could never be left alive!

“Kill him! Kill him!!”

Prince Xiao shouted, ordering everyone to charge.

He had no more thoughts except for the desire to kill. He knew that a person like Jun Qiyu could not be allowed any chance to recover. Otherwise, the one who would die would be him if given even a small opportunity to rise again!

“Jun Qiyu, I advise you to surrender and face your punishment, and maybe you’ll suffer less pain!”

Just as his words finished, a group of Loulan cavalry appeared and quickly surrounded them.

He temporarily halted the assassins’ attacks, waiting for the movement of Prince Pei Xingxu.

Several surviving civil officials from the Jing Kingdom were overjoyed and burst into tears.

“Your Highness! It’s the King of Loulan! Loulan’s reinforcements have arrived!”

Jun Qiyu listened closely to the approaching sound of hooves, but he didn’t show much relief, still maintaining a defensive posture.

“Li Qing… Is Li Qing also here?” Jun Qiyu asked, only concerned about one person.

Old Minister Qi looked around and replied, “Yes, he came with the King of Loulan! He must have come to rescue us!”

Only then did Jun Qiyu show a faint smile.

Li Qing must have come to save him.

This meant he cared about his life and death, and that was enough.

Jun Qiyu didn’t trust Prince Pei Xingxu, but he trusted Song Liqing unconditionally.

Song Liqing had ridden with Pei Xingxu on the same horse, listening to the wind and the sand howling, smelling the heavy scent of blood, his grip tightening on the reins.

“Is… is he dead?”

Song Liqing swallowed nervously and asked in a low voice.

Pei Xingxu looked coldly at the blood-soaked Jun Qiyu. He actually hoped that when they arrived, Jun Qiyu would already be nothing but a corpse.

“No, but it will be soon.”

Pei Xingxu answered, detached.

“He’s severely wounded, all his guards are dead, and he’s the only one left. He still has to face dozens of assassins. Jun Qiyu is already at the end of his strength. There’s no doubt he will die.”

Song Liqing noticed that Pei Xingxu’s tone was strange.

Because his tone was so cold, it sent a chill down Song Liqing’s spine.

“Xingxu Gege…” Song Liqing called out uneasily.

“Are you afraid now? Liqing, are you afraid he will die?”

Song Liqing couldn’t answer.

He just stammered, “You said you came to save him…”

“Yes.” Pei Xingxu closed his eyes, sighed, and said, “If only… if only you had been a little indifferent to him, or said that his life or death doesn’t concern you, I might have saved him.”

Song Liqing opened his mouth in astonishment, unable to speak.

“We are here, watching Jun Qiyu die, watching him disappear from this world, and then you can no longer fear or long for him. Don’t blame me, Liqing, this is the only way for you to truly part with him.”

Pei Xingxu’s tone remained gentle, yet it was cruel.

For a moment, Song Liqing felt that Pei Xingxu had suddenly become a stranger.

He should have been the most gentle and kind person, someone whom Song Liqing had always regarded as approachable. But the Pei Xingxu beside him, so extreme and indifferent, seemed like a completely different person.

“Xingxu… you’re not like this.” Song Liqing’s throat was dry, “How… how did you become like this…”

“I haven’t changed.”

Pei Xingxu stopped him from speaking.

“I just want to gain something, like you, Liqing. I’ve never competed with anyone for anything, right? It’s Jun Qiyu’s ghost that haunts me. I’m defending my love. Is that wrong?”

“We… have nothing to do with him.”

Song Liqing’s mind was clouded, unable to articulate his thoughts properly, and his heart was filled with anxiety, making his words even more confused.

But Pei Xingxu understood what he meant, wrapping his arms around his waist from behind.

“Nothing to do with him? Then why does your heart beat so violently? Liqing, don’t lie to me about him anymore, okay? I will be heartbroken.”

Song Liqing didn’t know why Pei Xingxu said “anymore.”

He hadn’t lied about Jun Qiyu.

“I… haven’t lied…”

This time, Song Liqing was guilty.

“Good, then tell me honestly, who is the person you love?” Pei Xingxu whispered in his ear, “As long as you tell me with your own mouth that you only love me, I will immediately send someone to rescue Jun Qiyu.”

Song Liqing’s body stiffened.

He had always considered Pei Xingxu the closest person to him, but at this moment, the word “love” felt so heavy and hard to say, he couldn’t force it out.

If he said he loved Jun Qiyu, then Jun Qiyu would not escape death.

If he said he loved Pei Xingxu, even if it were true, it would feel fake.

And struggling between two men, not knowing who to love, made him feel even more despicable.

“I…”

Song Liqing’s mind was in chaos. He no longer knew right from wrong, and the painful past he didn’t want to face rushed back, giving him a splitting headache.

A thousand emotions choked his heart, almost causing it to burst.

Song Liqing was on the verge of collapse. He suddenly pushed away Pei Xingxu’s arm, jumped down from the horse, but lost his balance and fell to the sand.

Pei Xingxu didn’t expect him to struggle and followed him, lifting him up, holding him in his arms, only to be pushed away by Song Liqing.

Song Liqing’s body trembled, his voice shaking.

“I… don’t want him to die.”

That was his instinctive, subconscious answer.

“You want to save him?” Pei Xingxu’s voice had turned hoarse.

“Yes.”

Song Liqing nodded firmly.

Endless anger drowned the last remnants of Pei Xingxu’s pity. He slowly removed the cloth covering Song Liqing’s eyes.

The sunset momentarily blinded Song Liqing, and he squinted in discomfort.

“Liqing.”

That one word was filled with hopeless disappointment, as though his heart had turned to ashes.

“Look at me. There is not just him, Jun Qiyu, in this world. There is also me, Pei Xingxu.”

Song Liqing opened his eyes, feeling the bright light, like blood-red clouds reflecting the twisted face of Pei Xingxu, whose despairing tears fell from his chin.