Tan Hua - Chapter 90: Reappearance

Chapter 90: Reappearance

After an unknown amount of time, Song Liqing once again saw the light.

But he wasn’t happy, because the sorrowful expression on Pei Xingxu’s face pained him.

He reached out a finger and touched the tear that hung from Pei Xingxu’s face. It was wet and cool, but it felt like a burning ember on his skin.

“Xingxu… why have you become so thin?”

Song Liqing said in a daze.

Before he went blind, Pei Xingxu had been a noble and handsome prince, with an air of pride and nobility surrounding him. But the Pei Xingxu before him now looked gaunt, with prominent cheekbones and a dim expression. His emerald eyes were now as still as a dead pond.

Pei Xingxu calmed down upon hearing his words, his anger slowly easing, and a trace of surprise appeared on his face.

“Liqing.”

“The past two years… must have been hard for you, right?”

Song Liqing wiped away the tears of joy from Pei Xingxu’s face. His heart ached and he felt guilty. If it weren’t for his own burden, maybe Pei Xingxu wouldn’t have turned out like this. He was still in his prime, so why had he become so haggard?

“I’m not sad.” Pei Xingxu smiled. “I’m not sad, Liqing.”

Song Liqing’s eyes reddened. He lowered his head, unable to face Pei Xingxu’s intense love for him. The deeper Pei Xingxu’s feelings, the more he felt he should never make him this sad.

“Jun Qiyu…”

Suddenly, Song Liqing remembered something, his eyes searching for Jun Qiyu not far away. His pupils contracted tightly.

Jun Qiyu had sustained many injuries. Song Liqing couldn’t even tell if the blood on him was his own or his enemies’. He was blindfolded, looking like a demonic figure risen from hell.

“Jun Qiyu!”

Song Liqing instinctively shouted out his name.

Jun Qiyu’s ears twitched slightly, confirming Song Liqing’s location. He lifted the corners of his lips, and in the next moment, he moved like a swift leopard, closing the distance between them in an instant.

“Jun Qiyu! How dare you!”

Pei Xingxu shouted in anger when he saw Jun Qiyu suddenly make a move. But his martial skills were average, and he couldn’t protect Song Liqing in time.

Two of Pei Xingxu’s bodyguards finally reacted and swung their blades to stop Jun Qiyu. But even with his injuries, Jun Qiyu’s speed was incredible. He deflected the weapons aimed at him and snatched Song Liqing into his arms, retreating several steps.

All of this happened within a few breaths. Song Liqing only felt dizzy for a moment. When he regained his senses, Jun Qiyu’s chest was right in front of him.

He could see Jun Qiyu’s roughened face, much darker than before, his chin covered in stubble. The youthful recklessness had vanished, replaced by a steadiness and imposing aura. He seemed to have aged many years.

Everything had changed.

Not only had Pei Xingxu aged considerably, but Jun Qiyu had become an entirely different person.

Jun Qiyu lowered his head at this moment. Song Liqing looked at him and saw that his eyes were covered by a strip of cloth.

Perhaps because he couldn’t see Jun Qiyu’s eyes, Song Liqing’s fear of him diminished. Even though he still exuded a chilling aura, there was less fear.

“Are you looking at me, Liqing?” Jun Qiyu sensed it.

Song Liqing turned his head away, a strange feeling growing in him. This person, so familiar yet so unfamiliar, so close yet so frightening.

But in the midst of desolation, in a world that had changed so much, leaning on Jun Qiyu gave him a sense of security, something he had never felt with Pei Xingxu, who he had more of a respectful, distant relationship with.

“Hahaha—”

Prince Xiao let out a long laugh, breaking the silence.

“Truly, two infatuated fools. To have you two so devoted to each other is my younger brother’s fortune.”

Song Liqing noticed the word “younger brother” and realized it was referring to… him?

He glanced at the tall figure wearing a four-clawed dragon robe, confirming that he had never seen this person before.

“Where did this ‘brother’ come from?” Song Liqing mumbled softly.

“He’s Xiao, self-proclaimed as the former dynasty’s crown prince.”

Jun Qiyu explained.

Song Liqing frowned. If that’s the case… could this man before him really be his blood brother?

“What former dynasty crown prince? I am the rightful heir to the throne!” Prince Xiao emphasized his title, “I am the son of the Empress Dowager, the heir to the empire, the future emperor!”

Jun Qiyu frowned after hearing this. He had read much about the former dynasty, but there was no record of a legitimate prince surviving the turmoil. Of course, there might have been some hidden survivors.

Prince Xiao looked down at Song Liqing and said, “I know you don’t understand your own background, so I’ll spare you the crime of recognizing a thief as your father. Besides, you’ve caused chaos in the Jing Kingdom these past two years, enchanting Jun Qiyu and distracting him from state affairs. That gave me the time to plan. I should credit you for this, so come serve me. When my plans succeed, I’ll make you a prince.”

Song Liqing felt no warmth or familiarity with this “brother,” neither by appearance nor by blood. It felt safer to face known enemies than unknown relatives.

“I don’t know you.”

Song Liqing instinctively shrank back, but ended up retreating right into Jun Qiyu’s arms.

Prince Xiao’s face darkened.

“Though I look down on having any blood ties with the bastard child of a lowly concubine, blood is thicker than water,” Prince Xiao ordered, “Come here, so that when I kill Jun Qiyu, I don’t accidentally harm you.”

Song Liqing looked back at Jun Qiyu and shook his head violently.

“I won’t go.”

“How dare you defy me?!” Prince Xiao roared in anger. “I have spared you due to our royal bloodline, but you, a bastard son, don’t even deserve to call me ‘brother’! Just like your mother, you are nothing but a worthless plaything to men!”

Whoosh—

A stone flew from Jun Qiyu’s fingertips, striking Prince Xiao in the face. Prince Xiao narrowly dodged, the stone embedding into the sand with a crisp sound.

Prince Xiao glared at Jun Qiyu, his fear evident.

Jun Qiyu’s brute strength was enough to use a stone as a deadly weapon!

“You…”

Jun Qiyu coldly parted his lips and said, “Shut your filthy mouth.”

“Traitor! How dare you offend me!”

Prince Xiao screamed, fire in his eyes.

“Lou Lan King… Did you see? You gathered an army to save him, but he repays your kindness with betrayal, trying to take your queen. Tsk tsk, this is what you call honor? What’s the difference between them and the dogs in the brothels? Will you still save your rival?”

Pei Xingxu’s eyes had become as indifferent as the desert sands.

“I only want Song Liqing. Whether Jun Qiyu lives or dies, it has nothing to do with me.”

“Good! You’ve agreed to stay out of it. After I kill Jun Qiyu, I’ll arrange for Song Liqing and you to be together. As the elder brother, I’ll take responsibility and officially marry him to you!”