Yun Ji let out the most bloodcurdling scream since her transmigration.
The Guard was also startled by her, unleashing a series of shrieks in response.
The two screamed at each other for a while before simultaneously realizing what was happening. Moving in sync, they scrambled backward in panic.
“Why are you screaming! Why are you screaming!” The Guard clutched the piglet fearfully, “I finally made it back and you scare me like this!”
“You’re the one who scared me!” Yun Ji, still shaken, trembled as she pointed at the ground, shrieking, “I just finished carving your tombstone when you popped up! I thought you were a ghost!”
Though both were ghosts, compared to the adorable-looking Lu Xing, the Guard—despite having decent features—was truly terrifying with dark circles under his eyes and a disheveled appearance.
Yun Ji had thought her ability to accept such things had improved, but now she realized it still came down to appearance.
A good-looking ghost was easier to accept than an ugly one.
“Who’s a ghost!” The Guard looked devastated, “I’m alive and well! Why would you carve a tombstone for me! And you carved it on the ground—so careless! Are you even human!”
Yun Ji blinked a couple of times, finally processing the situation:
“You’re alive?”
“Alive!” The Guard grumpily pushed forward a basin of large white steamed buns from behind, “If I weren’t alive, how would I bring you food!”
Noticing that Yun Ji seemed to have lost weight (actually, the swelling had gone down), the Guard’s expression darkened. It was only when Yun Ji picked up a bun and started eating that he spoke stiffly:
“You must be starving. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come back late. I ran into some trouble on the way, but it’s all resolved now. I brought your pillow too, though it’s a bit dirty. I’ll wash it before giving it to you.”
Yun Ji finished one bun in a few bites. Since transmigrating, her appetite had become astonishingly large—she could eat any amount of food.
Strangely, though she hadn’t eaten anything during this period, she hadn’t felt particularly hungry either.
Now with something in her stomach, she felt much more energetic.
Patting the Guard’s shoulder, she said cheerfully, “Why apologize? It’s fine! I’m just happy you’re back. With you here, I get to eat your delicious cooking!”
The Guard was taken aback for a moment, then a smile quickly spread across his tired face. “Haven’t fed you for nothing! These buns are from outside. If you want something I cooked, I’ll make some later.”
He paused, then looked displeased at the words on the ground: “But hurry up and erase these. I’m alive and well—what do I need a tomb for!”
Yun Ji blinked: “Can’t we keep it for later? Shu Shu worked so hard carving those characters.”
Lin Shu was deeply moved.
See, what a wonderful person Yun Ji was—she even noticed such a trivial thing as him carving a few characters!
The Guard’s temple twitched: ?
Fortunately, before the Guard could chastise Yun Ji for her cruelty, he realized she could speak again.
Yun Ji didn’t mention nearly dying, only saying that Lin Shu had helped neutralize some of the poison in her system.
“Look at me—I’m not as bloated anymore, and I feel much better.” Yun Ji proudly stood up and twirled.
The Guard glanced at her, seeming dissatisfied, and muttered under his breath: “Obviously just lost weight from starvation…”
Yun Ji didn’t catch his last sentence, only staring at the piglet the size of two palms in his arms. “What about you? What did you encounter this time? Why did you bring back a pig?”
The guard coughed lightly, his narrow eyes curving with a hint of pride. “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you about the outside world. This pig is for you to eat—I went through great trouble to bring it in.”
Yun Ji stared blankly. “Then why not just bring some meat? I wouldn’t dare eat this little pig!”
She had eaten pork before but never seen a live pig!
The guard glared at her and shoved the piglet into her arms. “Don’t mind its size now—raise it a bit longer and it’ll grow big. Then you can slaughter and eat it!”
The pink piglet widened its small eyes and let out two indignant squeals, too afraid to protest.
Yun Ji was horrified. “I have to raise it?!”
She’d never even kept cats or dogs—how could she start with a pig?!
Rolling his eyes, the guard promised to deliver pig feed before abandoning the pig and leaving.
In the end, it was a relief—Yun Ji didn’t starve, the piglet found someone to care for it, and the guard returned alive.
Everyone was fine, except for poor Wei Sheng, who was kicked flying when Yun Ji scrambled away in panic.
…
The guard hadn’t brought a lantern when he came. Feeling his way back in the dark, he recalled Yun Ji’s terrified expression upon seeing the piglet and couldn’t help chuckling wildly.
He hadn’t told Yun Ji that the pig’s squeals reminded him of how she used to make similar noises, which was why he brought it back to keep her company.
It was just a pity that Yun Ji could speak now and no longer squealed.
Wait—no, he should congratulate her for gaining speech.
But she actually carved him a tombstone!
Though that also meant she cared about him. She wouldn’t have bothered if she didn’t.
The guard felt both angry and amused.
By the time he reached his room, he was drenched in sweat.
He lit a lamp and stared at his disheveled hair and haggard face in the bronze mirror. His smile faded as he tremblingly tore off his clothes.
Beneath the garments, his body was covered in wounds—mostly whip marks, with several branded burns.
Unhealed injuries still oozed blood. He casually wiped them with a cloth, but the bleeding only worsened.
The pillow he’d promised Yun Ji was splattered with bloodstains. Originally a jade-green cushion, it was now too grimy to discern its color.
He stared blankly at the jade bead pendant by the lamplight before suddenly losing control—gulping several mouthfuls of water and rinsing repeatedly until the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, finally calming him.
After briefly tending his wounds, he attempted a Cleansing Spell on the pillow. When it proved ineffective, he simply fetched a bucket, soaked the filthy pillow, and prepared to wash it by hand.
If he gave the pillow to Yun Ji, would she sleep properly at night instead of singing randomly?
The thought of finally getting a good night’s sleep made him laugh joyfully while scrubbing—until tears began falling mid-chuckle.
He truly had nearly failed to return this time.
Feng Liansu, dissatisfied that he hadn’t killed Yun Ji, had sent people to humiliate him.
But he knew how to bend without breaking. He could lick boots, endure humiliation, and even while being stepped on, grin and offer flattery.
What were beatings? What was abuse? As long as those esteemed cultivators let him live, no degradation mattered.
Dignity never really mattered; what mattered was coming back alive.
If Feng Liansu had forced him to kill Yun Ji, he would have done it to survive.
Fortunately, Feng Liansu didn’t go that far.
He could still protect Yun Ji for two more months.
He clenched his teeth, swallowing back the sob rising in his throat.
He didn’t want to cry—he was used to it by now.
It was just that seeing Yun Ji waiting for him made him feel a little sad, that’s all.