Shi Wuxie knelt on one knee beside Chu Yunxi, quickly examining the wound. Without raising his head, he asked, "Pei San, how are things outside? We must capture the Jing’an Marquis." He paused, then added, "Dead or alive."Pei San, standing guard at the door, replied through the door panel, "My lord, the marquis household's Shadow Guards have already given chase. There are still many of the Jing’an Marquis's death soldiers outside. Judging by their intent, they mean to wipe us all out here."He then changed his tone: "But rest assured, my lord. Our men, together with the Qin household's guards, hold the advantage in numbers. This subordinate will do everything in his power to protect you and the young master!"Shi Wuxie nodded and turned his attention back to Chu Yunxi's wound.The arrow shaft trembled slightly with each of Chu Yunxi's breaths, the surrounding fabric already soaked through with warm blood."The arrow struck near the heart. He's losing too much blood—the arrow needs to come out so we can stop the bleeding."The Shadow Guard standing by hurriedly pleaded, "Please, my lord, save my young master!"Chu Yunxi's vision was beginning to blur, but hearing Shi Wuxie's voice, he could still tug the corners of his mouth upward, joking in a breath as faint as a gossamer thread: "Little madman… you're going to save me? Wonderful. Looks like I won't be soaked in formalin after all…"But the moment he finished speaking, he heard Shi Wuxie let out a deeply regretful sigh, saying in disappointment, "What a pity. Two inches off, and it would have hit the heart. Then all this trouble wouldn't be necessary."The Shadow Guard looked puzzled."My lord, are you sure you meant to say 'what a pity'?"The Countess: "…""Lord Shi surely meant to say 'thank goodness'…"Chu Yunxi's lips twitched.Though his vision was blurred, he could still see the regret in Shi Wuxie's eyes.A lump rose in his throat. He tried to laugh, but it pulled at his wound, hurting so much he drew in a sharp breath, and it finally dissolved into a sigh caught between laughter and tears: "You ungrateful little wretch… I did… help you secure a witness, you know.""Who told you to act on your own?" Shi Wuxie's thin lips pressed down slightly as he muttered under his breath, "I had my own arrangements. What need was there for you to play the hero?"Chu Yunxi keenly caught the anger in those words. His eyes darted, and with an "Aiya," he went limp, tilting toward Shi Wuxie until his head rested on the man's shoulder. Then he "cough cough" coughed twice more, vomiting up two more mouthfuls of blood, his voice unbearably weak: "I… I'm not going to make it… so cold…""Young master!!" Seeing him vomit blood again, the Shadow Guard was scared out of his wits. "My lord! Please, think of something quickly! The bleeding won't stop!"Shi Wuxie hesitated a moment, then, as if something had occurred to him, took Chu Yunxi's wrist to check his pulse while his gaze fell on the wound, carefully observing the speed and color of the blood flowing out.The Shadow Guard thought he was finally about to begin treatment and immediately held his breath, watching eagerly, not even daring to breathe heavily for fear of disturbing him.Everyone else in the room instinctively fell silent, all eyes fixed on Shi Wuxie.After a long while, Shi Wuxie tilted his head slightly and murmured thoughtfully, "Your pulse is faster than an ordinary person's—two to three beats per breath, slightly quickened compared to most. The blood is flowing faster as well."As he spoke, he pulled the notebook from his sleeve and began recording, murmuring to himself, "Though it could also be caused by the injury."Chu Yunxi: .."Keep taking notes like that, and you can trade them in for a new booklet. No need to call it 'Observation Records'—just rename it 'Autopsy Records.'"Shi Wuxie looked up. "Why?"Chu Yunxi's lips twitched. "Because I'm about to bleed to death."Only then did the Shadow Guard snap out of his daze. So the Living King of Hell hadn't been trying to save anyone at all!He dropped to his knees before Shi Wuxie with a thud, eyes brimming with tears. "My lord! I beg you, save him! The young master can't hold on much longer!"Shi Wuxie gave an absent "oh," then slowly put away the booklet. Without any warning, he reached out and, with a swift shing, drew the blade at the Shadow Guard's waist.The next instant, before everyone's eyes, he decisively raised the blade and swung it toward Chu Yunxi.The Shadow Guard looked puzzled.?Chu Yunxi: !!You're actually going through with it?!Everyone present gasped, far too shocked to react.Chu Yunxi shut his eyes tight and held his breath.Then came a clang—!Chu Yunxi's whole body flinched, but the pain he expected never came. He cautiously cracked one eye open.The arrowhead embedded in his chest had, at some point, been cleanly severed.Shi Wuxie pressed a handkerchief against the bleeding wound on his chest, then looked up and gave rapid instructions to the dumbstruck Lin Xiaoyao. "Clean, thick cotton cloths—as many as you can find. Quickly!"Only then did Lin Xiaoyao snap to her senses. She scrambled to the cabinet, dug out a stack of plain cotton cloths, and handed them over with trembling hands.Shi Wuxie swiftly folded several cloths into a thick pad and pressed it hard against the bleeding wound on Chu Yunxi's chest, then ordered the Shadow Guard, "Press down hard. If blood starts spurting out, you must hold it tight.""Yes!" The Shadow Guard threw his full weight into it, taking over from Shi Wuxie and clamping down on the pad.Shi Wuxie then straightened Chu Yunxi up, letting him lean sideways against his shoulder. One hand steadied Chu Yunxi's body while the other gripped the arrow shaft protruding from his back. He said quietly, "This will hurt a little. Don't move."Chu Yunxi was already drenched in a fine sweat from the pain. He leaned weakly against Shi Wuxie's shoulder and gave a soft laugh, stubbornly insisting, "It's fine. Just pull it. I've gone numb anyway.""Oh."Before the word had even faded, Shi Wuxie yanked it out without mercy."Son of a—!"Chu Yunxi let out a string of curses, his clenched fists cracking as a whole barrage of expletives surged up his throat.The instant the arrow left his body, a gush of blood sprayed from the wound on his back—only to be promptly plugged by another Shadow Guard with a prepared thick cloth.Shi Wuxie's movements didn't hesitate for a moment. He tore a long strip of fabric from the hem of his own robe and, with swift, practiced hands, rapidly wound it around Chu Yunxi's chest in a bandage.Chu Yunxi was being squeezed so tight he could barely breathe, his voice barely a mosquito's whine. "You… wrap it any tighter… and you'll strangle me to death…"Shi Wuxie's hands never paused, his expression unchanged. "If I don't wrap it tight, the blood will pour out."Chu Yunxi weakly lifted his eyelids, gazing at Shi Wuxie's cold profile mere inches away.He suspected this little lunatic was trying to use the opportunity to kill him—but he had no proof.He no longer had the strength to dwell on it. The pain made everything go black before his eyes, and at last he slumped, spent, against Shi Wuxie's shoulder. Before losing consciousness, he left only one final plea: "Spare… my worthless life…"Shi Wuxie fell silent.He laid Chu Yunxi down on his side, then turned to Qin Wanru and said, "Countess, might I borrow your carriage? The conditions here are inadequate—he's lost too much blood and needs to be taken back to the estate at once to have his wounds stitched."Qin Wanru agreed immediately: "Of course, I am at your service. But the road back to the city is rough, and I fear the young master won't endure it. I happen to have a dowry manor in the southern outskirts, no more than two or three li from here, and there's a renowned surgeon nearby. Why not take the young master to the manor first, summon the doctor for emergency treatment, and then return to the capital? There's no rush."Shi Wuxie nodded. "Thank you, my lady."By now the sounds of fighting outside had ceased, and a household soldier came to report."My lord, all the death warriors have been slain. However, the Jing’an Marquis has fled in the direction of the capital."Shi Wuxie rose to his feet, casually brushing off his robes, his gaze passing over the doorway to the wrecked courtyard beyond. "A dying struggle, nothing more. He still thinks he holds leverage."He withdrew his gaze and, lifting the hem of his robe, stepped out the door. "Issue a wanted notice to the Five Cities Garrison and the City Defense Battalion. And use my Command Token from His Majesty to direct the Surveillance Bureau to assist in the capture from the shadows. The moment the Jing’an Marquis is spotted, seize him immediately—dead or alive.""Yes, my lord!"Chu Yunxi was awakened by the pain.The moment he opened his eyes, he saw that he was lying on an unfamiliar bed, with Shi Wuxie sitting at his side.Before him was an old doctor, holding a curved needle threaded with suture, stitching into the flesh of his chest. The needle pierced in and out—the vivid sensation and sight jolted him instantly awake."Wait!" He grabbed Shi Wuxie's wrist, his voice trembling. "Can't you knock me out first, and then do it?"Shi Wuxie looked down at him. "It's just stitches to stop the bleeding. Bear with it and it'll be over." His gaze slid to the side of Chu Yunxi's neck. "The neck needs stitching too."Chu Yunxi's eyes went wide. "Where's your anesthetic? The kind you tried to sneak to me before."He straightened his expression and said magnanimously, "Now I hereby permit you to feed it to me."Shi Wuxie's eyes flickered slightly, and he said coldly, "That stuff is too potent—one pill and you'd sleep for a whole day. And too much of it damages the brain."Chu Yunxi: …"You weren't worried about damaging my brain when you tried to sneak it to me before?"Seeing Shi Wuxie's gaze dart away—rare for him—Chu Yunxi was suddenly struck by inspiration and cried out furiously, "You think I'm stupid?!"Shi Wuxie offered no comment, instead changing the subject: "You didn't make a sound when a blade was at your throat or an arrow pierced through you. Why are you afraid of a few little stitches now?"Chu Yunxi didn't answer, only stared into Shi Wuxie's eyes, as if demanding: You actually think I'm stupid?Shi Wuxie ignored his gaze and analyzed earnestly, "This shows you're really not afraid of pain at all—it's all in your head. You're simply afraid of seeing a doctor."The old doctor, treated like empty air, held his needle suspended in midair and ventured, "So… should I keep stitching this wound or not?"Shi Wuxie was decisive: "Stitch."Chu Yunxi resisted: "No!"The two exchanged a look.A moment later, Shi Wuxie turned his head and gave the order to the Shadow Guard nearby: "Hold him down."Chu Yunxi was shocked and furious: "How dare you! I'm your master!"The Shadow Guards, just stepping forward, actually hesitated at his furious rebuke.Chu Yunxi's eyes rolled, and he propped himself up with effort, leaning weakly against Shi Wuxie's shoulder. "Husband… give me the medicine, please…"Looking for all the world like an addict in the throes of withdrawal.Hearing that form of address, the old man said soothingly, "Don't be afraid, Madam. What wounds haven't I seen in my life? Something like yours is easy to handle. I'll be quick—it'll be done in a moment."Chu Yunxi clearly didn't believe him and warily tried to back away. "Don't you come any closer."Seeing this, Shi Wuxie suddenly raised both arms, wrapped them around his shoulders, and held him tight so he couldn't move, while shooting the old man a swift look.The old man understood and immediately cooperated, driving the needle in without hesitation.Chu Yunxi's pupils dilated instantly. The next second—"AHHH—!!"A shrill scream rang through the courtyard.Chu Yunxi twitched with pain. He twisted his head and buried it against Shi Wuxie's neck, practically wanting to bite down hard.But when he opened his mouth, his lips brushed against smooth skin, his teeth grinding briefly against it—and in the end, he held back and didn't bite.In the end, he merely clamped his jaws fiercely onto the front of Shi Wuxie's garment, cold sweat beading on his forehead from the pain.Over the next quarter hour, cursing, sharp intakes of breath, and pleas for mercy rose and fell in turns, until they finally faded into weak groans and gasps.By the time it was all over, Chu Yunxi looked as if he'd been fished out of water—pale as a ghost, drenched in sweat.He lay slumped against Shi Wuxie's shoulder, panting heavily.The old man wiped the sweat from his brow. Never in his life had he seen a patient make such a fuss.He glanced up at Shi Wuxie and thought to himself, with the Madam so terrified of pain, whatever will the Lord do about his future happiness?Feeling sympathetic, the old man rose and quietly said to Shi Wuxie, "My lord, could you come here for a moment?"When a physician calls the family aside, it's usually not good news.Hearing this, Shi Wuxie laid Chu Yunxi down and followed along with a serious expression.The old man sized Shi Wuxie up, then took a small white porcelain bottle from his medicine chest and handed it over. "In all my years of traveling the jianghu, I've never seen a Madam so afraid of pain."He sighed and patted Shi Wuxie's shoulder. "Being this man's husband won't be easy for you, my lord."Shi Wuxie looked at the porcelain bottle, puzzled. "This is…"The old man cleared his throat, stroked the tip of his beard, his voice taking on a proud note. "My own exclusive secret formula. Silky smooth, leaves no marks, gentle on the skin, easily absorbed. The officials at Yanchun Pavilion all say it's wonderful. I guarantee that once your Madam has it applied, he won't cry out in pain at all!"Shi Wuxie didn't catch the second half—only the words "exclusive secret formula," and that was enough.Chu Yunxi's injuries were difficult to treat. Ordinary medicine wouldn't do; only an exclusive secret formula would work.He nodded and accepted it. "Thank you."The old man chuckled, then held up five fingers. "That'll be five qian of silver.""If it works well for you, come to Chunhui Medical Hall anytime. Loyal customers get two for the price of one."Shi Wuxie nodded in sudden understanding, took a small ingot of silver from his pouch, and handed it over. "My thanks."He turned around, holding the bottle, and went to sit beside Chu Yunxi. After examining the stitched wound for a moment, he reached out and dabbed a bit of clear liquid from the bottle.Chu Yunxi shrank back warily. "What are you doing?"Shi Wuxie said, "The doctor says this medicine is guaranteed to be painless."With that, he applied the medicine directly to the wound.The old man was just walking back, smiling as he weighed the silver in his hand, ready to apply medicine to the patient. He looked up and saw this—"Ah…""Ah??"
Chapter 17
My Cold-Faced Wife Wants to Kill Me Again