When he groggily opened his eyes, he saw Pei Shu'er again.
At the same time, the strength in his hand unconsciously increased.
Pei Shu'er grunted in pain, furrowing her brows as she looked at Tang Zan.
Her peach blossom eyes glistened with tears, the corners reddened from pain, making her look somewhat pitiful.
Tang Zan instinctively relaxed his grip a little, then grew frustrated with the trace of pity that arose in his heart.
He couldn't help but furrow his brows again, lowering his voice.
"Don't touch me."
Pei Shu'er's red lips pressed together slightly. Given Tang Zan's current injuries, if she truly abandoned him, he would surely face death.
Then wouldn't she be left without a shield?
She sighed as she rolled up Tang Zan's trouser leg, and Tang Zan's frown deepened.
After a day of walking, Tang Zan's left calf was already almost entirely ruined.
Blood had soaked through his shoe.
When he saw that only scraps of flesh clung to the bone of his left calf, Tang Zan's eyes were indifferent, and his dark pupils were devoid of any light.
He just looked at Pei Shu'er with a void-like gaze.
Pei Shu'er felt that Tang Zan, looking at her, seemed like a ghoul crawling up from Hell.
Pei Shu'er took a deep breath to dispel some of the clinging fear.
She continued to use Yunnan Baiyao mixed with Spiritual Spring Water to clean Tang Zan's wound.
Tang Zan's eyelids drooped, his dark eyes holding a cold, haunting flame, as if trying to burn Pei Shu'er.
Yet the words he spoke were low and magnetic, without a trace of emotion.
"Don't understand human speech, Pei Shu'er?"
As he spoke, he gripped Pei Shu'er tightly, trying to pull her away.
Pei Shu'er happened to stand up, losing her balance as Tang Zan pulled her, she suddenly fell into Tang Zan's arms, pressing against his wound, making Tang Zan grunt.
Tang Zan's body was warm, and her hand rested against his chest, finding the heat uncomfortable.
It was her first time being so close to a man, and Tang Zan was exceptionally attractive, his male scent overwhelming Pei Shu'er.
At the same time, a light floral scent wafted into Tang Zan's nostrils.
It was a scent unique to Pei Shu'er.
And Pei Shu'er's warm, soft body.
His heart skipped a beat.
He felt feverish.
Tang Zan lowered his gaze, looking at Pei Shu'er just in front of him, and saw her looking up at him as well.
Her long eyelashes and pure, translucent eyes were like glass.
She appeared as innocuous as a white rabbit.
Innocuous?
Ha, it was merely Pei Shu'er's disguise.
Ever since she entered the Prince Zhan Mansion as a spy for the Third Prince, she was as good as dead in his eyes.
How much information had she passed to the Third Prince from the Prince Mansion? Did she really think she was doing it secretly?
This time, her involvement certainly couldn't be dismissed regarding his family's exile and ruin.
Now, she came over to treat his wounds again.
Crocodile tears?
Or was she here to poison him?
Did she fear he was dying too slowly?
His lips curled in a mocking smile, his voice icy and piercing.
"Pei Shu'er, do you throw yourself into the Third Prince's arms like this as well?"
Due to the fragmented nature of her original memory, she truly didn't know how she originally interacted with the Third Prince.
She shook her head, intending to stand up.
But Tang Zan didn't let go, even using his unharmed right foot to trip her, causing her to fall into his arms again.
Her nose ached from the collision, and tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes.
Tang Zan's lips held a mocking curve, his eyes icy.
His slender, fair yet scarred fingers wandered at Pei Shu'er's neck.
They grazed her neck, pausing at her throat, his scorching fingers tapping against it.
"Answer me."
Pei Shu'er shook her head, "No, the Third Prince and I have always adhered to etiquette."
Tang Zan let out a snort, his hand slowly, loosely surrounding Pei Shu'er's throat, his palm moving up and down as if searching for a spot to apply pressure.
"Is that so?"
The effect of the Spiritual Spring Water had worn off, and Tang Zan wasn't going to let her drink water at this moment.
Even if he drinks the water now, Tang Zan will discover there's something wrong with it.
Pei Shu'er's lips curved slightly. She wrapped her arms around Tang Zan's neck, slowly leaning towards him, making it seem as if Tang Zan was holding her.
At the same time, she decided that if the situation went awry, she would take out the gun hidden in space and shoot Tang Zan.
This antagonist is uncontrollable.
If the worst comes to the worst, she can always replace him with another shield, that government officer would do just fine.
However, as soon as she had this thought, a thunderbolt struck a hundred meters away from her, out of the blue.
Pei Shu'er's heart trembled, thunder on a clear day.
She remembered that this kind of plot wasn't in the original story, the only thing that had changed was her.
And it happened just when she was thinking of killing the antagonist.
Based on some novels she had read before, she guessed that it was probably the Power of Plot at work.
Every story must have a male lead, a female lead, and a big antagonist.
These three roles are essential pillars of a novel; otherwise, the world would collapse.
Therefore, she shouldn't harbor the thought of harming Tang Zan.
Pei Shu'er thought it was probably just a coincidence but couldn't help thinking of killing Tang Zan, even moving the dagger to the space entrance.
At this moment, another thunder struck, just fifty meters around her.
Compared to the last one, this thunder felt more like a warning.
Pei Shu'er closed her eyes, she understood, she really couldn't kill Tang Zan.
So, she had to think of another way.
Pei Shu'er's face was pale, but her expression was irresistibly charming, with a uniquely feminine allure.
"Of course, the only one I'm throwing myself into the arms of is you."
Tang Zan gave a strange smile, making Pei Shu'er's scalp tingle and her back go cold.
Pei Shu'er knew that Tang Zan didn't believe her.
She smiled and raised the stakes.
"Young Master, on this journey, I'm the only one who knows healing magic. If I die, with injuries as severe as yours, I'm afraid there's no recovering. Can you bear that?"
"A worthless life like mine means nothing to you, but you're the mainstay of the third branch. If you fall, the third branch won't last long either."
After saying this, Pei Shu'er chuckled softly, covering her lips with her index finger, her peach blossom eyes glancing at Tang Zan.
Full of allure.
"After all, there are so many wolves, tigers, and leopards waiting to take down the third branch along the way."
These words were nothing more than a reminder to Tang Zan of her importance.
Tang Zan fell silent, realizing the wolves, tigers, and leopards she mentioned were none other than people from the main branch.
Tang Peilin's previous actions had not escaped his notice, and now there were no male heirs in the third branch.
Indeed, as Pei Shu'er said, he couldn't fall.
Otherwise, even without Tang Peilin, there would be Zhang Peilin and Li Peilin to humiliate the third branch.
So this time, when Pei Shu'er treated his injuries, he just coldly watched her.
Pei Shu'er smiled, knowing that those who achieve great things can bend and stretch. No wonder he was an antagonist, clearly understanding the pros and cons.
For some particularly severe wounds, Pei Shu'er could only sprinkle more Spiritual Spring Water.
The Spiritual Spring Water taken internally aids in wound healing, but poured on the wounds, it can stimulate flesh regeneration.
If Tang Zan hadn't been traveling today, the wounds would have healed even better, but in that situation, nobody could have carried him.
He was such a stubborn and proud person, knowing no one wanted to carry him, he wouldn't push himself to go along.
However, Pei Shu'er couldn't let Tang Zan recover too quickly; she had to keep him hanging by a thread, without deteriorating.
So finding the right balance was essential.
Otherwise, if Tang Zan healed, she would have no reason to exist.
When Tang Zan's wounds were mostly dealt with, Pei Shu'er wrapped his left leg with clean cloth.
Looking up, she found Tang Zan staring scrutinizingly at her, his deep eyes dark and devoid of light.
His gaze inadvertently swept over Pei Shu'er's slender, fragile neck.
He pointed his finger at Pei Shu'er's neck, reminding her not to do anything unnecessary.
Pei Shu'er, burned by this scorching heat, blinked, looking innocent and naive.
Tang Zan let out a cold laugh, and only then did he withdraw his hand.
But as he retracted his hand, his thumb and forefinger gave an involuntary gentle pinch, as if the delicate texture of Pei Shu'er's skin still lingered on his fingertips.
Pei Shu'er raised her eyes slightly, giving Tang Zan a faint glance, their gazes meeting in the air, sparking a little flame.
Tang Zan raised an intrigued eyebrow.
The power disparity between him and Pei Shu'er was huge; if he wanted to kill her, he could at any time.
Yet this woman seemed entirely unafraid, meeting his gaze with dignity and composure.
Tang Zan chuckled mockingly.
Truly interesting.