A man was seen taking an arrow and placing it on a bow. His eyes estimated the distance to a couple walking through the garden. Beside him, the leader of the Xuanming Clan observed.
"Are you sure your plan will succeed this time?" asked Baren, the leader of the Xuanming Clan.
"Yes, Master. We will not fail this time. That hussy will die; she should know her place."
Baren smiled sinisterly. "Good. Kill her, and make sure her life is truly extinguished from this world." Baren patted the man's shoulder. Accompanied by his guards, he left the strategic hiding spot.
Riven glanced at Lan Xue, who was sitting beside him. For some reason, he felt that something was not right with Lan Xue.
"Young Master—"
"Just call me Riven when we are alone."
"Alright. Riven, do you know what the Lily flower symbolizes?"
Riven's brow furrowed. He remembered the Lily flower Elina had bought earlier that morning. "Doesn't it help with deep sleep therapy?"
"That's true. But do you know what the flower symbolizes?"
"I don't know. What is it, really?"
"Are you having trouble sleeping?"
"Are you worried about me? I know I am very handsome. You were even fascinated by me when you saw me injured."
Lan Xue immediately pinched Riven's stomach. She stood up and stared fiercely at Riven. "I saw you by accident that time. You shouldn't have fought Su Ling."
Riven stood up too and took Lan Xue's hand. He held the hand of the girl he cared for. "I'm sorry if I made you worry."
Lan Xue looked nervous from Riven's sudden action. She quickly pulled her hand back.
"Are you close to a man? I mean, are you fond of someone?" Riven asked cautiously.
"I'm not close to a man, I'm only familiar with you. And oh, I also know a horse groom from this clan."
"Do you like him?"
"Of course not. We are just friends, just like with you."
"But I want you to be my lover. Are you willing?"
Lan Xue was surprised by Riven's statement. "I-I don't want to be your lover." Suddenly, Lan Xue's expression turned annoyed.
"Why?"
"You want me to be your lover while you are Elina's lover. How do you think I feel right now?"
"She is not my lover. And you don't need to be jealous." Riven sighed fretfully. It seemed he needed extra effort to win Lan Xue's heart.
"I'm leaving." Lan Xue walked past Riven with mixed feelings.
In the distance, he saw someone pulling back an arrow and aiming it at their vicinity. Seeing this, Riven immediately pulled Lan Xue into his embrace. Riven gritted his teeth, enduring the pain from the arrow that hit his back. Lan Xue was shocked to see Riven take the malicious act from the person.
In a place far from Lan Xue and Riven, the man who was the right-hand of the Xuanming leader clenched his fists, seeing his target escape.
He snorted cynically. "Even if she escapes, your death is also something we wished for," he said, then left the spot.
"Riven, are you alright? Young Master?" Lan Xue tapped Riven's cheek anxiously. She held Riven in her lap, which was covered by her servant's dress.
Riven smiled faintly, wiping the tears falling on the girl's cheek. Riven then spoke haltingly. "I… love you, Lan Xue." Finally, Riven lost consciousness because the poison in the arrow had spread throughout his body.
Lan Xue wept, seeing Riven leave her side. She looked around, wanting to call for help. But there was no one there except for them.
"Please, hold on. I will be right back."
Lan Xue left Riven and ran to ask for help. Until she met Grandfather Wei Feng, who was praying at the temple with Riven's Father. In a hurry, they carried Riven to his room, and Physician Roy-Ziro examined his condition. Riven's Mother, who heard her son had been hit by a poisoned arrow, cried upon seeing his condition. Lan Xue then explained the actual events when they were in the garden. The girl was worried Riven would leave her. She hoped the man with the sweet smile would wake up and tease her again. Yes, Lan Xue also liked Riven deep down in her heart. She was devastated to see Riven protect her and sacrifice his life. Although Riven's family did not comment much on the incident, Lan Xue still felt that the root of Riven's attack came from her.
Roy-Ziro turned to Yan-Xiang, sighing fretfully. "Young Master Riven has little chance of survival. He was hit by a deadly poisonous Northern plant arrow. I will try to remove the poison that is still within my reach."
"Please do your best for Riven. I will pay you more. Just tell me what you need. I will give it to your family."
"Very well, Your Excellency. I will do my utmost."
Roy-Ziro exerted his power, trying to gather the poison in Riven's chest. Yue-Qing could only pray for her son's safety.
"Please fetch me that porcupine flower plant." Lan Xue, who was near the medicine box, handed it to Roy-Ziro. He then formulated the plant.
Several times, Roy-Ziro was seen chanting incantations. He drew out the purple-colored poison through a clump of water that came out of Riven's chest.
Suddenly, Riven's body began to convulse. Lan Xue cried hysterically in Yue-Qing's embrace. The atmosphere turned into a scene of weeping. Now they truly had to lose Riven.
"Forgive me, Your Excellency. The deadly poison has spread throughout the Young Master's body. Anyone hit by that poison has very little chance of survival. I apologize."
At the bottom of the deepest sea, Riven was sinking. He felt as if it was only a dream. But it was real, he struggled to breathe. Perhaps this was the time for him to truly leave this world. All the memories of the Beifeng Clan swirled in his head. But suddenly, a hand pulled him out of that ocean. He started breathing again.
[Ding!] [System Searching for Deadly Poison!]
Riven slowly began to breathe again. Gradually, the pale purple color on his face began to disappear.
[Ding!] [System Detecting Poison]
[Ding!] [System Operating to Destroy Poison!]
[Ding!] [Level Up!]
[Deadly Poison Successfully Destroyed!] [The Journey Is Still Long!]
Riven coughed weakly after his body system started working again. Yue-Qing immediately hugged her son.
"You're finally awake, Son. Oh, Sky God, thank you for answering my prayers. You are truly close to our prayers. Mother was so afraid of losing you, Son."
Riven smiled weakly. "Don't worry, Mother. I won't die that easily," he said softly.
"Whatever it is, we are very grateful that you have returned to us, Son."
"You made us worry, my grandson. It seems you are destined to become the Sky God himself. Yan-Xiang, I want to speak with you." Wei Feng wiped his tears and immediately left Riven's room, followed by Yan-Xiang.
Riven glanced at Lan Xue, who was looking at him worriedly with tears on her cheeks. Riven smiled at the girl who had colored his heart. He felt lucky to see Lan Xue worry about him. It seemed that Riven, from now on, wanted to play around with his own life. His girl's safety was under a real threat right now.
"Mother? Can you leave me alone with Lan Xue this time?"
"Such a naughty boy. Alright, Mother understands this is a young people's matter. I will go see Su Ling's mother to inform her of this. Make sure you don't worry her again. Lan Xue, Mother will go now, dear."
Lan Xue nodded slowly while wiping her tears. Lan Xue held Riven's hand. For some reason, she couldn't bear to lose the man.
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
"I should be the one apologizing. I put you in danger and almost got you killed. I... I am useless. I am only causing you trouble. I don't know what would happen if I truly lost you. I might have lost the person I truly love because I keep thinking about you."
"What did you just say?" Lan Xue stopped her rambling and looked at Riven confusedly. Riven almost broke into a wide smile.
"I said I was afraid of losing you. You made me worried."
Riven immediately pulled Lan Xue into his bare-chested embrace. He felt overwhelming happiness. "You finally admitted that you love me too."
Lan Xue's cheeks turned red. She hid her face in Riven's broad chest and then pinched the man's waist. They talked a lot and exchanged laughter. From that day on, Riven and Lan Xue officially became a couple. Ah, how happy Riven was.