Zhi Chen patted Shujun’s shoulder in a comforting manner, "I understand what you’re worried about. You fear that this love will one day cause brothers to turn against each other, and you’re already in too deep. You say, the deeper you fall, the harder it is to extract yourself because you’ve experienced it deeply. You cannot withdraw, nor do you wish to withdraw. To put it clearly, you’ve made up your mind to stick with her to the end, regardless of whether she has feelings for you. You are well aware of your heart."
Zhi Chen sighed again, "You’re afraid Yue Ning is immature, rashly investing too much emotion into Baobao based on a vague feeling, while you have no way out. When that time comes, it’s inevitable that brothers will clash. But some things... they can’t be stopped anymore..."
Zhi Chen also felt bitter inside. "Affections aren’t something that can be controlled by human effort. Whatever is meant to come, even if you resist, will still find its way to you."
He would have never believed that one day, he himself would fall for Baobao.
But his heart was moved, truly stirred, he was attracted to her against his will, little by little, sinking deeper for her.
Zhi Chen’s eyes were half-closed, his expression dazed.
"Shujun, it’s too late."
Shujun looked up in astonishment; he gazed at his elder brother.
Zhi Chen’s expression was complex, "You’re thinking, if it could be stopped, you would extinguish this tendency. But even if Yue Ning is immature in temperament, that was only in the past. If you don’t believe it, you can try it for yourself; leave Taihang Town, trek for four months, searching through thousands of people just for a woman whose whereabouts are unknown."
"You might as well try walking until you have blisters on your feet, until the soles are nearly raw, carrying medicine yet treating it as precious as your life, barely able to swallow your pain, unwilling to use even a little bit because the medicine is a gift from the one you love."
"Shujun, since Baobao left, you went into the mountains to look for her, and Little Wu left home. For four whole months, you were worlds apart, neither knowing the experiences or circumstances of the other, nor the hardship and suffering endured."
"You’ve always thought that Yue Ning is the same as before, rash and impetuous, not stable enough. But how could you know, his rough edges have been worn down so much already?"
"He arrived here a bit earlier than you, fully aware that Qingfeng is Poisonous Mountain, yet he still forced his way through. He was bitten by a venomous snake at the foot of the mountain, hanging between life and death, but as it turned out, he was lucky enough to meet Qiu Yang, who brought him here, and that’s how he reunited with Baobao."
"His resolve equals yours. He would rather be the one hurt than let Baobao suffer the slightest pain. Even a few days ago, while Baobao was undergoing the poison removal, he saw with his own eyes the pain she had to bear, and he wished he could transfer all that pain to himself."
Shujun was taken aback.
Zhi Chen then realized Shujun did not know Baobao’s past ferocity was due to the Devouring Deep Gu.
Shujun asked sternly, "What exactly happened?"
Liang Yuening, like a little panting dog, waited outside the door, yet his eyes greedily lingered on the young girl busily moving about inside the cabin. Several times, he opened his mouth, wanting to call out to her, to draw her attention to himself. But, perhaps because of his shy nature, he felt a bit embarrassed and, scratching his head in frustration, hesitated to shout for her.
Haoming stood beside him with a wooden expression, accompanying his fifth brother as a Door God.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew over.
"Baobao—!!" His voice was hoarse as he grabbed her in his arms, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. His arms were so tight that her bones ached from the pressure.