Chapter 42: Over the Cliff

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The mountaintop cliffs were shrouded in midnight fog. In the instant her neck was seized, Shen Chaoxi grabbed Shen Xin’s hand. Her eyes, as cold and fractured as shards of ice, fixed upon Shen Xin, who had lost all reason.

Shen Xin intended to take advantage of the darkness and eliminate Shen Chaoxi before anyone discovered them. At that moment, murderous intent overflowed from the depths of Shen Chaoxi’s gaze; it was clear she was ready to kill.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed, and someone appeared nearby, witnessing the scene. Lu Yunzhou’s brow furrowed as he caught sight of them at the edge of the precipice.

Noticing someone approaching, Shen Xin’s face turned deathly pale. To avoid being seen, she glared at the slender girl before her and abruptly flung Shen Chaoxi’s hand away.

The ground at the cliff’s edge was loose from a recent torrential rain; Shen Chaoxi’s footing slipped, her eyes darkening. At that moment, a strong arm reached out swiftly from her side, catching her hand.

The murderous intent in Shen Chaoxi’s eyes vanished in an instant. The girl’s beautiful, petal-like eyes glanced at Lu Yunzhou, who had rushed forward to grab her hand.

He meant to save her—if Shen Chaoxi wished, Lu Yunzhou could easily pull her to safety. After all, he was a soldier, accustomed to danger; he had faced countless perils. As soon as he saw Shen Chaoxi in jeopardy, he acted immediately, determined to rescue her and keep her from falling.

Yet, just as Lu Yunzhou had a firm hold of her hand, the girl’s serene expression suddenly clouded, panic flickering in her eyes. She reversed her grip, seizing Lu Yunzhou’s arm—a gesture that appeared, in her distress, as if she was desperately clinging to him for survival.

To Shen Xin, it seemed she had flung Shen Chaoxi aside, causing her to fall. Lu Yunzhou’s eyes changed as he watched the panicked girl grasp his arm, a force impossible to resist pulling him down with her.

Shen Chaoxi dragged him over the edge.

“Miss Shen!” The two drivers, who had hurried over upon hearing the commotion, turned pale with fright.

At the cliff’s edge, they saw two figures tumbling down toward the abyss. Rushing forward, they caught a glimpse of Lu Yunzhou clutching Shen Chaoxi’s hand, but both were falling together.

Shen Xin’s face turned ghastly white.

“Miss Shen Xin!” The drivers ran over, panting, while Shen Xin feigned confusion, speaking to them urgently.

“Hurry!”

“Save them.”

“They’ve fallen…” Shen Xin’s face was drained of color, sweat pouring from her brow, her lips trembling.

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To the uninformed, it would seem she had tried to pull Shen Chaoxi back but failed. Then Lu Yunzhou, in his attempt to rescue them, fell together with Shen Chaoxi.

After the heavy rain, the soil along the cliff was soft and soaked. It was inevitable that, with two adults in conflict at the edge, disaster would strike.

Standing behind the drivers, Shen Xin’s pallid face was shadowed by a venomous gaze, her eyes locked onto the depths below.

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White mist enveloped the stream, and beside the wet grass lay a slender girl, blood streaked across her face, half her body submerged in water.

“Shen Chaoxi!”

“Shen Chaoxi…” The handsome man knelt beside her, carefully cradling her from the water, his lips trembling as he spoke her name in a low, anxious voice.

When they fell from the cliff, a river waited below, swollen by the storm. The current carried them to the bank.

In the tumultuous water, Lu Yunzhou had held onto her tightly, fearing she would be swept away. Thankfully, Shen Chaoxi remained by his side.

For Lu Yunzhou, a soldier, such currents posed little threat; so long as he conserved his strength, he would be fine. But Shen Chaoxi was different.

“Shen Chaoxi!” Lu Yunzhou stared at her pale face, gently patting her cheeks.

She coughed weakly, water dribbling from her lips, and opened her eyes to meet his gaze.

Lu Yunzhou asked, “Can you walk?”

He recalled seeing her in a wheelchair, yet he had never heard of Shen Chaoxi suffering any leg injury. She had been ill as a child, leaving her frail, but her legs were unharmed.

Upon hearing his question, Shen Chaoxi tried to stand, but her right ankle throbbed painfully.

Lu Yunzhou noticed her injury, assuming she had hurt it in the fall.

He crouched beside her, extending his arm around her waist to prevent her from collapsing.

But it was clear—her leg was wounded, and even with his support, she could not stand.

Drenched from head to toe, the girl tried several times to rise, then looked to Lu Yunzhou and shook her head softly.

Her eyes, veiled by long lashes, held a cold, unreadable mist, emotions hidden in their depths.

In the darkness, no one could discern the turmoil in her gaze.

Lu Yunzhou lifted her into his arms, carrying her toward the far bank.

With night fallen, no rescue would arrive in time on the cliffside.

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They could only seek shelter for the moment.

Rain began to fall again as the river swelled. To escape the downpour, they entered a mountain cave—damp and shadowy, with a chilling atmosphere.

Fortunately, it was spacious enough for them to rest.

After carrying her inside, Lu Yunzhou placed her on a clean, flat stone.

As he set her down, the girl looked up at the man, whose face and arms bore several scrapes. Her pale lips moved as she asked,

“Why did you save me?” Shen Chaoxi’s gaze was moist.

By rights, their relationship was only that of an engagement—he had no obligation to risk his life for her.

He treated her differently.

Perhaps only because of their betrothal.

Shen Chaoxi fixed her gaze on his cool, handsome features; now, with a trace of blood upon his face, he appeared somewhat disheveled, yet his posture remained upright, as straight as a pine.

Lu Yunzhou’s dark eyes fell upon her.

“Miss Shen, do you know where this river leads?” he asked, watching her closely.

This river connected to the sea of Country Y; after heavy rain, the surging water could sweep her away. Even if she didn’t drown, she would be fish food.

“?”

Shen Chaoxi slowly formed a question mark in her mind.

Was this courtesy?

“The ocean,” he replied in his deep, magnetic voice.

In the pitch-black gloom, his handsome features were obscured, his eyes lowered as he looked at her.

His lashes were thick as raven feathers, making his eyes appear even deeper, emotions swirling like ink.

“If I didn’t save you, you’d be eaten by sharks.”

His voice was hoarse.

Even in such darkness, he joked to lighten her mood.

But Shen Chaoxi sensed something beneath his words.

Her gaze darkened.

She knew.

Lu Yunzhou’s arm was injured.