Chapter 70 Following One’s Heart

Chapter 70: Following One's Heart

The carriage was quiet. Chu Jiubian stared intently at Qin Xiao, momentarily speechless.

Qin Xiao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, then took out a palm-sized sachet from his robes and handed it to Chu Jiubian.

"What is it?" Chu Jiubian took it, opened it, and froze abruptly upon seeing its contents.

"I promised you before that I’d get you grapes after conquering the Western Regions," Qin Xiao said, subtly steadying his breathing. "It’s a pity there are no fresh ones this season, only some raisins. When they ripen next year, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh ones."

Chu Jiubian was taken aback. He had only mentioned it casually back then, and he had even forgotten he’d said such a thing until Qin Xiao brought it up.

"Try some," Qin Xiao said.

Chu Jiubian took two and popped them into his mouth, then looked up at the man across from him.

Qin Xiao smiled. "Sweet?"

Chu Jiubian handed the sachet back. "Would you like some?"

Qin Xiao shook his head, his gaze lingering on Chu Jiubian’s face. "Give me a piece of candy instead."

Chu Jiubian took out a grape-flavored piece of candy and handed it to him.

Qin Xiao put it in his mouth and said, "This is sweet."

Chu Jiubian looked at the sachet in his hand for a long moment before finally closing it and tucking it into his robes.

"Do you know what I thought about every day over there?" Qin Xiao’s voice was barely audible.

Chu Jiubian looked up and saw the man leaning against the carriage wall, smiling somewhat unrestrainedly.

"I wanted to see you every day," Qin Xiao said.

The carriage just happened to arrive at the palace gate then. Qin Xiao didn’t wait, or perhaps didn’t expect a response from Chu Jiubian, and alighted directly.

Chu Jiubian touched the slightly swollen sachet in his chest and also alighted.

Ahead of them stood Baili Hong and Qin Zhaoyang, who had already been waiting for a short while, along with Eunuch Hong Fu, who had brought a palanquin to greet them.

There were no pleasantries exchanged as the group proceeded to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Jiubian walked side by side with Qin Xiao, the snow beneath their feet crunching, leaving pairs of footprints with each step.

Once inside the Hall, Baili Hong turned and darted to embrace his Uncle’s leg.

But the man, who usually stood as straight as a pine tree, staggered slightly this time. Chu Jiubian instinctively reached out to steady his arm.

Qin Xiao turned away, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief as he coughed muffledly, the sound faintly resembling gurgling.

After a few breaths, he steadied himself and hid the handkerchief in his palm.

But Baili Hong still caught a glimpse of the bright red blood on it and instantly grew anxious, his eyes welling with tears. "Uncle, are you hurt?!"

Eunuch Hong Fu and Qin Zhaoyang naturally noticed as well, their faces filled with concern.

Qin Xiao crouched down and gently stroked the child’s soft hair, his expression unprecedentedly gentle.

"Be good," he said softly. "Listen to your Teacher."

Baili Hong sensed something was wrong and wanted to burrow into his Uncle’s arms, but he didn’t know where his Uncle was injured and was afraid of hurting him. Instead, he could only cling to his arm, his lip trembling, his eyes brimming with tears.

The young child didn’t understand what was happening, but he could feel a vague sense of unease.

Qin Xiao hugged the child, gently patting his back, just as he had done many times before.

After a long moment, he released the embrace and said, "Uncle needs to rest for a while. Go read your books first."

Baili Hong grabbed his hand, and he wanted to say something but held back. In the end, he only whispered, "Teacher said we’d go to Fukang Pavilion to see the plum blossoms once you returned."

Qin Xiao smiled. "Alright, we’ll go when we have time."

Only then did the child let go, saying, "Then Uncle should go rest."

Qin Xiao nodded and stood up, heading toward the western courtyard.

Baili Hong stood where he was, watching his figure recede farther and farther away until he disappeared from sight. Only then did large, fresh teardrops begin to fall.

Eunuch Hong watched from the side, his heart aching with sympathy and his eyes reddening.

"Your Majesty, the Lord is blessed. He will be fine," he comforted as gently as he could.

Baili Hong nodded tearfully. "Teacher is here."

The child knew his Uncle had just been saying goodbye, that his Uncle believed he wouldn’t live much longer. But Baili Hong trusted his Teacher. With his Teacher here, everything would be alright.

Chu Jiubian followed Qin Xiao to the western courtyard.

From beginning to end, Qin Xiao said nothing more. Once inside the courtyard, he went straight to the bedroom, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

"Qin Xiao," Chu Jiubian called out.

Qin Xiao paused but did not turn around, his tall figure silhouetted in the shadows of the doorway.

"I’m a bit tired," he said softly.

Chu Jiubian stared fixedly at his back until the two doors closed completely.

A ringing filled his ears, and he felt as though he was short of breath.

Suddenly, Qin Zhaoyang, who had been following further behind, rushed to the bedroom door at great speed and pushed it open with a bang.

Chu Jiubian’s heart sank heavily.

As the ringing in his ears faded, he heard the sound of the man’s suppressed, gurgling coughs.

His feet moved almost unconsciously, carrying him into the bedroom. There, he saw Qin Zhaoyang having just helped Qin Xiao lie down on the bed. Blood was splattered across Qin Xiao’s face, his body, and even the floor.

"Call the imperial physicians!" Qin Zhaoyang shouted toward the door.

But even before he shouted, guards had already rushed to summon them.

Chu Jiubian steadied himself and walked to the bedside, finding Qin Xiao completely unconscious. His breathing was shallow and labored, sometimes heavy, sometimes faint, and his face was as pale as paper.

The imperial physicians arrived as quickly as possible, but after taking his pulse, they all frowned deeply, their faces growing even paler than the patient’s.

They retreated to a corner, discussing in low voices, yet unable to reach any definite conclusion.

The Imperial Medical Bureau's Director was elderly and had recently come down with a severe cold, bedridden for several days and out sick at home.

Currently in charge was Vice Director Zhang Ziliang, the same one who accompanied Chu Jiubian to Hexi County for disaster relief. At that time, Chu Jiubian observed that although Zhang was somewhat ambitious, he was exceptionally skilled and genuinely worked for the people's benefit, so he gave him a copy of *Compendium of Materia Medica*.

Vice Director Zhang carefully took Qin Xiao's pulse before rising and turning to Chu Jiubian.

"How is he?" Chu Jiubian asked.

If the imperial physicians could treat him, he would not intervene, since Qin Xiao had survived in the original work.

But Vice Director Zhang shook his head and said, "The arrow was shot with great force and hit a critical spot. It's a miracle he made it back alive. Now, I'm afraid..."

Chu Jiubian knit his brows deeply. "Is there no one who can treat him?"

Vice Director Zhang wanted to say, *Aren't you the miracle healer?*

But he held his tongue and whispered instead, "I lack the skill. Perhaps we should wait for the Director to examine him."

"The Director is completely bedridden," Qin Zhaoyang's voice trembled slightly.

His eyes red, he looked at Chu Jiubian, holding back from saying more.

Chu Jiubian glanced around and dismissed all the imperial physicians.

Once they had left, Qin Zhaoyang could no longer hold back and fell to his knees before Chu Jiubian with a thud.

"Young Master," he cupped his fists and said tremulously, "Before he left, the lord instructed me to follow your orders in all matters. If he... if he truly does not return, my subordinates and the loyal followers of the Qin family will all be at your disposal."

Chu Jiubian's heart dropped heavily. His pupils like glass fixed on Qin Zhaoyang, but he detected no trace of guilt or evasion in the other's eyes.

Chu Jiubian's mind went blank.

It was true—Qin Zhaoyang was not lying.

Qin Xiao truly intended to entrust everything to him.

But... why?

Why would Qin Xiao trust him? Why would he...

The sweet taste of dried grapes on his lips grew increasingly vivid. Chu Jiubian seemed to see the man smiling lazily at him again, boldly saying, "I want to see you every day."

Unlike that out-of-control kiss under the umbrella that night, this time, Qin Xiao seemed to be indulging in one last reckless act.

"The lord said never to force you into anything, and I agreed," Qin Zhaoyang, a man who rarely showed emotion, now had red-rimmed eyes and a slightly choked voice. "I have gone back on my word only this once in my life. I beg you, Young Master, save the lord!"

"No matter the outcome, I am willing to go through fire and water for you!"

With these words, he kowtowed, his forehead striking the ground with a clear, dull thud.

At the same time, more than a dozen hidden guards emerged from nowhere, kneeling behind Qin Zhaoyang and kowtowing in unison. "We are also willing to loyally serve you!"

Chu Jiubian looked at them, feeling as if something in his mind had suddenly snapped.

All his self-deception and arrogance shattered in that moment.

He finally realized with stark clarity that Qin Xiao was not some fictional character or a so-called villain.

This world was real, and Qin Xiao was a living, breathing person—someone who could talk and laugh, had independent thoughts, and would one day pass away naturally.

Chu Jiubian could no longer use the excuse that "Qin Xiao would eventually turn evil" to deceive himself into believing they were alike, or to justify his easy interactions with Qin Xiao.

He understood with painful clarity one fact—he and Qin Xiao were entirely different individuals, with completely opposite cores.

He existed in this world unattached and unnoticed by anyone.

He had funded his own education, devouring knowledge and skills, doing everything he could to present himself as resilient and self-reliant in the eyes of others.

Even his entry into the entertainment industry was driven by a craving for the fans' fleeting admiration and the sense of detachment he felt while embodying various roles.

Calling himself an experiential actor was merely an escape from reality and his true self.

Because he knew that if his real self were exposed, no one would like him anymore. People would avoid him, pointing fingers behind his back, saying, "Just like his parents, he's a lunatic."

He was the outlier, the one who should be considered the "villain."

But Qin Xiao...

He was resilient and powerful, capable of protecting everyone, and he cared for the people and matters around him with meticulous gentleness.

He had family, things worth protecting, and so many loyal subordinates and friends who wholeheartedly supported him.

He even had a biological brother still alive and a nephew who relied on his care and support.

Chu Jiubian suddenly felt ridiculous.

He had once truly believed that he and Qin Xiao were alike, both harboring hidden darkness, and he had shamelessly claimed, "We are the same," thinking Qin Xiao would understand his abnormal behavior.

But in the end, he was the only one stuck in the mud.

If Qin Xiao knew that the real him was not some lofty deity but someone who lacked even the most basic ability to "love," would he still care?

Would he still hand over his power and personnel to him?

Would he still... travel thousands of miles to bring him those dried grapes he had once casually mentioned?

Such trust and concern were too heavy. Chu Jiubian did not want to imagine what would happen if all of it were taken back.

So, since he knew Qin Xiao would eventually discover his true nature, it was better to let him die while his impression of Chu Jiubian was still at its best.

A lingering gloom seemed to cloud Chu Jiubian's light-colored pupils.

He looked indifferently at Qin Zhaoyang, neither agreeing to treat Qin Xiao nor refusing.

He only asked calmly, "How was he injured?"

On the way back to the palace, Qin Zhaoyang had already questioned the accompanying hidden guards and learned that Qin Xiao had few trusted soldiers at hand at the time, so he had sent the hidden guards to investigate conditions in various parts of Xifan, formerly the Sai Kingdom.

Thus, when Qin Xiao was assassinated, the hidden guards were not by his side.

But later, the hidden guards learned what had happened and reported it to Qin Zhaoyang.

Now that Chu Jiubian asked, Qin Zhaoyang did not conceal the truth and said straightforwardly, "It was Deputy General Cheng Shuo who injured him with a repeating crossbow."

Chu Jiubian's hands tightened suddenly.

"A repeating crossbow?" His tone held an unconscious strain.

“That’s right,” Qin Zhaoyang said. “It was acquired by the lord from a jianghu figure, originally intended for self-defense. Who could have foreseen it would be turned against him—transformed into a weapon to harm him?”

So that was how it happened.

I see.

Even fate’s twists could not alter what had been destined.

Qin Xiao would still be injured—and worse, by a trusted subordinate wielding the very repeating crossbow Qin Chuan himself had delivered.

Chu Jiubian closed his eyes, feeling as if he were struggling to breathe.

He had never imagined Qin Xiao would be hurt because of this.

If only he had known earlier…

Composing himself, Chu Jiubian looked down at the bed.

The man lay unconscious, his breathing ragged, his brow tightly furrowed.

A hemothorax made breathing agonizing—bringing one perilously close to suffocation. Combined with the unhealed chest wound, it was easy to imagine the excruciating pain Qin Xiao must be enduring.

Yet even in this state, he remained deeply comatose.

There was no time to waste.

Others might drown in guilt or linger over “what ifs,” but Chu Jiubian felt as though a weight had lifted from his shoulders.

He no longer needed to hesitate.

Qin Xiao had been wounded by *his* repeating crossbow—and he still needed Qin Xiao to keep various factions in check. So, whether driven by logic or necessity, he *had* to save him.

Without turning around, Chu Jiubian spoke calmly and quietly: “For the next five days, no one is to enter this courtyard without my explicit permission—including the hidden guards.”

Qin Zhaoyang acknowledged instantly. As he rose, the group of hidden guards behind him vanished like a gust of wind.

Qin Zhaoyang hurried out, evacuating all palace servants from the west courtyard, leaving only a contingent of soldiers and hidden guards stationed outside.

He, too, had much to attend to.

Now that Prince Ning had returned to the capital, the other six feudal princes—excluding Prince Anhuai—were expected to arrive one after another over the coming days.

Five days from now would be the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month—just three days before the New Year.

During these five days, neither of the two key figures in the palace could appear publicly. The sole figure left to uphold appearances was the three-year-old emperor, Baili Hong. Qin Zhaoyang would need to shoulder even greater responsibilities alongside Hong Fu.

Fortunately, officials were already on their New Year holiday—so the absence from morning court spared considerable trouble.

As for the palace banquet and interactions with the feudal princes, Minister of Works Jian Hongzhuo and Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan—who now clearly aligned themselves with the emperor—could handle much of it.

But Qin Zhaoyang remained uncertain how to explain Qin Xiao’s condition to the emperor.

The young emperor had eagerly awaited his uncle’s return—and before he could even utter a word, this had occurred. He must be terrified and distraught.

Frowning, Qin Zhaoyang arrived at the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and saw Hong Fu seated inside with the young emperor.

As he entered, the boy rushed forward, eyes red, and asked, “How is Uncle?”

“Your Majesty,” Qin Zhaoyang replied vaguely, “Sir said he needs five days.” He deliberately omitted any details about Qin Xiao’s condition—or whether Chu Jiubian could even cure him. Given the severity of Qin Xiao’s internal injuries and Chu Jiubian’s lack of assurance, Qin Zhaoyang dared not allow himself hope.

Though young, Baili Hong sensed the unspoken gravity behind those words.

Yet he remained more optimistic than Qin Zhaoyang. Sniffling, he said thickly, “Then we’ll wait five days. The Master will definitely cure Uncle.”

His expression was resolute—strikingly reminiscent of Qin Xiao’s usual demeanor.

Hong Fu, too, was uneasy, frowning as he glanced toward the west courtyard.

The last direct descendant of the Qin family. He prayed Grand Tutor could perform yet another miracle.

The west courtyard stood utterly empty and eerily silent.

Chu Jiubian walked to the bedside and sat down, studying the man’s face.

“System, I need to perform surgery,” he thought.

“Host, bringing a non-believer into the Divine Realm will cost 500 points. Are you certain you wish to proceed?”

“No further questions.”

Chu Jiubian, in truth, felt deeply uncertain.

Before, he hadn’t even been able to summon Qin Xiao’s card. What if he failed now?

Or what if he succeeded in bringing him in—but couldn’t save him?

He had never performed surgery before.

Theoretical knowledge—even mastered—did not guarantee successful execution.

“Are there any recommended texts?” Chu Jiubian asked.

“Yes, Host. Based on your current situation, the system recommends purchasing the following 37 medical texts from the interstellar era.”

“Purchase them.”

“Confirmed. Purchase complete. The surgical environment within the Divine Realm has been prepared. Please make physical contact with the patient. The system will deduct 500 points and transport both your physical form and the patient’s into the Divine Realm.”

Chu Jiubian’s fingertips trembled faintly as his gaze fell upon Qin Xiao’s hand resting at his side.

Without hesitation, he reached out and grasped it.

In the next instant, a sudden sensation of weightlessness washed over him.

Then—a sharp cry of a phoenix pierced the air—and the weightlessness vanished.

As his vision cleared, Chu Jiubian saw Qin Xiao lying beside him, the golden phoenix soaring beneath their feet, wings beating powerfully.

Perhaps affected by the weightlessness, Qin Xiao’s breath caught in his throat for several seconds. When he finally exhaled, it came with painful, choking coughs—and blood spattered from his mouth, staining both himself and Chu Jiubian.

“Qin Xiao,” Chu Jiubian gripped his hand tightly—but beyond uttering his name, he found himself speechless.

The golden phoenix descended, dissolving into mist—and Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao stood on solid ground.

Qin Xiao lay on an operating table, surrounded by floating instruments. Several spherical monitor-like devices emitted a soft blue light, rapidly scanning his entire body.

Chu Jiubian glanced around quickly—and realized this wasn’t the space where he usually met his believers. It appeared to be a newly partitioned area.

With just that one glance, he recognized many of the instruments—though not all. Vague ideas about how to proceed with the surgery surfaced in his mind, clearly indicating that the knowledge from those thirty-plus texts had not yet fully integrated into his consciousness.

"System, can you hurry up?"

"Host, the volume of knowledge you need to receive is too vast. If it's fully transmitted in a short time, your nervous system will endure severe pain, though it will go back to normal once the transfer is complete. Are you sure you want to proceed quickly?"

"How long normally? How long quickly?"

"Under normal circumstances, absorbing this knowledge takes about three hours. In fast mode, it only takes three minutes."

"Just a heads-up: Enabling fast mode requires five points. Nerve pain differs from other ailments; even after the pain stops, it may linger for a while, ranging from days to months. However, it won't affect your daily life or your ability to perform the surgery. You may experience occasional pain spikes and possibly passing out. Are you sure you want to use fast mode?"

It was essentially using points to buy himself pain, but Chu Jiubian was most tolerant of pain.

"Confirm," he said.

"Okay, fast mode has been activated for the host."

As soon as the words fell, Chu Jiubian felt as if an electric current had drilled into his mind. He let out a pained grunt and instinctively fell to one knee.

He leaned over the bed, holding his head with both hands.

Unaware that he had never let go of Qin Xiao's hand, his forehead now pressed against the man's slightly cool hand.

Qin Xiao's hands were always warm.

Chu Jiubian suddenly thought.

Then he couldn't think anymore. The intense, head-splitting pain made his whole body tremble uncontrollably. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his back, and even his bangs grew damp, leaving moist traces on Qin Xiao's hand.

Three minutes felt both long and short.

Once the time was up, Chu Jiubian felt relief, though his temples were still pounding.

But as Chu Jiubian had said himself, he was most tolerant of pain.

He hadn't cried out during that earlier agony, so the lingering pain now was nothing compared to the stimulus of ripping off a fingernail.

The complex knowledge in his mind came together naturally. Thanks to the system's organization, these thirty-seven books covered everything from basics to advanced techniques and actual surgical procedures, giving him everything he needed to perform a perfect surgery.

The Divine Realm was a completely sterile environment; Chu Jiubian didn't even need to wear gloves.

He stood up, pushed aside his damp hair, and looked down at Qin Xiao.

The man's face was deathly pale, his breathing was ragged, but the look of pain had vanished.

The surgical procedures of the interstellar age differed greatly from modern times—one person could perform an entire surgery, with machines handling anesthesia, monitoring, and other processes.

As soon as they entered, the anesthesia machine had automatically injected Qin Xiao with the anesthesia, which should have taken effect by now.

Interstellar anesthesia only took five minutes. Chu Jiubian checked the instruments he'd need before turning his gaze back to Qin Xiao.

His eyes moved from the man's face to his chest. Chu Jiubian tried to pull his hand back to undo Qin Xiao's clothes, but Qin Xiao tightened his grip instead.

Chu Jiubian froze, looking up to see the man's eyes still closed.

After a moment, he whispered, "It's okay."

Whether Qin Xiao heard him or the anesthesia took effect, Chu Jiubian's hand was released.

He then reached out and quickly undid Qin Xiao's outer clothes.

Beneath, the dark undershirt showed faint, sticky bloodstains.

Chu Jiubian continued, fully removing the clothes to reveal the man's well-built torso.

Even, defined musculature, slightly developed chest muscles.

But Chu Jiubian paid no attention, his gaze fixed on the left side of Qin Xiao's chest. He undid the loosely tied bandage, exposing the gaping arrow wound.

Perhaps because Qin Xiao had taken penicillin, the wound showed no signs of infection, but due to all his traveling, it hadn't fully healed either.

Of course, compared to the internal injuries in his chest, this was nothing.

Five minutes passed. The anesthesia machine confirmed the anesthesia was complete, and other machines were ready. The ventilator supplied oxygen, and the monitor indicated Qin Xiao's vitals were relatively normal.

Chu Jiubian reached for a scalpel from the rolling tray nearby, took a deep look at Qin Xiao, and began.

Since it was his first surgery, even with full knowledge, his movements were inevitably awkward. Thus, Chu Jiubian proceeded with painstaking care at every cut and every step.

A surgery that would have taken just minutes in the future took Chu Jiubian a full four hours.

When the final stitches and bandaging were done, he lifted his head, his stiff neck popping audibly.

He let out a long breath before looking back at Qin Xiao's face.

The man was pale, but his breathing had evened out.

As the only true god in the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian merely thought it, and everything around them was cleaned up instantly. Even the bloodstains on himself and Qin Xiao disappeared, leaving them clean and refreshed.

He created a sofa chair by the bed and sat down, his stiff back finally relaxing.

His temples throbbed, the nerve pain lasting nearly a minute before subsiding.

Chu Jiubian stared absently at the man on the bed, suddenly recalling the bet they had made before Qin Xiao left.

Qin Xiao had bet on whether he would return alive, and if severely injured, whether Chu Jiubian would save him.

They had bet many times, and Chu Jiubian had always been the winner.

But this time, it seemed Qin Xiao had won.

Chu Jiubian smiled silently.

He thought he understood cause and effect.

If not for him, Qin Xiao would still have been injured, but not this severely, so the palace doctors could have healed him.

But he had come, given Qin Chuan the repeating crossbow, which ended up in Qin Xiao's hands and became the weapon that hurt him.

Yet the penicillin Chu Jiubian provided prevented Qin Xiao's wound from infecting.

Now, he had personally pulled him back from death's door.

The so-called cause was Qin Xiao being injured by the assassination attempt; the effect was his successful recovery.

Though the process had changed, the cause and effect remained.

But if Chu Jiubian hadn't intervened, Qin Xiao would have truly died, altering the outcome.

He had, in a way, changed cause and effect.

Chu Jiubian didn't know what the system meant by "fixing causality," but it certainly shouldn't mean watching Qin Xiao die from his crossbow bolt.

He remembered the first thing the system told him—follow your heart.

So, did he actually want Qin Xiao to live?

Chu Jiubian stared at Qin Xiao's face for what felt like ages, his mind blank.

The medical anesthetic from the interstellar era would last a full two days, helping patients through the most painful post-operative period.

Since Chu Jiubian had used the best of everything—even the disinfectant and ointment for the bandages were cutting-edge tech—and Qin Xiao's physical constitution was inherently strong, his recovery speed was astonishingly fast.

By the third day, his vitals were nearly back to normal, and it was safe for him to leave the sterile environment.

As the anesthesia wore off, he would soon wake up.

Chu Jiubian walked to the bedside and looked down at the man lying there.

He had grown stubble, but it didn't make him look unkempt—instead, it added a mysterious appeal.

After watching for a long while, Chu Jiubian reached out and gently held his hand, which had grown warm again.

Closing his eyes and reopening them, he and Qin Xiao were back in the bedroom.

Everything remained unchanged, except for a pot of tea and several plates of still-warm lunch outside the room.

Chu Jiubian had stayed in the Divine Realm for the past two days, where time seemed to stand still and he didn't feel basic physical needs.

But now, back in the real world, the smell of food made him genuinely hungry.

He went over, opened the door, and brought the food in.

Without him noticing, the moment the door opened, the eyelashes of the man on the bed fluttered slightly.