novelraw Chapter 1945 comes first.
Chapter 1945 comes first.
Chapter 1945 comes first.
"Miss Zixiu, you flatter me." The man smiled insincerely. "Now that you've figured out the key point, then please, Miss, go and die."
Before he could finish speaking, Fang Zilan suddenly pulled out a dagger from her other sleeve and stabbed it viciously into his waist with lightning speed.
Although the man was prepared and raised his hand to block, he was a step too late, and Fang Zilan pierced his palm.
"Ugh..." The man groaned. Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, Fang Zilan swiftly stabbed his other hand that was holding her, then took a step back to create distance between them.
“Not just anyone can kill Zixiu.” Fang Zilan held the plum blossom sword in one hand and shook the blood off the dagger with the other. “At least you can’t.”
“Miss Zixiu, I couldn’t kill you in the past, but things are different now. You’re at your last gasp.” The man’s face contorted in pain, revealing a sinister smile. “Earlier at the Wen family, you were injured protecting Wen Ran and then ran around for most of the night. I suppose you’re almost exhausted…”
“Even so, you can’t kill me,” Fang Zilan interrupted the man. “But killing you is as easy as turning my hand.”
"Is that so?" The man pulled out a knife from somewhere and slashed at Fang Zilan. She spun around to dodge it. "You know I was injured at the Wen family's house. Are those martial arts figures who appeared at the Wen family's house related to you?"
The man sneered, "Even on the verge of death, Miss Zixiu, you still haven't forgotten to try and trick me. Did you betray the Ghost Gate and then join a new master, becoming someone's lackey?"
"And what about you?" Fang Zilan fought and retreated until she reached a spacious open space. There were many boxes there, and there were obvious signs of them being moved, indicating that someone had just moved them.
She casually used her dagger to pry open the lock of one of the chests, revealing it to be filled with gold and silver treasures. Upon seeing this, the man's expression grew even more sinister, and his attacks became increasingly ruthless.
"I heard you're Qian Wenxiang's advisor." As Fang Zilan dodged, the man cleaved open another box, and gold and silver treasures scattered out with a clattering sound.
"You know quite a lot." The man was now intent on killing her, but Fang Zilan, though disheveled, remained calm and composed. "Does your master know that you've been hiding so much gold and silver treasure behind his back?"
"Even now, Miss Zixiu, you still have the mind to meddle in other people's affairs?" The man lunged at Fang Zilan, who leaped onto the box. "Is your master considered 'other people'?"
Her words seemed to have crossed a line for the man, prompting him to attack with almost ferocious rage, "You are not worthy to mention him!"
"Unworthy?" Fang Zilan repeated the two words with great interest. "Qian Wenxiang is just a mere prefectural magistrate. You don't even respect General Xiahou, yet you treat him with the utmost reverence."
"What do you know?" The man's face darkened. Fang Zilan chuckled. "I don't know. But I'm very curious, is Qian Wenxiang truly your master?"
"Don't even think about getting anything out of me." The man's moves were fierce, but his mind was unsteady. Fang Zilan seized the opportunity to turn defense into offense and easily suppressed him.
"At most nine more moves, and I'll be able to take your life." Fang Zilan appeared calm and collected, but the man broke out in a cold sweat. He knew she wasn't lying, and fear surged through him, making his limbs feel weak and unresponsive.
"Three moves." Fang Zilan's words, like a death countdown, forced the man to blurt out, "Miss Zixiu, since you're willing to help Lord Zhuge and General Dugu, why can't you help my Liu family?"
Awan quickly moved closer and sat down by the bed. "I know, I'm a healer. Only if I'm safe and sound can I save more people. So, I cherish my own life very much."
“That’s more like it.” Fang Zilan’s expression softened slightly, but she still stared intently at Awan until Awan explained, “No vital organs were injured…” “One cut under the ribs, one cut in the arm?” Fang Zilan calmly cut off Awan’s next words, and Awan nodded hesitantly, “You can see through everything.”
"Where is the person who hurt you now?" Fang Zilan pressed. Awan pursed her lips, trying to evade the question, "You've just woken up, don't worry about these things, it's too much trouble."
“I can ignore other people’s business.” Fang Zilan slowly sat up straight. “But I’m determined to take care of your business.”
Awan sighed heavily, as if resigned to her fate. "The young master has taken the person from the Xiahou family, but he hasn't dealt with them yet. He said he'll hand them over to me, or wait until you wake up before making a decision."
Fang Zilan pondered for a moment and made up her mind, "Was it a member of the Wu family who hurt you?"
“Yes.” Awan was silent for a moment. “I don’t know what to do. She stabbed me twice, but I don’t want to stab her twice.”
Fang Zilan remained noncommittal, only asking, "Do you want to let her go?"
"I don't want to." Awan said without hesitation, "Even if it was an accident, she still hurt me."
"Then we can deal with it after you've thought it through." Fang Zilan was unexpectedly easy to talk to, which left Awan somewhat at a loss. "Didn't you say you were going to take charge? Is this how you're going to take charge?"
"What I mean by 'managing' is that within my capabilities, you can make the decision," Fang Zilan said calmly. "The person the Wu family sends to take action is undoubtedly a pawn that can be discarded, and the same is true for me. But if this can help you think clearly about how to consider your own feelings, it is far more meaningful than taking her life."
Awan frowned, seemingly understanding but not quite, and said, "I don't understand, what does it mean to consider one's own feelings?"
"To put it bluntly, it means putting yourself first in everything." Fang Zilan looked steadily at Awan. "You were injured, but you still used all your strength to heal me. That means you put me first."
Awan couldn't help but argue, "There are priorities. My injuries are minor, but if I don't save you, you'll die..."
“Awan, General Xiahou has abandoned me, and so can you.” Fang Zilan said, word by word, “You know better than anyone what path I am on. If one day I cannot save you, you need not save me.”
Hearing this, Awan finally realized what was happening and angrily said, "What kind of time is this? You still want to push me away?"
“It’s at times like this that I have to push you away,” Fang Zilan said softly. “I don’t have long to live, so I’m willing to risk everything, but you are different.”
“What’s the difference?” Awan stood up, looking down at Fang Zilan. “You think you’re going to die soon, but who knows what will happen tomorrow? What if a way to cure you is found? Maybe you can live to be a hundred, while I…”
She paused, then continued, "I mean, in case something unexpected happens, I might even die a violent death..."
"Enough." Fang Zilan's face was ashen, but Awan persisted, "Let me finish. Nobody can say for sure these things. What if you outlive me?"
Fang Zilan remained silent for a long while before saying, "I understand what you mean. However, I still hope that you will put yourself first in everything."