Yun Rao didn’t know how long she had slept. When she awoke, the outside sky was dark, her wet clothes had been changed, and her wounds had been tended to. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw An Zi yuan. He was gazing down at her wrist, his expression pale yet deeply serious, as though holding something unspoken—something still beyond her understanding. His eyelids were half-lowered, and she could only see the shadow of his dense lashes falling across his eye sockets. He did not look up at her, merely holding her wrist tightly with one hand. She lowered her gaze to her wrist and there it was—indeed, the fierce red line that had previously faded had now quietly spread from her palm to her wrist. Yun Rao lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes, and spoke in an extremely calm tone, "When I fell from the cliff and was saved by Xiao Run, he brought me back to the Youming Sect. At that time, my injuries were so severe that I had suffered great depletion of vital energy, and my body was barely able to recover. Even if I did recover, I would only live for a few years. The former Sect Master's wife had accidentally ingested the Chiman Luo and developed poisoning; she gave birth to Xiao Mengyun prematurely, and passed away from the illness. Xiao Mengyun was born with the Chiman Luo poison in her body. The former Sect Master sought medical help from various sources but could not find a cure, nor could he develop one himself. He was unwilling to test the remedy on his own daughter, so he considered me a suitable candidate—my constitution was similar to Xiao Mengyun's, both born at midnight during the night hours, and our ages were nearly the same. Since he believed I wouldn't live much longer, he thought it would be a pity to simply endure the illness, and thus decided to use me as a test subject. He had Xiao Run administer the Chiman Luo poison to me daily, alternating Alas… A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips, laced with self-mockery. "After ten years, they still haven't found the true cure." His grip on her wrist grew tighter, almost trembling. "Why didn't you tell me?" An Zi yuan asked, his voice now even more hoarse than before. Yun Rao lifted her gaze. "Did you think I could cure you of the poison? Or would you have abandoned Su Ran to save me?" His eyes darkened; he pressed his lips together, silent. Yun Rao lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean to question you. I knew from the start that I wouldn't survive. Saving Su Ran first was the right choice. I simply failed to hold out hope in you." Her hand shifted slightly, trying to withdraw, but she couldn't move—it was as if he were holding her too tightly. "I'm so sorry!" he murmured, his voice thin and strained, almost pale with effort. No matter when—ten years ago or ten years from now—he had to save her first. If he had saved her first, she would never have endured these sufferings. He preserved his family, yet he brought her to ruin. The woman he loved most, the one he longed to spend his life with, was pushed into the abyss of death by his own hands. How has she endured all these years alone? What must have been the depth of her despair when she watched his hand glide past her, as if it were passing through her? When she cried in her bed last night, gasping for breath, her hand reaching out toward the shattered porcelain—was it then that she no longer wished to live? His grip on her wrist was firm yet gentle, avoiding any pressure that might cause pain, the veins beneath her pale skin subtly rising, as though he were struggling to contain his emotions. He looked at her, his voice low and rough, "How long has it been?" His thumb gently rubbed the jagged red thread. Yun Rao glanced at the spot. "About a month—since the morning I left the capital." It would occasionally vanish without a trace, though. He tightened his grip on her wrist. "Yun Rao, hold on a little longer. Live well until I find the remedy." Yun Rao bit her lip, offering no immediate reply. He added a little more pressure, making her feel the pain, and thus forcing her to focus on him. "Lord An, does my survival really matter that much to you?" she asked softly, looking at him. He nodded gently, yet felt a touch of irony—had the sword of Jing Fei missed its mark slightly or if Xiao Run's palm wind faltered, she would have perished that very day. In the end, she had been overly confident. Yun Rao smiled lightly, without speaking. A silence settled between them. He still held her hand, and she remained still, neither resisting nor seeking to pull away. For several days now, their interactions had been this way—close, intimate as ever, yet devoid of the warmth and affection they once shared. "Yun Rao, no matter how many words I speak now, I can't make up for the harm I've caused you. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong—whether you blame me or hate me, it's all the same. All I ask is that, until I find the cure, you must live." He spoke slowly after a long pause. She looked at him and offered him a smile—one free of resentment. "You haven't done anything wrong, and I shouldn't hold you accountable. You have no duty or obligation toward me, nor do I toward you. All I need is to survive. I simply want to live, not for anyone in particular." He gently pressed his lips together, gazing at her without speaking. Yun Rao remained silent as well. For several days thereafter, An Ziyuan was busy poring over various medical texts and ancient manuscripts, dispatching people to seek out anyone with even a passing knowledge of the matter, hoping to find a solution. Except when preparing medicines at the pharmacy, he spent nearly every day by Yun Rao's side, attending to her wounds and carefully restoring her health, never leaving her side. Yun Rao's injuries healed quickly under Su Yan's careful care. Within less than a month, the wounds had fully scabbed over, her complexion had grown rosy, and she appeared much more spirited and vibrant. Su Yan had visited her several times, but each visit was brief—she would sit only a short while before leaving. Su Yan himself had fully recovered and would occasionally drop by to see her, each time leaving with a visible sense of sadness. Yun Rao knew in her heart that her life would never intertwine with Su Yan's. If she could live long enough, perhaps they might eventually become acquainted. But as someone destined to have a short life, she would only be able to hold onto his sincere affection. With her physical condition now largely restored, it was time for her to leave.