mtl008 Chapter 423 Choi Ji-ho's Restraint
Chapter 423 Choi Ji-ho's Restraint
The fine rain, like silk threads, dampened every leaf and every inch of soil in the mountains and forests.
The mountain roads on Xiaoping Mountain are already rugged, and when they are soaked by rain, they become even more muddy and slippery, and you can easily slip if you are not careful.
The outline of a cave can be vaguely seen not far ahead, its entrance half-hidden by vines, suggesting it might provide shelter from the wind and rain.
However, before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, a soft rustling sound came from above, accompanied by several loose rocks rolling down and splashing mud and water on the ground.
Shen Yanzhou's eyes narrowed, and he immediately abandoned the idea of resting there.
"Huai'an,"
He turned to look at Choi Ji-ho, who was facing away from someone and had beads of sweat on his forehead. His voice was steady but carried an undeniable determination.
"It's not safe here. The rocks are loose, and there's a risk of a landslide."
"Miss Shi must have fainted due to her severe injuries and won't be able to hold on for much longer."
Cui Zhihao's back, which was carrying Shi Wanxia, was already soaked with sweat and rain. He turned his head slightly and could feel the faint breathing of the person in his arms and her body temperature gradually getting colder. His heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and it ached terribly.
He knew all too well that this was not a place to linger, but with each step he took, he worried that the person on his back would not be able to hold on.
"Your Highness, I am worried..."
His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, and he was interrupted by Shen Yanzhou before he could finish speaking.
"do not worry,"
Shen Yanzhou's gaze fell on Shi Wanxia's pale profile, his tone solemn.
“I will not let anything happen to her. It’s at most half an hour’s journey down the mountain from here. There will be a carriage waiting at the foot of the mountain. We can ride back as fast as we can and make sure she receives timely medical treatment.”
After saying that, he looked at Cui Zhihao's tense shoulders and back: "You must be tired from carrying her all the way. Let me carry her for a while!"
Choi Ji-ho instinctively stepped aside to avoid it, while nodding slightly in thanks, his movements firm and respectful: "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I am fine."
"Miss Shi is not heavy, I can still hold on, and I will definitely protect her!"
His tone carried an unyielding stubbornness, as if he would never let anyone else take over this heavy burden as long as he could stand firm.
Shen Yanzhou gave him a deep look, a complex emotion flashing in his deep eyes—a mixture of understanding and approval—before finally settling into a soft reply: "Alright! Then protect her and watch your step."
"Yes."
Cui Zhihao responded softly, carefully bouncing Shi Wanxia on his back to make sure she wouldn't slip off due to the bumps.
He lowered his head and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, his voice so gentle it could melt your heart: "Wanwan, don't be afraid, I'll take you back, we'll be there soon, just hang in there a little longer..."
A warm breath brushed past her ear, and Shi Wanxia, who was unconscious, seemed to sense it. Her long eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly, but she ultimately did not open her eyes.
Without further delay, Cui Zhihao quickly caught up with the group ahead.
Rain dripped from his hair, wetting his clothes, but he was oblivious, his attention focused entirely on the person on his back.
The rugged mountain path made every step extremely difficult, and the muddy ground nearly caused him to slip several times, but he always managed to keep his balance with an amazing willpower.
He made sure that Shi Wanxia on his back was not subjected to any extra jolting, as if his broad back was the most secure harbor in this stormy weather.
Wang Jinqian and her maid followed behind, their eyes filled with emotion as they watched Cui Zhihao's retreating figure.
Everyone knows that the third young master of the Cui family of Qinghe is always aloof and noble. When have they ever seen him so disheveled yet so persistent?
After finally making it down the mountain through the mud, several horse-drawn carriages were waiting at the foot of the mountain, their curtains swaying slightly in the wind and rain.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Yanzhou pointed directly to one of the most spacious and stable carriages: "Miss Wang, this carriage is for you ladies."
"Please trouble your female physician to give Miss Shi a simple bandage and treat her external injuries."
"Yes, Your Highness," Wang Jinqian replied quickly.
Choi Ji-ho carefully handed Shi Wan-xia, who was on his back, to the maid who came forward to help, his eyes fixed on her pale face.
He only breathed a sigh of relief after watching her being gently helped into the carriage, but he remained standing by the carriage, showing no intention of leaving.
Wang Jinqian ordered the carriage curtain to be lowered, but she stood outside the carriage and did not go in.
She curtsied to Shen Yanzhou and said softly, "Your Highness, you are too kind. This is just a small matter that I should be doing."
“Your status is so noble that you should ride in this carriage. I will stay in the carriage outside and will not presume to overstep my bounds.”
Shen Yanzhou waved his hand helplessly: "Saving lives is the priority right now, why bother with these formalities?"
"You're a young lady, you can't just stand in the rain."
Seeing Wang Jinqian's resolute attitude, he stopped insisting and turned to look at Cui Yu'an beside him.
Cui Yu'an understood, his eyes filled with surprise and emotion.
He and Choi Ji-ho belonged to the same clan and had known each other since childhood. He knew that his third uncle was proud and aloof, and meticulous in his thinking, and rarely lost his composure like this.
Today, for the sake of a late summer evening, he disregarded his status and dignity, carrying the load all the way, even waiting outside the car in the rain. This courage and affection are truly unexpected.
Inside the carriage, the female physician was carefully examining Shi Wanxia's wounds.
Seeing the deep, bone-revealing wound, whitened by the rain and with blood seeping around it, the female doctor's eyes welled up with tears, her heart aching.
She quickly took out the medicine she carried with her, only to find that the powder had been soaked by the rain and clumped together, making it unusable.
The female doctor was sweating profusely and could only gently wipe the dirt around the wound with a clean cloth and do some simple bandaging.
After finishing her treatment, she quickly lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out, bowing to Shen Yanzhou and Cui Zhihao, her voice trembling with tears: "Your Highness, Young Master, Miss Shi's injuries are quite severe, and the wounds are already showing signs of infection."
"The medicine powder I always carry with me has all been soaked by the rain, and now... now there's no medicine left that I can use!"
"what?"
Shen Yanzhou's heart tightened suddenly, and his face instantly darkened.
He glanced at Choi Ji-ho, only to see that the other man's lips were tightly pursed, his jawline was taut, and his eyes were full of worry and anxiety, yet he didn't say a word.
Knowing Cui Zhihao's feelings at that moment, Shen Yanzhou said, "Huai'an, do you want to go in and see her?"
Choi Ji-ho's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the carriage, his eyes almost overflowing with longing.
But he shook his head in the end, quickly walked to the footboard on the outside of the carriage and sat down, leaning against the carriage wall, but did not step into the carriage.
Seeing this, Shen Yanzhou understood.
This Cui Zhihao truly values Shi Wanxia's reputation more than anything else.
Even though he was worried to the point of madness, he was unwilling to enter the women's carriage in broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of everyone, lest he tarnish her reputation.
This restraint and respect are more precious than any sweet words.
"Set off immediately!"
Shen Yanzhou no longer hesitated and gave the order in a deep voice.
"Hurry and ride straight to the nearest town post station. We'll find medicine and a doctor there!"
"Yes!" the drivers replied in unison, quickly whipping the cart to speed up.
The wheels turned, rolling over the muddy road with a rumbling sound.
The carriage slowly drove away through the rain, heading towards the distant lights.