FRGNM -Chapter 30 Severed Ties

“You dare!” The dagger in her hand pressed deeper. Luo Mingyu trembled all over—she truly couldn’t imagine that the man before her would treat her this way! Anger and indignation surged through Ling Ruoxi, and she kicked fiercely at Luo Mingyu’s lower body.

“Young master, fire! Quick!” came the voices from the shore, and immediately countless arrows cut through the wind.

The kick sent Luo Mingyu reeling. His face turned even paler. Seeing the incoming arrows, his expression changed drastically, and his black eyes widened in fear. He reached out instinctively toward the people on the shore. Idiot, come here! Hurry!

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!” In that instant, death felt terrifyingly close.

Time seemed to freeze. The arrows swarmed, all aimed directly at her, and the force of impact lifted her off the ground.

On her pale white back, purple light suddenly flared. Strange patterns appeared in an instant—but this time, they shifted and twisted, forming from afar the shape of a bizarre purple flower.

It’s this pattern! Luo Mingyu’s hands clenched again. This woman—already one and a half months pregnant—possessed his Silver Moon Sword, and now this pattern on her back… could it be that the child in her womb is his?

“I’ll go!” shouted someone behind her, drawing a bow and releasing an arrow forward.

But the person standing in midair turned her head indifferently. All the arrows were blocked by the power behind her, unable to reach her. The arrows simply followed her like shadows.

Her black hair floated in the wind. Her stunning face turned back, overshadowing everything else. Beneath the moonlight, the fragile figure faced the people on the shore, letting the breeze lift her hair like a captivating enchantress. Her bare back stirred fantasies, and even her indifferent expression invoked sympathy.

“General Ling, stop! That’s Ruoxi!” Ye Ningfeng shouted, breaking into a cold sweat as he recognized Ling Ruoxi.

But before he could do more, the arrows in Ling Hu’s hands were released. “Such a daughter… better not have her!”

“Ruoxi?” Nangong Mo stood frozen on the shore, staring at the woman in the air. Memories of the past ugly version of her clashed with this vision of beauty. Impossible—how could this woman be so beautiful? She wasn’t the ugliest woman he had known?

When he first saw her, with her blood-stained clothes and mangled face, he had been disgusted. Even meeting her in a heavy rain, she shamelessly teased him, flustered him with a man. He had thought he hated her, wanted to tear her apart—but unexpectedly, this woman had saved him and taken a sword for him.

He had wanted to distance himself from her because his heart refused to accept the truth—but now… he realized he didn’t want this woman to die.

“Ling Ruoxi!” Nangong Mo shouted, trying to catch the incoming arrow.

But the arrow whistled against the purple light. The immense force was too much for the pattern to bear, and the sound of shattering echoed through the world.

All the arrows shattered… except for the last one, which pierced deeply into her heart! Crimson blood sprayed across the ground. Under the moonlight, the indifferent woman still stood in midair, as messy as the first time he had seen her.

“Father…” Her voice trembled. She had tried to preserve family ties, not wishing to quarrel with the Ling family—but in the end, it was still a bitter conflict. Ling family never considered her one of their own.

She, a foreign spirit from another world, had no right to call him father. She smiled faintly, watching Luo Mingyu racing toward her. Her lips curved slightly. “Idiot… live well…” She whispered, recalling his promise to survive.

The purple light vanished. The person in midair no longer had the strength to stand, her frail body falling from the sky, her eyes already closed.

“Ling Ruoxi! Ling Ruoxi!” This woman—she had saved him before. This foolish woman! Luo Mingyu could do anything—he would not allow her to die. He couldn’t!

“Young master, your injuries!” Tong Hai called, rushing to support the swaying man.

Luo Mingyu’s eyes were almost bulging. He watched her fall straight ahead, yet he could not approach even an inch.

“Heh…” A calm voice echoed. A golden light lifted the falling figure, holding her steadily in the air.

On the ship, an elder smiled faintly. With a flick of his right hand, a medicinal pill flew into Ling Ruoxi’s mouth.

Sharp-eyed Ye Ningfeng was stunned. “Doctor Zuo… you?”

“I’ve been waiting here for a long time. This child only arrived now, and she’s severely injured.” Zuo Mingfeng shook his head, stroked his beard, and with a wave, the floating Ling Ruoxi was brought to his side.

“I don’t care who you are, give her to me!” Luo Mingyu’s expression darkened further. His fists clenched tightly as he stared at the people on the ship.

Zuo Mingfeng chuckled, glancing at the arrow in Ling Ruoxi’s chest. “Fate, indeed. She accidentally ingested the Five-Colored Flower, which protected her heart and shifted the injury. Too bad she has no Dou Qi to protect her body—otherwise, General Ling’s Dou Qi would not have harmed her.”

Ling Hu’s expression darkened. As for this daughter, he did not care much. He snorted and ignored it.

“This child is weak. I need to take her back to Liuli Island for treatment. From today onward, Ling Ruoxi is my disciple. Until she is fully trained, she is not allowed to leave the island! Whether from Qiong Yu or Tianwaitian, Liuli Island is not a place you can just invade. Young master Qiong Yu, if you want her to recover well, do not follow.” Zuo Mingfeng said calmly, clapping his hands gently.

Below the large ship, a small boat drifted forward. Two young boys stood silently. Zuo Mingfeng flew down with Ling Ruoxi onto the small boat. “Let’s depart.”

“Wait!” Luo Mingyu stepped forward into the lake water. “I want to ask her… is she—”

“Those questions can wait until you meet her. And when that time comes, she will not return alone.” Zuo Mingfeng laughed, his voice echoing across Lancang Lake, fading into the distance.

Not alone? That means… her child. Their child! Luo Mingyu’s expression stirred. He held his chest with one hand, watching her leave. He was still too weak—unable to properly protect the woman he loved. As her man, he had failed utterly.

Turning, he glared coldly at those behind him. “Today’s matter, I will not speak further. Bei Ning Kingdom… I remember. Tong Hai, let’s go!”

“Yes, young master!” Tong Hai whispered, supporting Luo Mingyu onto the ship. His authority was clear; the crew dared not defy him and immediately set sail.

Nangong Mo and Ye Ningfeng, who had rushed to protect him, could not believe what had happened. The one holding the dagger to the neck of Qiong Yu Island’s young master… was Ling Ruoxi!

But judging by their expressions, it seemed only like playful antics, not a true assassination attempt.

“Ling Hu, we’ll settle this later! Return to the palace!” Nangong Mo ground his teeth, clenching his fists, and turned away.

“Your highness, you saw it yourself. That unfilial girl held the young master hostage. I was only enforcing the law!” Ling Hu snorted, a cold glint appearing in his eyes as he watched the ship sail away.

The icy arrow hurt more than any bullet she had taken before, making it hard to breathe, as if infused with Ling Ruoxi’s past memories.

Memories of childhood flooded back—the little girl bullied, timid, suppressed, insecure. All these negative emotions made young Ling Ruoxi silent and frail.

The moment the imperial edict arrived, she became the happiest person alive, to marry the crown prince—but fate was cruel. She could do nothing but accept it.

Her long lashes trembled as she lay in bed, opening her indifferent eyes, staring at the elder before her.

“It’s you…” Her hoarse voice sounded like an old witch’s. Even Ling Ruoxi could not believe it. She tried to get up, but found she had no strength.

How could she be here? Ling Hu’s arrow had nearly pierced her heart—she shouldn’t have survived! Unless… just like in the TV story, her heart was on the right side?

“Awake?” Zuo Mingfeng smiled lightly, pressing her gently. “Ask nothing, think nothing. Ruoxi, we are fated—only the time is not right. I saved you and will teach you my medical arts. Will you accept me as your master?”

“Your notes are still with me…” Ling Ruoxi coughed lightly. Since she could not learn Dou Qi, she would learn medicine instead.

“In that case, call me master, won’t you?” The implication was clear—since the moment she took his notes, she had already become his disciple.

Smiling faintly, Ling Ruoxi nodded. “Master, forgive your disciple for not performing the proper bow…”

Seasons passed. Six years went by in the blink of an eye. Snowflakes fell, dressing the land in silver. Carriages rolled forward, leaving tracks behind.

Armored soldiers rubbed their hands and blew on them to stay warm, following the carriages through snow three feet deep, cold enough to chill the heart.

The early winter plum blossoms remained beautiful, their faint fragrance enchanting. Yet their beauty went unnoticed.

“How far are we?” a delicate hand lifted the carriage curtain, gazing at the snowy land.

“Master, we are near the Bei Ning border. In about a month, we’ll reach the capital,” the guard replied.