Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Chapter 72

Jin bao, somewhat confused, was dispatched to serve Que Siming. Zhao Cai harbored dissatisfaction but dared not express it; he prioritized his young master's needs above all.

Xiaobao was also puzzled and concerned, especially since Que Siming had a fearsome reputation that Xiaobao was wary of. However, Su Yin provided a compelling reason: Que Siming simply needed someone agreeable to attend to his daily needs. Since Jinbao had agreed to stay, they had to show sincerity and treat him well.

Xiaobao finally relaxed, considering it was only for the winter and they would live together—seeing each other daily was preferable to the discomfort of Jin bao's absence. Yet Xiaobao couldn't help but worry that Jin bao’s straightforward and naive nature might unintentionally offend Que Siming.

Regardless of Xiaobao's worries, the decision was made. The next day, Jin bao packed his belongings, gave Xiao bao a tearful look, and moved to Que Siming's separate residence, leaving Xiao bao feeling powerless, guilty, and upset.

That afternoon, Que Siming took out a book with an ancient cover titled "Warm Heart Sutra." The origins of this unheard-of internal martial arts technique were unknown. According to him, while it wasn’t effective for enhancing internal energy, its primary feature was to warm the body, improve circulation, and significantly enhance one's ability to withstand the cold. It could also delay the deterioration and stiffening of joints. He instructed Xiaobao, who lacked internal energy and thus wouldn’t face conflicts or backlash from the practice, to study it diligently to resist much of the cold and slow down the degradation of his joints.

Xiaobao, having some foundational martial arts skills but generally lazy in practice, soon grasped the basics under Su Yin's guidance and began to diligently cultivate the Warm Heart Sutra.

Meanwhile, the elderly Jin couple was sent to Jingxia Temple, allowing Xiaobao some peace of mind.

The first rain after the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived on schedule amid Xiaobao’s growing fears of cold.

A piercing scream from Xiaobao tore through the gloomy night as large raindrops began to fall without warning. Zhao Cai, who lived next door, was the first to react. He leapt from his bed and dashed towards Xiaobao's bedroom, followed closely by Su Yin, who grabbed Zhao Cai by the collar and shouted, “Go find Que Siming!”

Stunned, Zhao Cai turned and ran towards the residence where Que Siming and Jin bao were staying.

Xiaobao had already rolled from the bed to the ground, curling up and continuously howling in pain. The joints on his body seemed to be sawed back and forth by sharp, icy blades, leaving him with only the instinct to cry out. The cold had instantly penetrated his body, and the sudden drop in his body temperature made it impossible for him even to move his fingertips, as if millions of fine sharp needles were simultaneously piercing his body. The hellish pain and unshakable despair exceeded anyone's imagination.

Having lost his senses, Xiao Bao instinctively thrashed his body against the surrounding objects, hoping to distribute the pain, but he was firmly grasped and thrown back onto the bed. Warm currents began to flow from his shoulder joints, which, compared to other areas, brought some relief, but the effect was minimal. The domineering cold poison could destroy a person's resistance bit by bit.

In his daze, he seemed to hear someone calling him. Struggling, he opened his eyes, but the world appeared distorted with countless figures swaying before him. Each figure seemed to be shouting at him, but he could only hear chaotic, noisy sounds and could not make out a single word. His body occasionally felt a warm flow, but the bone-chilling cold continued to increase, unless all seventy-eight points were addressed, missing even one would result in unbearable agony.