Tang Qingli swiftly unlocked the cage. Gu Lili slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Long Yubei standing there, holding a longsword.
He stood like a deity descending to earth—majestic and untouchable.
That nightmare had been a warning...
Her eyes brimmed with tears. Her voice hoarse, she called out, "Darling!"
Long Yubei turned toward her and strode over. He gathered her gently into his arms, and when his gaze fell upon her legs, his expression turned glacial.
In that moment, Gu Lili's heart finally found peace. She looked at him with tearful eyes and whispered, "It hurts…"
Seeing her in such a pitiful state, Long Yubei could barely contain his fury—he wanted nothing more than to execute the masked man on the spot.
"Take him away and imprison him," he commanded coldly. "Await my judgment."
"Yes, Young Master. And what about his accomplices?"
Long Yubei cast a sideways glance at Tang Qingli. "Must I spell it out for you?"
"I understand."
Cradled in his arms, Gu Lili was carried out of the basement. She couldn't help glancing toward the writhing mass of snakes—mere steps away from her cage.
A chill ran through her heart. She clutched his neck even tighter. "How did you know I was here?"
He said nothing, simply holding her and striding forward with firm steps.
When he remained silent, Gu Lili shifted slightly and muttered, "Say something."
"I don't want to."
"Then don't ever speak again."
Long Yubei glanced down at her tear-streaked, aggrieved face, and snapped, "You went straight into their trap all alone—will you dare do such a thing again?"
"It wasn't the same," she huffed. "And how dare you scold me? Who brought this upon me? Why was I captured and tortured? You can't stop attracting women—and now even men! What's the point of having such a dazzling husband? Should I follow you around all day with a flyswatter?"
"…"
He carried her straight into the plane, then into the bathroom, where he gently placed her in the tub and filled it with warm water. Despite the pain, Gu Lili undressed, washed herself clean, and allowed him to carry her to bed, where he applied medicine to her wounds.
"Who exactly is he?" she asked.
"Yuan Yi," Long Yubei answered grimly. "A former university classmate. Do you know why he wears a mask?"
"How would I know?"
"He bears a scar across his face," he said as he finished applying the ointment and sat beside her, his tone calm but cold. "I gave it to him. I warned him long ago not to set his sights on me. I never imagined that, after all these years, he would turn his obsession toward you. He never learns."
Gu Lili lay down. The cool ointment soothed her pain.
"I want to hit back."
"Fine," he murmured. "But he mustn't die—his family won't let it rest. Still, now that he dared lay a finger on you, I'll ensure he pays dearly."
Gu Lili's gaze fell upon his sword. "The nightmare I had—that exact moment you entered the basement—it wasn't just a dream. It was a premonition. What is that sword?"
"It functions as both sword and gun. A dual-purpose weapon. It's called the Nine Springs Blade."
"May I see it?"
He handed it to her. "This weapon has been passed down in the Long family for generations. It never rusts and always remains as pristine as new. No one else can replicate it."
Gu Lili examined it. Etched into its bluish steel was a dragon motif, accompanied by ancient script she couldn't decipher.
She handed it back, frowning. "Being your wife comes with more than just the honor of the title—it's a physically dangerous occupation. This position is not for the faint of heart."
Chapter 87: Heartless Little Thing
"What? Regretting it already?"
"Not exactly," she sighed. "I'm just struck by how pitiful it is—I have to guard against both women and men."
Long Yubei chuckled. "Take this incident as a lesson. It proves how closely you must keep watch over me. Otherwise, today's husband might be tomorrow's ex."
Gu Lili closed her eyes. "As if that matters. If I lose you, there are still countless outstanding men out there waiting for me. You should be the one watching me. If you dare have a mistress, I'll bring home eight or ten men for a party."
"…"
—
When the plane landed in the Qin Garden residential area of A City, Gu Xichen was already waiting.
Seeing Long Yubei carry her out, he asked anxiously, "Are you alright?"
"My legs were nearly broken."
"Then let's get you to a hospital."
"No need," Long Yubei interjected. "Hospitals are full of journalists waiting to fabricate stories. The family doctor will suffice."
Gu Lili nodded in agreement. "He's right."
After being re-bandaged, Gu Xichen asked, "Who was the one who took you?"
Gu Lili was about to answer, but saw Long Yubei's warning glance and swallowed her words.
She pouted. "Just some deranged pervert. I don't know him."
"You don't know him, yet he went to such lengths to abduct you?"
"I told you—he's a lunatic. Do lunatics need reasons for their actions?"
"Did you offend him somehow?"
"My existence offended him."
Gu Xichen instinctively looked at Long Yubei. "So the root of this lies with you?"
Long Yubei responded coolly, "If there's nothing else, you should leave."
"I'm her brother, Long Yubei. It wouldn't kill you to address me respectfully. And now you're throwing me out?"
"I'll call you something all right—call you gone. Get out." Then he turned to Gu Lili. "Don't let him come to our home again. I don't want to see him."
And with that, he walked out himself.
Gu Xichen almost choked on his own breath. "Look at the kind of man you married. Treats your own family like this—he must be awful to you in private too."
Gu Lili responded lazily, "He's right. You're meddling. If you've nothing important to say, you should leave."
"…You two really are of one mind," Gu Xichen muttered, rolling his eyes. "Fine. I'll go. Heartless little thing."
Just as he left, Old Madam Long and Master Long arrived.
"Grandpa, Grandma—you came?"
"Yubei told us you returned safely, so we came right away. Lili, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Just need a few days to rest," she said, leaning against the headboard.
"That's good. Still, you've suffered. Take good care of yourself," said Old Madam Long, gently holding her hand. "And there's one more thing I care about deeply—you must take it seriously. The child. Get pregnant soon."
Gu Lili gave a dry laugh. "But Yubei doesn't seem too eager."
"Silly girl. Men are like that—very few want children before marriage. But once they're born, they fall in love with them. Don't listen to him. Use a few clever tricks, understand?"
"Grandma… what tricks?"
Old Madam Long leaned in and whispered into her ear. Gu Lili stared in disbelief. "If he finds out, he'll kill me!"
"With Grandma here, what do you have to fear? You must do exactly as I say. Lili, I want to hear news of your pregnancy within two months. Otherwise, I won't die in peace."
"…"