At the same time in a remote place, Yan Si was lying curled up inside the cave of former days...
RongCheng's determination to abandon and neglect him caused Yan Si to all the more firmly affirm that the man certainly already knew his own self had been trapped, for that reason only then shunning far from him in such a manner.
This price, although far too expensive, yet Yan Si knew his own self required to accept it; well then, he had also turned back already, to the place that inherently belonged to him, foul-smelling, dark, and filthy, yet safe.
Must it be so... must it be in such a manner...
This cave had once been extremely lonely and cold; afterward, it had been blown to flare up with a fire, truly cheerful, truly warm, truly happy, yet all had passed away already.
Yan Si cowered his person in silence at the location where in former days RongCheng had once lain, it was merely that the warmth had been lost from a long time past, there remained nothing else aside from coldness and loneliness.
He departed to search for exceptionally many medicinal leaves, pounded them soft and fine, and then rolled them into small round pellets to dry in the sun, afterward placing them at the head of where he lay...
In order to then, night and day, unceasingly sink into the trance of amorous dreams—Yan Si saw his own self and RongCheng together living at this place, together passing through durations of time that were truly cheerful, truly happy... for that reason he no longer desired to awaken.
Up to now, it appeared to already be five days; Yan Si had been in a continuous stupor, and once awakening, then again drank sleeping medicine to continue... no individual arrived to call him to eat rice, nor was he further disturbed by any individual.
Yan Si was striving to grow gradually accustomed toward the new reality; at the location of the dark, cold cave, he renounced real life solely to lock his mental faculties tightly inside the illusory dream. A world possessing a RongCheng who was still good and beautiful exactly as the initial period.
Time chammchamm slipped away; he knew not at what hour the sun descended the mountain; inside the cave was a curtain of pitch-black night, and Yan Si was still sinking amidst the trance of dreams, when all of a sudden hearing a familiar calling voice, he dimly opened his eyes to look...
Having just recognized the person calling him, across his countenance there appeared not a slight bit of surprise; he merely shook his head, displaying a smile, and spoke in a low voice: "I don't want to get up yet. Elder Brother, let me sleep a little longer.."
Solely a short while further, waiting until when being a bit healthier, he would awaken together with the person to go pluck wild fruits, departing toward the sweet apple orchard together to pluck exceptionally many,... exceptionally many to carry back... afterward... afterward...
Yan Si again sank into a stupor... exactly as though his own self had just passed through a dream within a dream... Whichever place possessed RongCheng certainly was not reality; this was a matter he was capable of affirming.
When Yan Si awakened once more, he then saw his own self lying upon the bed, and by his side there still was RongCheng sitting and waiting, even so...
Yan Si instantly stood up, walking in rounds to look around, his mouth unceasingly murmuring: "Extremely strange... extremely strange..."
This location resembled exactly his chamber at that place; why had the cave just now conversely transformed its shape already? He felt exactly as though his own self were amidst a terrifying, horrific nightmare...
RongCheng followed behind Yan Si, asking: "A Si, what are you searching for?"
Yan Si replied nothing to him, but instead rapidly stepped outside into the courtyard to look around, his demeanor appearing to possess a panicked state: "Extremely strange..."
The scenery of this place was in no way different from the imperial palace; he saw no plants, vegetation, or jungle anywhere at all...
Straight away, he wished to suddenly run away, then was instantly caught hold of by the hand by RongCheng, who asked: "A Si, what's wrong?"
Only at this time did Yan Si suddenly remember RongCheng, whereupon asking: "Eldest brother, extremely strange… why did the cave conversely become the imperial palace like this?"
RongCheng momentarily was silent; Yan Si again pushed his hand away, continuing to walk in circles…
This place caused Yan Si to be immensely frightened and afraid, because it reminded him regarding the sinful conduct that caused eldest brother to cast him aside and neglect him… Instantly, he turned across to RongCheng, saying: "Eldest brother, pray escort me back."
The man all of a sudden let out a breath in a sigh, replying: "We have already returned; where else do you still wish to return to?"
"Returned already…?" Incorrect… he desired not to return here even a bit… Correct indeed… If RongCheng escorted him not, then he privately would depart by himself.
Right afterward, Yan Si hurriedly turned into the interior, intending to clamber onto the bed to sleep, even so he was again barred by RongCheng, who asked: "What do you again wish to do?"
Yan Si haltingly replied: "I… I wish to sleep, to exchange for another dream that is better."
RongCheng all of a sudden gripped tight his hand, asking: "Which uniquely is the excellent and beautiful dream? If it continually remains wretched and terrible, then what? Until when do you plan to sleep?"
Extremely strange; for what reason today did eldest brother conversely chide him? Inside the dream, the man had never yet chided him at all… But correct indeed… which dream uniquely was the most excellent and beautiful? If having exchanged already but it continually remained wretched and terrible like this, then what?
Yan Si's heart all of a sudden squeezed in sharp pain; abruptly he collapsed down, his tears bursting to stream down profusely so as to drench entire folds of both his cheeks…
This dream… for what reason was it painful and sorrowful to such a degree? Having dreamed already, yet why was it still painful and sorrowful?
Instantly, Yan Si hurriedly wiped his tears away and then stood up, returning to the bed to lie down, disregarding it… even if so, he still would exchange… until precisely when it was better, only then would he cease.
Seeing the person in such a manner, RongCheng truly could endure it no longer; he followed to sit down beside the edge of the bed, saying: "A Si, do not self-torment your own person further; it is the fault of eldest brother for not being good toward you..."
Yan Si instantly shook his head: "No matter, exchanging for another dream then it will be well, that is all; eldest brother then again will be good toward me."
The person has no need to apologize or alter any matter at all; merely requiring to shift across to another dream, then everything will be different.
RongCheng let out a breath in a sigh, grinding his teeth and asking: "Do you still think this is a dream or not?"
"Is it conversely not or not?" He knew his own self was at the cave; eldest brother truly had already cast him aside and neglected him; the person would never and also could in no way surface, because how could he know it...
At the period when Yan Si was just dozing off, preparing to sink into the dream, he was conversely yanked up abruptly by RongCheng, who embraced him into his bosom, saying: "A Si… do not be like that; how is this a dream... Yes, I am not good like eldest brother inside your dream, because how could he perform a wretched matter toward you like that…"
The words RongCheng had just spoken caused Yan Si's mental faculties to all of a sudden ache and sting sharply: "What… did the person just speak?"
He truly heard but understood not.
RongCheng again tightly embraced him, softly whispering: "Eldest brother apologizes; I have generated harm to you… I indeed no longer possess the status nor possess any face to look upon you… that night I… I truly wished not… wished not..."
Yan Si felt his head buzzing in a dizzy daze; up to this very moment, he still truly could not believe in the things his own self was hearing, thereupon asking: "Brother… is this the true person or not?"
Was it that he had heard falsely or not? Or had his own person truly slept already, then shifted across to another dream that was more tranquil and gentle?
"I naturally am true..." RongCheng all of a sudden held tight his hand, pressing it close against his own cheek, asking: "A Si look, does eldest brother inside your dream possess warmth like this or not?"
The warmth transmitted into the palm of his hand caused Yan Si to nearly awaken thoroughly; he again faintly touched and rubbed RongCheng's cheek, unceasingly questioning himself: "It is the true person… it is the true person… I am not dreaming… I am not dreaming…"
Once more the person had escorted him back here; how could it be believed? Yan Si's eyes began to possess a bit of brimmed tears, faintly asking: "Is it not that eldest brother was angry at me, detested me already, and for that reason only then cast me aside and neglected me or not?"
RongCheng again held tight his hand, replying in a low voice: "How can I be angry at you? How can I cast you aside and neglect you while every mistake and fault is entirely caused by me… From now onward, I will not permit you to have to endure bitterness further; do not weep, A Si..."
He knew not how many times the person had promised already yet was unable to execute it; even so, within this matter it was with difficulty possible to blame him… At that thought, Yan Si spoke in a low voice: "If it truly is like that, pray… promise toward me again; even if whatever matter takes place, never cast me aside and neglect me further, is it permitted or not?"
If it were not yet the dead end, he truly desired not to alone embrace pain and sorrow to turn back to that cave further, solely desiring throughout his life to be by the side of this person, that was all...
RongCheng, without a bit of hesitation, instantly nodded his head: "Very well, I promise toward you."
Throughout the past days, RongCheng knew his own self had erred very much… he felt ashamed toward his own person, at fault toward A Yuan, and toward this sworn younger brother… It caused him to truly be unable to look upon their faces. Even so, now he already knew trancing and evading was being irresponsible, merely causing all to be harmed and injured far more.
After this turn, RongCheng had vowed toward his heart definitely to act not contrary to his oath, nor wishing to cause Yan Si to be harmed further: "I absolutely will perform no further harm toward you."
Absolutely not!
Hearing in such a manner, Yan Si only then felt at peace in his heart.
That mistake, toward Yan Si, precisely was a costly lesson; fortunately, RongCheng still thought the fault was generated by himself, for that reason generating no hatred. From this time afterward, he knew his own self, even if desiring whatever, also required to be exceptionally careful; an opportunity could in no way possess a second turn.
Because of knowing the person still favored and loved him, still required him, for that reason… he would not abandon it.