His vision swims and he sways dangerously, grabbing onto Xue Yang's arm in return. He feels cold and hot, the pain of his wound making him sick. It was a mistake to hide it; why does he make such shoddy decisions during crucial moments?

"Bandits...surrounded me...on my ride. I took on one of your old jobs." Zichen tries to explain, closing his eyes, "I was stabbed. I thought I...tended to it...but it feels..."

Bad. He tries to tug open his robes, his hands shaking.