Ruan Ning’s face turned pale, and she gripped Shang Mian’s hand tightly, as if her touch could ease his pain.
Shang Mian smiled and placed a cool kiss on her cheek. “Don’t be afraid, it doesn’t hurt.”
For a moment, Ruan Ning forgot they were in public and looked up at him, confused. “How can it not hurt? Stop being tough.”
“With you here, it doesn’t hurt,” he replied, nuzzling her forehead. “When I fought wars, it was much more painful. Without you, I didn’t feel pain. How could I feel pain now?”
His smile turned mischievous as he pointed to his mouth. “If you’re really worried, just kiss me. I bet it’ll work better than any medicine.”
Ruan Ning blushed. “You’re so badly injured, and you’re still not serious.”
“Kiss me, how about it?”
” He lowered his head, tracing her lips and whispering, “I’ve kissed every part of you, except here. You should make up for it.”
Ruan Ning yelped, covering her face and trying to run, but he caught her, pulling her into his embrace, laughing: “Will you or won’t you?”
“Shut up! Stop talking!” Ruan Ning shouted, covering her face.
The guard applying the hemostatic powder was startled and spilled half the bottle, covering Shang Mian in a thick layer of yellow powder.
The Xuanyi Guards looked skyward, thinking: We didn’t see or hear anything. We are the wind, the grass, the air. We do not exist for our master.
Shang Mian laughed softly. No matter how intimate they were, she always resisted kissing him, even when held down. He had never experienced a passionate kiss, but he felt he would soon taste that wonderful sensation.
Moonlight was bright, stars sparse. Horses grazed on mountain grass. The Xuanyi Guards rested, while Shang Mian lay on a thin blanket, side-lying with his head on Ruan Ning’s lap, sleeping soundly.
Ruan Ning wasn’t asleep yet, her eyes watching his wound closely. She remembered reading that external wounds heal better without immediate bandaging after hemostasis.
She had suggested applying powder and waiting for blood to coagulate before wrapping, which Shang Mian accepted. The bleeding had almost stopped; perhaps a scab would form soon, avoiding the pain of tearing the cloth again.
Faint sounds of grass insects chirping made the night silent.
