“Don’t blame us for being ruthless!” They were here to eliminate the Demon Sect leader and her close subordinates. Hearing this, they became furious, preparing to surround and kill her like they would Simple Lian Shi. Qu Yao held her sword coldly, the sword tip’s cold light flowing, truly ready to fight to the death.
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman’s voice called from behind: “Stop!” The women unanimously halted and turned to look, respectfully bowing: “Sect Master Li.”
Sect Master Li just hummed and said solemnly: “Let her go.”
Qu Yao placed Yan Ziyan on the bed and immediately began to undress her.
Upon seeing that there were no terrible palm marks on her fair white chest, she couldn’t help but slightly exhale in relief. Fortunately, Ji Liancheng was only trying to teach her a lesson, not take her life. Though the strike was fierce, it ultimately injured her body but not fatally.
Just as she relaxed, she heard urgent footsteps at the door and was startled. She quickly covered Yan Ziyan’s clothes and stood in front of her.
Xu Wanzhi stood rigid as a statue, cursing this world that bullies modern people again. She looked at Qu Yao coldly and said, “Qu Yao, if I’m not mistaken, nominally I am the master and you are the servant. What do you mean by this?”
Because Qu Xiaojue had served Xu Wanzhi for many years and truly respected her as her master, she heard this reprimand and, though not moving, deeply bowed and said sincerely yet resolutely, “Master, there are distinctions between men and women. This servant has overstepped and requests punishment later.”
A gust of air swept towards the door, and the acupoints on Xu Wanzhi’s body silently opened. The door in front of her seemed to have its own consciousness and automatically closed. Xu Wanzhi blinked, then blinked again, looking at the doors and suddenly feeling an inexplicable sense of powerlessness. She cleared her throat and softly asked, “Qu Yao, can you guarantee Yan Six is fine?”
A definitive voice came from inside the room: “Yes.”
He stood directly outside the door, seemingly lost in thought. Hearing footsteps behind him, he hoarsely called, “Qu Xiaojue…”
Qu Xiaojue approached and stood beside him. Glancing at the tightly closed door, she understood and said, “Miss Yan will certainly be fine with Qu Yao taking care of her.”
Xu Wanzhi nodded, slightly turning to look at her, then shifting his gaze back to the door panel: “I understand. You can go if you have something to do. I’ll go in and check on her later.”
Qu Xiaojue stepped closer and held his hand, sighing, “I don’t know how long this will take. I’ll wait with you.”
“…Thank you.” Xu Wanzhi tried to pull away but couldn’t, so he let her hold his hand tightly. The two stood quietly, silently feeling the peaceful stillness.
Aching all over, with an especially painful chest, Yan Ziyan awoke in a fire-like pain. She dazedly opened her eyes, blinking several times to recall the memories from yesterday. Looking at the familiar roof beams, she slightly turned her eyes, and a white porcelain bowl appeared overhead, accompanied by Qu Yao’s cold voice: “Drink water.”
She stared at her, struggling to sit up. Qu Yao held the bowl with one hand and slightly bent down, supporting her waist and helping her lean against the bedside. The bowl steadily appeared before her eyes.
Yan Ziyan turned away. Seeing her uncooperative, Qu Yao furrowed her brows and followed her direction, bringing the bowl closer. With a hint of impatience: “Drink water.”
“You’re bullying me!” Yan Ziyan suddenly turned back, staring directly at Qu Yao. Qu Yao knew she resented being abandoned yesterday and felt guilty. Seeing her eyes more lively than yesterday, she gradually blushed, biting her lip and saying nothing.
She didn’t know how to feel but instinctively wanted to comfort her. Yan Ziyan looked around the room and said, “I want to wash up first.”
As she got out of bed, she trembled and almost collapsed. Shocked, she stared at Qu Yao and asked through gritted teeth, “What happened to me?”
Qu Yao firmly helped her to the table and told her the truth: “Your body is weaker than an average woman. This strike injured your muscles and bones. You must rest and recover for a month.”
Remembering the woman from yesterday, Yan Ziyan felt both fear and hatred. The strike had felt almost fatal, but since Qu Yao said there were no serious consequences, she believed her. She glared at Qu Yao: “I’m this injured, and you can’t escape responsibility. I’ll recover in the Qu family, and you must take care of me until I’m fully healed.”
Though somewhat unreasonable, Qu Yao coldly glanced at her, pursed her lips, and handed her a wrung-out towel as indicated. She ultimately didn’t argue.
Remembering her disheveled appearance from last night, Yan Ziyan felt clean while washing her face and finally showed a slight smile.
“Did that woman who grabbed me… die?”
After she finished washing up, Qu Yao again helped her drink water. This time, she obediently drank and realized Qu Yao was about to help her back to bed. She asked again.
Qu Yao answered: “I don’t know.”
Yan Ziyan coldly snorted: “How dare she bully me like this! If she’s not dead, I’ll definitely make her suffer!”
Qu Yao silently glanced at her and steadily helped her back to bed, not engaging with the comment. Though she saw the contempt in her eyes, Yan Ziyan just huffed, truly lacking the energy to argue further.
Qu Yao warned: “If you don’t rest for three days, any resulting disability has nothing to do with the Qu family.”
Hearing this, Yan Ziyan became even more dissatisfied, shouting, “Don’t worry! Even if I die, it won’t be blamed on your master!”
Qu Yao sighed and said nothing more. Though her words were tough, under Qu Yao’s cold gaze, Yan Ziyan still obediently lay in bed for three days, eating only clear porridge and small dishes, which she complained about but couldn’t escape.
Xu Wanzhi had only seen martial arts and internal injuries on television. He had learned some things, which might be useful for self-defense, but he had no intention of ever using them in his lifetime.
Yan Ziyan’s injury shocked him. When he saw the blood on her body, his first reaction was whether she had been accidentally hit by a carriage. But hearing the words “healing medicine,” he felt at a loss.
He directly came to Yan Ziyan’s room. Qu Yao was standing at the door, and Yan Ziyan happily called out: “Wan Zhi, you’ve come to see me!”
Hearing her voice, he smiled slowly: “If I didn’t come to see Miss Yan Six, the beautiful invalid, I would regret it forever.”
Yan Ziyan laughed heartily, her face turning rosy, and she teased: “You’re more flirtatious than a woman!”
Xu Wan Zhi thought to himself, saying this would be meaningless. He sat down at the table, poured himself tea, and casually replied: “Is that so?”
“Yes,” Yan Ziyan nodded firmly.
“How are you feeling? Are you still in pain?” After the joking, he returned to the main topic: “I asked Qu Xiao Jue yesterday, and there are several skilled doctors in Huan Cheng.”
“Stupid Wood says it’s fine, just rest well. If the medicine they prescribe isn’t as bitter as what she gave me, then ask the Qu family master to invite them.”
She surprisingly trusted Qu Yao without hesitation. Xu Wan Zhi silently glanced at the standing figure at the door, then laughed and said: “Miss Yan Six, who’s afraid of bitter medicine, would find all medicines taste similar.”
“Exactly!” Immediately recalling the morning’s medicine, Yan Ziyan deeply agreed, her eyebrows furrowing together.
Xu Wan Zhi asked more about her condition. Yan Ziyan was quite optimistic, seemingly unaffected by the near-death experience, saying she was fine and would look for him to play when not bedridden.
“That’s good. Recover quickly. I can’t help you with much, but I can bring you some delicious desserts.”
