Chapter 696: I Won't Go Back

It's all right! Seventh Uncle drove them all away.

Tuan Tuan reached out her little hand to support his arm, tears pattering onto the quilt: "Teacher! How did you get so thin?!"

Song Jingxian's gaze fell on the tall black shadow by the window: "Who is that?"

Xiao Er was listening intently to the sounds outside.

Tuan Tuan followed his gaze and turned her head: "That's my Second Uncle!"

Song Jingxian narrowed his eyes and examined carefully: "Isn't that the one who always followed you before?"

Exactly! Tuan Tuan nodded, "Second Uncle is amazing! He's always protected me!"

She stared anxiously at his gaunt face: "Teacher, what illness do you have? Is it serious?"

A faint smile appeared on Song Jingxian's pale face: "I'm old, I've been cooped up here too long, just a minor ailment to reduce internal heat—don't worry."

Several doctors have examined me; they all said it's nothing serious, a few doses of medicine and some rest will cure it, no need to worry.

He raised his bony hand and gently touched Tuan Tuan's head: "Come, let me have a good look at you."

Tuan Tuan wiped away her tears, kicked off her little shoes, scrambled onto the bed using hands and feet, and obediently curled up in Song Jingxian's arms.

Song Jingxian held her, lowered his head to study her small face, his eyes gentle as water: "You've gotten thin."

He asked softly: "The northwest is bitterly cold, unlike Jingcheng; you must not have been eating well."

No way! Tuan Tuan pouted, "I've been eating plenty!"

Song Jingxian's voice hoarse: "Shu Jun and Zhu Lin have been mentioning you these past few days, saying they haven't seen you in ages."

I miss them too! Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, "When Imperial Uncle returns and drives those two rascals away, I'll come play with them!"

Good, good! Song Jingxian gently patted her back, "They'll be overjoyed to see you."

Tuan Tuan's eyes shifted: "Teacher, do you know where I'm living now? Guess!"

Song Jingxian shook his head: "I don't want to know."

Tuan Tuan wondered: "Why?"

The more people who know, the more danger you're in; I just want you to be safe.

From now on, if there's ever another drought or flood, just pray for the common folk's well‑being.

Don't worry, Teacher," Tuan Tuan nodded, "I definitely will!"

Xiao Er's ear twitched suddenly—someone's coming!

Such light footsteps! A person from Dongying?

He whipped his head around and swiftly drew his sidearm.

The next moment.

The door burst open soundlessly, a black shadow darted in like a ghost, the blade in his hand flashing cold light, straight for Tuan Tuan in Song Jingxian's arms on the bed!

Song Jingxian's pupils contracted, he turned in a flash, shielding Tuan Tuan tightly against his chest, using his own back to block the deadly strike.

Xiao Er lunged forward, but the black‑clad attacker was too fast; he had no time to block, so he threw his body at the assailant.

—Sss—

The attacker's blade glanced, slicing Song Jingxian's clothes and cutting into his arm; blood spurted out instantly.

Old—" Tuan Tuan was about to cry out, but Song Jingxian clapped a hand over her mouth and shook his head.

Xiao Er's eyes turned red, he put all his strength into a slash at the attacker's arm.

The attacker's arm shrank back; Xiao Er's blow knocked the knife from his hand, and it clanged to the floor.

The two became entangled, blades flashing and weaving in the dim room.

Just then, faint voices approached from outside:

"Did you see clearly who's coming?"

"Didn't get a good look, but their lightness skill is genuine—so their martial arts surely aren't weak either."

"Don't fall for the lure‑the‑tiger‑away‑from‑the‑mountain trick! Quick—check if anyone's inside the manor!"

Hearing the commotion outside, the black‑clad figure flipped his wrist, three dark hidden weapons sliding from his sleeve, and flung them straight at Xiao Er's face.

Xiao Er sidestepped; the hidden weapons struck the wall behind him with a series of 'thud-thud-thud'.

The attacker turned and leapt out the door, vanishing into the night.

Xiao Er rushed over, shut the door, then walked to the bedside.

Song Jingxian's face was ashen, the lower half of his right sleeve soaked with blood, yet he still held Tuan Tuan firmly in his arms.

"Teacher, you're bleeding!" Tuan Tuan's voice trembled, her small hand fumbling to press his arm.

"It's fine," Song Jingxian released her, pressing his hand firmly over the wound, his voice steady: "Just a superficial injury, nothing to worry about."

Bang bang bang.

The door was lightly knocked.

"Master Song? Are you all right?" came the guard's cautious voice from outside.

Song Jingxian steadied his breath: "I'm fine. What's happening out there?"

"A bandit broke in; we gave chase, but we were worried about you, so we came back."

"I see, thank you," Song Jingxian paused, "You may go; I'd like to sleep a little longer."

Outside, silence fell for a moment.

"Yes."

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Only then did Song Jingxian loosen his grip; blood immediately began to drip steadily from his fingertips.

Xiao Er pushed up his sleeve, took out a clean cloth from his bosom, gently wiped the blood, then applied wound‑healing medicine evenly to the injury and wrapped it tightly with another clean cloth.

Song Jingxian's lips pressed slightly together, his brow not furrowing at all.

Tuan Tuan's tears pattered down; the teacher got injured only to save me!

Song Jingxian looked at her pitiful little face and smiled slightly: "Silly child, why are you crying? I'm the teacher—I'm fine!"

"Teacher," Tuan Tuan whispered, sobbing lightly: "Does it hurt a lot?"

"I'm not made of paper," Song Jingxian shook his head: "Such a small injury will heal in a few days."

Xiao Er looked ashamed: "It's all my fault for failing to protect her; please don't blame me, Sir Song."

He sincerely thanked the teacher who could risk his life to protect the young lady: "Thank you, Sir Song, for saving our young lady!"

Song Jingxian raised his head to look at him: "With you by Tuan Tuan's side, I can rest easy."

He frowned slightly: "It's fine that you came to see me, but what's the deal with that black-clad person just now? It seems they were targeting Tuan Tuan."

"They've tried to attack the young lady before," Xiao Er said angrily, "They are Japanese, coming with a Japanese priest."

"Japanese?" Song Jingxian looked astonished: "This Jingcheng is really getting more and more chaotic."

Song Jingxian took out a small peace talisman with his uninjured hand from his bosom.

"This is something I obtained in my youth from True Person Xuanqing of Xuanqiong Temple; I've always worn it."

"Wear it, I hope it stays by your side and keeps you safe."

He was about to hand it to Tuan Tuan, but saw the talisman stained with blood, and thought to put it back: "Forget it, it's gotten bloody."

Tuan Tuan snatched it away: "I want it! Teacher!"

Song Jingxian felt a bit embarrassed: "Then go wash it..."

"Hmm," Tuan Tuan shook her head vigorously: "This is the blood the teacher shed for me; no need to wash it!"

Song Jingxian smiled helplessly: "All right."

He paused: "Inside this peace talisman is a handwritten letter of mine; if you ever meet my disciples in the future, you can take it out and show it to them."

"They should give me some respect, at least a little."

"I'm trapped here and can't help you much; all I have is this meager reputation, which might still be of some use."

"Thank you, teacher!" Tuan Tuan dearly placed the peace talisman into her little sachet.

Just then, the courtyard erupted in chaos again.

"Look! Someone's on the roof again! Looks like the same person as before!"

"How did they come back again? Should we chase them?"

"Nonsense! If something happens and we don't chase, will you take responsibility? Chase!"

Soon, the courtyard grew quiet again.

It was Lu Qi! Xiao Er whispered: "Young lady, it's time to go."

Tuan Tuan pursed her lips, reluctantly looking at Song Jingxian.

"Hurry up and go," Song Jingxian smiled, "It's not like we won't see each other again."

Xiao Er bowed and said: "Take care, Sir Song!" He picked up Tuan Tuan, opened the window, glanced around, and leapt out.

The night wind brushed their faces; Tuan Tuan lay on Xiao Er's shoulder, watching the window recede, and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

The two darted over several rooftops and returned to the roof where Xiao Ningyuan was.

Xiao Ningyuan lay there, his neck almost stiff.

Seeing the two return safely, he rubbed his sore arms: "I'm exhausted! I've been lying here for almost an hour."

Xiao Er looked around: "Let's wait for Lu Qi to come back."

As his words fell, Lu Qi landed beside him, patting his shoulder: "I'm back, aren't I? You're so slow—I've already looped around them twice."

Xiao Ningyuan exhaled: "Finally we can go back."

"I'm not going back!" Tuan Tuan pouted fiercely.

"Not going back?" Xiao Ningyuan blinked in surprise.

Tuan Tuan clenched her little fists, her face tense: "I'm going to find that old Japanese guy and vent my anger for the teacher!"