Chapter 252

"Don't cry, it hasn't hit a vital spot, your older sister A Zhu is fine."

After checking the pulse, Niu Dingtian moved his fingers like flying, quickly sealing the acupoints around the wound, then comforted A Bi with a word, and immediately carefully took A Zhu, slowly sending true qi into her.

In fact, A Zhu's injury is not as simple as he said; even though the wound is not in a vital spot, the destruction caused by the huge log far exceeds that of ordinary weapons.

Once this half-section of beam is pulled out of the wound, without strong measures the wound will likely gush blood instantly, hard to stop. Moreover, healing the wound is also a major problem.

Not long after, Wang Yuyan and Duan Yu rushed in, while Jin A Er and the farm girl A Zhen stood timidly at the door.

"Young Master Niu, how is A Zhu?"

Facing Niu Dingtian, Wang Yuyan's gaze darted, her cheeks flushing repeatedly; she simply could not imagine that the private part there would actually be held in Niu Dingtian's hand.

But after glancing at the unconscious A Zhu, her face showed more anxiety.

As for Duan Yu, this fool stared blankly at the blood-stained wood on A Zhu's shoulder, his face full of regret and self-reproach.

If it weren't for my own hesitation, perhaps Miss A Zhu wouldn't have been injured…

"First detoxify A Bi!" Niu Dingtian coldly glanced at Duan Yu.

While circulating his energy and sending qi, he also looked at Wang Yuyan and said, "For now there is no danger to her life; after the rain stops a bit, we'll first go into town to find a medical clinic, and then I will treat A Zhu's wound."

Currently, conditions are too crude: no wound medicine, no bandages, and with the warm, humid rainy weather, for such a wound he also dare not lightly pull out the beam.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuyan's anxious expression eased a little, then she lowered her brows and eyes, standing silently to the side, unknown what she was thinking.

Duan Yu, receiving Niu Dingtian's cold glance, knew he was in the wrong and also dared not speak further.

He took out a porcelain bottle, quickly detoxified A Bi, put the bottle away, and wanted to step forward to comfort Wang Yuyan, but she turned her head away with reddened eye sockets.

Only the faintest sound was heard, then another like it, and a few drops of tears slowly slid down Wang Yuyan's fair cheeks, dripping onto her coarse cloth upper garment.

The tear stains gradually spread, like pale ink plum blossoms.

Seeing this scene, Duan Yu was stunned: the fairy-like sister even crying is extremely beautiful; Li Bai's line "Only seeing tear stains wet, unknown who I hate" could not be more like the vision of a beautiful woman shedding tears before him? But after reacting, Duan Yu panicked, feeling his heart about to break.

He hurriedly comforted: "Miss Wang, Miss Wang, don't be sad! I… I… Miss A Zhu will surely be fine!"

…

Half an hour later —

Niu Dingtian slowly withdrew his power, his face also somewhat pale; A Zhu had not yet awakened, but her face finally regained some color.

"Young master, are you alright?"

A Bi carefully took A Zhu, asking with a concerned expression.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Niu Dingtian shook his head and returned a smile.

After glancing at Wang Yuyan, whose eye sockets were red and who stood silently, and then at Duan Yu, who clung like a plaster, Niu Dingtian fell silent for a moment and also said nothing.

Having already looked and touched, we certainly can't bring this up again in front of everyone.

A young lady's face is always thin-skinned.

Thus he rose and said to Jin A Er at the door: "Please, Brother Jin, help me prepare a carriage; we'll leave shortly, and today's losses at the mill will be fully compensated at cost."

He remembered that when he first arrived, there was a carriage in the corner of the downstairs courtyard; though dilapidated, it was somewhat better than A Zhu riding on a horse and being jolted.

Jin A Er heard this, gave an embarrassed smile, and quickly said: "No need for silver; what you gave before is already enough, young master, please wait a moment."

Having said that, he pulled the farm girl A Zhen beside him and quickly went downstairs.

Being able to preserve our lives today is already a great fortune; the might of the recent fight is still before our eyes, how could he dare to ask for more silver from such a strong person?

About the time it takes to finish a cup of tea.

Jin A Er finished preparing the carriage; outside, the rain gradually weakened, a fine drizzle filling the heavens and earth.

Niu Dingtian and the five of them boarded the carriage and then bade farewell to this place.

As for the corpses inside the mill, Jin A Er originally wanted to report to the authorities, but after Niu Dingtian explained the severity, he simply set the mill on fire and left with A Zhen as well.

As an ordinary commoner, there really is no need to gamble on gaining merit by pleasing the officials.

The journey was silent. At dusk, several people rushed to a medical clinic inside Wu Xi Cheng.

Under Niu Dingtian's protection of his qi, the doctor removed the beam from A Zhu's shoulder, staunched the blood, bandaged the wound, and it was already late at night. But after hearing the parting words, the atmosphere inside fell into a hard-to-describe silence.

In the side room, the candle wick sputtered and burned, the bright candlelight illuminating everyone's expressions clearly.

Duan Yu felt guilty and remained silent; A Bi's tears welled in her eyes; Wang Yuyan lowered her face, holding back tears.

Niu Dingtian sat on a chair by the bed, gazing at A Zhu's bloodless, wan face, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Although her life is safe, this left arm…

"Young Master Niu… please take me back to Yanzi Wu; I… I in this state, it would be inconvenient to continue following you."

On the bed, A Zhu wearily opened her eyes, lips paling, she spoke weakly.

Compared to the injury on her shoulder, her heart was like dead ashes.

But after all, I am still a maid of the Murong Family; besides there, where else could I go?

Niu Dingtian remained silent, then after a moment looked at A Bi, Wang Yuyan, and Duan Yu, and pondered: "You all go out first; I will have a talk with Miss A Zhu."

"I won't leave!"

Wang Yuyan slowly shook her head, bit her lip, and tears uncontrollably fell from her beautiful eyes: "What right do you have to stay here alone? I also want to keep Miss A Zhu company and talk."

Unconsciously, she spoke as if in a fit of pique, causing A Bi and Duan Yu, who were about to turn around, to both stop in their tracks.

Niu Dingtian slightly furrowed his brows, lifted his gaze to look at Wang Yuyan; Wang Yuyan, with tear-filled determined eyes, met his gaze.

The atmosphere inside became somewhat stagnant.

For a long time.

"I will soon transmit a healing technique to Miss A Zhu; the art is not to be passed to six ears—Miss Wang, would you also like to listen?"

Niu Dingtian ultimately did not utter those tough words.

Since leaving the mill, Wang Yuyan has silently held a grudge against him.

But in this era, a young lady's purity outweighs heaven; I have indeed taken a tremendous advantage from her.

No choice, I'm in the wrong.

Wang Yuyan heard him, her tear-filled eyes flashing with reluctance, yet she still stamped her foot, turned, and ran out of the room.

After she left, Duan Yu hesitated not, glanced at A Zhu with remorse, and immediately went after Wang Yuyan.

A Bi wiped her tears and said softly, "I'm going to the medicine room to brew medicine for Elder Sister A Zhu; if you have business, young master, you can find me there."

Having spoken, she hurried out of the room and locked the door from outside.

As their footsteps faded, the room fell silent; the dim candlelight flickered, casting the bedside person's shadow long and stretched.

In this stillness, Niu Dingtian tightened the blanket around A Zhu and spoke softly:

"Miss A Zhu, now that you've recognized that person, aren't you afraid he'll kill you if you go back?"

A Zhu froze, as if realizing something, her already bloodless face turning even paler.

"You… how could you…?"

"How I know doesn't matter." Niu Dingtian interrupted softly.

"Your father's feigned death is tied to a major martial-arts case; to hide his identity, if you return he will surely kill you. Since he struck you today without hesitation, you should know how ruthless father and son are for their so-called great cause."

"That… that person… could it really be my lord?" A Zhu whispered weakly, tears welling in her eyes.

After more than ten years of loyal service, I never expected the master to strike her down so suddenly.

I had thought I might be sent away, as A Bi was, but never imagined the master and his son would take my life.

Niu Dingtian sighed and said, "Whether it's your father, you yourself know the truth. You and A Bi are like sisters; how could I let you go back to die? Rest and heal your wounds; when you're better, don't go back to Yanzi Wu—just stay with A Bi at Ri Yue An."

After hearing this, A Zhu bit her lip and stayed silent, a hint of bitterness showing on her pale face.

If she were healthy, that would be a place to go, but now she is likely disabled; as a maid, how could she shamelessly cling to it?

Overwhelmed with emotion, she suddenly felt intense pain in her left shoulder, her mind clouded, and in the next moment she fainted again. (End of chapter)