Chapter 65
Peony Pond.
Numerous Wu Zu soldiers and even returning experts searched and guarded both banks of the Huai River, rescuing the wounded.
The commandery princess’s pleasure boat sailed toward the city, accompanied personally by veteran figures like Li Jing, the Sword Fool, who escorted the vessel.
Inside the cabin, in the princess’s private chamber, a faint mix of blood and medicinal scent hung in the air.
Lin Zisu, dressed in a ruqun, knelt beside the bed, her delicate, porcelain-like face utterly focused as her fair, slender fingers held a golden needle, carefully suturing a wound that had pierced an inch into the chest.
Xie Jinhuan lay on a white sheet, his body wiped clean of blood, revealing the purple and black bruises from his battle; silver needles pierced his forehead and key meridians to seal his qi, his battered form a horrifying sight.
The Princess of Changning stood outside the bed, her usual languid arrogance gone, her brow heavy with worry and pity; to avoid disturbing the physician, she breathed with the utmost caution.
Just moments ago, Linghu Qingmo had been drinking and playfully roughhousing with Xie Jinhuan, but in the blink of an eye, Xie Jinhuan had swallowed a potent elixir, staked his life, and charged onto the pirate vessel to fight to the death—returning with barely half his life left.
Now, seeing Xie Jinhuan’s condition, Linghu Qingmo’s eyes were red, and regret filled her heart:
If I’d known, I should’ve gone with him to relieve himself—let him touch and kiss me a little would’ve been better than him running off alone to risk his life…
Lin Wanyi, though a physician, specialized only in gynecology and poison; now she mixed various medicines at the bedside, handing them to the lead surgeon Zisu, and between tasks, carefully wiped Xie Jinhuan’s bloodied skin with a towel.
Though he’d just forcibly kissed her, Xie Jinhuan had sacrificed himself for righteousness, even slaughtering all the demonic bandits and saving half the civilians.
Such a bold, righteous, and noble true man—dying, he kissed her; it was, in truth, her fortune as a witch cult demoness…
Under normal circumstances, when a hero faces death, she should’ve left him an heir before he went…
Shush…
The room was utterly silent, save for the faint rustle of wiping wounds.
Lin Zisu, fully absorbed in treating the wound, had been utterly focused—but halfway through, she suddenly noticed sweat forming on Xie Jinhuan’s forehead, his skin turning red…
?
Lin Zisu sensed something was wrong; she glanced at the Princess of Changning and Linghu Qingmo, then flicked her eyes to her aunt beside her:
“Your Highness, please step outside. Your presence here distracts me.”
Lin Zisu was the direct disciple and top student of the Imperial Academy’s Dan Hospital; though nicknamed the "Poison Hand Medic Lady," terrifying even the most formidable experts, no one ever doubted her skill.
The Princess of Changning knew nothing of medicine; upon seeing this, she turned:
“Let’s go, wait outside.”
Linghu Qingmo, filled with worry, realized she could do nothing here; she stepped out, glancing back every few steps:
“If he wakes up, let us know.”
“Got it.”
…
Click.
The door closed.
Lin Wanyi had held back her anger all evening, too embarrassed to speak earlier; now that the outsiders were gone, she frowned and scolded:
“Zisu! You’re utterly reckless—who told you to give him the Qi Surge Elixir?”
Lin Zisu, confident as the lead surgeon, showed no fear toward her nurse aunt:
“My elixir isn’t flawed—it only has side effects. I warned Xie Young Master of the risks beforehand; he took it knowing full well. Without this elixir today, everyone on the boat would’ve died, and the demonic bandits would’ve escaped…”
Here, Lin Zisu pouted:
“Auntie, go comfort Xie Young Master.”
?
Lin Wanyi looked at Xie Jinhuan with the towel in hand, slightly puzzled:
“How do I comfort him?”
“Just kiss and touch him—give him something to do.”
“Zisu!”
Lin Wanyi, seeing the girl spouting nonsense, quickly glanced outside, her eyes sharp with warning:
“I’m your aunt! Are you looking for a beating?”
Lin Zisu lifted her eyelids, speaking with solemn gravity:
“The Qi Surge Elixir scrambles the spirit, stirs violent killing urges—it won’t cease until the effect fades. Xie Young Master’s meridians are sealed; he’s brimming with excitement but has nowhere to release it—he’ll try to break free. Let him satisfy himself, and he’ll calm down.”
Lin Wanyi didn’t fully understand Zisu’s strange elixirs; she was half-skeptical:
“Is that even true? Last time, Old Li just got tied up, didn’t he?”
“Old Li is old and has no wife—Master Mu tied him up so he’d endure it. You can ease him—would you rather tie Xie Young Master up and watch him suffer day and night? You even bathed in his house last time…”
“That was an emergency—I didn’t do anything! Don’t imagine things!”
“Auntie, are you sure?”
“Mm!”
Seeing her aunt’s firm expression, Lin Zisu nodded slightly:
“Fine. Go call Linghu Miss in then. Sigh~ Such a useless aunt, never fit for the main room…”
?
Lin Wanyi’s almond eyes widened in fury:
“What nonsense are you spouting? You gave him that awful elixir—I haven’t even punished you yet—and now you make me clean up your mess…”
Lin Zisu blinked her large, sparkling eyes:
“Then shall I handle it myself? Auntie, we’re as close as mother and daughter…”
“….”
Lin Wanyi dared not go that far; her expression twisted in conflict.
As time passed, Xie Jinhuan’s skin flushed deeper, faint wisps of white mist rising from his body; the silver needles trembled slightly, and blood beads seeped from his wounds.
Seeing this, Lin Zisu’s eyes sharpened: “Auntie, hurry!”
Lin Wanyi realized the meridians could no longer be sealed; panic surged within her. She wanted to call Linghu Qingmo.
But she’d been jealous of Linghu Qingmo just earlier—now asking her for help, wouldn’t Linghu Qingmo point at her forehead and scold:
Are you insane?
I gave you the chance, and you can’t even use it…
Remembering how Xie Jinhuan had just forcibly kissed her, then charged headlong to save so many lives, Lin Wanyi finally sat beside the pillow:
“I… how do I comfort him?”
Lin Zisu, pressing on the bleeding wound, urged:
“You chat all day with those flirtatious ladies—now you ask me? I’m still unmarried…”
“I’m unmarried too!”
“Sigh… just like in the storyteller’s tales…”
Lin Zisu recalled a moment, then spoke with clear, theatrical diction:
“The demoness glided forward with delicate steps, approaching the holy monk—her eyes brimming with desire, her bosom like congealed fat, her waist revealing the flowery orifice…”
“Pfft~”
Lin Wanyi swiftly cut off the reckless girl, then pulled Xie Jinhuan’s left hand to her cheek, pressing it there; her face beneath the gold-rimmed glasses blushed crimson as the setting sun.
And Xie Jinhuan, lying on the pillow, clearly sensed the touch on his palm; the violent thrashing of his qi calmed somewhat…
“See? I told you it works.”
Lin Zisu continued treating the wound:
“Xie Young Master likes you. Knowing you’re here to soothe him, he’ll suppress his urges. Keep it up—it’ll pass soon.”
“….”
Lin Wanyi’s cheek pressed against his palm; at first embarrassed, but seeing Xie Jinhuan’s expression grow serene as he touched her face, she relaxed further, gently rubbing her cheek against his palm, her eyes flickering as she silently thought:
Foolish boy, going off alone to play hero—now you’re suffering, aren’t you?
How dare you kiss me—if you’d truly died, who would I marry?
Thank heavens you came back alive…
“Huh…”
Xie Jinhuan, lying on the pillow, had long lost consciousness, his mind scattered by wild qi; yet as his hand brushed a woman’s cheek, his spirit momentarily reformed, his eyes fluttering open a sliver…
The light before him was hazy—he couldn’t tell if he was awake or dreaming.
Yet mere inches away, a face of peerless beauty gazed at him without blinking…
Xie Jinhuan’s mind was a muddy slurry, yet he recognized her; seeing the glasses-wearer, he peacefully closed his eyes.
Lin Wanyi noticed his movement, a surge of joy rising—then she saw he fell still again; her eyes grew bewildered. She continued rubbing her cheek against his palm.
But she hadn’t expected his large hand, resting in hers, to slowly slide downward…
?
Lin Wanyi froze, silently thinking:
What does this mean?
Seeing it’s me, he’s disgusted and doesn’t want to touch me anymore?
Then why did you kiss me?
Lin Wanyi’s eyes grew wounded, yet she followed his intent, releasing her grip.
Then the large hand on her cheek drifted down along her neck…
?!
Lin Wanyi shuddered violently, recoiling her hand as if shocked; she stole a glance at Zisu—seeing no notice—then exhaled in silent relief, thinking:
You lecher, so this is the dirty scheme you had in mind…
Lin Zisu was tending to the wounds when she noticed Xie Jinhuan’s breathing grow heavier, his breaths becoming increasingly erratic. She looked up and saw her aunt had pushed her hand far away—her eyes darkened with anger:
“Aunt! What are you doing?! Do I have to slip you ‘Sticky Glue Powder’ again?”
Lin Wanyi flinched, quickly pressed her hand to her face, and turned her back to Zisu:
“I know my limits. Just focus on your work.”
“Hurry up. If he breaks his meridians, we’ll both be sent straight to heaven…”
“… ”
Lin Wanyi felt Xie Jinhuan struggling to break free—he wouldn’t kill her and her mother, but he’d almost certainly send them both flying into the clouds!
Watching Xie Jinhuan strike again at his meridians, his hand insistently sliding lower, Lin Wanyi had no choice but to mutter inwardly:
He’s unconscious. He’s just following instinct. It’s not intentional…
Before, when I was bound, he never groped me—he went out of his way to save me…
Now he’s injured because of the righteous path. How can I let him suffer like this?
…
While mentally convincing herself, Lin Wanyi slightly shifted to block Zisu’s view, gritted her teeth, and let Xie Jinhuan’s hand move freely…
Xie Jinhuan instantly fell still, as quiet as a baby who’d just sucked in his porridge…
?
Lin Wanyi’s face flushed crimson. She realized his hand was still slightly opening and closing—her lashes trembled with shame and fury:
This damn brat…
At least he’s calmed down…
It’s just through his clothes. I can endure it…
Hey? You’re quite skilled…
…
The room fell utterly silent.
Lin Wanyi thought Xie Jinhuan could make a fortune selling steamed buns if he ever went into that business. She tried to pretend nothing had happened, believing she could just tough it out.
But this seemingly unconscious bastard was insatiable. After a brief pause, he wanted to warm his hands further.
When she ignored him, he began striking his meridians again, struggling to break free…
?
With no other option, Lin Wanyi pushed his hand away as a warning—push further, and you lose even this!
But right behind her, Zisu urged again:
“Aunt—!”
Startled, Lin Wanyi instantly returned her hand to its place—only to realize it was useless. She tucked it into her bosom to warm it…
Xie Jinhuan, finally satisfied, finally calmed down.
But with his hand in her bosom, he noticed Lin Wanyi was dressed in full mid-autumn finery, adorned with a complete set of magic treasures…
Sensing the texture beneath his palm, Xie Jinhuan tried to summon qi to activate the treasures—but his meridians were sealed. He could only attempt to break through…
?!
Are you never done?
Seeing this bastard push further and further, Lin Wanyi wanted to quit.
But behind her, the heartless niece kept pressing:
“Aunt, hurry! The seal’s about to break! If you can’t do it, let Lady Linghu take over—don’t delay!”
She’d already been warming his hands. What more did they want?
She was still an unmarried maiden. Could she really retreat any further?
Fortunately, Xie Jinhuan’s inner drive was immense. Even with all his meridians sealed, he forcibly gathered a thread of true qi in his palm.
And since the magic treasure was designed to be sensitive to those with shallow cultivation, it reacted instantly to the qi surge—the lotus bloomed silently…
Skin against skin~
?
You’re simply…
Fearing more chaos, Lin Wanyi could only endure in silent humiliation, her toes digging so hard into her embroidered shoes they nearly tore them apart, her eyes glistening as she muttered inwardly:
Emergency demands flexibility. He’s unconscious—he doesn’t know what he’s doing…
What kind of cursed elixir is this? Said to cause delirium, yet still knows how to unfasten clothing. Said to be lucid, yet how is this behavior that of a righteous hero?
I’m finished. How will I ever marry now…
After this, I’m going to beat Zisu’s ass raw…
And with his new toy, Xie Jinhuan truly calmed down. In his dazed state, he practiced the eighteen applications of “Azure Dragon Reaches for Claw” until the boat returned to Danyang City—never again attempting to break free…
—
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(End of Chapter)
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