Her internal injuries were severe, and her qi was stagnant. Forget fighting someone—even walking for too long would worsen her condition.
The jianghu was a dangerous place, and she had plenty of enemies. If some foolish nobody came across her in this state, the consequences would be unthinkable. Having someone escort her was undoubtedly the best choice for now.
But emotionally, she resisted the idea intensely. She had always kept to herself and hated getting involved with other people, especially men.
And Lin Xuan, standing right in front of her... stirred a feeling in her that was difficult to put into words.
His shamelessness, his teasing, those eyes of his that seemed able to see right through people—and... the warm, solid chest she had slept against when he held her last night—all left her inexplicably flustered.
Her hesitation was plain to see.
Her beautiful phoenix eyes lowered slightly, and her long lashes trembled uneasily like two little brushes.
Her tightly pressed lips revealed the struggle within her.
This inner conflict completely shattered her usual icy demeanor, instead lending her a soft, pitiful vulnerability that made her especially captivating.
Lin Xuan took in her expression and couldn't be bothered to wait for her to make that difficult decision.
He said bluntly, "All right, stop thinking about it. If you're going to help someone, see it through. I'll take you home. Tell me where you live."
His tone was domineering and left no room for argument, yet, strangely, it calmed Qin Hongmian's restless heart.
Sometimes, for someone accustomed to making all her own decisions, having another person decide for her could be a kind of relief.
She raised her eyes and looked deeply at Lin Xuan. In the end, she relented.
"Near Wuliang Mountain," she said softly. "There are a few bamboo