The 46th Chapter (1/2)
Black Beard took Mei Chengyu's injuries into account and kept the carriage steady, doing his best to avoid even the slightest bump.
Yu Sui frowned, her gaze sweeping over Mei Chengyu again and again. When her eyes landed on the torn flesh and the ghastly white bone beneath, she seemed unable to bear the sight and raised a hand to cover her eyes.
Mei Chengyu didn't feel like talking, but seeing her like this, he couldn't help saying, "If you're scared, close your eyes and don't look."
After all, his injuries were indeed a little too bloody and gruesome.
"Senior Martial Brother, you're not going to die, are you?" Yu Sui asked again, uneasy.
Mei Chengyu found that amusing, but he couldn't manage a laugh just then, so he fell silent, looking perfectly composed as he waited to see how Yu Sui would react.
Yu Sui could tell that Mei Chengyu's Five Elements Qi was in turmoil, just like Li Jinshuang's had been before. Even blinking or opening his mouth hurt terribly. Even if he did nothing, the Five Elements Qi would still charge wildly through his body; it felt much like being subjected to lingchi.
And on top of that, he had already been seriously injured.
If his hands, which had been attacked by the Judgment Technique: Lingchi, weren't treated in time, she didn't know if they might be crippled.
Having someone so bloodied sitting right in front of her was certainly a shock to the eyes.
Yu Sui peered at Mei Chengyu through the gaps between her fingers. "Senior Martial Brother, I've been studying medicine these past few days. Would you like me to give you a simple treatment?"
Mei Chengyu didn't reply. His dark, cold eyes closed gently, as though giving his consent.
"What kind of person could have hurt you this badly, Senior Martial Brother? Why didn't you ask Master to help?" Yu Sui muttered to herself.
Mei Chengyu could hear the rustle of clothes as she rummaged through the carriage. When her Jewelry Box rattled, the various gold hairpins and jade ornaments inside chimed brightly. To his ears, it sounded like money.
The worried look in Yu Sui's eyes whenever she glanced at him easily came to mind, clear as day.
He'd killed the person he wanted to kill. After the fight, Mei Chengyu calmed his mind, his thoughts clear and his composure absolute.
Mei Chengyu didn't think Yu Sui's appearance was part of the enemy's scheme either. After all, she was Master's disciple. Though the Old Man wouldn't interfere too much in his disciples' private lives or personal choices, he wouldn't stand by and let fellow disciples kill one another.
Yu Sui was no threat. Mei Chengyu had just confirmed that when he sensed someone approaching. The stench of blood beneath his nose was suddenly overwhelmed by a fresh fragrance. It was soft and gentle, bringing to mind sweet peaches and delicate jasmine. Mei Chengyu had never smelled anything like it before; it was the tender, delicate scent of a young woman.
With Mei Chengyu's eyes closed, his sense of smell grew sharper. The fragrance that boldly invaded his breath prompted the most direct reaction and assessment from his brain.
The sudden closeness made Mei Chengyu's back tense instinctively. Just as he was about to go on guard, he heard Yu Sui's voice right beside him. "Senior Martial Brother, your clothes are ruined. I'll give you something to wear for now. That way, you can cover yourself up when we get back to the academy."
Clothes?
Mei Chengyu's brow twitched slightly. He'd thought Yu Sui had given him the new dress she'd bought that day, so he opened his eyes and looked down.
A woman's snow-white hand entered his field of vision. Yu Sui held one corner of a coat and gently draped it over his shoulder.
It wasn't the dress Mei Chengyu had imagined, but a brand-new men's coat. The fine embroidered fabric was decorated with dark golden bamboo-leaf patterns, making the long coat look both luxurious and handsome. It was also just right for wearing outdoors as summer approached. The material felt cool and smooth, not at all stifling.
"Did you buy this?" Mei Chengyu asked lightly.
"Mm!" Yu Sui nodded. "I ordered this new batch of fabric a few days ago. During the day, I even asked Brother Gu to come with me so I could try the clothes against his figure, but Brother Gu said he had something very important to do tonight and couldn't come with me. So I had to go shopping in the outer city by myself and buy all these things."
Yu Sui sighed softly. "Good thing I still picked out a few outfits for Brother Gu tonight. They can come in handy now."
For a moment, Mei Chengyu didn't know what to say. His Junior Martial Sister had picked out clothes for her childhood sweetheart, and he was the first to wear them. He couldn't quite call it anger, but if he wasn't angry, why did it feel like ants were crawling all over him, making him itch?
He hadn't wanted to speak or work himself up, but after holding back when the words came to his lips, he finally couldn't help looking at Yu Sui with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Junior Martial Sister, didn't you say you wouldn't spend money on men?"
Yu Sui was taken aback, then answered honestly, "This was paid for with the Prince's Manor's money."
Mei Chengyu thought, what difference does that make?
Isn't the Prince's Manor's money your money?
Before he could say anything else, a sharp ripping sound rang out. Yu Sui had torn apart another brand-new men's coat.
Mei Chengyu fell silent.
The thread of displeasure inside him snapped along with Yu Sui's tearing.
"What are you doing?" Mei Chengyu wanted to laugh, but held it back.
Yu Sui tore at the garment in her hands and said softly, "I don't have a handkerchief or anything else to stop your bleeding with, so I can only tear up these new clothes."
She seemed to see the amusement in Mei Chengyu's eyes and added, "I don't want to tear up the new dress I bought. I still have to wear it."
So she'd torn up the clothes she'd bought for Gu Gan instead. It wasn't as if she'd be wearing them.
Mei Chengyu leaned against the carriage wall, sitting in a lazy sprawl. He said nothing, but his once-cold dark eyes had unconsciously taken on a hint of amusement as he watched her.
"This fabric is very fine. It won't chafe your skin." Yu Sui brought the torn cloth close to Mei Chengyu and gently dabbed at the blood on his face.
The 46th Chapter (2/2)
Mei Chengyu was just about to open his mouth, but Yu Sui pressed her index finger to her red lips first and said softly, "Senior Martial Brother, your Five Elements Qi is in turmoil, just like Li Jinshuang's was. It must hurt terribly right now, so you'd better not speak."
He didn't get a chance to stop Yu Sui from coming closer. She gently wiped the blood from his face. Her wrist occasionally brushed his skin, and Mei Chengyu could clearly feel the soft warmth against him.
The two of them had never been this close before.
When their skin touched, they could feel each other's warmth. The soft contact came and went in an instant, though sometimes it lingered, sliding gently down.
Mei Chengyu made no effort to hide his gaze. His lashes fluttered lightly, but his eyes followed Yu Sui the whole time, as if studying her expression. He saw only that she remained focused throughout, her brows knitting in surprise whenever she spotted a wound deep enough to expose bone.
As Yu Sui wiped him clean, spots of blood inevitably stained her sleeves, blooming like plum blossoms across the water-blue fabric.
While neither of them spoke, the only sound in the carriage was the friction of their clothes. Their rustling, muffled tones struck their hearts from time to time, stirring waves that were neither light nor heavy.
"Senior Martial Brother," Yu Sui asked, tilting her face up to him, "would you like me to say something to distract you?"
Mei Chengyu lowered his eyes to her. "Why would you need to distract me?"
"I'm afraid you'll think it hurts." Yu Sui wiped the blood from his neck.
Mei Chengyu said calmly, "It doesn't hurt."
Ever since taking the medical studies elective, Mei Chengyu had always treated his own injuries. He never let other people touch him, and even when he was seriously injured, he wouldn't let his friends help when he went to the Medical House.
Some things were easier to endure when he did them himself. When someone else did them, they were much harder to bear.
Yu Sui tried to bandage his hands, but Mei Chengyu dodged her. Yu Sui looked up in confusion, only to see Mei Chengyu say with an unchanged expression, "I'm afraid of the pain."
He could put up with it elsewhere, but if she bandaged those badly mangled hands, it would hurt whether it had hurt before or not.
Yu Sui stared at him blankly.
Mei Chengyu saw her bewildered expression and said, "You've only been studying medicine for three days, haven't you?"
Yu Sui nodded several times.
Mei Chengyu's voice was low and unhurried. "Junior Martial Sister, I told you before: you were born to a life of wealth and privilege. You can't learn to do things like help other people."
Besides, he thought his Junior Martial Sister was just fine the way she was now: noble, elegant, and lofty. Though she couldn't see straight when it came to that dog Gu Gan, she didn't need to descend into the mortal world and wear herself out studying medicine, struggling to the death to help others.
And he had to admit, the force and technique she used to treat his injuries were genuinely hard to endure.
Not wanting Yu Sui to get blood all over her hands, Mei Chengyu said, "Give it to me."
Yu Sui gestured to the torn cloth in her hands. This? Mei Chengyu gave a faint nod, and she handed it to him.
Yu Sui obediently sat back and blinked at Mei Chengyu as he treated his wounds himself.
She didn't like cleaning other people's wounds either.
But Mei Chengyu was Sage Chang Gen's disciple. He'd joined the sect who knew how many years before she had, and he was very close to Sage Chang Gen.
She was already at a disadvantage when it came to time.
Compared with a disciple who'd only joined two months ago, no matter what happened, Sage Chang Gen would choose his eldest disciple, Mei Chengyu, first.
Time gave a great advantage in matters of the heart.
Just like Gu Gan: even if his gaze was now fixed on Xun Zhiya, and she was always making his heart flutter, he would never forget the childhood sweetheart who'd always been by his side during his youth.
That was how Yu Sui saw it. So between Gu Gan and Mei Chengyu, she would choose Mei Chengyu first, because the person she was trying to grow closer to was her Master.
The carriage fell quiet again.
Seeing that Mei Chengyu didn't need her, Yu Sui tidied away the clothes and jewelry she'd rummaged through earlier. As her peripheral vision passed over Mei Chengyu dressing his own wounds, she suddenly recalled the last time she'd ridden back to the academy in a carriage with him.
She'd been exhausted in body and mind after the farmer's assassination attempt and nearly losing control of the strange fire. Afraid Mei Chengyu might see through her, she'd tried to strike up a conversation in the carriage to distract herself.
Mei Chengyu had only said, if you don't want to talk, then don't.
After that, he'd kept quiet until they returned to the academy.
The memory came back suddenly, clear as day.
Yu Sui fastened her Jewelry Box and looked up at Mei Chengyu, seated across from her. Her Senior Martial Brother...
Wasn't so bad after all.
The carriage stopped at the entrance to Taiyi Academy. Black Beard helped Yu Sui carry her clothes and jewelry. Yu Sui looked around, then said to Mei Chengyu, "Senior Martial Brother, I'll go with you to the Medical House first."
She'd let Black Beard take the clothes and jewelry back to the dormitory for now.
Mei Chengyu smiled and said, "Why are you coming with me? It's just a small injury."
Yu Sui's eyes widened slightly as she looked at him, seeming both surprised and disbelieving.
Her Senior Martial Brother really knew how to put on an act.
"It's too scary. I don't feel safe," Yu Sui said, shaking her head as she tried to persuade him. She gave Mei Chengyu's sleeve a light tug, then pulled her hand back, afraid she'd hurt him. "Senior Martial Brother, let's go. Do you want me to carry you with the Wind Riding Technique?"
Mei Chengyu listened to her offer, tilted his head slightly, and smiled. "Sure."
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