Hard to Say

Deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, a small courtyard sat beside a tranquil lake.

The furnishings inside the room were simple yet tidy, and the air was filled with the faint, refreshing scent of medicinal herbs.

On the soft bed, Yun Yun's long eyelashes fluttered a few times as her consciousness struggled like a swimmer in the deep sea, slowly rising to the surface.

In her dazed state, she felt as though her moon-white dress had been removed, her entire body enveloped by the cool air.

Immediately after, a pair of warm, steady palms, carrying some sort of cooling ointment, gently applied and pressed the salve onto the areas on her back where she felt intense pain and a burning sensation.

The technique seemed quite practiced, the pressure moderate, and as the ointment seeped into her wounds, it brought a soothing coolness after the initial sting.

Who is it? Is it that young man? What... what is he doing?!

Yun Yun's heart tightened abruptly; her remaining reason and the instincts of a woman made her feel a surge of shame, indignation, and panic.

She tried to struggle, only to find her body limp and weak, unable to even open her eyes, while her Dou Qi remained tightly sealed.

After losing consciousness and waking up several times, Yun Yun used all her strength to finally break free from the heavy darkness and snapped her eyes open!

What met her gaze was a young face with a half-smile, the very same mysterious young man in green robes.

Ning Chen stood by the bedside with his arms crossed, looking at her with an amused expression as he watched her quietly.

Yun Yun's heart jolted, and she instinctively tried to sit up, but the movement tugged at the wounds on her back.

A tearing pain surged through her, causing her to gasp, cold sweat instantly beading on her forehead as her body stiffened.

Only then did Yun Yun belatedly look down at herself.

The damaged dress was gone, replaced by a clean, plain white gown with a soft texture.

The length and waist were a decent fit, though it was much too tight across her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.

This clothing... who changed it? Could it really be him...

As this thought arose, Yun Yun's pale cheeks flushed with a visible, rapid shade of shamed indignation that spread all the way to her earlobes.

Shocked and furious, she ignored the pain in her wounds and managed to raise her arm, her fingertips trembling as she pointed at Ning Chen, her voice intermittent from weakness and agitation.

"You... you dare... you shameless scoundrel! I, Yun Yun, will definitely..."

"Sect Master Yun, I suggest you don't move around."

Before her angry accusation could finish, a crisp, slightly cold female voice came from nearby.

"The wounds on your back are deep and contaminated with the fire poison of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. I just finished cleaning and dressing them; if you tear them open, all my efforts will have been for nothing."

Yun Yun froze at the sound and turned her head in astonishment.

She saw that on the other side of the room, by the wooden table near the window, a young girl in a pale purple dress with a beautiful, clear face was standing with her back to her, carefully mixing herbs in a stone mortar.

On the girl's cuffs, a few spots of unwashed, dark red blood were faintly visible.

The scent of herbs filling the air originated from there.

So... it was this girl beside him who had treated her wounds and changed her clothes?

Yun Yun was stunned, her heart full of shame and indignation deflating like a punctured balloon, replaced by a sense of immense awkwardness.

She looked at Ning Chen, only to see him shake his head helplessly and sigh softly, his tone filled with a touch of sentiment.

"Sigh, the state of the world these days. You save a life, provide careful care, and the first thing they do upon waking is label you a 'shameless scoundrel' and threaten to kill you."

"Being a good person is truly a thankless task."

Hearing this, Yun Yun's cheeks burned even more fiercely, turning so red they looked as if they might bleed.

"I... I am sorry..."

Yun Yun's voice was as thin as a mosquito's, and she struggled to spit out the apology, not daring to look into Ning Chen's eyes again.

"It was Yun Yun who misunderstood you and this young lady. I have been very offensive, and I ask that you... please be magnanimous."

Ning Chen waved his hand, the teasing look on his face fading slightly as his gaze turned indifferent once more.

"There is no need for apologies."

"You trespassed into my place of cultivation, fought with a guardian magic beast, and disturbed the peace of these mountains. That is your 'fault'."

His gaze landed on Yun Yun's pale face.

"And I intervened to stop the Lion King from killing you, then brought you, heavily wounded and unconscious, back here for treatment. That is my 'favor'."

"One fault and one favor, Sect Master Yun, do you think a mere 'sorry', or the meager offerings of your Yunlan Sect, can balance the scales?"

Yun Yun was stunned once again.

She had expected him to take the opportunity to demand precious treasures, but she had not expected him to say something like this.

The implication in his words seemed even harder to deal with than a direct demand for wealth.

She endured the pain in her back, struggled to sit up straighter, and said solemnly, "Then... what does sir desire? As long as it is within my power, and as long as it does not violate my moral principles, anything the Yunlan Sect possesses, sir may ask for, and I, Yun Yun... will agree to it, to repay your kindness in saving my life."

This was the greatest promise she could make.

"Oh? Within your power, and anything the Yunlan Sect possesses, you will agree to?"

Ning Chen repeated her words, his tone playful.

He did not state his request immediately, but simply watched her in silence, his gaze lingering for a moment on her beautiful yet pale face before sweeping over her fragile, injured form.

Yun Yun felt somewhat uncomfortable under his scrutiny, a vague sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

Could he possibly...

Just then, Ning Chen suddenly let out a soft chuckle. The laughter held no discernible emotion, yet it made Yun Yun's heart skip a beat.

He spread his hands slightly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

"Sect Master Yun, I haven't even spoken yet, and you are already acting as if you are facing a great enemy, as if I were about to make some improper demand."

"You even went out of your way to add the condition of 'not violating moral principles.' Could it be that in your eyes, I am the type of person who would leverage a favor for base desires?"

Ning Chen shook his head, appearing somewhat disappointed.

"It seems that your so-called sincerity is nothing more than this. Very well, since you feel that your purity and principles are far more important than the debt of a life-saving favor, I shall not force the issue."

"Once your injuries stabilize, you may leave on your own. As for the favor... let us just say that I was merely meddling in affairs that did not concern me today."

Having said that, Ning Chen stopped looking at her and turned to walk toward the door.

Yun Yun was completely stunned.

She opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but realized that her reaction just now had indeed subconsciously painted him as a lecher, as she had rushed to draw a line between them.

Yet, he hadn't said anything at all; he had only looked at her a few times... How could she have... Could it be that she had truly judged a gentleman by the measure of a villain?

Watching Ning Chen's back as he was about to step out of the room, Yun Yun's heart was filled with complex emotions.

She bit her lower lip, wanting to call out to him or say something, but she did not know how to begin.

Meanwhile, the wound on her back sent waves of burning pain, reminding her of her current state of helplessness and vulnerability.

Little Fairy Doctor, who had been quietly preparing medicine the entire time, finally turned around, holding the prepared ointment as she walked to the bedside.

She looked at Yun Yun, her gaze lingering pointedly on the tightly bandaged chest area. Her eyes were calm and ripple-free, and her voice was indifferent.

"Lie down properly; it is time to change the dressing."

Yun Yun gazed at Little Fairy Doctor's cold, aloof face, then glanced toward the direction where Ning Chen had disappeared outside the door, her heart filled with a mixture of emotions.

She could only obey, slowly lying face down and burying her face in the soft pillow, the blush on her ears refusing to fade for a long time.