A Tender Moment

Moonlight veiled the quiet valley like a gauzy curtain, while the fragrance of medicinal herbs drifted softly through the cool night breeze.

Xiao Yixian carefully finished watering the last Blood-Coagulation Grass, then straightened and gently rubbed her slightly sore, numb lower back.

As was her habit, she looked toward the mouth of the valley. She did this every night before bed, as if hoping for something, though she knew that hope was so faint as to be almost nonexistent.

Tonight, however, there seemed to be a tall figure beneath the old tree at the valley entrance.

Xiao Yixian froze for a moment, instantly on her guard.

The area around Qingshan Town was far from peaceful. Mercenaries and ill-intentioned people sometimes passed through.

Instinctively, she tightened her grip on the paralyzing powder hidden in her sleeve.

But the figure did not approach. He merely leaned quietly against the tree, the moonlight outlining his tall frame without revealing his features.

He gave off no hint of danger. If anything, there was something inexplicably... serene about him.

As if sensing her gaze, the figure moved. He stepped out from beneath the tree and walked toward her through the moonlight.

As he drew closer, Xiao Yixian could make out his appearance.

He was very young. His looks were not quite peerless, but he was exceptionally handsome, with deep eyes that seemed to hold a sea of stars beneath the moonlight. There was a faint trace of weariness in them, along with a depth she could not understand, as if he had weathered endless vicissitudes.

His temperament was unusual: distant and detached like a faraway mountain, yet now touched by a subtle warmth.

He wore an ordinary blue robe. There was no trace of bloodshed about him, nor any fluctuation of Dou Qi. He looked like a scholar who had lost his way.

Her wariness eased a little, but Xiao Yixian did not relax completely. She spoke softly, her voice as clear as a mountain stream. "May I ask... are you lost?"

Lin Hai stopped five paces away. The distance was close enough for him to catch the pure fragrance of herbs that clung to her, yet far enough not to make her feel pressured.

He smiled faintly, softening the detachment between his brows. "I caught the scent of some unusual herbs and found myself following it. I hope I haven't disturbed you."

His voice was gentle and pleasant, carrying a reassuring warmth.

Xiao Yixian was a little surprised. She had not expected him to have come because of the herbs.

She had some confidence in her medical skills and her ability to cultivate medicinal plants, but an unfamiliar person's recognition still warmed her heart.

She loosened her grip on the paralyzing powder, and her tone softened as well. "Do you know about medicinal herbs?"

"I know a little." Lin Hai glanced over the herb garden behind her and accurately named several uncommon herbs, describing their properties. He even pointed out that the tips of one Moonlight Grass's leaves had yellowed slightly, perhaps because its roots were waterlogged.

(Lin Hai had simply asked the system.)

The surprise in Xiao Yixian's eyes deepened.

Several of the herbs she grew were extremely rare. Even the old physicians in town could not identify them all, yet this man had recognized them at a glance and spotted what was wrong with one. He did not merely know a little; he was an expert.

"You have a sharp eye." Xiao Yixian's voice held the delight of meeting someone who shared her interests. "I thought something was wrong with that Moonlight Grass, but I didn't realize it was waterlogged. Thank you."

"It was nothing." Lin Hai smiled. His gaze fell on her fingers, smudged with soil from her work. He casually took a clean, small white jade bottle from his robes and held it out to her. "The night dew is heavy, and the chill can seep into your body. Apply this Warm Jade Ointment to your hands. It will ward off the cold and moisturize your skin. It's good for people who handle herbs often."

The bottle looked ordinary enough, but its jade was warm and smooth to the touch. It was clearly no common material.

Xiao Yixian had meant to refuse, but his manner was so natural and sincere, without a trace of condescension or flattery, as if he were simply sharing something small with a friend.

Besides, Warm Jade Ointment was exactly what she had been researching lately. The only reason she had started experimenting with it was that the finished product was too expensive...

Almost as if in a trance, she did not refuse outright. Instead, she asked curiously, "Warm Jade Ointment? Is it made primarily with Warm Jade Lotus?"

A note of admiration flashed in Lin Hai's eyes. "That's right. You also need Three-Sun Grass and the juice of Red Flame Fruit. Refine them using a special method to lock in the warming, cold-dispelling properties without harming the skin."

(Lin Hai had once again learned it by asking the system.)

The recipe and method he casually recited made Xiao Yixian's eyes shine!

She looked at Lin Hai differently now, her gaze brimming with curiosity and the joy of meeting a kindred spirit.

"So that's how you balance the ingredients! I always thought the Red Flame Fruit was too potent and would destroy the Warm Jade Lotus's gentle properties..." She could not help taking a step closer and launching into a discussion.

Lin Hai answered with ease. He cited his sources but explained everything in simple, accessible terms, resolving several of Xiao Yixian's questions about processing medicinal herbs in just a few sentences.

As he spoke, he watched her attentively, listening closely to every word she said, his gaze gentle and accepting.

Before they knew it, they had drawn much closer.

Xiao Yixian had let down her guard completely, lost in the wondrous world of herbs. Every so often, a sudden realization would bring a delighted smile to her face, pure and luminous, so beautiful beneath the moonlight it stole the breath away.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Hai naturally placed the small white jade bottle in her hand, his fingertips brushing lightly against her palm.

Xiao Yixian shivered slightly. A warm, gentle current spread from the point of contact, dispelling the chill of the night in an instant. It felt so soothing that she nearly let out a hum.

Her cheeks flushed, but this time she did not pull her hand away. She only lowered her head and murmured, "Thank you... this is too precious."

"Herbs are made to be used." Lin Hai's voice was gentle. "If I kept it, it would just gather dust. I'm glad if it can help you."

He looked up at the sky. The moon had already begun to sink in the west. "It's late. You should get some rest. I'm an outsider, so I shouldn't overstay my welcome."

A trace of reluctance stirred in Xiao Yixian's heart. Their conversation tonight had brought her a sense of rapport and delight unlike anything she had felt before.

She blurted out, "It's all right... I usually stay up late anyway." Then she realized how that might sound, and her cheeks grew even redder.

Lin Hai looked at her flushed cheeks, the smile in his eyes deepening. "Then shall I come again tomorrow? I'm curious about those rare Star Spirit Flowers at the valley entrance. They seem a little wilted. Perhaps we could take a look at them together?"

He had found a perfectly natural reason to return—one she could hardly refuse.

Xiao Yixian's eyes lit up, and she nodded at once. "All right! I've been wondering what's wrong with them, too. Then... I'll wait for you tomorrow?"

"Good. See you tomorrow." Lin Hai bid her farewell gently, then turned and soon disappeared into the moonlight.

Holding the warm jade bottle in her hand, Xiao Yixian watched the direction in which he had vanished. It was as if the warmth of the ointment had filled her heart, too, and an unfamiliar, fluttering feeling quietly began to take root.

She had never met anyone like him: powerful yet gentle, learned yet humble, as if he had descended from the heavens, perfectly matching every hazy expectation buried deep in her heart.

She did not know who he was or where he had come from. But in that moment, all she wanted was for tomorrow to arrive.

As he left, Lin Hai glanced back at the lonely little wooden hut beneath the moonlight and the white-clad girl still standing where he had left her. A complex tenderness flickered in his eyes.

"The Woeful Poison Body... In this life, I won't let you bear it alone again." His soft words were firm.

Their first meeting began with the fragrance of herbs, drew them together through shared knowledge, and won her over with his warmth.

Their feelings had grown warmer beneath the moonlight and amid the scent of herbs, their bond forming so quickly it seemed incredible—and yet so naturally, as if it had been destined all along.