"Moo, moo~"
"Old Ox, what are you making noise about?"
Although Old Ox was calling, there was no wariness in his voice.
That meant there was no enemy.
Li Ping'an walked closer and found a person.
More precisely, an unconscious person.
There were drag marks by the entrance. Apparently, Old Ox had dragged this person back.
"Old Ox, why did you bring someone home?"
And a woman, at that.
Li Ping'an frowned slightly.
[Aura Lock] allowed a thermal image of this person to appear in Li Ping'an's vision.
So... so big...
That was Li Ping'an's first thought. Thermal imaging could only reveal a person's outline.
And this woman's outline was clearly the most prominent Li Ping'an had ever seen.
"Old Ox, why did you bring some random person back?"
"Moo~"
"I know she's injured, but those are blade wounds. One look tells you she's trouble. Didn't I tell you not to stir up trouble?"
"Moo, moo, moo!"
Old Ox nudged Li Ping'an.
Li Ping'an was puzzled. "Why are you so determined to have me save her?"
"Moo, moo~"
Old Ox called with all his might, his little tail swishing back and forth.
Although Li Ping'an didn't understand why Old Ox insisted he stick his nose into someone else's business,
Old Ox's predictions would never lead him into a trap.
It was thanks to Old Ox that he had previously escaped pursuit by the authorities and civilian Bounty Hunters.
So, after only a moment's hesitation, Li Ping'an closed the courtyard's back gate again.
He lifted the woman from the ground.
She was light, not as heavy as he had imagined.
This was his first close contact with a woman in the twenty-odd years since he had transmigrated here.
It was rather amusing when he thought about it.
Li Ping'an carried the woman in his arms over to the bed. Although he didn't know what she looked like,
his intuition told him she probably wasn't bad-looking.
Li Ping'an unfastened her shirt. Even without looking, he could detect the wounds on her body.
The flesh had split open, revealing crimson within, like a peach blossom in full bloom.
They looked ghastly, but fortunately, they were only flesh wounds.
Suddenly, Li Ping'an felt an intense gaze fixed on him.
"You're awake?"
"...Mm..."
Only after a long while did he receive a response.
"Don't move. I'll treat your wounds."
"All right."
Their exchange was very brief.
There were no melodramatic misunderstandings.
No slap across the face followed by a shouted accusation of "Pervert!"
Nor was there any emotional upheaval.
Li Ping'an took out some medicine he kept in reserve for treating injuries, then casually picked up a stick.
"Bite down on this, or you might bite your tongue."
"I don't need it."
Li Ping'an didn't insist and began cleaning the woman's wounds.
The woman bit her lip. Never in her life had she been in such a state before an unfamiliar man.
A princess of a nation, reduced to the common streets.
She didn't even have a single guard beside her.
Had this kindhearted man not saved her, she probably would have died in the street.
It's just a pity about that young man who pulled me out of the water... I'll repay him someday.
If I have a someday.
Liu Yun drew a deep breath, her cheeks burning.
Her gaze swept over Li Ping'an's face, and she suddenly froze.
Hmm?
So... he's blind?
Liu Yun immediately felt much more at ease.
At the same time, gratitude welled up in her heart.
After cleaning the wounds, Li Ping'an began pouring some white powder onto them.
Liu Yun's delicate body trembled involuntarily, and she clenched her teeth.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Have you heard this story?" Li Ping'an suddenly asked.
"What story?" Liu Yun was taken aback.
"Once upon a time, there was a banana. As he walked along, he suddenly felt hot.
"So he took off his clothes, and then he slipped."
It took Liu Yun a while after Li Ping'an finished to catch on.
Apparently, that was a joke.
He had just tried to distract her with a joke to ease her pain.
But that flat delivery, paired with a joke like that...
"Pfft~"
Liu Yun couldn't help laughing, and suddenly, her wounds didn't seem to hurt as much.
Soon, they reached the final step: bandaging.
"These injuries will take at least three months to heal. Try not to move around over the next few days. Tell me if you need anything."
Li Ping'an tidied everything away.
"Thank you," Liu Yun said sincerely.
"You're welcome."
There were plenty of rooms in the courtyard, and Li Ping'an wanted to clear one out for himself.
But the innkeeper came into the courtyard from time to time.
Worried that something might give him away, Li Ping'an finally decided to make a bed on the floor of the room.
For dinner, Li Ping'an bought a packet of braised beef.
He also stir-fried a dish of vegetables and made a bowl of soup.
Bored out of her mind in the room, Liu Yun fiddled with Li Ping'an's erhu.
Her movements were very gentle, as though she feared damaging the thing Li Ping'an depended on for his livelihood.
"Time to eat." Li Ping'an pushed the door open and came in.
Liu Yun raised her head, her bright eyes gleaming.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Liu Yun set down the erhu and sat at the table, pressing her legs tightly together.
Her previous clothes had long since been torn beyond wearing.
She wore only an undergarment and white bandages.
They revealed the snow-white skin beneath, her graceful curves utterly enchanting.
Unfortunately, Li Ping'an had no chance to see such a sight.
Liu Yun picked up her chopsticks and blinked as she looked at the food on the table.
She tasted a mouthful. It was quite good.
Neither spoke to the other.
Liu Yun seemed unable to bear the silence and tried to find something to talk about.
Unfortunately, they were already eating.
In the end, she could only watch this tight-lipped fellow as she ate.
Judging by his appearance, Liu Yun thought he couldn't be older than twenty-five.
Yet his face bore the air of someone weathered by hardship. His build wasn't burly, but he gave an impression of steadfast strength.
Exposed to wind and sun, wandering the streets.
Li Ping'an had originally looked much older.
But ever since obtaining the system and beginning to cultivate,
his body had become brimming with vital energy and blood, improving his skin as well and making him look much younger.
After dinner, Li Ping'an did as he always did.
He sat outside, basking in the sun while leisurely playing a little tune.
It was still "The Moon's Reflection on the Second Spring."
Liu Yun listened closely and found herself drawn into it.
There was no sorrowful resentment, no lingering tenderness-only a lifetime of wandering, poured serenely into the far end of time.
Looking back on the past, through a thousand twists and turns.
Yet it was no longer loneliness, but a long-lost sense of belonging.
It brimmed with an indescribable peace and serenity.
The piece ended, but Liu Yun remained lost in it for a long time.
"What piece is that?" she couldn't help asking.
"The Moon's Reflection on the Second Spring."
"How come I've never heard of it before?"
"It's just an obscure piece. Not well known," Li Ping'an said mildly.
The sunlight was warm, and the breeze swirled.
Liu Yun watched Li Ping'an's back, the melody echoing in her ears.
She elegantly crossed her legs, supporting herself with her fair, slender arms.
She settled into her most relaxed posture, lending her a little more allure.
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