Once you're asleep, it won't hurt anymore

"Junior sister, I wasn't speaking up for her. Don't misunderstand." Zhao Chen hadn't actually wanted to cause trouble. He had simply spoken without thinking earlier.

He hadn't expected A Ke to actually go and provoke Ye Yiyi.

They thought little of Ye Yiyi, but if that little tyrant Jiang Lingzhou came, they couldn't afford to offend him.

"Senior brother... I don't care! If you don't help me teach her a lesson, I'll tell Master when we get back!" A Ke kept making a scene, completely oblivious to Zhao Chen's increasingly ugly expression.

Gu Yi watched the farce, finding it utterly dull. Just days ago, someone had spread sexual rumors about him, and today he was being called promiscuous.

A Ke had practically walked straight into Gu Yi's line of fire. She deserved that slap.

"So many people gathered here. How lively!" Lin Ning's casual voice suddenly rang out, silencing even the still-sobbing A Ke.

"Miss Ye, we really must be fated to meet wherever we go. Don't you think, Little Yuan?" Lin Ning bumped her shoulder against Lin Yuan, who stood beside her with his arms folded.

Ever since Lin Yuan learned that Ye Yiyi wasn't Gu Yi, he had lost interest in Ye Yiyi.

He glanced expressionlessly at Gu Yi, frowning without saying a word.

Lin Yuan had heard their earlier conversation, too. Ye Yiyi was indeed just as they had said, with two devoted protectors at her side and even an engagement. She had put on such an innocent act before that he had nearly mistaken her for his Gu Yi.

"It's no coincidence. I'm resting here on this unavoidable route precisely so I can pick up some good-looking disciples." Gu Yi naturally noticed Lin Yuan's attitude.

His anger flared. What's with that look? First you turn your nose up at me, and now you're turning your nose up at my disguise, too.

Who am I to you? What gives you the right to turn your nose up at me?

"Young Master Lin Ning, you're quite handsome. If you have the time, why not sit with me?" Gu Yi raised his hand and gently tucked his hair behind his ear as he spoke to Lin Ning.

At those words, not only did Lin Yuan's face darken, but Xiao Cheng's expression immediately turned gloomy as well.

Lin Ning scratched her head. "We'll pass on sitting. We still have demonic beasts to hunt, so we won't stay."

Then she frowned at the gathered disciples. "What are you all doing surrounding a young lady? Get lost!"

Zhao Chen and the others dared not offend the Qingling Sword Sect, so they hurriedly nodded and bowed before quickly leaving.

Lin Yuan withdrew his gaze and walked away without expression.

Though Xiao Cheng looked displeased, he still courteously cupped his hands toward Gu Yi. "Miss Ye, we'll take our leave."

With that, he grabbed Lin Ning, who was still waving to Gu Yi, and followed Lin Yuan.

"See you next time, Miss Ye!" Lin Ning said with a grin as Xiao Cheng gave her a hard tug.

Once everyone had left, Gu Yi sat back down and poked at the flames with a twig.

The more he recalled Lin Yuan's gaze, the angrier he grew.

The flickering fire left his eyes slightly sore and moist.

Suddenly, he threw the twig into the fire and said through gritted teeth, "Stupid mutt! Is that what your eyes are for? Looking down on me? You died before you even turned thirty because of the female lead. I'm the one who should look down on you!"

"Junior sister? What's wrong? Are your eyes bothering you?"

Just then, Xie Wenyun and Jiang Lingzhou returned together, as though they had planned it.

Jiang Lingzhou put down his firewood and came over to peer closely at Gu Yi's eyes. "Senior Sister Ye's eyes really are sensitive to light."

Xie Wenyun took a bottle of pills from his Qiankun Bag. "Good thing I brought these. You'll feel a little better after taking them."

Seeing Xie Wenyun being so attentive, Jiang Lingzhou refused to be outdone. He also pulled an ice-blue ribbon from his Qiankun Bag. "Senior Sister Ye, I specifically had someone go back to the sect to fetch this for you. It's Ice-Crystal Gauze. Wearing it over your eyes can ease..."

Gu Yi accepted both things at once with both hands. "Thank you, Junior Brother Jiang and Senior Brother Xie."

Don't ask!

If you do, I'm a master of keeping things perfectly balanced right now!

Jiang Lingzhou said delightedly, "Here, I'll tie it on for you, senior sister!"

Xie Wenyun had already taken out a water flask and handed it to Gu Yi. "Hurry and take the medicine."

Gu Yi said, "...All right..."

Overwhelmed by all this attention, Gu Yi began to feel embarrassed again.

Although he did his best to keep his distance from them, Gu Yi could still sense their feelings.

One had never told him outright, yet cared for him quietly.

The other said he wouldn't pursue him anymore, yet kept showering him with attention.

When Jiang Lingzhou saw Xie Wenyun sit beside Gu Yi, he pressed close to Gu Yi's other side and sat down too, staring at Xie Wenyun as though he meant to burn two holes through him.

Xie Wenyun remained composed, exchanging a few words with Gu Yi from time to time. Unable to get a word in, Jiang Lingzhou grew even angrier. He vigorously poked the flames with the stick in his hand, making them crackle so loudly that it was hard not to notice his anger.

The three spent the night "peacefully" like this.

As dawn began to break, a faint sound startled Gu Yi into opening his eyes.

Xie Wenyun also opened his eyes immediately.

"Senior brother, someone's coming..." Gu Yi said softly. He didn't think there was any danger. Perhaps it was a disciple from some sect.

Xie Wenyun met Gu Yi's eyes and nodded.

"Save me..."

Gu Yi froze. Wasn't that the voice of the female disciple named A Ke from earlier that day?

Gu Yi hurriedly stood and looked toward the woods. A Ke's red clothes had been torn to shreds, and she lay on the ground, barely alive. "It hurts... save... me... please..."

She raised her head and saw Gu Yi. Her face, slapped red by Gu Yi earlier that day, now looked even more pitiful. They had only been apart a few hours. How had she ended up like this?

"What happened? How did you end up like this?" Unable to worry about anything else, Gu Yi hurried to her side.

He couldn't concern himself with propriety between men and women either. He simply took out a garment and covered her with it. "What happened?"

"There... was an ambush..." A Ke gasped with difficulty. Gu Yi didn't move. It wasn't that he was cruel and unwilling to save her. Their little argument that day wasn't enough to make him stand by and watch her die.

But looking at the bloody hole three fingers wide in her back, he knew she was probably beyond saving.

"Someone... wants to kill us..." After saying that, A Ke vomited a great mouthful of blood, then lay silent on the ground.

Seeing A Ke's disheveled clothing, Xie Wenyun hadn't approached. While Gu Yi was speaking to her, he kicked Jiang Lingzhou awake. "Get up."

"Who's there? How dare you!"

Jiang Lingzhou had been sleeping soundly. Kicked awake, he looked thoroughly displeased and was just about to unleash a stream of curses when Xie Wenyun covered his mouth. "Don't shout. Something's happened!"

With his mouth covered, Jiang Lingzhou glared at Xie Wenyun, then bit his finger when he wasn't paying attention. Xie Wenyun frowned and pulled his hand back. "You..."

Jiang Lingzhou rolled his eyes at him, then sprang up and ran over to Gu Yi. "Senior Sister Ye, what happened?"

By then, A Ke had already stopped breathing. Gu Yi covered her head with the garment and said softly, "Sleep... once you're asleep, it won't hurt anymore."