Chapter 10. Chapter 10. She stayed.

The atmosphere inside the Guihong Sword Hall was heavy.

Rong Linyan sat in the main seat of the hall, his face very unpleasant: "Who gave you the audacity to act on your own? Hua'er is still lurking by Ning Jue's side to investigate the situation. You rashly deviated from the plan and caused trouble. How is she supposed to deal with this when she has no idea what's going on?"

Deputy Hall Master Fu Wei stood at the front, head bowed, obediently accepting the scolding. Only after Rong Lin Yan's reprimand subsided did he reply sullenly.

"Master, it wasn't our idea to act on our own. Some of our Sword Hall disciples spotted Zang Fan at a pharmacy in the city. After he left, they inquired with the pharmacy clerk and learned that Ning Jue was injured. We immediately went to the Rong residence, but the madam said that the Master was unwell and wouldn't be seeing any guests. I thought to myself, there's a bustling market on Xianyang Mountain today. If we miss this opportunity, Ning Jue might recover, and we'll lose our chance to launch a successful sneak attack. It would be a pity not to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Despite his headache from the cold, Rong Linyan angrily waved his hand, overturning the teacup on the table, shattering it into pieces.

"What, it's become my mother's fault now? You've been so clever, but what's the result? You've alerted the enemy and even caused Hua'er to get hurt. Now that Ning Jue is on guard, you can imagine how he'll treat outsiders. How do you expect Hua'er to stay on the mountain and gain Ning Jue's trust?"

Fu Wei looked annoyed, but then his eyes lit up again as he thought of something, and he quickly said, "Master, the situation may not be so bad. The disciples we sent up the mountain have returned with news that when Ning Jue was in danger, he was aware of the danger and protected Miss Bai. Moreover, Miss Bai reacted quickly and pretended to shield him after noticing the danger. She made Ning Jue very surprised at the cost of a minor injury."

Rong Linyan pressed for details: "Are you sure Hua'er didn't give anything away? What if Ning Jue suspects Hua'er is in cahoots with the assassins..."

Fu Wei immediately relayed the details he had learned: "Miss Bai remained calm. If I hadn't warned them beforehand not to accidentally hurt their own people, the disciples would have really thought Miss Bai was Ning Jue's confidante, after all, she blocked the knife without hesitation. Now that the show is over, if Miss Bai uses this opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty, she might be able to get closer to Ning Jue."

Rong Linyan frowned in thought.

When he first heard the news, his first thought was to recall his cousin as soon as possible, in case Ning Jue was suspicious and his cousin's life was in danger. Although he was unwilling, Hua'er's life was more important.

But now, after listening to Fu Wei's analysis, he hesitated. His ambition and emotions clashed, and he ultimately changed his mind.

This is a risky move.

But if the gamble pays off, the day when my cousin discovers the secret of Ning Jue's sword techniques will not be far off.

He shouldn't have lost his composure so early.

...

On Mount Xianyang, a bamboo house bedroom.

Bai Hua slept peacefully on the spacious and warm canopy bed, while incense burning in the incense burner in the center of the room emitted gentle, wispy smoke.

The quilt was thick, and she slept with a fever. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and the tip of her nose, and her fair and delicate skin turned ochre. Her cheeks were pink and dewy, like ripe peaches waiting to be picked.

Ning Jue brought the medicine in, slightly opened the window to let in some fresh air, and then tried to wake the person by making a sound.

Bai Hua was a light sleeper. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes groggily and saw Ning Jue standing by her bedside with medicine in his hand. She was flattered and surprised.

Ning Jue said, "Take your medicine before you sleep, and make sure to apply it both externally and internally on time."

Bai Hua dared not delay, quickly propped herself up, and took the medicine bowl: "Thank you, young master."

Ning Jue: "And this too."

Besides the medicine bowl, there was also a small porcelain dish on the tray, containing several pieces of candied fruit.

Bai Hua was taken aback at first, then her eyebrows curved slightly. Young Master Ning himself couldn't stand bitter medicine, so he assumed she was the same and had prepared so thoughtfully.

She ate the candied fruit first, then tilted her head back and drank the soup in the bowl. After finishing, she smacked her lips and quickly chewed a piece of dried fruit.

Ning Jue watched her silently from the side, his face still expressionless, but without the unapproachable coldness he had shown before.

She thought the two of them were probably quite familiar with each other.

Ning Jue put away the bowl and went out of the room. He returned a short while later, bringing in freshly ground herbal ointment and handing it to Bai Hua.

Bai Hua thanked them again in a soft voice, feeling very embarrassed.

She took the knife for Ning Jue on purpose to gain his trust, her intentions were impure. Now that she has suffered a minor injury, she not only troubles him to take care of her, but also takes up his spacious master bedroom, which she cannot refuse. Of course, she cannot feel at ease.

Ning Jue, unaware of her overthinking, simply instructed in a calm voice, "Don't forget the topical medicine either. The wound isn't deep, so it won't leave a scar."

Since he couldn't personally supervise the application of the external medicine, he would remind the patient verbally.

Bai Hua blushed slightly, holding the small medicine dish in both hands, and replied, "Thank you, young master, I will apply it now."

Ning Jue noticed her unnatural expression; her jaw was tucked in, her eyelashes were lowered, her gaze was avoided, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Not understanding that this was shyness, he asked, "Was the fire in the stove too strong, and you didn't sleep well just now?"

Hearing his words, Bai Hua felt even more embarrassed.

She had indeed sweated profusely while sleeping, and part of her thin, light-colored clothes clung tightly to her skin. She wondered if her appearance would be inappropriate in Ning Jue's eyes, or if she would be... seductive.

"Just leave the windows open a bit. I'm not that delicate, so you don't need to worry about me too much," she said politely, adopting the tone of a maid.

As soon as she finished speaking, a gentle breeze slipped into the room through a crack in the window, its strong presence disrupting the smoke trails from the incense burner, and brushing against her slender shoulders, bringing a real and tangible chill to the early autumn air.

Ning Jue felt a chill on his fingertips and said, "The dew is heavy in late autumn. You just sweated, so don't catch a cold from the chill. You should close the window first."

After saying that, he was about to take action.

Bai Hua had just woken up and was feeling dizzy. She really wanted to enjoy the cool breeze to clear her head, so she said, "I'll close the window after I've applied the medicine. Young master, please leave a crack in the window for now."

Ning Jue paused, his gaze returning to the wound on her shoulder, examining it with a calm expression.

To make applying the medicine easier, she wore only thin clothes, with a quilt draped over her from the waist down, and her upper body covered only by a light blue-green single garment. The simple style and plain pattern were in line with the clothing of an ordinary maid, but they did not match her vibrant and beautiful face.

Her collar was slightly disheveled, revealing a glimpse of her collarbone. Her skin was fair and smooth, with a shimmering glow in the hollows, like beads of sweat that hadn't yet dried.

Feeling uncomfortable and insecure under the gaze of an adult man, Bai Hua pursed her lips, and her earlobes involuntarily warmed up.

Ning Jue noticed that the tips of her ears were getting darker, so he looked away, turned around and took two steps away, but did not leave the room.

He turned his back, standing very close to the window. His broad shoulders and large frame positioned him perfectly in the vent, ensuring that the window would be opened to cool the room while preventing the biting autumn wind from blowing directly on her delicate body.

"Applying the medicine must be done carefully and slowly. If you leave it in the wind for too long, you'll probably catch a cold by tonight." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Apply the medicine now, without closing the window. I'll be here."

Bai Hua was stunned for a moment before realizing what Ning Jue meant.

He stood with his back to the window, like a thick barrier, silent and motionless, yet his presence was extremely strong.

After spending a few days together, she believed that Ning Jue was not a shallow and lustful playboy. He would never turn around halfway to spy on her or be intimate with her if he shielded her from the wind. However, even though she trusted him, Bai Hua still hesitated.

As a young lady born into a noble family, she was raised with strict rules and regulations, and naturally valued the separation between men and women more than ordinary girls. Even though her status has plummeted and she no longer has her former glory, she still cannot calmly share a roof with a man she has just met, and expose her body to him.

Bai Hua's cheeks flushed red, and her gaze drifted to the tall and aloof figure not far away, but she quickly looked away as if she had been burned.

Take a deep breath and calm your mind.

She reminded herself that there were no more sheltered young ladies in their boudoirs, and no more lofty ideals for her to uphold; achieving her practical goals was the most important thing.

A man and a woman share a room, both dressed lightly, incense wafts around them, and the room temperature rises...

Perhaps now is the opportunity for the two to take their relationship a step closer. Once they gain enough of Ning Jue's trust, they will soon be able to learn his second-stage sword technique.

Thinking of this, Bai Hua made a move. She silently loosened her belt and outer garment, revealing a light pink halter top embroidered with floral patterns underneath. Then, she placed one hand on her waist, tilted her head slightly, and picked up the small dish containing the ointment with the other hand. She then gracefully raised her arm towards the white-clad figure not far away.

If Ning Jue were to turn around at this moment, he would surely be met with a pair of warm, beautiful eyes that were alluring and captivating.

Bai Hua gently opened her mouth: "Young master, I don't know why my wound suddenly hurts, it's so uncomfortable. I wonder if it's the ointment, because it feels slightly itchy after I applied it..."

Ning Jue didn't turn around or even tilt her head, and replied, "The herbs I ground for you don't have the side effect of causing itching."

Bai Hua's voice sounded anxious: "What happened? Did I use the wrong dosage?"

Ning Jue asked, "Did you apply it according to the amount I told you to?"

Bai Hua replied earnestly, "I used it exactly as you instructed, but it's still itchy and painful. Young master... will the wound fester? I'm afraid it will leave a scar."

For a young woman, having a scar on her body is a big deal. Hearing her voice tremble with tears, so delicate and timid, Ning Jue couldn't help but turn his head slightly. For the first time, he found himself in a dilemma.

"Put your clothes on first." "...Yes."

There was a rustling sound behind me, but otherwise it was very quiet.

Not long after, Bai Hua whispered, "Young Master, you're dressed."

Ning Jue then turned around and moved away.

He walked lightly, his gaze fixed on nothingness the whole time, never meeting her eyes. He appeared normal on the surface, but he knew in his heart that at this moment, he lacked the openness he should have.

Standing at the edge of the bed, Ning Jue's gaze fell upon them, and neither of them spoke.

Bai Hua blinked nervously, while Ning Jue extended his index and middle fingers together, following her collar to lift up her outer garment on her left shoulder. This inevitably opened the collar of her garment wider, but it was necessary to do so in order to see the wound more clearly.

I felt a slight coolness on my neck and shoulders, and a slight itch, a real itch.

Bai Hua pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and her long, slightly curled eyelashes cast a faint shadow, which swayed, clearly indicating that she was trembling.

It was the first time she had been so close to a man. Although she had pretended to be looking at her injuries, she had actually exposed her naked body to his eyes. Apart from shame, she also felt genuinely embarrassed.

Ning Jue glanced at it, confirmed it, and immediately withdrew her hand, turning her eyes away and saying, "It's alright. Fortunately, it's not an allergy or infection. The pain and itching will disappear after you get used to it a little. Also, the layer of ointment you just applied was too shallow and didn't achieve the desired scar-reducing effect. You need to apply a thicker layer."

Now that things had come to this, Bai Hua no longer hesitated and just wanted to go with the flow and further warm up her relationship with Ning Jue.

Without straightening her clothes, she looked at Ning Jue with her shoulders bare and pleaded in her eyes, "My shoulder is a little uncomfortable, and I'm afraid I won't be able to control the pressure when applying the medicine. I wonder if you could help me, young master?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Jue paused, clearly hesitating for a moment: "I'm afraid it's inconvenient."

Bai Hua did not press the matter, but instead used a retreat as a tactic, feigning an understanding demeanor: "It's alright, it was I who shouldn't have bothered you, young master."

Ning Jue hesitated, glanced at Bai Hua meaningfully, then suddenly sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, having changed his mind.

He silently took the medicine dish from her hand. Their eyes met briefly, but Ning Jue looked away first.

"You helped me once, so this time we're even."

His tone was devoid of any warmth, yet Bai Hua couldn't help but feel her heart race.

He accepted her invitation.

Ning Jue leaned forward, holding the medicine dish, and expressionlessly reached out to pull open her collar. The wound on her shoulder was shallow, but it still stood out against her fair skin.

The white was dazzling. Ning Jue looked away, dipped his hand in the medicine, and applied it.

Compared to wooden handles and silver spoons, fingertips were the most convenient tool. Ning Jue didn't choose anything else, only wanting to finish quickly and efficiently. So, he took her hand and touched her skin.

Her wound seemed to be in a sensitive spot; every time he touched it, her body would tremble slightly, and sometimes she would even unconsciously let out a soft "hmm" as if she was enduring something.

"itch?"

Yes, there are some.

Ning Jue lowered his eyes, restraining himself, and comforted her, saying, "Just bear with it a little longer, it will be soon."

Bai Hua nodded obediently: "Yes, young master."

Ning Jue's gaze remained fixed, neither looking up nor daring to look down.

But at this moment, he wasn't the only one frozen; Bai Hua was even more tormented and anxious.

The swordsman's hands, calloused from years of wielding a sword, were rough and calloused. When his fingers brushed against her delicate skin, their presence was intense. She could feel each touch clearly, and the trembling sensation was so unfamiliar. She dared not move at all, feeling as if half of her body was about to go numb.

...

Zang Fan was getting impatient waiting in the courtyard and was about to go inside to check when Ning Jue finally showed up.

He hurried over and asked, "You're just going inside to deliver some medicine, does it really take this long? Is she trying to play the victim again and make demands of you?"

"No," Ning Jue replied truthfully, his mind preoccupied and seemingly absent-minded.

Zang Fan put his hands on his hips and said with dissatisfaction, "If you ask me, you still spoil her too much. Why did you just give up your room like that? Is she here to be your maid or your mistress? Besides, with that little wound of hers, if the medicine had been applied any later, it would probably have healed by now. Why does she have to stay in bed to recuperate?"

For those who roam the martial world, injuries are commonplace. Unless it's a life-threatening situation, they don't bother to mention minor wounds and pains.

Ning Jue glanced at him and said, "You're used to being rough, don't assume others are like you. A girl like you, what bloodshed have you ever seen?"

Zang Fan snorted coldly, unconcerned: "Who knows? Maybe she's just pretending to be weak as a willow. Today's events happened so suddenly. She's so timid and cowardly, how could she have the courage to risk her life to rush forward and shield you from the knife, and then get injured in the process?"

Zang Fan's prejudice against Bai Hua was deeply ingrained. He found the assassination suspicious and naturally suspected that she was an accomplice of the killer.

Ning Jue pondered and said, "She was acting right under our noses, how could she be colluding with outsiders? Besides, if I hadn't blocked that knife, she would have been more than just lightly injured. I don't doubt her about this, but you..."

Zang Fan was taken aback: "Me?"

Ning Jue met his gaze and asked, "You also arranged for people to cause trouble on the mountain today, didn't you?"

Zang Fan looked away guiltily and stammered, "I... I just wanted to test her. Didn't I say I wanted to verify her loyalty? How can I test it without something happening?"

Ning Jue asked, "If those assassins hadn't suddenly appeared, would your men have stormed into the market and staged the same scene?"

Zang Fan lowered his head, his voice growing softer: "I just wanted to test her, why are you protecting her like this? She's from the Ji Ling Rong family, and she has a close relationship with Rong Linyan, the head of the Guihong Sword Hall. These are facts, aren't they?"

Ning Jue did not answer Zang Fan's question, but only reminded him: "Don't do such things in the future. You are acting on your own whims, but you are disrupting the peaceful lives of the nearby villagers and making them feel uneasy."

Zang Fan felt genuinely apologetic about this and was willing to admit his mistake and bow his head: "It was my rashness; I won't let it happen again."

After saying that, he thought of that persistent woman again and asked helplessly, "Now that things have come to this, what should we do with her?"

Ning Jue: "Focus on healing your injuries first."

Does that mean they're keeping her?

Zang Fan stared in disbelief: "A drop of blood, a few tears, and that's it? She's passed the 'loyalty' test?"

Ning Jue stopped there, replying, "She's not dangerous enough to be considered a threat. Keeping her around would have more than just disadvantages."

Zang Fan waved his hand irritably: "Whatever. I can't figure out what you're thinking. I'm too lazy to get involved anymore. I'm going down the mountain to drink."

Once the person left, only emptiness and tranquility remained in the courtyard.

Ning Jue stood still, his gaze sweeping across the dim candlelight filtering through the bedroom window, and unconsciously clenched his palm slightly.

The sensation of her hot tears burning on his skin when she was injured lingered for a long time. As he recalled it, he subtly tightened his grip on her palm.

A stone was thrown into the still, gently rippling lake, creating unfamiliar, unprecedented ripples.

Ning Jue was moved and rubbed his fingertips.

It really wasn't enough...