Chapter 171

The days of their return journey passed slowly in this silent and careful protection. Sheng Xuan always kept Su Zhelan in front of him, controlling the horse with great steadiness, and stayed by her side at night, taking meticulous care of her.

Xiao Qiyun led the way, handling all the trivial matters, while keeping a close eye on Su Zhelan's condition.

Su Zhelan spent most of her time in a deep sleep, as if she wanted to pay off all the accumulated fatigue and pain at once. When she woke up, she was mostly silent, with a heavy calm after the sorrow.

On the fifth day at dusk, the three riders finally caught a glimpse of the familiar, imposing outline of the General's Mansion.

Outside the mansion gate, a figure stood waiting. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long shadow of his white hair and beard; it was Su Yan. He had clearly already received the news, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry and anticipation.

The sound of horses' hooves drew closer. Su Yan's sharp gaze swept over the three of them, and his brows furrowed even more when he saw Su Zhelan, who was being firmly protected by Sheng Xuan and whose face was still pale and haggard.

The horses came to a stop in front of the mansion gate. Sheng Xuan was the first to nimbly dismount, then turned around and carefully helped Su Zhelan down.

Su Zhelan's feet seemed a little unsteady when they landed, but he quickly regained his balance. He looked up and his gaze met Su Yan's on the steps.

Su Yan looked at his disciple, who was always aloof, reserved, and emotionally restrained. Seeing the undisguised weariness and deep sorrow between his brows, Su Yan's lips moved. He was about to ask as usual, "You're back?" or scold him, "What happened to you?"

However, before he could speak, Su Zhelan suddenly moved.

He broke free from Sheng Xuan's support and hurried, even staggering, up the steps. To Su Yan's astonishment, he suddenly buried his face in Su Yan's arms, tightly encircling the old man's waist and burying his face in Su Yan's shoulder, which carried a faint medicinal scent.

Master Su Yan froze, unsure where to put his raised hand. His disciple had been aloof and cold since childhood, and even in his weakest and most painful moments, he had never shown such... such outward dependence.

A moment of silence fell over the surroundings. Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun were also stunned, looking at Su Zhelan's sudden action with some surprise.

Just as Su Yan was at a loss, he felt his disciple in his arms tremble slightly. Then, a very soft, hoarse whisper, as if a child who had suffered a great injustice had finally returned home and found someone to lean on, came from the crook of his shoulder:

"...Thank you, Master."

A thousand words, endless gratitude and vulnerability, are all contained in these simple yet weighty words and this unexpected embrace.

Su Yan's stiff body slowly relaxed, and the lines on his usually serious and stern face softened involuntarily. He hesitated for a moment, then finally raised his hand and patted Su Zhelan's slightly trembling back somewhat clumsily but extremely gently, just as he had done many years ago when he brought that wounded and dying child back from the brink of hell.

"It's good to be back." Su Yan's voice was still steady, but much lower and gentler than usual. "It's alright now."

He didn't ask what had happened, nor did he push away the sudden intimacy. He simply let Su Zhelan hold him, silently conveying the tolerance and comfort of an elder.

Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun stood at the bottom of the steps, watching Su Zhelan tightly hug Su Yan and hearing his tearful "Thank you, Master." They both understood what was happening. Sheng Xuan's eyes reddened slightly, while Xiao Qiyun's gaze deepened.

Su Zhelan nestled in Su Yan's arms for a moment, seemingly finally calming down from the surging emotions. He slowly released her, took a small step back, and while a hint of embarrassment remained on his face, his eyes were much clearer. The heavy sorrow seemed to have melted away somewhat by this embrace, finding a corner where it could find solace.

Su Yan carefully examined his complexion, his brows furrowing again. His tone returned to its usual sternness, yet carried a barely perceptible concern: "You look so pale! Let's go to the pharmacy first, let me take a look!" With that, he grabbed Su Zhelan's wrist without further ado and started to walk into the mansion.

Su Zhelan did not resist and obediently followed. When he passed Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun, he paused, turned back to look at them with a complicated expression, and said in a low voice, "...You should go and rest first."

Sheng Xuan nodded quickly: "Yes! Su Zhelan, you should go with your master! Let your master take a good look at you!" Xiao Qiyun also nodded slightly.

Su Yan pulled Su Zhelan along, quickly walking inside while ordering without turning his head, "Gu Linzhao! Take them to settle in! Prepare a medicinal bath and some congee!"

Gu Linzhao, who had been waiting inside the door, quickly replied, "Okay, you and your precious disciple can go back first." He gestured for Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun to follow.

Su Yan, holding Su Zhelan's hand, hurried through the familiar corridors of the General's Mansion, heading straight back to his courtyard, which was filled with the rich aroma of medicine. As soon as they entered the room, he pressed Su Zhelan down into the examination chair without saying a word, and precisely placed his fingers on her wrist to feel her pulse.

"Deficiency of both qi and blood, stagnation of heart meridians, stagnation of liver qi, severe depletion of vital energy... and this mess of internal heat!" Su Yan's brows furrowed more and more, his tone becoming increasingly stern, carrying a hint of barely perceptible heartache and annoyance, "What have you been doing for the past ten days?! It's obvious you haven't rested properly! You've ruined yourself into this state!"

Su Zhelan lowered her eyelashes, letting her master examine her pulse and scold her. After a moment of silence, she quietly and honestly recounted her experiences over the past ten days in a brief but clear manner.

His voice was calm, as if he were narrating someone else's story, but the undercurrent beneath that calm made Su Yan's fingers, which were resting on his wrist, tremble slightly.

Su Yan's face suddenly turned ashen, and his breath caught in his throat! The fingers on Su Zhelan's wrist tightened abruptly, and his other hand, hanging by his side, clenched into a fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions. His voice became somewhat hoarse, carrying a hurried eagerness to make amends: "...It's alright, it's alright...it's all over...it's good that you're back..." He stammered, trying to fill in the gaps, and patted Su Zhelan's shoulder with a slightly heavy touch, as if trying to convey some support in this way, "Don't worry about being weak, Master is here, you can recover slowly..."

Su Zhelan raised her head and looked at the rare, almost overflowing heartache and self-blame in her master's eyes. Seeing his forced composure, a faint but unusually genuine smile suddenly appeared on her pale face, and she whispered, "Yes. Thank you, Master."

Just then, a teasing voice came from the doorway: "Tsk tsk tsk, what a touching display of affection between master and disciple!"

Gu Linzhao had returned at some point and was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, watching the two people "gazing deeply into each other's eyes" inside the room with his usual smile, as if he loved watching a good show.

Su Yan was filled with complicated emotions with nowhere to vent them when he heard the sound and turned his head sharply. Seeing Gu Linzhao's demeanor, he was immediately furious. He grabbed a pharmacopoeia from the table and slammed it towards the door: "Get in here! Are you standing there like a doorman?!"

The pharmacopoeia slammed against the doorframe with a "thud" and landed on the floor. Gu Linzhao easily dodged it with a grin, bent down to pick up the book, and dusted it off: "Don't get so angry, it'll hurt your liver."

Seeing this, Su Zhelan slowly stood up and bowed to Gu Linzhao and Su Yan, saying, "I'll go back first and won't disturb your rest any longer."

Su Yan glanced at his still pale face and the weariness between his brows, nodded, and softened his tone considerably: "Alright, go back and rest well. There's nothing to do at the manor lately, so just relax and recuperate for a while. Getting well is the most important thing."

"Yes, Master." Su Zhelan responded softly, then nodded slightly to Gu Linzhao at the door before turning around and slowly walking out. Her figure was still slender, and her steps were slightly heavy, but her straight back seemed a little more relaxed than before.

Watching his departing figure, Su Yan sighed deeply, rubbed his temples, and a complex expression of exhaustion and heartache appeared on his face. Gu Linzhao walked in, placed the pharmacopoeia back on the table, his playful expression fading slightly, and whispered, "Su Zhelan, he..."

"Shut up." Su Yan interrupted him, but his tone was no longer irritable, only filled with a deep weariness. "Go, find my old ginseng, and prepare some calming and invigorating herbs. Send it to him later."

"Okay, sure!" Gu Linzhao replied and quickly went to search the medicine cabinet.

The pharmacy fell silent again, with only the fragrance of herbs and a faint sigh remaining.

Su Zhelan walked slowly back to her usual hot spring courtyard within the General's Mansion. The courtyard was filled with steam, carrying the distinctive scent of sulfur, and the warm, humid air dispelled the chill of late autumn.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun already waiting there. The two had obviously quickly rested and changed into clean casual clothes, their hair still slightly damp, but their eyes were fixed on him, full of undisguised concern.

Upon seeing him enter, Sheng Xuan immediately rushed forward, his brows still slightly furrowed, and asked anxiously, "Su Zhelan! You're back! What did Master say? Is your health alright?" His voice was tense as he looked Su Zhelan up and down, as if trying to find the answer in his face.

Xiao Qiyun also stood up, his gaze calmly falling on Su Zhelan's face. Although he didn't speak, his focused eyes were also waiting for his answer.

Seeing their worried expressions, Su Zhelan gently shook his head, a reassuring yet slightly weary smile on his face: "It's nothing. Master said it's just overwork and a slight deficiency of qi and blood. He just needs to rest for a while." His voice was softer than usual, carrying a hint of relief and weariness.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan's tense expression instantly relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from his heart.

"That's great! I was so worried!" Sheng Xuan's voice suddenly rose, filled with relief and barely suppressed excitement. Before he finished speaking, he opened his arms and pulled Su Zhelan into a tight embrace! His arms encircled Su Zhelan's waist, holding him tightly, with a force so great it felt like he was melting him into his very bones. He lowered his head, his warm lips about to fall—

Just then, a hand with distinct knuckles, steady and powerful, suddenly reached out and precisely grabbed Sheng Xuan's wrist, preventing him from making any further moves.

Xiao Qiyun had silently approached and stood beside the two of them. His face was calm and expressionless, but his eyes were deep and held an undeniable coldness. His voice was low and steady, yet carried an invisible pressure: "He needs to rest."

His gaze swept over Sheng Xuan's arms, which were tightly wrapped around Su Zhelan's waist. Although he didn't forcefully pry them apart, the irresistible meaning was crystal clear.

Sheng Xuan's movements suddenly froze. Feeling the undeniable force on her wrist and the familiar, warning aura emanating from Xiao Qiyun, her high spirits instantly cooled down.

He pouted somewhat resentfully, but still reluctantly released his arm, though he remained standing close to Su Zhelan, muttering, "I... I was just too happy..."

Xiao Qiyun ignored Sheng Xuan's mutterings and turned his gaze to Su Zhelan, his coldness instantly transforming into deep concern. He reached out, his fingertips naturally and gently brushing Su Zhelan's slightly pale cheek, the touch cool, yet the movement carried an unmistakable possessiveness and tenderness.

"You still don't look well," he said in a low voice, much gentler than before. "Go soak in the hot springs first to relax, then take your medicine." His tone was declarative, with his usual unquestionable arrangement.

Su Zhelan was slightly taken aback by this unexpected little incident, her cheeks still warm from Sheng Xuan's breath and the cool touch of Xiao Qiyun's fingertips.

He looked at Xiao Qiyun's face, so close to his own, filled with focused attention and an unyielding air, and then glanced at Sheng Xuan beside him, who, though dissatisfied, dared not make a move. A strange tension eased within him. He nodded slightly and murmured, "...Mm."

Xiao Qiyun then completely released his grip on Sheng Xuan's wrist, and instead very naturally supported Su Zhelan's lower back with an intimate and protective gesture, guiding him towards the hot spring pool, completely keeping Sheng Xuan on the outside.

Seeing Xiao Qiyun's self-righteous protectiveness towards Su Zhelan, Sheng Xuan felt a little jealous, but seeing Su Zhelan's tired and pale face, she suppressed her emotions and quickly followed, muttering, "Yes, yes, Zhelan, you soak well. I'll go check if the medicine is ready! And I'll get you something nice to eat!"

As Su Zhelan was half-protected by Xiao Qiyun, he walked towards the warm spring. Feeling the steady strength around his waist and the concerned chatter of Sheng Xuan behind him, a strange sense of security and being cherished quietly enveloped him.

When Sheng Xuan returned to the hot spring courtyard in a flurry, carrying a food box, the atmosphere inside had returned to tranquility and peace.

He had changed into his nightgown. His dark hair was slightly damp, loosely draped over his shoulders, with a few strands still damp, clinging to his slightly pale forehead and neck. He was leaning against a low couch covered with thick cushions by the window, with several soft pillows behind him, his posture relaxed and languid.

As dusk settled outside the window, the last rays of sunlight filtered through the windowpanes, softly bathing him in a pale golden glow. He held a medical book casually in his hand, but his gaze wasn't fully focused on the pages; rather, the gesture seemed to be a way of clearing his mind. Though a lingering weariness still clung to his brow, the heavy grief had subsided, transforming into a serene tranquility born of exhaustion.

Xiao Qiyun sat at a table not far from the low couch, his posture still composed. Another book was open in front of him, but he was clearly not engrossed in it. His gaze occasionally and subtly swept over Su Zhelan on the couch, observing his breathing and condition. Seeing that Su Zhelan was alright, he withdrew his gaze, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table, as if he were thinking about something.

Sheng Xuan walked in quietly. Seeing the quiet scene, the anxious look on his face softened, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He gently placed the food box on the table, gave Xiao Qiyun a wink, and asked in a low voice, "Is it ready? How is it?"

Xiao Qiyun glanced at him, nodded slightly, and said in a low voice, "Hmm. Your breathing is a bit more stable." His words were concise, but they completely put Sheng Xuan at ease.

Sheng Xuan then walked to the bedside, squatted down, and opened the food box layer by layer. Inside were several light and delicate side dishes and a bowl of steaming, fragrant medicinal porridge.

"Ze Lan," Sheng Xuan's voice was very soft, with a coaxing gentleness, "Are you hungry? I had the kitchen specially make ginseng and astragalus porridge, which is the best for replenishing qi and calming the mind. I also added some of your favorite side dishes. Have a little bit, okay?"

Hearing this, Su Zhelan snapped out of his reverie, his gaze shifting from the book to Sheng Xuan's eager face, then to the exquisite food. He didn't actually have much of an appetite, but feeling Sheng Xuan's careful concern, he couldn't bear to refuse, so he nodded gently and put the book aside.

Sheng Xuan immediately beamed with joy, quickly ladled out a small bowl of porridge, carefully blew on it to test the temperature, and then handed it to Su Zhelan: "The temperature is just right, try it quickly."

Su Zhelan took the bowl and ate the porridge in small sips. The porridge was soft, sticky, and sweet, with the unique bittersweet aftertaste of the medicinal herbs. The warm current slid down her esophagus into her stomach, bringing a comfortable warmth.

Xiao Qiyun also came over at some point, poured a glass of warm water, and placed it within easy reach of Su Zhelan.

Sheng Xuan, meanwhile, chattered on about what dishes the kitchen had made that day, which chef had been scolded by the master chef, and other trivial matters, trying to infect Su Zhelan with a relaxed atmosphere.

He ate a few mouthfuls of porridge, then seemed to remember something. He looked up at Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun, his voice still soft: "Have you... eaten yet?"

Sheng Xuan nodded immediately, a bright smile on his face: "I've already used it! You can eat whatever you want! We can't possibly starve ourselves, can we?" His tone was light, trying to dispel Su Zhelan's last bit of concern.

Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, his voice steady: "Yes, I've used it."

Su Zhelan seemed relieved, giving a soft "hmm" before lowering his head to continue eating the porridge in his bowl. Although he didn't have a good appetite, with Sheng Xuan's expectant gaze and Xiao Qiyun's quiet company, he slowly finished the small bowl of porridge and a few side dishes.

Seeing that he had finished eating, Xiao Qiyun naturally reached out and took the empty bowl and chopsticks from his hands, and began to clear the dishes from the table with deft movements. Sheng Xuan quickly handed Su Zhelan warm water to rinse her mouth.

Just then, steady and familiar footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate. Gu Linzhao walked in carrying a small tray with a bowl of dark brown medicine that smelled strongly of herbs on it. His expression was peaceful, and his eyes held the kindness and concern of an elder, completely different from Su Yan's cold exterior but warm interior.

"Ze Lan," Gu Linzhao said gently, placing the medicine bowl lightly on the table in front of Su Ze Lan. "Su Yan specifically instructed me to watch the heat while simmering this medicine. It's for calming the nerves and replenishing qi. Drink it while it's hot." His tone was natural, carrying a familiarity and care like that of a family member.

Su Zhelan looked at the bowl of thick, dark medicine, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, but he still nodded and said softly, "Thank you..." He used a more respectful form of address.

Gu Linzhao nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Su Zhelan's still pale face and the weariness between her brows, a barely perceptible hint of heartache flashing in his eyes. "Rest well, don't overthink it. If anything happens, come to the pharmacy to find us anytime."

His tone was calm and composed, carrying a reassuring power.

"Mmm," Su Zhelan replied softly.

Gu Linzhao didn't linger. He glanced gently at Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun beside him as a greeting, then turned and quietly left the courtyard.

Xiao Qiyun placed the warm medicine bowl in front of Su Zhelan. Su Zhelan took a deep breath, took the bowl, held his breath, and tilted his head back to drink the bitter medicine in one gulp. He put down the empty bowl and immediately took a big gulp of warm water from Sheng Xuan, diluting the indescribable bitterness in his mouth.

The medicine seemed to take effect very quickly; a warm current spread from my stomach, accompanied by a strong, irresistible drowsiness that swept through my entire body.

Su Zhelan couldn't help but cover her mouth and yawn slightly. Her eyelashes quickly became heavy, and her body felt weak as she leaned back into the soft pillow.

"I'm sleepy..." His voice was thick with nasal congestion and weariness, almost indistinct, "I want to rest..."

"Okay, okay, let's go to sleep!" Sheng Xuan responded immediately, his tone gentle yet impatient. As soon as he finished speaking, he leaned down, slipped his arms under Su Zhelan's knees and back, and with a little effort, lifted her up in his arms.

Startled by the sudden feeling of weightlessness, Su Zhelan let out a soft groan and instinctively reached out to wrap his arms around Sheng Xuan's neck. He was so tired and weak that he simply rested his head on Sheng Xuan's shoulder without any struggle, incredibly docile.

Sheng Xuan carried him and walked steadily toward the bed in the inner room. He carefully placed him in the soft bedding and tucked him in.

As soon as Su Zhelan touched the pillow, the comfort made him let out a satisfied sigh, and his eyes almost closed.

However, the next moment, the bed beside him suddenly sank. Sheng Xuan quickly took off his outer robe and shoes, deftly lifted a corner of the quilt, and without hesitation, slipped inside. With a long arm, he pulled Su Zhelan, quilt and all, tightly into his arms, adjusting them into a comfortable position for both of them.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep, I'm here with you." Sheng Xuan's voice rang in Su Zhelan's ears, deep and gentle, carrying a reassuring aura.

In her hazy sleep, Su Zhelan felt Sheng Xuan's firm and warm chest and strong heartbeat behind her, and the familiar scent lingered around her nose. The last bit of tension in her mind completely relaxed.

He leaned very slightly against the heat source behind him, let out a barely audible sigh, and then drifted completely into a deep sleep, his breathing becoming even and long.

Sheng Xuan held the sleeping Su Zhelan tightly in his arms, feeling his steady breathing and the slight rise and fall of his chest. His heart was filled with a sense of relief and tenderness, as if he had found something he had lost. He slowly closed his eyes, resting his chin gently on the top of Su Zhelan's head, and soon fell into a deep sleep as well.

Xiao Qiyun stood silently by the bed, watching everything. Only after confirming that Su Zhelan was fast asleep and that Sheng Xuan had calmed down while holding her did he step forward, gently lower the bed curtains, and block out the last glimmer of light from the window. He blew out the extra candles in the room, leaving only a small nightlight with a soft glow in the corner.

In the dim light, Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on the two people sleeping in each other's arms on the bed, a hint of tenderness and possessiveness flashing in his deep eyes.

He removed his outer robe and boots with extremely slow and gentle movements, making almost no sound. Then, he silently lifted the other side of the quilt, and lay down steadily and carefully, taking up the empty space next to Su Zhelan.

Unlike Sheng Xuan, he didn't hold Su Zhelan tightly in his arms. Instead, he turned to the side, facing Su Zhelan's back, maintaining a distance that allowed him to feel the other's body temperature without disturbing him. One of his arms was naturally extended, gently resting on the bedding in front of Su Zhelan, ensuring that he could sense his movements at any time.

The Shuyu Courtyard fell completely silent, with only the occasional soft rustling of the night breeze through the windowpanes and the steady, reassuring breathing mingling within the tent.