Chapter 162
Su Zhelan sat restlessly in the room.
The heat on his face had long since faded, replaced by anxiety. He sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes, his gaze frequently drifting towards the closed door, his ears listening for any possible sound outside.
Time seemed to stretch out, each minute and second feeling incredibly unbearable. He didn't know what news Xiao Qiyun would bring, nor whether Sheng Xuan's persistent pleading would be effective.
Just as he was about to lose his composure and go to the pharmacy to find out the news, he finally heard familiar footsteps outside the courtyard—more than one!
Su Zhelan's heart jumped. He stood up abruptly and stared nervously at the door.
With a creak, the door was pushed open from the outside.
The first to burst in was Sheng Xuan, his face beaming with an undisguised, dazzling smile, his mouth almost reaching his ears, and his always spirited eyes sparkling with a smug light that seemed to say, "Praise me!" He looked like a large dog that had just won a battle and couldn't wait to return and claim credit.
Following closely behind was Xiao Qiyun, his steps still unhurried, his expression calm, but his deep eyes held a faint, almost imperceptible smile, as if he had everything under control. His gaze fell on Su Zhelan's tense and uneasy face, and the corners of his lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly.
"Su Zhelan!" Sheng Xuan's voice was loud and excited, filled with a great sense of accomplishment. "It's done! Mr. Su has agreed, we can go to Youzi Cave now!"
Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, confirming in a steady voice, "Yes, the master has agreed. I have arranged the details of the itinerary, and we will depart tomorrow morning."
Overwhelmed by joy and a sense of relief, Su Zhelan was instantly overwhelmed by the tension in his heart. He stood there, stunned, his eyes slightly wide, seemingly unable to process the long-awaited good news. Several seconds passed before his tense shoulders slowly relaxed.
Looking at the beaming Sheng Xuan and the calm yet profound Xiao Qiyun, a thousand words stuck in his throat, but in the end, they only turned into a low murmur filled with complex emotions: "...Thank you."
The thank you was as light as a feather, yet it carried a great deal of weight—gratitude for Sheng Xuan's unwavering efforts to fight for him, thanks to Xiao Qiyun for his help and proper arrangements, and... a hint of indescribable fear and anticipation at the impending revelation of the truth.
After saying this, Su Zhelan seemed unsure how to face the two people in front of him. He quickly lowered his head to hide the turbulent emotions in his eyes, turned around and strode towards the inner room, leaving behind a hurried sentence: "I...I'll go pack my things."
He needed some space to calm his overly excited emotions and also needed to use busy actions to cover up the turmoil in his heart.
Sheng Xuan stared blankly at Su Zhelan's retreating figure, which seemed to be fleeing in panic. He then scratched his head and looked at Xiao Qiyun with some confusion: "What happened to him?"
Xiao Qiyun's gaze followed Su Zhelan's figure as she disappeared behind the screen. The smile in his eyes deepened slightly, but he did not answer Sheng Xuan's question. He simply said, "Let him have some peace and quiet. You should also go and make your preparations; it's not a short journey."
His tone was calm, as if he had already anticipated Su Zhelan's reaction.
Although Sheng Xuan didn't understand why, he was immersed in the joy of success and didn't think much of it. He cheerfully replied, "Okay! I'll go check the horses and equipment right away!" After saying that, he turned around and ran out in a hurry.
Xiao Qiyun stood still, glanced quietly in the direction Su Zhelan had left, then turned around, left the room unhurriedly, and carefully closed the door behind him.
As the hurried footsteps of Sheng Xuan and the steady, composed footsteps of Xiao Qiyun faded into the distance until they disappeared completely outside the courtyard, Su Zhelan's tense shoulders and back finally relaxed.
He slowly exhaled, a breath that was a mixture of relief, indescribable embarrassment, and a subtle yet real joy at finally getting what he wanted.
He stood alone behind the screen for a moment, letting his heart, pounding wildly with a mix of emotions, slowly calm down. He walked to the pear wood wardrobe in the corner of the room and opened the door.
Hanging inside were mostly plain cotton and linen nightgowns and a few everyday clothes that his master and Gu Linzhao had prepared for him. He ran his fingers over these clothes and began to tidy them up.
The next morning, as dawn broke and the morning mist still lingered, three horses were already tethered to the old locust tree outside the courtyard, their hooves pawing restlessly. Su Zhelan tightened the straps of his satchel one last time, the hem of his dark blue cloak brushing against the dew-kissed grass. He looked too quiet, not like a scion of a noble family setting out for the first time, but more like a traveler burdened with worries.
Master Su Yan bent over, muttering incantations as he pointed to each item with his finger:
"Hemostatic powder...I brought it! Wound medicine...I brought it! Cold-dispelling pills...I brought it! Detoxifying pills...I brought it! Tranquilizing incense...I brought it! And this packet of ginseng slices, I'll take one to keep myself alert on the way...and this bottle of calming dew, in case I feel dizzy..."
Each time he pointed to something, he would glare at the three people who were pretending to be obedient, as if to confirm whether they had listened.
Seeing Master Su Yan's expression as if he wanted to stuff the entire medicine cabinet into his bag, Sheng Xuan couldn't help but grin and say, "You can rest assured! Everything is ready! The three of us have traveled all over the country, we know what we're doing!" He deliberately used a more colloquial term of address, speaking in a cheerful tone, trying his best to blend into the role of "brothers in the martial arts world".
"Shut up!" Su Yan snapped without looking up, continuing to flip through the pages. "What do you know, kid! The world is a dangerous place. What if you get a headache, fever, or some snakes, insects, or rodents? You can't be without some preparation!"
Gu Linzhao stood silently to the side, holding a leather medicine box that looked somewhat worn, containing more precious medicinal herbs and emergency supplies.
He waited until Su Yan had finished rambling before stepping forward and handing the medicine box to Sheng Xuan, his voice gentle: "Keep this safe. I've written down the instructions for using the pills inside. It's always good to be prepared when you're traveling."
Sheng Xuan quickly took the medicine box with both hands and replied with a smile, "Thanks, brother! Don't worry, it'll be fine!" He skillfully secured the medicine box to the back of the saddle.
Master Su Yan finally straightened up, let out a heavy sigh, and glanced at the three young men dressed as ordinary wandering swordsmen. He first looked at Su Zhelan, his eyes filled with worry and reluctance, and his tone softened: "Zhelan... please be careful on the road, don't push yourself, and tell me immediately if you feel unwell, okay?"
He glared at Sheng Xuan, his tone stern, "You brat! Keep a close eye on him!" Finally, he looked at Xiao Qiyun, opened his mouth, but in the end just clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness... Young Master, thank you for your trouble."
Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, his tone calm, like a reliable elder brother in an ordinary family: "Senior, rest assured, we will take care of each other."
Sheng Xuan deftly patted the saddle, his dark blue coarse cloth sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. The ring-pommel sword at his waist, though lacking ornate decorations, had a gleaming leather scabbard that clattered against the saddle with a dull thud.
Xiao Qiyun reached out and straightened Su Zhelan's cloak collar. He was wearing a dark blue casual robe, the fabric of which, upon closer inspection, was more refined than theirs, yet it wasn't at all ostentatious. The mist settled on his shoulders, making him appear even more composed. "Let's go," he said softly, "it'll be cooler in the morning."
Sheng Xuan grinned and was the first to mount his horse. Su Zhelan followed, stepping into the stirrups, but her movements were a little clumsy. Sheng Xuan reached out and helped her sit up by supporting her elbow.
Xiao Qiyun mounted his horse last, flicked the reins, and the three riders rode side by side out of the courtyard gate. The clatter of hooves startled a few dogs, and they quickly disappeared into the thin mist at the alley entrance.
Sheng Xuan took the lead, his dark blue figure appearing particularly agile under the rising sun. He sometimes spurred his horse forward to lead the way, and sometimes slowed down to ride alongside Su Zhelan and Xiao Qiyun, his gaze never leaving Su Zhelan.
"Su Zhelan, are you tired? Do you want to rest for a while?" This was almost the question Sheng Xuan asked most often on the road, his voice loud and clear, filled with straightforward concern. Whenever they passed a teahouse or a shady spot, he would always be the first to rein in the horses and turn to look at Su Zhelan.
Su Zhelan always shook his head. He pursed his lips, the hood of his dark blue cloak partially obscuring his thin profile, revealing a taut jawline. His gaze remained fixed ahead, as if trying to pierce through the mountains and reach that place that haunted his dreams and remained unknown.
“Not tired,” his answer was always brief, his voice slightly slurred by the wind, yet carrying an undeniable determination, “Let’s keep going.”
Xiao Qiyun rode silently on the other side of Su Zhelan, his robes fluttering slightly in the wind. He rarely spoke, but his deep eyes were always watching Su Zhelan's condition.
When Sheng Xuan loudly suggested taking a break, he would silently seek Su Zhelan's opinion with his eyes. And when Su Zhelan refused to rest again, he would pour warm water from his water bag and hand it to her.
"Have some water." Xiao Qiyun's voice was always calm, devoid of emotion, yet carrying an undeniable thoughtfulness.
Su Zhelan took the water pouch, her fingertips occasionally brushing against Xiao Qiyun's slightly cool fingers. He would pause briefly, then whisper his thanks, taking small sips of water to moisten his somewhat dry lips and throat. The water was at the perfect temperature, with a faint herbal sweetness, clearly prepared on purpose.
As the journey drew to a close and the sun began to set, Su Zhelan's face gradually paled with exhaustion from the arduous journey. Although he tried his best to conceal it, his occasional uncontrollable soft breathing and slight swaying could not escape the notice of the two people beside him.
Sheng Xuan's brows furrowed more and more, and he hesitated several times before stopping himself, but was stopped by Su Zhelan's stubborn gaze and Xiao Qiyun's slight head-shaking gesture.
As dusk settled and the distant mountain outlines blurred, a post station with dim yellow lanterns finally appeared beside the official road ahead.
Xiao Qiyun was the first to rein in his horse, and his voice came clearly in the cool evening breeze: "We'll rest here tonight."
Sheng Xuan immediately responded, almost impatiently jumping off his horse and reaching out to help Su Zhelan: "We've finally arrived! Su Zhelan, get down and stretch your legs, you must be completely stiff!"
This time, Su Zhelan did not refuse. The long ride had indeed exhausted him. He used Sheng Xuan's strength to dismount, but his legs went weak when his feet touched the ground, and he almost lost his balance. Sheng Xuan's arm immediately and steadily supported him.
"Be careful!" Sheng Xuan's voice was filled with lingering fear and heartache. "You were too stubborn! Don't rush like that tomorrow!"
Su Zhelan leaned against him for a moment before gently pushing his hand away, straightening up, and saying in a low, hoarse voice, "...It's nothing."
Xiao Qiyun handed the reins to the courier who came out to greet him, gave him a few instructions, and then turned around and walked over. His gaze lingered for a moment on Su Zhelan's tired but still stubborn face, and he said indifferently, "Go in and have some food. Hot water is ready."
The inn wasn't large, but it was fairly clean. Under the dim light, simple meals were served. Su Zhelan ate very little, swallowing almost mechanically.
While eating heartily, Sheng Xuan kept rambling on about tomorrow's itinerary and precautions, trying to let Su Zhelan rest a little longer. Xiao Qiyun, on the other hand, ate his meal quietly, occasionally glancing at Su Zhelan with a deep look in his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
The post station was small, and the number of rooms was limited. After the three of them had a simple meal, the postman led them to the guest rooms. Sure enough, only two adjacent rooms were available.
Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun exchanged a glance, then walked to the corridor in tacit agreement to discuss in hushed tones. Sheng Xuan frowned and lowered her voice, "How can he sleep in two rooms? I'm worried about him sleeping alone."
Xiao Qiyun's gaze swept over the closed door. After a moment's hesitation, his voice was calm and even: "It's alright. We can take turns, one night each. I'll go first tonight."
Although Sheng Xuan was somewhat reluctant, he knew this was the safest arrangement, so he could only nod and say, "Okay, I'll switch tomorrow night! But be careful, he's exhausted today!"
Xiao Qiyun glanced at him indifferently: "I know."
Once the agreement was reached, Sheng Xuan reluctantly returned to his room, making a fuss as he closed the door, seemingly to remind Su Zhelan next door that he was right there.
Xiao Qiyun then pushed open the door and entered Su Zhelan's room.
The oil lamp in the room cast a dim, yellowish light. Su Zhelan had already washed up briefly and changed into a clean, plain white nightgown. She was lying on her side on the innermost part of the bed, facing the wall, motionless, seemingly asleep.
But Xiao Qiyun could tell at a glance that the lines of his shoulders and back were not completely relaxed, and he was obviously still awake and thinking about something.
Xiao Qiyun moved quietly and quickly finished washing up. He took off his outer robe, leaving only his inner garment, and lay down on the other side of the quilt. The bed wasn't spacious, and the two of them were at just the right distance, yet they could clearly feel each other's body temperature and breathing.
Xiao Qiyun turned to face Su Zhelan's back. In the dim light, he could see the faint shadows cast by Su Zhelan's raven-feather eyelashes under her eyes, and he could also feel the exhaustion that her body was trying so hard to hide.
"Are you very tired?" Xiao Qiyun's voice sounded particularly deep in the quiet night, with a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible. "This is the first time I've ridden a horse for such a long time, and at a fast pace at that."
Su Zhelan's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly hesitant. Finally, perhaps exhaustion weakened his defenses, or perhaps the darkness gave him the courage to be honest, he gave a very soft "hmm," his voice hoarse with weariness: "...My legs are sore."
There was another brief silence. Xiao Qiyun waited patiently, without urging him.
Su Zhelan seemed to struggle for a moment before adding in an even softer, almost choked voice, "...the inside of my thighs...are also chafed..."
After saying this, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength, burying his face in the pillow, his ears turning a faint red in the dim light. This kind of discomfort in his private parts was always difficult to talk about.
A faint smile flickered in Xiao Qiyun's eyes in the darkness, not mockery, but rather a look of... expectation, even a hint of satisfaction. Su Zhelan's willingness to confide this subtle discomfort to him was a rare sign of trust and reliance.
"It's my fault, the itinerary was arranged too hastily." Xiao Qiyun's voice softened, with a reassuring tone. "It's inevitable that you'll feel unwell on your first long horseback ride. Let me take a look and apply some medicine, otherwise you'll feel even worse tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Su Zhelan's body tensed instantly, and she instinctively wanted to refuse: "No...no need..." Her voice was filled with obvious panic.
"Listen to me." Xiao Qiyun's tone remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable insistence. "If it's not treated promptly, it can easily become infected and delay our trip." He accurately grasped the point that Su Zhelan cared about most.
Sure enough, upon hearing the words "delay the trip," Su Zhelan's resistance softened slightly, but his face remained burning hot, and a thin layer of red even tinged his neck, clearly visible in the dim light of the oil lamp. He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the rough bedding beneath him.
Xiao Qiyun stood up, took out a small white jade medicine box from his bag, and gently opened it. A medicinal fragrance with a bitter taste and a slight coolness filled the air.
He sat back down on the edge of the bed, looked at Su Zhelan who was still facing away from him and whose body was as stiff as a stone, and said in a softer voice: "You need to pull your pants down a bit so that the medicine can be applied."
These words were like a needle, pricking Su Zhelan and making him shudder violently. He could almost hear the blood rushing to his head, and his eardrums were ringing. This was far more embarrassing than rolling up his trousers...
In the darkness, Su Zhelan's breathing became rapid and erratic, her chest heaving violently. Ultimately, her worries about worsening her injuries and delaying her journey overwhelmed everything else.
He turned around very slowly and clumsily to face Xiao Qiyun, but kept his head down, not daring to look into those deep eyes. His hands trembled as he fumbled for the drawstring of his underpants, his fingertips icy cold, his movements particularly awkward due to his panic.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze was calm and still, without the slightest hint of intimacy. He simply watched his difficult movements quietly, without urging or helping him, as if waiting for his prey to walk into the trap on its own.
Having finally managed to untie the ties, Su Zhelan almost held his breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, crashing against his ribs. He very slowly pulled his soft nightgown down to mid-thigh.
The air that came into contact with his exposed skin brought a touch of coolness, but also made him feel the burning pain of the chafed skin even more clearly.
Fortunately, the hem of his plain white nightgown was quite wide and long, and it fell down just right at this moment, like a shy curtain, barely covering the most private parts, only revealing the tender skin on the inside of his thighs that was rubbed red and even a little broken and bleeding.
Even with this cover, Su Zhelan still felt unbearably ashamed, his skin flushed a thin red, and even his toes curled up. He closed his eyes tightly, his long eyelashes trembling violently, as if this would allow him to escape reality and hide himself in darkness.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on the wound, his eyes focused and calm, as if examining a wound that needed treatment. He dipped his fingertip into a thick layer of cool ointment, the ointment having a jade-like cool touch. When his fingertips approached the swollen skin, Su Zhelan's body tensed uncontrollably, trembling slightly, as if she sensed the impending stimulation.
When the fingertip, coated with cooling ointment, finally gently touched the red, swollen, and burning skin—
"Ugh..." Su Zhelan gasped sharply, his body trembling violently, a suppressed, short whimper escaping his throat. The sudden, icy touch surged through his nerves like an electric current, instantly suppressing the burning pain, yet bringing a strange, chilling stimulation. He instinctively tried to curl up, but Xiao Qiyun's other warm hand gently pressed down on his knee, preventing him from retreating.
"Relax," Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and pleasant, like a hypnotic sound in the quiet night. "The ointment is cool, and it will sting a little at first, but it will be fine in a while."
His fingertips began to slowly and gently massage the sensitive skin in circular motions. The movements were gentle yet carried an undeniable force, and the skin beneath his fingertips developed a layer of tiny bumps due to the coolness of the ointment and the pressure of the massage.
Su Zhelan's tense body gradually relaxed under the caress of those warm hands. The cool ointment melted quickly under the massage, penetrating deep into his burning skin, bringing a continuous and comfortable coolness that effectively relieved the searing pain. The soothing sensation from those warm hands and the just-right pressure during the massage exceeded his expectations.
His eyes remained closed, but his tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and his clenched lower lip loosened. His nostrils were filled with the bitter scent of medicine and the reassuring, cool sandalwood fragrance emanating from Xiao Qiyun. A strange feeling of being carefully cared for, accompanied by an indescribable sense of shame, intertwined in his heart.
Xiao Qiyun's movements were professional and restrained, his fingertips making no unnecessary touches, focusing solely on the injured area. He meticulously applied and massaged the ointment to the wounds on the inside of both legs, ensuring that the ointment evenly covered every inch of the red, swollen, and broken skin. Then, he naturally helped him pull up his pajama bottoms, carefully restoring the ties, his movements fluid and graceful.
"Go to sleep." Xiao Qiyun's voice returned to its usual calm. He blew out the oil lamp, plunging the room into complete darkness. "If you're still sore and swollen tomorrow morning, have another massage before we leave."
Su Zhelan immediately curled up under the covers, wrapping herself up tightly, only revealing half of her still burning face. She nodded almost imperceptibly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, nearly swallowed by the blanket: "...Thank you." In that voice, besides the lingering embarrassment, there seemed to be a subtle, barely perceptible dependence after being comforted.
In the darkness, Xiao Qiyun lay down, listening to Su Zhelan's breathing gradually becoming even and long beside him. Clearly, the combined effects of the medicine and exhaustion had finally brought her into a deep sleep.
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