Chapter 55: “The True Qi of Beiming” Surges!
Only to see a graceful young lady in a light blue dress walk in, her hair pinned with a wooden hairpin, her tresses tied up simply, yet exuding a refined and unadorned elegance.
Meeting those clear and bright eyes, Mu Wanqing froze blankly.
At the side, Zhong Ling waved her little hand cheerfully and said:
“Big Sister Cheng, Big Sister Mu has woken up~”
That Miss Cheng seemed unsurprised, merely nodding lightly. With lotus-like steps, she came to sit by the edge of the bed. She smiled gently at Mu Wanqing:
“How are you feeling? Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?”
Her voice carried a clarity mingled with softness and gentleness.
It made one unconsciously relax in spirit, a quiet closeness springing forth.
Zhong Ling seemed to notice Mu Wanqing’s confusion and introduced:
“She’s the Big Sister Cheng I was just talking about. It was she who treated your injuries. She’s really amazing~”
Hearing this, Mu Wanqing was slightly startled. Looking at Cheng Lingsu, she said blankly:
“You… you are very good.”
If it had been someone else, upon knowing such a life-saving grace, no matter what they thought inside, they should have offered thousands of thanks.
But Mu Wanqing had always been one who seldom dealt with people. Whenever she met others, it was often a matter of life and death, so naturally, she knew little of worldly courtesies.
She only knew that the other had treated her wounds, was a good person, and so what blurted out was simply this—“You are very good.”
It was indeed spoken with sincerity, but to outsiders, it might inevitably sound a bit bland.
Zhong Ling knew this was simply her temperament, so she did not feel it strange.
Cheng Lingsu, being broad-minded, did not take offense either. She only smiled faintly, thinking to herself: This girl truly has a rather peculiar disposition.
Looking Mu Wanqing up and down, though not for the first time, she still genuinely felt from the heart that this Miss Mu’s appearance was of peerless beauty.
At the time of treating her injuries, when she had to remove her veil, upon first seeing her face, it had indeed been breathtaking!
But though she thought this, she showed nothing outwardly, only speaking clearly:
“Miss Mu, please stretch out your hand. I’ll take your pulse again.”
Mu Wanqing hesitated a moment, then glanced once at Zhong Ling before extending her palm.
Her slender, snow-white wrist faintly revealed the traces of her veins.
Cheng Lingsu placed her hand upon it, feeling the delicate smoothness.
At the moment of contact, she sensed the girl’s body tense ever so slightly.
Casting a thoughtful glance at Mu Wanqing, she thought to herself: This Miss Mu carries such a heavy wariness. Judging from her manner, she seems to have little interaction with others.
The thought passed, yet she said nothing more.
Quietly feeling the pulse, she pondered for a moment, then smiled lightly and said warmly:
“Mm, there’s no major issue. Rest and recuperate for a while, take some medicine, and you will be fully healed.”
“Really? That’s wonderful~” Zhong Ling immediately let out a breath of relief, smiling with delight.
Cheng Lingsu continued:
“However, the wounds still need to be cleansed and re-dressed. Miss Mu, please remove your garments.”
Mu Wanqing’s expression instantly grew unnatural, her face flushing red as she stammered:
“N-no, that’s not necessary. I can do it myself!”
Zhong Ling could barely contain her amusement: Big Sister Mu is actually shy. These past two days, I’ve already seen her all over~
But she only dared think it in her heart. She knew well that if she said it aloud, it might mean “life or death” for her…
Half an hour later.
The wounds were carefully cleansed, and the medicine freshly applied. Cheng Lingsu lowered her fine head, attentively and gently bandaging them.
Mu Wanqing, though embarrassed at first, gradually felt nothing of it.
They were all young women—there was little to avoid.
Besides, she had already been unconscious for two days, and this was already the second time.
Mu Wanqing was not one to be fussy, only unaccustomed.
She had never been so close to anyone else before.
Since the age of fourteen, when she had begun veiling her face and leaving the secluded valley on her master’s errands, whenever she was injured, she had always licked her wounds alone.
Her master would prepare golden sore medicine and such, but would never treat her so meticulously.
Looking at Cheng Lingsu’s lowered fine head, with strands of hair slipping down softly by her ear, her clear gentle eyes, and her careful grace, Mu Wanqing felt a warmth rise in her heart, watching her in a daze.
After a while, suddenly recalling Zhong Ling’s earlier words, her heart stirred, and she could not help asking:
“The one who is with you… may I ask what his name is? And… What is your relationship with him?”
This little girl Zhong Ling had not spoken thoroughly, only calling Fang Han “big brother” and Cheng Lingsu “big sister,” without explaining clearly.
So Mu Wanqing knew neither their names nor their relationship.
When she wished to inquire further, Cheng Lingsu’s arrival had interrupted.
But Mu Wanqing was not ignorant of everything. A man and woman together—it inevitably made her heart stir uneasily.
Were they siblings? Martial brother and sister? Or perhaps…
True to her nature, she did not beat around the bush.
She simply spoke what was on her mind.
Cheng Lingsu’s brows rose slightly. Casting a thoughtful glance at Mu Wanqing, she wondered: This young lady, asking about Fang Dage, then asking about my relationship with him—for what reason?
Seeing Mu Wanqing appear nervous and unsettled, her suspicions deepened further.
While she pondered, Zhong Ling suddenly giggled, sweetly saying:
“Big Brother and Big Sister Cheng are naturally husband and wife! Big Sister Mu is really so… mm, hehe~”
She had originally wanted to say “so silly,” but thinking of how frighteningly ruthless Big Sister Mu could be, she quickly swallowed the words, smiling sweetly, hoping to muddle through.
But at this moment, Mu Wanqing had no mind for her trailing words.
Hearing the two words “husband and wife,” her expression froze, turning pale.
Her heart instantly felt empty, hollow.
At a complete loss.
Her master had once made her swear a venomous oath: in this life, she must never let a man see her face. If one did, she must either kill him—or marry him.
Originally, this had not seemed a problem.
She… she would simply marry him…
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Footnotes
- pinyin: Dage (大哥)– Literally “eldest brother.” In wuxia or martial contexts, it can be used to refer to a senior male, not necessarily blood-related.
- pinyin: Beiming (北冥)– Literally “Northern Darkness.” Refers to a famous internal martial arts cultivation method, Beiming Zhenqi (“True Qi of the Northern Darkness”), originating from wuxia novels.