Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 84

...

...This is the dividing line indicating the healing time = =+...

Xiaoxiao has never been able to swim. When she was little, no matter how much others coaxed her, she just wouldn't go into the water. Even if she did get in, she wouldn't dare stop breathing, which inevitably led to her choking on water. The underwater world where she couldn't open her eyes, along with the fear of choking, made it impossible for her to learn to swim no matter what.

When she fell into the sea, her mind went blank. But even in that blankness, she still remembered one thing firmly: the array diagram in her arms could not possibly survive in the seawater.

She suddenly felt a sense of contentment, forgetting her fear in the pitch-black sea...

...

"Little..."

In a daze, Xiao Xiao felt a sudden surge of true energy within her body, surging through her meridians, and then air rushed into her lungs. She immediately began to cough violently.

"Master... Uncle?" Xiao Xiao opened her eyes and saw Wen Su, who was soaking wet.

When Wen Su saw that she had woken up, he frowned slightly and breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Xiao felt completely powerless, her limbs completely unresponsive. However, she immediately thought of something, and with a struggle, she raised her hand, took out the array diagram from her bosom, and handed it to Wen Su.

Her hand holding the array diagram trembled slightly, but she still managed a smile and said, "I'm...sorry, Martial Aunt, the...array diagram is ruined..."

The hand-drawn battle formation diagram was soaked in seawater, and the ink had long since dissolved, becoming a blurry mess.

Wen Su looked at the picture, frowned, and said, "Never mind..."

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulders, and her hand holding the array diagram fell limply to the ground. "I'm sorry..."

Wen Su sighed and helped Xiao Xiao lie down comfortably. He looked up at the overcast sky. More serious than the array diagram was the fact that he didn't know where he was. Having fallen from the warship, he was now controlled by the tides. No matter how good a swimmer he was, he couldn't return to the seventy-two islands of the East China Sea. Besides, he was carrying an injured person; the only thing he could do was drift with the current. And after floating for about an hour, the tides had finally brought him to this small island, which he didn't recognize at all.

Judging from the ocean currents this season, this should be south of the East China Sea… If they had mistakenly entered the territory of the Northern Divine Palace, the situation would be quite dire. He glanced at Xiaoxiao instinctively; if she hadn't fallen into the water, he might not have…

The thought had only flashed through his mind for a moment when his heart tightened, making it impossible for him to think any further. Beside him lay a feathered arrow, its tip triangular and coated with deadly poison…

"Uncle-Master...I'm sorry..." Xiao Xiao said timidly when she saw his cold expression.

Wen Su turned to look at her. "If it's a formation diagram, then there's no need to say anything more..." He spoke with his usual indifference, "And you? With your pathetic skills, you dare to shield someone from arrows? Are you tired of living?"

Xiao chuckled weakly and said, "I'm... wearing..."

“Even if you’re wearing ‘exquisite embroidery,’ you shouldn’t be so reckless…” Wen Su reprimanded.

At this moment, Xiao Xiao started coughing again, her cheeks flushed, her breathing rapid, and she looked quite painful.

Wen Su stood up and said, "I'll go find some firewood to start a fire..."

She nodded slightly and closed her eyes to rest.

After exploring the area, Wen Su realized that their lodgings were more like an atoll than an island. The area was sparsely wooded and lacked fresh water; any longer, they would surely perish.

He finally managed to start a fire, but the firewood was still damp and produced thick smoke that was somewhat choking. Fortunately, the weather in May was already mild and pleasant; otherwise, wearing wet clothes and catching a cold, he would have had no chance of survival on this deserted island.

Wen Su walked to Xiao Xiao's side, and was about to call her to wake up when he saw a trace of blood in the corner of his eye.

He crouched down and looked closely. He saw dark red blood slowly seeping from her sleeve. Startled, he pulled up her sleeve. There was a shallow cut on her right upper arm, bleeding profusely, the wound already turning a darker color. Although "Qianxiu Bailuo" was said to be invulnerable to swords and spears, it was sleeveless. Could it be that the arrow had grazed her arm when it pierced her?

Wen Su raised her small wrist and checked her pulse. Her heart was beating very fast and erratically.

"A name that seals blood?!" Wen Su exclaimed in surprise.

He immediately reached out, helped Xiaoxiao up, and sealed the acupoints on her arms and shoulders. Then, he used his internal energy to force out the poisonous blood from her arms.

He couldn't help but feel annoyed. He realized it too late. If he had noticed earlier, he would have been absolutely certain... Damn it, how could he have been so oblivious?!

In about a quarter of an hour, the dark, poisonous blood had turned bright red. Wen Su withdrew his strength and caught Xiao Xiao in his arms. He was slightly out of breath and called out, "Xiao Xiao?"

Xiao Xiao slowly opened her eyes, and when she saw him, she still smiled, "Uncle-Master... you smell of ambergris..."

Wen Su frowned, "Do you even know you almost died? What do you care about the smell!"

"When I was little... I smelled it on my master too..." Xiao Xiao chuckled, talking to herself, "It must have been very expensive... My master told me it was a tribute... My master was clearly extremely poor, so how could he carry tributes on him?... Hehe... Now I know, because he is the 'Ghost Master' Han Qing..."

She looked up at him, her eyes slightly raised. "...Actually, you're nothing like Master... Master loves to laugh, but he keeps his joys and sorrows inside. You, though you don't laugh often, wear all your emotions on your sleeve..."

Wen Su remained silent upon hearing these words, his expression icy.

"...Uncle-Master, your lying skills are even worse than mine... Every time you speak ill of someone, the reluctance in your eyes is crystal clear..."

"When have I ever spoken ill of anyone?" Wen Su wanted to rebuke him, but the words softened unconsciously as they reached his lips.

“Lian Zhao…” Xiao Xiao paused, slightly out of breath, and said, “You keep telling me that he’s a bad person… with ulterior motives… Actually, even you, Uncle-Master, know that he’s not that kind of person…”

Wen Su looked at the little one in his arms, the initial coldness gradually disappearing. "Since you know... why..."

“I am the Ghost Master’s disciple…” Xiao Xiao gently raised her hand and grasped Wen Su’s wrist. “Uncle-Master, although most of what you said was a lie, I know you did it for my own good… Lian Zhao and I can only be enemies… Uncle-Master, I know I’m useless and always cause you worry… I will never do it again…”

The young man spoke earnestly, "...From now on, he will only come to me on imperial orders, and I will also give up any thoughts of him and stay peacefully in the East Sea...I will listen to you, be filial to you, and never...never make you angry again..."

Wen Su felt his mind was in complete chaos. Long-dormant emotions surged from the depths of his heart, raging through his body. The girl in his arms was so innocent; all she wanted was such shallow kindness… Did she really understand manipulation? Did she understand cunning and scheming? Did she understand how to hurt and kill? …It turned out… he had misjudged her, and he had misjudged himself…

He didn't know what to do, so he remained silent. But, as she said, had he already revealed his true feelings...?

Xiao Xiao looked at him, smiling innocently, "...Uncle-Master...there's one more thing...I lied to you..."

"Stop talking..." Wen Su tightened his grip, holding her slender body closer.

"...I'm not your senior uncle..." He used all his strength, almost gritting his teeth, to say these words, "I'm not..."

However, the person in his arms remained unresponsive for a long time. He carefully released her, and saw that she was sleeping peacefully, a faint smile on her face…

He was speechless, only able to smile and pull her into his arms. This was for the best… for her to know nothing, that was for the best…

...

...This is a dividing line showing a different perspective = =+...

On the East China Sea, the waves surged, and in the distance, the wind and rain gradually approached, a truly frightening sight.

The Lian family's warship was silent, with everyone standing at their posts, not daring to make a single move.

Lian Zhao entered the cabin, stood in his room, and dismissed those around him.

It was an unprecedented feeling of exhaustion that spread through every inch of his body, rendering him unable to move. He stood quietly for a long time before slowly moving to the nautical chart in front of his desk.

This was his first battle, his first time setting up a battle formation himself. However, he never imagined that the one who stole the formation diagram to break it would be her… No, now, that doesn't matter. What matters is that she was struck by his arrow, fell into the sea, and her fate is now unknown…

He glanced instinctively at his hands. How could he tell her that he had never intended to hurt her? Even when she lied to him and was his enemy, he always found reasons for her, unable to control himself from believing that she had no choice, that she had her reasons…

He closed his eyes, trying to reassure himself. Don't be afraid… she must be wearing the "Exquisite Embroidery," just like before. No matter how sharp his arrows were, they wouldn't harm her in the slightest. Besides, Wen Su was a disciple of the East Sea, an excellent swimmer. Moreover, he was her martial uncle; he would definitely save her… She would be alright… The next time he saw her, she would still be that girl with the radiant smile… It would definitely be like that…

He slowly opened his eyes, but his body was slightly unsteady. He reached out and steadied himself on the desk. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the ink and brushes that had been touched.

He thought of something and stood up straight.

Why bother making a copy when there are readily available nautical charts? Although her copying skills are exceptional, as he himself has witnessed, what is the point of going to such lengths when stealing a chart?

He frowned and stared silently at the table.

Suddenly, the faint ink stains on the table made his eyebrows twitch.

The small inkstone was clearly used hastily for drawing. The ink seeped through the paper and onto the table.

Lian Zhao immediately picked up a piece of paper, placed it on the table, and then dipped his brush in water to carefully brush the paper. The dried ink, upon contact with water, clearly imprinted itself on the paper.

He picked up the paper and laughed.

He had drawn the same picture on the paper when he was a child. A tic-tac-toe grid, a circle, plus a head, tail, and limbs—it looked exactly like a turtle. The illustrator had even thoughtfully added ripples all over the paper, making the turtle swim happily in the water.

He was somewhat helpless. Even if it was just a random scribble, was the formation he had carefully laid out after consulting military books really just a turtle swimming in the water in her eyes?

He put down the paper in his hand, propped his hands on the table, and muttered to himself, "What exactly... do you want me to do..."

...

Nine Emperors' Secret Order

When Xiaoxiao woke up groggily, it was already dark. The sky was moonless and starless, overcast and gloomy. The sea breeze howled in her ears, disturbing her peace of mind.

A dull ache still lingered in her chest. Although the arrow couldn't pierce through the "fine embroidered silk," it would certainly leave bruises that would ache for several days before subsiding. Besides that, she felt feverish all over, her heart was pounding, and even her breathing was somewhat labored.

Xiao Xiao struggled to sit up, but as soon as she raised her right hand, a sharp pain shot through her arm. She frowned, rolled up her sleeve, and saw a bandaged wound on her right arm. A wound? When did she get injured?...

Just then, she caught sight of a three-edged arrow lying to the side. A chill ran down her spine. Had she been cut by the arrow?! No way! The arrow was marked with "Instant Kill!" She was doomed!

Just as she was filled with tears and grief, she heard someone say, "She moves around as soon as she wakes up; she can't stay still for a moment."

Upon hearing this voice, Xiao Xiao turned her head with tears in her eyes, "Uncle-Master...am I about to die?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Su frowned and said with slight anger, "Nonsense!" He walked to Xiao Xiao's side, looked down at her, and said, "Lie down!"

Xiao Xiao immediately shut up and lay down obediently.

Wen Su squatted down and placed the back of his hand on her forehead.

Xiao Xiao felt a slight coolness on his forehead, but his fingers quickly withdrew, like a dragonfly skimming the water. Then, his brows furrowed even more. "I have forced out the poisonous blood for you. You just have a slight fever, nothing serious."

Xiao Xiao felt that these words didn't seem to be spoken to her, but rather that he was talking to himself.

"Uncle-Master..." Xiao Xiao thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "I want to eat candy."

Wen Su paused for a moment, then said, "...This is an isolated island..."

Xiao Xiao was somewhat surprised to hear this. She had expected him to be angry and reprimand her, but instead, he simply explained it this way, his expression even showing a hint of confusion. Her aloof and cold martial uncle was troubled???

She laughed slightly; if it weren't for the pain from her wound, she would have rolled around on the floor laughing.

Seeing her getting carried away, Wen Su became slightly annoyed and said, "It's your business to talk and laugh, but there's no water here. If you get thirsty, I can't help you."

After hearing this, Xiao Xiao laughed and asked, "Does Martial Uncle still carry a knife?"

Wen Su nodded slightly.

"Build a pit with stones, fill it with water, light a fire nearby, and hang a knife above it. As the water vapor gradually rises, it condenses upon contact with the knife. Then, put it in a leaf and it's ready to drink," Xiao Xiao said with a smile.

"Did your master teach you that?" Wen Su asked.

“Yes!” Xiaoxiao said with a hint of pride. Then, she vaguely sensed something was off. Wen Su always called her “Big Brother,” so why was he now calling her “Your Master”? Xiaoxiao thought about it for a moment, then stopped investigating. The burning pain in her wound intensified. She frowned and remained silent.

Seeing this, Wen Su asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Xiao shook her head, "No..."

Seeing that she still looked exhausted, Wen Su said, "Then sleep a little longer..."