The third section fears being too sentimental.
Stepping out of the cabin, I pushed open a small door, and found myself in complete darkness below.
I took out a tinderbox and walked down the wooden stairs by its light. A damp smell immediately hit my nose, mixed with all sorts of other unpleasant odors.
In the dim light, I could vaguely see a jumble of things piled up at the bottom of the hold. I couldn't help but think that if there were people hiding down there, and if they wanted to attack us, then extinguishing the tinder in my hand would be a necessary prerequisite. Just then, my right hand trembled, and the flame went out instantly.
My heart was just startled when I heard a soft "thud" behind my ear, and the gentle firelight spread out again, as quickly as if there had never been a moment of darkness.
I turned around and saw Baili Chenfeng holding a tinderbox. His eyes were dark, just as sharp as when I first met him, but they became gentle when they met my gaze.
As expected of the top expert in Baili City, his adaptability is first-rate. My tinderbox had barely gone out when he lit his.
"I'll go first," he said, walking past me.
I stared at his retreating figure, silently tucking my tinderbox into my pocket. Whether Baili City was friend or foe was hard to say. This group, excluding Xiao Zuo, consisted of only one person from Baili City. In other words, if we were destined to be wiped out en route, Baili City would only lose its top expert, while the Gong family…
"What is this?" Baili Chenfeng suddenly turned around.
I snapped to attention and quickly leaned forward. He was pointing to several burlap sacks in the corner. He had slashed one of them with a knife, revealing irregularly shaped strands curled up inside, emitting a faint fragrance.
"This is bamboo shavings, an herb used to clear heat and resolve phlegm."
Baili Chenfeng gave an "oh," no longer doubting, and turned to continue checking the other items. I reached out and grabbed a handful of bamboo shoots; they slipped through my fingers like powder. I wonder what he would think if I told him that it actually has another little-known use.
Perhaps because we could never truly connect, or perhaps out of an innate sense of defensiveness, I chose to remain silent.
As I turned around, I saw a hanging plant on the wooden shelf. It was quite illogical to have such a green plant in the dark bottom of the ship. So, as soon as I noticed it, Baili Chenfeng walked over to it.
Suddenly, I stumbled and fell forward, my left arm slamming heavily against a rock used for stabilizing the boat. Struggling to sit up, I felt excruciating pain; my arm felt like it was about to break. Baili Chenfeng immediately abandoned the spider plant and rushed over to me, anxiously asking, "Are you alright?"
I shook my head and stood up, taking his hand as I did.
"Are you really alright?"
I tried to smile to show that I was okay, but before I could smile, the pain came first, and I couldn't help but grimace and gasp.
"You say you're fine? Let me see!" He handed me the tinderbox and, without saying a word, rolled up my sleeve to check my injuries. In the dim light, my left arm was covered in bruises, which made my already pale skin look even more terrifying.
This time, it was him who gasped in shock.
"Let's go back. Xiao Zuo should have the medicine."
“Xiao Zuo—” I said two words, then stopped. Seeing the questioning look in his eyes, I smiled slightly and said, “He seems to have everything.”
Baili Chenfeng nodded and said, "He is a remarkable person."
The answer was so vague and evasive, which wasn't what I was looking for. So I simply asked directly, "Is he really the biggest spendthrift in the world?"
The firelight reflected in Baili Chenfeng's eyes. I knew what I was relying on at this moment, and I also knew that one careless move could lead to an irreversible situation. However, I was willing to take the gamble and see if he would tell me the truth.
“Miss Feng.” After a long silence, Baili Chenfeng finally spoke, “No matter who he is, I guarantee he has no ill intentions toward the Gong family.”
I stared at him for a long while, then looked away and changed the subject, saying, "We've been down here long enough, let's go up."
Baili Chenfeng's answer gave me two pieces of information: first, Xiao Zuo is not the biggest spendthrift in the world; second, his true identity cannot be revealed.
When all the rumors about a person in the martial arts world are false, it means that he must have something in mind. So, what is Xiao Zuo after?
Bai Lichenfeng went upstairs first, and I followed, lifting my skirt. There were twelve steps in total on the wooden stairs. On the tenth step, I suddenly slowed down, turned around thoughtfully, and looked at the orchid swaying gracefully in the dim light of the lower deck.
I don't like it. Since it grows in such a dark place, why does it have to be so bright and beautiful?
I turned my head slowly, merely to tidy up a strand of hair at my temple; the orchids on the wooden shelf had already withered rapidly.
Baili Chenfeng turned and reached out his hand to me. I gave him my hand and couldn't help but smile. The sunlight outside the cabin gently illuminated half of my body. At that moment, with a bang, the ship shook violently.
The immense force of the explosion shoved me out of the hatch, but fortunately, Baili Chenfeng had already grabbed my hand... I knew he wouldn't let go of me easily.
Sure enough, an arm quickly reached out and grabbed my waist, pulling me into the icy water. Then, for a while, the world spun around us, and a huge wave swept over us, as if to swallow me alive. But in this terrifying moment, Baili Chenfeng's voice rang clearly in my ears: "We've encountered the enemy!"
I turned my head in his arms and saw the boat break in half and slowly sink. At noon, the river water shimmered as if dyed with gold, sparkling and shimmering, reflecting all the memories of my life. For some reason, my eyes suddenly became a little moist.
While panting, Baili Chenfeng stretched out his arm and dragged over the nearest plank of the boat, saying, "Before we went down to the cabin, our boat passed a water oasis. If we swim back now, we should be able to get there in half an hour."
"But—" I looked around and saw only the vast expanse of yellow water, the waves crashing and crashing, and no one else in sight. It was as if only the two of us remained in the world. "I wonder how the young lady and the others are doing..."
"With Xiao Zuo there, she'll be fine." He seemed completely unconcerned. Could Xiao Zuo really be that powerful? Just as I was thinking that, Baili Chenfeng pushed the plank of the boat in front of me and said urgently, "Grab it, I'll pull you away!"
I bit my lip: "I can swim!"
"I know you can, but with your physique, you can't swim very far at all."
I glanced at him with some resentment, but when I saw the worry in his eyes, my heart inexplicably trembled. In a jumble of thoughts, I grabbed the float and obediently let him carry me back without saying another word.
Feng Xiansu, he did it voluntarily. You're in the same boat; he had an obligation to save you. Even without him, you wouldn't necessarily die. You don't need to be moved...
But in times of danger, he's always the first to be by my side, protecting me. He always keeps my frailty in mind and takes care of me in every way. He's such a thoughtful person.
So what if you're observant? Besides knowing he's the top expert in Baili City, what else do you know? Such secrecy is dangerous, Feng Qiansu, that's dangerous...
I always keep people at arm's length. If I miss out on someone who truly cares for me because of this, will I regret it?
Where in this world can you find so much sincerity? And even if you do, how long can it last? If you try to believe in sincerity, you will regret it! Feng Qiansu, you will regret it…