Why?
Perhaps it's because he's a model of a good person and a chivalrous hero. How could a chivalrous hero let someone in distress down? That's what she thought.
Seeing that she was lost in thought, Baili Qingyi stopped asking and reached out to pull at her clothes.
Yin Wuxiao panicked: "What are you doing?"
"Naturally, it's to clean the wound on your chest."
Yin Wuxiao glared at him like he was a pervert: "Are you crazy?"
Baili Qingyi withdrew her hand and frowned: "Didn't we already see everything in the cave?"
What...what is this all about? Is it not enough that he saw me once in the cave, that I have to see him a second time?
Yin Wuxiao vowed to never comply.
Helpless, Baili Qingyi patted her head and smiled, "I'll go find Miss Yuwen to apply the medicine for you." He got up and went out.
Yin Wuxiao opened his eyes wide.
She felt incredibly comfortable, like a fat, blue-eyed Persian cat, being gently stroked on the head by him.
That's... insane.
Chapter Thirteen: Sharing a Bed to Sleep Facing the Mountains (Part 1)
After a short rest, the group entered the valley again the next day. With Yin Wuxiao, a skilled horse that knew the way, the journey was quite smooth. Many of the martial artists who were also seeking medical help benefited from following Baili Qingyi and quickly arrived at Baiwen Manor.
Baili Qingyi stood in front of the Baiwen Manor, the wind making his blue scholar's robe flutter.
The gates opened, and out strolled the renowned physician Xuan Hegu, whose medical skills were unparalleled. He was about fifty years old, with thick, horizontal eyebrows and a sinister expression. He didn't bother with pleasantries; upon seeing Baili Qingyi, he sneered:
"It's rare to have the young master in blue from Baili Prefecture grace us with his presence. It seems that it would be difficult for today's martial arts competition to be unfair."
Yin Wuxiao was taken aback. Could it be that this person set the rule of only treating one person a year just to watch people kill each other?
"Divine Physician Xuan, you flatter me. I am not here today for a fair competition, but for personal matters." Baili Qingyi's response caused the expressions of everyone else present to change.
"Could it be that the young master in blue has also come seeking medical help?" someone in the crowd stepped forward and questioned. What a joke! If the young master in blue were also involved, what chance would anyone else have?
"The Baili Prefecture has always maintained neutrality and has not interfered in the world's conflicts. Does the young master in blue intend to violate the ancestral precepts today?" another person shouted, unable to contain himself.
"Gentlemen, since Qingyi is here today on personal matters, everything she has done is naturally unrelated to the Baili family. Participating in the competition in a personal capacity does not violate any principles of justice," Baili Qingyi stated calmly, her eyes sweeping over everyone present without pause.
The old scorpion ghost was killed by him that day, and several of his companions went with Yin Bitong. Everyone who wanted to enter Hundred Questions Valley at the Dragon Inn that day was present, except...
Apart from the Qiong Sect members.
Unless Mu Wanfeng gave up on seeking medical treatment at Baiwen Valley.
However, this is absolutely impossible.
His gaze swept over Xuan Hegu's back, his eyes darkening slightly. Among the four apprentice doctors following closely behind the Hundred Questions Divine Physician, there was a girl whose face was swollen and red, her features unrecognizable, yet her figure seemed familiar.
Just as everyone was speechless in their rebuttal to Baili Qingyi's explanation, Xuan Hegu let out a heavy snort, and after a moment, said coldly, "It's not that Young Master Qingyi can't have someone else fight for him, but the person seeking treatment must be a close relative of Young Master Qingyi. Otherwise, if everyone seeking treatment finds a martial arts master to fight for them, wouldn't that be unfair?"
Upon hearing this, the group of martial arts practitioners showed hope again.
"Then may I ask the divine physician, who can be considered a close relative?"
Xuan He sneered: "Only blood relatives and husband-wife relatives can be considered the closest of kin."
Baili Qingyi remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking, "Can my fiancée be included?"
Everyone was greatly surprised. Even Baili Hanyi and the people from Baili Mansion showed astonishment on their faces.
Xuan He was also taken aback: "Although I live in seclusion in a remote valley, I know quite a bit about the affairs of the martial world. I have never heard of when the young master in green had a fiancée."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Yuwen Cuiyu in the crowd.
The others also began to show expressions of realization.
With a long howl from the ground, some people couldn't contain themselves and rushed into the arena, shouting, "Then let me be the first to experience the abilities of the young master in blue!"
Yin Wuxiao felt somewhat dejected, truly puzzled as to how he had repeatedly become entangled in such trouble. It turned out that Baili Qingyi had been busy with his fiancée from beginning to end.
She looked at Yuwen Cuiyu beside her. Apart from the resolute determination she displayed at Chuxiu Manor that day, this woman had never shown any other side of her, except for her gentle and unassuming nature. Even though she had clearly expressed her admiration for Baili Qingyi, her behavior remained quite measured. She had not been disrespectful to Yin Wuxiao, who had been spending a lot of time with Baili Qingyi these past few days.
This must be what they call a lady from a prominent family. Yin Wuxiao smiled bitterly, recalling how her own aunt, Madam Yun, had taught her all sorts of things about being a lady from a prominent family, but she hadn't listened to a single word. Now, trying to remember, she couldn't recall a single thing.
Aunt Yun wasn't actually close to her. Although she spent a considerable amount of time at the Yin residence each year, she didn't enjoy playing with her and Mansi like her wet nurse, Aunt Nan. Aunt Yun always had her own things to do, such as chanting Buddhist prayers and ringing the bell alone in the Buddhist hall, or embroidering and sewing alone in the embroidery room—things that would kill Yin Wuxiao just hearing about. Occasionally, Aunt Yun would leave her world to supervise her studies, but more often she would offer guidance on her behavior. And her standard was simply to make her the perfect daughter-in-law of the Qiao family. Yes, in Aunt Yun's eyes, she was born to be the fiancée of Qiao Fenglang, the leader of the Qiao Gang.
Aunt Yun criticized her mother, Ruan Wuyou, for marrying a vulgar merchant. However, whenever she mentioned her father's suicide pact, a hint of envy lingered in her voice. What woman wouldn't yearn for a love so profound it transcends life and death? But such love was too much of a luxury for Aunt Yun; her marriage remained stagnant, like still water.
I heard that the late Chief Qiao married Aunt Yun in order to establish a connection with a prestigious family, and even abandoned his lover who had borne him a son for this purpose. How could such a marriage be happy? Aunt Yun was kind and never became pregnant again. She treated Qiao Fenglang as her own son, but her personality became increasingly cold and introverted.
For Aunt Yun, a woman like Yuwen Cuiyu was the perfect daughter-in-law.
This woman is different from her, and different from Yuwen Hongying, but she is precisely the model of a wife who should stay away from strife and be cherished by her husband.
Aunt Nan hated her man, and so did Aunt Yun. When hatred reaches its extreme, loneliness follows.
But Yin Wuxiao would never walk down such a path in this life.
It turned out she had been raised by two unfortunate women; no wonder she had such an eccentric personality. Yin Wuxiao chuckled self-deprecatingly, then, thinking of Aunt Yun and Aunt Nan, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
That day, Mu Wanfeng once said that the one who let Aunt Nan down was the old man in Hundred Questions Valley.
Yin Wuxiao felt a surge of indescribable emotion.
Beside her, Yuwen Cuiyu stared at the fighting in the arena, then suddenly smiled slightly, her words directed at Yin Wuxiao: "Miss Yin, are you feeling better?"
Hearing the same question again, Yin Wuxiao couldn't find a suitable answer, so he could only hum in response.
"With such a handsome and dashing young man in blue, does Miss Yin have no desire to compete with him?"
Yin Wuxiao was taken aback again. This woman looked frail, so why did she speak so directly?
"Marriage is something that cannot be forced," she said hesitantly.
A few days ago, she could confidently warn Baili Qingyi, but now she dared not give such an absolute answer.
Yuwen Cuiyu smiled gently again: "I didn't believe it when my little sister described it before, but after spending these past few days with Miss Yin, I realized that there really are such indifferent and detached people in the world."
Apathetic and indifferent to conflict? Is that her?
"There are truly people in this world who are indifferent to worldly affairs. They are either dead or have long since found a Buddhist temple to spend their remaining years. They would never be like me, dragging my useless body around wandering around."
“But I believe that we must strive for everything in order to have a future. What’s the point of living a long life if we can’t get what we want?” A glimmer of light flashed in Yuwen Cuiyu’s bright eyes.
Yin Wuxiao's heart stirred slightly. He had uttered such smug words countless times before, and the feelings they evoked were all too familiar. With such spirit, it was no wonder that Yuwen Cuiyu, a mere weak woman, dared to defy the arranged marriage in front of the heroes of the martial arts world.
A surge of resentment welled up inside me, and I felt increasingly pathetic.
“Miss Yin,” Yuwen Cuiyu suddenly changed the subject, “I want to apologize to you on behalf of my younger sister. She tried to hurt you twice, but it was all in a moment of confusion. I hope you won’t blame her.”
“Miss Yuwen, you’re exaggerating. There’s nothing to blame you for,” Yin Wuxiao replied with a smile.
People love to make polite gestures, but after hearing them so often, they inevitably become somewhat disgusted by such low-level diplomacy. Apologies and forgiveness are merely formalities; people know that apologies cannot undo the damage, and forgiveness may not be genuine.
Yuwen Cuiyu noticed Yin Wuxiao's pale face and frowned: "Miss Yin, are you feeling unwell again?"
Yin Wuxiao shook her head. Yuwen Cuiyu's few words had stirred up a bit of competitive spirit in her heart. This woman was either very familiar with her personality or extremely good at reading people's expressions.
Yin Wuxiao glanced at Yuwen Cuiyu and suddenly realized that this person was well-versed in the art of polite conversation. Moreover, there was always something hidden in his words, yet they all struck at the heart of people's hearts, showing that he was no ordinary person.
If they were truly determined to compete, Yuwen Hongying would absolutely be no match for her unassuming older sister.
"Does Miss Yuwen really think the young man in blue can win the martial arts competition?" she asked lightly, changing the subject.
Yuwen Cuiyu looked at her in surprise: "There are no more than five people in the martial arts world who can defeat the young master in green. It would be good if anyone here could last thirty moves against him."
As if to confirm her words, Baili Qingyi had already used the move "Wild Goose Leaves No Trace" to gently throw a competitor out of the arena, who then fell heavily to the ground, his ribs dislocated.
"Ah, I wonder which fiancée the young master in blue is referring to?" Yuwen Cuiyu asked casually.
Yin Wuxiao stared at her in confusion: "Isn't this Miss Yuwen?"
"Although my health isn't great, I don't need to trouble the legendary physician. Besides..."
"That man in blue is definitely..."
“That man in blue is nothing more than a couplet; he can’t possibly sway the heart of the young master in blue.” A trace of sorrow appeared on Yuwen Cuiyu’s face.
Yin Wuxiao remained silent. She couldn't fathom what Yuwen Cuiyu's feelings were for Baili Qingyi, but Qingyi's words were definitely more than just a simple couplet.
Although she didn't know where Yuwen Cuiyu had gotten her blue robe from, she still felt comforted: "The young master in blue robes is fickle, but young master Qin Qiyun..."
"Don't mention him!" Yuwen Cuiyu's expression suddenly changed.
Yin Wuxiao was taken aback. Even if Qin Qiyun's face was terrifying, it shouldn't have caused her such disgust, right? Besides, it was really hard not to like Qin Qiyun.
“Miss Yin, Master Qin and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please do not mention this person again.” As if she could see through her thoughts, Yuwen Cuiyu added coldly, then turned her head away and remained silent.
Yin Wuxiao lowered his head sheepishly.
Before the wedding banquet at Chuxiu Manor, she had never met this eldest daughter of the Yuwen family, but why did she feel so familiar with Yuwen Cuiyu now?
She couldn't help but turn her head to look at Yuwen Cuiyu again.
As for the life-or-death struggle on the field, she didn't care at all.
Sure enough, in no time at all, everyone present had been defeated by Baili Qingyi.
Baili Qingyi nodded to the crowd. Yin Wuxiao caught a smile on his face and felt that it revealed a deeper meaning: the victory was truly without suspense!
This person! Behind his humility, he is actually quite arrogant.
Before Baili Qingyi could speak, Xuan Hegu stroked his beard and laughed loudly: "Young Master Qingyi is indeed worthy of his reputation. Since Young Master Qingyi has won, please have your fiancée come with me to the manor for treatment."
Baili Qingyi smiled and said, "Thank you, divine physician."
The next moment, Yin Wuxiao found himself being lifted up and slowly carried to Xuan Hegu's side.
"Please lead the way, divine physician." A gentle voice came from above her head. She looked up in surprise and met a pair of dark eyes that revealed a cautious gentleness.
It was her, it really was her...
This feeling is truly a mix of emotions.
She was suddenly very curious about what Yuwen Cuiyu was thinking at that moment.
"You..." Even through Baili Qingyi's chest, Yin Wuxiao could still hear whispers coming from the crowd. A sudden unease rose in her heart, and she reached out to gently push him, trying to create some distance between them.