Chapter 7

“I’ll help you put it on.”

As soon as Xie Tinglan said that, Ye Rui immediately waved her hand and refused. “No need. I can do it myself.”

“It’s not that bad.”

With that, Ye Rui took the medicine she had bought today from the cabinet and sat down at the table with her back to Xie Tinglan. She quickly tugged down her collar. On her right shoulder was a vertical abrasion, red and purple, and it looked painful at a glance.

Ye Rui poured the medicine into her palm and casually smoothed it over the wound. The icy ointment hit the hot, raw flesh; the dense, prickling pain made her face twist again. Her shoulder hunched, then she forced it open with difficulty, and a muffled groan slipped out before she could stop it.

Looks like she wouldn’t be able to carry water for the next few days.

Xie Tinglan kept watching. When she saw the movement at Ye Rui’s shoulder blades, like a pair of wings about to spread, she went a little absent-minded.

After the medicine was applied, Ye Rui quickly pulled her clothes back up. She had handled it so casually that Xie Tinglan couldn’t help thinking: this was nothing like the way one treated one’s own injuries.

Xie Tinglan herself hadn’t even realized she’d been watching Ye Rui the whole time. Only after Ye Rui straightened her clothes did she notice the small basket beside her, where a stalk of Fire Sparrow Herb lay with its wing-shaped leaves dyed a vivid vermilion.

Her eyes brightened slightly. She hadn’t expected there to be Fire Sparrow Herb on Mount Yu, and Ye Rui had even brought it back.

“I’m going to make dinner first. It’s a little late today.”

As Ye Rui walked out, she kept moving her shoulder; it still looked very uncomfortable.

Over the next few days, Xie Tinglan didn’t bring up bathing again. Ye Rui also healed quickly, and before long she was fine. The two of them went on living together for several more days. Although Xie Tinglan’s identity was still a mystery, Ye Rui had no interest in prying into it; on the contrary, being together felt easy, with no sense of distance between them.

Xie Tinglan had been born into a noble family. She had been disciplined from childhood; after entering the palace as a female secretary and archivist, she had continued to move through every step with caution. She had never had these few days, when she could set aside so many worries. She had been watching Ye Rui all along. This person sometimes behaved oddly, sometimes stayed silent while her expressions kept changing, and her words and actions were nothing like a hunter’s; even the way she thought didn’t resemble one.

She didn’t seem to know martial arts, but she had a good build and plenty of potential to learn.

Xie Tinglan discovered that Ye Rui was, at heart, not someone who could sit still. She was like a wild horse that refused to be tamed, disdainful of worldly etiquette and constraints. Xie Tinglan could tell that much from the way Ye Rui spoke.

Every time Ye Rui came back from the market, she always brought back some interesting gossip to share. For example, there had been a man who openly scolded his wife, saying women should obey the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. Ye Rui couldn’t help but lecture him properly and even brought up Xie Tinglan’s name. The man had been frightened at once.

Or, for another example, the young ladies who could attend school in the private academies were all daughters of prestigious families and noble houses. Ye Rui felt that the court was failing in its duty and had neglected the importance of women’s education. She also said that education could change one’s fate was no joke; the saying that understanding determined how far a person could go applied at any time.

Those words, coming from a hunter who lived deep in the mountains, sounded strange no matter how Xie Tinglan listened. Yet when Ye Rui spoke of them in righteous indignation, Xie Tinglan could see the fire in her heart.

A flame that wanted to burn down all those chains of worldly etiquette and moral restraint.

The wildness hidden in her heart went far beyond that. Ye Rui clearly knew her identity was not simple, yet she still did not lower herself in word or deed; she said what needed to be said, did what needed to be done, and yet she was not overbearing or rude. Everything stayed within exactly the right measure.

Today, Ye Rui was sitting at the table practicing calligraphy. Over this period, she had learned many, many characters, but Xie Tinglan still refused to teach her the titles of those books. That made Ye Rui so curious she itched all over.

Xie Tinglan’s leg and collarbone were much better as well. Ye Rui was surprised by how quickly she recovered, and in the end could only credit herself for taking good care of her; with good food and comfortable lodging, was it really too much for her to spend a bit more silver on paper and ink?

Today, Ye Rui was writing the characters Xie Tinglan had taught her yesterday: “Life is like a chessboard; every game is new.”

Xie Tinglan sat in another corner reading. When she looked up and saw Ye Rui frowning hard as she wrote, she glanced at the characters on the paper. She was about to offer some guidance, but the strokes were such that, for a moment, she couldn’t think of how to explain them properly.

She braced a hand on the table and stood, taking care to avoid the injury on her left leg, then limped slowly to Ye Rui’s side. By the time Ye Rui felt a cool fragrance drift up behind her, it was already too late to react.

Xie Tinglan bent slightly, her body pressing in from behind. Her right hand covered the back of Ye Rui’s hand holding the brush; her middle finger and thumb exerted a little force, guiding Ye Rui’s hand within her palm. “This part should be written like this.”

Because of the injury to her collarbone, Xie Tinglan couldn’t bend very far, but Ye Rui still felt her breath faintly brush near her ear, like a spring breeze that was both teasing and vexing.

Xie Tinglan caught Ye Rui’s hand, her slender jade-like fingers gently leading Ye Rui stroke by stroke. At this moment, Xie Tinglan seemed to have shed all her sharpness, like a light veil wrapping around Ye Rui with effortless grace.

“This is much better.”

Perhaps because her handwriting resembled her own, or perhaps because she thought the wildness and openness leaking from Ye Rui’s bones were worth cultivating, Xie Tinglan found herself wanting to teach her.

Every stroke, every hook and slant, she taught without holding back.

Ye Rui’s hand felt a little stiff, even somewhat numb. Looking at the words before her, she found them growing hazy, as if they were moving; every stroke looked like a wing about to spread and fly.

Xie Tinglan was about to say something else when she happened to notice the reddened outer rim of Ye Rui’s ear and raised a brow with interest. She let go, but did not withdraw immediately. Instead, she lightly pinched Ye Rui’s earlobe between two fingers and rubbed it. “You can argue with a roomful of scholars on ordinary days, and yet now you’re blushing over nothing more than writing a few characters. Could it be you have improper thoughts about me?”

Ye Rui shrank back as if startled, then abruptly stood and turned to look at Xie Tinglan. Xie Tinglan was still standing behind her, calm and unreadable. In that instant, it was as if a surge of anger had risen straight from Ye Rui’s heart and the wickedness in her courage had burst forth; a thought in her mind almost slipped free of her control.

Seeing that Xie Tinglan’s smile held a trace of amusement, Ye Rui’s gaze also sharpened with irritation. Yet just as their eyes met, Ye Rui suddenly laughed.

Xie Tinglan paused, a little puzzled by Ye Rui’s smile.

“So what if I do have improper thoughts about you? Are you scared?”

Xie Tinglan heard Ye Rui competing with her like this, but she wasn’t angry at all; instead, she gave a soft laugh. “Scared?”

The laugh that slipped from her lips sounded like she had just heard something ridiculous. When had Xie Tinglan ever been afraid?

“Little hunter, I’d like to see just how bold you are.”

Xie Tinglan met Ye Rui’s bright, clear eyes without fear. Ever since she had changed into another set of clothes, Xie Tinglan found herself glancing at her more and more often.

This person’s looks, in truth, weren’t bad.

Seeing the flicker of light in Xie Tinglan’s eyes as she looked over her face, Ye Rui suddenly felt as if she had been seen through. Her earlier courage shattered in an instant under a single glance from Xie Tinglan.

Just now... what had she been trying to do?

Ye Rui’s gaze fell on Xie Tinglan’s lips. They had regained their color; those pale pink lips had sharp, well-defined contours, and even the curve of that mocking smile looked dangerous and alluring.

Just as her hand was about to lift to do something, she suddenly looked away.

“Don’t keep provoking me.”

Ye Rui’s heart pounded wildly, as if she had just gone through some unknown struggle with herself. Only the sweat in her palm knew how intense her shameful thoughts had been.

Xie Tinglan merely smiled, lightly brushed her sleeve, and returned to her seat, taking up Two Beauties Play at Love again. She usually read very quickly, but in order to kill more time, she deliberately slowed down, savoring each character one by one.

Because of that, she remembered every word and sentence inside, even the explicit details, and stored them all in her mind.

Every time she read until her abdomen felt warm, Xie Tinglan would realize that she too was just a human being, with desires and longing, not merely a blade for killing.

She liked that feeling; being surrounded by desire was fine too.

Xie Tinglan glanced at Ye Rui. Ye Rui continued practicing calligraphy earnestly. Nothing between them seemed to have changed: one hunter, one injured woman; one teaching, one learning; one reading, one writing. And yet they both clearly understood that some things had already changed.

Even if not for what had just happened, it had changed long ago.

It was something impossible to put into words, something slowly shifting; a change in eyes, a change in tone, a change in smiles, and also the repeated probing and testing hidden in their words.

An indistinct feeling was constantly tugging back and forth in this mountain wilderness, in a place where no one else could see.

That night, Ye Rui was not affected by today’s little interlude. She still prepared dinner and ate with Xie Tinglan. Thanks to Xie Tinglan, her meals had truly improved a great deal; there was meat and vegetables, and she could almost be said to be living the life of a wealthy household.

“After we leave Mount Yu, where do you plan to go?”

Xie Tinglan rarely spoke while eating. Ye Rui had always thought her family must have had extremely strict rules, making silence at the table and in bed a matter of absolute observance.

“I’m thinking of going to the Capital City to have a look. I also want to see just how prosperous the Capital City really is.”

After saying that, Ye Rui remembered her side quest. She was still one Fire Sparrow Herb short of completing it, but she had searched for many days and still hadn’t found it. She would have to finish that task before leaving.

Xie Tinglan curved her lips into a smile and looked up at Ye Rui. “I see you’ve been going out to gather herbs these past few days. Are you planning to sell medicinal herbs in the Capital City?”

Ye Rui was left speechless by the question. She really didn’t know what those Fire Sparrow Herbs were for.

Hu Tu: 【You’re asking the right thing this time!】

Ye Rui: 【So what are they for?】

Hu Tu: 【I don’t know either. I just wanted to mess with you for a bit!】

Ye Rui: 【……】

I’m not happy!!

“I just thought that herb looked pretty special, so I picked it. If I can sell it in the Capital City for some money, that would naturally be best.”

Ye Rui pretended she didn’t know what it was. She was already suspicious enough; if she also recognized this weird medicinal herb, that would make her even more suspicious.

“You know what it is?”

“No.”

Ye Rui shrugged and lowered her head to eat. As long as she didn’t look at Xie Tinglan, she wouldn’t be exposed.

“It’s called Fire Sparrow Herb.”

“Oh..."

Ye Rui gave a flat response.

“If you can find five stalks of Fire Sparrow Herb, I’ll buy them.”

Ye Rui suddenly caught the scent of money and looked up sharply at Xie Tinglan. Her expression was serious, not like she was lying.

“What’s it good for?”

Now Ye Rui was interested, her eyes full of naked desire for money. However, Xie Tinglan only smiled, as if teasing a puppy, pretending she was about to explain before finally saying, “If you shouldn’t ask, then don’t ask.”

Ye Rui: “……”

Bad woman!

Author’s Note:

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Here we go~ The next chapter will be on Tuesday! [dog head]