Following the Taiyi sect manager’s instruction, everyone began getting busy, packing up their belongings and moving into Lingxiao Peak.
That night, Xie Huaizhou harbored a feeling of guilt, with absolutely no other miscellaneous thoughts, Xie Huaizhou continuously gave himself psychological hints, and then slowly walked toward Shen Yanchu’s room. He held a bottle radiating a faint medicinal fragrance tightly in his hand, as if wanting to make up for something through this gesture.
When he stepped into the room, the sole candlelight flickered with a faint glow, casting a dim and hazy light across the entire space. By this dim illumination, Xie Huaizhou’s tall figure could be seen stretched out and cast against the wall. As he moved, the shadow swayed gently like a flickering candle in the wind.
At this moment, his slender fingers gently grasped the medicine bottle, and his gaze never shifted away from Shen Yanchu for even a second. Within that look, there was concentration and earnestness, accompanied by a layer of indescribable deep affection.
Shen Yanchu sat quietly on the edge of the bed, his eyes lowered, not daring to meet Xie Huaizhou’s burning gaze. Even so, he could still clearly feel that unusual gentleness radiating from the other person. This sudden care caused his heartbeat to accelerate uncontrollably, much like a startled fawn charging wildly inside his chest.
Xie Huaizhou slowly leaned forward, his movements light and cautious, terrified that the slightest carelessness might hurt the person before him. He used his fingertips to scoop up a bit of the ointment, then applied it extremely carefully to Shen Yanchu’s injured area. Every light touch felt like a tiny current spreading instantly through his entire body, causing Shen Yanchu’s skin to tremble slightly.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanchu’s breathing gradually grew heavier. Although he desperately wanted to suppress the turbulent emotional waves crashing inside his heart, two faint red blossoms still uncontrollably crept up his fair cheeks, looking as alluring and charming as peach blossoms blooming in spring.
Xie Huaizhou’s movements grew slower and slower, his fingers lingering casually around Shen Yanchu’s wound as if enjoying this intimate contact. His gaze grew deep, as though capable of seeing straight into Shen Yanchu’s inner thoughts.
Shen Yanchu felt as though he were being firmly drawn in by an invisible force, not daring to look into Xie Huaizhou’s eyes, and could only lower his head to stare at his own toes.
Crap, what on earth am I getting nervous for? Shen Yanchu completely failed to understand what he was thinking.
“Does it hurt?” Xie Huaizhou’s voice was low and magnetic, his breath brushing gently past Shen Yanchu’s ear, causing Shen Yanchu’s body to stiffen involuntarily.
“No, it doesn’t hurt.” Shen Yanchu’s voice trembled slightly, his heart pounding like a drum, unsure whether it was due to the pain or Xie Huaizhou’s closeness.
Xie Huaizhou smiled faintly, his smile carrying a hint of doting indulgence and teasing. He let out a soft sigh, as if helpless toward Shen Yanchu’s sensitivity. He deliberately slowed his movements until Shen Yanchu felt as though he was about to drown in this ocean of tenderness.
“All done.” Xie Huaizhou finally finished applying the medicine, yet he did not immediately pull away, instead maintaining his posture close to Shen Yanchu as if waiting for something.
Shen Yanchu felt as though he had been enchanted, unable to move at all, and could only sit quietly there, feeling Xie Huaizhou’s body heat and that faint medicinal scent. Time seemed to stall in this moment, and the sound of their heartbeats grew exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
Their gazes intersected under the candlelight, and an indescribably ambiguous atmosphere permeated the air.
Suddenly, the window was pushed open, and Jiang Siwang and Ji Yanche burst in one after the other. Xie Huaizhou’s movements paused, his gaze turning sharp instantly as he glared coldly at the two of them, while Shen Yanchu wished desperately for a crack in the ground to crawl into out of sheer embarrassment.
Jiang Siwang vaulted in through the window, holding a bottle of unknown medicinal liquid, and declared with an earnest expression, “Wait a minute, I want to join this medicine application convention too! This is my specially crafted miracle cure, guaranteed to make the wound heal faster!” His expression was deadpan yet utterly comical.
Ji Yanche followed right behind, walking in expressionlessly with a folding fan in hand, fanning himself as he drawled, “Are you guys applying medicine or putting on a romantic drama? I’ll join in on the fun too.” His tone was plain yet carried a hint of banter.
Outside the door, Jihe heard the commotion inside, couldn’t help rolling her eyes, and muttered under her breath, “Enough already, are these guys children?”
Su Rongyu chuckled quietly to the side, clapping his hands as he remarked, “This spectacle is more entertaining than a play! Shen Yanchu, you’re about to become the Medicine King of Lingxiao Peak!”
Inside the room, Xie Huaizhou, Ji Yanche, and Jiang Siwang glared at one another, neither willing to yield. Xie Huaizhou deliberately increased the pressure while applying the medicine, causing Shen Yanchu to grimace in pain without daring to make a sound. Seeing this, Jiang Siwang quickly chimed in, “Watch me, my medicine is completely pain-free!” With that, he made a move to pour medicine straight onto Shen Yanchu’s wound.
Ji Yanche snatched the medicine bottle away with a swift motion and said coldly, “Don’t mess around, what if your medicine has side effects?” The three of them fought and scrambled, turning Shen Yanchu’s wound into the focal point of their rivalry.
Watching this scene, Shen Yanchu felt both amused and helpless, feeling like a piece of fish on a cutting board at the mercy of these three Medicine Kings. He tried opening his mouth to stop them, but his voice was drowned out by their bickering.
“Hey, you three, are you treating me or holding a competition?” Shen Yanchu finally couldn’t help shouting out loud, but the three of them seemed completely immersed in their mutual rivalry, completely ignoring his protest.
Frowning, Xie Huaizhou carefully dodged the attacks from Jiang Siwang and Ji Yanche while stubbornly maintaining his application technique. “I came first, you guys are showing no respect to the principle of first-come, first-served!” he said seriously, as though defending some sacred order.
Unwilling to be outdone, Jiang Siwang jumped up and retorted, “First-come, first-served still depends on how effective the medicine is! My miracle cure has miraculous results!” As he spoke, he acted out the exaggerated gesture of pouring the medicine onto Shen Yanchu’s wound again.
With sharp eyes and quick reflexes, Ji Yanche blocked Jiang Siwang’s movement with his fan, the corners of his mouth curving into a mocking smile. “Miraculous results? More like miraculous poison! Don’t make Shen Yanchu’s condition any worse.”
The three pushed and shoved each other, the situation spiraling out of control. Gazing at them, Shen Yanchu suddenly had a flash of inspiration, clutched his chest with a feigned expression of agony, and broke into a loud cough. “Ouch, I think you guys just made it hurt even worse!”
That cough hit like a bucket of cold water, instantly shocking the three into stillness. They looked at each other in blank dismay, then snapped their gazes simultaneously toward Shen Yanchu, their expressions shifting to a mix of awkwardness and concern.
Xie Huaizhou hastily set down the ointment in his hand and asked with deep worry, “What’s wrong? Was I too rough just now?”
Seeing the tense expressions on their faces, Shen Yanchu suddenly scrambled up and bolted toward the door, hiding directly behind Su Rongyu and Jihe. “You guys are far too easy to fool.”