By the time Jiang Cheng returned with supplies, it was already dusk. As a top-tier martial artist, he immediately noticed that the residence was missing two people. He found Bai Jinshu and Ye Lihen in the room. Bai Jinshu was in the middle of changing Ye Lihen’s bandages. When he saw Jiang Cheng, Bai Jinshu inexplicably felt a bit embarrassed, as if he had been caught doing something secretive. He quickly finished the last of the bandaging, pulled Ye Lihen’s clothes back up, and then turned to his Martial Uncle.
“Lin’er and the assassin are gone?” Bai Jinshu tried to act casual, but this only made Jiang Cheng more suspicious.
To prevent Jiang Cheng from worrying about Lin Ling, Bai Jinshu quickly explained, “Lin’er left on her own. I may have upset her, but she should be safe.”
This was the first time Ye Lihen had heard about Lin Ling’s departure, and he quickly glanced at Bai Jinshu with a slight surprise. For some reason, Bai Jinshu felt that Ye Lihen somehow knew the specifics of how he had “upset” her, which made him feel a little guilty.
Jiang Cheng, however, wasn’t surprised by Bai Jinshu’s explanation. In fact, he seemed to have anticipated it. He nodded slightly, saying, “Lin’er not traveling with us might indeed be safer.” Then he asked, “And the assassin?”
“Someone came to rescue him in secret.”
This time, Jiang Cheng frowned. “There’s no reason this place should have been exposed.”
Bai Jinshu nodded in agreement. “We were careful on the way here, and it’s unlikely anyone followed us. I’m also wondering how our whereabouts were discovered. The enemy seems to be following us closely, almost as if they are always near.”
Jiang Cheng lowered his head in deep thought. “The enemy is indeed mysterious. If they’re not really from the Fire Lotus Sect, then who are they, and why are they pretending to be from the sect? What’s their motive?”
“Regardless.” Bai Jinshu said, focusing on the immediate issue, “the enemy is in the shadows while we’re out in the open. Even though only one person came to rescue the assassin today, who knows if they’ll send more reinforcements. Martial Uncle, we can’t stay here any longer.”
Jiang Cheng agreed with a nod. “I originally planned for us to rest here for a couple more days, but given the situation, we should leave as soon as possible.” He then turned to Ye Lihen and asked with concern, “Little Brother Ye, how is your sword wound healing?”
In the past few days, Ye Lihen hadn’t said much while interacting with Jiang Cheng, and he didn’t show much respect or courtesy toward the elder. However, whenever Jiang Cheng made difficult or demanding arrangements, this pampered young master, who clearly had been raised in luxury, followed orders without complaint. This led Jiang Cheng to develop a growing fondness for him. Now, as they prepared for a tough journey ahead, with the likelihood of eating and sleeping outdoors, Jiang Cheng’s first concern was for Ye Lihen’s physical condition.
As the one tending to Ye Lihen’s wounds, Bai Jinshu knew very well that his injuries were healing slowly. And after today’s reckless dip in the water, the pain would likely linger even longer. Just as Bai Jinshu was about to explain the situation to ensure Jiang Cheng would be considerate of Ye Lihen’s condition on the road, the person in question answered first, “I’ve mostly recovered.”
“That’s good to hear.” Jiang Cheng said with relief.
Bai Jinshu glanced at Ye Lihen, who was always trying to tough it out, and decided not to call him out. Instead, he made a mental note to pay extra attention to him during the journey.
With the basic plan set, Jiang Cheng turned his attention to the specifics.
“If we stay here tonight, I doubt we’ll get any proper rest. The longer we linger, the more time we give the enemy. Let’s pack up and get ready to leave.”
There wasn’t much to pack. They hadn’t intended to stay long, and they were always prepared for sudden changes. All they needed to do was grab their belongings and go. Knowing that they would face some time without proper food or rest, and given that Jiang Cheng had brought back a feast of supplies, the three of them sat around the table for a hearty dinner.
After dinner, they set off.
When the four of them had first arrived at the remote residence, Jiang Cheng had brought Ye Lihen using his qinggong, so they only had two horses. Since Lin Ling had left without taking one, the two horses were now available for the three remaining travelers. Naturally, Jiang Cheng would take one horse, while Bai Jinshu and Ye Lihen would share the other. However, when they went to retrieve the horses, Bai Jinshu suddenly realized the problem.
The issue wasn’t with Ye Lihen’s intentions; it was with Bai Jinshu himself. He didn’t know how to maintain a natural demeanor with such close contact between them. He didn’t think he harbored any inappropriate thoughts toward Ye Lihen, but it was precisely that fear of the possibility, even a remote one, that made him hesitant.
Standing beside the two horses, Bai Jinshu found himself momentarily frozen.
Ye Lihen took one glance at Bai Jinshu, then, without a word, turned to Jiang Cheng. “Hero Jiang, may I ride with you?”
Perhaps Jiang Cheng sensed the strange tension between Bai Jinshu and Ye Lihen, but if he did, he didn’t show it. He simply nodded at Ye Lihen’s request and even courteously helped the injured young master onto the horse. By the time Bai Jinshu snapped out of it, Ye Lihen was already settled with Jiang Cheng. Unable to dwell on it, Bai Jinshu quickly mounted his horse and followed.
Night had fallen, and under the pale moonlight, the three of them rode along a secluded mountain path. Bai Jinshu took the rear, ensuring they weren’t being followed. Though he kept a distance from the two riders ahead, Bai Jinshu could still clearly see Ye Lihen’s figure. Normally aloof and distant from everyone else, Ye Lihen now appeared completely at ease while riding with Jiang Cheng. In fact, he almost seemed to be enjoying himself.
For some reason, seeing Ye Lihen so relaxed and content made Bai Jinshu feel strangely uncomfortable. After making sure there were no pursuers, he sped up his horse and caught up to the other two.
As he approached, he overheard Ye Lihen speaking with Jiang Cheng. The two of them, who had barely exchanged a few words over the past few days, seemed to have been conversing for quite some time. Bai Jinshu couldn’t figure out what they could possibly be talking about, and just as he tried to move closer to listen, Ye Lihen stopped the conversation and turned to him. “Is anyone following us?”
Bai Jinshu shifted his focus back to the task at hand. “No.” he confirmed. That was the reason he had hurried to catch up—
“We can rest here for now.” Bai Jinshu suggested, casting a concerned glance at Ye Lihen, whose external injuries weren’t yet fully healed and who shouldn’t be overexerting himself.
Before Ye Lihen could respond, Jiang Cheng quickly agreed with Bai Jinshu’s suggestion. “Although camping out here in the open isn’t ideal, continuing on won’t offer us a better place to rest. Let’s take a break.” With that, he reined in his horse.
They stopped at a clearing surrounded by trees, offering some concealment.
Bai Jinshu tied the two horses to a nearby tree and gathered firewood. He and Jiang Cheng, with their deep internal energy, didn’t need warmth, so the fire was clearly meant for Ye Lihen, who had yet to fully recover from his internal injuries. Ye Lihen understood this but said nothing, merely coming over to help start the fire. Despite his intelligence, the pampered young master was clumsy with his hands. In his attempt to start the fire, he failed to ignite the wood and instead managed to set his own sleeve on fire.
Bai Jinshu stood there, dumbfounded, as Jiang Cheng calmly used a burst of qi to extinguish the flames on Ye Lihen’s sleeve.
“To start a fire, you need kindling. Wood is difficult to ignite directly.” The martial world’s renowned leader, Jiang Cheng, patiently taught him the technique. Using his internal energy, he dried out the damp leaves, then lit them with a fire starter before carefully adding twigs to the growing flame.
Ye Lihen watched Jiang Cheng’s movements with a slightly dazed expression. Whether he actually learned anything remained unclear, as he clumsily tried to imitate the technique by thrusting a stick into the fire. Seeing this, Bai Jinshu quickly grabbed Ye Lihen’s hand. The young master’s sleeves were far from practical for martial artists—wide and billowy, designed more for show than utility. If he wasn’t careful, he could easily set himself on fire again.
“There are plenty of people in this world who can’t start a fire but still manage to live just fine. You don’t have to force yourself to learn.” As he spoke, Bai Jinshu took over the task without further ado.
Jiang Cheng, who had slowed down his actions to teach Ye Lihen, glanced at Bai Jinshu. Seeing the younger man’s eagerness to get the fire started, Jiang Cheng didn’t drag things out. He quickly finished the task, and soon enough, the fire was crackling steadily.
Once the fire was going and the three of them were seated around it, Jiang Cheng took the opportunity to discuss their next steps with Bai Jinshu.
“We’re not too far from Renwang Mountain now. Earlier, I spoke with Xiao Ye, and we agreed that it would be best to head there first. You two can stay at the mountain for a while, and later, you’ll travel with the rest of your sect to the martial arts conference.”
This plan made sense given their current situation. Although reaching Renwang Mountain would require a detour, the martial arts conference was still some time away. Bai Jinshu was more than happy to return to the sect and visit everyone. On the other hand, as the leader of the martial alliance, Jiang Cheng undoubtedly had many matters to attend to before the conference. Once he had brought Bai Jinshu and Ye Lihen safely to the mountain, he could continue his duties with peace of mind.
Bai Jinshu nodded in agreement. Before speaking, he couldn’t help but glance at Ye Lihen, who had suddenly gone from being addressed as “Little Brother Ye” to “Xiao Ye.” “Of course, I’d love to return and see my master. As long as Ye xiaxia is interested in being our guest, you’re more than welcome to join us at Renwang Mountain.”
Ye Lihen raised his head and looked at Bai Jinshu with a calm expression. “The world is vast, but there aren’t many places where I can find shelter. As long as Young Hero Bai isn’t opposed to hosting me, I’ll gladly go.”
Bai Jinshu’s earlier question had been intentionally distant, but Ye Lihen’s immediate return of polite formality left Bai Jinshu feeling uncomfortable. After a brief pause, Bai Jinshu softened his tone. “Then it’s settled. The sky is almost light. You should get some rest while you can. I’ll take the first watch.”
After their long journey, Ye Lihen was clearly exhausted. He didn’t put up a fight and simply wrapped his clothes tighter around himself before lying down on the ground, which was only covered with a thin layer of fallen leaves. Jiang Cheng, who hadn’t commented on the strange tension between Bai Jinshu and Ye Lihen, simply nodded at Bai Jinshu, said, “Thank you for your hard work, Jinshu.” and then closed his eyes to rest against a tree.
Given Bai Jinshu’s vigilance and the presence of another top-tier martial artist like Jiang Cheng, there was no need for them to take turns keeping watch with strict discipline. Even resting with their eyes closed would be enough to detect danger. However, despite the long journey and the constant threat of danger, Bai Jinshu found himself wide awake, his mind too alert to rest.
The sky to the east was still dark, and the waning moon that had been hanging over the treetops had disappeared. In the silence of the night, only the dim, flickering fire cast a glow. Bai Jinshu found his gaze drifting toward Ye Lihen’s sleeping face, illuminated by the firelight. The young man’s body was curled slightly, his arms wrapped around himself for warmth. His right hand, unconsciously resting on his injured shoulder, indicated that the fire wasn’t providing enough warmth.
Bai Jinshu approached quietly and carefully moved Ye Lihen’s hand away from the wound. Then, he took off his jacket, still warm from his body, and gently draped it over him.
Just hours earlier, Ye Lihen had told Bai Jinshu, “If you respond to me, it’s your matter. If you don’t respond, it’s my own business.” But no matter what Ye Lihen said, it couldn’t be just his own matter. Even if Bai Jinshu didn’t respond, it would still involve him. There were countless matters in this world that Bai Jinshu could remain indifferent to, but when it came to Ye Lihen, it could never be just someone else’s concern.
Squatting in front of Ye Lihen, Bai Jinshu lost track of how long he had been lost in thought. When he snapped out of it, he realized that Jiang Cheng had opened his eyes at some point.
Bai Jinshu’s heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he felt an inexplicable sense of embarrassment.
But Jiang Cheng’s expression remained calm. He looked Bai Jinshu straight in the eye and said in a serious tone, “A man must know what he should do and what he shouldn’t. And if he dares to do something, he must have the courage to face the consequences, even if it means defying the world.”
Bai Jinshu understood the implications of his Martial Uncle’s words and was initially surprised by Jiang Cheng’s lack of opposition. Then, he realized he needed to clarify, “Martial Uncle, it’s not what you think.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is what you think.” Jiang Cheng didn’t say anything more. He stood up from the ground and added, “The sky is about to brighten. You should prepare to leave soon. I’ll go fetch some water.”
Bai Jinshu wanted to let Ye Lihen rest a bit longer, but he knew that the sooner they reached Renwang Mountain, the sooner they could truly rest. Seeing that the fire was starting to die down, he worried that if Ye Lihen slept any longer, he would catch cold. So, he gently shook the young man’s shoulder to wake him up.
Normally, Ye Lihen was sharp and alert, but it took Bai Jinshu quite a while to wake him this time.
“How could you sleep with so little vigilance? It’s dangerous.” Bai Jinshu pointed out with concern.
Ye Lihen didn’t seem to care. “With two top-tier martial artists watching over me, why should I trouble myself?”
Bai Jinshu couldn’t help but smile. “You trust us that much?”
Ye Lihen’s signature arrogance returned as he replied, “Of course, I have good judgment.” However, a moment of worry flashed across his face as he added in a low voice, as if to himself, “I just wonder if you have the same good judgment.” His tone was somber, and the comment seemed to carry more weight than Bai Jinshu could grasp.
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