MSBCH Chapter 2

The room was completely silent. Wen Ninghan could hear the sound of Zhi Xin outside tidying up the bed, and she could even hear her own heartbeat, but she couldn’t hear a single breath from the other person.

An exceptionally skilled master.

Wen Ninghan instantly accepted this reality and gave up all futile resistance.

After all, the fact that the other person hadn’t taken her life immediately meant that there was still a glimmer of hope, right?

Looking at Wen Ninghan’s calm demeanor, a hint of surprise and interest flashed in the other person’s dark eyes. The silver mask obscured most of his features, and the only visible part, his eyes, was largely hidden by shadows.

The only source of light in the room was a flickering candle on the table, its flame swaying gently. The wind slipped in through the cracks in the window, bringing with it a faint trace of moonlight.

Wen Ninghan pressed her lips together, thinking to herself that she had been careless. There were so many flaws in the room, yet she hadn’t noticed them.

If Zhixin had prepared the room, knowing she still needed to freshen up, there was no way she would have left only a dim candle, let alone forget to close the window properly.

The greatest mistake, however, was failing to retreat naturally when she noticed something was wrong in the room, alerting the other party that she had already caught on.

The earlier flash of silvery light had come from a bright, razor-sharp longsword. At this moment, its blade rested against the side of her neck. The icy touch felt as though even the slightest tremor could tear through her skin and drink her blood, making even the act of breathing a luxury.

The air fell into a dead silence once again.

Wen Ninghan felt she should say something. If the silence dragged on any longer, the other party, who perhaps hadn’t intended to kill her, might start considering it to eliminate any loose ends. Besides, this standoff couldn’t go on forever, were we just going to stand like this all night?

Wen Ninghan carefully considered her words before speaking cautiously, afraid that raising her voice or moving her neck too much might press herself against the blade:

“Are you merely passing by, or is there something you seek?”

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but the moment her words fell, it felt as though he silently chuckled. Though no sound was heard, and his expression was hidden, she couldn’t shake off that feeling.

“Rest assured, if you’re merely passing by, I won’t mention tonight’s events to anyone. If you have a request, as long as it’s within my ability, we can discuss it.”

She had already said so much, surely, he should at least give her some reaction, right?

“Or perhaps you could lower your sword first? Don’t worry, I promise I won’t scream. It’s just that my leg’s gone numb, and I’m afraid if I lose my balance, your beautiful sword might get stained with blood…”

To be honest, she was really tired. Acupuncture required both strength and focus. Even though she usually prioritized staying fit and had decent stamina, after an intense and nerve-wracking treatment, she still felt exhausted. She genuinely feared that her legs might give out, and she’d end up accidentally impaling herself on this stranger’s sword.

“You must be injured…” Sensing a subtle shift in the sword’s angle, Wen Ninghan quickly explained, “I only noticed because I caught the scent of fresh blood… You’re seriously hurt. I have medicine here—why don’t you treat your wound first?”

This time, Wen Ninghan was sure she heard a soft and faint laugh from him. Immediately after, there was a hoarse voice, unnaturally rough and clearly suppressed: “You’re not afraid, are you?”

Wen Ninghan rolled her eyes inwardly. ‘How could I not be afraid? That sword of yours is definitely not fake.’

For some reason, he had the distinct feeling that this seemingly fragile and harmless young woman—who looked like a single finger could push her over, yet remained calm with no trace of fear in her eyes—was probably cursing him in her heart.

A sudden commotion outside broke the stillness. As the night deepened, the inn grew quieter, making the noise stand out all the more.

Wen Ninghan hesitated before speaking, “You… would you want to continue hiding?”

Her intuition told her that the disturbance outside was aimed at the person in front of her.

The room was indeed small, with not many places to hide. In that brief moment, Wen Ninghan’s mind flashed through all sorts of dramatic scenarios. After all, the room wasn’t well-equipped. Aside from the conspicuous beams and the cramped space under the bed, the only hiding spots left were the bed, which could barely fit two people, and the bath barrel behind the screen, which had probably already started to cool down.

Wen Ninghan: “Hmm…”

“Still hesitating? The time you have left is running out.” As the one-sided conversation continued, Wen Ninghan relaxed a bit, even taking the opportunity to spread her hands. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it seems like your wound has reopened.”

She guessed that he had probably moved too quickly when trying to intimidate her earlier, causing the smell of blood in the room to grow even stronger.

Wen Ninghan couldn’t help but think that if his blood kept flowing like this, he probably wouldn’t last much longer. And if, in his final moments, he tried to drag her down with him, that would be so unfair!

The young woman in front of him seemed to be growing bolder. Not only was she staring at him without looking away, but her little movements were increasing too. Qi Yunchi couldn’t help but feel that maybe his injury was worse than he thought. His aura seemed to be fading, and now even a little girl wasn’t intimidated by him anymore.

The injury was on him, so of course, he knew his wound had reopened.

So, as Wen Ninghan raised her hand, Qi Yunchi also moved his sword aside.

Wen Ninghan: Huh?

However, Wen Ninghan didn’t stop moving. She pointed towards the window, which still had a small gap, and the very conspicuous screen: “Since you’ve chosen to hide here, you must have been prepared for this situation. How did you plan to handle it? You can continue now; I’m fully willing to cooperate. It’s just that those people are already on their way here, and judging by their demeanor, they probably won’t back off easily…”

Wen Ninghan looked at Qi Yunchi, her words hanging on the tip of her tongue. He stood in the shadows, with only the faint gleam of his silver mask visible. His entire figure was cloaked in a black cape, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

So why would he choose to hide in an inn and into someone else’s room during his escape? What made him so confident that the other party wouldn’t burst in and search the place? This wasn’t even a good hiding spot. Given how smart and capable this person seemed, he surely couldn’t have just blindly stumbled into this room in panic, right?

Actually, Qi Yunchi had thought it through. He deliberately chose this room after learning it was occupied by a female guest. While it wasn’t exactly polite, he knew hiding here was the best option in this situation. This courtyard belonged to the convoy of the Qin family, the wealthiest in Jiangnan, and the occupant was their esteemed guest. Anyone who comes to search will at least be a little cautious.

It seemed he had miscalculated, not expecting this esteemed guest of the Qin family to have such a peculiar personality.

His voice remained hoarse, giving Wen Ninghan the illusion that her eardrums were on the verge of bursting.

“Heh, heh. Do you think I should hide on the rafters, under the bed, on the only bed in this room, or perhaps… in the bathtub, which might barely fit the two of us?”

“There’s no need to be so direct.” Wen Ninghan felt that this tacit understanding was completely unnecessary. She shrugged helplessly. “After all, we don’t have any other choices.”

Qi Yunshi couldn’t help but smile inwardly. This little girl was interesting. She was already using “we” so quickly? Was she trying to subtly declare her stance, hoping to win him over?

When did the Qin family of Jiangnan have such an interesting young lady? He hadn’t heard of her before.

If Wen Ninghan knew what he was thinking, she would certainly correct him with righteous indignation: It would be truly strange if you easily heard about whether someone else’s young lady was interesting or not!

His focus was completely off.

Judging by his demeanor, he had no intention of leaving, nor did he seem inclined to make another move. Instead, he casually found a chair and sat down, pouring himself a cup of tea with ease. Thanks to Zhixin’s meticulous preparations, the tea in the room was still steaming hot.

Seeing how relaxed he was, Wen Ninghan could only sigh. She reached over to the small box on the nearby table, took out a tiny jar, and used tweezers to pick up a small piece, dropping it into the incense burner at her side.

A sharp, cold fragrance quickly filled the small room.

Zhixin’s murmurs came from outside the room: “Why did the young miss switch to Autumn Condensation incense today?”

“Mm, just changing the scent, changing the mood,” Wen Ninghan responded casually.

Zhixin didn’t question Wen Ninghan’s actions in the slightest. With just a single sentence, she was easily reassured.

Wen Ninghan felt it necessary to explain to the black-clad figure across from her. Lowering her voice, she said, “The scent of blood on you is too strong. This Autumn Condensation incense can neutralize it.”

The man didn’t respond verbally. He simply held his teacup like a lord at ease, giving a silent nod.

Wen Ninghan pursed her lips, thinking to herself: What a pretentious act.

With that mask covering his face so tightly, drinking the tea was clearly impossible—pouring it over his face might be more likely.

Then, Wen Ninghan smiled and placed a small bottle next to Qi Yunchi’s hand. “This is Golden Salve. Its effects should be much better than the common kinds.”

In just these few moments, the chaotic footsteps had already approached nearby, even startling Zhi Xin, who had just lain down.

“Miss…”

“Hmm, I’m fine here. Go check what’s going on.”

“Yes.”

After sending Zhixin away, Wen Ninghan looked at Qi Yunchi again with a half-smile, “Esteemed… hero, perhaps you’d consider finding a place to hide?” Her gaze shifted to the long sword he hadn’t sheathed and then, with a change of tone, she added, “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t say anything to the people outside. But if they come to search, I might not be able to stop them.”

The Qin family’s influence held weight, but it might not be as effective in the capital.

“Let’s count on the Jinbei Army’s reputation instead.”

Qi Yunchi paused, his hand tightening around the teacup. Following Wen Ninghan’s gaze, he too saw the flame mark on the hilt of his sword.

He hadn’t expected the other person’s gaze to be so sharp. Just that one glance allowed her to spot the hidden mark and even recognize its origin.

“So… If I go out now and buy some time, if I can delay them, we can continue as we are. If I can’t stop them, then it’s up to fate? I just hope that when I turn around, you… won’t stab me in the back with your sword?”

Qi Yunchi: “…”

Though she claimed to be afraid, the young woman didn’t hesitate at all as she turned and walked out.

Qi Yunchi found it strange. Why wasn’t he worried that she might step outside and call for help, bringing everyone down on him? And why had he inexplicably trusted her the moment she mentioned the Jinbei Army? What kind of mysterious charm did this girl possess?

Was she really not afraid he might stab her in the back?

Though she stepped out, Wen Ninghan only went as far as the outer room. With deliberate movements, she loosened her collar slightly, giving the impression of someone hastily dressed, appearing a bit disheveled but still presentable.

Just as her hand touched the door, Qin Rongxi’s voice came from outside: “Xiao Jiu¹“小九” (Xiao Jiu) is a term of address meaning “Little Nine,” often used as a nickname or to refer to someone who is the ninth child, ninth sibling, or holds the position of “Nine” in some context. It can also be an affectionate or casual way to address someone close.?”

“Seventh Brother.”

“It’s nothing. You don’t need to come out.”

Hearing Qin Rongxi’s words, Wen Ninghan didn’t make any unnecessary movements, only whispering, “What’s happening outside?”

Qin Rongxi sneered, “They say they’re searching for some fugitive, but they can’t give a clear reason. These Black Armor soldiers are getting more and more outrageous.”

“Black Armor soldiers?”

These were the royal private army, directly under the Emperor’s command, taking orders only from him.

“Xiao Jiu, don’t be afraid.”

“Seventh Brother, don’t worry, I’m not afraid.”

Before Wen Ninghan could finish speaking, another commotion erupted outside. Qin Rongxi’s stern voice cut through the noise:

“This is the room of a Qin family lady! How dare you barge in here!”

Wen Ninghan : Oh no.

• 1
  “小九” (Xiao Jiu) is a term of address meaning “Little Nine,” often used as a nickname or to refer to someone who is the ninth child, ninth sibling, or holds the position of “Nine” in some context. It can also be an affectionate or casual way to address someone close.