MSBCH Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The ones who arrive is the Black Armor Army, the private forces of the Great Yan Dynasty’s Emperor. The Black Armor Division oversaw and monitored all civil and military officials of the dynasty, acting with ruthless and unpredictable methods that struck fear into many.

No matter how influential the Jiangnan Qin family was, they had no desire to confront the Black Armor Army head-on. After all, going against them was tantamount to opposing the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty himself.

Hearing Qin Rongxi’s words, Wen Ninghan felt grateful for his protection but didn’t want to give the Black Armor Army any leverage at this moment.

“Seventh Brother.” Wen Ninghan opened the door on one side and walked behind Qin Rongxi. “It’s fine. The generals are just doing their duty. We should cooperate with them.”

Qin Rongxi strongly disagreed, “Xiao Jiu!”

That was Wen Ninghan’s room, what sense did it make for a group of men to barge in and search it recklessly? Qin Rongxi was a thousand times unwilling to accept it.

Similarly, Qi Yunchi, who had overheard Wen Ninghan’s words inside the room, raised an eyebrow. Was this the little girl’s plan to delay them outside while she dealt with something inside?

Might as well invite the Black Armor Army directly in, right?

The courtyard was brightly illuminated by the invading Black Armor Army. Qin Rongxi stood tall, while Wen Ninghan stood behind her, half-hidden in the shadows.

Liu Gu raised his eyes to look at the young girl, reportedly a member of the Qin family. Her voice sounded youthful, yet she remained remarkably calm under the oppressive presence of the Black Armor Army. This made Liu Gu regard the Qin family’s young lady with newfound respect.

After all, the noble ladies he knew would either scream in terror and faint on the spot or, at the very least, turn pale. Let alone speaking coherently, they’d probably struggle just to stay standing.

Liu Gu was well aware of the intimidating power of his Black Armor Army.

With a casual gesture, Liu Gu raised his hand. “Liu Gu, Qianhu of the Black Armor Army’s Left Guard, here under orders to pursue a fugitive. My apologies for the intrusion.”

Qin Rongxi seemed about to say something, but Wen Ninghan quickly pulled him back. “Thank you for your efforts, Lord Qianhu. Please, carry on as you see fit.”

As she spoke, Wen Ninghan not only pulled Qin Rongxi aside to clear the doorway but also waved at Zhixin, the little maid in the corner who was pale-faced and frozen in fear.

Following Wen Ninghan’s gesture, Liu Gu noticed the trembling maid in the corner. His stern, almost grim face twisted into a crooked smile. This is the reaction he expected from a proper young lady when faced with the Black Armor Army.

Zhixin, who had been anxiously watching Liu Gu’s every move, naturally noticed the change in his expression. Her lips quivered, and she nearly burst into tears, barely managing to hold herself upright against the tree trunk.

Wen Ninghan sighed helplessly. After giving Qin Rongxi a reassuring glance, she stepped toward Zhixin and said softly, “Alright, don’t be scared. I’m here.”

Seeing Wen Ninghan within her reach, Zhixin suddenly felt reassured, and the strength in her hands and feet seemed to have returned a little, at least enough for her to hug Wen Ninghan’s arm, seeking more security, Her voice trembled as she whimpered, “Miss… sniff…”

Zhixin was genuinely terrified!

Having grown up in the Qin family and following Wen Ninghan since she was old enough to understand things, Zhixin had lived a relatively sheltered life. Her memories from before being taken in by the Qin family were hazy, but the tales of the Black Armor Army were well-known even in Jiangnan, echoing like thunder in her ears. Occasionally, she would catch glimpses of the Black Armor Army rushing through the streets, their murderous aura so intense it could silence crying children at night.

Liu Gu glanced at Wen Ninghan, who was busy comforting the little maid, and let out a cold snort. He had no intention of overlooking any possibility, even if it meant searching the rooms of the Qin family women.

His eyes shifted to Qin Rongxi, who stood to the side, clearly displeased. The young man was glaring at him furiously, his anger practically radiating off him.

Young and fearless, Qin Rongxi’s bold glare was something Liu Gu hadn’t encountered in years. The feeling was almost novel to him. He was certain that if not for Wen Ninghan’s intervention, this seventh young master of the Qin family might have actually dared to fight the Black Armor Army.

Watching Liu Gu walk into the room, Wen Ninghan couldn’t honestly say she wasn’t nervous. No one knew what that mysterious figure was planning. Of course, she had no idea what fugitive the Black Armor Army was chasing either. Although she was curious, she couldn’t ask in front of the Black Armor Army. Knowing too much wouldn’t end well.

The room wasn’t large, and with Liu Gu’s abilities, a quick scan would reveal everything. From the way the room had been tidied up, it was clear that the Qin family young lady was preparing to wash up and rest. There were no other unusual signs, but the scent from the incense burner was fresh and unique, not the cloying sweetness one would expect in the room of an ordinary young lady.

When Liu Gu stepped out, the first thing he saw was the bright, sparkling gaze of the Qin family young lady. To be honest, in all these years, Liu Gu had never encountered a young lady who dared to meet his eyes directly.

It wasn’t about whether he was from the Black Armor Army or not. With his appearance, he could easily frighten most young ladies to tears. Yet, to see such an open and clear gaze from one of them was a first in his life.

Liu Gu, who hadn’t planned on showing any courtesy, surprisingly cupped his hands and said, “My apologies for the disturbance.”

The other rooms in the courtyard had already been searched. The Black Armor Army came quickly and left just as swiftly. Among the Qin family, only Qin Kaihai, still in deep sleep remained unaffected. The rest were all shaken and still in a state of fear.

Wen Ninghan tugged at Qin Rongxi’s sleeve and shook it gently, “Alright, Seventh Brother, it’s better to avoid more trouble. It’s already late, so let’s rest early.”

Qin Rongxi, still upset, grumbled, “Hmph, these Black Armor Army soldiers are just bullying others with their power!”

“You shouldn’t say it like that,” Wen Ninghan replied. “They are just carrying out orders. If there’s a fugitive to be apprehended, we should cooperate.”

“Xiao Jiu, how can you still speak up for the Black Armor Army?” Qin Rongxi was displeased. “You know better than anyone what they’ve done. They’ve caused more harm than good.”

“But Seventh Brother, you should also understand, the Black Armor Army is just a weapon in someone else’s hand,” Wen Ninghan calmly replied.

Qin Rongxi immediately fell silent, the flames of his anger instantly extinguished by Wen Ninghan’s words. He looked at her with a complicated expression and said with difficulty, “Xiao Jiu… let’s not say things like that in the future…”

It sounded quite intimidating.

Wen Ninghan couldn’t help but laugh, “Seventh Brother, you weren’t like this when you were facing the Black Armor Army just now.”

Qin Rongxi was embarrassed. When facing the Black Armored Army, he only thought about protecting Wen Ninghan from being wronged, and didn’t think about so much. At this moment, after hearing what Wen Ninghan said, he realized that the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty was behind the Black Armored Army. If the Black Armored Army really wanted to take action, they might not give him a chance to argue. Even the Qin family—

Wen Ninghan yawned delicately to show that she was sleepy.

After sending away the listless Qin Rongxi and politely declining Zhi Xin’s request to sleep together, Wen Ninghan finally returned to the quiet inner room. The room was still dimly lit, and there was no sign of anything out of place in the shadowy corners. Even the smell of blood—well, thanks to the Autumn Congealing Incense—had completely dissipated.

He left?

Wen Ninghan let out a sigh of relief. It was good that he had left. Although she wasn’t afraid of trouble, she hadn’t intended to provoke any. It was clear that the mysterious person was the target of the Black Armor Army’s pursuit, and he came from the Jinbei Army. What hidden grudges and conflicts lay beneath all this, she really didn’t want to get involved with.

Of course, she also couldn’t get involved.

Then, with a sudden flash before her eyes, it was clear that it wasn’t just an illusion. A familiar black figure, one she had barely started to recognize, reappeared in the room. Without any hesitation, the figure casually sat down on the bed that should have been hers.

Wen Ninghan: “……”

The silver mask gleamed briefly under the flickering candlelight, as though the person had given a mocking smile.

He was still playing with a familiar porcelain bottle in his hand, the golden ointment for wounds that she had just handed to him. His demeanor clearly indicated that he intended to stay.

Wen Ninghan frowned, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. It was something she had been puzzled about earlier but almost overlooked, and now she finally understood.

“If you don’t mind, may I take your pulse?”

Qi Yunchi raised his eyes to look at the young girl in front of him. He couldn’t help but admit, her performance not only surprised Liu Gu of the Black-armored Army, but also amazed him. Now she actually wanted to take his pulse. So this bottle of golden ointment for wounds wasn’t just a coincidence?

“Miss, you know medicine?”

“Just a little.”

Qi Yunchi didn’t waste words and casually placed his hand on his knee.

Since the patient was so cooperative, Wen Ninghan naturally didn’t hold back. She walked straight over and without hesitation, placed her hand on Qi Yunchi’s wrist.

Her natural demeanor left Qi Yunchi momentarily stunned. Watching the delicate, fair fingers on his wrist, feeling the cool and soft touch against his skin, he fell into deep thought.

Wen Ninghan furrowed her brows even tighter. After a moment, she softly asked, “You’ve been poisoned. Do you know?”

The smile beneath the mask deepened a little. Qi Yunchi’s voice was hoarse as he replied, “I know.”

“Then, can you detoxify it?”

Wen Ninghan realized she had said something unnecessary. From the state of his meridians, it was clear that the poisoning had been ongoing for some time. Since the poison hadn’t been neutralized by now, it was obvious that there was no way to solve it.

Wen Ninghan coughed lightly twice. “I don’t have the right herbs on hand, so detoxification is not possible. However, I can try to suppress the poison using acupuncture. Would you like to give it a try?”

In the years she had studied medicine, her primary patient had been her little uncle. She would often disguise herself to visit the medical clinic for experience, but the number of cases she encountered was limited. This poisoned man in black before her, however, presented a new opportunity.

The young girl’s eyes were bright and clear, filled with expectation and curiosity.

“Acupuncture?”

Wen Ninghan nodded happily, her expression clearly showing her pride. “I’m quite good at acupuncture, don’t worry.”

She even kindly explained a few things, “With your injury, if it weren’t for the poison, this golden ointment would naturally work. But with the poison in you, your wound is likely to be hard to heal. Acupuncture can suppress the poison, and it might help ease the wound. Otherwise, you might not have much blood left to lose, and who knows when you’ll find an antidote!”

“You seem to know quite a bit.”

“Hehe, i understand just a little bit.”

The young girl smiled, looking a bit more endearing. It was hard to tell whether this was her true nature or if the calm and composed demeanor she had earlier was the real her. The surprises of this night had been too many, and Qi Yunchi felt his mind growing a little foggy.

Of course, it was more likely that he had truly lost too much blood.

Wen Ninghan’s medical skills had been taught by the renowned divine doctor Yu Changsheng, and she herself was highly talented. For her, helping to suppress the poison was merely a simple task.

Little did she know, her acupuncture technique, in Qi Yunchi’s eyes, stirred up waves of shock and awe.

Feeling the subtle, unknown energy flowing through his meridians, gently yet forcefully suppressing the poison that had tormented him all this time into a corner, the tearing pain in his wound seemed to ease considerably.

Qi Yunchi looked at the top of the young girl’s head, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

“Alright!” After taking back the last silver needle, Wen Ninghan breathed a sigh of relief, “It’s done.”

Then, when she looked up, she met his dark, bottomless eyes. As she looked closer, they seemed even more unfathomable.

“Uh…” Feeling short of breath under that intense gaze for a moment, Wen Ninghan smiled again and said, “There’s another question, sir. It’s so late, you’re not planning to stay in my room any longer, are you?”

Wen Ninghan glanced at the bed behind him. To be honest, the bed at the inn wasn’t very large—sleeping alone was fine, but with one more person, it would be too cramped and a little too intimate.

Letting this stranger take the bed—wait, she couldn’t just make him sleep on the floor, could she?

Considering she had helped him out for the sake of the Jinbei Army, Wen Ninghan felt she had already done enough. Anything more was simply too much.

Under the young girl’s hopeful gaze, Qi Yunchi couldn’t help but wonder if he had been too harsh.

With a silent smile, he stood up and walked over to the table, picking up the teacup he had previously been playing with.

Wen Ninghan: “…Alright, I’ll leave it at that.”

Her expectations of this person had already lowered to the point where she was just hoping he wouldn’t fight her for the bed. Not long ago, this person had still had a sword drawn at her neck, threatening her life!

Hiding behind the bed curtains, Wen Ninghan, who had thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, found herself drifting off. Just before she fell asleep, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was being too easy-going. After all, this was a stranger, and here she was, letting him stay in her room. Was that really okay?

Hearing the change in the young girl’s breathing, it was clear she had already fallen into a deep sleep. Qi Yunchi felt helpless. Had his intimidation power become this ineffective?

Is she the problem or me?

 

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