Chapter 7: You've Lost Weight
Life at Huichuntang was just as busy as ever, with patients streaming in by the dozens. Word had spread among the surrounding villages that the doctors at Huichuntang in Qingshui Town could save lives—with exaggerated rumors even claiming they could raise the dead—drawing crowds from far and wide. Some families had even arrived with all their belongings, setting up makeshift sleeping mats right outside the front doors.
The ground outside Huichuntang was cluttered with vegetables, fruit, rice, flour, and even bundles of firewood and spare clothing. These were left behind quietly by villagers who had received medicine but could not afford to pay. Xiao Liu made no effort to refuse them, instead distributing the items to out-of-town visitors who came seeking medical help, making sure everything was put to good use.
Another bustling day drew to a close. To Xiao Liu's immense relief, not a single patient had passed away today, and the number of critical cases was steadily declining. Yet, Baozhu had secretly channeled his spiritual energy into a dozen or so patients who had been on the verge of death, which only added fuel to the rumors that the physicians of Huichuntang could bring people back from the dead.
Seeing off the final patient of the day, Xiao Liu pulled Baozhu aside and whispered, "I know your spiritual energy is boundless, but you can't just keep draining yourself like this. My spiritual energy might be weak, but I can easily handle one or two cases. There's no need for you to keep stepping in for me."
Baozhu smiled and murmured, "Instead of wasting your breath worrying about that, you'd be better off saving your strength to go moon-gazing with me!"
"Fine, let's go right now."
Just then, Old Mu stepped out from the back courtyard to call them in for dinner, with Asheng eagerly trailing right behind him.
"Old Mu, Baozhu and I are going out for a walk, so we won't be eating here tonight. I've already arranged for Shanhu and the others to help you all with the medicine bags tonight. Use the same prescription as yesterday. If anything comes up, just tell her directly."
Old Mu glanced at Baozhu, and Asheng chimed in, "How about eating first before..."
Without even hearing the rest of Asheng's sentence, Xiao Liu grabbed Baozhu by the sleeve and eagerly headed toward the lake.
Watching Asheng look utterly crestfallen, Old Mu let out a sigh and murmured softly, "Doctor Liu... is not someone you can casually harbor thoughts about." He then patted Asheng on the shoulder and turned back toward the rear courtyard.
Twilight was settling in, and the moon was just beginning to rise. Xiao Liu and Baozhu walked side by side along the lake, remaining silent for a long while. The late spring night breeze still carried a trace of chill as it brushed softly against their cheeks. Xiaoyao quietly channeled the Youth-Preserving Flower to reveal her true appearance, the peach blossom mark on her forehead flickering in the hazy dusk. She slowly turned to face Xiangliu, a smile on her face as she looked up at him. The distance between them was so close she could almost catch his unique, chillingly crisp scent.
A full moon gradually climbed above the lake surface, casting an increasingly bright glow over the two figures standing hand in hand, quietly gazing at each other. Amidst the twinkling stars across the sky, the soft moonlight illuminated Xiangliu's cold, ethereal, and startlingly handsome face. His eyes, as deep and smooth as quiet pools, flickered in the night with a hidden, burning intensity as they stared fixedly at the girl nestled in his heart.
Xiaoyao felt as though her breathing had stopped for a fraction of a second, the entire universe fading into nothingness. The world fell completely silent, leaving only the fiery gaze of the man before her, threatening to melt her away entirely...
Noticing that Xiaoyao had remained silent the entire time, Xiangliu offered a faint smile and asked softly, "What is it? Don't you recognize me?"
That's right. For all these past years, it had always been Fangfeng Bei accompanying her day in and day out. The last time she laid eyes on Xiangliu had been down at the bottom of the sea. Back then, she was merely a wisp of divine consciousness, unable to be seen by him; back then, his expression had been desolate, and she could not reach him... Xiaoyao slowly raised her hand, as if intending to stroke his cheek. Xiangliu froze slightly, his gaze following her hand as it moved. Ultimately, Xiaoyao's hand came to a halt on a strand of white hair resting against Xiangliu's chest, gently stroking it. Xiangliu's gaze shifted back to Xiaoyao's face, catching the slight quiver of her lips as if she had a thousand things to say, though only three words finally slipped out:
"You've lost weight..."
Another heavy silence followed, yet it felt as charged as a rolling rumble of thunder... The moonlight reflected a look of utter astonishment on Xiangliu's face...
After holding each other's gaze for a long moment, Xiaoyao reached out to take Xiangliu's hand and asked, "Are you hurt?"
Xiangliu made a slight move to pull his hand away, but ultimately didn't break free.
A moment later, Xiaoyao lifted her chin, staring anxiously into Xiangliu's eyes.
"Did you go out and kill people again?"
Xiangliu gave no answer.
"Or were you hunted down and led into an ambush?"
Still no answer.
"You're injured this badly, yet you still went and channeled spiritual energy to heal so many people? Have you lost your mind?"
Xiangliu shook off Xiaoyao's hand, glanced up at the night sky, and said dismissively, "It's nothing!"
Xiaoyao glared at him for a long time before suddenly deflating like a punctured ball.
"Let me heal your wounds!"
Xiangliu turned his face, cast a brief glance down at Xiaoyao's wrist, and muttered, "No need!"
Xiaoyao looked at Xiangliu's profile—dark, icy, and entirely devoid of expression. She stepped directly in front of him, held out her hand, and said, "Come with me!"
Xiangliu paused.
"What's the matter? Scared?" Xiaoyao tilted her head and asked.
"What is there for me to be scared of?" Xiangliu grabbed Xiaoyao's outstretched hand and asked, "Where are we going?"
Dragging him along, Xiaoyao led the way until they reached the large tree where they had sat talking under the moon years ago.
"Take me up!"
Wrapping an arm around Xiaoyao's waist, Xiangliu soared up into the branches, lazily leaning back against the thick trunk while looking down at her with an expression that seemed to ask: *What are you up to now?*
Unbothered, Xiaoyao slowly lowered the collar of her garment, exposing her slender, snow-white neck. Leaning slightly forward, she offered it to Xiangliu with the demeanor of someone willing to yield to whatever he desired, words lingering unsaid on her lips.
Xiangliu's entire body jerked as he recoiled slightly and asked, "Didn't you say before that your neck was off-limits?"
"I'm saying it's fine now. So, are you going to do it... or not?"
Xiangliu's Adam's apple bobbed as if he were locked in an internal struggle, but he remained completely still.
Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow, a teasing, half-mocking smile touching her lips as she asked, "What? Too afraid to take it?"
Xiangliu's gaze sharpened, like a beast lying in wait in the shadows that suddenly pounced upon its prey. In a fraction of a second, he grabbed the back of Xiaoyao's neck, pulling her directly toward him. Without a single moment of hesitation, he sank his teeth straight into her pulsing vein.
After a brief wave of mild pain, Xiaoyao heard the sound of swallowing. The flow of blood was agonizingly slow, drop by drop... The beast seemed to be savoring and tasting her with meticulous care...
He didn't draw a large amount. When he finally stopped drinking, his lips didn't leave her neck; instead, he began to slowly suck and lick the spot, over and over again, drifting away from the wound in a seemingly uncontrollable haze... Accompanied by his increasingly heavy breathing, her cheeks flushed bright crimson, and a surge of blood rushed relentlessly to her head, making her tremble slightly...
Instinctively, Xiaoyao wrapped one arm around Xiangliu's waist while her other hand clenched the hem of his tunic, struggling desperately to steady her trembling body. Seemingly sensing the changes in her physical reactions, Xiangliu tightened his grip around her neck. His lips grew hotter, his kisses and suctions growing more fervent, while a faint red glow flickered deep within his eyes...
The Gu worms in both of their chests began to emit a soft, pulsing radiance...
Slowly, Xiangliu's lips pulled away from Xiaoyao's neck, leaving behind an ambiguous mark. With both hands still resting around his waist, Xiaoyao kept her head lowered, not daring to look up for a long time, until a furtive glance caught sight of his scarlet earlobes...
At last, the wind died down and the waves settled. Keeping her head bowed, Xiaoyao heard Xiangliu speak lazily, his voice slightly raspy, "Why did you suddenly decide to come to Qingshui Town?"