The three of them, Liang Xiao, were taken aback.
At this moment, Jian Qin Wan, head bowed, dared not look at the three of them, her breathing even slowed.
Liang Xiao's lips twitched, then he gave a dry laugh, "There's no need, is there? If she has a heart condition, how can she run around everywhere?"
"This heart condition is not a physical illness," Mu Xue Qin explained, then sighed, "My daughter is naturally melancholic, her heart is troubled, and it has worsened recently. I've thought about it, she's lived on Tianshan for many years, it's time she went out and saw more of the world."
"Is that really the case?" Liang Xiao asked with suspicion.
Mu Xue Qin put on a stern face and snorted, "What? Do you look down on my daughter's martial arts? Her swordsmanship may not be the best in the world, but she's at least a top-tier master! On Tianshan, there are very few who can match my daughter."
Liang Xiao pouted, "Sparring is different from a battle to the death."
"Do you think those disciples went easy on my daughter?" Mu Xue Qin sneered, "You think too highly of martial artists' hypocrisy. In the Battle of Helan Mountain, half of Tianshan's disciples had never experienced a life-and-death battle before they died..."
Liang Xiao pondered.
The three girls remained silent throughout, quietly listening to their conversation.
Luo Qing Xue and Yue Lian stared at Jian Qin Wan with even more curiosity.
"But her洁癖 (jié pǐ) is so severe, I suggest it's best not to trouble yourself by following me," Liang Xiao said.
Hearing this, Jian Qin Wan's eyes welled up with tears, but she had no words to refute.
Mu Xue Qin's face darkened, "Are you looking down on my daughter?"
Liang Xiao shook his head repeatedly, "Not at all. It's just that I can understand her洁癖 (jié pǐ), but I can't create an environment as good as Tianshan for her."
"My daughter's洁癖 (jié pǐ) is intermittent," Mu Xue Qin hummed.
Liang Xiao's pupils contracted.
Intermittent? That's even a thing?
"My daughter only likes to be clean when she's idle..." Mu Xue Qin explained nervously, "At other times, she can tolerate it. Moreover, Liang Xiao, you shouldn't underestimate a person's resolve. If a person is determined, they can overcome any psychological barrier. If they can't overcome it, it means their resolve isn't strong enough."
Liang Xiao fell silent.
He understood that this medical sage likely suspected his identity.
However, with a woman by his side who could potentially stab him to death at any moment, Liang Xiao felt extremely insecure.
Liang Xiao began to regret pursuing Xiao Dou Ya'er in the first place...
"If you don't object, I'll take it as your agreement," Mu Xue Qin said and stood up to get the medicine.
"How can you make decisions for her? Does she agree?" Luo Qing Xue pointed at Jian Qin Wan.
Mu Xue Qin sat down with a smile, took Jian Qin Wan's hand, and said, "My daughter listens to me the most. If I agree, she agrees."
Liang Xiao said sternly, "You are clearly forcing her to agree!"
The three of them had clearly seen Jian Qin Wan crying and begging not to.
Mu Xue Qin's patience wore thin, and she looked at Jian Qin Wan, "Who is forcing her? My daughter, tell Liang Xiao, do you… are you willing to be his personal bodyguard long-term?"
Liang Xiao and the other two's gazes focused on Jian Qin Wan.
Jian Qin Wan's delicate body trembled slightly. She gritted her teeth and, under their astonished gazes, stiffly nodded.
Liang Xiao narrowed his eyes, his vigilance increasing.
"She looks so reluctant," Luo Qing Xue snorted.
Unexpectedly, Jian Qin Wan did not glare at her. Instead, she lowered her head and remained silent. Luo Qing Xue was also taken aback.
Mu Xue Qin picked up a knife and, with its blunt side, playfully patted her palm, smiling, "Liang Xiao, you have no objections now, do you?"
Liang Xiao felt a chill down his spine and repeatedly nodded, "Alright, alright, let's talk. Please don't wield the knife."
Mu Xue Qin burst into laughter, put the knife back into its box, and went to the corner to prepare the medicine.
"Liang Xiao, I've been reading your poems more and more lately, and I've grown quite fond of them. I won't be sending them back. As a return gift, I'll send you a treasure in a few days. Also, you're from Yanzhou, aren't you?"
Seeing Liang Xiao nod, Mu Xue Qin said solemnly, "I will write you a letter of recommendation. You must go to Bodhi Temple. No matter what, you must go!"
Liang Xiao became even more confused.
Mu Xue Qin explained, "You'll know when you get there. It will be a worthwhile trip, and you'll find what you need most."
Liang Xiao could only agree.
Mu Xue Qin then felt relieved and continued to prepare the medicine. After it was ready, she wrote down the usage instructions, handed them to Luo Qing Xue, and went to the adjoining room to rest.
Three women and one man were left in the room, the atmosphere extremely awkward.
Jian Qin Wan looked at Liang Xiao’s side, intentionally or unintentionally. As soon as any of the three looked at her, she would casually turn her head away.
In the end, Luo Qing Xue and Yue Lian focused all their attention on massaging Liang Xiao, circulating his meridians, and no longer paid attention to Jian Qin Wan.
Only then did Jian Qin Wan look at Liang Xiao, her heart in turmoil, a feeling she had never experienced before.
Was he the Carefree Young General?
Jian Qin Wan's heart trembled.
The Carefree Young General already haunted her dreams. If the Carefree Young General were still alive and so learned, he would be both learned and martial...
She couldn't imagine it!
Everyone has food to eat, everyone can read!
Liang Xiao's words still echoed in her mind.
What a grand ambition!
All barbarians within and without, anyone daring to wage war shall be slain!
This further stirred her heart.
What magnificent spirit!
But he was only nineteen years old...
Jian Qin Wan found it hard to believe that the current Grand Champion of Da Gan, the one who had won five major championships, was the Carefree Young General himself.
However, she chose to believe!
The Carefree Young General is alive!
Jian Qin Wan repeatedly cried out in her heart, feeling her eyes well up, on the verge of tears.
The medicated plaster on his back made Liang Xiao feel a chill.
Liang Xiao, uneasy, finally spoke, "Female Bodhisattva, your mother worked hard to heal me. You wouldn't stab me in the back, would you?"
Hearing this, Jian Qin Wan, who had been about to cry, turned her gaze to a mournful one.
Liang Xiao had reminded her of their first meeting.
Jian Qin Wan dared not respond. She silently got up and turned to leave the bamboo house.
"She's gone out..." Yue Lian said worriedly.
Liang Xiao was startled and quickly instructed Luo Qing Xue, "Qing Xue, I'm not in a convenient position to get out of bed right now."
Luo Qing Xue nodded with a serious expression, "Don't worry, I know swordsmanship too. If she wants to attack you, she'll have to get past me first!"
Jian Qin Wan walked out of the bamboo house, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh dear, don't cry!"
Liang Xiao's voice drifted from the bamboo house, startling Jian Qin Wan, who quickly wiped away her tears.
Then she heard Liang Xiao say again, "Yue Lian, this is the eighty-seventh time you've cried because of my injuries. Qing Xue, don't cry either, I'm fine."
Jian Qin Wan felt a deep sense of loss and looked back up at the sky.
At the entrance of Tianshan, over a dozen figures stealthily slipped in, using the darkness to avoid the sight of the Tianshan disciples on guard.
It was the barbarian assassins led by Zuo Wu Shang and Hu Yan Jia Luo!
"Damn it, even a small Tianshan is so heavily guarded. Are all you Da Gan people crazy?" Hu Yan Jia Luo cursed.
They had waited for a long time and finally seized the opportunity tonight to infiltrate.
Zuo Wu Shang said in a deep voice, "Tianshan is full of treasures, and there are many healers and civilians. It's not surprising."
Hu Yan Jia Luo grinned, "Healers? After we get what we want, we'll kill all these healers!"
"There's movement!"