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墨書 Inktalez
Inside and outside the inn, it felt like there were two different worlds.
Outside the door, not far away was the busiest and most prosperous street in Yun Family Village, bustling with people coming and going, completely unafraid of the harsh cold of the day.
Inside, despite many braziers burning and wind-blocking curtains hanging in the corridors, a heavy chill still lingered in the air.
Xing Ruyi wrapped herself in a large fur cloak, shrinking her entire body into the fluffy mass, leaving only her pair of lively eyes exposed. She lowered her head, her hands tightly gripping a warming stove hidden in her sleeves, following closely behind Chang Tai as they walked through the cold corridor and stopped in front of a guest room door.
To be honest, she somewhat regretted agreeing to come see Li Yan at Chang Tai's request the day before. Had she known it would be such a ghostly atmosphere, she would have delayed for another two days.
Just as they stopped at the door, a faint coughing sound came from inside. Xing Ruyi looked up at Chang Tai and asked, "Brother Chang, do you know what illness the general is suffering from?"
"What?" Chang Tai replied, looking back at Xing Ruyi. "Could it be that Fox Demon you discerned something from this cough?"
"Fox Demon is not a deity; how could I determine what illness a patient has just from a cough? It's just that the general's light cough seems to be suppressed yet somewhat urgent, and there are some mixed sounds in his cough, indicating that he not only has some lung issues but also seems to have discomfort in his throat."
"Your Brother Chang doesn't understand any of this either; he only knows that the general initially caught a chill in the camp. First came the cough, then sensitivity to wind, followed by rapid weight loss and increasing weakness. By the time he returned from the border to Divine Capital, he could hardly walk. Oh right, the general is also sensitive to light, so from Divine Capital all the way to Yun Family Village, they mostly chose gloomy weather or nighttime to travel. In this inn, any place that lets in wind or light has been covered as much as possible."
"So serious?" Xing Ruyi frowned. "But the general is a martial artist; his body should be stronger than ordinary people. If it were just a chill, even if the military doctor mishandled it at first, it wouldn't have escalated to such a severe state."
"This matter puzzles both the general himself and me," Chang Tai sighed and knocked on the door twice. "Let's go in and take a look."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened.
Inside stood a Plain-Dressed Woman with elegant phoenix eyebrows and eyes shimmering like autumn waters. Below her prominent nose was a half-pursed cherry lip; it was evident that she had just been crying in her room.
Seeing that it was Chang Tai and Xing Ruyi standing outside, the Plain-Dressed Woman was slightly taken aback but quickly relaxed her half-pursed lips into a faint smile.
"Lord Chang has arrived; please come in. The general was just mentioning you," said the Plain-Dressed Woman as she stepped aside. "Is this young lady behind Lord Chang perhaps...?"
She came out of the general's room, her face still marked with traces of tears, and upon seeing Chang Tai, she was unrestrained in her beauty. In this inn, perhaps only the general's wife, Mu Xi, could match her.
Thinking of this, Xing Ruyi slightly bowed and said, "Xing Ruyi pays her respects to the general's wife!"
"You need not be so formal, please come in!"
Mu Xi stepped aside again to welcome both Chang Tai and Xing Ruyi into the room. The room was lit with a few candles, but they were placed far from the general. General Li Yan was half-reclining on a lounge chair, his body wrapped tightly in clothing, leaving only his eyes exposed. Upon seeing Chang Tai, a flicker of vitality returned to his dim gaze.
"Brother Li, this is the Fox Demon I mentioned to you before. If you don't mind, could you let her come closer for a better look?"
"Forget it! I appreciate your kindness," Li Yan replied weakly. "In this life, being able to meet you is already a blessing for me. Although I bear the name of the Li family, I have lived cautiously. My parents never allowed me to go out; they feared I would be harmed or that I might harm others. So, I could only practice martial arts tirelessly and study military strategies, hoping that one day, even if I stepped out that door, I wouldn't have to fear anyone. I could protect myself and anyone I wanted to protect."
"You've done it!" Chang Tai said sincerely.
Li Yan shook his head. "Once, I thought I had achieved that too. Charging into battle without fear of enemies wasn't because I was bold; it was because I knew that apart from fighting my way through bloodshed, I had no other choice. I didn't want to live like my parents—cautious and trembling in fear. It was either living openly under the sun or dying by the enemy's sword.
Finally, I reached the place I've always wanted to be; I became the revered general and great hero among the border people. Riding my warhorse with my soldiers under the scorching sun on a path lined with cheers, I felt accomplished. From then on, I could be the true Li Yan again—able to protect myself, my family, and anyone close to me or whom I wished to be close to. But now I realize that perhaps I was just overthinking."
"Brother Li, why do you think like this?"
Li Yan glanced at Xing Ruyi. "This young lady must be your beloved?"
"Brother Li, please don't jest. The Fox Demon sees me as a brother; naturally, I will treat her like a sister. She has a fiancé—a very outstanding man."
"Chang brother, your words clearly imply more than that. But never mind. If you were in my shoes, you'd understand that having someone you like and care about in this life is enough to be considered happiness."
"Brother Li, you have your wife by your side; unlike me, who is still all alone."
Chang Tai glanced at Xing Ruyi.
Xing Ruyi understood the conversation between the two, but even if she did, what could she do? So she could only stand there with her head down, a hint of embarrassment on her face.
Li Yan tugged at the corner of his mouth and then let out a series of light coughs. Hearing the coughing, Mu Xi hurried over, holding a bowl of dark concoction.
"General, even if Mu Xi begs you, please drink this medicine."
Li Yan shot a cold glance at Mu Xi, and Xing Ruyi surprisingly saw indifference and hostility in his gaze.
"General, please! Once your illness is cured, you can punish Mu Xi however you wish. All Mu Xi wants is for you to be well. Even if it costs me my life, I would willingly accept it."
"Get out!" Li Yan forcefully straightened up, glaring fiercely at Mu Xi. "I said get out! Take your poison and roll away from me!"
"Brother Li!" Chang Tai stepped in front of Mu Xi and gently urged Li Yan back into his seat. "I understand that you're not feeling well and your temper is getting worse. But Madam has been taking care of you day and night. Even if she hasn't contributed much, she has certainly put in a lot of effort. Why must you take all your frustrations about being ill out on her? Brother Li, this isn't like you!"
"Not like me? Then what am I like?" Li Yan sighed bitterly as he lay back down. "Chang, I beg you, let her go. I don't want to see her right now! By the way, weren't you going to have your Ruyi diagnose me? Let her come."
"General—" Mu Xi called softly, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears.
"Get lost! Get out! If you don't want me to die right now, take your things and get out! Go far away and don't let me see you again!"
Li Yan spoke coldly and then gently closed his eyes.
Mu Xi bit her lip hard and said softly, "Alright! Mu Xi will leave; I won't disturb the General any longer. But I sincerely ask the General not to hurt yourself because of me. If something happens to you, how will I ever repay the debt I owe you?"
Li Yan's eyelids fluttered slightly but remained closed.
As Mu Xi passed by Xing Ruyi holding a bowl of dark medicine, Xing Ruyi caught a stronger scent of Fruitwood Fragrance. It turned out that the aroma did not emanate from Mu Xi but from the bowl of dark soup.
"Madam!" Xing Ruyi called out to Mu Xi, her Ghost Eye piercing through Mu Xi's facade to see her true self. "Please do not worry, the general's illness will be handled to the best of Fox Demon's ability. Also, men usually have tempers that are not as gentle as ours. The general has been bedridden for a long time, so it is natural for his temperament to become a bit strange. Madam, please be more tolerant and do not let a few harsh words from the general hurt your feelings."
"Thank you, Ruyi! The general is a good man. The reason he scolded Mu Xi is entirely because of Mu Xi's shortcomings; it is Mu Xi who has not done well and is incompetent. All this time, I have not only failed to take care of him but have also allowed his condition to worsen."
Mu Xi raised her head, her eyes meeting Xing Ruyi's: "If Ruyi can save the general, Mu Xi is willing to give everything!"
"Madam?"
"Mu Xi knows that you are no ordinary healer. Mu Xi also believes that you have already seen that Mu Xi is not one of the Common People. Therefore, you need not hold back; if you can save the general, Mu Xi is willing to sacrifice anything and do whatever it takes."
"Fox Demon understands!"
Fox Demon nodded and bowed, seeing Mu Xi off as she left her room.
Xing Ruyi had never imagined before arriving at the relay station that the general's wife was not human. As for the bowl of medicine in Mu Xi's hands, Xing Ruyi believed it was definitely made from extraordinary herbs. During their conversation, she had inadvertently caught a glimpse of Mu Xi's wrist, which was wrapped in a thick layer of military cotton gauze.
Moreover, Mu Xi's face was certainly not one she had conjured herself. That face was stuck with Human Skin; it was indeed a genuine Human Skin mask.
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