138 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass
The vicious demon hound, bloodthirsty and ferocious, inflicted several deep wounds on Fang Yuan Qing in a moment of its nightmare-fueled frenzy, with the injuries to her legs being particularly severe. Though not fatal, it would take at least half a month of rest for her to regain full mobility. Ming Yue stood nearby, observing with cold eyes, her expression barely changing. The injuries to Gui Chen were not the fault of the young person on the ground. After a brief hesitation, she took out the pre-prepared medicine and clothes from her storage stone, knelt down, and began to treat the young person’s wounds. As the bloodied clothes were removed, the moonlight revealed a large expanse of jade-like skin extending from a slender neck down to a beautifully shaped collarbone, and further to the full curves wrapped in the fabric—all hinting that this illegitimate child, unaccepted by the Fang family, was in truth, an illegitimate daughter. The beast-handling prodigy of the Fu Yang Sect, heir to the position of sect leader, was a woman. The skin beneath Ming Yue's fingertips was cool and smooth, causing her to falter slightly, her gaze falling upon that delicate, refined face with such clear beauty. Surprised, she quickly withdrew her hand. The fabric was stained red with blood, and there was a small wound on the outer side of her chest. Reluctantly, she had to undo the fabric covering the woman's chest. It was the first time in her life seeing another woman’s body apart from her own, causing her to finish applying the medicine with a bashful face. Several miles away, Meng Ji approached with three demon hounds in tow. Seeing them drawing near, Ming Yue quickened her pace and dressed Fang Yuan Qing in clean clothes as fast as possible. The shadow's cover fortunately concealed the redness on her cheeks. As Meng Ji approached, she inspected the leg wounds of the person on the ground, "Just superficial wounds, she should wake by tomorrow." "These legs will need several days to recover." Ming Yue's heart beat quickly. She didn't respond, turned to pull the woman in yellow garments, preparing to leave. Meng Ji, bewildered by her intentions, questioned in a puzzled tone, "Are you just going to leave her here like this?" Ming Yue pressed her lips together, silent for a long time before nodding, "I'll come back to see her tomorrow." "You should return to the demon realm." "I have my own ways to get her to the Xuanming Sect to fetch the ice lake water for me." Ways? What ways? Meng Ji could easily guess without needing further explanation. The elaborate nighttime rescue was all part of a meticulously crafted plan. Fang Yuan Qing opened her eyes to find it was already midday on the sixth day. The sun in the sky was bright, hurting her eyes. As she surveyed her surroundings, there was an unfamiliar high cliff. The sound of water, clear as raindrops, echoed around her. The wounds on her body still ached. Supporting herself on her arms, she looked towards the river and realized that the wrap she used for her chest was pinned under a rock, while her original clothes had blown into the river. Had her identity as a woman been exposed? Her memories of last night were hazy, recalling only the black-clad girl who rescued her from the demon hound and that pure, elegant, and attractive face. If she remembered correctly, she didn’t know that girl. As she contemplated the identity of this stranger, a faint footstep broke the air. Snapping back to reality, she turned her head to see her savior. The young girl stood with closed eyes, holding a round wicker basket, hesitating for a long while before approaching. Unlike her cold, dark garb from the previous night, today she wore a plain white robe, making her appear even more pure and sincere. Fang Yuan Qing watched silently, recalling the cloth under the stone, feeling too embarrassed to speak. Perhaps sensing her gaze, the girl bit her lip and lowered her head, finally mustering the courage to make her way to the riverside. Her steps were slow; she stumbled slightly. Only then did Fang Yuan Qing realize her benefactor was blind. Watching her feel her way forward, it was easy to feel a sense of compassion. Wanting to stand and greet her, she found herself unable to move due to her swollen calf. After much stumbling, it was finally time to meet. The girl set down the basket and took out the food she brought without saying a word or asking any questions. She completed this quietly and then abruptly left. Fang Yuan Qing didn’t even get the chance to react before the person had disappeared. The first time they met, the girl saved her; by the second time, Fang Yuan Qing hadn't even had a chance to express her gratitude. This routine continued for the first, second, and third days. Each meeting, the girl would leave the food and dash off. By the fourth day, the girl didn’t appear. Fang Yuan Qing looked at the empty basket by the rock, her expression unreadable. By the seventh day, the person delivering food hadn't arrived. As night fell, a strong wind blew and thunder roared, soon followed by rain. Her leg wounds, yet to fully heal, were drenched again. Before long, she grew dizzy. The rain from the heavens intensified, each drop striking her face, seeping into her clothes, and merging with her torn flesh, unleashing waves of painful irritation. Fang Yuan Qing lay on the ground, lifting a hand to shield her face, rain passing through her fingers into her eyes, making them impossible to open. As consciousness began to slip away into a chilling void, an umbrella unexpectedly appeared above her head. Did the rain stop? She lowered her hand, her vision blurred and foggy, senses awry until a hand tenderly wiped the chill of the raindrops from her face. Such a warm hand, hard not to yearn for it. Perceiving the soft fingertips attempting to retreat, though disoriented, she firmly grasped her savior’s wrist. Holding tightly, as though fearing they would flee again. The umbrella above tipped slightly, causing the rainwater to run down to her aching leg wound. A surge of severe, throbbing pain struck, twisting her expression. Yet she didn’t loosen her hold on that slender wrist. Her mind muddled and chaotic, a soft gasp echoed beside her ear—a delicate, melodious voice of a young girl, mingling with the dripping rain, a cold breeze inscribing it upon the recesses of her heart. From then onward, she could never forget it. Like summer rain, coming quickly and leaving swiftly. Already suffering many wounds, soaked anew for so long, inevitably she developed a fever. This time, Ming Yue didn’t leave, or rather, couldn’t leave—her wrist still held tightly. She stayed for an entire night. Ming Yue awoke first, opening her eyes to find herself lying beside Fang Ke Yuan’s daughter. Her emotions were indescribable, a mix of embarrassment, annoyance, and awkwardness. Their hands had already parted, she could move freely. She initially planned to leave, but upon seeing the pale face of the woman on the ground, her heart unexpectedly softened. Fang Ke Yuan's wrongdoings had nothing to do with his daughter, even more so when she was just an unacknowledged illegitimate daughter of the Fang family. Ultimately, she had taken advantage of this person. She bit her lip, half-knelt beside the woman, carefully extending a hand to place her palm gently on the woman’s forehead. After giving medicine the previous night, her forehead now felt cooler. Breathing a slight sigh of relief, she quietly withdrew her hand. Yet, as before, her wrist was seized once again. Fang Yuan Qing, unbeknownst to her, had awoken as well. Ming Yue’s eyes remained closed, trying to withdraw her hand with a slightly aggrieved expression. Fang Yuan Qing’s grip loosened slightly but refused to fully let go. The air between them fell silent, neither speaking a word. Ming Yue's cool palm rested against a warm wrist, one cold, one warm—a silent struggle. Her eyes remained shut tight, her cheeks tinged a slight red. She attempted to pull free to no avail. After a moment of silence, eventually, it was she who relented first, softly pleading, "Let go, morning lessons are about to start. If I don’t return to the sect, I’ll be punished." Morning lessons? Return to the sect? Fang Yuan Qing paused at her words, reflexively inquiring, "Where is this?" For no apparent reason, the girl’s face flushed instantly. Seeming troubled, she took a long moment to reply, "This is Tianwu Cliff." Tianwu Cliff? Fang Yuan Qing then realized the girl before her was a disciple of the Sect of Hua! Caught off guard, she let go of the grip. The next moment, the girl leaped up the cliff. The Sect of Hua hosted only female disciples, practicing cultivation techniques famed for charm spells and dual cultivation that absorbed masculine energy to replenish their own. Such female cultivators bore a tarnished reputation beyond their sect’s bounds, drawing scorn and disdain. Fang Yuan Qing had never had any interaction with them, but recalling the girl’s hasty escape, she couldn’t help but chide herself for her bluntness, fearing she had wounded the girl's pride. The girl was gone, and who knew when they’d meet again. Lowering her head, noticing her attire had changed from previous days, it seemed she had been dressed by someone whilst in a stupor. Prying open her sleeve edge, she found her left arm wounds had also been redressed with fresh medicine. That girl had saved her twice now. In the blink of an eye, another day passed. Fang Yuan Qing no longer expected the girl to return today. Unexpectedly, as night fell, a slender silhouette emerged from the wooded area behind her. Familiar again was the wicker basket. The food contained inside was the same mantou she’d eaten in previous days. Yet this time, there was also a bowl of porridge. Though blind, the girl walked slowly, swaying as she carried the basket cradled to her chest, careful not to spill the porridge. Fang Yuan Qing watched this scene, her lips moving slightly in response. As the girl came to stand beside her, Fang Yuan Qing finally spoke up, apologizing for her questioning earlier that morning. "I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to press you—it's just, after being attacked by the demon hound that night—" Before she could finish, the girl shook her head and handed over the bowl of porridge from the basket. "It's alright." Her voice was still soft and pleasant. Fang Yuan Qing was momentarily stunned, guilt deepening in her eyes. She accepted the porridge, feeling its warmth even through the bowl. It was clearly freshly made. A silence settled over them, a subtle, cool formality hanging in the air. Eating porridge with one hand was somewhat inconvenient. Before she could finish, a large, fresh mantou was brought to her lips. "The cook just made this, eat it while it's hot." Fang Yuan Qing looked up at the sound, her gaze meeting the girl's gentle smile for the first time. Delicately quiet and obedient, she looked exceptionally beautiful. Yet, her closed eyes inspired a touch of regret. She put down the porridge and accepted the mantou, taking a small bite. Once swallowed, she thanked her, "Thank you." The girl paused slightly at those words, then waved her hand dismissively, her tone modest, "It's just a little, trivial sustenance, no thanks necessary." Was it merely gratitude for the food delivery? Certainly not. Fang Yuan Qing pursed her lips, her gaze softening as she looked at the girl’s elegant face, "You saved me." A life-saving debt is the hardest to repay. Yet, the girl shook her head again, "It was just a simple effort, no need for gratitude." The more the girl said this, the more awkward Fang Yuan Qing felt. Finding no way to appropriately repay her kindness, she lowered her gaze and took several more bites of the mantou. When she finished eating, the girl tidied up the dishes and prepared to leave. Though they had known each other for five days, neither knew the other's name. As the girl was about to walk away, Fang Yuan Qing called out softly to stop her, "My name is Fang Yuan Qing, from Yu Chun Hall. May I ask for my benefactor's name?" The girl paused slightly, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. Instead of answering directly, she pointed to the sky, "My name is hidden in the heavens. Why not take a guess, Yuan Qing?" Fang Yuan Qing lifted her head, following the girl’s gesture to the sky. In the tranquil night sky, there were only stars and the moon. She hesitated, then ventured, "Stars?" The girl smiled but shook her head, "Try again." Fang Yuan Qing furrowed her brows, her gaze falling upon the full moon. Once more, she spoke, "The moon?" This time, the girl nodded, "Yes, the moon." The serene and radiant moon was captivating. Like the moon, pure and spotless, the girl before her bore such a resemblance. Fang Yuan Qing silently repeated the name in her heart. By the time she came to, the girl had vanished once more. Though the moon on the ground had departed, the one in the sky remained. Fang Yuan Qing tilted her head back, staring quietly at the round moon for quite some time. From then on, whenever she saw the moon, she would think of the elegant young cultivator from the Sect of Hua. ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ I absolutely adore this pair. Miss Fang truly has a tragic story. As the plot unfolds, even Ming Yue ends up giving her heart away while deceiving her. Later on, it's going to be a chase through hell and high water to win her back. Just a reminder, Miss Fang is the dominant one, don't get it mixed up (The first time, Miss Fang is on top). Next chapter, Section Zero will come online~ Thanks to all the adorable angels who cast overlord tickets or provided nutrition fluids between 2020-12-15 01:44:44 and 2020-12-16 01:01:13~ Special thanks to the angels who cast landmines: Mu Qingmu, Home Has Two Cats, Met You for the First Time (1); Special thanks to the adorable angels who provided nutrition fluids: Xixi (30 bottles); Today My Reputation Is Also Harmed (20 bottles); Ji Tong (18 bottles); Hehehe Chewing Gum (15 bottles); Qian Beiting's Girlfriend, yetttaaa, Loves Eating Cherries (10 bottles); Zeng Keni Is a Good Person (6 bottles); Mountain People (5 bottles); Thank you all so much for your support. I will continue to work hard!