RPDPHW Chapter 16

“Qingqing… Qingqing… don’t go…”

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Gu Qingyin tilted her head to look at the foolish girl clinging to her, eyes tightly shut, refusing to let go.

“A-Jin, be good. I have to go gather herbs.”

Since Liu Sanniang had specifically come to remind her yesterday, she couldn’t afford to delay her medicine-making any longer.

“Mmh… then let me go with you…”

Even with her eyes still closed, Zhong Shujin muttered those words instinctively.

The sky wasn’t even fully bright yet. If Zhong Shujin actually managed to wake up now, that would be the real miracle.

Gu Qingyin chuckled as she pried apart the hands tightly clasped around her waist, tucking the girl back into the blankets. She patted Zhong Shujin’s head and gently instructed, “Just stay home and be good. I’ll tell Madam Zhang next door to save you a meal. When you wake up, you can go over and eat.”

“Mmh… I want Qingqing…”

Even without opening her eyes, Zhong Shujin’s hands somehow found their way back around Gu Qingyin’s neck, pulling her down slightly.

The faint fragrance on Zhong Shujin’s body drifted into Gu Qingyin’s senses, making her dazed for a moment.

The grip wasn’t too tight nor too loose, just enough that Gu Qingyin couldn’t easily pull away.

Or rather, she wasn’t willing to.

Gazing at the delicate face so close to hers, Gu Qingyin’s lips curled into a smile. Then, she leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Zhong Shujin’s cheek before whispering into her ear,

“There, I gave you a kiss. Now, can you let go? I’m just going to the back mountain to gather some herbs. I’ll be back soon.”

After much coaxing and persuading, the drowsy little fool finally succumbed to sleep.

Gu Qingyin carefully tucked Zhong Shujin in before getting dressed and heading out.

If she moved quickly, she should be able to make it back before dinner to accompany A-Jin.

By noon, after having lunch at the Zhang family’s house, Zhong Shujin returned alone to their herb cottage and sat under the parasol tree, lost in thought.

Without Qingqing, she didn’t even know what to do with herself.

Seeing Zhong Shujin return home alone, Madam Zhang quickly sent Zhuzi over to keep her company, worried that she might get too bored by herself.

“Hey, little foo—” Zhuzi hesitated. They weren’t that familiar yet, and calling her “little fool” outright seemed rude. So, he quickly changed his tone and said, “Miss Jin, what are you thinking about?”

She looked so listless, completely lacking energy.

“Qingqing…” Zhong Shujin hugged her knees, resting her chin on them as she gazed at the courtyard gate. “Why isn’t she back yet?”

The gate had been left open when Zhuzi came in, and no one had closed it yet.

Zhong Shujin stared at the road beyond the gate, hoping that at any moment, Gu Qingyin would appear at the far end, slowly walking toward her.

But no matter how long she watched—until her eyes ached and she had to blink away the soreness—Gu Qingyin still hadn’t returned.

Zhuzi sat cross-legged beside her, grinning. “You won’t be able to wait for her at this time. Doctor Gu always comes back from the mountain after the sun sets!”

After the sun sets?

Zhong Shujin looked up at the sky. The sun was already hidden behind thick clouds. Without its warm glow, the air suddenly felt a bit chilly.

“The sun is covered by clouds… does that mean it’s about to set?”

Zhuzi: “…”

Alright, he wasn’t going to argue with a fool.

Clearing his throat, he suggested, “Ahem… anyway, Doctor Gu won’t be back yet! If you’re feeling bored all by yourself, why don’t you come out and play with me? I haven’t gone out in days! If you come with me, my mom will definitely let me go!”

Because of his family’s situation, Zhuzi hadn’t gone out to play with his friends in several days.

He figured that if he told his mother he was taking Zhong Shujin out for a stroll to get some fresh air, she’d definitely agree!

Unfortunately, before he could even get excited, he heard Zhong Shujin firmly declare:

“No.”

Her gaze remained fixed beyond the courtyard gate. “I have to stay home and wait for Qingqing to come back.”

Alright then.

Zhuzi drooped his head in disappointment but didn’t press the matter further.

The sky changed quickly. Before long, the thick clouds were split apart by a flash of light.

A loud clap of thunder followed, making Zhong Shujin tremble violently.

It was thundering.

Then, raindrops the size of beans began to fall.

“Ah! Why is it suddenly raining?!”

Zhuzi scrambled in a panic to gather the clothes that Gu Qingyin and Zhong Shujin had hung out to dry in the courtyard.

“Jin girl! Hurry and help me bring in the clothes!”

But when he turned around, arms full of garments, he saw Zhong Shujin dashing out through the gate.

Startled, he quickly shouted after her, “Jin girl! Where are you running off to in this heavy rain?!”

“I’m going to pick up Qingqing!”

Her voice came from outside the courtyard—she was already running fast.

“Be careful! There are lots of wild beasts in the mountain!”

Zhuzi ran back and forth twice, finally gathering all the laundry and ducking under the eaves to escape the pouring rain. It was only then that realization struck him.

Jin girl didn’t take an umbrella… how was she supposed to pick up Doctor Gu?

Wild beasts were indeed plentiful in the back mountain.

Panting, Gu Qingyin braced herself against a nearby tree and let out a bitter laugh as she stared at the massive black bear before her.

“Brother Bear, you’ve been chasing me for so long. Aren’t you tired? How about we both take a break?”

She hadn’t even finished gathering all the herbs she needed when the weather suddenly changed.

In a hurry, she sought shelter in the back mountain, planning to wait out the rain before continuing her foraging.

Unfortunately, her luck was particularly bad—on her way down the mountain, she ran straight into a foraging black bear.

As soon as the weather turned cold, these beasts would come out searching for food. She never expected to stumble upon one.

Without hesitation, Gu Qingyin turned and ran.

But the black bear showed no intention of letting her go.

In this torrential downpour, using light-footwork techniques was almost impossible. Relying solely on her legs and her slightly superior inner strength, she forcibly maneuvered around half the mountain, making her way toward Da Bai’s den.

Unfortunately, she didn’t make it.

Her stamina had reached its limit.

And unlike Da Bai, this beast was neither friendly nor intelligent enough to understand human words.

Seeing Gu Qingyin come to a stop, the bear wasted no time—it lowered its massive body and lunged at her.

She was thrown to the ground, and as she struggled beneath its crushing weight, she caught sight of its gleaming white fangs descending straight toward her throat.

With a desperate effort, Gu Qingyin propped her elbow against the bear’s lower jaw, straining to hold it back as she shouted at the top of her lungs:

“Da Bai! Da Bai, get out here! Help! Save me, Da Bai!”

She was already close to Da Bai’s den—hopefully, the wolf would hear her and come to her aid.

She had no other choice.

With this heavy rain, most of the poisons she carried were in powder form, rendering them useless.

Besides, this kind of beast wasn’t so easily poisoned.

Fight it head-on?

Impossible.

Gu Qingyin’s martial skills were barely passable—aside from her light-footwork and hidden weapons, the rest of her abilities were only effective against low-level fighters.

But against this brute of a black bear? Completely useless.

She could only struggle with all her might, hoping to hold out until Da Bai arrived.

However, before Da Bai appeared, someone else did—someone entirely unexpected.

Gu Qingyin’s eyes widened in shock as she watched Zhong Shujin kick the massive black bear away.

She was utterly stunned, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

The girl before her was completely drenched, rainwater streaming down her face, but she didn’t bother to wipe it away.

Instead, she stood there, her expression grim, her gaze locked onto the bear that was preparing to attack again.

Her dark eyes were filled with frost.

Gu Qingyin stared at her, dazed, and murmured, “A-Jin…”

Zhong Shujin didn’t even get the chance to respond before the black bear let out a low growl and lunged at her again.

Unfazed, she met the beast head-on, throwing punches and kicks in a wild, untrained flurry—yet every strike carried a terrifying force.

But the black bear’s hide was thick.

Even when struck with enough power to make it wince in pain, it showed no intention of backing down.

Gu Qingyin immediately tried to rush forward to help, but Zhong Shujin stopped her.

“Qingqing! Don’t come over!”

Those powerful punches and kicks couldn’t penetrate the thick hide of the big black bear. Instead, she ended up suffering several savage claw marks, with flesh and blood torn out.

Gu Qingyin’s heart ached terribly. No longer content to merely watch from the sidelines, she immediately charged forward, rushing behind the bear to grab it in an attempt to give Zhong Shujin a moment’s respite.

Even with their combined efforts, they couldn’t halt the bear’s furious assault.

Gu Qingyin collapsed to the ground. As she looked at the person shielding her from the bear’s vicious claws, tears suddenly streamed down her face, mingling with the rain.

“Qingqing,” the person managing a trembling smile said softly, “I will protect you.”

Gu Qingyin was suddenly shaken. That voice resonated deep within her, as if echoing a sound from her very soul.

“Qingqing, from now on I can protect you—so, could you please stop poisoning me?”

A childish, almost innocent voice seemed to merge with the resolute tone by her ear.

Meanwhile, the bear’s claws had already pierced Zhong Shujin’s shoulder, and immediately after, its sharp teeth began to descend. Yet she was held down tightly by Zhong Shujin, unable to move.

Fresh blood mixed with rainwater lashed Gu Qingyin’s face, blending with her tears until her vision blurred, nearly rendering the protector’s face unrecognizable.

“A-Jin, you’re really silly,” Gu Qingyin murmured.

Zhong Shujin simply returned her gaze with a gentle, clear smile, as if saying, “It’s alright, as long as you’re safe.”

Then came a guttural roar:

“Awooo!!!”