RPDPHW Chapter 47

By the time the group safely returned to the inn where they had originally stayed in Heifeng Town, Jing Rong and Yun Huitong had already been waiting at the entrance for quite some time.

Besides the two of them, there was also a refined-looking young man pacing anxiously with a sword in hand.

The man had a face as flawless as jade, with an imposing and elegant demeanor—he was undeniably handsome.

He was none other than the second young master of Feiyun Manor, Yun Yifei.

Upon seeing him for the first time, Zhong Shujin didn’t feel much of anything—there was nothing particularly irritating about him, nor did he evoke any strong emotions. She simply thought he was rather good-looking.

Unfortunately, that was only her first impression.

“Doctor Gu! You really came! I thought Tongtong was joking with me!”

Yun Yifei’s previously tense expression was instantly replaced with joy the moment he saw Gu Qingyin. He strode excitedly toward the horse she was riding, eager to say more, but then his gaze fell on the wound on her left hand and the bloodstains that had accidentally smeared onto her clothes.

His joy instantly turned into deep concern.

“How did you get hurt like this? Didn’t Tongtong bring people to help? How did you still end up so badly injured…”

Hearing this, Zhong Shujin frowned slightly and instinctively tightened her arms around the person in front of her.

“Second Young Master Yun.”

Gu Qingyin chuckled softly, placing her hands over the ones wrapped around her waist. With a hint of mischief, she rubbed her thumb lightly against the palm, pressing against her abdomen. Sensing the grip loosen slightly, she finally grasped that hand and smiled.

“It’s just a small wound, nothing to worry about.”

“How can it be nothing? The handkerchief around your wrist is already stained red…”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Gu Qingyin lowered her gaze slightly, firmly gripping the hands around her abdomen, refusing to let them withdraw even an inch. Guessing the reason behind the owner’s attempt to pull away, she responded calmly, “But, Second Young Master Yun, don’t forget—I am a physician. I know my own injuries well.”

Her voice was cool and distant, full of detachment.

Only then did the hands pressed against her abdomen cease their struggle.

Satisfied, Gu Qingyin finally smiled.

That subtle smile was enough to leave Yun Yifei utterly entranced.

“But—”

Yun Yifei opened his mouth, dazed, but before he could finish, Yun Huitong, who had just caught up, interrupted him.

“Alright, alright, Second Brother, stop nagging! Can’t you see Sister Yin is still able to ride just fine?”

At the same time, Jing Rong had also arrived, addressing the person resting against Gu Qingyin’s shoulder.

“Master, your room has been prepared, and the hot water is ready!”

“Mm, noted.”

Zhong Shujin slowly pushed herself upright, curling her fingers slightly to lightly scratch at Gu Qingyin’s abdomen, making her shiver ever so slightly.

After successfully freeing her hands from that “demonic claw,” Zhong Shujin dismounted from the horse, stepped in front of Yun Yifei, clasped her fists, and said, “You must be the second young master of Feiyun Manor. Thank you for your assistance today.”

Only then did Yun Yifei reluctantly shift his gaze away from Gu Qingyin. He couldn’t help but feel that Zhong Shujin’s expressionless demeanor didn’t seem like genuine gratitude. However, despite that, he still politely returned the gesture and replied, “Master Zhong is too kind. It was merely a small matter.”

By this time, Gu Qingyin had also dismounted and was about to take a few steps forward when Zhong Shujin subtly moved to block her path.

Yun Huitong laughed and chimed in, “Actually, Master Zhong, there’s no need for you to thank us! If anything, we should be thanking you! If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have had the chance to run into Sister Yin like this!”

Hearing this, Zhong Shujin couldn’t help but cast a sidelong glance at Jing Rong—one filled with silent grievance.

If the setting had been different, she would have scolded him on the spot. Why did he have to attract these people over for no reason?

Yun Yifei, instead of refuting Yun Huitong’s words, only smiled in agreement. With that same smile, he looked past Zhong Shujin’s shoulder, his gaze landing on Gu Qingyin standing behind her.

Naturally, Zhong Shujin noticed.

She straightened her back with an inexplicable sense of defiance and, without a word, shifted slightly to the side—just enough to completely shield Gu Qingyin from view.

As a result, Yun Yifei’s line of sight was entirely blocked. Left with no choice, he could only withdraw his gaze in disappointment.

Only then did Zhong Shujin let out a satisfied huff.

On the other hand, Lin Ziyan and Shan Wenshu, still seated on their horses, had witnessed the entire scene and could barely hold back their laughter as they dismounted.

Cold-faced as ever, Leng Shaoying walked up and gave Zhong Shujin a disdainful shove on the shoulder, pinching his nose as he said, “What are you still standing around chatting for? Have you even smelled yourself? You stink! Hurry up and go wash!”

Only then did Zhong Shujin belatedly realize the awful stench clinging to her body.

“Oh—then I’ll go wash up first.” She quickly turned to Leng Shaoying and instructed, “Take good care of the three of them for me!”

“Yes, yes, I got it! Now go wash already!”

Still worried, Zhong Shujin added before leaving, “They all enjoy peace and quiet! They don’t like being disturbed by unnecessary people! Make sure no one bothers them, got it?”

Hearing this, Lin Ziyan led Shan Wenshu over to Gu Qingyin’s side and teased, “Yes, we don’t like unnecessary people disturbing us.”

As she spoke, she deliberately cast a meaningful glance at Yun Yifei.

Gu Qingyin smiled helplessly and replied, “Mm, you’re absolutely right.”

At that, Zhong Shujin’s eyes curved in delight. She secretly smirked, but quickly pressed her lips together to suppress it, putting on a serious face as she left one last remark for Gu Qingyin:

“I’ll come to your room after I’m done washing! Take care of your wound in the meantime, understood?”

Only after Gu Qingyin nodded in agreement did Zhong Shujin finally feel at ease. She grabbed Jing Rong and led the way.

On the way back to their rooms, Jing Rong sighed enviously, “I really envy Doctor Gu.”

Hearing that, Zhong Shujin immediately asked, “Envy what?”

“Didn’t you see it just now? The way Second Young Master Yun looks at Doctor Gu! He’s completely devoted! I heard from Huitong that ever since he met Doctor Gu, he fell for her at first sight and hasn’t had room in his heart for any other woman…”

“Shallow! You actually believe that?” Zhong Shujin’s temper flared instantly. She gritted her teeth hard, grinding her molars before managing to suppress her anger and saying, “I heard that this Second Young Master Yun is already engaged to someone from Qingyang Sect. If he’s got a betrothal and still dares to covet another woman, what kind of ‘devotion’ is that?”

“That’s true! That’s exactly why he’s the one delivering the birthday gift to the Qingyang Sect’s leader for his 40th birthday.” Jing Rong lowered his voice and whispered, “I heard from Huitong that he’s actually taking this opportunity to personally deliver a dissolution letter. Once the engagement is officially broken, he plans to roam the martial world in search of Doctor Gu. He never expected to run into her here first! If this isn’t fate, then what is?”

Fate? Fate, my foot!

Zhong Shujin smacked Jing Rong on the forehead and growled, “Are you too free? Why do you care so much about other people’s business? We’re parting ways with them tomorrow! Go tell that Yun Huitong of yours! And while you’re at it, let them know—Qingqing is coming with us!”

Jing Rong rubbed his head, eyes wide in disbelief. “Ah, Chief, that’s way too heartless… They just reunited after all this time, and you’re going to tear them apart like this?”

Zhong Shujin felt like all the inner energy she had worked so hard to suppress was about to explode from sheer frustration.

“Reunited? Torn apart?”

Zhong Shujin grabbed Jing Rong’s ear and twisted it hard, gritting her teeth. “Say one more word, and I swear the moment we return to the sect, I’ll assign you to guard that damned barrier forest!”

Though Jing Rong had no idea what exactly Zhong Shujin was so angry about, just the mention of guarding the barrier forest sent a shiver down his spine. He immediately shut his mouth obediently.

Only then did Zhong Shujin feel a little better.

After stepping into the room and checking the water in the bath barrel—finding it just the right temperature—she immediately started ushering Jing Rong out.

“Go say your goodbyes to that Yun Huitong properly! I don’t need you waiting for me here!”

To her surprise, not only did Jing Rong not leave, but he stood frozen in place, eyes wide as he stared straight at her.

Back in Heifeng Forest, everything had been pitch dark, and the area where they had spoken earlier was dimly lit, so no one had noticed the glaring bite marks on Zhong Shujin’s lips and neck.

Now, under the bright lantern light, Jing Rong spotted them instantly.

After taking a few looks, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Chief! What happened to your mouth?! And your neck! How did you get hurt like this?!”

Last night, Gu Qingyin had bitten Zhong Shujin with real force, leaving her neck covered in vicious marks.

As for her lips, though the wound had faded a little since the previous days, it was still obvious that it was a bite.

Zhong Shujin quickly turned her back to him, her face flushing red. She awkwardly touched her lips and muttered guiltily, “I accidentally bumped into something! Now get out! I’m going to bathe!”

Seeing no other choice, Jing Rong left, though he remained full of doubt.

After all, he wasn’t stupid—there was no way he was falling for that excuse so easily.

The injury to her lips might have been from bumping into something, but her neck?

How could someone possibly bump their neck and end up with wounds like that?

As the sound of the door closing echoed, Zhong Shujin finally let out a deep sigh of relief.

Good thing Jing Rong didn’t press further.

But before she could even finish exhaling, she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

She had endured for so long, yet she still couldn’t fully suppress the chaotic surge of internal energy wreaking havoc inside her body.

Forcing herself to stay calm, she quickly sealed several major acupoints on her body and adjusted her breathing. Only after a while did the pain finally subside.

Not long after, as if nothing had happened, she stepped into the bath.

Right now, she is far more concerned about getting rid of the awful stench on her body than about her injuries.

She scrubbed herself clean from head to toe, washing her mouth multiple times to ensure not a single trace of foulness remained. Only then did she put on fresh clothes and prepare to go find Gu Qingyin.

Hopefully, after all this time, Qingqing hadn’t grown impatient from waiting.

Before stepping out, she exhaled and sniffed carefully, making absolutely sure there was no lingering odor. Satisfied, she reached for the door—

Only to find that, outside her room, several members of the sect had been standing guard, waiting for her for quite some time.

Zhong Shujin frowned.

She didn’t even need to guess. There was only one reason why they would be waiting for her so seriously—

They were here to lecture her about using the Demonic Heaven Blade Technique tonight.

If she let them start scolding her one by one, who knew how long it would take before she could finally break free and go find Qingqing?

What should I do?

Will Qingqing be getting impatient from waiting…?