Chapter Ten: Affairs of the Past

A delicate hand lifted the gauze curtain, revealing Su Qinqin’s lively and charming face. At that moment, her petite, oval cheeks were slightly furrowed as she whispered, “Uncle Zhong, quickly carry him to my outer chamber.”

Uncle Zhong acknowledged her order and was about to enter the carriage when a hand stopped him. Turning around, he saw it was Wen Rugong.

“Master Wen, young miss…” Uncle Zhong’s face showed his dilemma, but before he could finish, Su Qinqin interrupted.

“Wen Rugong, what do you mean by this? Don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you’re Father’s adopted son. Meng’er and I are the rightful masters of Su Manor, and it’s not your place to interfere in our affairs!” Su Qinqin’s pretty face was tinged with anger; her peach blossom eyes glared fiercely at Wen Rugong, displaying the grace and spirit of youth, more vibrant than the crimson plum.

Wen Rugong’s expression softened somewhat as he spoke gently, “Cousin has not yet married; how can a man be kept in her room? Besides, this man’s origins are unknown. It would be better to take him to my chamber, where I can treat his wounds without putting you at risk.”

Su Qinqin scoffed, raising her brows in disdain. “Oh, so by your reasoning, once I’m married, I’ll be allowed to keep men in my rooms? I suspect the one with ill intentions is someone else entirely! Besides, healing knows no gender—after all your years of studying medicine, you’re still so outdated.”

The Su family was renowned for their mastery of poisonous arts, crafting and refining venom alongside medical skills. Though these were considered unconventional, the family upheld strict ethics, never using poison for harm. Most of their creations served the military, the imperial court, and righteous sects in the martial world. They frequently practiced medicine and dispensed remedies, earning widespread acclaim throughout Miaonan Province.

Wen Rugong’s face darkened, but before he could reply, Su Qinqin dropped the curtain, blocking everyone’s view.

After a short while, she emerged from the carriage, cradling an unconscious man in her arms. “Uncle Zhong, quickly, take him.”

Uncle Zhong hurried to receive the man from her, carrying him toward the outer chamber. With no children of his own, Uncle Zhong had long since regarded the Su sisters as his own daughters, cherishing them not only as his masters but as family.

Thus, though he knew it was improper, he did not advise Su Qinqin otherwise. He understood that she was a girl of firm resolve; once she made up her mind, not even the master and mistress could dissuade her.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Wen Rugong’s face turned livid. He pivoted and strode out of the courtyard.

Su Qinqin snorted coldly, about to enter the house when she noticed her younger sister staring dazedly at the direction in which their cousin had departed, her cherubic face scrunched up like a little bun.

“Meng’er, why are you just standing there?” Su Qinqin flicked Su Meng’s forehead with fingers carved from white jade.

“Ouch, that hurt!” Su Meng rubbed her forehead, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at her sister. “Sister, where’s my honey sweet fruit? Why did you bring back a patient instead of the fruit?”

“Oh, look at me and my forgetfulness! I must go save him first!” With that, Su Qinqin rushed into the house.

Su Meng stomped her feet, about to complain to Qing Gu, but aside from herself, the courtyard was empty.

Seeing this, Su Meng drooped her head and stepped lightly into the outer chamber.

Inside, she saw a shirtless man lying on the soft couch, while Su Qinqin was treating him with needles and Qing Gu attended at her side.

Moving closer, Su Meng saw the man’s well-defined bones, his face chiseled like a blade, brows slanting like swords, nose straight and prominent, lips pressed into a resolute arc. What a handsome young man!

She found herself entranced—so there was someone even more striking than her cousin. Her gaze slid down, blushing as she glanced over his chest, finally resting on his right hand.

He was gripping a knife: its hilt and blade both a fiery red, wild and imposing.

Qing Gu and Su Qinqin were focused on their work, unaware of Su Meng’s fascination. Soon, Su Meng extracted the last golden needle and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from the man’s brow.

Turning around, she saw her sister again lost in thought. Su Qinqin cleared her throat, “Silly girl, what are you doing?”

“I, um… Sister, is the honey sweet fruit in the carriage?”

Su Qinqin and Qing Gu burst into laughter at once—such a little glutton.

Suddenly, the man on the couch opened his eyes. An intense aura of murderous intent flooded the room. Su Meng’s heart clenched—danger, this man was extremely dangerous!

His eyes were keen as a hawk, icy and piercing. He swept his gaze around the room, finally settling on Su Qinqin’s face. “It was you who saved me.”

“Who else would it be if not me?” Su Qinqin rolled her eyes, evidently unfazed by his presence.

“My name is Luo Feng. Thank you, miss, for saving my life.” Years of wandering the martial world had given him a formidable air, his presence commanding even without anger. Yet, he was not cold—rather, he was a man who valued gratitude and loyalty.

“A healer is compassionate. I would save even a stray dog, let alone a living man,” Su Qinqin replied heartily, waving her hand.

Seeing Uncle Zhong and several servants carry in hot water, she quickly said, “Let’s leave—Sun Gui will help you clean the blood and mud from your body.”

“No need. I’ll do it myself.” Luo Feng turned, attempting to rise from the bed.

“You stubborn thing! You’re a patient now, a seriously injured patient. Letting others serve you won’t harm your pride. If not for my skill and a timely jade healing pill, who knows how long you’d have remained unconscious.”

Luo Feng stared steadfastly at Su Qinqin. “It’s a matter of a man’s dignity.”

Their eyes met. Su Qinqin studied Luo Feng’s resolute gaze for a moment, then laughed. “Fine, have it your way.”

With that, she dragged Su Meng out of the room.

Seated on the swing, legs swaying, Su Meng tilted her head to look at her sister. “Sister, what is a man’s dignity?”

Su Qinqin giggled, “A true man cannot bear to lie in bed, naked, and let others wipe him down—unless that person is a beauty, a beauty he loves.”

Su Meng only half understood her sister’s words, her mind filled with Luo Feng’s sharp eyes.

Later, in the Purple Bamboo Garden, she saw Luo Feng practicing swordplay, his movements fierce and fluid, his garments fluttering in the wind. That dashing presence was exactly the image she had dreamed of in a martial hero.

Among the masters of Su Manor, only Wen Rugong had trained in martial arts, but Su Meng yearned for the world of rivers and lakes. Deep inside, she longed for someone to take her adventuring through the martial realm.

Now, watching Luo Feng, Su Meng felt he was the one she had been waiting for—the person she had dreamed of day and night. For a moment, she was utterly spellbound, until—

“Has your sister not arrived yet? I promised to teach her blade techniques at this hour every day.” Luo Feng sheathed his sword, his gaze deep as he looked at Su Meng.

Su Meng snapped out of her reverie, feeling exposed under his intense gaze. A thought surfaced: he knows my feelings! Her pretty face flushed, then grew pale.

She forced a smile. “My sister isn’t feeling well today, so she probably won’t come. You needn’t wait.”

Since ancient times, heroes are paired with beauties. I’m just a young girl—how could he ever notice me?

Su Meng’s heart grew bitter as she turned away.

…

The night was as cool as water. Su Meng raised her cup, inviting the moon to drink with her. The wine burned her throat, filling her with sorrow.

“Except for this Qing Yin brew, you taught me all the wines you know, but what does it matter? Luo Feng, in the end I learned how to make this wine—from my sister.”

“Haha, if there’s another life, would you choose me? No, it would still be Sister…”

“Ning’er is the child you left behind; he is my everything, my whole world. I won’t let anyone hurt him. But I am selfish, too. Knowing how dangerous Ning’er’s path of vengeance is, I didn’t try to stop him. Because… I want to kill Du Gu Bancheng as well. He took you and Sister away—I hate him!”

“Luo Feng, you haven’t taken me to roam the martial world—how could you leave, never to return? The rivers and lakes are vast; how I wish I could see them…”

Su Meng was already drunk; the wine cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the ground. Her jade-like face was flushed, serene and lovely—such a beauty, perhaps even the immortals in heaven would pale beside her.