After the incident with Wei Lao’er, Mei Lin was genuinely worried for a while. She feared that his family might come to cause trouble for Murong Jing He while she was out. They wouldn’t need to do much—just set a fire, and that would be enough to cause serious harm to someone who couldn’t move. Yet, if she didn’t go out, the food they had stored for the winter wouldn’t last long, and sooner or later, they’d find themselves without supplies. She couldn’t think of a satisfactory solution, and even considered whether they should leave Lao Wozi village and find somewhere else to live. Murong Jing He teased her about this.
"Bold as a wolf, cunning as a fox, and yet you’re shaken by a few peasants?"
Mei Lin shot him a glare, displeased. How could she be bold when she had been chased like a stray dog? And as for cunning, who could compare to him? Besides, if she were alone, who would she have to fear? Recently, her throat had been feeling uncomfortable, so she didn’t bother to argue with him.
Murong Jing He laughed, "Do whatever you need to do. If I can’t handle such a small matter, then I really would be as useless as they say." By "they," he meant Wei Lao’er’s family, who had come and hurled all kinds of insults.
At the mention of the word "useless," Mei Lin’s face darkened. The Wei family had gone too far. If it weren’t for her desire to settle peacefully here, she wouldn’t have tolerated their behavior, nor let them humiliate him.
"What, you don’t trust me?" Murong Jing He, unaware that she was feeling guilty, assumed she truly thought he was useless, and began to feel annoyed.
Mei Lin shook her head without speaking, then took off her shoes and climbed into bed, snuggling up next to him.
They had always slept in the same bed, but lying together like this in broad daylight was something new. Murong Jing He was surprised, and his heart softened, causing him to forget his earlier irritation.
"I’ll go into the mountains tomorrow," she said after a long pause. She was planning to gather everything they needed for winter so that she could stay home with him and maybe even make a few winter garments. Her sewing skills weren’t the best, but she figured she could learn with a little practice.
Looking at his handsome face so close to hers, she started to plan their future together in her mind and found herself talking about it. Murong Jing He, unusually cooperative, responded with a series of "mm-hmms," occasionally adding his own thoughts. This made her happy, and she felt that the life they were planning sounded blissfully simple—though she never imagined that such a seemingly ordinary life would remain out of reach for her.
The next day, Mei Lin ventured into the mountains again. Still uneasy, she asked the hunter and a few friendly villagers to keep an eye on things while she was gone. Whether it was their vigilance or Murong Jing He’s own capabilities, things did indeed stay calm for a few days—until she passed out from pain in the forest again.
When she opened her eyes and saw the sky growing dark, she realized she couldn’t continue to ignore her condition.
Murong Jing He’s insistence on staying in this remote village clearly had its reasons, but Mei Lin didn’t want to pry, just as there were things she wouldn’t tell him. However, as the amount of pain-relieving medicine she needed continued to increase, she knew her body was deteriorating day by day. The overwhelming internal energy was becoming increasingly difficult to control. She had to secure his future before everything spiraled out of control.
Her throat felt dry and sore, as if something were lodged in it. She coughed a couple of times, then forced herself to sit up. Around her lay a few wild chickens and rabbits, but no larger game. She had spent almost half the day hunting without success and had even missed lunch. Thinking of Murong Jing He, who relied on her for food, drink, and other needs, she grew anxious. Ignoring her weakened body, she picked up the game and hurried back home.
The intense internal energy coursing through her fragile meridians felt like being flayed alive. Sweat dripped from her forehead, blurring her vision. After what felt like the hundredth time wiping the sweat away with her sleeve, she finally saw the outline of their fenced courtyard emerge in the twilight.
Before she even entered the courtyard, she could see through the fence that Murong Jing He was still sitting by the window in the same position as that morning, his head lowered as if lost in thought. His profile, shrouded in the pale evening light, was indistinct. Mei Lin felt a pang in her heart, suddenly overwhelmed by the intense desire to find a way to heal his broken meridians.
Hearing the wooden gate open, he looked up at her, his eyes dark and deep—not the vulnerable look she had imagined.
"I’m back," Mei Lin said, forcing a light tone and trying to hide any sign of pain. But as soon as she spoke, she realized her voice was hoarse and unpleasant, likely due to the pain. She decided that it would be best to speak as little as possible.
Murong Jing He didn’t respond. He simply turned his head away and resumed his previous posture.
Mei Lin assumed he was upset, but didn’t mind. She tossed the game onto the ground, washed her hands at the well, and then went inside.
After lighting the oil lamp on the table, she turned to find Murong Jing He watching her. She thought he might ask her something, but he remained silent. Relieved, yet feeling a slight disappointment, she let out a quiet sigh.
Walking over to the bed, she slipped her hand under the covers. The bedding was still dry, indicating he hadn’t had an accident due to her late return.
Murong Jing He watched her every move intently, his dark eyes showing a hint of displeasure as he said flatly, "I didn’t eat any of those strange things. I can still control myself." Clearly, her actions had offended him, reminding him of that humiliating incident from days before.
Mei Lin blushed slightly but didn’t argue. She simply looked back at him with wide, innocent eyes. She knew she had gone too far that time, so she wouldn’t bring it up again. Apologizing would only embarrass him further, so it was best to leave it alone.
Seeing her expression, Murong Jing He lost his irritation. Since it wasn’t a pleasant topic, he didn’t continue. "I want some water," he said instead.
Mei Lin quickly turned around, picked up a cup from the table, poured some cold tea into it, and helped him drink. Murong Jing He frowned slightly but didn’t say anything.
"Do you... need to use the bathroom?" Mei Lin, being rather unconcerned with food and drink, didn’t consider that his reaction might be due to the cold tea, assuming instead that he needed to relieve himself.
Murong Jing He shook his head. He didn’t want to talk but couldn’t help saying, "I haven’t had any food or water today, so I’m not in a hurry." His words sounded like a mixture of explanation, complaint, and reassurance, making it hard to decipher his true intent.
"During the day... I’ll go make dinner," Mei Lin started to explain why she hadn’t returned at noon, but seeing that he seemed indifferent, she stopped.
Murong Jing He let out a soft "mm," then asked her to help him lie on his side. He closed his eyes, his face showing signs of fatigue.
Seeing this, Mei Lin decided not to say anything more. She picked up the oil lamp and headed for the door. Before leaving, she glanced back at him, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.
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