Xu Hengyan had originally intended to remind her to be careful not to get the wound on her hand wet. His gaze fell upon her hands, only then did he notice that the bandages on them were already damp.
Neither of her hands was in good condition. How could she possibly avoid getting them wet while gutting fish?
Xie Jiang subtly hid her hands behind her back. After checking that there were no more venomous snakes in the cave, she picked up the prey and darted out.
The words Xu Hengyan had been about to say died on his lips as there was no one in front of him anymore.
Sometimes she was incredibly clever, quick-witted, and agile, and at other times, she was so careless and absent-minded. When he tried to say a few more words for her own good, she would get annoyed.
Xu Hengyan had promised her earlier that he wouldn't sleep before she returned. But as soon as she left, he stopped forcing himself and leaned against the large rock, closing his eyes.
He had always put on a brave front in front of her, accustomed to not exposing his vulnerability. The moment she left, he could no longer hold on.
In his daze, he recalled what she looked like when she first arrived at the Duke of Wei's mansion.
Aloof and arrogant, she looked down on everyone, too proud to even acknowledge their existence.
He then remembered how, earlier, when she thought he had been bitten by a venomous snake, her eyes had turned red and she had been on the verge of tears, even angrily scolding him for not valuing his own life.
Sleepiness surged over him like a tide, and Xu Hengyan soon became drowsy.
However, he managed to retain a sliver of consciousness, preventing himself from falling completely asleep.
He didn't know how much time had passed. It felt like only a blink of an eye, yet it also felt like several hours.
The sound of approaching footsteps startled Xu Hengyan awake.
He opened his eyes to see Xie Jiang returning.
Seeing that he was unharmed, Xie Jiang visibly relaxed.
She had washed the rabbit and fish clean and wrapped them in large leaves, to prevent them from getting dirty with soil again.
Xie Jiang stepped forward and felt his forehead, then reached to check his face and neck.
Her hands, still damp from the water, felt cool.
Xu Hengyan couldn't help but shiver and chuckled, "It's only been a short while, how could it be that fast?"
He then suddenly realized that she was a renowned poison doctor. How could she not know such basic facts? She was worried that his injury would worsen.
So he added, "I feel fine."
"If you feel unwell, just tell me."
"Okay."
Xie Jiang removed the wet cloth wrapped around her wrist and pressed it onto Xu Hengyan's forehead. "When it's no longer cool, turn it over yourself."
Xu Hengyan noticed a piece missing from the front of her clothes.
With the experience from the previous night, starting a fire this time was smooth.
Xie Jiang breathed a sigh of relief.
If it had been like last night again, she would have had to ask Xu Hengyan to do it.
She picked up a few stones and set them up beside the pile of firewood, then placed the two large bamboo tubes filled with water on top.
Although the river water was clear, Xie Jiang dared not drink it.
What if there were parasites? Where would she go to cry?
Looking at his dry, chapped lips, severely lacking in water, she said, "Yan Yan, bear with it a little longer. Drinking raw water is too risky."
Xu Hengyan replied, "Okay."
Xu Hengyan watched as she stuffed several kinds of washed, aromatic herbs into the bellies of the fish and rabbit, likely to remove any fishy smell and enhance the flavor.
While roasting, she would occasionally squeeze some of the herb juice and drizzle it evenly over them.
She was doing it with great care. Despite the rudimentary conditions, she was doing her best to prepare the food well.
The aroma of roasted fish and rabbit filled the cave.
The fresh scent of roasted bamboo mingled with it.
It was only then that Xu Hengyan truly felt the pangs of hunger.
"The water is boiled, and the fish is roasted. Eat the fish first, it's a bit hot."
Wrapped in leaves and placed in front of Xu Hengyan, she then took the bamboo tubes out and placed them aside to cool. Xie Jiang continued to roast the rabbit.
Xu Hengyan broke off a piece of the fish tail, which had many bones, and ate it while watching her roast the rabbit.
By the time Xie Jiang finished roasting the rabbit, half of the fish had already been eaten, with the fish bones neatly arranged beside it.
Spreading two large leaves in front of Xu Hengyan, Xie Jiang placed the rabbit on them. Looking at the remaining half of the fish, she smiled and asked, "You saved this for me?"
Xu Hengyan replied, "It's not hot anymore, eat quickly."
The rabbit was still a bit hot from being freshly roasted, so it was perfect for letting it cool down first.
Xie Jiang tasted the water in the bamboo tube. It was lukewarm and just right for drinking.
Xu Hengyan took a few sips, "It smells so good."
Xie Jiang also tasted it and closed her eyes in satisfaction, "The aroma of roasted bamboo."
With food and drink, if not for their injuries, staying in the deep mountains for a few days like this would have been quite pleasant.
Xie Jiang picked up the remaining half of the fish, tore off a piece, and tasted it. She nodded with satisfaction as she ate, "The taste seems pretty good, doesn't it?"
Xu Hengyan said, "It's already very good."
Perhaps it was due to his extreme hunger, but he felt it was the most delicious roasted fish he had ever eaten.
Xie Jiang tore off another piece of fish, meticulously removed the bones, and fed it to him.
"Do you prefer the fish tail or the fish head?"
"Either is fine."
Xie Jiang ate a bite herself, then fed another bite to Xu Hengyan.
Xu Hengyan slowly sipped the water, as drinking too quickly would hurt his wound. "Let's split it, the rest is all for you."
Xie Jiang ignored him and continued to feed him mouthfuls.
Xu Hengyan watched her smile with her eyes crinkling and, unable to dissuade her, could only helplessly let her have her way.
"Don't you think it tastes better this way?" she asked, mainly because she felt he looked too pitifully foolish.
"Does it?"
"Doesn't it?"
"..."
As long as she was happy.
It was rare that in such circumstances, she could still smile so happily.
Having satisfied her hunger with a cheerful heart, Xie Jiang checked the time and changed Xu Hengyan's dressing again.
"Your medicine is very effective."
"It's alright, it hasn't worsened."
Xu Hengyan saw that her hand was bleeding. He wanted to urge her to use some medicine on herself too, but the moment their eyes met, he had to swallow his words.
Unless he could hold her down and apply the medicine without her consent.
But he was no match for her now.
Xie Jiang gave him a look that said he was wise not to interfere.
"Although the wound hasn't worsened, given your current condition, it's still not suitable for strenuous travel. In my opinion, we might as well stay here. At least we have a cave for shelter, and you can get some proper rest."
Xie Jiang stacked several large leaves together, making a makeshift pillow for him, so that the hard rock wouldn't make his head hurt even more.
Xu Hengyan had no objections.
He was well aware of his physical condition. To push himself would only become a burden to her.
The best way for them to get out of these mountains was to follow the river upstream.
Their subordinates and the Huang Lanshan bandits were likely searching for them downstream along the river.
Moreover, because the Huang Lanshan bandits were more familiar with the mountains, the possibility of them encountering the Huang Lanshan bandits was even greater.
It wasn't impossible to find another way out, but his injury...
"The most important thing right now is your injury. Rest assured, I'm here."
Xie Jiang seemed genuinely scared of the snake and was poking into every nook and cranny with a branch.
Xu Hengyan smiled at her and leaned back against the leaf pillow she had carefully prepared. "You should rest too."
Since last night, she had been busy taking care of him without stopping.
"I'm not in a hurry. I'll go and cover up our tracks outside, and find some more food to store. But I won't go too far, I'll be back soon."
Xie Jiang looked around, and finding nothing to defend herself with, she tucked her dagger into Xu Hengyan's hand.
The moment Xu Hengyan realized what she was doing, he immediately grabbed her and pushed the dagger back into her hand.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't go far and would be back soon? I'll be resting here in the cave, what danger could there be?"
His wound ached intensely, but Xu Hengyan merely frowned, and in the next moment, his expression returned to normal.
"It seems your sword fell into the river and is lost. When we get out, I'll have the Cui Shan Sect forge you a new one, an even better one."
She spoke of the powerful, mysterious, and transcendent Cui Shan Sect as if it were her own vegetable garden.
As if she could pick a radish or a cabbage whenever she pleased.
Xu Hengyan replied, "Okay."
Xie Jiang took off her outer robe and draped it over him.
Xu Hengyan did not refuse.
He simply watched her slender back as she walked away.
His mind was filled with her words—"I'm here."