Seventeen: Warm and Silent

Xiao Yun'er saw her troubled and said, “Sister Xue, don’t worry. On my way home at noon, I found some more herbs for you. So much happened just now, I forgot for a moment.”

Bai Xuehua noticed that most of these herbs were the same as those from the morning—meant to stop bleeding. Her heart was quietly moved; it seemed Xiao Yun'er truly cared about her.

Xiao Yun'er mashed the herbs and said to Bai Xuehua, “Are you ready, Sister Xue?”

Bai Xuehua nodded, taking a handkerchief from her bosom. “Wrap the herbs in this handkerchief. After you pull out the dagger, press this handkerchief on the wound to stop the bleeding.”

“I understand. Sister, can you bear the pain?” Xiao Yun'er asked.

To better remove the blade and apply the herbs, he tore open the back of Bai Xuehua’s clothing. As his hand touched her back, Bai Xuehua instinctively shrank away, and Xiao Yun'er hesitated to touch her.

Bai Xuehua steeled herself, thinking that only by healing her wound could she take the next step toward revenge. After all, Xiao Yun'er had carried her on the road just now; there was no need to avoid this any longer. She closed her eyes and said, “Yun'er, don’t worry. Be bold. I’ve never feared pain.”

Xiao Yun'er braced himself, gripped the hilt, and pulled strongly. The blade came out, and blood gushed forth. He quickly pressed the handkerchief to the wound.

Bai Xuehua nearly fainted from the pain as the sword was withdrawn, but she gritted her teeth and endured. She then pressed several acupoints around the wound, and the bleeding gradually slowed.

Xiao Yun'er finished bandaging Bai Xuehua’s wound and let out a long sigh. He had been so tense and afraid that he collapsed onto the ground in relief.

Despite the pain, Bai Xuehua placed more wood on the fire to make it burn brighter, filling the cave with warmth.

The two sat together beside the fire, leaning on each other. Gradually, Xiao Yun'er grew sleepy. Night had deepened, and the distant howls of wolves echoed from time to time.

In snowy weather, wolves struggled to find food and became even more ferocious.

The howling sounded especially shrill in the quiet of the night. Xiao Yun'er, who had been drowsy, was startled awake by the wolves. Fear gripped him, and he instinctively leaned his head against Bai Xuehua’s chest.

Xiao Yun'er was particularly sensitive to wolves because once, while chopping wood in the mountains, he had nearly been killed by one. Luckily, a mysterious young woman had saved him and taught him many things, including which herbs could stop bleeding.

As the saying goes, “Once bitten by a wolf, you’ll fear their howling for ten years!” Hearing the howls, Xiao Yun'er couldn’t help but feel afraid. “Sister, I want to sleep, but I’m scared by the wolves,” he said, hiding his head in Bai Xuehua’s arms.

Looking at Xiao Yun’er’s adorable face, Bai Xuehua felt a strange rush of emotion. She would risk her life to protect him from harm. Gently stroking his face, she soothed him, “Yun’er, don’t be afraid. We have a fire. Even if the wolves find us, they won’t dare come in.”

Xiao Yun'er nestled close, breathing in her fragrance and feeling comforted and safe.

Bai Xuehua rested her hand lightly on his shoulder, and they leaned against each other. Xiao Yun'er soon drifted off to sleep, but Bai Xuehua remained awake. Her injuries were severe, but more than that, her mind was in turmoil, thoughts surging and unsettled.

As one of the leaders of the Bai family, her authority made her a figure of high standing within the Sky Eagle Sect. No one had ever dared profess love to her, and no man had ever come close. Yet now, she allowed a boy she’d just met to sleep in her arms.

Xiao Yun'er was innocent and endearing. Their shared hardships had already kindled an inexplicable affection for him in her heart.

Earlier, to make Xiao Yun'er happy, she had disregarded her worsening injuries to help him hunt a deer. Now, she endured her pain to let him sleep peacefully, setting aside the pride of a young woman.

Suddenly, Xiao Yun'er cried out in his sleep, “Help…Don’t kill me! Sister Ling, save me!”

Though exhaustion had sent him to sleep, the events of the day had been too intense, too frightening—especially the threats from Xiao Tianfeng’s men and Bai Xuehua’s killing of them. The bloody scene haunted his dreams, turning them into nightmares.

In his sleep, Xiao Yun’er struggled, his hand gripping Bai Xuehua’s clothing at her chest.

In his dazed state, he didn’t know what he was holding—only that it felt gentle and comforting, and he clung to it tightly.

This left Bai Xuehua blushing deeply. For years, no man had ever been near her, let alone touched her. Allowing Xiao Yun’er to sleep in her arms had already taken courage, but now, in his dream, he clung to her chest, and Bai Xuehua had to forcefully push his hand away.

Her action roused Xiao Yun’er, who saw Bai Xuehua’s face flushed with bashful pink, her usually clear eyes now clouded and uncertain. She was so beautiful that Xiao Yun’er impulsively leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

Bai Xuehua’s face grew even redder. “You…You’re misbehaving again!” she scolded, raising her hand to strike him, but the movement tugged at her wounded arm. With a sigh, she let it drop.

Her wounds were mainly on her hand and back. Xiao Yun’er said, “Sister Xue, don’t worry. Tomorrow I’ll take you to Sister Ling. She’s a brilliant healer and will surely cure you.”

“Sister Ling.” Bai Xuehua heard this name from Xiao Yun’er for the second time; he’d cried for her in his dream as well. Who was this Sister Ling? Why did Xiao Yun’er remember her so well?

Curious, Bai Xuehua asked, “Who is Sister Ling?” Xiao Yun’er grinned, “Do you want to know? Kiss me, and I’ll tell you.”

“What! When did you become so naughty?” Bai Xuehua scolded.

Xiao Yun’er laughed, “Being close to ink makes one black!” Bai Xuehua tried to push him away, baffled at how this wild mountain boy could say such things.

Xiao Yun’er laughed proudly, “Sister Xue, I’ve studied before. My teacher is Sister Ling. Do you want to hear about it?”

Her curiosity piqued, Bai Xuehua nodded. Xiao Yun’er began, “It’s a long story. Two years ago, I was chopping wood in the mountains. Suddenly a wolf appeared and pounced at me. I ran for my life, but accidentally fell off the rocks…” As he spoke, fear crept into his voice, and he reached to hug Bai Xuehua’s waist again. This time, Bai Xuehua did not refuse. She knew Xiao Yun’er was frightened instinctively and could not bear to push him away.