Shi Nian's eyes rounded in shock as she saw a group of soldiers barged in the General's residence carrying the blood soaked General, his eyes shut firmly with his face awfully pale. The head servant, Fu Jia, gasped in surprise. "What happened to Master?!"
An armored soldier answered. "The General is wounded in his chest area. We have administered first emergency treatment on him and his life is no longer in danger, but the General still lost a lot of blood and needs a lot of rest to recuperate.."
"V—Very well," Fu Jia recovered swiftly, gesturing for the soldiers. "Please follow me, sirs. I will guide you to the General's room." Then, he turned to another servant and asked for her to bring a physician here.
Shi Nian instinctively took a step forward, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"Miss Shi…?" Fu Jia looked at her with doubt.
[I am a physician. You can count on me.]
The hall turned into deadly silence. Fu Jia looked at her with a flash of surprise, and the maidservant glanced at her in contempt but didn't dare to move without Fu Jia's order.
In the end, it was General Jiang Jinyan who said hoarsely without opening his eyes. "…let her in."
Fu Jia sucked in deep breath and bowed. "As you wish." He gestured for Shi Nian to follow him which she did obediently. Her heart was clamoring inside her chest. Anxiety, panic, distress, fear. She couldn't calm down until she saw his wound for herself.
Three soldiers brought the General and lowered him down to the bed. Then, they saluted and pardoned themselves, leaving Fu Jia and Shi Nian behind.
"Master, how are you feeling?" Fu Jia asked in concern. Shi Nian also tiptoed closer to peek on him, only to see him panting heavily as he struggled to remove his bloodied armor. Even if he was heavily wounded, his momentum wasn't weakened in the slightest.
Despite standing quite a distance away, Shi Nian could feel hot power and bloodthirstiness radiating from his skin, like he could fight three hundreds more rounds.
As expected, the next sentence coming from his mouth was, "Bring me a bucket of hot water and a towel. I wish to wash myself."
"Then, master—"
"I can do it myself."
Fu Jia's shoulder dropped as he complied and stepped back. His eyes glanced toward Shi Nian, clearly hesitating. How could he leave the General and this unknown woman alone inside the room? It was so inappropriate, he couldn't leave just like this—
"Leave us alone." A single command was what it took to get rid of Fu Jia, leaving the two of them alone.
Shi Nian stepped forward and gingerly asked. [Are you heavily injured?]
"No."
[Then the blood?] She raked her eyes along the surface of his skin that was unveiled one by one along with his movement. Not even a patch of unstained skin was seen.
His answer was curt, showing his evident bad mood. "It's not mine."
The armor around his arms, shoulders, hands were slowly removed. Seeing his face showed a bit of discomfort, she sat by his side and offered. [Let me help you.]
Jiang Jinyan's movement halted and he hesitated for a moment, but seeing her eyes so bright, so pure with only concern and nothing else, he cleared his throat and nodded.
Shi Nian's movement was careful and slow as she gently took off the armor on his legs as well as the one that was covering his chest. Her fingertips grazed upon the deep gash on his steel armor, blood leaking out of it, yet her face didn't change at the gory sight.
"Aren't you afraid?"
[Of what?]
"Me." His gaze was sharp and unyielding. "Aren't you afraid of me?"
Shi Nian tilted her head, not understanding what he meant by that.
Jiang Jinyan's question wasn't unfounded. As one of the greatest Generals in the whole Dynasty, he had an infamous reputation, respected among the soldiers, but also feared by the people. Furthermore, he had a pair of sharp razor eyes that was enough to cut you to pieces, stern eyebrows and a garish scar on his face which made him look all the more menacing.
Realizing that Shi Nian truly didn't understand him, Jiang Jinyan couldn't help but lose his momentum. His face softened and a chuckle escaped his lips, his body trembling along with his laugh and the bandage around his chest was soaking red, once again.
Shi Nian frowned, holding his shoulders in place. [Don't laugh.]
"Aye aye." A hint of weakness appeared between his brows as he leaned back onto the head of the bed. His face especially gaunt under the flickering candle light.
Shi Nian looked at him for a moment. [May I?]
Jiang Jinyan lifted his eyelids and their gazes met in midair. Shi Nian was especially earnest as she requested that because this man could be counted as her life savior. She couldn't sit still and watched him suffer if she could help.
"Sure." Jiang Jinyan's breathing was a bit haggard as he closed his eyes and let her do what she wanted.
Shi Nian cut open his bandages, his bleeding wound showing out. It spanned around thirty centimeters, right below his heart down to his waist. The wound was deep enough to show bones, but it had been stitched before, thus sparing her from another gorier scene. However, because he was constantly moved along the journey, the stitches turned loose, traces of blood oozing out endlessly.
It must have been especially painful, yet the General didn't show any other expression except thinning his pale lips.
Shi Nian didn't waste time any longer as she tapped her fingertips on it and a soft green glow emitted from her fingers, enveloping his wound in a warm cocoon. The change occurred at a speed visible to naked eyes. His bleeding wound stopped and the split skin regenerated, the flesh closed together and in no time at all, it was left into a long, scabbing scar.
She traced her fingers along his wound and the man shuddered imperceptibly.
Jiang Jinyan lowered his head and laughed hoarsely. "No matter how many times I see it, it doesn't cease to surprise me."
Shi Nian's face was a bit pale, but because of the dim light, it wasn't as conspicuous. She peered up at him, searching for the sign of any discomfort in his face. [How are you feeling?]
"Better than ever." He held her gaze. Because she had been leaning forward to treat him, only then did she realize that they had been so close. Too close for her comfort.
She could see the sweat beaded his forehead as well as the misty layer shrouded his sharp gaze, making the formidable General look a bit vulnerable. Shi Nian's heart skipped a beat and she hurriedly distanced herself yet ended up losing her balance because her head was spinning.
The General agilely caught her arms, preventing her fall. Despite that, she still ended up leaning onto him. And if seen from a third perspective, it looked like she was buried inside his embrace.
Shi Nian's face flushed. In front of her was a mass of bronze skin and full muscle glistening with sweat and blood, emitting strong and rushing pheromones that made one dizzy. Her hands touched his hard chest, it was warm, and hot. Very hot.
"Are you really okay?" The General's deep voice echoed right beside her ear, his breath fanned her cheek. "There really isn't any side effect in healing me? It doesn't affect you whatsoever?"
Shi Nian shook her head, her body tensed.
"Alright, I trust you." He sighed and let her go.
She scrambled to get up, this time she didn't dare to sit by his side again. Instead, standing up as if awaiting for his next command. Fortunately, Fu Jia knocked on the door at that very moment, rescuing her from the weird embarrassment and awkward situation.
"Master, I've brought the things you asked for."
Jiang Jinyan hurried to tie back his bandages, hiding his wound from sight. "Come in."
The door opened and two maidservants along with Fu Jia entered, carrying a large wooden bucket full of steaming hot water. "Do you really need no help, Master?"
"No need." He waved his hand. "Step back."
"Very well." Fu Jia led the servants out, once again closing the door on both of them.
The silence ensued, and Shi Nian took the initiative to request. [Then, I will—]
She hadn't finished writing yet when the man's voice resounded once again, commanding without leaving any room for objection.. "Come and help me."
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