A crowd had gathered early in front of the Mingyue Palace, worried about Liu Shinian and Xue Gucheng, who had reportedly been injured.
Yue Yao, in particular, paced back and forth alone, her heart in turmoil.
Tianlong, sensing her anxiety, walked over to comfort her.
"Princess, please don't worry too much. Liu Shinian's swordsmanship is superb; he won't sustain major injuries."
Yue Yao found his words reasonable. She nodded gently and rejoined him in the crowd to wait.
After a long while, rows of dark figures could be seen ascending the steps.
"They're back, they're back!"
Everyone was excited, but seeing that each person was carrying someone else, it was clear their injuries were not minor.
When they reached the summit, the waiting crowd surrounded them.
Yue Yao saw Liu Shinian's pale face and weak frame, and she couldn't help but cover her mouth and turn away, tears streaming down her face.
Liu Mei also covered her mouth, speechless, gazing at Yue Jiucang.
Seeing her worried expression, Yue Jiucang forced a smile and comforted her.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Hei Feng addressed the crowd.
"Don't crowd around. We need to carry them back to their rooms."
He then led the group to the west courtyard, to a row of newly repaired side rooms.
The injured were laid out on long beds. These rooms were originally intended for the Black Mountain guards, but they had to be vacated to accommodate the recuperating individuals.
Emerging from the side rooms, I felt an indescribable worry. Lin'er, sensing my unease, said,
"Their injuries aren't severe. It seems the one who injured them didn't aim to kill, just to inflict some internal damage. A few days of rest should suffice."
"I wonder if they'll be recovered before the troops are dispatched?" I murmured, looking at the dense tree outside the wall.
"They definitely will be," Lin'er affirmed confidently.
I turned back, seeing his determined gaze, and believed his words.
This turn of events could be considered fortunate. If the Four Great Villains could be retained, Black Mountain would gain a significant advantage.
That night, Yue Yao paced her room. She suddenly recalled the clan elders mentioning that mermaid blood could cure all ailments.
If that were true, her blood could also save Liu Shinian.
Excited by this thought, she spotted the scissors on the table and quickly grabbed them.
Suddenly, a pebble flew through the window, knocking the scissors from her hand.
"Ah!"
With a cry of pain, she pushed open the window and saw Tianlong standing outside.
Tianlong informed her,
"Mermaid blood is effective, but it's not suitable for everyone. If you do this, you won't help Liu Shinian and will only harm yourself."
Upon hearing this, Yue Yao lost all her strength and slumped onto a stool.
"The Ghost King and the others have devised a plan. Do you want to go and see?"
Yue Yao's despair turned to hope. She stood up and replied,
"Yes!"
She then left her room and headed towards the large sickbay.
Inside the sickbay, the four elders examined the row of injured men. Yan Wushuang was not among them; she was in her own room.
One elder placed his hand on Ye Changfeng and began to feel around him. Ye Changfeng weakly protested,
"Old… old man… you… you stop touching me."
Elder Wangu stroked his beard, having a general understanding of their injuries.
"The injuries are not severe, merely a clash between external force and their own internal energy. I recall our clan has a spiritual medicine called 'Guxuetang.'
A few days of decocting this herb with water should resolve it."
Elder Heiyi took Liu Shinian's pulse. Through his erratic脉络, he seemed to sense Liu Shinian's emotions and inner pain.
He frowned slightly and said,
"For Liu Shinian's prescription, three sweet dates are needed daily, in addition to Guxuetang."
Elder Moxuefu examined Xue Gucheng and Yue Jiucang and stated,
"They are not seriously injured. Two bowls of medicine a day will suffice."
Elder Zhuliuyun examined Zhu Yan, Gui Ye, and Fu Zimo's bones and took their pulses. He also felt they were not seriously injured and instructed those nearby,
"These individuals also require two bowls of medicine a day."
Lin'er, standing nearby, looked troubled.
"Elders, I have only heard of the Guxuetang you mentioned, but I have never seen it. I don't know where to find it at such short notice."
Elder Wangu chuckled and said,
"When we came to Black Mountain, we anticipated that Guxuetang would be useful, so we brought it with us. It's in a black box in my room."
"That's wonderful! Then they should be fully recovered in a few days."
"I'll go get it," Yue Yao volunteered, having overheard their conversation outside.
"Elders, I'll go with you to retrieve it."
Elder Wangu looked forward, his gaze passing through the crowd until he finally saw Yue Yao. He nodded and said,
"Very well, Princess, please follow me."
He then led Yue Yao to retrieve the herbs.
From my small building, I could see the other courtyard brightly lit, with people standing both inside and outside.
It seemed everyone was very concerned about their injuries.
"Are you worried about them?"
Wan Guiwang suddenly appeared, circling around me and asking.
I shook my head and thanked him.
"Thank you for saving me."
Wan Guiwang chuckled and said,
"Isn't that what I should do?"
"We will face many more battles, perhaps even greater than this, and might even lose our lives."
I suddenly realized that by bringing them into this, I might be burying future calamities for the Four Great Villains and Yue Jiucang.
Wan Guiwang, however, had a different perspective.
"The arrow is nocked and must be loosed. A conflict between the Four Cities and our scattered tribes is inevitable sooner or later.
Whether one stands aside or is involved, this battle cannot be avoided."
"It's truly unfair to them to drag them into this conflict.
If they hadn't joined Black Mountain, perhaps they would have had better lives."
"Everyone has their innate destiny; it's not something you can alter with a few words. Their fate dictates this battle, and no one can change it."
"Is that true?"
Although his words were logical and he saw further than I did, the path ahead was fraught with danger.
Keeping them here might cost them their lives, and I didn't want that.
Wan Guiwang, sensing my concern, made a wager with me.
"I understand your worries. If you don't believe they will choose this path themselves, then give them the choice. Let the Four Villains and Yue Jiucang decide whether to stay or go."
"Alright, if it becomes necessary, I will definitely tell them about the dangers ahead."
"Good."
"Ghost King..."
Lin'er rushed up from downstairs. Hearing someone approach, Wan Guiwang immediately returned into me.
Lin'er climbed the steps, paused for a moment, and then looked confused.
He had clearly heard the Ghost King speaking to someone downstairs, but upon arriving, there was no one else, only the Ghost King.
Seeing his dazed expression, I quickly asked,
"What's wrong?"
He then snapped back to reality and told me about the elders.
"The elders have examined their injuries and prescribed medicine. They should be healed in three to four days."
"Good, I understand. You all worked hard today. Get some rest early."
"Yes, Ghost King, you too. Get some rest."
I nodded and turned back into my room.
He watched my retreating figure, lost in thought, before turning to leave.
The next morning, a plume of smoke, reaching straight into the sky, rose from the other courtyard.
Then, Yue Yao, Liu Mei, and Thirteen Niang were seen outside the side rooms, tending to several large stoves where herbs were being decocted.
Tianlong and Wu Dao were also helping to tend the fire.
"We need to send a portion of this medicine to Wushuang; she's in her room," Thirteen Niang said while fanning the fire.
"Alright, I'll send it later," Wu Dao replied.
Thirteen Niang, however, disagreed.
"I'll go myself. How can a grown man go into a young lady's private room? Aren't you afraid of the one inside?"
Thirteen Niang said this playfully, intending to tease him.
Wu Dao, however, began to imagine Xue Gucheng's reaction if he knew Wu Dao had been taking care of his beloved during his recovery.
He would surely fly into a rage, kill him, beat him to death, or perhaps demand the Ghost King banish him from the mountain. Just thinking about Xue Gucheng's angry gaze sent shivers down his spine.
He trembled slightly and hastily refused,
"I'd better not go. Thirteen Niang is right."
The others, seeing his comically frightened expression, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Liu Mei turned her head, gazing at the figures inside the room, a sense of unspoken worry filling her heart.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"You're all here."
Everyone turned to see Lin'er entering the courtyard with two maids carrying two full plates of sweet dates.
"Why so many?" Tianlong asked, perplexed.
Lin'er explained,
"The elders said Liu Shinian needs to eat three sweet dates a day. The medicine is a bit bitter, so bringing this many allows everyone to have one before taking their medicine."
"That's a good idea."
"Take them and place them by the window," Lin'er instructed the maids beside him.
"Yes."
The two maids curtsied slightly and placed the sweet dates by the window.
"You may go now," Lin'er said, seeing that his presence was no longer needed.
"Yes."
As the group chatted idly, the long-silent medicine pots began to whistle.
Yue Yao looked back and saw white steam emerging from the spouts of the medicine pots.
"The medicine is ready," she announced.
"Let me handle it," Tianlong stepped forward and began to clumsily pour the medicine.
"These ones are ready too," Wu Dao pointed to the other pots that had begun to steam.
"Pass me the bowls," Thirteen Niang requested.
Wu Dao handed them bowls one by one, and after they were filled with medicine, they carried several bowls into the room and placed them on the table directly opposite.
He picked up a bowl and approached Ye Changfeng, who was in the first position on the left.
"Here, drink your medicine."
He blew on it gently and helped Ye Changfeng sit up to feed him. After one mouthful, Ye Changfeng stuck out his tongue, frowned, and exclaimed,
"It's so bitter, so bitter!"
Lin'er quickly handed him a sweet date. Ye Changfeng took it and ate it in one bite, his mouth filling with a soft, sweet taste, the bitterness completely gone.
"It's not bitter anymore."
Liu Mei also carried a bowl of medicine, personally helped Yue Jiucang sit up, and fed him. Yue Jiucang smiled happily.
"Have a sweet date," she offered him a sweet date from her hand.
Yue Jiucang smiled and shook his head, saying,
"I want to watch you eat. As long as you are sweet, I won't feel bitter."
This sudden display of affection made those around them envious. They turned their heads to watch the affectionate couple, then thought of themselves, alone and miserable, turning away sadly.
Yue Yao also brought a bowl of medicine and helped Liu Shinian sit up to feed him. Liu Shinian waved his hand weakly and said,
"I... I... I can do it myself."
Yue Yao chuckled and brought the medicine to his lips.
"Brother Liu, once you're feeling better, you can drink it yourself."
Liu Shinian couldn't refuse her and let her feed him.
"Brother Liu, you must get well soon."
"I will."
"Then, you have to take me to the small valley to see the scenery, okay?"
"Okay."
Each "Brother Liu" and sweet remark further fueled the envy of the bachelors present, who regretted not finding their own sweethearts sooner, so they too could be envied.
"Drink your medicine," Tianlong suddenly called out.
Fu Zimo, snapping out of his envious reverie, saw Tianlong's rather aged face and expressed his dissatisfaction.
"Why isn't my medicine being served by a girl?"
"Be grateful you're getting any at all. Not everything can be perfect," Tianlong admonished him helplessly.
Fu Zimo could only pout and extend his mouth to be fed by Tianlong.
Thirteen Niang, to spare the feelings of others, took the initiative to feed them, offering them a sliver of the gentleness they craved.