"Second Senior Brother, let's go too!" Ding Yu Cheng said to Li Chen Xu, who was supporting Lin Yan.
"Mhm, Little Six, go ahead and find an inn. We'll rest in the city tonight. Little Junior Sister was startled today and needs good rest," Li Chen Xu instructed.
"Then I'll go on ahead and find a suitable inn in the city," Zhao Yu Shu agreed.
"When we get to the city, find a doctor to get some calming medicine. I'm afraid Little Junior Sister might have nightmares tonight!" Ding Yu Cheng added.
"Alright, then Senior Brother Yang, you go with me," Zhao Yu Shu turned to another disciple.
"We'll take our leave then!"
With that, the two avoided the headless corpse on the ground and left the tavern first.
Red, a blinding red!
The crimson seemed to be staining her entire world. Lin Yan's eyes snapped open.
She saw an unfamiliar bed curtain. She reached up and touched her forehead. Her temperature was normal, but she was covered in a cold sweat!
Where was she? She recalled the scene before she fainted. It seemed like…
"The heroine is awake. Would you like some congee or rice?" a middle-aged woman entered, pushing the door open. Seeing Lin Yan sitting up, she immediately spoke.
"Where am I? And who are you?" Lin Yan asked, confused.
"You're in our inn, Young Lady. Your Senior Brothers are in the next room! I'm the innkeeper. Your Senior Brothers asked me to take care of you," the innkeeper said warmly.
"Thank you for your trouble, Innkeeper!" Lin Yan expressed her gratitude.
"Are you hungry now, Young Lady? Shall I bring you some congee and rice?"
"Thank you," Lin Yan nodded slightly.
"Then I'll go fetch some for you. Your Senior Brothers also got you some calming medicine, which is simmering on the stove. I'll bring it over in a moment."
The innkeeper was very hospitable. It seemed her inn had good business.
After the innkeeper left, Lin Yan got out of bed and found that her hair had been unbound. It seemed the innkeeper had unbound it, fearing she wouldn't sleep comfortably.
She got up and found a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, then sat down at a small table by the wall. Her hair tie and ornaments were placed there.
Lin Yan simply tied her hair up. Just as she finished tidying herself, there was a knock on the door.
"Please come in!"
The door opened, and Second Senior Brother Li Chen Xu and Little Senior Brother Zhao Yu Shu entered.
"Little Junior Sister, you're awake. How do you feel?" Li Chen Xu asked with concern. He knew their Little Junior Sister had never seen blood before, and such a gruesome scene must have greatly impacted her.
"I'm sorry, Little Junior Sister. I pressed your sleep acupoint without your consent," Zhao Yu Shu said apologetically.
"It's alright, Little Senior Brother. I know you did it for my own good," Lin Yan said gently.
"I'm glad you're not angry!" Zhao Yu Shu sighed in relief. He was truly worried his Little Junior Sister would be upset with him.
"I told you Little Junior Sister is generous, she wouldn't be angry," Li Chen Xu teased.
"Yes, our Little Junior Sister is such a magnanimous person, she definitely won't mind me, right?" Zhao Yu Shu reached out to touch Lin Yan's head.
Lin Yan quickly turned her head away and said indignantly, "I just finished my hair! Second Senior Brother, look at him!"
"Alright, Little Six. Little Junior Sister just woke up, don't tease her!" Li Chen Xu suppressed a smile, speaking somewhat sternly.
"Okay, okay, I won't touch your hair anymore." Zhao Yu Shu lowered his hand.
"Esteemed heroes, I've brought the congee and rice," the innkeeper said, knocking on the door.
"Thank you for your trouble!" Li Chen Xu nodded.
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all." The innkeeper placed the tray down. "Call me if you need anything else!"
After setting down the tray, she left the room without delay.
"Little Junior Sister, eat first. I'll go see if your medicine is ready," Li Chen Xu said, scooping some congee into a bowl for Lin Yan and setting it aside.
"I'm just hungry, thank you Second Senior Brother! Have you guys eaten?" Lin Yan walked directly to the table and prepared to eat.
"We ate while you were asleep. Eat quickly if you're hungry, don't worry about anything else!" Zhao Yu Shu moved the small dishes on the table closer to Lin Yan's bowl.
"Oh!" Lin Yan shot him an annoyed look, then picked up her bowl.
Seeing the two bickering again, Li Chen Xu smiled and left the room to check on Lin Yan's medicine in the kitchen.
"Little Junior Sister, were you scared?" Zhao Yu Shu leaned closer to Lin Yan, asking curiously.
Lin Yan ignored him, peacefully eating her meal.
"I was scared too the first time I saw blood. I couldn't even hold my sword and had nightmares for days! So it's normal for you to be scared."
"Why aren't you talking?" Zhao Yu Shu looked at Lin Yan curiously.
"Little Senior Brother, one does not speak while eating, nor speak idly while sleeping!" Lin Yan put down her bowl and looked up at him.
"Alright, you eat!" Zhao Yu Shu was speechless.
After all, it was more important for Little Junior Sister to eat. After taking the calming medicine, she should sleep well tonight and be fine.
It's just that Little Junior Sister was too timid. In the future, they shouldn't let her witness such things.
The martial world was like this, full of fighting and unpredictable life. Their Little Junior Sister was so pure and kind. They should ask Master not to let her train outside anymore.
Girls should stay on the mountain. If she wanted to go out, they should accompany her. Otherwise, it was too dangerous!
Their Little Junior Sister's face had turned pale with fright today, she could barely speak. It was so heartbreaking!
Lin Yan looked at the young man gazing at her with pity, recalling that day in her memory.
The young man who once couldn't hold his sword steady when seeing blood, had stood guard before her, covered in it. She felt she should treat him better.
"Little Senior Brother, you get scared too?" Lin Yan asked, looking at Zhao Yu Shu after finishing her congee.
"Yes, being afraid isn't something shameful. When a life disappears before your eyes, unless you're born cold-hearted and emotionless, how can you not be afraid!"
Zhao Yu Shu was unusually sentimental. "Little Junior Sister, this is how the martial world is. Such things happen almost anywhere, anytime. If you truly want to enter the martial world, you have to get used to it."
"Little Senior Brother, is there no way to avoid it?" Lin Yan sighed softly.
"Yan Yan, unless your martial arts are strong enough, you can live freely in this martial world as you please, even set the rules.
But you know, we don't have that kind of ability. So we can only act cautiously, take care of ourselves, and when possible, punish evil and aid the weak.
This is also what Master expects of us. But Yan Yan, I don't want you to punish evil. I just want you to grow up happily and live a good life!"
This time, Lin Yan did not dodge Zhao Yu Shu's hand reaching for her head.
"Little Senior Brother, you sound like my dad now!" Lin Yan complained softly.