Awakening and Apologies

“Anling—”

“M-my lady, are you alright? I… I’ll help you inside.”

Chi Qiu, her body wracked with agonizing pain, knocked on Anling’s door. Anling resided in the guest room next to Chi Qiu’s bedroom. The sounds of Chi Qiu’s recent struggle with Zhong Jing had terrified Anling, leaving her curled up and trembling in a corner of her room.

It was only when Chi Qiu called out, knocking at the door, that Anling scrambled to open it, only to be met with the sight of Chi Qiu, covered in blood.

Anling, flustered and frantic, helped Chi Qiu onto her own bed. She then noticed Chi Qiu’s eyes were tightly shut, her face so covered in blood that her wounds were indistinguishable.

“My lady, I’ll go find Steward Ding. He’ll surely be able to find a physician to treat your wounds…” She dared not wipe the blood herself. Instead, she bowed hastily, not caring if Chi Qiu could see her, and rushed out after uttering her words.

Chi Qiu yearned to respond to Anling, but the excruciating pain in her chest made every breath a torment. She was utterly devoid of strength to speak.

“Ah—”

Anling had not gone far when Chi Qiu heard another shriek. Her heart clenched in alarm, then immediately relaxed. Anling, she presumed, had just encountered the dismembered corpse of Zhong Jing.

Approximately a quarter of an hour later, the sounds of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the bedroom. Then, Ding Shi’s voice rang out: “Fellow Daoist Chi, are you still conscious?”

Chi Qiu was too weak to speak, so she merely nodded gently, signaling that she retained her senses.

“Physician Wu, I entrust Fellow Daoist Chi to your care.” Seeing that Chi Qiu was still lucid, Ding Shi breathed a sigh of relief. He then ushered a female physician into the room.

“Leave her to me. You may go out first; this young girl can stay to assist me.” A gentle female voice drifted closer, accompanied by soft footsteps.

“Then I can rest assured. Fellow Daoist Chi, I shall take my leave now to avoid impropriety. Rest assured, our Sang City will investigate this matter thoroughly until the truth is uncovered.” As he spoke the latter part, Ding Shi’s tone grew somewhat cold. As a steward, he knew he bore responsibility for a guest being attacked within the Treasure Pavilion’s premises.

The sound of the door closing indicated that Ding Shi had departed the room. The physician then opened something, releasing an unfamiliar, fragrant scent. Upon inhaling it, Chi Qiu felt her entire being relax, and even the pain from her wounds significantly eased.

“Sleep now, girl. Once you’re asleep, there will be no more pain.” Listening to the soft murmur by her ear, Chi Qiu gradually lost consciousness.

When Chi Qiu awoke again, she found herself back in her own bedroom. The blood-soaked robes she had been wearing were gone, replaced by loose inner garments. Calming incense burned in the room, and Anling lay sprawled on the bedroom table, sound asleep.

Chi Qiu’s right eye was swathed in bandages, making it impossible to open. She knew the injury was to her eyeball, and it would not heal quickly. Fortunately, her left eye was unharmed, though her brow bone, the corner of her eye, and her eyelid bore several lacerations.

Thanks to Physician Wu’s treatment, she could now see clearly with her left eye.

Chi Qiu gripped the edge of the bed and pushed herself upright. A dull ache emanated from her chest, yet it was significantly less severe than the previous night, well within her tolerance.

She then threw back the covers, her bare feet touching the floor as she slowly rose. A general soreness lingered in her body, but it was not debilitating.

Chi Qiu gazed at her white inner garments and the bandages wrapped around her arms and chest. A sudden curiosity about her current appearance overcame her.

She moved slowly to the bronze mirror in the room. The reflection showed a young woman with limp, ice-blue hair cascading down. Her right eye was bound by several layers of white gauze.

A two-inch-long wound, neatly stitched with fine, even threads, marred her left brow bone. The corner of her left eye was slightly torn, and several small cuts graced her lower eyelid. These delicate injuries, paired with her moist, blue eyes, lent her an air of poignant vulnerability.

“M-my lady, you’re awake! Physician Wu said you shouldn’t be moving around. Quick, lie back down.” Chi Qiu’s movement from the bed startled Anling, who had been sleeping on the table. Seeing Chi Qiu standing barefoot before the mirror, she quickly rose to help her.

Chi Qiu did not refuse, allowing Anling to guide her back to the bed. After Anling covered her with the comforter, she said, “My lady, you needn’t worry about scars on your face. Physician Wu said she has a way to remove them for you.” She had seen Chi Qiu looking in the mirror and assumed her lady was concerned about facial scars, thus offering the explanation.

“I’m not…” Chi Qiu, clearly unconcerned, began to explain, but Anling cut her off.

“Oh, right! Physician Wu asked me to find her once you woke up. My lady, please lie here for a moment; I’ll go fetch Physician Wu.” With that, Anling bustled out of the bedroom.

Before long, Anling returned to the bedroom, leading a young woman dressed in a goose-yellow ruqun. This woman, over seven chi tall, was considered quite statuesque among women. Her features were not exceptionally striking, yet her entire being exuded an aura of dignified gentleness.

“Miss Chi, you’re awake. Do you feel any discomfort?” The woman asked, her voice soft as she sat by Chi Qiu’s bedside.

A faint medicinal scent accompanied Physician Wu. Chi Qiu, inhaling the aroma, replied, “My chest still aches a little when I move, but otherwise, I’m fine.”

Physician Wu nodded, explaining, “You fractured three ribs. I’ve already set them. You’ll need to limit your activity for the next few days to prevent the newly joined bones from breaking again.”

Chi Qiu nodded obediently. Then, she spoke again, “Thank you, Physician. May I ask if my eye can be healed?” This was Chi Qiu’s most pressing concern.

“There’s no need to be so polite. My name is Wu Yuling; you can just call me by my name. Miss Chi, you needn’t worry. An eyeball injury, while it sounds alarming, is quite treatable. You can remove the bandages in a few days, and simply take good care of it afterward.” Wu Yuling chuckled softly, reassuring Chi Qiu.

Hearing that her right eye was unharmed, Chi Qiu also breathed a sigh of relief. Although she possessed the flower sea to aid her vision, she couldn’t constantly activate it and run around; that would be far too ostentatious.

Moreover, while it might be fine in the mountains, once inside a city, where the ground was paved with bluestone, there was no suitable place for the flower sea to grow.

“That’s good then. Thank you, Miss Wu…” Chi Qiu bowed with clasped fists.

“No need to thank me; this is simply my duty. Since Miss Chi is recovering well, I won’t disturb you further. Remember to take these medicines after meals.” Seeing Chi Qiu in good spirits, Wu Yuling nodded contentedly. She produced a large packet of herbs, placed it on the bedroom table, gave a few instructions, and then departed.

Chi Qiu watched Wu Yuling leave the bedroom. Anling, meanwhile, brought over some tea and snacks. “My lady, you’ve slept for so long; you must be hungry. I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare a meal, but please have some snacks to tide you over until then.”

Chi Qiu had never been waited on before. Seeing Anling pick up a snack and prepare to feed it to her, she felt utterly uncomfortable. “Just put it aside; I’ll eat it myself. By the way, how long have I been asleep?”

Anling, complying, placed the tea tray on the bedside table. She then replied, “It’s been almost ten shichen. It’s nearly dark outside now.”

Chi Qiu nodded. Suddenly, a premonition stirred within her; it seemed a cultivator was approaching the bedroom. She surmised it was Ding Shi, having learned of her awakening, coming to offer his apologies.

With this thought, Chi Qiu looked up at Anling and said, “It’s getting late. You should go rest too.”

Anling seemed to want to say more, but in the end, she merely lowered her head and softly assented before leaving the room.

No sooner had Anling exited the bedroom than footsteps sounded from outside the door. Then, Ding Shi and another man, dressed in green robes whom Chi Qiu didn’t recognize, knocked and entered the bedroom.

“Fellow Daoist Chi, how is your health?” Ding Shi asked, a fawning smile plastered on his face as soon as he entered the room.

“I’m fine now. And who might this be?” Chi Qiu’s gaze shifted to the man behind Ding Shi, inquiring.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Le Shan, and I am currently the City Lord of Sang City. Hearing that Fellow Daoist was attacked and injured within my city, I have come specifically to offer my apologies.” The green-robed man interjected before Ding Shi could introduce him. He bowed slightly and presented himself.

The City Lord of Sang City?

Chi Qiu had not expected that her attack and injury would alarm the City Lord enough to visit personally. But then she reconsidered. Although Sang City was called a city, its population barely exceeded one hundred thousand, and cultivators within it probably numbered no more than twenty.

For such a small city to experience a cultivator attack, resulting in casualties, was naturally a significant matter.

Chi Qiu, neither servile nor arrogant, returned the bow. “This was an assassination by an enemy; no one else is to blame.” She understood clearly that Zhong Jing’s attack was purely for revenge, and she trusted that Sang City would indeed uncover the truth of the matter.

“No, no, that’s not right. Since the attack occurred in my Sang City, I must bear responsibility. Furthermore, the leakage of Fellow Daoist Chi’s identity is also related to Ding Shi.” Le Shan shook his head, then shot a stern glare at Ding Shi.

Ding Shi, met with Le Shan’s glare, instantly looked as if he had swallowed a dead rat. He then forced a smile and said, “This is all my fault. While chatting with Zhong Jing, I carelessly revealed Fellow Daoist’s identity, and even told him the location of your residence… Alas, Zhong Jing attends the Sanwei Meeting every year, and I thought you two were friends, so I told him the truth.” By the end, Ding Shi’s voice grew fainter, and his head drooped.

“Stop with these useless excuses. Present the compensation to Fellow Daoist Chi.” Le Shan, seeing Ding Shi’s demeanor, kicked him lightly in annoyance.

“Fellow Daoist Chi, this is Sang Tea. All one jin and seven liang of Sang Tea remaining in my Treasure Pavilion are here. Outside, there is also a box of fine silks and brocades, spirit jade, and spirit stones. All are offered as compensation, and I hope Fellow Daoist will forgive this old man.” Ding Shi took a brocade pouch from his waist and handed it to Chi Qiu. A rich tea fragrance wafted from the pouch, and merely a shallow sniff made Chi Qiu feel much clearer-headed.

One jin and seven liang of Sang Tea, valued at eight thousand five hundred spirit stones in the Treasure Pavilion. Was Ding Shi truly so generous? Chi Qiu was first pleased, then grew suspicious. However, with the City Lord of Sang City present, Ding Shi would not dare to deceive her.

After a moment of thought, Chi Qiu took the brocade pouch. Regardless of Ding Shi’s intentions, it was best to secure it first.

“This matter cannot entirely be blamed on Steward Ding. Even if Steward Ding hadn’t spoken, he would have found me at the upcoming Sanwei Meeting. This battle was, in the end, unavoidable.” Having accepted the compensation, Chi Qiu naturally offered Ding Shi a way out of his predicament.

“As long as Fellow Daoist Chi doesn’t blame me, I… alas.” Ding Shi lifted his head, wanting to say something more, but ultimately could not articulate it.

“Since Fellow Daoist Chi has accepted Ding Shi’s compensation, we won’t trouble you further. Once you’ve recovered from your injuries, I shall host a banquet for you.” Le Shan’s face broke into a smile upon seeing Chi Qiu accept the Sang Tea. He clasped his fist in a salute and then departed the bedroom with Ding Shi.

Chi Qiu gazed at the weighty brocade pouch in her hand, falling into contemplation:

What exactly do these two want?