The Bitter Medicine and a Candid Heart

Xia Niansheng was brewing medicine.

Two crucial ingredients had been acquired from Duan Xi Shen.

Another two vital components came from Qiu Yan.

Considering certain events from his previous life, and given the game’s overarching theme of yuri,

there were undoubtedly untold stories connecting these three individuals.

Yet, observing the interactions between Duan Xi Shen and Qiu Yan,

‘Could it be that both of them harbored feelings for Senior Aunt Xue?’

‘If so, then essentially “fleecing” them to procure medicine for the only person they cared for…’

‘It was a convoluted path, but wasn’t it also a form of…’

‘Ahem.’

‘He was awkwardly misinterpreting things; Senior Aunt Xue and Wen Zhi merely shared a normal master-disciple relationship.’

A peculiar thought suddenly struck Xia Niansheng.

Both women, in terms of appearance and character archetypes, undeniably fit the mold of protagonists.

Yet, their ultimate fates were worse than mere cannon fodder.

One had met a tragic end alone against a Great Demon of the Ninth Realm in a foreign land, while the other might well wither away and die in her bed on Cold Moon Mountain, forgotten by all.

‘The reason they weren’t destined to be heroines…’

‘Could it simply be because they weren’t lesbians?!’

‘If so, the screenwriter was utterly despicable.’

‘A shiver of indignation ran through him; he only wished his Senior Sister would consider heterosexuality…’

Xia Niansheng stood in the kitchen, gazing at Wen Zhi’s profile, still seated beneath the eaves.

She remained quietly elegant, yet a heavy burden seemed to weigh upon her mind.

Her face, inherently divine, now bore vacant eyes, a sight that paradoxically caused no discomfort.

Indeed, for those who admired frail beauty, her delicate, pitiable appearance might stir even deeper affection.

Nevertheless, he was determined to cure her.

Since her eyes had lost their sight, Wen Zhi’s hearing and sense of smell had sharpened considerably.

The bitter aroma of the traditional Chinese medicine permeated her nostrils and lingered in her mind.

In the initial period after her disability, she felt as though she were steeped in this bitter essence, which had, in turn, imbued her entire life with a similar bitterness.

During that time, she truly detested the smell.

Later, the medicine had stopped, but the bitterness persisted.

She had dragged her precarious body through so much time; resentment certainly existed, yet she seemed to have gradually grown accustomed to this tranquil existence.

With her master and Xia Niansheng by her side, she truly desired nothing more.

‘No, that wasn’t entirely true; she did have one longing: to live just one more day, to have them by her side for just one more day.’

Yet, she could undeniably feel her body weakening, making even the hope of a few more years a mere delusion.

Xia Niansheng, however, had told her he could save her.

While Wen Zhi was still lost in thought, Xia Niansheng had already moved to stand behind her.

With practiced ease, Xia Niansheng pulled a small table closer and placed the bitter-smelling traditional Chinese medicine upon it.

“Here comes your medicine~”

“Niansheng, you seem very happy?”

“I’m about to treat Senior Sister, how could I not be happy?”

“…”

Xia Niansheng truly seemed to have changed considerably; in the past, he would never have uttered such words.

Wen Zhi offered no reply, merely placing her hand on the table, her palm gliding across the surface toward the bowl.

However, Xia Niansheng reached out first, moving the bowl and spoon directly in front of himself.

He then settled on the opposite side of the low table.

Wen Zhi paused, tilting her head slightly, a gesture that made her appear rather endearing.

“What is it?”

Xia Niansheng lifted the bowl, scooped out a spoonful, and began to blow on it gently.

Though Wen Zhi could not see, she could sense what Xia Niansheng was doing.

‘He’s… he’s going to feed me?’

“I… I can do it myself.”

Xia Niansheng simply cast a glance at Wen Zhi, whose cheeks were faintly flushed.

It wasn’t that he intended to take advantage of Wen Zhi; rather, he had gone to considerable effort to obtain this medicine.

If Wen Zhi accidentally spilled it, it would indeed be a waste.

Yet, to state it plainly to the sensitive Wen Zhi…

While Wen Zhi was certainly not one to be overly delicate, Xia Niansheng felt he could completely spare her any feelings of inferiority.

“What’s wrong with me wanting to show some filial respect to Senior Sister?” Xia Niansheng asked with utter candor.

Wen Zhi found herself short of breath, too flustered to utter a word.

Although Xia Niansheng had indeed consistently visited her over the years, their relationship had always remained strictly platonic.

There had barely been any physical contact between them.

To be fed medicine… to Wen Zhi, it felt far too intimate.

Before she could even speak, the potent aroma of the medicine enveloped her, and Xia Niansheng had already brought the spoon to her lips.

“Ah—”

‘I’m not a child…’

Wen Zhi parted her lips slightly, and Xia Niansheng carefully and gently delivered the medicine into her mouth.

The intensely bitter traditional Chinese medicine bloomed on her taste buds, and Wen Zhi swallowed it directly.

Then.

“Ah—”

“…”

“Ah—”

“I know, you don’t need to ‘ah’ anymore…”

“Don’t speak, just drink it.”

“?”

…

Xia Niansheng worked with remarkable efficiency; in short order, Wen Zhi had consumed the entire large bowl of traditional Chinese medicine.

In the end, Xia Niansheng was even holding the bowl to feed her.

He looked at the empty bowl in his hand and smiled contentedly.

“There you go, Senior Sister, not a single drop left.”

“It just feels strange somehow…” Wen Zhi couldn’t quite pinpoint what was odd, only that Xia Niansheng’s words carried a hidden meaning.

“Not at all, Senior Sister is wonderful.”

“…I’m not a child.”

“Alright, alright…” Xia Niansheng suppressed the urge to pat Wen Zhi’s head.

He then pulled a small pouch of candied fruit from his pocket. “Here, Senior Sister, have some candied fruit. I’ll go fetch some water for you.”

Xia Niansheng placed the candied fruit into Wen Zhi’s hand.

Wen Zhi nodded, albeit with a hint of confusion.

“Is there only one bowl of medicine?”

Xia Niansheng had already risen and was drawing water from a bucket nearby.

“Just one bowl this time. Different medicines require different brewing methods and concentrations, you see. This batch is for Senior Sister’s general recuperation.”

He could already sense that Wen Zhi’s body was teetering on the brink.

While it was true that the very weak should not be over-nourished, this medicine had been specially formulated by Xia Niansheng; its effects would lie dormant within her, gradually activating over time.

As Wen Zhi ate the candied fruit, the bitterness in her mouth finally began to recede.

Hearing him speak of recuperation, Wen Zhi had not realized that Xia Niansheng had long since discerned her physical condition.

“Actually, I had already decided to tell you not to come anymore,” Wen Zhi confessed, her head bowed as she ate the candied fruit.

“Why?”

Xia Niansheng had already poured clean water into another empty bowl and sat down beside her.

“My body truly won’t last much longer. You possess talent and capability, and I don’t wish for you to be unable to forget me.”

“Senior Sister, those words are far too presumptuous.”

Xia Niansheng’s reply, at that moment, was surprisingly cold.

Wen Zhi offered a wry smile, recalling how, over the years, Xia Niansheng had indeed never shown any signs of wanting to cross the boundaries of their friendship.

A poignant smile graced her face as she continued:

“It’s better if you don’t remember me for too long, after all, I am a cripple.”

“Senior Sister, you are not only presumptuous but also foolish.”

“What are you…?” Wen Zhi finally couldn’t hold back.

Hearing these words, an inescapable bitterness welled up within her; Xia Niansheng had never spoken to her like this before.

Xia Niansheng must have stood up; Wen Zhi, hearing the sound, instinctively raised her head.

The next second, Xia Niansheng surprisingly cupped her chin, lifting her gaze.

“Senior Sister, your unilateral decision to sever a relationship that can only be maintained by two people—that is what I call presumptuous.”

…