xvi

As expected, the two of them drew almost everyone's attention. From Lan who was only in his undergarments, to Liwei wearing a man's robe while being supported by him as they walked. What's more, some of Liwei's wounds were still bleeding, so no matter if she was covered with another layer of cloth, it was still soaked red.

Tangshu was a big town but it rarely ever had anything to do with any spiritual matter so needless to say, they weren't used to seeing something so out of the ordinary.

Lan did his very best to ignore them and keep walking, but they were starting to get on his nerves. Then again, he couldn't really blame them, but he couldn't be blamed either if he was annoyed.

"Do you have an idea where the inn could be ?" he asked Liwei.

She shook her head. She knew of this town but she never came before.

"I guess we'll have to ask someone." he said.

"Yeah."

Lan led her toward a group of men. They hadn't noticed them yet, however when he was two steps away, they did and got startled. They even prepared to flee !

"No wait, please ! I just have a question !" he called from behind.

But no one listened and no one stopped to hear him out. He sighed. Run away like that ? Why, because of an injured lady ? It wasn't like they looked like criminals.

"Ask this one." Liwei discreetly pointed at someone.

It was a middle-aged man, standing in front of a jewelry store, carrying a small box he seemed to have bought from there.

Lan listened to Liwei and walked toward him. He hadn't noticed them yet, and only did when they were standing in front of him.

"Uh, hello." Lan greeted.

"Hello ?" the man sounded confused. "Can I help you ?"

"Yes actually, we'd just like to know where's the nearest inn here ?"

The man looked quickly at Liwei, then back at Lan. He nodded.

"At the end of this street," he pointed the mentioned way, "turn right, then at the first turn, you take right again. You can't miss it, there's a pastry shop just beside it."

Lan nodded slowly, assimilating what he was being told. He gave a small smile to the stranger, which was indiscernible because of his veil.

"Thank you."

"Thank you." Liwei mumbled after him.

It was so soft, even Lan wasn't sure he had heard right.

"Ah, no problem no problem !" the stranger smiled.

They bid goodbye to the man and walked away in the given direction.

"How were you so sure he'd be willing to listen to us ?" Lan asked after walking a bit.

"I wasn't." she shrugged. "But he was standing there so I thought we might as well try our luck."

Lan nodded. "In any case, I'm glad he helped. I was literally walking in the opposite direction !"

Liwei chuckled slightly, "I know right."

They made their way to the inn. It was really big, more than twice the size of Sun and Moon Inn. Lan's gaze traveled to the pastry shop beside.

Luan's shop.

These words were written in front in big characters and surrounded by lanterns so they'd be visible even as night fell.

It was still open, and countless people could be seen entering and exiting. If Lan thought it was bustling at Madam Zheng's inn, then how could he describe it here ? And he wasn't even talking about the inn but a shop !

There were so many people, the count could probably reach half of their village's population —to exaggerate it a bit.

When he looked away, he caught Liwei staring at the shop as well. His movement made her shift her gaze to him, before looking away at the inn.

"Let's quickly go in." she said.

Lan nodded and they entered. The place looked even bigger from inside. Even the ceiling was so high ! There was a restaurant on the first floor, with more than half of the tables occupied. The counter was just next to the door.

They went, and Lan greeted the man behind. He seemed stunned when he saw them arrive.

"We'd like to stay here please." he said.

"Oh sure. How many nights are you staying ?"

Lan looked down at Liwei. "How many nights ?"

"Let's book two nights for now. We'll see then if we need to extend our stay." she answered.

Lan nodded and looked up to tell the man, but he had already heard and nodded.

"No problem. It'll be two rooms, right ?"

"Yes." Lan replied.

The man registered their rooms before giving them two keys. They thanked him and left to go upstairs.

"Can you walk up the stairs ? Aren't you tired after all this walking ?" Lan worriedly ask her once they reached the staircase.

If the ceiling was high, the staircase wasn't any different.

"It's fine." she simply said.

Lan was frowning. "It doesn't look too fine to me."

Liwei smiled at him, "It's just a staircase. If I would have had trouble somewhere, it definitely would have been going down the mountain."

"That's why I'm asking if you're not too tired ! I know you surely are."

"I'm not, but what if I was ? Should I call someone to carry me upstairs ? I don't think it's included in the service." she joked.

Actually, Lan had considered carrying her a few times already. He knew he wasn't the strongest man, but he didn't think it would be a hard task to carry someone as petite as Liwei. He simply didn't know how to bring it up and didn't want to overstep her boundaries by asking something that might be uncomfortable for her.

But now he understood to not suggest it. Even as she joked, she didn't say she should ask him to carry her, which meant it was out of the question.

Liwei didn't mean it like that though. She didn't even think Lan was thinking of carrying her, and couldn't think herself of being carried by Lan.

In the end, no one knew what the other was thinking.

Lan gave an awkward smile, trying to make it look as natural as he could. "Take your time then, I'll help you."

Liwei knew it would be pointless to argue so she nodded. "Thanks."

But although she agreed, she didn't take her time at all. She climbed as if she didn't have a single cut on her body !

Their rooms were next to each other. They first went to Liwei's. He walked her to the table placed in the center, pulling the chair for her.

She sat down and thanked him again.

"I'll go look for medicine." he said.

"No need. It'll heal on its own eventually."

"Do your body heals in no time thanks to the spiritual energy ?"

"Not in no time, but faster than mortals."

"Doesn't it get infected ?"

"I don't know about wounds and how they work. I just know it'll heal at some point.

"Have you already been wounded like that ?"

"No."

No ? And she could still tolerate it as if it was a daily experience for her ?

"Then I'll tell you —it won't heal on its own. Only small wounds heal on their own, but you've had your flesh pierced. If you don't treat it, it'll get infected."

Liwei sighed, "At least go rest first."

"As if." he turned around and started walking to the door. "Oh by the way," he turned around once he grabbed the doorknob, "I'll take the key with me so you don't have to get up and open the door for me. I'll be quick !"

"Sure."

He smiled at her and left. Liwei kept her eyes on where he had been standing. After a while, she sighed again and looked away at the table.

She tried to contact Wen Li, hoping she would answer. It took some time, but she finally did.

"What's wrong ?" Wen Li asked. "We were in the middle of discussing the matter and I had to excuse myself to answer you. Is it worth it ?"

"I'll let you judge for yourself : we've been attacked on the road."

"By who ?" she exclaimed.

"Are you sure you don't know ?"

From her tone, it was obvious she was implying something.

"How would I know !" Wen Li said annoyingly.

"How ? Because we were attacked by Shan Nu's."

She stayed quiet for a moment. "Are you sure it was Shan Nu ?"

"Could you mistake their ugly kind with any other ?"

"But Shan Nu's can't even fight !"

"But these ones definitely could !"

"This makes no sense !"

"I think it does make sense." Liwei said bitterly.

Wen Li understood what she meant and rolled her eyes. "It doesn't ! I know you suspect Immortals to be behind this, but this is too reckless. You're so blinded you can't even see the obvious !"

"What obvious ? Are you going to tell me it was someone else's doing ? That it was a setup ?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Think a bit ! If Immortals wanted to keep their identity secret, why would they send their Shan Nu's —that are even known by mortals to be Immortals' servitors ?"

"I'm not so twisted that I can understand the intention of that dumbass Emperor of yours."

"Watch your tongue."

"Don't pretend to like him, you know you can't stand him either."

"Bullshit. I know he was wrong in some decisions he made, but he's good."

"Whatever you're saying. Anyways, all the clues have been pointing at Immortals until now. Are they all coincidences and setups ?"

"What clues ?"

"Oh, I'll tell you. Who plotted against him and changed him into a snake, while spreading the rumor that he was dead ? Who kept coming to the forest looking for him ? What do you think was the reason ? To pet him ? Barely two weeks after he woke up, a group of ghosts attacked the village, and where ? Around my house ! The perfect excuse for Immortals to roam around ! Oh and let's not forget about the very strange man we encountered on the same day !"

"What man ?"

"I don't know ! Seemingly a mortal, but there's a weird energy coming from him. As if they tried to conceal something about him." She paused for a quick second. "Anyway, and now we're being attacked by Shan Nu's. Tell me, is everything a coincidence ? Or a setup ?" she repeated.

"You're looking too deeply into things. Immortals weren't aware of the attack !"

"You got there pretty fast though."

"Thanks to an array !"

Liwei wasn't done arguing with Wen Li. She could be at it for the rest of the night ! But Lan came back, carrying a paper bag.

"Contact me later when you have time, I have to go."

Wen Li understood Lan had come, so she didn't say anything else. They both exited the array.

"I found medicine !" Lan exclaimed as he locked the door. "I asked a few attendants where I could buy them, but no one seemed to know ? Or maybe they just didn't have time to answer me."

He reached the table and put the small bag on top.

"Where did you find it after all ?"

"An attendant said he had been sent on a quick errand and could take me there."

Liwei widened her eyes, "Don't tell me you went ?"

"Yes, I went. I'm not good at using spiritual powers yet, but I was still able to feel it when people were being weird. I felt nothing wrong with him so I thought it was fine."

"That's still dangerous. Especially after what just happened."

Lan smiled, "I was quick and the attendant even helped me with the prices since he knew I wasn't from here. There really was nothing wrong with him."

"Fine, let's drop it."

"Yes ! I'll help you with your wounds."

"Help me ?"

"Yes ? You can't do everything on your own. How do you plan to treat your shoulder ?"

"Like I did earlier ?"

"It's done awfully ! No way you're doing it on your own." he circled the table to stand beside her.

Liwei was secretly offended. How was it done awfully ? It was comparable to professional medicine actually !

"I'll just do it quickly, you can't mess around with health." he continued.

He wouldn't have insisted on helping her if he knew it wasn't important. He was glad when Liwei gave up on refusing his help and nodded.

"I'm sorry I have to ask you to take the robe off."

Without saying a word, she got up, her back facing Lan. She took off the robe he had lent her and placed it on the table.

"Something else ?" she asked in a small voice.

"No, it's good. You can sit."

She did as told. Her face was warming up so she mentally cursed herself.

Her dress was torn enough for her injured skin to be exposed already. Lan started with the worst one : her right shoulder. He started to unroll her sleeve from around it. However it had already been hours, and the blood had time to dry, resulting in the fabric sticking on the wound.

"I'll have to pull it, it will hurt." he warned her first.

But Liwei had other matters in mind right now. Not only her face was burning hot, but Lan's fingers seemed to ignite every area of skin he touched. Was it believable that this was the first time she let someone touch her ? And it wasn't just anyone, it was Huang Lan !

"Whatever." she mumbled.

"I'm sorry."

He took a deep breath, clenched the fabric tightly in his hand, and pulled. The awful sound of something being ripped made him cringe. But Liwei didn't react. Her bottom lip was caught harshly between her teeth, preventing her from showing the pain.

"Sorry." he apologized again.

"I should be apologizing for troubling you."

"Nonsense." he answered in a soft voice.

Lan's voice was deep, but there was some kind of softness in it. The way he talked was clear and even pure, almost like a kid. And Liwei knew how scary it could sound if he was to yell, but his voice wasn't made for that.

His voice only could describe his own person. He was tall and his body was very well proportioned ! It had been a while since it was inactive as a human body, but it was an Immortal's body after all, so it remained muscular. All in all, he looked very scary and like he could crush anyone with a single hand.

However, he was the kindest person Liwei had ever met. He was very gentle, and even clumsy sometimes. He had a warm smile, and if it was bright enough, his eyes would form a crescent shape.

Everything about him seemed to be a contrast.

He continued to treat her in silence. After he was done with her shoulder, he applied the medicines on her arms. There were a few wounds and they were shallow so it didn't need anything more.

"You know I can do the rest myself." she told him.

He was now standing in front of her, but she didn't look at him. Instead, her eyes were glued to the table.

He smiled, "I started, might as well finish it."

She simply nodded. She was currently unable to utter more words.

When he finished with her arms, he hesitated. The only place left with a wound was her waist. There again, the wound was shallow. A Shan Nu had managed to slide the tip of his sword along her skin, but it was barely. There hadn't been much blood either.

In any case, there was no way Lan would go this far. Since it wasn't serious and within her reach, he would let her treat it on her own. He couldn't be so disrespectful.

"Here," he handed the bottle of ointment to her, "there's one last cut, you can do it."

Liwei slowly raised her head to face him, as she took it. But she quickly averted her eyes.

"Thank you."

Then she remembered something : she applied medicine before taking a bath ! The bandage was nothing, she needed it to prevent water from touching the wound, but the ointment would be a waste !

"I'll let you rest now. I'll go and ask if we can boil water here, maybe you'd like to take a bath after resting."

Could he read her mind ?

Liwei mentally kicked herself to get it together. She had been acting too weirdly ! She cleared her throat and smiled at him.

"Okay. But don't follow anyone if they tell you they know where to boil it."

Lan laughed, "I won't, I won't !"

He walked out of her room. He was glad she seemed to be herself again. He felt bad for having to treat her even though she didn't feel comfortable at all ! He was hoping she wouldn't find him rude for insisting, so her behavior worried him.

It seemed that everything was fine after all.