Chapter 18 Rekindled

[Doctor Zhen Jian]

I heard a loud crack, following the resounding boom of the tree crashing to the ground. The forest around me seemed to tremble in response, the birds scattering from their perches in a flurry of feathers and alarmed chirps.

My thoughts immediately turned to the village. If the fallen tree ended up creating a dam and blocked the stream, it would cause a severe water shortage for the villagers. I couldn't allow those people to suffer because of me. I had to act quickly.

As I neared the waterfall, my eyes widened in shock. There, beneath the tumbling cascade of water, was a person floating lifelessly. From the silhouette and long floating brown hair it looked to be a female. The water around her was tinged with crimson, the unmistakable hue of blood swirling in the clear stream.

"Oh no," I muttered, panic rising in my chest. "I hope she is okay."

I sprinted towards the water, my feet moved fast from rock to rock as I struggled to reach her. The roar of the waterfall was deafening, drowning out the sound of my own labored breathing. When I finally got to her, I lifted her out of the water. She was much lighter than I had expected, her body limp and lifeless in my arms. Her clothes were tattered rags, clinging to her frail form.

I quickly took off my robe and wrapped it around her, trying to shield her from the cold. The fabric absorbed some of the water, but it did little to warm her chilled skin. "I need to take her to the clinic," I thought urgently.

With the woman cradled in my arms, I rushed back to the clinic.My heart pounded with each step, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on my shoulders. Once inside, I laid her gently on a cot and grabbed all the towels I could find. I stoked the fire, placing multiple wooden stakes into the flames to ensure it burned hot and bright.

Carefully, I dried her off, the towels quickly soaking up the cold water. I brought her closer to the fire, hoping the warmth would revive her. Her skin was pale, but her temperature seemed normal—a small relief. The real concern was her shallow breathing and weak heartbeat.

While drying her and changing her into clean clothes, I examined her closely. There were no visible wounds, no cuts or gashes that explained the copious amount of blood in the water. The sheer volume of blood had been enough to fill a wooden tub. "Where did all this blood come from?" I wondered, baffled but relieved that it wasn't hers.

I took a deep breath, feeling a bit more at ease. She seemed somewhat stable for now. "I will care for her until she wakes up," I resolved, my gaze lingering on her peaceful, albeit fragile, face. Questions swirled in my mind—questions about the blood, her presence in the water, and the circumstances that had led to her current state. But those could wait until she regained consciousness.

For now, I would watch over her, ensuring she remained safe and warm. The mystery of her plight would unravel in time, and until then, I would be her physician.

[Huo Lian]

I was surrounded in darkness, darker than any night. I felt blazing anger, then an inferno erupted in front of me. My vision blurred, and through the haze, I saw an image of a beautiful and majestic bird with enormous flame-like wings. Its feathers were a brilliant red from head to toe, and its entire being demanded respect. The bird's eyes, fierce and intelligent, seemed to pierce through my very soul.

Strangely, I felt an intimate connection with this creature, as if it were a long-lost family member. In my life, I had never known familial love, but if I did, it would feel like this. I reached out, my hand trembling, desperate to touch it, to feel the warmth of its fiery wings. I longed to be held by it, to be wrapped within its comforting embrace. I wanted to tell it all my grievances, to cry in its embrace, and feel a moment of solace.

As my fingers brushed against its blazing wing, a blinding light flashed.

Suddenly, I was aware of being carried. I could feel everything, but couldn't move. My perception, however, was still intact, allowing me to sense within a foot around me. I could feel a man holding me, his movements hurried and anxious.

I tried to make out his face with my senses. I could hear his heavy breathing and the pounding of his heart. He seemed very anxious. Is he worried about me perhaps? Did I know him? Was he one of my subordinates? Why was he so worried? 

He kicked open a door and gently placed me on something soft, a mattress maybe. I could smell medical herbs all around me. Am I at a clinic?. Moments later, he returned and began gently patting me with a towel. The fabric was warm and soft against my skin. He dried my whole body and dressed me in a thick robe before placing me near a fire.

His touch was gentle and respectful, using the towel as a barrier. Yet, the anger and embarrassment of having a man see me like this flared up within me. Even if I considered myself a warrior and not just a woman, it was too much for him to do all that. My anger had no outlet; I was at his mercy. For the first time in my life, I felt helpless. Is this how Li Na felt? The anger continued to rise within me, burning hotter than before.

Then I felt him touching my wrist. "Pulse and respiration are weak, but I found no injuries. Why then?" His voice was young, almost boyish, but his speech and touch were precise. Ahh, I see he must be a doctor. 

I remembered the calluses on his hands when he lifted me and checked my pulse. They were rougher than my own. What kind of doctor had hands like a farmer?

I heard him speak again, "There was so much blood. Well, it doesn't matter. She's not injured. I will care for her until she wakes up. I can ask her about the blood and why she was in the water later."

He will care for me until I wake up. My anger began to dissipate. This is a good doctor. I owe him this life. I will pay him back.

Exhaustion overwhelmed me. My eyelids grew heavy, and my thoughts became sluggish. I think I am tired now. I will sleep.