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That night, the Ye residence was quiet.
Ye Lingling, who was cultivating, suddenly frowned slightly, her spirit power sensing an unfamiliar aura in the residence. As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard the urgent footsteps of a maid outside the door.
"Miss," the maid's voice came through the door, with a hint of urgency, "Madam Tang Yuehua is waiting in the guest room with a severely injured person."
Ye Lingling paused slightly at the words, but quickly regained her composure. As a Nine-Hearted Begonia Spirit Master, being sought for medical treatment late at night was already commonplace for her.
"Take good care of the esteemed guest, do not neglect them." Her voice was clear as water, and her fingertips gently tucked the loose strands of hair by her temples, "I will be there shortly."
Combining this with Feng Xiao's return a few days ago, she already vaguely guessed the identity of the newcomer. The candlelight in the room flickered, illuminating her thoughtful profile.
Thinking of this, Ye Lingling's gaze involuntarily turned to Xiao Bai, who was already awake nearby. The little white rabbit was anxiously pacing in place, its pink paws continuously digging at the hem of her skirt, and its ruby-like eyes were full of pleading and urgency.
Ye Lingling knelt down, the aura of the Nine-Hearted Begonia flowing at her fingertips: "You sensed it too?" She asked softly, her fingertips gently stroking Xiao Bai's trembling ears.
The little rabbit suddenly stood on its front paws, its wet nose constantly twitching, and its three-lobed mouth trembling rapidly. It looked as if it was about to rush out of the room the next second.
"Don't worry, I'll take you there now." Ye Lingling lightly tapped Xiao Bai's nose with her fingertip, her voice gentle yet solemn, "But Miss Xiao Bai, we have to agree first—"
She raised the little rabbit to be level with her eyes: "You can only watch quietly from the side, and absolutely must not make any moves or hints." A sharp glint flickered in her eyes, "Otherwise… I cannot guarantee I can cure him."
Xiao Bai's red eyes instantly misted over, but its furry head nodded without hesitation. It even raised one, then two front paws, clasping them together and shaking them towards Ye Lingling, as if making a solemn promise. Moonlight streamed through the window screen, casting a soft silver glow on this scene.
Ye Lingling leaned closer to Xiao Bai and whispered: "To avoid revealing anything, I won't hold you." She lightly tapped the little rabbit's nose with her fingertip, "You have to pretend to have 'accidentally' followed along."
With that, she gently pushed open the door, her white skirt rippling like water under the moonlight, and slowly walked towards the guest room. Xiao Bai immediately understood, hopping behind her like a true pet rabbit, occasionally stopping to sniff the flowers and plants by the roadside, but always maintaining an appropriate distance.
As they turned the corridor, the moonlight stretched the shadows of the person and the rabbit long. Xiao Bai's red eyes flickered in the darkness, and its three-lobed mouth trembled continuously, but it remembered not to make a sound.
Soon, the guest room doorway was in sight. The maid, who had been waiting for a long time, saw Ye Lingling and immediately bowed: "Miss, Madam Tang Yuehua and the others are inside."
Ye Lingling nodded slightly, her fingertips subtly brushing over the Nine-Hearted Begonia pattern on her sleeve. Xiao Bai obediently squatted at her feet, only its constantly twitching long ears betraying its inner anxiety.
"Miss, why did this little fellow follow along?" The maid, quick-eyed and quick-handed, bent down and picked up Xiao Bai, who was like a small ball of fur, making to send her back to the room.
Ye Lingling waved her hand: "It's fine, let it follow." She asked casually, "How is the guest's injury?"
Xiao Bai, in the maid's arms, instantly tensed up, its ruby-like eyes staring unblinkingly at the maid, even its ears stood straight. Moonlight filtered through the gauze lantern in the corridor, reflecting tiny specks of light in those rabbit eyes, as if filled with anxious stars.
"From the looks of it, the injury isn't too severe, just excessive blood loss, plus severe exhaustion of spirit power and physical strength," the maid reported in a lowered voice. As Ye Lingling's personal maid who had followed her for many years, she had already developed the ability to make preliminary diagnoses.
Ye Lingling nodded slightly, her slender hand gently pushing open the door. Moonlight flowed in through the opening, casting a silver glow over the interior. Xiao Bai stirred uneasily in the maid's arms, its red eyes eagerly searching for that familiar figure through the gap in the maid's arm.
The faint fragrance of Nine-Hearted Begonia flowers permeated the room with Ye Lingling's steps.
When Xiao Bai saw Tang San from between the maid's arms, the entire rabbit instantly froze. The young man who was once so spirited now lay pale on the bed, his brows still furrowed with lingering pain. Her ruby-like eyes gazed unblinkingly, and her three-lobed mouth trembled uncontrollably.
At this moment, she suddenly understood the meaning of Qian Renxue's words—perhaps not seeing was the best choice. At least she wouldn't see her beloved in such a haggard state, at least she could preserve his most beautiful appearance in her memory.
Moonlight streamed through the window screen, casting mottled shadows on Tang San's pale face. Xiao Bai's paws gripped the maid's sleeve tightly, but she remembered not to make a sound. Only her gradually moist red eyes revealed the heartbreaking pain.
As soon as Tang Yuehua saw Ye Lingling enter, she immediately hurried forward: "Lingling, quickly help me look at Little San." Her usually elegant and composed voice was rarely tinged with a hint of urgency.
Ye Lingling nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Tang San, who was unconscious on the bed due to excessive blood loss. She gently raised her slender hand, and the Nine-Hearted Begonia bloomed in her palm, its light pink petals fluttering down as spirit power flowed.
A strange scene occurred—those wounds of varying depths healed at a visible speed under the shroud of the falling petals. Scrapes scabbed over and fell off, revealing new skin; deeper wounds also stopped bleeding and gradually closed.
Xiao Bai held her breath in the maid's arms, her red eyes fixed on everything. When she saw Tang San's tightly furrowed brows slightly relax, her tense body relaxed a little, but her paws still unconsciously clutched the maid's clothes.
Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a soft silver glow on this healing scene. Tang Yuehua's tense expression finally eased, and she cast a grateful look at Ye Lingling.
Seeing Tang San's injuries stabilize, Tang Yuehua's tense shoulders finally relaxed slightly. But she still asked worriedly: "Lingling, how is Little San now?"
Xiao Bai in the maid's arms immediately pricked up her ears, her ruby-like eyes staring unblinkingly at Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling withdrew her Nine-Hearted Begonia and said softly: "His life is not in danger, but…" She paused, her fingertips gently brushing Tang San's pale forehead.
"But what?" Tang Yuehua's voice suddenly rose, causing Xiao Bai's body to tremble violently.
Moonlight streamed through the window screen, casting mottled shadows on Tang San's face. Ye Lingling's gaze swept over the nervous little white rabbit in the corner, carefully choosing her words: "There's a strange energy flowing within him, extremely powerful, but it resists deeper treatment, like… or perhaps a barrier formed by some kind of obsession."
As soon as her words fell, Xiao Bai's red eyes instantly misted over, and her three-lobed mouth trembled uncontrollably. Tang Yuehua, on the other hand, looked thoughtfully at Tang San's tightly clenched fist—a blood-stained wooden splinter was still clutched there, impossible for anyone to pry open no matter how hard they tried.
Tang Yuehua asked anxiously: "Then what should be done?"
Ye Lingling lightly tapped Tang San's wrist, and the Nine-Hearted Begonia's halo flowed through his meridians: "He has six Spirit Bones protecting him, and that continuously circulating power. Logically, there shouldn't be any major issues." She gently lifted Tang San's right hand, which was covered in cracks, "These are concussive injuries caused by overuse of the Clear Sky Hammer, coupled with neglecting the injuries, which led to blood loss and unconsciousness."
Under the moonlight, Tang San's palm was covered with fine bloodstains, and his knuckles were unnaturally bruised. Ye Lingling's voice was as light as a sigh: "The real injury isn't on his body…" She pointed to his chest, "It's here. Madam Tang Yuehua needs to counsel him well, and recently he must avoid using his hands. Rest and cooperate with blood-replenishing remedies will suffice."
Xiao Bai in the maid's arms suddenly trembled violently, her red eyes fixed on Tang San's scarred hand. The blood-stained wooden splinter peeked out from between his fingers, glowing with a tragic beauty under the moonlight.
Upon hearing this, a complex emotion appeared on Tang Yuehua's gentle face. She naturally understood why her nephew had become like this—that girl named Xiao Bai had, after all, taken root in his heart.
"Thank you, Lingling." Tang Yuehua thanked her softly, her gilded hairpin gently swaying in the candlelight, "Disturbing your cultivation so late."
Ye Lingling smiled faintly and shook her head: "Madam Tang Yuehua is too kind." She lightly tapped her finger, and the phantom of the Nine-Hearted Begonia circulated in the room, "It's late, why not rest in the guest room? I'll have the servants prepare blood-replenishing medicinal meals right away…"
As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept over Xiao Bai in the maid's arms. The little white rabbit was staring intently at Tang San's clenched fist, its red eyes filled with unspeakable sorrow.
"…I'll trouble you to personally look after him." Ye Lingling withdrew her gaze, her white skirt tracing an elegant arc as she turned.
Tang Yuehua nodded slightly, the worry in her brows easing a little: "That would be good."
Her gaze inadvertently swept over the maid beside her, pausing briefly when she caught sight of the little white rabbit in her arms, but she didn't pay much attention—it wasn't uncommon for Heaven Dou nobles to keep Spirit Beast pets, just like Dugu Yan also kept several snakes.
Ye Lingling appropriately turned sideways and softly instructed the maid: "Hand her to me. You go prepare some blood-replenishing medicinal meals for Madam Tang Yuehua."
"Yes, Miss." The maid respectfully responded, carefully handing Xiao Bai to Ye Lingling.
Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating Xiao Bai's crimson eyes at the moment of transfer. Tang Yuehua inadvertently met that gaze, and her heart inexplicably trembled. When she tried to look closer, Ye Lingling had skillfully hidden the little rabbit in her arms.
Ye Lingling, holding Xiao Bai, bowed gracefully to Tang Yuehua: "Madam Tang Yuehua, Lingling will take her leave first." Her white skirt rippled like water with her movement.
Tang Yuehua nodded slightly, her gaze gently watching her leave, then turned to Tang San, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, and sighed softly as she tucked in his blanket.
And in Ye Lingling's arms, Xiao Bai quietly poked her head out, her ruby-like eyes unblinkingly looking back at the bed that was gradually moving away. It wasn't until they turned the corner of the corridor and that figure completely disappeared from sight that she slowly shrank back into Ye Lingling's embrace.
Ye Lingling walked slowly along the moonlit corridor, holding Xiao Bai, and looking down at the unusually quiet little rabbit in her arms, she couldn't help but sigh: "Such a meeting, I truly don't know if it's kindness to you, or another form of torment…"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai just silently raised her pink and white paw, stubbornly pointing in the direction of Tang San's guest room. Moonlight flowed in those ruby-like eyes, reflecting an incredibly firm light.
"You still want to see him?" Ye Lingling stopped, asking with a complex expression.
Xiao Bai nodded without hesitation, her furry head rubbing against Ye Lingling's arm, as if silently pleading. The night wind rustled the Nine-Hearted Begonia flowers in the courtyard, and amidst the falling petals, the faint fragrance of the Nine-Hearted Begonia quietly permeated the air.
Ye Lingling's footsteps suddenly halted beneath the mottled moonlight of the corridor. The night wind brushed past, lifting the dark strands of hair at her temples and bringing a hint of coolness.
She lowered her head, gazing at the quiet Xiao Bai in her arms, her heart filled with complex ripples. Feng Xiao's trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had already made it clear to her and Dugu Yan where he stood. In these turbulent times, if Tang San insisted on being an enemy of Spirit Hall…
"Forget it." Ye Lingling sighed inwardly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking Xiao Bai's soft fur, "Even if you two could be together, how could there be a good ending given such a stance?"
Moonlight streamed through the eaves of the corridor, stretching her shadow long. The little rabbit in her arms seemed to sense something, its red eyes looking towards the distant guest room, filled with stubborn light. Ye Lingling shook her head, ultimately not speaking these words aloud, and simply continued walking forward, holding Xiao Bai.
Ye Lingling walked slowly along the moonlit corridor, her thoughts scattered. With Tang San's current strength, it was impossible for him to protect Xiao Bai—even if they truly got together, the final outcome might be far more tragic than it was now.
Thinking of this, she suddenly understood Feng Xiao's attitude towards Xiao Bai. In Feng Xiao's eyes, Tang San was probably already seen as a dying man. And facing a dying man… what did it matter to let Xiao Bai, who was already no different from dead, see her beloved a few last times?
Gently stroking Xiao Bai's fur with her fingertips, Ye Lingling sighed silently. The night wind swirled the Nine-Hearted Begonia petals in the courtyard, dancing around the hem of her white skirt. She glanced one last time in the direction of the guest room, then turned and walked towards her own boudoir, holding Xiao Bai. Moonlight cast a silver edge on the two figures, one large and one small, and the faint fragrance of the Nine-Hearted Begonia gradually drifted away into the night.
The next morning, the first rays of dawn appeared.
As soon as Ye Lingling finished her cultivation and opened her eyes, she saw Xiao Bai already squatting by her pillow, her ruby-like eyes staring intently at her. Those rabbit eyes were bloodshot, and her fur was slightly disheveled, clearly having stayed up all night, just waiting for dawn.
"You, ah…" Ye Lingling shook her head helplessly, her fingertips gently stroking Xiao Bai's tired eyes with soft spirit power, "If you want to see him more, you have to take care of yourself first."
Soon, she instructed a maid to bring pastries. She carried the little rabbit to the prepared meal tray, "Eat well and sleep well. After breakfast, I'll take you to see him."
Morning light filtered through the gauze window, casting a golden edge on Xiao Bai's snowy white fur. Hearing the promise, the little rabbit finally lowered her head and nibbled at the pastries, but her ears still twitched occasionally, constantly monitoring the movements outside. Ye Lingling watched this scene and couldn't help but recall Feng Xiao's parting instructions, sighing softly.