Martial World Full of Disguises

18: A Daughter's Body

Inside the room, Yun Ruoling had already pulled back all the quilts and placed two fingers on Fu Peibai's wrist, closing her eyes to feel the pulse.

The pulse was rapid, five to six beats per breath...

Insufficient fluids and blood, internal heat from deficiency...

No... that's not right...

Yun Ruoling suddenly opened her eyes, her face filled with disbelief. She hurriedly unfastened Fu Peibai's outer garment, then her middle garment, until the white chest binding cloth appeared in her view. Only then did she stop.

How could this be... Little Bai is actually a girl...

Yun Ruoling thought back to everything Fu Peibai had said and done before. Despite being covered in wounds, she had never shed a tear or uttered a single complaint. How could someone like this be a girl of only sixteen?

After the shock passed, she gradually calmed down. When she looked at Fu Peibai again, her gaze was far more complicated. So this was Little Bai's unspeakable secret. But why would she disguise herself as a man and live so painstakingly?

Yun Ruoling thought for a moment and recalled a day when Fu Peibai had chatted with her, saying that she absolutely had to enter the sect to learn martial arts as a formal disciple. Perhaps this was the reason she had no choice but to disguise herself as a man.

She sighed softly and carefully began applying medicine to Fu Peibai. After finishing, she fastened her clothes back up and covered her with the quilt. Then she checked the pulse again. The skin beneath her fingers was burning hot, and the pulse was still rapid.

She discovered that there seemed to be two types of pulse conditions within Fu Peibai's body. The internal injuries from this recent incident had caused excessive internal fire, while another pulse pattern had been accumulating in her body for some time, cold energy that had invaded her system. The two pulse patterns were intertwined, causing Fu Peibai to feel cold despite having a fever.

After taking the pulse, she withdrew her hand and walked toward the door, lost in thought about how to prescribe the right medicine.

The moment the door opened, Lu Yanran asked, "How is it?"

"I've taken the pulse. It's just a fever illness, nothing serious. I'll go prepare a few packets of medicine, and the fever should break in a day or two."

Lu Yanran's brows still hadn't relaxed. "If it's a fever illness, why was he crying that he was cold?"

Yun Ruoling hesitated for a moment, then explained, "He was probably just delirious from the fever. Once the fever breaks, he'll be fine."

"Alright, go ahead."

When Fu Peibai slowly regained consciousness, she saw Yun Ruoling standing by the bed, looking at her thoughtfully. The wounds on her body had a slight numbing sensation from being freshly medicated. Without needing to be told, she already understood that her identity had been exposed. She lowered her gaze and stared silently into the void.

"Little Bai, I... I know your identity."

Fu Peibai didn't react, as if waiting for the final judgment.

But Yun Ruoling simply said, "I'll keep your secret."

Fu Peibai's eyes flew open. She tried to open her mouth to say something, but the corners of her lips cracked painfully.

"Don't try to talk. I know what you want to say. You want to ask why I'm still thanking you? There's no need for any of that. I promised to keep your secret, and I absolutely won't reveal it. In the future, if you get injured again, you don't need to hide it from me. Understand?"

Fu Peibai nodded repeatedly, offering silent thanks from the bottom of her heart.

From then on, Fu Peibai no longer resisted having her pulse taken or medicine applied, but only by Yun Ruoling alone. One day, when Meng Yan offered to help apply her medicine, her face darkened, and she said stiffly, "No need. A-Ruo can apply the medicine for me."

Meng Yan widened his eyes and rubbed the coarse stubble on his chin. "You two, alone in a room together, man and woman. I'm not at ease."

After saying this, he looked suspiciously at Yun Ruoling, who had a smile on her face. He asked tentatively, "You... you couldn't have fallen for this kid, could you?!"

Yun Ruoling burst out laughing, and even Fu Peibai couldn't hold it back. A smile hung at the corner of her mouth. The way the two of them looked only solidified Meng Yan's suspicion. He pointed at them, his face full of shock. "No, surely not? You two haven't already gotten together, have you?"

Fu Peibai gave a muffled laugh. Her chest shook, and she coughed. Yun Ruoling hurried forward and gently patted her back. She didn't refuse.

Meng Yan watched this "harmonious scene" before him, feeling rather defeated as he sat down on a stool, his face troubled. "Wait, you two, when did you get together? You haven't even known each other for a month. Besides, Little Bai, how old are you? You're only sixteen this year, right? Do you know how old Miss A-Ruo is? She's a whole four years older than you! There's practically a generation between you. How, how could..."

Yun Ruoling and Fu Peibai exchanged a glance. Both had mischievous smiles in their eyes, and the thought of teasing Meng Yan arose.

Yun Ruoling straightened her expression and said, "Brother Meng, are you saying I'm too old, that I'm an old maid who isn't good enough for Little Bai?"

Meng Yan waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, how could that be? I mean... it's just, you're so sudden about it. I'm having a hard time accepting it all at once... I, sigh..."

Fu Peibai had never seen Meng Yan so tongue-tied before. She laughed aloud, then muffled a couple more coughs and said, "Alright, we won't tease you anymore. Brother Meng, A-Ruo and I aren't together, and we never will be. You can rest easy."

Meng Yan still didn't quite believe it. "Really? Before, you always called her Miss Yun. Now you're calling her A-Ruo so affectionately."

Yun Ruoling suppressed her smile and explained as well, "It's true, Brother Meng. Little Bai and I have no romantic feelings. I just treat him like a younger brother."

Meng Yan finally believed it. He waved his large hand and patted the back of Fu Peibai's head. "Good kid, the two of you are ganging up to tease me. I see your spirit has recovered. What, you want to go carry water already?"

Fu Peibai immediately shrank back onto the bed and cried out, "Ouch, my head hurts. Brother Meng, you hit me too hard."

Meng Yan knew exactly how much force he'd used. He feigned anger and said, "Stop pretending. I've figured you out, kid. You look honest, but you're full of tricks."

This appearance provoked a few more laughs in the room until the door opened and Lu Yanran slowly walked in. The three stopped laughing and said respectfully, "Peak Master."

Meng Yan shot a glance at Yun Ruoling and led her out. The room was left with only Fu Peibai and Lu Yanran.

Lu Yanran approached the bedside and asked softly, "Are your injuries any better?"

Fu Peibai hadn't left her bed these past few days. Everything was taken care of for her. Apart from her external wounds, her internal injuries had mostly healed. She now had strength in her voice when she spoke.

"Much better. Thanks to A-Ruo taking care of me these past few days. When I recover, I'll have to thank her properly."

Lu Yanran walked to the window and idly stroked the green leaves of a potted plant. "You two seem to have grown much closer lately."

Fu Peibai nodded and said, "A-Ruo is very nice. Although she's a few years older than me, I get along well with her."

After all, the other person was now the only one who knew her true identity. Being around her no longer required so much vigilance and restraint. She could completely relax and be herself. Naturally, they had grown much closer.

Lu Yanran said nothing more. She took out an exquisite small porcelain bottle from her bosom and placed it on the table. "This is Jade Congealing Ointment. I heard it has the effect of dissolving scars. You can try it."

Fu Peibai's eyebrows raised slightly. She was both surprised and happy, and hurriedly thanked her. "Then I thank the Peak Master."

Lu Yanran said nothing and turned to leave the room.

Outside the door, A-Fu saw her Peak Master and asked with concern, "Peak Master, there are far too many mosquitoes and insects at this back mountain. We only stood for a little while, and I've already been bitten in so many places. Have you been bitten anywhere?"

Lu Yanran walked quickly. "No."

A-Fu keenly sensed that the Peak Master didn't seem to be in a good mood, so she quickly closed her mouth.

……

And so the days passed one by one. Soon it was mid-August. Fu Peibai's injuries had basically healed completely. Only some places where the whip marks had been severe were left with scars. She didn't use the medicine Lu Yanran had given her to remove these scars. Instead, she chose to keep these marks on her body. She wanted to keep these wounds, to see them every day as a reminder of her determination for revenge. As for that bottle of fine ointment, she locked it in a small box and kept it carefully.

In the height of summer in August, Chaoquan Peak wasn't particularly hot, but recently, Fu Peibai still often broke out in profuse sweat. Because during the day, she had to work with a group of men building a new house on the open ground not far from the back courtyard. After more people started coming to the back mountain of the peak, the original housing was no longer sufficient. So that everyone could live more comfortably, Meng Yan took the lead in organizing the men of the back courtyard to build new rooms.

Under the blazing sun, a group of men stood on the open ground working. Fu Peibai was assigned the lightest task, planing away the rough bark from the surface of logs. Though simple, repeating it all day was still exhausting. Large drops of sweat fell from her forehead. She wiped them away with one hand and continued working.

Quite a few men on the grounds found it too hot. Some were bare-chested, while others wore only a sleeveless loose shirt. Fu Peibai alone wore two layers, inner and outer, with her collar buttoned up tight. Everyone had long since stopped finding it strange and said nothing about it.

Meng Yan set down his stone-carving tool, looked at the sun, and called out loudly, "Alright, rest in place for a while. Those who need to use the latrine can go. Those who want water can go too. We'll continue in a bit. Let's work hard these next few days, and I'll raise everyone's wages!"

The group of men cheered. A small number went back to the back courtyard together to use the latrine. Most of the rest sat down to rest where they were. Fu Peibai also found a large rock to sit on, gasping for breath.

This open ground was too exposed. There wasn't a single shady spot to be found. Fortunately, the mountain sun wasn't too harsh, but it was still sweltering. She tugged at the front of her shirt to cool herself down, but it didn't help. So she rolled up her sleeves, pushing them high above her elbows. A whip scar several inches long on her right arm was revealed.

Now her arms were a bit cooler. She picked up the water flask beside her and was about to take a large gulp when she heard Meng Yan not far away shouting in panic, "You all, hurry up, put your clothes back on! Quickly, put them on right now!"

Fu Peibai turned her head to look. From the small path near the back courtyard, two female figures had appeared in the distance, one in black and one in white, walking this way.

But several of the men present had come to work after taking off their shirts. Where would they find outer garments to cover themselves now? They looked panicked and at a loss.

"Brother Meng, there, there are no clothes. What do we do?"

Meng Yan was also scratching his head in anxiety. If the Peak Master saw them in this state, how would that be acceptable?

Fu Peibai glanced at the two figures approaching and shot up from her seat. She rushed to a bare-chested man, pushed him, and pointed to the distant woods to the east. "You all run over there! Quickly! Don't let the Peak Master see you!"

Meng Yan also slapped his thigh. "Right, right, right! Hurry, all of you run! If the Peak Master sees you, a beating with the plank is unavoidable! Go quickly!"

At the command, several men immediately took off running toward the east.

By the time Lu Yanran led A-Fu closer, she only saw several blurry figures running far off toward the east. "What's wrong with them?"

Meng Yan put on a smile and rubbed his nose. "To answer the Peak Master, those few were slacking off at work. I punished them by making them run a few laps."

Lu Yanran nodded and withdrew her gaze. "You all carry on with your work. Don't mind me."

At her words, everyone scattered like birds and beasts. Although their Peak Master was just a woman, facing her always inspired a certain trepidation.

Everyone dispersed, but Fu Peibai didn't move. Her previously tired and listless expression vanished. Her brows and eyes relaxed, and the corners of her mouth lifted high as she asked, "Peak Master, why are you here?"

Lu Yanran didn't answer. Her gaze fell on Fu Peibai's exposed forearm. Then she turned away rather coldly, leaving behind the words "You go on with your work" before walking off.

Fu Peibai watched Lu Yanran's retreating back, feeling confused, not understanding what had happened.

A-Fu had naturally also seen the scar on Fu Peibai's arm. She said earnestly, "Little Bai, didn't you use the medicine the Peak Master gave you?"

"Ah, that... I put it away."

A-Fu flicked her forehead and said helplessly, "You really... do you know how hard it was to get that medicine? The Peak Master sent someone galloping all the way to the Western Regions to bring it back. She dislikes owing favors to people and never asks anyone to do anything. This time she owed someone a favor to get you that medicine, and you don't even use it. How could anyone not be angry seeing that?"

"I... I didn't know."

"Of course you didn't know. The Peak Master wouldn't tell you how difficult it was to obtain that medicine."

Fu Peibai furrowed her brows, then urgently said to A-Fu, "Miss A-Fu, please tell Brother Meng for me that I have something to do and need to leave for a while. I'll be back later." Having said this, without waiting for A-Fu to respond, she ran straight in the direction Lu Yanran had gone.

When she arrived at the back courtyard, she didn't see Lu Yanran. She grabbed someone to ask if they'd seen the Peak Master. That person pointed in a direction, so she strode off again and finally arrived at the Bamboo Grove Cottage.

Outside the small courtyard stood two tall, burly guards. They stood with heads high and chests out, staring straight ahead without glancing sideways. She hurried forward, panting, "Two, two big brothers, is the Peak Master inside?"

The guard on the right was a full head taller than Fu Peibai. He looked down at the youth and answered in a deep voice, "Yes."

"Then could you do me a favor and let me in? I have business with the Peak Master."

The two guards immediately extended their arms to block her path, looking inviolable. "Without the Peak Master's verbal order, no one may enter without authorization."

Fu Peibai put on a smiling face. "Two big brothers, I'm a servant from the back mountain. I really have business with the Peak Master. Please let me in. Or you could announce it to me, that would work too."

"No. We cannot leave our posts without orders."

Fu Peibai was truly out of options. Just as she was about to shout at the top of her lungs for the Peak Master, a voice came from the wooden house deepest in the courtyard.

"Let him in."

The guards heard the command and neatly withdrew their hands, allowing Fu Peibai to pass.