Chapter 19 : Busy Saving Someone
19: Busy Saving Someone
Fu Peibai walked up to the wooden house and suddenly felt a bit nervous. She straightened her clothes, pulled down her sleeves, and smoothed her hair before knocking on the door.
"Come in."
Pushing the door open, she was greeted by a faint, pleasant fragrance. She took a deep breath and felt the heat on her body dissipate.
Lu Yanran was currently sitting at the desk reading a book. She glanced up at the person at the door, then withdrew her gaze, focusing intently on the pages before her. "What is it?"
Fu Peibai didn't dare approach further and could only stand at the doorway as she hastily explained, "The medicine the Peak Master gave me, I didn't intentionally not use it. I just wanted to keep this scar to remind myself, to urge myself to become stronger, so that I won't be looked down upon, insulted, or trampled underfoot. I'm very grateful for the medicine the Peak Master found for me, and I cherish it, truly." After saying this, afraid that Lu Yanran wouldn't believe her, she ran back to her room at the back mountain, took out the small box from the wardrobe, and rushed back to the Bamboo Grove Cottage without stopping.
She presented the box to Lu Yanran, panting heavily. "Look, I kept it properly here. I didn't, didn't throw it around."
Lu Yanran finally set down her book. She took the box and opened it to look. Sure enough, the medicine in its white porcelain bottle was lying safely inside. Perhaps fearing it might get bumped, cotton had been stuffed all around the bottle.
She closed the box and shifted her gaze to Fu Peibai's sweat-drenched face.
The youth's brows and eyes were dark, her nose bridge high, and her jawline clearly defined as she breathed through her mouth. Lu Yanran stared for a moment, then turned back to the desk, took out an immaculate white handkerchief from a drawer, and handed it to Fu Peibai.
Fu Peibai didn't dare accept it. That white handkerchief looked too clean. Her hands were covered in dust, and she was afraid of dirtying it. "No need, Peak Master." After saying this, she raised her hand and wiped the sweat from her cheek with her sleeve.
Lu Yanran frowned almost imperceptibly. Then she turned to the wardrobe, took out a bamboo hat, and handed both the hat and the handkerchief to Fu Peibai. Her tone carried a commanding edge. "Take them."
Fu Peibai stole a glance at Lu Yanran's less-than-pleased expression and hurriedly accepted both items with both hands, thanking her in a low voice.
"Thank you, Peak Master."
"You may go."
After Fu Peibai left the courtyard, she belatedly realized that the Peak Master didn't seem to be in a good mood today. Was something troubling her?
She held the handkerchief between two fingers, careful not to soil it, and tucked it gently into her bosom. The hat was also quite clean. She carried it loosely by one edge. After returning to the back courtyard, she properly placed the handkerchief and hat in the wardrobe before returning to the open grounds to work.
About seven more days passed like this, and the new housing was finally completed. On the spacious grounds, dozens of new rooms had sprung up.
Fu Peibai happily moved her belongings into a small room of her own.
Meng Yan was rather reluctant. "Little Bai, now you won't be able to hear your big brother snoring. You probably won't be used to it, right?"
Fu Peibai was happy in her heart and enjoyed teasing Meng Yan. "Yes, I'm afraid I'll have trouble sleeping for the next few days."
"Then why don't you move out? Continue sharing a room with me. We can take turns sleeping on the floor. Now that I'm the only one in the room, it's rather quiet and lonely."
"That won't do. Now that the new rooms are built, they need to be lived in."
Meng Yan stopped trying to persuade her. He hooked his arm around Fu Peibai's shoulder and leaned his weight against her, bending her neck down. "Alright then. By the way, we rest tomorrow, and at noon we'll go to the creek to roast meat. Things that fly in the sky, crawl on the ground, swim in the river, we'll have them all. Don't come on an empty stomach."
"Why are we suddenly taking a rest?"
"Don't you know? Today is the Second Young Miss's birthday. She begged the Sect Master to hold some kind of hunting assembly. The animals hunted during the assembly will be distributed to each peak. It continues for another day tomorrow. Now we'll get to feast."
Fu Peibai made a sound of acknowledgement. "You all eat tomorrow. I'm going to help A-Ruo gather medicinal herbs."
"Tell me honestly, do you have feelings for Sister A-Ruo? Don't be shy, just say it."
Fu Peibai said helplessly, "Really, no. What are you thinking about all day?"
"There are so many young girls at the back mountain, and I only see you two being the closest, always talking and laughing together. How could I not be suspicious?"
Fu Peibai gave him a sidelong glance. "You can ask me a thousand times, and the answer is still no, no, absolutely no, and it never will be possible."
Meng Yan clicked his tongue. "Fine, I'll reluctantly believe you. But honestly, with Miss A-Ruo's looks and temperament, how are you not moved? At your age, isn't it exactly when your heart should be stirring?"
"Brother Meng, aside from thinking about romance and love all day, can you think of something else? Like when you'll teach me to practice the sword."
"You kid, you're no fun. Don't think that just because you look so desireless now, you'll stay that way. When you meet someone you like, you'll understand how wonderful love can be."
Fu Peibai was currently focused entirely on how to practice martial arts and become stronger. What was liking? What was love? She didn't understand at all, nor did she want to understand, let alone yearn for it. So she answered perfunctorily, "I'll worry about that when I meet someone."
"I don't know which family's daughter will be blind enough to fancy you in the future. Hmph."
Fu Peibai didn't care. She glanced at the sky. It was getting late, so she pushed Meng Yan toward the door. "It's not early. Brother Meng, get some rest." After saying this, she shut the door with a click.
Meng Yan muttered "Stinky kid" and then left.
The next day, Fu Peibai rose early. She carried a bamboo basket on her back and walked toward the mountainside, then ventured into the old forest. With a curved blade in hand, she cleared the weeds at her feet while searching for the herbs she needed.
Meanwhile, at the suspension bridge of Chaoquan Peak, Lu Qingwan was dressed in neat and capable women's martial attire. Her hair was tied up high, and a silver curved bow was slung across her back. She was giving instructions to a man. "You stay on Cangqiong Peak and cause trouble for them, understand? I don't believe I can't beat those spoiled sons of wealthy families."
This man was clearly accustomed to his Second Young Miss's rule-breaking and cheating behavior. He responded respectfully, then turned and returned to Cangqiong Peak.
Lu Qingwan walked toward the uninhabited old forest deep within Chaoquan Peak. As she walked, she fumed, "Damn He Cong, damn Tang Qiu, damn Qu Hongguang. This time I'll show you how I surpass you. I must prove to Father that I'm not some delicate flower. I can stand on my own just like my sister. I can defeat those stinking men too!"
Immediately, her eyes flashed. She took out her bow from her back, nocked an arrow, and shot cleanly. A wild rabbit in the forest was startled and nimbly dove into the grass, escaping.
The arrow missed. She stomped her foot in frustration and walked deeper into the forest. Along the way, she spotted some pheasants and rabbits, but she didn't know why the wild game on Chaoquan Peak was all so agile. Most of her arrows missed. After several hours of walking until her feet ached, she had only managed to hit two extremely small pheasants.
In a fit of rage, she threw down the pheasants. Originally, the hunting grounds were limited to Cangqiong Peak. She had come to Chaoquan Peak specifically to hunt more prey, but who knew the wild game on this peak would be so hard to catch.
She was about to put away her bow and leave when she heard a commotion in a tree in the distance. She turned to look and saw a Purple Cloud Bird perched on a branch, an extremely rare species. Delight appeared on her face. She immediately drew her bow, but this time she didn't shoot in a hurry. Instead, she slowly moved forward to close the distance and improve her accuracy.
The Purple Cloud Bird had just landed on the branch and stabilized itself, unaware that danger was approaching.
With a whoosh, Lu Qingwan's sharp arrow flew out and struck straight into the Purple Cloud Bird's wing.
The bird cried out in pain and flapped its wings, flying toward the outside of the forest. How could Lu Qingwan let the prey in her hands escape? She grabbed her bow and arrows and chased after it. But who knew that just after leaving the forest, the ground below was not flat terrain, but a ravine several zhang deep.
Although she stopped in time, she was tripped by the weeds at her feet and fell straight into the ravine. She cried out in alarm, her arms flailing wildly, and accidentally caught hold of a slender vine on the ravine's rock wall. This stopped her fall, leaving her suspended in mid-air.
The ravine wasn't very deep, but falling from this height could still cause injury. Her hands tightly gripped the vine, her face filled with terror. She strained her voice and began shouting loudly, "Help! Is anyone there! Help, help!"
But her voice didn't attract any people in the deep mountain forest. Instead, it attracted a triangular-headed poisonous snake.
The snake climbed up the rock wall from the depths of the ravine, flicking its tongue and making a terrifying hissing sound.
Lu Qingwan's body became rigid. She didn't dare move. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss." The poisonous snake twisted its body and coiled around Lu Qingwan's ankle. Even through a layer of fabric, the slippery, cold touch of the snake's body instantly drove her mad. She couldn't control herself and screamed. As her hand released the vine, the snake bared its fangs and bit hard into her ankle.
Her grip loosened, and she fell to the bottom of the ravine.
Not far from the ravine, in the forest, Fu Peibai was bending over gathering herbs when she unexpectedly heard faint human voices in the otherwise quiet forest, followed by a sharp scream. She straightened up, confusion on her face. She listened carefully again, but there was no more sound. Had she imagined it? Thinking this, she continued bending down to gather herbs. After finishing harvesting this area, she packed her bamboo basket and prepared to leave. Before departing, she looked once more in the direction where the sound had come from. She stood still for a moment, then finally walked in that direction.
When she approached, she discovered the ravine. She leaned forward and looked down. At the bottom where the light didn't reach, there indeed seemed to be a blurry human figure.
"Hey!"
She shouted several times but received no response. She looked at the sun, which was about to set in the west. She couldn't just leave this person. So she set down her bamboo basket, found a sturdy vine to wrap around her waist, and slid down.
The bottom of the ravine was overgrown with weeds. With no sunlight reaching it year-round, it felt rather cold and damp. She untied the vine and saw Lu Qingwan lying unconscious nearby.
Startled, she quickly approached and called softly, "Second Young Miss, wake up. Second Young Miss?"
The unconscious person showed no sign of waking. She hurriedly checked Lu Qingwan's breath and let out a sigh of relief. Then she examined the other's head. There didn't seem to be any serious external injury. She had probably just fainted from fright.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand and pinched Lu Qingwan's philtrum hard. Lu Qingwan's eyes flew open from the pain, and a scream rang out.
"Help!"
After fully regaining consciousness and seeing Fu Peibai, she calmed down. She frowned and said coldly, "Why are you here?"
"This humble servant was gathering herbs nearby. Earlier I heard cries for help and came to check. That's how I found you, Second Young Miss."
Lu Qingwan's normally fair face was now covered in dirt. She paid no attention to this as she looked up at the top and ordered, "Get me out of here. Quickly." After saying this, she braced herself against the rock wall and tried to stand, but a sharp pain shot through her ankle. Her leg went weak, and she was about to fall. Fu Peibai hurriedly caught her.
"How presumptuous! How dare a mere servant touch me!" Lu Qingwan pulled back her arm and leaned against the rock wall, speaking sternly.
Fu Peibai silently stepped back two paces and glanced at Lu Qingwan's foot. "Your foot is injured?"
Lu Qingwan bit her lower lip, thinking of the poisonous snake that had been coiled around her ankle when she fell. Fear rose in her heart. "I think I was bitten by a snake."
Now Fu Peibai disregarded propriety. Her expression turned serious. "Take off your shoe. Let me see."
Lu Qingwan stared at her in disbelief, her face angry. "You, what did you say?! You're being presumptuous!" She was an unmarried young lady. How could she bare her feet and remove her stockings in front of a man, let alone a lowly servant?
Fu Peibai was losing patience and couldn't be bothered to pretend respect for this pampered Second Young Miss. She said impatiently, "This forest breeds many poisonous snakes. If we delay any longer, your leg won't be saved. If the snake venom in your body isn't cleared within four hours, your life won't be saved either."
Lu Qingwan's face went pale with fright. Tears filled her eyes. Half her expression was fear, half reluctance. "Then, you can treat the snake venom, but you absolutely must not touch it inappropriately. If I find you taking advantage of the situation to assault me, when we return I'll have my father chop off both your hands. Do you understand?!"
Fu Peibai gave a perfunctory hum of acknowledgement. After Lu Qingwan sat down, she slowly removed the other's shoe and stocking. On the ankle, a snake bite mark was clearly visible. The wound was now swollen high, and the surrounding skin had turned purple and bruised.
Ignoring Lu Qingwan's attempts to stop her, she pushed up the other's trouser leg. The white, slender calf was already covered with purple-black marks.
With her entire left calf exposed to Fu Peibai's view, Lu Qingwan cried out in shame and anger. "What are you doing?!" As she shouted, she tried to kick Fu Peibai away, but Fu Peibai firmly grabbed her ankle.
"Stop it. The snake venom has penetrated deep into your leg. If we don't treat it now, it really won't be saved!"
Perhaps because Fu Peibai's expression was too serious, Lu Qingwan finally stopped struggling. She turned her head away, the tips of her ears flushed red.
Fu Peibai lowered Lu Qingwan's trouser leg, used the small knife at her waist to cut a strip of pliable vine, and scraped off the twigs and leaves. She held it against Lu Qingwan's leg to measure. "I'll first tie your leg tightly with the vine to prevent the snake venom from continuing to spread upward."
Lu Qingwan didn't speak, which counted as tacit acceptance.
After Fu Peibai finished binding her leg, she said, "Alright. Try to see if you can stand."
The moment Lu Qingwan put weight on her foot, she cried out in pain. There was no way she could walk.
Fu Peibai looked worriedly at the dusky sky at dusk. She could only crouch down in front of Lu Qingwan. "Get on my back. We need to hurry back."
Lu Qingwan was naturally unwilling. She said stubbornly, "I can walk by myself."
"Can what? Don't you know what kind of situation this is? How long are you going to keep throwing your young miss temper? Do you really not want your leg anymore? If you feel that I've touched you and dirtied your body, you can punish me when we get back. But right now, besides letting me carry you out of here, what other solution do you have?"
Lu Qingwan's eyes widened as she stared at Fu Peibai in disbelief. In all her years, this was the first time someone had scolded her. She was so angry she could have ground her teeth to dust. But the person's words did make sense. In her heart, she cursed Fu Peibai thoroughly before reluctantly climbing onto the other's back.