Jiang Nong’s fear of becoming a widow ended the moment Yu Lingxin twisted his wrist and cleanly slit the last wolf’s throat, blood splattering across his face.
Their newly begun marriage wouldn’t end in some ridiculous tragedy—otherwise, one might suspect Jiang Nong had used a honeytrap to take Yu Lingxin’s life.
She scrambled down from the tree, using both hands and feet. Yu Lingxin was already walking among the wolves lying haphazardly on the ground, stabbing each one in the heart to make sure.
Jiang Nong rushed over to check his body, turning him around, examining him front and back. She found several gashes on his arm and quickly tore off her sleeve to bandage them.
There didn’t seem to be any other wounds. She tried to check his face, but Yu Lingxin turned away, refusing to show her. Jiang Nong’s heart skipped—had a claw caught his face and disfigured him? Was that why he wouldn’t let her see?
She felt both guilty and self-reproachful. If only she hadn’t had this wild idea in the middle of the night. What a shame if such a handsome face was ruined. Then she silently scolded herself—how could she think that? How heartless!
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gently turned his head, murmuring: “It’s alright, it’s alright. Even if your face is hurt, it’s fine—let me see how bad it is?”
Yu Lingxin wouldn’t lift his head. He buried his face in her shoulder, trembling all over, as if crying.
Jiang Nong grew more anxious, coaxing him: “Let me see, let me see. Did it catch you badly? Let me blow on it.”
“It must be ugly—don’t look, please…” Yu Lingxin’s voice even sounded choked. “My face is covered in blood. I’ve become ugly—disfigured. Jiang Nong, I’m not worthy of you anymore. If you see me like this, you’ll think I’m disgusting. You won’t like me anymore.”
“How could I be that kind of person?” Jiang Nong rushed to explain. “I wouldn’t. I love you no matter what you look like. I love you most of all. And besides, it’s because of me that you ended up like this—I’d be even more heartless if I rejected you.”
“Do you really love me the most?” Yu Lingxin asked in a muffled voice. “Even if I turned into a mouse, or a blade of grass—would you still love me the most?”
Huh—how would she recognize him if he turned into a mouse or grass? But she had to comfort him now. She quickly assured him: “Mm-hmm. No matter what you turn into, I’ll love you the most. Even if you turn into a cockroach, I’ll still love you. Now let me see how bad it is?”
Yu Lingxin burst out laughing and lifted his head from her shoulder.
Jiang Nong stared blankly, then looked closely by the moonlight—his face was indeed covered in blood, but it wasn’t his own. Not a single scratch on him.
She reached up, cupped his face, and examined it closely—rubbing blood all over her hands, but finding no disfigurement anywhere.
“You were messing with me?” She shoved his head away. Yu Lingxin swayed slightly, grinning as he walked behind her with his hands clasped: “I just wanted to hear you say you’d love Yu Lingxin even if he turned into a mouse or a cockroach.”
“I would have said it even if you hadn’t scared me like that.” Jiang Nong picked up her fallen sword and sheathed it, walking on without looking back. Then she suddenly remembered: “You could have killed those wolves all along—why did you run with me?”
“Because when you were holding my hand and running, it felt like we were eloping. Like it was just the two of us against the world. Being chased by wolves had its own charm.” Yu Lingxin was still savoring the memory.
Jiang Nong tapped his leg lightly with the sword hilt: “You’re insane. I’m not talking to you anymore.”
In that moment of danger, she’d been so focused on escaping that she’d completely forgotten—Yu Lingxin was the man who could effortlessly cut down Chao Ning in his previous life. He was always crying and playing pitiful in front of her, sleeping till noon, looking lazy—so it was easy to forget.
“You’re crazy too, Jiang Nong—because you love me even though you know I’m crazy.”
Jiang Nong strode forward, fuming: “Fine, I don’t like you anymore! Is that better? I like you and you say I’m crazy.”
Yu Lingxin caught up, took her hand, and kissed it: “Alright, alright—I’m the crazy one. I’m the lunatic. I’m shameless, despicable, cunning, and sly—I tricked the gentle, kind, and clever Jiang Nong into liking me.”
Her heart softened. She didn’t want him to talk about himself that way. She looked at him—his clothes soaked, as if he’d been pulled from a sea of blood—and said earnestly: “No. You’re good. I wasn’t tricked. I chose to like you. Don’t say bad things about yourself.”
The night breeze brushed her cheek, lifting a strand of soft hair against her face. She said it with such sincerity—that she chose him, that he was good.
Yu Lingxin’s throat tightened. He wanted to kiss her, but remembering the stench of wolf blood on himself, he held back—only extending one clean pinky to tuck that strand of hair behind her ear.
The moon was so full tonight—it lit up the heart.
…
Yu Lingxin walked behind her, murmuring: “You were scared just now, weren’t you?”
Jiang Nong sighed: “Of course I was. I thought you’d been clawed to the bone—that your whole face had been torn off.”
He chuckled softly: “So you see, Jiang Nong—most of the time, things aren’t nearly as bad as you imagine. The wolves weren’t that scary, and Yu Lingxin didn’t get hurt. It was all in your head. There’s a wolf in your heart, making you hesitate and second-guess yourself. Just do whatever you want, with confidence—I’ll handle the wolves for you.”
He wouldn’t have agreed to go up the mountain alone with her at midnight if he couldn’t guarantee their safety.
Maybe it was the dust in the air, but Jiang Nong’s eyes felt dry and stinging. She tapped the ground with her stick and said: “It’s not as scary as a wolf—at most, it’s a big dog that looks like one.”
Yu Lingxin laughed behind her again. She felt like he was laughing at her, and tapped his leg again with her stick.
The moon sank into the western hills as the red sun tore through the gloom of dawn, bringing vibrant new energy.
Jiang Nong had fallen asleep on Yu Lingxin’s shoulder without realizing it. He steadied her arm, shifted her onto his back, and carried her down the mountain.
Halfway down, she jolted awake, mumbling that she could walk—but he brushed her off, coaxing softly: “Almost there. No need to get down.”
She drifted in and out of sleep. The next time she opened her eyes, she was already lying in the bed at Xuan Shi Hall, with Yu Lingxin asleep beside her. It was past noon.
She carefully checked his wounds—none were deep. She applied medicine, blew gently on them, then got up to leave.
After a few steps, she turned back. She stood by the bed, watching him for a long time, then bent down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
A strand of her hair fell across his neck—a ticklish sensation.
Once her light footsteps faded, Yu Lingxin opened his eyes, gazed at her retreating figure, smiled, and closed them again.
…
Yu Lingxin slept until dark. He sat up in bed, dazed, for a long while. Jiang Nong, her hands freshly washed, touched his face—cool and startling, making him laugh.
“Look! Pick which one you think is prettier.” She held up two swatches of fabric.
Yu Lingxin thought it was for new clothes—but it was too soft, like undergarment fabric. Was she asking him to choose?
His heart swelled.
Was it for her to wear, or was she making something for him?
Jiang Nong loved him so much.
“Which color do you think would be better for Xiaoman’s little outfit?”
His smile froze on his face, then he stared at her in shock.
“Who? Make clothes for whom? Isn’t it… isn’t it a bit early for that…” His throat bobbed, as if he couldn’t believe his ears.
Leave a Reply