Song Qingchao's hand tightened around the cold dagger.
Her breath accompanied the water dripping from the dagger into the pool, drop by drop.
"Stop screaming, I've poisoned your voice mute."
Song Qingchao's icy eyes stared at Gao Songmo, who was writhing on the ground.
A smile touched her lips, and then, with utter disregard, she thrust the dagger into her own left shoulder.
The sharp point pierced her delicate skin.
Blood flowed down her collarbone, dripping onto her clothes and dotting them with vibrant blooms.
Song Qingchao lay back in the wooden tub, closing her eyes and listening to the footsteps outside the door.
Three,
Two,
One.
The wooden door, in time with her countdown, was pushed open.
Countless screams, sounds of panic, mixed with the clash of blades, gave her a headache.
Until finally,
"Miss Song!"
Bai Youan's voice, devoid of its usual casual laziness, carried a touch of urgency within its warmth.
Song Qingchao couldn't help but smile inwardly.
This scoundrel could actually worry.
She had only gambled that he would come, but she hadn't expected him to actually arrive…
Despite the power surging within her, she felt an overwhelming exhaustion.
She wished she could just sleep.
Bai Youan's mind went blank when he saw Song Qingchao lying in the tub filled with bloody water.
He didn't know how he had walked over.
It was as if by muscle memory, he grabbed Song Qingchao's wrist as it was about to slip into the water.
Wait for me!
That was the only thought in his head!
He couldn't hear anyone else, nor could he see anyone else.
His gaze was fixed on Song Qingchao's face, which was gradually losing its color.
His fingers felt the faint beat of her pulse.
Bai Youan's reason gradually returned. He unhesitatingly pushed aside the soldiers blocking his path, pulled off the screen and its clothes, and gently covered Song Qingchao.
Then, he carefully lifted Song Qingchao from the water, his breath held lest he might harm her.
"Mr. Bai, save our madam first!"
Bai Youan glanced at them, intending to carry Song Qingchao and bypass them.
As soon as he took a step.
The officials in front of him drew their swords, shouting, "Someone died, can you take responsibility!"
"Responsibility?"
Bai Youan let out a cold laugh, then fiercely kicked away the hands grabbing his feet. "Make way!"
"You!"
The tips of their swords were unsheathed, all pointed at him.
An official's eyes were bulging, "This is murder!"
"Are you blind? Can't you tell someone is dying?"
Bai Youan's voice was chillingly cold.
He looked straight ahead, walking forward despite the glinting sword tips.
"She's just a prisoner, surely you know whose life is more precious?"
"Life has different statuses and values?" Bai Youan raised an eyebrow. "Do you truly not know whose life is more valuable?"
His face was grim.
With every step he took forward, the officials holding their swords retreated a step.
They exchanged glances, and finally, in unspoken agreement, they all stepped aside.
Bai Youan carefully laid Song Qingchao on the bed, then unbuckled the medical kit on his back.
He lowered the bed curtain, carefully using gauze to stop the bleeding, and then swiftly inserted silver needles into the acupoints for hemostasis.
"Everyone out."
No one listened to him. He said it again, and still, no one moved.
Bai Youan, enraged, emerged from the curtain, only to collide with Gao Songmo, who was rushing towards him.
The newcomer was sputtering bloody foam, which dripped down with his saliva.
He held up his bloody hands, and upon seeing Bai Youan, his eyes gleamed.
Bai Youan frowned in disgust.
He raised his foot and delivered a kick to Gao Songmo's chest.
His force was ample.
Gao Songmo's already unsteady body crashed into the table behind him.
He lay on the ground, trembling with pain but unable to utter a sound.
"Bai Youan, don't go too far!"
Several officials seemed to have found their excuse. Half of them went to help Gao Songmo up from the ground, while the other half held their swords to Bai Youan's neck.
"What did I do?" Bai Youan sneered. "I never treat those without virtue."
"Presumptuous!"
The official holding the sword pressed it harder against him. It didn't matter if it accidentally nicked his neck.
Bai Youan turned his head, preparing to drive them out.
Just then, a clear, angry voice echoed from afar.
"Who is it? Making noise late at night without sleeping!"
The officials, who had been wearing expressions of indignation, suddenly became like dogs awaiting their master upon hearing the voice, their heavy breathing now coming through their nostrils.
They whispered in Bai Youan's ear, "Hmph, you're finished now. Let's see how Lord Skinny Monkey deals with you when he returns!"
Coffin ferociously kicked towards the back of Bai Youan's knee.
Bai Youan remained silent, finding it amusing, and cooperated by falling to the ground.
Song Qingchao's injuries were mostly controlled.
The wound on her left shoulder looked alarming, but with proper rest, it would not affect her health.
Now, what he needed was to get everyone out, to prevent any accidents that might cause further harm to Song Qingchao.
With a loud "clang,"
His fall startled the Skinny Monkey who had just appeared at the doorway.
His originally stern face completely broke when he saw the chaotic state of the room.
"What's going on?"
Skinny Monkey clutched his whip tightly.
He had initially assumed Song Qingchao was causing trouble again, but he hadn't expected such a scene.
The handover process was already not going smoothly.
The new garrison commander was as stubborn as a block of wood, completely impervious to persuasion.
What's more, he kept picking at Skinny Monkey's weaknesses.
He glanced at Gao Songmo, his face covered in blood, kneeling at his feet, and was even more annoyed that he had ruined his plans.
Gao Songmo mumbled incoherently, his throat seeming to be stuffed with stones, and only the official beside him explained.
A loud noise suddenly came from this room, and they came to investigate.
Upon arrival, they saw Gao Songmo writhing on the fallen screen, Song Qingchao collapsed in the tub, and to top it all off, they had slandered Bai Youan.
Bai Youan lay on the ground without saying a word.
He didn't want to explain; he knew all too well that Skinny Monkey wasn't a fool.
As expected, Skinny Monkey raised his whip and began lashing out at them.
"You bunch of trash!" Skinny Monkey cursed, whipping them without mercy. "How many times have I told you, when you're out, the first priority is the safety of the prisoners!"
He gritted his teeth and kicked Gao Songmo again, sending him tumbling. "And you! You can't even protect one person, what good are you! If Song Qingchao doesn't wake up, I'll have your heads!"
Skinny Monkey's chest heaved violently with anger.
He continued to whip and drive everyone out.
Finally, when everyone was out, he turned to Bai Youan, "Are you satisfied now?"
Bai Youan flashed a smile, picked up the incense burner from the ground, and threw it directly at Skinny Monkey. "You can go out too, go see what your subordinates have done."