"What sort of wicked ideas could I have?"
Bai You'an smiled softly and grabbed Song Qingchao's arm. "Don't run."
Song Qingchao's clothes were caught, but she stubbornly resisted. "What do you want to do?"
"I'm not doing anything," Bai You'an said with great innocence, yet he still pulled her outward.
"Let go!"
With a surge of effort, Song Qingchao broke free and scrambled back into the carriage.
Bai You'an raised an eyebrow leisurely outside the carriage, then climbed in as well.
He blocked the entrance, looking at Song Qingchao with a sly grin. "Take it off yourself."
Song Qingchao glared, covering her chest with her hands. "You, you're doing this on purpose again."
Bai You'an let out an "ah," lazily and patiently sorting through the medicinal herbs and bandages in his hands. "Do you want your wound to heal or not?"
Song Qingchao awkwardly replied, "Yes."
However, recalling the suspicion cast upon her yesterday, she no longer wanted Bai You'an to tend to her wound and stubbornly said, "I can do it myself."
Bai You'an's hand, held in mid-air, stopped. "Are you sure?"
He raised his eyebrows and offered the medicine to her.
Song Qingchao took the medicine with a pout, her voice faint. "You can go down."
"Alright, then this subordinate will take his leave." Bai You'an turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation.
Once Song Qingchao was sure he had truly left, she put down the medicine and slowly began to undress.
The wound on her shoulder was not deep, but she hadn't rested these past few days. The wound had healed and then reopened. Even with Bai You'an's excellent medicine, it couldn't withstand her constant activity.
Indeed, as she unwrapped the bandages, her hand trembled, and she gasped sharply.
The blood had congealed, sticking to the gauze along with her flesh.
She wiggled her fingers, then decided it was better to endure a sharp pain than a prolonged one, and tore it open.
"Don't tear it, the wound will split open."
Bai You'an's lazy voice returned.
Song Qingchao clutched her clothes in confusion and looked around.
"Stop looking, I'm here."
The curtain of the carriage window trembled, and then the shadow of Bai You'an's profile was cast upon it.
Without even thinking, Song Qingchao knew Bai You'an was leaning against the carriage wheel, squinting his eyes and fanning himself in the sun.
"Soak the gauze in warm water and slowly soften the blood clot, a little at a time. Don't rush."
Song Qingchao tilted her head, looking at the shadow, wondering if Bai You'an had peeked while she was looking down.
"Don't think about it, I wasn't looking at you. Apply the medicine quickly."
Song Qingchao ignored him but still followed his instructions, tending to her wound bit by bit. Before long, a thin layer of sweat had broken out on her forehead.
Bai You'an: "Tired? Do you want me to help you?"
Song Qingchao immediately became active again. "No, I can do it myself."
Bai You'an nodded. "Alright."
He lowered his head and fiddled with his fan. "Yesterday, I didn't mean it like that. What happens to Zhe'er is not something you can control. It was my words that led you to misunderstand."
He waited for a long time without a response and began to feel anxious.
Suddenly, a "bang" sound made his already taut nerves snap.
Without a second thought, Bai You'an leaped onto the carriage, fearing Song Qingchao might have met with trouble inside.
In that brief moment, he blamed himself for being so obedient and leaving the weakened her alone in the carriage.
He lifted the curtain.
Bai You'an and the two people involved were instantly stunned.
Song Qingchao stood half-bent over, her half-raised arms instantly wrapping around her clothes.
Bai You'an decisively released his grip on the curtain.
Song Qingchao stared blankly at the overturned water basin on the ground, struggling to regain her voice. "What are you hiding from?"
"Ah, it's nothing," Bai You'an's voice trailed off. "I thought something had happened to you."
Song Qingchao: ...
She slowly sat down. "Cough, that, could you help me wrap the bandage? I can't reach the back."
"Alright."
Bai You'an lifted the curtain again and re-entered, stepping around the water basin on the ground. His footsteps on the thin layer of water made a sticky sound that seeped into her ears.
His eyesight wasn't good, so he had to get close to see.
Song Qingchao was turned sideways, revealing half of her fair shoulder.
His gentle movements spread slowly over her shoulder.
His hot breath brushed softly beside her, entering the hollow of her neck, warming her entire body.
"Bai You'an."
"Mm?" Bai You'an responded softly, his voice muffled and gentle.
"A hard battle is about to begin. Liu Zhe'er died of illness, I suspect it was an epidemic." Song Qingchao's eyes were fixed on the tips of her hair, illuminated by the light.
Bai You'an still responded with an "Mm," but his tone was steadier than before.
He wrapped the gauze around her shoulder, then pulled her outer cloak up to cover her. Afterward, he rolled up his sleeves to collect the overturned water basin.
Song Qingchao, holding her collar, watched Bai You'an's unhurried movements. "Aren't you worried?"
Bai You'an held the water-soaked towel suspended over the basin and wrung out the water with both hands. "When the soldiers come, we'll fight them; when the water comes, we'll cover it with earth. There will always be a way."
"There will always be a way?"
Song Qingchao looked up at the window again, her eyes no longer clear.
Perhaps people are naturally afraid of things they haven't experienced.
She hadn't experienced it, but just hearing Feng Shaocheng's description made it sound like a human purgatory.
"Don't be afraid."
Song Qingchao couldn't help but smile and leaned against the window, mimicking his relaxed posture. "Why do you always say not to be afraid?"
Bai You'an stopped his actions, thought for a moment, and suddenly chuckled, his eyes soft.
"Because I'm here, and I can protect you."
He turned his head towards Song Qingchao's direction. The sunlight fell on his half-closed eyelashes, like melting spring snow, bright and clear, unstained by any hint of coldness.
Song Qingchao also couldn't help but smile. "Alright, then let's cherish these leisurely days."
Though called leisurely, they were anything but.
For several consecutive days, people in the team began to develop fevers, vomit, and in severe cases, exhibited convulsions and unconsciousness.
But Song Qingchao and the others could do nothing. The prescription had not yet been developed, and they had to experiment.
So Song Qingchao took on the task of caring for the patients, while Liu Zhe'er gathered wild vegetables to improve everyone's meals.
They did not ask Song Qingmu to do anything.
After his residual poison was cleared, his body would need two to three years to recover, and his constitution was at its weakest. Song Qingchao dared not let him take risks.
The infected people cried out daily to stop and rest.
But Shou Hou insisted they keep moving.
They had to reach a town to have any hope of survival.
Song Qingchao and Bai You'an both understood that this approach was for everyone's benefit at this stage.
However, their understanding did not extend to everyone.
Some were tired from walking, tormented by illness, their families scattered. Reaching the northern desert might not offer them a way out.
When night fell and it was time to sleep, the situation finally erupted.