This eerie atmosphere had been bothering Song Qingchao for some time.
At first, she thought it was because the young Madam Hu still harbored wicked intentions.
But after probing a few times, she confirmed it wasn't due to the young Madam Hu.
The young Madam Hu had gone mad.
She spent all day clutching a blanket, treating it as Liu Fubao, and even tried to feed it the food that had been punished.
If she couldn't feed it, she would cry and fuss.
Skinny Monkey had tried to manage it at first, but eventually, he gave up. As long as the person was alive and didn't fall behind, it was enough.
So, Song Qingchao hadn't been sleeping very soundly these past few days.
She always felt something was about to happen.
When it finally happened, she wasn't sure if she was happy or sad beforehand.
Listening to the howling outside and the sound of whips striking flesh, she felt as if it was hitting her directly.
The raging flames burned until past midnight, making even the moon seem inferior and ashamed as it retreated.
All the people were suppressed by the soldiers.
They were forced to witness a "slaughter."
In truth, Skinny Monkey hadn't taken their lives.
But in this state of mental and physical exhaustion, this session of whipping could be life-threatening.
She couldn't stop anything, no matter from which standpoint.
She couldn't say that this group of people trying to escape was right, nor could she say that Skinny Monkey, who wanted to protect everyone's lives, was wrong.
From everyone's perspective, no one was in the wrong in this matter.
All she could do was cover Liu Zhe'er's eyes.
Song Qingchao looked up at Bai You'an, who was sitting on a tree branch.
Wearing white robes and embroidered boots, his expression was languid.
He rested one hand on his propped leg, the firelight casting a reddish hue on him. As he looked down, his eyes were filled with a fragmented beauty.
This wasn't the first time Song Qingchao had seen him with such an expression.
His eyes were full of stories, as if he had seen all things in the world and understood all kinds of human hearts.
He always appeared carefree and uninhibited,
Seemingly indifferent to everything, yet in reality, caring about everything.
What kind of scarred past must one have experienced to become like this,
So strong and yet so gentle…
“Bai You’an, don’t be afraid.”
Bai You’an, sitting on the tree, was first stunned, then he laughed, his eyes shining with a brilliant light.
He jumped down from the tree and slowly walked to Song Qingchao’s side, taking her hand. “How come you’re the one saying that now?”
Song Qingchao slowly withdrew her hand from that warmth, smiling. “I’m encouraging you. How is the prescription coming along?”
“It’s showing some efficacy. After we enter the city, I’d like to get some more medicinal materials,” Bai You’an paused. “Do you still have the medicinal materials you gave me before?”
Song Qingchao was also stunned.
She had asked the young boy to deliver the medicine to Xi Yun Pavilion for use in future battles, never expecting it to be useful at this time.
“This…” She didn’t know how to tell Bai You’an.
She had only told Mu Mu about her space.
She didn't trust Bai You’an that much yet.
“Let’s go to a pharmacy after entering the city. I’ll give you all the ones I collected.”
Bai You’an looked quite regretful after hearing this. “That medicinal material is the most important one in the prescription. I hope the town still has it.”
While Bai You’an was speaking, Song Qingchao lowered her head and used her mind to search her space.
She hadn’t paid attention to whether she had collected any medicinal materials.
After searching around, she finally saw a large pile of medicinal materials in a corner.
The quantity startled Song Qingchao, making her think she had stumbled upon a patch of balloon flowers.
Each portion was very well-packaged, clearly having undergone careful drying.
Beside the balloon flowers were neatly stacked frostbite medicine and cold medicine, all of superior quality.
Song Qingchao couldn't help but smile.
She hadn't expected the young boy to have such capability.
However, these medicinal materials must have cost her a lot of silver. After this epidemic passed and they reached Mobei, she would have to find some money.
“What are you smiling at!”
When Song Qingchao came back to her senses, she saw a woman holding a basin of water and splashing it towards her.
Just as Song Qingchao was about to dodge, it was too late.
But her hand was suddenly grabbed by Bai You’an, and then he, like a descending deity, turned in front of her.
The water splashed behind him.
Song Qingchao was stunned to see him, and then he hugged her tightly.
His hand rested gently on the back of her neck, moving down her smooth hair, while the other hand supported her waist.
“This water is dirty.”
Song Qingchao didn’t react, only feeling as if she was completely enveloped.
After Bai You’an whispered in her ear, he suddenly pushed her away, then decisively took off his white robe and threw it into the nearby fire.
Song Qingchao watched as he, wearing only his inner garments, stood in front of her and then strode towards the woman who had splashed the water.
His movements and demeanor were so calm that it wasn't until he was close that the woman reacted and began to retreat.
She pointed at Bai You’an, her voice laced with fear, “What, what are you doing!”
“Mm, I’m not doing anything,” Bai You’an’s voice remained level, without any fluctuation. “Ah, I just want to tell you, Madam, if you want to live, it’s best not to touch my people.”
His brows were gentle, but his serene gaze sent an uncontrollable shiver down one’s spine.
“I was just!” the woman tried to explain.
Bai You’an interrupted directly, “There are no ‘justs.’ Let this be the last time, understand?”
He took off an moxa sachet hanging from his body and handed it to the woman. “Now that your husband is ill, you cannot touch anything he has used or eaten. Besides this, you must listen to Chaochao, fumigate with moxa daily, and wear a mask.”
Bai You’an pried the woman’s fingers until she had firmly grasped the sachet before letting go.
He straightened up and smiled as if bathed in spring breeze. “If you wish to die, feel free to not listen to us.”
The woman busily clutched the sachet and nodded, fleeing in a panic.
Bai You’an, however, didn't let this opportunity pass. He raised his voice and repeated what he had just said to the woman.
Finally, he added a rather threatening remark, “Listen, and you can live.”
Song Qingchao smiled as he walked back.
She leaned against the carriage, arms crossed, her expression lazy and her eyebrows raised. “When did Mr. Bai learn such glib talk?”
Bai You’an smiled softly and then walked to her side, twirling her long hair with his fingers. “When did Miss Song learn to be so lax in her posture?”
Song Qingchao pulled her hair from his fingers. “One learns by proximity. Near vermilion, one becomes red; near ink, one becomes black.”
“Ah, is that so?” Bai You’an leaned close to Song Qingchao. “Then, has Miss Song learned anything from me, Bai Mou?”
Song Qingchao hooked her lips and nodded. “I have learned, for example…”
She poked his chest with her finger, slowly pushing him back. “For example, Mr. Bai should have a good bath now, didn’t you say so yourself?”
She stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, “The water is dirty.”