Chapter 5: Guarded
1190 Words
Rong Jiu wiped her greasy hands with some grass, neither denying nor admitting anything.
"At the bottom of the cliff, there's a nest of poisonous snakes. The fact that you managed to escape from there suggests that you have some skill in avoiding or neutralizing poison. You can save my companion," Ye Tianlin said in a low voice. His voice wasn't as clear and crisp as jade, but rather deep and steady, exuding reliability.
It was a very reassuring voice.
"I can detoxify," Rong Jiu suddenly said.
A spark of hope lit up in Ye Tianlin's eyes.
Xia Mu and the others jumped to their feet, barely restraining themselves from rushing over.
"But why should I save him?" Rong Jiu asked coldly.
Why should she save him?
Xia Mu and the others were stunned, some of them angry. "Saving a life is an act of great virtue! How can you just stand by and watch him die?"
"I can't believe she’s this kind of person! We were wrong about her!" another person said indignantly.
"I have no obligation to save him," Rong Jiu replied without looking at Xia Mu. She only looked at Ye Tianlin, her tone calm. If he shared their way of thinking, then Xiao Liu could continue waiting to die.
In this world, if someone helps you, it's a favor; if they don't, it's their prerogative.
Rong Jiu had no obligation to help a stranger, especially when it might put herself at risk. So why should she take the gamble?
"What do you want?" Ye Tianlin asked.
Rong Jiu countered, "What can you offer me?"
Ye Tianlin frowned slightly. What could he offer her?
Rong Jiu patiently waited for their response, treating Xia Mu and the others' angry glares as if they were air. She never troubled herself over others' discomfort.
That would be asking for trouble.
"I can promise you one thing. As long as it's within my power, I will help you achieve it," Ye Tianlin said.
"Master!" Xia Mu and the others exclaimed, "Master, you can't..."
Ye Tianlin raised a hand to stop them, his voice cold as he said, "My decision is final."
Rong Jiu clapped her hands, "Good, what a deep bond between master and servants."
Ye Tianlin: "..."
Xia Mu was so angry he laughed, gritting his teeth, "Miss, that phrase doesn’t apply here." He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
"Oh, I didn’t do well in literature."
"..."
Despite her words, Rong Jiu didn’t show the slightest hint of apology.
Xia Mu snorted coldly in dissatisfaction.
Since she had accepted the payment, Rong Jiu straightforwardly went to check Xiao Liu's wound. It was an intense poison, one she hadn't encountered before, but it seemed related to beast venom. The wound was marked by claw scratches, purple and black, with the poison spreading to his heart. That he had lasted this long was impressive.
Rong Jiu was impressed.
Rong Jiu wiped her greasy hands with some grass, neither denying nor admitting anything.
"At the bottom of the cliff, there's a nest of poisonous snakes. The fact that you managed to escape from there suggests that you have some skill in avoiding or neutralizing poison. You can save my companion," Ye Tianlin said in a low voice. His voice wasn't as clear and crisp as jade, but rather deep and steady, exuding reliability.
It was a very reassuring voice.
"I can detoxify," Rong Jiu suddenly said.
A spark of hope lit up in Ye Tianlin's eyes.
Xia Mu and the others jumped to their feet, barely restraining themselves from rushing over.
"But why should I save him?" Rong Jiu asked coldly.
Why should she save him?
Xia Mu and the others were stunned, some of them angry. "Saving a life is an act of great virtue! How can you just stand by and watch him die?"
"I can't believe she’s this kind of person! We were wrong about her!" another person said indignantly.
"I have no obligation to save him," Rong Jiu replied without looking at Xia Mu. She only looked at Ye Tianlin, her tone calm. If he shared their way of thinking, then Xiao Liu could continue waiting to die.
In this world, if someone helps you, it's a favor; if they don't, it's their prerogative.
Rong Jiu had no obligation to help a stranger, especially when it might put herself at risk. So why should she take the gamble?
"What do you want?" Ye Tianlin asked.
Rong Jiu countered, "What can you offer me?"
Ye Tianlin frowned slightly. What could he offer her?
Rong Jiu patiently waited for their response, treating Xia Mu and the others' angry glares as if they were air. She never troubled herself over others' discomfort.
That would be asking for trouble.
"I can promise you one thing. As long as it's within my power, I will help you achieve it," Ye Tianlin said.
"Master!" Xia Mu and the others exclaimed, "Master, you can't..."
Ye Tianlin raised a hand to stop them, his voice cold as he said, "My decision is final."
Rong Jiu clapped her hands, "Good, what a deep bond between master and servants."
Ye Tianlin: "..."
Xia Mu was so angry he laughed, gritting his teeth, "Miss, that phrase doesn’t apply here." He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
"Oh, I didn’t do well in literature."
"..."
Despite her words, Rong Jiu didn’t show the slightest hint of apology.
Xia Mu snorted coldly in dissatisfaction.
Since she had accepted the payment, Rong Jiu straightforwardly went to check Xiao Liu's wound. It was an intense poison, one she hadn't encountered before, but it seemed related to beast venom. The wound was marked by claw scratches, purple and black, with the poison spreading to his heart. That he had lasted this long was impressive.
Rong Jiu was impressed.
"Does anyone have silver needles?" Rong Jiu asked Ye Tianlin and his group.
Ye Tianlin glanced at Xia Mu and the others. One by one, they shook their heads. Suddenly, Ye Tianlin asked, "Can a hairpin be used?" As he spoke, he pulled out a men's hairpin from his person. The end was sharpened into a fine needle.
But it was far from what Rong Jiu needed.
Using that needle could cause serious injury to Xiao Liu.
"..."
Xia Mu was at a loss for words.
Not only did these people not recognize medicinal herbs, but they were also clueless about medicine.
Realizing this, Rong Jiu decided not to rely on them any further. "Forget it, you come with me to find herbs," she said to Ye Tianlin. Then she turned to the others, "You watch him. Don’t let him fall asleep. If he does, he might not wake up again."
They all shuddered and quickly replied, "Understood."
Rong Jiu turned and left.
"Master, let me accompany you," Xia Mu said, quickly catching up. He glanced warily at Rong Jiu, standing protectively by Ye Tianlin's side.
This mysterious woman who appeared out of nowhere—was she a friend or foe?
He couldn't afford to be careless.
He had to be on guard, just in case.
- Writer
