Volume 1, Chapter 22: I Believe You Did Not Mean It.

Ye Xuan walked into the grand hall, his footsteps echoing softly in the spacious, empty space. He headed straight for the inner courtyard, his mind occupied with the progress of Liu Yuexue’s recovery. After the acupuncture session yesterday, the girl’s cold marrow ailment should have been largely alleviated. If she was doing well during today’s follow-up, two or three more treatments would be enough to cure her completely. Thinking of this, Ye Xuan felt his spirits lift.

He pushed open the door to Liu Yuexue’s private chamber, intending to inquire about her condition. The next second, the sight before him left him frozen in his tracks. Liu Yuexue was standing with her back to the door, her slender fingers busy unfastening the ties of her outer robe. Her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders, revealing a back as white and smooth as jade.

"This..."

Ye Xuan stood stunned, his mind going completely blank. Liu Yuexue seemed to have heard the movement and slowly turned her head. As their eyes met, both were struck motionless. The very air seemed to solidify. Liu Yuexue’s pretty face flushed instantly, turning as red as a ripe apple, and she hurriedly covered her chest with her hands.

"Ah!"

A sharp scream shattered the silence of the room. Only then did Ye Xuan snap out of his daze, hastily turning around to leave. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I saw nothing!" He fumbled with the door, his heart drumming against his ribs like a war drum.

Just as he turned, he saw Su Qingxue standing not far behind him, her cold, clear eyes fixed upon him. Su Qingxue was startled at first, clearly failing to understand why Ye Xuan had entered only to rush out again. The next moment, Liu Yuexue’s cry of shame and indignation rang out from within the room. Su Qingxue understood immediately, a flash of irritation crossing her beautiful eyes. She glared at Ye Xuan as if she could devour him whole.

"Lecher!"

She whispered a curse, then pushed past Ye Xuan and walked straight into the room. Ye Xuan stood awkwardly at the threshold, forced to listen to the hushed whispers drifting from inside.

"Yuexue, are you alright?" came Su Qingxue’s concerned voice.

"Cousin... I... just now..." Liu Yuexue’s voice was laced with tears.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. That lecher didn't see anything."

"But... but I feel so ashamed..."

"Silly girl, there’s nothing to be ashamed of; it was his recklessness."

Ye Xuan heard every word clearly from outside the door, his face burning with heat. He had indeed been too impatient, walking in without even knocking. Now, he had gone and frightened a virtuous young lady.

"That fellow usually seems quite steady; I didn't expect him to be so ignorant of manners," Su Qingxue’s voice carried clear dissatisfaction.

"Cousin, don't say that about him... after all, he is my savior..." Liu Yuexue whispered in his defense.

"Does being a savior give him the right to barge into a lady's private quarters?"

"It’s not that... I don't think he meant to..."

Hearing this, Ye Xuan felt a complex mix of emotions. This girl was still speaking up for him; she truly had a kind heart. The voices in the room gradually faded as the two sisters discussed matters. Ye Xuan could only wait obediently outside, silently chiding himself for his rash behavior.

After a long while, Su Qingxue’s voice finally sounded again. "Mr. Ye, you may come in now."

Ye Xuan took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Liu Yuexue had already dressed again and was sitting on the edge of the bed with her head bowed, her face still flushed. Su Qingxue stood to one side, arms crossed, watching Ye Xuan coldly. The atmosphere turned incredibly awkward.

Ye Xuan coughed, walked over to Liu Yuexue, and bowed sincerely. "Miss Liu, that was my impropriety just now. Please forgive me." His voice was filled with clear regret, his attitude earnest.

Liu Yuexue waved her hand, her face still red, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum. "It... it’s alright. It was my fault for not closing the door properly. We... we are even now."

These words only made Ye Xuan feel more guilty. It was clearly his own error, yet this girl was still taking the blame. A subtle, stifling embarrassment hung in the air, and none of the three knew what to say. Seeing this, Su Qingxue cleared her throat to break the silence.

"Mr. Ye, aren't you here for Yuexue’s follow-up?"

At these words, both Ye Xuan and Liu Yuexue let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, yes, the follow-up is the priority." Ye Xuan nodded quickly, casting a grateful glance at Su Qingxue. Though this woman was usually as cold as frost, she knew how to ease the tension in critical moments.

"Miss Liu, please allow me to check your pulse."

Regaining his composure as a physician, Ye Xuan sat by the bedside. Liu Yuexue obediently extended her wrist, though her face remained as red as rouge. Ye Xuan placed three fingers on her pulse, carefully sensing the changes. Her pulse beat beneath his fingers, significantly stronger than it had been yesterday. The cold energy had indeed largely dissipated, though some stubborn cold toxin remained in the depths of her meridians.

"The pulse is much improved from yesterday. It seems you rested well last night." Ye Xuan nodded, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

Hearing this, Liu Yuexue’s tense mood relaxed. "Then... is my illness almost cured?" She looked at Ye Xuan with anticipation, her eyes full of hope.

"A few more acupuncture sessions are required, but rest assured, you will be completely recovered within three days at most." Ye Xuan rose and walked to his medical kit, retrieving the silver needles. "Today, we will still use the Nine Palaces Rejuvenation technique. It may be a bit painful; please bear with it."

Liu Yuexue nodded and lay down obediently. Ye Xuan took a deep breath, calming his mind completely. The silver needles danced in his hands, each one piercing the acupoints with precision. Liu Yuexue couldn't help but let out a soft groan, her brows knitting slightly.

"Does it hurt much?" Ye Xuan asked with concern.

"It's alright... much better than yesterday." Liu Yuexue shook her head.

The two gazed at each other, and something subtle seemed to flow through the air. Liu Yuexue’s face flushed once more, and her heart rate quickened. This man’s gaze was gentle, inexplicably putting her at ease. Ye Xuan focused on his acupuncture, his mind as calm as water. After yesterday’s session, he had a clear grasp of her condition. This girl’s cold marrow ailment was indeed tricky, but before his medical skills, it was nothing more than a minor task.

Su Qingxue stood to the side, observing it all quietly. She noticed the focused expression on Ye Xuan’s face while he performed acupuncture, which was a stark contrast to his usual mild manner. In this moment, he seemed like a different person, radiating a convincing sense of dignity. This contrast sparked a flicker of curiosity in Su Qingxue. How many faces did this man truly have?

Time passed minute by minute, and Ye Xuan’s technique grew increasingly skillful. Liu Yuexue could clearly feel the cold energy in her body dissipating, the bone-chilling pain gradually subsiding. Half an hour later, Ye Xuan withdrew the last silver needle.

"Done."

He let out a long breath, fine beads of sweat dotting his forehead. Liu Yuexue sat up slowly, carefully feeling the changes within her body. "It’s... it’s really not hurting anymore!" She looked at Ye Xuan with delight, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Mr. Ye, you are truly like a miracle worker!"

Ye Xuan smiled faintly as he packed up his needles. "You flatter me; it is merely a physician’s duty. After today’s treatment, you may feel some fatigue; this is normal. Get a good night’s rest, and you should be able to walk about by tomorrow."

Having said this, Ye Xuan hurried to pack his belongings, eager to leave. The embarrassing accident from earlier made him want to spend as little time in this room as possible.

"Safe travels, Mr. Ye!" Liu Yuexue called out from behind him.

Ye Xuan waved a hand and walked out of the room without looking back. Only when he reached the main hall did he let out a heavy sigh of relief. Today’s affair had been truly humiliating. However, judging by Liu Yuexue’s recovery, things were going better than expected. Two more treatments, and the girl would be completely free of the cold marrow ailment.

Thinking of this, his mood improved slightly. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda; that saying was true enough. He sat quietly in the hall, beginning to calm the true energy he had expended during the treatment. To speed up the process, he had used quite a bit of his internal power, which had put a strain on his already limited reserves. Now, he needed to meditate and recover his state.