She opened her backpack and laid out the herbs one at a time. “Take a look at these three herbs. Do they possess the medicinal properties of the herbs you need?” Qin Shu asked.

Gu Yan reached out to inspect the herbs. He examined each of them carefully. They were all precious herbs that could not be bought on the market.

He met her eyes not knowing what to feel.

Qin Shu interpreted Gu Yan's silence as tacit disapproval for having obtained herbs that did not live up to his expectations. “Is something wrong? Should I look for more of these herbs? Do they not match the descriptions you provided me with?”

Gu Yan shook his head. “No, these herbs bear a strong resemblance to those that were lost. It's been hard on you. I underestimated just how much you would do for him.”

Qin Shu exhaled the breath that she had been holding. As long as the herbs matched, all was well.

“I'm his wife. This is the least I can do for him.”

“You have done so much for Fu Tingyu because you love him, don't you? I'm sure he'll be appreciative when he finds out,” Gu Yan said.

“Don't tell him about me finding the herbs.”

Gu Yan was puzzled. “Why? You have done so much for him and were even bitten by a venomous snake. Why shouldn't he learn of your sacrifices?”

“He doesn't like me to do these things. When he finds out that I was bitten by a venomous snake, he will blame himself. He would rather get hurt than let me get hurt at all. If he finds out that I got hurt because of him, he would feel…”

Qin Shu didn't finish her sentence. Fu Tingyu was a proud and stubborn man. If he learned that she had been injured, he would blame himself for not doing everything in his power to protect her. It would hurt his pride.

She did not want her husband to nurse such thoughts.

Gu Yan listened in silence. He knew how Fu Tingyu's mind worked.

“Then wouldn't he remain in the dark?”

“There is no need for him to know. My primary concern is his health. It won't change the fact that I'm a sheltered woman living under his protection.”

Just as she said her piece, it brought to mind how Fu Tingyu had used his large hand to cover her eyes and the words that accompanied this action of his, “Don't look.”

She couldn't help but laugh.

Gu Yan nodded helplessly. “If you don't wish for him to know, then it can't be helped. Still, you'll need to be treated. You poisoned yourself trying to extract the snake venom from your wound and your pulse is fluctuating. I haven't had the opportunity to properly a.s.sess the severity of your condition with the inadequate medical facilities on hand. When we return, I'll need you to undergo a full-body check-up.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Had she contracted some sort of disease?

“Then… have I been cured of my poisoning?”

“Are you stupid? Using your mouth to extract the venom was beyond foolish. You ended up poisoning yourself and allowing the toxins to take effect sooner.”

“I just emulated what I saw on television…” Hearing her own words, Qin Shu felt how stupid she really was. “When the snake bit me, the only thing on my mind was to survive. I thought that I would die in mere moments notice if I didn't draw out the venom using my mouth.”

Gu Yan sighed. “It requires a certain level of skill for someone to remove venom that has entered the bloodstream using this method. Although I've injected you with a general antidote, it isn't enough to eradicate the poison in your system.”

A sense of relief washed over her. As long as it was not life-threatening, she could live with whatever consequence ensued.

Gu Yan thought of Han Xiao who was waiting outside. “Is the man who was carrying you, your cla.s.smate? What happened to you both? He was badly injured by the time we met.”

Qin Shu nodded. “It's all thanks to him that we were able to traverse the mountainous forest so easily. He has experience in the wild. I was bitten by the snake as I was picking the Qi Zhu, causing me to fall. At that time, we were scaling the cliffside of a deep col. He s.h.i.+elded me with his own body when I fell. Were it not for him being there, I would definitely have suffered an even greater injury.”

Recalling the events that took place, Qin Shu recognised how lucky she was. Not just anyone would put themselves in harm's way without so much as a thought.

If Han Xiao had not intervened, her injuries could have proven fatal.

Looking around her tent, Qin Shu did not see Han Xiao so she asked, “Where is he? His right arm was injured defending me from wolves. He must have aggravated his wounds while protecting me as we tumbled down the slope.”

Gu Yan was given a fright when he heard Qin Shu recount her escapades in the wild. Being attacked by a pack of wolves? Tumbling down the steep slopes of a col?

He didn't expect Qin Shu to have experienced so much. No wonder she was in such a sorry state when he saw them.

“I asked him to go get his wounds treated. His injuries were quite serious. His sleeve was soaked in blood. He looked like he was going to bleed out.”

“I'll go see him.”

Qin Shu's heart tightened in her chest. Hurriedly, she darted to the entrance of her tent and out into their camp.

Gu Yan followed her out.

Han Xiao was sitting close by. He was wearing a light grey T-s.h.i.+rt. Ji Fei was tending to his wounded arm, bandaging it up. His head had already been cleaned of blood and wrapped in white sterile bandages.

She shuffled over and sat down in front of Han Xiao. She turned to Ji Fei, asking, “How are his injuries? Are they serious?”

“His right arm is infected…”

Before Ji Fei could continue, Han Xiao interrupted him. “I'm fine. More importantly, how are you? Do you feel any discomfort?”

Ji Fei kept his thoughts to himself having been interrupted. He simply wound a bandage around Han Xiao's arms without further comment.

Distressed by Ji Fei's report, Qin Shu asked him, “Did you bring any medicine?” She pointedly ignored Han Xiao's own question as to her health.

“We have administered it already,” Ji Fei answered succinctly.

Gu Yan ambled over and sat next to Qin Shu.

Han Xiao shot Gu Yan a scathing look, frowning as he sat next to Qin Shu.

Gu Yan turned a blind eye to his hostile gaze. Han Xiao had done everything in his power to ensure Qin Shu's safety – that was more than enough for him to overlook the tiny bit of animosity being directed his way.

“Both of you should rest. We'll depart from the mountain soon. We've almost secured all the herbs we need. The environment may complicate the treatment of your injuries. It is better that we return as soon as possible.”

Han Xiao looked at Qin Shu as if waiting for her decision.

An indescribable wave of grat.i.tude washed over her. Han Xiao had taken care of her throughout the length of their journey. He was a bastion of strength she could rely on.

“Han Xiao, thank you for accompanying me on this trip. You've suffered… We should return with Gu Yan. I need to go back to Jiang City anyway.”

When Han Xiao heard that Qin Shu wanted to return to Jiang City, he couldn't help but clench her thighs. “When will you return to the imperial capital?”

“I don't know yet. I don't think I'll be able to go back anytime soon.”

She had promised Fu Tingyu that she would accompany him in Jiang City for a time. She wanted to make him happy. Also…

He wanted to have a child.

Han Xiao glared at Gu Yan.

Gu Yan dipped his head in confusion. Did he do something wrong?

Han Xiao retracted his glare before turning to Qin Shu. “Then I'll wait for you in the capital. Come back soon or you'll miss some cla.s.ses.”

Qin Shu beamed happily. “Okay.”

Meanwhile, Gu Yan instructed Ji Fei and his other bodyguards to take stock and prepare for their return.

Qin Shu remained where she was, resting her aching limbs. Her hands drifted to her calves and began rubbing them unknowingly. She fell because of the sudden weakness that overcame all sensation in her legs.

Han Xiao sat opposite Qin Shu. His thoughts roamed distractedly within the confines of his mind. He did not know when they would meet again and his brows furrowed like ebbing waves on his forehead.

Qin Shu remembered how Han Xiao mistook her for his Xiao Budian. Knowing that she was not his Xiao Budian, she decided to encourage him, “You will definitely find your Xiao Budian. Where there's a will, there is a way.”

Han Xiao squinted at Qin Shu. Her features matched his Xiao Budian's and were filled with an aura, not unlike the one he was familiar with.