"Big Sister Ye!"
As soon as Bai Li Changqing entered the village, a group of children ran toward them, their faces beaming with innocent smiles. The children were dressed in simple, plain clothes, but upon seeing Bai Li Changqing, they instinctively shrank back, hiding behind Ye Yaar. Their wide eyes peeked out cautiously at him.
"It's alright, this big brother won't hurt you," Ye Yaar said gently, smiling at them.
With Ye Yaar leading the way, they entered the village. Her home was modest, with herbs and medicinal plants strewn about, neatly organized in bundles.
"You live here?" Bai Li Changqing asked as he stepped inside.
He noticed that the furniture was covered in dust, indicating that the place hadn't been lived in for quite some time.
"I come back here occasionally," Ye Yaar replied as she started sorting the herbs. After packing a few bundles, she tossed them to Bai Li Changqing. "Take these and soak in the bath with them. There's a wooden tub in the backyard. Heat up some water yourself."
"Will it help?" Bai Li Changqing asked, somewhat surprised.
"Of course. Your broken ribs and fractured bones will heal faster," she responded, not looking up from her work.
Hearing her explanation, Bai Li Changqing nodded and made his way to the backyard, where he began preparing the bath. After cleaning the tub and filling it with water, he added the medicinal herbs. Soon, the water took on a color from the herbs.
Ensuring that no one was around, Bai Li Changqing stripped off his clothes and slipped into the bath. As soon as his wounds made contact with the herb-infused water, a sharp pain shot through his body.
"It stings," he muttered, though the pain was nothing he couldn't handle.
Time passed as he meditated in the tub, closing his eyes to focus. His sword, Jiemie, rested on the edge of the tub, with his hand gripping the hilt. Thanks to the energy from the sword, his body absorbed the medicinal properties of the bath more effectively, accelerating his healing. Before long, the wounds on his body began to visibly scab over and heal.
...
"Damn it! He got away!"
Meanwhile, Ataam and Maerqi had reached the bottom of the Nine-Death Cliff. They scoured the area and found traces of a campfire.
"It looks like someone was here," Ataam said, his voice low and serious.
"It might have been Bai Li Changqing," Maerqi added. "The rain made the river rise. That kid must have fallen into the water and survived."
"We're too late," Maerqi grumbled, clenching his fists.
"Keep searching! He can't have gone far!" Ataam snarled, determination burning in his eyes. He was not going to give up on obtaining that sword.
...
By evening, Bai Li Changqing had finished his bath and dressed himself in fresh clothes from his storage ring. His wounds had scabbed over and were almost completely healed. Even the internal fractures in his bones had mended significantly.
"Interesting... the energy in the air here is much denser than in other places," Bai Li Changqing muttered to himself as he sensed the abundance of energy in the area.
As he emerged from the backyard, he noticed that a fire was already lit inside the house. Ye Yaar was busy treating patients, diagnosing ailments and preparing medicines.
"Thank you, thank you," the villagers expressed their gratitude as they left with their medicinal packs.
Ye Yaar wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked up, sensing Bai Li Changqing's presence. "You finished your bath? How do you feel?"
"Almost fully recovered," Bai Li Changqing replied. "Your herbs were effective."
Ye Yaar smiled, a little pride in her eyes. "Of course. The herbs I use are powerful. You should be feeling much better soon."
"Are you a physician?" Bai Li Changqing asked, curious.
Ye Yaar nodded. "I was rescued by a doctor who lived here when I was young. Ever since then, I've wanted to become a skilled healer myself."
She stood up and walked toward the courtyard, gazing up at the sky as though lost in thought. "Most of the people here are children and the elderly. I come back every year to treat them and give them medicine."
"What happened to the younger men?" Bai Li Changqing asked.
"They all died," Ye Yaar said, her voice softening. "They were conscripted to the southern border to build walls and perished there."
There was a note of sorrow in her voice, though Bai Li Changqing remained silent. He had never known family, and hearing her speak of loss didn't stir any particular emotion in him.
"As an assassin, do you kill only the wicked, or do you kill anyone you're paid to kill?" Ye Yaar asked, her eyes studying him intently.
"I don't have a choice," Bai Li Changqing replied, shaking his head. "I kill whoever I'm assigned to. I follow orders from the leader of the Falling Moon Pavilion."
"Have you ever thought about the families of the people you kill? The parents, children, and loved ones they leave behind?" Ye Yaar asked, her voice soft but probing. "If you die, wouldn't your parents be heartbroken too?"
"I don't have parents," Bai Li Changqing said flatly.
Ye Yaar was momentarily taken aback, her expression softening.
"The only purpose of my life is to be a blade. To kill everyone I'm ordered to kill," Bai Li Changqing said coldly.
"And you're no different, are you? Didn't you say you had someone you wanted dead?"
"Yes. If killing one person can save thousands, then it's the right thing to do," Ye Yaar said, her fists clenched tightly.
Bai Li Changqing remained expressionless. For him, life was only about assassination. Family, friendship, and love meant nothing to him.
...
The next morning, Bai Li Changqing woke from his meditation, feeling refreshed.
"Awake already? Your injuries still need time to heal completely. Why don't you come with me to gather more herbs in the mountains today?" Ye Yaar called from the main room.
"Alright," Bai Li Changqing replied, deciding to join her despite feeling that his wounds were already mostly healed.
For the next few days, Bai Li Changqing stayed in the village, spending his time helping Ye Yaar collect herbs in the mountains and refining his skills through daily training. His strength was gradually improving.
One day, a young boy approached him, holding a bright red fruit in his hands. "Brother Bai Li, I picked this for you. It's really tasty!"
"Th-thank you," Bai Li Changqing stammered, accepting the fruit. Social interactions had never been his strong suit.
"You look much better when you smile," a little girl with pigtails chimed in, cupping her round cheeks as she gazed at him with wide eyes.