Afterward, Shi Feiyang held Gong Sing steadily with one hand, his movents gentle, afraid of causing her pain, while his other hand carried White Tiger, which nestled obediently beside him. His figure flickered like a black lightning, gracefully leaping onto the back of Vermilion Bird.
Vermilion Bird let out a long, loud cry, "Li——", then spread its massive wings, soaring toward Jinan Prefecture with a powerful gust of wind. In the afterglow of the sunset, their figures gradually disappeared into the horizon, leaving only a blurred shadow.
Upon returning to the "Jinhui Inn" in Jinan Prefecture, Shi Feiyang devoted himself entirely to taking care of Gong Sing.
His eyes were full of tenderness and care, like the warm sun of spring, with every movent cautious for fear of hurting the injured Gong Sing. He personally stayed by the stove, brewing dicinal soup for Gong Sing. The flas licked the bottom of the pot, and thin wisps of steam rose from the dicine pot, emitting a strong aroma of herbs.
Shi Feiyang focused intently on the dicine pot, occasionally stirring it.
Once the dicinal soup was ready, he gently lifted it, sat beside Gong Sing’s bed, scooped the soup with a small spoon, blew it cool, and slowly fed it to Gong Sing, his actions as gentle as the spring breeze. White Tiger also lay quietly nearby, its originally majestic eyes now showing concern, occasionally nudging Gong Sing’s hand with its head, guarding the couple in its own way.
However, the peaceful days did not last long. One day, a rush of hoofbeats suddenly broke the tranquility of the inn. Lin Wanqing arrived on horseback from Liaodong, her hair wildly dancing in the wind, a few strands sticking to her flushed cheeks. Despite the fatigue of her long journey, it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest. Her eyes carried a hint of urgency as she walked straight into the inn and found Shi Feiyang.
"Grand Squad Leader, I have successfully established the Heroic Sakura Association’s Liaodong Eagle Beak Rock Sub-Branch." Lin Wanqing’s voice was clear and pleasant, like a mountain spring, "The two gold ingots given by you and Liao Pei have been exchanged into countless pieces of silver and distributed among the brothers of the sub-branch. Except for the few brothers left to guard the Eagle Beak Rock base, the others are disguised as small bartenders, inn servants, woodcutters, or small rchants, operating small taverns and inns, keeping a close eye on the various news of the Liaodong Martial World. If there’s any important information, it will surely be reported by carrier pigeon."
Lin Wanqing paused slightly, a hint of shyness fleetingly flashing in her eyes, and continued, "Now, as the Dharma Transmission Elder of the Heroic Sakura Association concurrently serving as the Jishi Hall Master, I request to accompany you south to Suzhou Prefecture, to develop disciples of the Heroic Sakura Association in Jiangnan."
In truth, Lin Wanqing harbored deeper reasons in her heart. Since parting from Shi Feiyang, the pain of longing accompanied her like a shadow, tornting her day and night. Countless nights, she lay in bed, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, her mind filled with Shi Feiyang’s image. She couldn’t bear this longing; even if she couldn’t marry Shi Feiyang, as long as she could be by his side, seeing him every day would suffice. This thought she buried deep in her heart, never spoken aloud.
After hearing this, Shi Feiyang secretly sighed to himself, reluctantly agreeing.
How could he not know Lin Wanqing’s feelings, but his heart was already filled by Gong Sing.
Lin Wanqing, skilled in dicine, imdiately took Gong Sing’s pulse. Her fingers gently rested on Gong Sing’s wrist, brows slightly furrowed, carefully diagnosing the condition. Then she began to treat Gong Sing’s injuries, her technique skillful, her movents gentle.
Gong Sing lay on the bed, watching Lin Wanqing’s busy figure, yet her heart surged with a wave of sadness.
She silently sighed to herself, "Ah! Just as Liu Tingting is gone, Lin Wanqing cos to compete with for a man; why is my life so tough?"
Gong Sing, originally a maid of the Divine Water Palace, grew up with a low status, which filled her with inferiority and anxiety facing Lin Wanqing.
Lin Wanqing, the daughter of Lin Hui, the Fortress Master of Liaodong Changsheng Castle, was not only beautiful but exuded an innate gracefulness, her every gesture charming, perfectly responding to situations and treating people.
Her dical skills were superb, and the professionalism and concentration she showed while diagnosing and treating Gong Sing just now made Gong Sing feel inferior.
Lin Wanqing’s swordsmanship was exceptional, earning her a little fa in the Jianghu, quite intelligent, and showing extraordinary ability whether in establishing branches or handling Jianghu affairs. Thinking of this, Gong Sing felt a heavy stone pressing on her heart.
During the days of recovering from her injuries, this worry grew wildly within Gong Sing like weeds.
Whenever Shi Feiyang and Lin Wanqing talked, she would always secretly observe their every move, her eyes full of vigilance and unease.
She feared Shi Feiyang would be attracted to Lin Wanqing’s excellence, feared losing Shi Feiyang.
Sotis, she would even fall into groundless suspicions and fantasies, imagining Shi Feiyang and Lin Wanqing together, which would cause a stabbing pain in her heart. She loved deeply, painfully, yet couldn’t extricate herself.
Shi Feiyang, caught between the two, also felt incredibly uncomfortable.
He could feel Gong Sing’s unease and pain, and also understood Lin Wanqing’s feelings, but he didn’t know how to balance it all.
He tried to care for Gong Sing without making Lin Wanqing feel neglected, but often the opposite happened, making the atmosphere between the two even more subtle. He often sat alone in the inn’s courtyard, staring into the night sky, filled with helplessness and confusion, unsure how to end this complex emotional entanglent.
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