章 18: Chapter 18 Living Yama
She couldn't help herself and hugged Xixi's petite body, gently caressing her soft little face, her eyes slightly moist as she sincerely praised, "Thank you, my dear Xixi, you're such a well-behaved, thoughtful child."
Even though it was late into the night, Su Yu didn't truly go to bathe; she didn't want to disturb Jiang Ziling, who was already worn out, or Xixi, who had fallen asleep.
After a simple wash-up, she tiptoed into bed with Xixi.
Xixi seemed to have exhausted all her energy; as soon as her head touched the pillow, she fell deeply asleep, a satisfied smile still lingering on her lips as if she was having a beautiful dream.
Su Yu watched Xixi's peaceful sleeping face in silence, her heart full of emotion and warmth.
That night, she not only found her way back home in the mountains, but she also found the purest kindness and warmth in Jiang Ziling and her daughter.
She knew she would forever remember this night, the selfless help from strangers, and the deep emotion that the little girl named Xixi had given her.
The night sky was low, the moonlight hazy, and the room was quiet, save for the faint candlelight flickering in a corner, casting the silhouettes of Su Yu and Jiang Ziling.
At that moment, Su Yu keenly noticed Jiang Ziling, with his back to her, quietly pounding his thigh with his fist, though he was trying to control the force, attempting not to let the faint sound disturb the tranquil night. Yet, his shadow, slightly trembling with the movement, couldn't escape Su Yu's sharp eyes.
"Ziling, does your leg hurt?"
Su Yu asked with concern, her voice like a breeze over the lake's surface, gentle yet carrying undeniable worry.
Upon hearing her words, Jiang Ziling's furrowed brows revealed a hint of pain, but he still endured it, trying to keep his voice calm as he responded, "It's just a bit of pain, it doesn't matter."
However, Su Yu was already well aware of his extraordinary tolerance; she knew that unless the pain was unbearable, Jiang Ziling would never easily show any discomfort.
Without hesitation, she sat up and said with determination in her eyes, "Go lie down on the bed, don't push yourself."
Her tone was firm and beyond questioning, as if it was an order that couldn't be resisted.
Jiang Ziling felt her commanding force and, truly tortured by the pain in his leg, he silently complied, slowly moving to the bed and lying down quietly.
Su Yu sat at the foot of the bed, her delicate fingers gently covering Jiang Ziling's scar-ridden leg, and began rhythmically massaging it.
As she kneaded, she said softly, "This leg of yours already had an old injury, and today you walked such a long distance over the mountain roads. The cold combined with fatigue naturally intensified the pain."
She accurately located the Yangjiao Acupoint, the Outer Qiu Acupoint, and the Guangming Acupoint, applying just the right amount of pressure each time.
Beneath her fingertips, the acupoints seemed to be activated, a warm current slowly spreading from Jiang Ziling's leg, and the pain receded like a tide.
Jiang Ziling closed his eyes, savoring this long-lost comfort, his gratitude and dependence on Su Yu intertwining in his heart, making him feel somewhat shy, so he chose to remain silent.
Meanwhile, Su Yu, despite her expressionless face, had eyes that revealed traces of fatigue.
She continued the massage in silence, letting sweat slide down her temples, dropping on her clothing, leaving faint damp marks.
The room was filled with a stillness so tangible that it seemed even the dropping of an embroidery needle could be clearly heard.
In this silence, Su Yu suddenly caught a barely perceptible sob. The sound was weak but enough to arouse her curiosity.
She turned to look at Jiang Ziling, her eyes alight with anticipation, "Is Fang Qin crying? Could it be that Jiang Youfu has had an accident?"
Jiang Ziling shook his head slightly, his voice tinged with helplessness, "He's seriously injured, I heard several bones are broken, and there's a wound on his head too. The doctor has treated him and told him to rest at home. Whether he can get through this or not is up to fate now."
Su Yu continued to inquire, "What about Lady Zhao? She hasn't troubled you, has she?"
Jiang Ziling shook his head again, a glint of severity flashing in his eyes, "She was also frightened into fainting and was sent back home with Jiang Youfu in an oxcart."
Su Yu nodded slightly, pondering to herself.
She understood that although Lady Zhao had not appeared today, she would most certainly take action tomorrow.
To deal with such a cunning and deep-minded enemy, one must prepare early.
Jiang Ziling seemed to sense her thoughts and promised with determination, "Don't worry, I am here for everything. I will never let Lady Zhao harm you in the slightest."
Su Yu was somewhat surprised by the change in Jiang Ziling.
The once submissive man was now displaying an unprecedented resolve and courage.
Despite being flooded with emotions, she knew this was a positive change.
When facing a sneaky and devious opponent, only by fighting back with bravery can they be made to understand that no one is an easy target.
She feigned relaxation, a faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth, and teased, "Do you think she can hurt me?"
Jiang Ziling responded with a solemn expression and meaningful tone, "The ancients say, it's hard to guard against a thief every day. Living under the same roof as her, we better be careful."
Jiang Ziling was well aware of Lady Zhao's doting on Jiang Youfu, and now that Jiang Youfu had suffered such a harsh blow, the anger and resentment in Lady Zhao's heart was surely burning fiercely, especially towards Su Yu, the "chief culprit" in her eyes, who she would probably hate even more.
Therefore, his protectiveness towards Su Yu grew even stronger.
Su Yu agreed completely.
Facing such a calculating and ruthless enemy, one's guard must never be let down.
What she needed to do was not only defend but also make Lady Zhao completely abandon any thoughts against her, letting her know that this seemingly fragile woman was actually a formidable "living Yama."
"Mm, I will be careful."
Su Yu responded softly, yawning lazily, but inside she felt a pang of regret.
Without the help of silver needles, using just her delicate hands to ease the severe pain was naturally incomparable to the effects she achieved normally.
She knew that to grant Jiang Ziling's injured leg some relief tonight would require at least half an hour of meticulous kneading.
Jiang Ziling gazed at Su Yu's tired yet resolute eyes, feeling boundless gratitude and tenderness welling up in his heart.
He knew that persuading Su Yu to rest was futile, as her stubborn kindness and tenacity were already deeply imprinted in his heart.
So, he could only say softly, "You have worked hard."
Though the words were brief, they contained silent gratitude and a resigned sigh towards fate.
The night deepened, candlelight flickering, illuminating Su Yu's focused and weary face.
Her slender fingers moved slowly over Jiang Ziling's leg, as if playing a silent song of comfort on piano keys.
Time seemed to freeze in this moment, with only those busy hands still silently conveying warmth and strength.
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