“Be careful—”

Ji Xun’s alarmed cry came from behind.

Lu Tong’s heart tightened. In the critical moment, another sharp silver light suddenly appeared, deflecting the dagger tip by an inch. Immediately after, Lu Tong felt herself being pulled away. With a “bang,” a silver blade struck down the dagger’s forward thrust. Another cold gleam flashed, and the man on the ground let out a pained cry as the dagger along with half his wrist fell to the ground together.

Bright red blood immediately spattered across the white snow. Hearing the commotion outside, people inside rushed out to investigate.

The man on the ground was still struggling when a sharp silver blade was already pressed against his throat.

Pei Yunying protected her in his arms, coldly staring at the man on the ground, killing intent gathering in his eyes.

“Who sent you?”

The clerk clutched his severed hand, writhing on the ground.

A boot stepped on his wrist.

“Speak.”

“It’s the Grand Tutor! Grand Tutor sent me!”

The man on the ground finally couldn’t endure the severe pain and shouted: “The Grand Tutor told me to follow Lu Tong to Sunan and find an opportunity to kill her!”

Lu Tong was startled, and the surrounding guards and medical officials who had rushed out were also stunned.

Lu Tong lowered her eyes.

Several times before, she had indeed felt someone’s secret watching gaze, but the journey to Sunan had been peaceful for so long that later, even after carefully observing her surroundings, she hadn’t discovered anything amiss.

So it hadn’t been her imagination after all.

With Qi Yutai dead, she who remained alive was of no use to the Qi family. Moreover, for Qi Qing, mere suspicion was enough—no evidence was needed to act.

In Qi Qing’s eyes, she was a dead person, whether in Shengjing or Sunan.

Duan Xiaoyan glanced behind him. The patients from the pest house were gathered at the doorway watching. Fearing the patients might see such a bloody scene, Duan Xiaoyan looked at the man on the ground and asked: “My lord, how should we handle this?”

The silver blade returned to its sheath. Pei Yunying said: “Drag him away.”

He released Lu Tong and frowned as he examined her: “Are you injured?”

Lu Tong shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, her gaze suddenly fixed.

In the thick white snow covering the ground, drops of bright red were falling, blooming like flowers in the snow.

His silver blade had been returned to its sheath. Lu Tong’s gaze moved upward, falling on the left arm of the person before her.

The black-scaled guard uniform was gorgeous yet sturdy, with cold tones. Even when injured, it wasn’t clearly visible, but looking carefully, on his left arm there was a thin line where a blade had cut through, and blood was dripping from there.

“You’re injured?” she asked.

When the clerk had brandished the dagger at her earlier, it was Pei Yunying who had pulled her away. With the dagger so close, he had blocked a blow for her. If not for that, the blade should have pierced her heart.

Pei Yunying looked down briefly, saying unconcernedly: “Minor injury.”

He continued looking at her, his gaze examining her as if confirming she was truly unharmed.

Cai Fang and Li Wenhu came running from a distance. Seeing Duan Xiaoyan and the others dragging away the assassin, their expressions showed some panic: “How could thieves infiltrate the county office…”

“He came for me,” Lu Tong said. “It’s my fault.”

“This…” The two didn’t know about the affairs in Shengjing and looked at each other uncertainly.

Pei Yunying looked at Lu Tong.

“Since they came to kill you, there may be accomplices.” Pei Yunying said: “I’ll go interrogate him. You go back and rest first.” He then turned and called over a guard, ordering the guard to watch over her. Without concern for his left arm wound, he turned and left.

Lu Tong watched his retreating figure, her gaze falling on the snow before her.

The snow was a sheet of silver white, with the earlier dark red bloodstains flowing like a winding small river, shocking to behold.

She clenched her palms.

…

What had been a pleasant snow celebration was suddenly disrupted by such an incident, leaving everyone somewhat unsettled.

Lu Tong returned to the pest house, still changing medicine for people as usual, then went back to the lodgings to continue making medicine pouches.

As she worked, she became somewhat distracted.

With great revenge achieved and all deserving parties having paid with their lives, she had thought everything in this world was settled clearly. She had returned to Sunan to peacefully await death’s uncertain arrival, only to encounter Pei Yunying at this time.

Just like that promissory note written on the wall years ago—the debtor and debt collector, impossible to calculate clearly.

Thinking of the wound on Pei Yunying’s left arm when he left, irritation suddenly rose in her heart.

The medicine pouch was tightly gripped in her fingertips. Footsteps came from outside the door. Lu Tong raised her eyes as Duan Xiaoyan’s smiling face appeared at the window: “Medical Official Lu.”

Lu Tong paused.

The youth entered with light steps, naturally and familiarly sitting across from her. “We finished interrogating that person. I came to check on you.”

Lu Tong looked at him: “What was the result?”

“What result could there be? That old bastard surnamed Qi had his own son die and insisted on dragging others down with him. The moment you left Sunan, he sent people to follow and planned to take your life on the road. If my brother hadn’t had foresight, he would have found an opening.”

“Pei Yunying?”

“Yes,” Duan Xiaoyan said: “Brother Yunying guessed that old dog Qi definitely wasn’t harboring good intentions. So among the guards escorting the medical officials, he arranged his own people to be constantly vigilant. They watched very closely, so those people didn’t notice.”

“Later we also came, and with more people in Sunan, the assassins couldn’t find opportunities, so they became desperate.”

Duan Xiaoyan picked up a medicine pouch from the basket. “Don’t worry. The assassins all confessed—there were several hiding in Sunan city, and they’ve all been captured now. With the Qi family already fallen, no one will try to take your life anymore.”

Lu Tong remained silent, only staring at the small basket. After a moment, she asked: “How is his injury?”

Duan Xiaoyan blinked, seeming to just realize Lu Tong was referring to Pei Yunying taking a blade to his left arm while saving her. He slapped the table and exclaimed: “Oh my, quite serious! When we were interrogating the criminal earlier, his face was pale as a ghost—he nearly fainted.”

Lu Tong said calmly: “Palace Guard escorts shouldn’t be so weak. Besides, I saw his wound—it’s not as serious as you describe.”

The youth’s eyes rolled: “Medical Official Lu, you’re being somewhat blind here. My brother was quelling rebellion in Qishui earlier, facing swords and blades daily—that’s no easy task. Once the military chaos was settled, he immediately rushed to Sunan with medicine and grain without rest. Such toil had already weakened him, and now being injured on top of that is adding insult to injury.”

“He’s injured—won’t you go see him?”

Without waiting for Lu Tong’s answer, Duan Xiaoyan grinned again: “Actually, I came to find you precisely for this matter. My brother finished interrogating and returned to his lodgings. Medical Director Chang is busy at the pest house and asked me to find a medical official to bandage Brother Yunying’s wound. I saw everyone else couldn’t spare time, but fortunately you’re here. Medical Official Lu, I’ve placed the bandaging medicine and cloth strips outside the door. After all, my brother was injured because of you, and your medical skills are so excellent—I’m at ease entrusting him to you.”

He stood up and tossed the medicine pouch back into the basket. “I still have official duties, so I’ll head out first.”

Having said this, without waiting for Lu Tong to speak, he darted out like he was fleeing.

He ran very quickly. By the time Lu Tong tried to call him back, it was too late. After a moment of silence, she set down the medicine pouch in her hands and walked outside. On the stone table in the courtyard was indeed a medicine tray with clean water, cloth strips, and some wound medicine.

She walked to the stone table and sighed slightly in her heart, ultimately picking up the medicine tray.

…

The guards’ lodgings were very close to the medical officials’ quarters.

Also for protecting the medical officials, Cai Fang had specifically found two adjacent residences.

The guards were currently out with Cai Fang, leaving no one else in the courtyard.

When Qing Feng saw Lu Tong, surprise flashed in his eyes. Upon seeing the wound medicine she carried, he understood and stepped aside, pushing open the door for Lu Tong.

Lu Tong entered, and the door closed behind her.

The room was dark with no windows opened. Sunan’s winter day was gloomy—even daytime felt like evening. A bit of candlelight burned on the table, and in the flickering flame, a human silhouette was faintly visible behind a screen.

Hearing the door open, the other party didn’t move.

Lu Tong carried the medicine tray inside. After rounding the screen before her, she saw a tall figure sitting with his back to her at the table, wearing only a black inner robe, turning to remove his clothing down to his shoulder, exposing a bleeding wound on his left arm.

Clean water and wound medicine sat on the table—it seemed he had planned to apply medicine himself.

Sensing someone approaching, he said: “Get out.”

Lu Tong set down the medicine tray.

He frowned slightly and looked up, immediately stunned.

“Duan Xiaoyan asked me to come apply medicine for you,” Lu Tong said.

Pei Yunying looked at her without speaking.

Lu Tong raised her eyes, indicating he should lower his arm. After he lowered his arm, she reached out to remove Pei Yunying’s clothing.

When her fingertips touched his bare skin, both paused briefly. Soon, Lu Tong collected her thoughts and stripped away his outer garment.

The clothing was completely removed, exposing the youth’s bare upper body. His physique was tall and solid. From years of martial practice, his muscular lines were distinct, with flowing contours like a beautiful hunting leopard, possessing a sense of coiled power.

Lu Tong had seen many people’s bodies.

Men, women, elderly, children, living, dead. As Lin Danqing had said, physicians were accustomed to seeing patients’ bodies. She had even seen Pei Yunying bare-chested before, yet at this moment, a trace of very light discomfort suddenly flashed through her heart, making her movements in taking medicine less practiced than usual.

This slight awkwardness was caught by Pei Yunying.

He glanced at her, paused, then suddenly spoke: “Why don’t you dare look at me?”

Lu Tong’s hand gripping the cloth tightened, her tone remaining calm: “Lord Pei is overthinking.”

She lowered her head speaking thus, her expression as composed and unruffled as always, yet she simply wouldn’t look into his eyes.

Pei Yunying lowered his gaze to watch her movements.

Lu Tong used the cloth to clean the wound on his arm. The assassin’s wound wasn’t deep—he had avoided it very timely. She took the medicine bottle and applied ointment to his wound, then selected a clean white silk to bandage him.

Throughout the process, neither spoke. Outside the window, wind and snow were silent except for the occasional crisp sound of heavy snow breaking tree branches.

In the silence, Lu Tong felt that gaze from above falling on her, burning and impossible to ignore.

No charcoal brazier burned in the room. With Sunan’s resource shortage, warming items were prioritized for the pest house and Sunan’s common people. Though it was a cold winter day, Lu Tong felt her cheeks growing somewhat hot.

“Since I arrived in Sunan, you’ve been avoiding me.”

Pei Yunying’s voice came from above.

“What are you afraid of? Do you think I’ll keep pestering you?”

Lu Tong was startled and looked up, meeting his gaze directly.

His tone was very light, his expression also bland. That handsome face wasn’t like its usual witty and amiable self. Lin Danqing had privately asked her several times whether something unknown had happened between her and Pei Yunying, making this reunion seem particularly distant.

She deliberately avoided Pei Yunying, and Pei Yunying also made no attempt to approach her, like two unfamiliar strangers maintaining a cold distance.

Lu Tong didn’t answer his question, only asking: “Why send people to protect me in Sunan?”

He looked at her for a while, then looked away: “Just convenient.”

“I’m the one who made you miss the chance to personally take revenge on Qi Qing,” he said. “I should be responsible to the end.”

Lu Tong remained silent.

He always spoke of these matters so lightly.

Lu Tong’s gaze fell on his chest again: “These injuries are from Qishui?”

His body bore many new scars—fresh and fierce—alongside that clumsy, crude wound from years ago, leaving marks on the hunting leopard’s body.

Pei Yunying glanced down unconcernedly: “Nearly healed.”

Lu Tong lowered her head.

She had heard Cai Fang and Li Wenhu speak of Pei Yunying’s prowess in quelling rebellion in Qishui. They had countless times praised his brave fighting before the medical officials, but Lu Tong understood that the Qishui rebel army had caused trouble for so long, and previous attempts at suppression had failed—it definitely wasn’t an easy task.

Looking now, it must have been very difficult.

Pei Yunying looked down at her for a moment, then suddenly spoke: “Are you worried about me?”

Without waiting for Lu Tong to speak, he said lightly: “In what capacity are you worried now? As a medical official, or something else?”

Lu Tong’s throat tightened.

Gripping the cloth strip without loosening, she felt as if she had been seen through in an instant. She couldn’t stay here another moment longer—if she remained, with the other party’s intelligence, it would be hard not to discover the truth.

She stood up and placed the medicine bottle on the table.

“Your wound is bandaged. I’ll leave the ointment here. Tonight, change it once more yourself,” she said. “I’ll send medicinal soup over later.”

Having said this, she bent down to pick up the water basin from the table and prepared to leave.

Pei Yunying watched Lu Tong.

Her tone was very calm, yet she didn’t know how flustered her steps were.

Lu Tong had become much thinner than when in Shengjing—perhaps from being too overworked treating the plague. Her originally small frame now looked even more frail, her complexion very pale. The gray-blue cotton robe made her look like a small animal about to freeze, about to fall into deep sleep in this cruel, harsh, heavy snow.

His heart stirred, and he couldn’t help calling: “Lu Tong.”

She stopped: “Does Lord Pei have other instructions?”

Howling northern snow, vast heavenly wind—the long, broad cold outside sobered one somewhat.

He looked at her for a long time, then said: “Nothing.”

…

Lu Tong returned to her lodgings.

On the table, the unfinished medicine pouches had been taken from the medicine basket. With no one in the room, she sat by the window.

The window faced the small courtyard. In the flying cold snow, Falling Plum Peak’s silhouette was visible in the distance. In the cold forest, hints of bright red could be glimpsed.

Lu Tong was slightly lost in thought.

Falling Plum Peak’s red plum blossoms always bloomed well—the heavier the snow, the more vibrant they became, with full branches of brilliant color. In the past, she would always sit beneath the trees, learning from Yunniang’s example. The icy branches and crimson snow always brought tranquility, and even the most troubled mood could find peace here.

Today, however, she couldn’t calm down no matter what.

Some things, it seemed, couldn’t be completely controlled as she thought, nor could they be cut off cleanly with one stroke. Like endless willow catkins, they grew again after being severed, continuing without end.

Her nasal cavity suddenly felt itchy, as if tiny insects were crawling out from inside.

Lin Danqing entered from outside carrying her medical box, smiling: “Today’s light snow, the medicinal soup Commander Pei sent was excellent. I just went to check the pest house—everyone’s spirits are much better. Let’s also drink some later…”

“Clang—” came a sound.

Lin Danqing’s medical box fell with the sound as she looked at her in shock: “Lu Meimei, why are you having a nosebleed!”

Lu Tong looked down in confusion and couldn’t help being startled.

Bright red, piercing color was dripping from her nose tip.

Drop after drop.

Like the brilliant red plum blossoms on Falling Plum Peak, delicate crimson gradually staining her dress.