What was he playing at now?
I did not look at him again, but I could hear his footsteps moving away, steady and unhurried as he went to get the water without saying anything more.
That alone was strange.
This was the same man who had stood in front of everyone and chosen to follow Wu Lian without hesitation, yet now he was quietly doing as I said, without argument and without pride.
I pressed the herbs a little harder than necessary before applying them to the wound in front of me.
Focus.
There was no need to think about him.
Not now.
A few moments later, his footsteps returned.
He set the water down beside us carefully.
"I brought enough," he said.
His voice was calm, as if nothing awkward had happened between us earlier.
I gave a small nod.
"Pour it," I said.
He did not hesitate.
He knelt slightly and did as I asked, holding the container steady while I cleaned another wound.
For a while, we worked in silence.
Liu Muyan glanced between us once, but she did not say anything, and Liu Ruyan only watched from the side with narrowed eyes before looking away again.
The injured villagers seemed more at ease now.
Some even relaxed as we treated them, their earlier fear slowly fading.
After finishing with one person, I stood up and moved to the next without pause.
Yan Mo followed quietly.
After a while, I stopped and finally turned to look at him.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
My voice was calm, but direct.
He met my gaze.
"I'm helping," he replied.
"That wasn't my question," I said.
He held my eyes for a moment before answering.
"…The situation there got worse," he said. "People were getting hurt, and no one was in control."
I watched him quietly.
"And Wu Lian?" I asked.
His expression changed slightly.
"She left with her brother," he said. "They said they would find another place and come back later."
I let out a faint scoff.
Of course.
I turned away.
"And you stayed," I said.
"Yes."
"Why?"
There was a short pause.
Then he answered simply.
"Because leaving them there would be wrong."
I did not respond immediately.
Instead, I picked up another set of herbs and continued working.
"So you came back," I said after a moment.
"Yes."
I nodded faintly.
"Then don't stand around," I said. "If you want to help, then do it properly."
There was no anger in my voice.
No softness either.
Just facts.
He gave a small nod.
"I understand."
And just like that, he continued.
I watched him for a brief second before looking away again.
Strange.
Very strange.
But I did not dwell on it.
The night continued quietly as more people were treated and settled.
The fires burned lower, and the forest grew colder as the wind moved softly through the trees.
Little by little, people began to sleep.
The children first.
Then the elders.
Then the rest.
Only a few remained awake, keeping watch.
When there was finally no one left to treat, Liu Muyan let out a tired breath.
"It's done," she said softly.
I stood up slowly.
"Then rest," I replied.
This time, she did not argue.
She nodded and moved to sit down beside Liu Ruyan.
I remained standing for a moment, looking over the area.
Everyone was safe.
For now.
Behind me, Yan Mo spoke again.
"You should rest too."
I did not turn.
"I'm fine."
"You're not," he said.
His voice was quiet, but firm.
I frowned slightly.
Before I could respond, he added,
"You were in pain earlier."
My body stilled for a brief second.
So he noticed.
I turned my head slightly and looked at him.
"That has nothing to do with you," I said.
He did not look away.
"I didn't say it did," he replied calmly.
"Then don't worry about it," I said.
A short silence followed.
Then he nodded.
"Alright... But as your husband I don't technically have a choice."
For a moment—
I thought I heard wrong.
My brows slowly pulled together as I turned fully to look at him, my expression clearly showing disbelief.
"Husband?" I repeated after a short scoff. "What husband?"
My voice was calm, but there was clear annoyance in it.
Yan Mo did not react to my tone.
He only looked at me steadily, as if he had expected this reaction.
"I'm still your husband," he said simply.
I stared at him for a second.
Then I let out a short, dry laugh.
"Is that so?"
I crossed my arms slightly, my eyes narrowing.
"Wasn't it you who chose to stand with someone else earlier?" I asked. "Wasn't it you who decided to follow Wu Lian without even thinking twice?"
He did not interrupt.
So I continued.
"And now, suddenly, you remember you're my husband?" I added.
My tone was not loud, but every word was clear.
The fire between us crackled softly, filling the silence that followed.
Yan Mo's expression did not change much, but there was a slight shift in his gaze.
"I didn't forget," he said.
"Really?" I replied immediately. "Because it looked like you did."
A brief silence stretched between us.
Then he spoke again.
"I made a choice based on what I thought was right at that time," he said calmly. "And I made another choice when I realized I was wrong."
His words were simple and direct.
I did not respond immediately.
Instead, I watched him quietly.
"So now you've changed your mind?" I asked.
"Yes."
I tilted my head slightly.
"And what makes you think that changes anything?" I asked.
He held my gaze.
"It doesn't change the past," he said. "But it changes what I do from now on."
I looked at him for a moment.
Then I let out a quiet breath and turned away.
"Do whatever you want," I said. "Just don't drag me into it."
My voice returned to its usual calm.
"Don't forget you dragged me into marrying you."