Zhou Qingmei fainted just like that, catching Fang Shuwen completely off guard.
He quickly caught her and looked around. Their fight—Zhou Qingmei's and the black-robed man's—had taken them away from the Lake Heart Cottage.
He picked Zhou Qingmei up and started walking toward the Lake Heart Cottage.
But before leaving, he delivered another kick to the black-robed man's head.
When he used to read novels, he had always detested characters who didn't finish off their enemies.
If you don't kill a snake, it will come back to harm you. Fang Shuwen had no intention of leaving behind any future trouble.
The Lake Heart Cottage was on a Lake Heart Island. The island wasn't large and was connected to the shore by a wooden bridge.
Carrying Zhou Qingmei, he entered the Lake Heart Cottage. It was tranquil and silent inside.
After finding a room and settling her down, he started rummaging through chests and cupboards for medicine.
Zhou Qingmei had both internal and external injuries. Her internal injuries needed to be treated by regulating her Inner Strength, but as for her external wounds, he had to quickly find medicine to stop the bleeding and bandage them.
Otherwise, even if her internal injuries healed, she would bleed to death.
Fang Shuwen had, after all, worked as an odd-jobber in an apothecary for six or seven years. Although he had never formally studied medicine, he had absorbed enough through observation to make finding some hemostatic and regenerative herbs a relatively simple task.
His luck was pretty good. He didn't find the raw medicinal herbs, but he did find some ready-made Golden Wound Medicine.
But looking at Zhou Qingmei lying on the daybed, he found himself in a difficult position.
However, he only hesitated for less than three seconds before starting to undo the Jade Belt at her waist.
It was a matter of life and death; any more hesitation would be overly sentimental.
Besides, there were no nosy onlookers with smartphones around, so he didn't have to worry about being filmed and cyberbullied online.
He applied the Golden Wound Medicine and bandaged her wounds.
He then dressed her again before helping her up from the daybed and having her sit cross-legged.
He then sat behind Zhou Qingmei, channeled the Muscle Strengthening Scripture Divine Technique, and placed a palm on her back.
The Muscle Strengthening Scripture Divine Technique was profound and mysterious, possessing healing properties of its own.
Fang Shuwen understood this Cultivation Technique completely, and its methods were at his fingertips.
The Inner Strength that had injured Zhou Qingmei seemed rather strange, but the moment it came into contact with the Muscle Strengthening Scripture Divine Technique, it was like spring snow meeting the scorching sun—vanishing in an instant.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he withdrew his Inner Breath, laid Zhou Qingmei down to rest, and went out of the room to sit guard outside the door.
He stood guard for the entire night.
When Zhou Qingmei opened her eyes, dawn was already breaking in the east, and the morning light streamed in through the window.
If not for the pain from her external wounds that flared up from time to time, the moment might have felt truly peaceful and serene.
She sat up in bed, letting out a muffled groan.
Looking at the fine cloth bandages on her body, she frowned slightly.
She looked around the room but saw no sign of Fang Shuwen. She got off the daybed, walked slowly to the door, and pushed it open. She saw Fang Shuwen sitting on the ground, cross-legged, seemingly cultivating his Inner Strength.
For a moment, Zhou Qingmei wasn't sure if she should disturb him, but then she heard Fang Shuwen speak softly:
"How are you feeling?"
Zhou Qingmei circulated her Inner Breath slightly, a flicker of surprise in her eyes:
"My internal injuries are already fine.
"Was it you who used your energy to heal me and who bandaged my wounds?"
"There's no third person here at the Lake Heart Cottage."
Fang Shuwen sprang to his feet, turned his head, and smiled.
"Young Miss, are you more bothered that I bandaged you, or that I used my energy to heal you?"
His attitude was somewhat cavalier, and Zhou Qingmei usually had no patience for such people.
But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to feel any revulsion now. She just pressed her lips together lightly.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
Fang Shuwen was taken aback.
"Home."
Zhou Qingmei was clearly in a hurry, grabbing Fang Shuwen and pulling him along.
As Fang Shuwen was involuntarily dragged along, he said:
"It's so early. We should at least eat something before we head out..."
How could Zhou Qingmei possibly be thinking about food?
One after the other, she and Fang Shuwen returned to Julu City and headed straight for the Zhou Residence.
The great fire from the previous night had nearly burned the entire Zhou Family estate to the ground.
Now, the area was surrounded by gawking onlookers, pointing and whispering.
The two of them found an inconspicuous corner and vaulted into the courtyard. Bodies were scattered everywhere inside, most of them burned beyond recognition.
Zhou Qingmei's heart sank at the sight. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and pulled Fang Shuwen in a different direction.
When they arrived, Fang Shuwen recognized the place: it was the Zhou Family's ancestral hall.
Zhou Qingmei opened a hidden door with practiced ease and led the way down a passage. But the place where the secret room should have been was now empty.
Only a letter was left on the table.
Zhou Qingmei spotted it immediately, hurriedly opened it, and let out a sigh of relief after reading it.
"What does it say?"
Fang Shuwen was a little curious.
Zhou Qingmei said:
"This letter is from my father. It says they've temporarily left Julu City. He didn't specify their destination because he was worried their opponents might find this place.
"He just told me not to worry…
"Thanks to your help last night, the Zhou Family escaped disaster. The fire could have been controlled, but it was intentionally allowed to burn the residence down to throw our enemies off the scent."
"That Eldest Master Zhou really is meticulous."
Fang Shuwen leaned against the table and looked at Zhou Qingmei.
"Alright, since they've all left, you have fewer worries holding you back.
"Now, we should have a proper talk about the current situation.
"It's the same question as yesterday: who exactly did you offend?
"Do you have any suspicions?"
Zhou Qingmei pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Half a month ago, in Guangning City, I happened to encounter a Flower Thief out at night.
"I saw a man in black leap out of a wealthy family's home, carrying a girl on his shoulder.
"I intervened and rescued the girl. I wanted to pursue and kill the Flower Thief, but I couldn't just abandon the girl, so I had to give up.
"I never expected that ever since then, I've had the feeling of being watched.
"But whenever I investigated closely, I found no trace of anyone.
"After a few days, the feeling disappeared.
"At the time, I was on my way home to visit family and was eager to return, so I didn't look into it too deeply.
"But it was because of this lingering worry that I didn't tell anyone I was coming back. I stayed alone at the Lake Heart Cottage to avoid being seen and to prevent bringing trouble to my family.
"Thinking back on it now, I'm afraid last night's disaster was a direct consequence of what happened that night."
"Guangning City…"
Hearing those words, Fang Shuwen felt a sense of disorientation.
He had been too young when he was born. Even with an adult soul in his body, he was often in a daze. A toddler's body, after all, is weak and could not support long periods of wakefulness; babies need copious amounts of sleep.
But during his lucid moments, he had heard his parents mention the name 'Guangning City'.
From the way they spoke, it seemed as if they lived in that city.
But Guangning City and Julu City were very far apart. It would take even a True Disciple from a famous sect like Zhou Qingmei, using her Lightweight Technique, the better part of half a month to make the journey.
Back then, it would have been impossible for Fang Shuwen to travel such a long distance by himself.
Hearing those words from Zhou Qingmei's lips now, he couldn't help but feel a little complicated.