Seeing this, Yun Ming erupted with Soul Power beneath his feet. His figure flickered as he arrived behind Zhu Zhuqing, reaching out to wrap his arms around her waist and hold the extremely weak girl.
Falling into Yun Ming's embrace, Zhu Zhuqing felt his solid arms and warm chest. She recalled how he had stood up to Zhu Zhuyun for her sake, and for a moment, she even forgot to struggle. That was until she felt this person "getting handsy" with her. In truth, this "getting handsy" was merely Yun Ming trying to assess the state of the wound on her waist, but due to Zhu Zhuqing's "gifted" and explosive figure, his arm accidentally brushed against her.
Zhu Zhuqing began to struggle, her voice cold yet unable to hide her weakness as she resisted.
"Let go of me!"
However, Zhu Zhuqing was far too weak now; her struggle felt more like a coy refusal. Furthermore, having lost so much blood, her pale complexion only added a heart-wrenching, delicate beauty to her already stunning face. More importantly, her movement caused the wound on her waist to bleed even faster. Seeing this, Yun Ming used one hand to channel his Soul Power to suppress the bleeding while speaking earnestly.
"Stop moving! You're making the wound bleed worse!"
But when Zhu Zhuqing felt the warm, large hand placed on her waist, she struggled even more fiercely. Though to Yun Ming, it wasn't fierce at all—aside from letting him better appreciate her fine figure, it had no effect other than hindering his attempt to stop the bleeding. As she struggled, she kept muttering.
"What are you trying to do!"
"Stop!"
"..."
Seeing this, Yun Ming spoke with some urgency.
"I told you not to move!"
It was useless; Zhu Zhuqing still wouldn't listen.
Yun Ming was becoming agitated from being rubbed against by Zhu Zhuqing. Seeing the situation, he had no choice but to use the knowledge his Grandfather had taught him: when encountering a patient who refuses to cooperate with medical treatment, simply knock them out and proceed with the treatment.
Yun Ming then took out a packet of Datura anesthetic powder, attempting to knock Zhu Zhuqing out directly. But when Zhu Zhuqing saw that he was about to drug her, she hurriedly clamped her mouth shut. No matter what Yun Ming said, she simply refused to open it. He tried to feed it to her several times, but failed.
Yun Ming looked helplessly at the girl in his arms who was glaring at him with a "death before surrender" expression. He thought to himself, This is what you chose. With that thought, he channeled his Soul Power, carefully controlled his strength, and struck her with a single palm, knocking Zhu Zhuqing unconscious. The last thought in Zhu Zhuqing's mind before she fainted was, It's over. She then lost consciousness and stopped struggling.
Finally quiet, Yun Ming let out a long sigh.
The Phoenix Cry Ring on Yun Ming's hand flashed, and he laid a quilt on the ground, placing Zhu Zhuqing flat upon it. But the moment he set her down, his expression changed, for Zhu Zhuqing had lost so much blood that a large portion of Yun Ming's clothes was soaked through. Seeing this, he hurriedly began to treat her.
First, he performed emergency hemostasis, then pried open her bloodless little mouth to feed her a packet of Datura anesthetic powder, ensuring she wouldn't wake up during the treatment—which would not only hinder his work but also cause her unnecessary suffering.
Afterward, Yun Ming found a large tree in a suitable location, sprinkled some anti-snake and insect powder around it, and carried Zhu Zhuqing up. This was the Star Dou Great Forest; if he performed emergency treatment on the ground and a few Soul Beasts appeared mid-process, what would he do? It was too dangerous!
Once up in the tree, Yun Ming paused as he looked at the mangled, bloody wound on her waist. However, considering her current condition, he couldn't afford to be overly concerned with propriety. He hurriedly had Zhu Zhuqing lean against the tree trunk, then took out a dagger to cut away the blood-soaked clothing around her waist.
What followed was Yun Ming's serious medical procedure. The only two slightly "improper" aspects were the unavoidable glimpses of certain indescribable things during the treatment and the slight inconvenience of wrapping bandages around her waist while perched in a tree.
Fortunately, only a few ten-year Soul Beasts passed by during the treatment, and they were scared off the moment Yun Ming released his Absolute Dominance aura.
Half an hour later, Yun Ming had treated the largest wound on her waist. After finishing the bandages, and acting on the principle that since he was already treating her, he might as well finish the job, he began to handle the other various wounds on her body.
However, as he treated her, Yun Ming discovered that most of the small wounds on her body were likely scratches from vegetation while she was moving through the forest. The only four man-made wounds were superficial, especially the claw mark on her thigh; although the location was dangerous, it hadn't caused massive bleeding nor affected her mobility—it just looked severe.
Seeing these wounds, Yun Ming wondered how Zhu Zhuqing had managed to escape so far when there was such a vast disparity in their strength. He then recalled Zhu Zhuyun's fierce yet hollow performance during their standoff, the joy and relief mixed into her anger when she finally left, and the rules of the Star Luo Royal Family.
All these things combined made Yun Ming finally understand Zhu Zhuyun's true intention. Who would have thought! This blood-feud, seemingly sparked by a struggle for imperial power, was actually a sister sending her foolish younger sister away from a cage?!! Yun Ming looked at the unconscious Sleeping Beauty, Zhu Zhuqing, who was now wrapped up like a mummy, and whispered.
"You have a good sister who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside!"
After saying this, he glanced toward a shadow not too far away in the forest.
Withdrawing his gaze, he took a wide black robe from the Phoenix Cry Ring and draped it over Zhu Zhuqing, who had been turned into a beggar by his knife-work—there was no help for it, as the wounds were too scattered.
Then, Yun Ming carefully held Zhu Zhuqing, jumped down from the tree, found his direction, and headed toward the place where Yang Yi was absorbing his Soul Ring.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuyun, who had already walked out of the Star Dou Great Forest alone, looked back toward the direction she had come from. Her eyes held relief, heartache, and a hint of worry as she whispered.
"Zhuqing! Live well!"
"Don't return to Star Luo again, or the next time we sisters meet, we will truly have to fight to the death."
Before her voice faded, Zhu Zhuyun felt someone appear behind her and asked.
"A Tai, how is the Third Miss now?"
Hearing the Eldest Miss's question, the man called "A Tai" reported respectfully.
"Eldest Miss, that Ghost-Faced Man has already bandaged the Third Miss; she is temporarily out of danger!"
Because of the unique nature of A Tai's Martial Soul, combined with the fact that Yun Ming was too busy saving a life to pay him any mind, he had been able to witness the entire process and retreat safely!
Zhu Zhuyun pondered for a moment and decided to leave it at that for now. Originally, she had intended for A Tai to save Zhu Zhuqing at the moment of life and death, but with Yun Ming's appearance, she felt it wasn't bad—perhaps even better.
"Let this matter end here. You return to Star Luo first. Remember! No third person can know about this!"
A Tai accepted the order and left.
A few minutes after A Tai departed, she saw her subordinates walking out of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The two conscious guards saw their Eldest Miss and hurriedly saluted.
"Greetings, Eldest Miss!" x2
Zhu Zhuyun's expression had already returned to calm. She glanced at her Captain of the Guards and asked.
"How is Captain Lin?"
The Soul Elder with the longbow immediately responded respectfully upon hearing Zhu Zhuyun speak.
"Reporting to Eldest Miss, the Captain's Martial Soul is damaged; he is severely injured!"
"But fortunately, that Ghost-Faced Man held back, so there is no immediate threat to his life!"
Zhu Zhuyun nodded upon hearing this and issued her command.
"Let's go, back to Star Luo City!"
As she spoke, she lifted her long legs and took the lead, heading in the direction of Soul Hunting Town, with the two guards at her side hurrying to keep up.
The guard carrying his captain walked up to Zhu Zhuqing and whispered.
"Miss, about the Third Miss, what should we..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Zhu Zhuyun already understood what he meant.
"Let the matter regarding Zhu Zhuqing end here! Do not mention what happened today to anyone else; that Ghost-Faced Man is not simple!"
Upon hearing Zhu Zhuyun's words, the two guards immediately bowed their heads in agreement.
ps: Seeking monthly tickets, seeking recommendations.
Thanks to Lord Zhou Yao Bu Du Ye for the monthly ticket, and to all the readers for the recommendation tickets!!!
The monthly tickets have started, gotta commemorate this!!! Thanks again to everyone!!!
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader