Chapter 452: Old Married Couple

Chapter 452: An Old Married Couple

As it turned out, Zhao Changhe thought his line was quite impressive, but Yue Hongling’s reaction was: “What does ‘husband’ mean? My lord?”

“Mm-hmm, my lady knight sure has some insight.”

“How are you my husband? Have we married?”

“Hey? We’ve done that, and look at us now.”

“Still not married, little brother.” Yue Hongling leisurely traced circles on his chest: “Big sister here roams the jianghu, gets lonely sometimes, and you caught my eye—a night of passion. Count yourself lucky and don’t get any ideas.”

Zhao Changhe was caught between laughter and tears: “I see you’ve recovered a bit from your injuries, and now you’re tough after pulling up your pants, huh?”

Yue Hongling pouted almost imperceptibly, half yes, half no.

She had indeed thought of it as a “one-night stand”—what woman wandering the world would think of settling down? When feelings sparked beyond the frontier, they just did it; why be coy? Afterward, she’d leave gracefully with no attachments.

But the ripples in her heart just now couldn’t be denied—warm, soft, she truly enjoyed having him by her side, caring for her. In her weakness, she leaned on him, and when he asked, “Are you Zhao Changhe’s?” she’d instinctively said “yes.”

Truth be told, after roaming the jianghu so long, had she ever thought of him?

Yes… In times of crisis, his shadow always rose in her heart.

She’d always wonder, where is he… If he were here, fighting side by side, would she not be so weary?

Was that still being unattached?

But this little man had practically grown up before her eyes—from a clueless kid who knew no martial arts to someone now dominating the jianghu. Before him, that big-sister feeling just wouldn’t fade.

Next time we meet on the road, what will you call me?

Call me little girl? Clingy? His? My husband?

How strange…

Yue Hongling no longer knew her true feelings; anyway, thinking about it was mortifying. She’d salvage her pride first: “Little brother always wants to be on top now, calling me little girl—think you’re so tough you can beat me?”

Unfortunately, Zhao Changhe, who ran into tsunderes everywhere, was immune to this routine.

Seeing that the young lady had regained her strength and started talking tough, Zhao Changhe cheerfully whispered in her ear: “Yes, yes, I can’t beat you, sister. Then our gallant and straightforward Lady Yue, who keeps her word, does what she said before still count?”

Yue Hongling stiffened her neck: “What did I say?”

“If I, searching on my own, end up finding my way to you, what position do we unlock? Was it that side-lying one just now… oh crap, how can you twist your waist too…”

“Too?” Yue Hongling smirked.

Zhao Changhe: “…”

“See? What husband? Whose husband?”

“…” Damn, that slip of the tongue.

But Yue Hongling didn’t press; she smiled and whispered: “So, having a sister like me who enjoys romance without clinging—isn’t that what men want most? I don’t care who you’re husband to.”

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment and shook his head: “No.”

Yue Hongling was startled, lifting her head from his shoulder to look at him.

Zhao Changhe said seriously: “Really, I just don’t want to tie you down… Sunset Red Feather, not to be caged. I’m waiting for the day you get tired.”

Yue Hongling wanted to say, if that day comes, do you really think I’d still be so carefree and not pick fights?

But she didn’t want to say it now, as if admitting she had such expectations too. So she grumbled: “Sounds nice, but you just want to play around with all sorts of positions, like that side-lying one…”

Zhao Changhe asked: “So, do you keep your word or not?”

Yue Hongling turned away in annoyance: “Fine, come on, consider it a dog bite.”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but laugh, pulling her up from behind: “Alright, my flavorous lady knight, you need a bath.”

“I’m protected by qi, I don’t stink!” Yue Hongling fumed, but before she finished, she felt herself lifted by the waist and plopped into warm water.

She tried to struggle, but Zhao Changhe stood by the tub, pressing her shoulders: “Don’t move. I added medicine to this water—it disinfects, cleans your wounds to prevent infection. This stuff counts as poison resistance, not something your qi can fully block…”

Yue Hongling didn’t know if he was telling the truth; now that he’d inexplicably learned medicine and looked like a doctor, she supposed she should listen to the doctor…

Then she watched as his big hands reached into the water, peeling and stripping the lady knight into a white sheep.

Yue Hongling: “…”

When she looked up, Zhao Changhe’s eyes were clearly filled with concern.

Yue Hongling glanced down at herself—scars everywhere, old and new. The old ones had faded after the True Martial Sword Stone’s cleansing; with continued care, they could vanish completely, but before they cleared, new marks appeared.

Yue Hongling suddenly felt embarrassed.

His other beauties were probably prettier than her.

Like Sisi, truly jade-like, not like her rough hands and feet.

Zhao Changhe stood behind, slowly washing her, his hands gliding over the scars, tingling. Yue Hongling couldn’t help but say: “I’ll do it myself, why do you have to wash me…”

Zhao Changhe said: “Be good, this is our new position.”

Yue Hongling was at a loss, frozen as his hands roamed.

She thought he was just playing, but slowly she sensed something off… His palms seemed to emit a strange heat, as if running a peculiar technique. As they passed over scars, she clearly felt an itching sensation—signs of wounds healing rapidly.

Yue Hongling looked in surprise; indeed, the shallower scars were visibly disappearing, skin becoming smooth and delicate again.

“You… what kind of magic is this?” she couldn’t help asking.

“When I carried you back, didn’t you feel especially comfortable?”

“…” She’d been unconscious then; who could notice much? She only felt better than expected upon waking, thought it was the medicine’s effect, but he had magic?

“This…” Yue Hongling cautiously glanced back at his face, hesitated, then asked: “Does it cost you a lot?”

A bit… The Revival Art didn’t drain qi but mental energy; back when he treated San Niang’s tiny scratch, he got dizzy. He’d improved, but this large-scale treatment was still taxing. Of course, Zhao Changhe wasn’t just doing it for his woman’s beauty—what he said earlier was true: cleaning wounds to prevent infection, smoothing scars was just a bonus.

Seeing Zhao Changhe struggling to answer, Yue Hongling said softly: “Why don’t you remove the scar on your own face?”

“I’m used to it; actually, this scar looks pretty cool.”

“Flatter yourself, you stinky bear.”

Zhao Changhe laughed: “But if I removed it, wouldn’t you all suspect this Zhao Changhe is an impostor?”

Yue Hongling thought it possible and couldn’t help smiling: “Since you don’t care about looking better, I don’t need to either. Why waste your energy…”

Zhao Changhe finally laughed too: “Didn’t I already say, this body is mine.”

Yue Hongling pursed her lips and didn’t argue anymore.

In this scene, with those words, it really seemed like he was casually playing with her, touching everywhere… But Yue Hongling knew it wasn’t so; his mind wasn’t on that now.

The trouble was, her mind was.

Wherever his hand passed, the feeling…

In the warm water, the lady knight’s body turned almost crimson, trembling slightly, legs crossing left over right, right over left, never comfortable.

But as an old married couple, it really didn’t matter…

Outside, the sky gradually darkened completely, and faint moans came from the tent.

Sisi: “…”

The young girls of the clan watched their saintess's expression as if she had eaten shit, and ventured to ask, "S-Sainte..."

"He has nothing to do with me, nothing! Do you hear me? Stop looking at me like that! Oh, by the way, I actually have a grudge against him. I'm just playing along for now. When I get the chance, I'll kill him. What do you know..."

"Oh..." The girls shrank back and fell silent.

Sisi paced back and forth a few steps, then gritted her teeth and asked, "Any news from outside?"

As soon as she spoke, a clansman hurried in and reported urgently, "Sainte, the Black Miao are urgently searching for Yue Hongling, along with those sword-wielding Xia people. But most tribes aren't buying it, saying the assassination of the Pacification Commissioner is none of their damn business. There have been several armed clashes."

Sisi nodded slightly. "That's the effect... The spark that could have united the tribes is gone. Let's see what tricks the Black Miao can still pull."

"Sainte! Sainte!" Another clansman rushed over. "Lei Ao has come with his men, claiming to be looking for Yue Hongling."

Sisi sneered. "Ambush the mountain path, set up poison traps. Who gave Lei Ao the face to invade our tribe on some flimsy excuse?"

The clansmen looked at their saintess with strange expressions. For others, it might be an excuse, but you are clearly harboring Yue Hongling. How can you be so righteous, acting as if you even believe it yourself...

Come to think of it, the object of your gnashing teeth—is it directed at Lei Ao or at that adulterous pair in the tent? It feels like it would be better to let Lei Ao search out that Yue Hongling. Before she appeared, you were all smiles and so happy... Now what is this? Others are having a secret affair inside, and you're standing guard for them, aren't you?

"Sainte! Sainte! Lei Ao has broken in!"

Sisi furrowed her delicate brows.

Strange. He actually dares to force his way in? Who gave Lei Ao the courage to provoke the tribes? Shi Wuding?

Without time to think further, Sisi strode toward the stockade gate. "Everyone follow me! Whoever dares to trespass, kill without mercy!"