User2

The next day Meng Mei found herself sneaking into Zhong Jiayi’s medical tent to steal some salve. She’d use her own pot but Madam Meirong was the one who applied it to her face each night. She’d noticed if there was suddenly a lot more missing.

Meng Mei was left on her own once again at midday so she slipped off into the forest to meet Lai Huang.

He was crouched in the same spot as yesterday except this time he was washing bed sheets and not pots and pans.

Once again, Meng Mei stepped on a twig to announce her presence and once again Lai Huang almost jumped out of his skin.

When he turned to see that it was just her standing there his shoulders tensed up.

“Guniang, you came back.” He said stiffly as he moved to rise so he could bow in greeting once again.

“Ah! Wait!” Meng Mei hurried to stop him. She needed him to stay by the water today if she had any hope of applying this salve.

Lai Huang froze in place.

Meng Mei hurried over to where he was and pulled the small bottle of salve out of her pocket. Lai Huang’s eyes widened at this sight of the medicine.

“I brought something for your…eye.” Meng Mei said lamely. He didn’t move for a long moment.

“I’m sorry guniang but I can’t accept this.” He shook his head, he was unwilling to meet her eyes.

“Fine. Then don’t.” Meng Mei shrugged. Lai Huang immediately looked relieved. That was until she dropped to her knees next to him.

“Guniang you shouldn’t—!”

Meng Mei cut him off by splashing water in his face.

He gaped at her in shock as the water dripped down his face. Even just that splash of water did so much for him. Suddenly Meng Mei could actually make out what his skin looked like.

“Guniang what—”

Meng mei cut him off with another splash of water.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m attacking you.” Meng Mei replied evenly. He just blinked at her in shock, not comprehending her actions.

Meng Mei rolled her eyes and pulled out the dish washing cloth she’d nabbed from the kitchen tent this morning. She leaned forward and started roughly scrubbing the dirt from his face. He tried to lean away from her but she stopped him.

“Don’t move!” She ordered him.

Obediently he froze in place and let Meng Mei continue her rough handling.

Once the cloth was brown she pulled it away from his face. The sight of Lai Huang’s clean face was almost enough to freeze her in place.

He was even more noble looking than she’d been able to make out that day in the tent. He also looked so much like Zhong Shoushan, it was crazy. The only things that marked him as different from everyone else was his hair and the tattoo on his cheek.

The tattoo was a permanent mark of his life debt to Zhong Shoushan. The design was simple, just three interlocking circles under his left eye. But he’d never be able to escape the YuHu sect as long as that mark stayed on his face.

It was a permanent reminder of who he belonged to.

Usually servants didn’t get such markings unless they had committed some crime and were ordered to never leave their master’s side. The only crime Lai Huang had committed however, was just the crime of being born.

Meng Mei shook off her musings. Lai Huang was still sitting stock still in front of her. SHe had to act fast before he decided that he wouldn’t take this treatment anymore.

With just as much force as before, she started applying the salve to the wounded area. It went on as a thick green paste and smelled horrible. But it would reduce his bruising.

Lai Huang didn’t move until she decided that she was done with him.

“There!” She announced proudly. “All fixed up!”

“Guniang shouldn’t have.” He murmured sheepishly. Meng waved him off.

“It wasn’t fair that me and Zhong Changming got fussed over while you didn’t.” She shrugged. “I hope your eyes starts feeling better.”

Lai Huang looked away from her in embarrassment. She just shrugged and accepted that she’d probably done all she could do today.

“Well. I should be heading back.” SHe sighed as she stood and started brushing off the bottom of her hanfu. Some dirt had gotten on it as she sat on the ground next to Lai Huang.

“I won’t be able to come tomorrow since it’s the swordsmanship tournament but I’ll try to come by the next day.” Meng Mei told him as she started gathering up all of her things. Lai Huang was still not looking at her., She just shook her head and moved to leave.

She’s only been here twice, it made sense that he still wasn’t quite comfortable around her.

“Guniang shouldn’t come back.” He said quietly as she took a step away.

Meng Mei scoffed and looked back at him. He had finally turned to look at her only just to say such a stupid thing. SHe rolled her eyes.

“I’ll come back if I want to.” She told him haughtily. “You can’t order me around.”

With that she spun on her heels and marched away, leaving Lai Huang gaping at her back.

She snuck back onto the camp grounds easily. Everyone was still busy preparing for the tournament and nobody was looking for her. She slipped into her tent with nobody even aware that she had been gone.

As soon as she was in the safety of her tent the system decided to send her a message.

[A-Mei has one unread message]

Meng Mei’s heart sped up. Could it be?

Hurriedly she opened the notification to see that User2 had finally responded.

[User2: Who is this?]

Heart pounding Meng mei rushed to reply

[User1: I’m the first transmigrator in this world. It’s nice to finally meet you.]

[User2: Oh, it’s nice to meet you as well.]