Chapter 60: A Past Dream in the Mortal World p1
【It’s delicious, thank you.】
Ning Man’s whole body was stiff, and she didn’t dare to move at all.
She felt that a small part of her back had been soaked with tears, both wet and hot, and the hands holding her were still tightening.
Since the matron had left, Ning Man had never been in such close contact with anyone.
When Yin Buran suddenly hugged her, she was actually very unaccustomed to it. But Yin Buran was crying so sadly. She heard it in her heart, but she didn’t know how to comfort her, so she could only dutifully act as a pillow.
After a long while, Yin Buran had cried enough.
She wiped her face clean and continued to bandage Ning Man.
Before, just by applying some medicinal paste, her hands were already trembling uncontrollably. Now, after a good cry, she barely managed to pull herself together and continue.
“Alright.”
Ning Man only felt a cool sensation on her wound, which was indeed very comfortable.
She turned around and said seriously, “Thank you.”
Yin Buran shook her head. “I should be the one thanking you.”
She knelt on the ground with her head lowered, looking dignified and well-behaved. It was just that the residual red at the corners of her eyes had not faded, adding a few points of fragility.
It was very impolite to stare at people. Ning Man lowered her eyelids. “Does Miss Yin have any relatives or friends to turn to?”
Yin Buran frowned slightly. “I do, but I don’t want to trouble them.”
Ning Man understood. Yin Buran was still a criminal of the court. Once she was reported, it would be troublesome.
She thought for a moment and could only think of one solution for the time being.
“If you don’t mind, you can come back to the military camp with me first. The rear is very safe. You can recuperate for a while and then decide whether to stay or leave.”
The only problem was that the conditions in the military camp were simple, and she was afraid that Yin Buran would not be used to it.
Who would have thought that the person before her would pause for a moment, then bow her head and perform a grand bow.
“I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. I am willing to stay in the military camp and do my best.”
Ning Man was stunned for a moment and quickly pulled her up. “Miss Yin is too serious.”
She had never thought of any reward for saving people. She just simply pitied the Yin family’s encounter.
Her clothes were dry and her wound was bandaged. It was time to set off.
On the way back, Ning Man deliberately slowed down. First, the night was deep and the dew was heavy, and the mountain road was not easy to walk. Second, she was afraid of jostling Yin Buran again.
The journey, which should have taken half an hour, she had taken more than an hour to complete.
At this time, the lights in the military camp were dim. As soon as the sentry saw that it was Ning Man, he opened the door to welcome her.
She stared at the stranger on Ning Man’s horse, sizing her up with an undisguised look.
Ning Man took the initiative to introduce, “This is the young lady of the Yin family, Yin Buran.”
It was not convenient for Yin Buran to bow on the horse, so she just nodded slightly.
The latter’s jaw almost dropped. “Ah?!”
Everyone knew about the execution of the entire Yin family, and everyone was angry and sorry for it, but only their lieutenant was so skilled and bold as to directly rob the execution ground.
Even if only Yin Buran was saved, it was enough.
Ning Man ignored the subordinate who was about to spread this good news, directly tied up the horse, and led Yin Buran back to her own tent.
There were no extra tents in the military camp now, so she had no choice but to let Miss Yin stay with her for a few nights, and she would think of another way.
She strode into the tent, and only then did she suddenly remember Yin Buran’s pale little face and her thin body that would be blown away by the wind.
Ning Man turned her head and saw Yin Buran coming in with her skirt in her hands, her breathing a little messy. It was obvious that she had been in a hurry to follow.
She frowned in annoyance. She was used to walking fast on ordinary days and had actually forgotten to take Yin Buran into account.
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Yin Buran took a breath and lowered her eyes. “I’m fine.”
Although she said so, her trembling hands and the strands of hair stuck to her cheeks did not look fine at all.
Ning Man did not expose her. She took out a set of her own clothes from the cabinet, and a clean handkerchief, and put them on the bed.
“These are my clothes. They are very clean. You can change into them first. The water vat is behind the tent. You can take the bucket and soap beans yourself.”
After she finished speaking, she turned and left. “Rest early after you’ve tidied up.”
Yin Buran was flustered for a moment and subconsciously wanted to follow. “Wait… where are you going?”
Ning Man answered honestly, “I have violated the military regulations and acted without authorization. I should be punished with five lashes.”
It was just that her superior officer was not here, so she could only find her adjutant to act on her behalf.
Being hit with five lashes was not a problem. At most, it would hurt for a day or two. Ning Man was not afraid of starving to death now, but her requirements had also become lower.
As long as she could live.
“…”
The person behind her was silent for a moment. Seeing that Ning Man was about to leave the tent, she said in a small voice, “Then I’ll wait for you to come back… and then I’ll apply medicine for you.”
Ning Man did not pay much attention. “Go to sleep early.”
She found the adjutant, received what was actually about three lashes, talked about some serious matters, and then patrolled the military camp before she unhurriedly went back.
She didn’t expect that it was almost dawn, and Yin Buran had not yet rested.
She was dozing off at the table. As soon as Ning Man came in, she was startled awake, her eyes still red.
She was wearing ill-fitting clothes, and her whole person looked small, her hair messy.
Yin Buran asked tentatively, “Do you need me to apply medicine for you?”
The autumn of this year was already very cold, and the water was bone-chilling.
However, there was a clear fragrance of soap beans in the room, and a few fine cloth clothes were drying outside the tent.
Looking at her rolled-up sleeves and her hands, which were red from the cold water, Ning Man sighed without a sound.
She had seen this situation in the charity home.
The new children were all like this.
Afraid of being abandoned, so they always acted very well-behaved, scrambling to do work for the matron.
Ning Man took out a straw mat and a thin quilt from the cabinet, spread them on the floor, and planned to make do for now. She would make a new bed after some time.
There was no other way. She would be fine sleeping on the floor for a few nights, but Yin Buran might catch a cold and get a fever.
In this situation where there was a lack of doctors and medicine, even a small illness could be fatal.
She said casually, “In the future, put your clothes in a basin, and I’ll wash them for you.”
Yin Buran quickly refused, “No trouble. I can wash them myself.”
“It’s fine. I used to wash for my matron and younger sister often.” Ning Man pillowed her head on her clothes and soon closed her eyes.
“Go to sleep. It will be dawn in half an hour.”
The tent was quiet.
After half a cup of tea’s time, Yin Buran slowly lay down on the bed. Facing Ning Man, she fell into a deep sleep.
*
There were not many battles recently. Ning Man was busy practicing her saber and sword for the first two days. Every time she returned to the tent, she would always see Yin Buran sitting in a corner in a daze.
Listless, like a dehydrated little cabbage.
On the third day, after asking for Yin Buran’s opinion, she organized a “free clinic”—
Anyone with chronic or strange illnesses could come to Yin Buran for a consultation.
In fact, word had spread, and the entire military camp now knew of Yin Buran’s existence.
But because of Ning Man, they did not dare to come and see her.
This time, they finally had a chance, and everyone, sick or not, all swarmed up.
It was rumored that the young lady of the Yin family not only had exquisite medical skills and a gentle temperament, but was also beautiful. Now that they saw her, she really lived up to her reputation.
Some had chronic headaches and backaches, and Yin Buran was able to stop the pain with just a set of silver needles.
Some had strange illnesses, and after taking their pulse, Yin Buran could describe the symptoms with eighty or ninety percent accuracy.
Unfortunately, there were few medicinal herbs in the military camp, so in the end, she could only use local materials and prescribe a prescription that could alleviate the condition.
As for some minor injuries and illnesses, there was no need to say more.
A military doctor who was with them was extremely envious. “I’m a self-taught doctor. I can’t compare to your family’s inheritance.”
Yin Buran had no airs at all. “If you want to learn, I can also teach you, for free.”
The military doctor couldn’t believe it. “Re-really?”
One had to know that learning medicine was the same as studying. It was something for the wealthy.
Even to learn from a barefoot doctor in the village, one had to pay a tuition fee.
Yin Buran’s eyes dimmed. “Grandmother took in many poor people as disciples. She said that medical skills are a treasure that benefits the people. How can they be kept for oneself?”
Everyone was quiet for a moment, and then they began to praise Yin Buran one after another.
A free clinic ended successfully, and Ning Man’s goal was also achieved.
It was just that she found that Yin Buran would search the crowd every quarter of an hour.
Only after finding her figure would she lower her head and continue to work.
Ning Man was helpless about this. She probably didn’t have much of a sense of security yet.
*
Yin Buran was gentle and polite to people, and her medical skills were also very good. The soldiers all loved to come to her for any headaches or fevers.
She also did not shirk her duties and accepted all who came, and would even take the initiative to request a follow-up consultation.
The female soldiers under Ning Man had all come to the rebel army after their families were broken and they had nowhere to go.
They felt sorry for Yin Buran’s encounter and treated her as their own sister or daughter.
From time to time, they would give her a piece of clothing, stuff some food, and were unwilling to let Yin Buran do heavy work.
In less than a month, after healing an old soldier’s leg, Yin Buran, for the first time, began to make requests.
That day, before the lights were extinguished, she called out in a small voice, “Ning Man.”
“Hmm?”
As soon as Ning Man turned her head, she saw Yin Buran completely covered in the quilt, with only a pair of sparkling eyes exposed.
She shrank back, and the whole bundle of quilt became even rounder. “I want to take a hot bath. If it’s too much trouble, then forget it.”
Although it was a request, her voice was light and cheerful, like a little sparrow that had flown out of its cage.
It was rare to see Yin Buran so happy, so of course, Ning Man would not refuse.
It was just that there was no such thing as a bathtub in the military camp.
She got up early the next day, found a remote place, started a fire, dug a pit, and chiseled stones. She had made a simple bathtub for Yin Buran.
Yin Buran was hesitant at first. After all, it was in broad daylight. And it was in the depths of the forest, so it was inevitable that wild beasts would run out.
Ning Man turned her back after pouring the hot water. “Don’t worry. I’ll be on guard here.”
Yin Buran tested the water temperature. It was warm and very comfortable.
She asked casually, “Then what if we encounter danger?”
Ning Man was serious and had a straight face. “I can hear it.”
Her hearing was exceptionally good, and she could even hear the faintest sound of the wind.
Yin Buran immediately asked, “Then if I do something while I’m bathing, you can also hear it?”
“Mm.”
In less than a breath, Ning Man reacted and hurriedly corrected, “That’s not what I meant…”
The person who was usually so calm that her face was expressionless finally cracked a little, and her ears were so red they could bleed.
Yin Buran smiled with pursed lips. “I know.”
After she finished speaking, she walked into the pool, splashing a sound of water, and saw Ning Man lower her head, as if she wished she could bury herself in the ground.
Yin Buran laughed out loud.
*
Wonder what happen after Ning Man become immortal. Did she remember Yin Buran or not..?