CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 144: LIKE A TIGER WITH WINGS

If Lu Qing’s previous words calmed Situ Jing halfway, after hearing the latter part, he was completely calmed down.

Situ Jing pondered for a moment and said to several personal soldiers, "Tonight you will take turns on duty, be extremely careful.

After leaving the big tent, do not mention tonight’s matters to anyone; absolutely no unnecessary words, and don’t cause trouble with others at this time."

The personal soldiers quickly responded, fearing that saying too much would cause trouble for the general. They saluted and went out again, leaving only Situ Jing, Lu Qing, and Zhu Yu in the big tent.

"The situation has turned like this, the Chief Historian was quite startled. I originally planned to let you rest in my big tent tonight while I strengthen the patrol outside, but..." Situ Jing glanced at Zhu Yu, "If the other party intends to target me, my big tent is not secure."

"No need, at this moment, it’s best to keep everything as is." Lu Qing shook his head at Situ Jing.

Situ Jing didn’t say much more and got up to send the two of them to the entrance of the big tent. Lu Qing supported Zhu Yu as they walked towards the personal soldiers’ tent they had been staying in these days.

Earlier, when the situation was urgent, Zhu Yu didn’t have time to react much. After Lu Qing subdued the personal soldier who had suddenly poisoned, bound, and took him away, she realized that during that emergency she was suddenly pulled and pushed, causing some sprain in her ankle.

Under intense tension, people’s sense of pain often becomes very dull. At that moment, she didn’t feel any pain, but when she relaxed a bit walking towards the tent, every step made her ankle feel swollen and unbearably painful.

Lu Qing clearly noticed this. He supported Zhu Yu’s shoulder with one hand, seemingly helping her walk slowly. Actually, Zhu Yu felt the foot that wasn’t sprained almost barely touched the ground; she was virtually lifted by Lu Qing.

Though she knew this guy was burly before, she hadn’t expected his strength to be this great.

The two returned to the personal soldiers’ tent; everyone else was gone.

Given the incident tonight, probably only Lu Qing and Zhu Yu could come back to rest.

Not having anyone else around was perfect for checking the injury.

Lu Qing settled Zhu Yu on the mat where they usually rested, removed the shoe and sock from her sprained foot, took out a flat porcelain bottle from his coat, scooped some ointment with his fingers, applied it to Zhu Yu’s slightly swollen ankle, and rubbed it with a controlled pressure using the warmth of his palm.

Initially, when the ointment touched the skin, it had an intense coldness that made her shiver, and when Lu Qing’s palm pressed down, she couldn’t help but groan softly from the pain.

But as the ointment melted into the skin, the cold sensation gradually disappeared, replaced by a warm feeling that seemed to seep through the skin into the bone, quickly dissipating most of the dull pain from the sprain.

"Earlier, my junior brother asked me to carry this, and I was quite impatient about it. Didn’t expect this thing to come in handy." Lu Qing held Zhu Yu’s foot with one hand, the other hand rubbing continuously, "Scared you just now, didn’t it?"

"It indeed startled me, but having that golden silk armor protected me, so at most, I was a bit frightened, not enough to scare the life out of me." Zhu Yu shook her head, "Were you, at the general’s big tent, intimidated by my appearance?"

Lu Qing’s hands paused for a moment, then looked up at Zhu Yu, realizing her expression at this moment was entirely different from when she was in front of Situ Jing.

She had previously looked downcast, still scared, with a pale face, eyes downcast, silently.

If he didn’t know the golden silk armor could definitely shield against the personal soldier’s knife, Lu Qing would have thought Zhu Yu had been injured.

Presently, the ankle sprain was real, but she sat there supporting herself with her arms, looking at him, her eyes bright in the dim light, full of spirit, with no hint of losing her wit.

"What little scheme are you up to?" he asked softly.

"Just going with the flow," said Zhu Yu, "If tonight’s poison outbreak was an imperial guard soldier, it wouldn’t require such actions.

But that person was Situ Jing’s personal soldier, and at the right moment I didn’t play tough, choosing to show weakness.

If in the future you want him to be of use to you, a gentleman’s friendship being as light as water won’t suffice; a sense of indebtedness is necessary.

Making a gentleman indebted to you is surprisingly easy—the guilt from involving innocents is just right.

Today, his person nearly mistakenly killed yours; isn’t this a ready-made favor?"

As Zhu Yu spoke, she displayed a pitiful look of having been frightened after the incident.

Lu Qing slightly lowered his head, though he continued rubbing the ointment, his grip subtly fluctuated. If observed closely, his shoulders shuddered slightly, seemingly suppressing laughter, trying hard not to laugh at such an inappropriate time.

After a while, he raised his head again, once more showing a calm demeanor: "The Chief Historian and I truly have a tacit understanding, a common plan.

Having the Chief Historian is truly like gaining wings."

"You praise too much." Zhu Yu modestly responded.

Actually, it’s simply being near ink... being near vermilion makes one red; having stayed by this fox’s side for long, she picked up on some of his notions and tactics, understanding through analogies, learning and adapting.

Lu Qing rubbed a bit longer, under the light examined her significantly less swollen ankle, paused his hands, and told Zhu Yu: "Today the Chief Historian has exerted herself, tonight keep the golden silk armor on, endure a few more days until the timing is just right."

Zhu Yu, hearing his composed speech, couldn’t help but suspect that progress on Yan Daoxin’s side wasn’t entirely stagnant, but that these two were purposely dragging out, awaiting a particular opportunity.

Clearly, tonight’s sudden event made Lu Qing believe the timing was approaching maturation.

Later that night, Zhu Yu lay down in her clothes, and despite recalling the feeling of lying on gravel paths, after an incident that was thrilling but harmless, she wasn’t much affected; soon after lying down, she fell asleep. Upon waking, dawn was just breaking outside.

Lu Qing sat cross-legged beside her, resting with closed eyes, and upon Zhu Yu turning her body to sit up, he instantly opened his eyes.

"Didn’t you sleep at all?" Zhu Yu asked.

Lu Qing merely got up, slightly moved his limbs, and said to Zhu Yu: "Check if your ankle still hurts, whether you can walk.

Today probably won’t be peaceful; if your ankle can’t bear the weight, I’ll ask Situ Jing to keep you by his side to avoid running around."