Qi Chengan's eyes were dark and heavy, sweat beaded on his forehead. His shirt was torn open from the chest, revealing his strong, well-built pectoral muscles.
He walked towards her, his deep gaze pressing down, fixed on Cheng You.
Her heart, which had been pounding furiously moments before, had still not calmed down.
Before either of them could speak, Cheng You suddenly leaped from the ground and threw herself at him with all her might.
Qi Chengan's stance was solid. Even though Cheng You felt she had used all her strength, she couldn't push him down. Making him stumble a few steps to the side was the most she could manage.
Like a cornered wild boar in its death throes, it lunged with bared tusks, grazing Cheng You's waist.
Finally, Qi Chengan threw his sickle, which lodged precisely and unerringly into its neck.
Cheng You clutched her waist, collapsing onto the ground.
She still had the energy to complain, "Why are you standing so steadily? When you saw me push you, you should have dodged!"
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been injured.
Fortunately, it hadn't pierced her stomach; otherwise, it would have hurt so much.
Even though it was just a large graze, still within the range of minor injuries, Cheng You felt unbearable pain.
Qi Chengan looked at her hand covering her waist, his expression growing colder. He picked her up and hurried down the mountain.
A tempest raged within him.
He had joined the army in his teens. His education and beliefs were all about protecting the country and its people.
Over time, he had come to see himself as an impenetrable fortress of steel.
Wherever there was danger, he would be the first to rush forward.
This was the first time, and the only time in his twenty-plus years of life, that a girl had used her delicate body to protect him!
So brave, so fearless.
Despite being so delicate that she cried out in pain from a blister on her palm, she still chose to shield him.
"Qi Chengan, hurry up! It hurts so much, my blood must be draining out," came the girl's soft sobs, piercing his heart like needles.
He quickened his pace, faster, he urged himself on, pushing his speed to the absolute limit.
"No, you'll be alright."
He knew in his heart that a graze didn't warrant such tension.
But it just… hurt so much.
It was as if Cheng You's wound was on him.
Seeing them rush through the door, San Leng shouted, "Uncle Li! Help! Sister Cheng You is dying, please save her!"
Uncle Li thought Cheng You was truly at death's door, and his legs felt weak as he stood up, nearly falling to the ground.
"What happened!"
Qi Chengan gently set Cheng You down. "She was injured by a wild boar, on her waist."
Uncle Li rushed over. "Girl, let me see."
Cheng You frowned and moved her hand away.
Uncle Li carefully lifted her clothes. At this moment, he couldn't afford to worry about propriety; a doctor's eyes only saw the patient.
As he looked, his face darkened.
You could say the wound wasn't severe, it was indeed more serious than a common scratch.
But you couldn't say it was critical.
Let alone "dying" as San Leng had described!
"Uncle, hurry and put medicine on it. She's bleeding so much, will she die?" San Leng urged.
Uncle Li spat, "Die, you fool! If you had come any later, the wound would have already healed! All day long, you do nothing useful and just scare the elderly. You're going to give me a heart attack."
Cheng You pouted, "Uncle Li, please hurry, I'm in so much pain."
Uncle Li huffed, glaring at her.
"Be quiet, you'll feel the pain soon enough!"
Saying that, he went inside to get the medicine.
Cheng You gave San Leng a look and winked. "Quickly call your dad and go get the wild boar. Don't mention me. Just say that Qing Youth Qi killed it."
San Leng nodded repeatedly. "Oh, right, right, right, and that wild ginseng! I must keep it safe!"
"Hush!" Cheng You raised her hand, accidentally pulling on the wound, and winced again.
Qi Chengan gently pressed her down, his face stern as he admonished, "He'll handle whatever needs to be done. Don't you worry!"