CH 45

After the fragrance dissipated, Zhou Qing put the wooden box on the herbal table. When she moved, the small finger on her left hand peeked out.

Seeing the white cloth wrapped around it, Xie Chong’s brows furrowed fiercely. Almost unconsciously, he gripped her slender wrist and carefully tried to untie the knot. Watching the man’s action, Zhou Qing’s apricot eyes widened. She did not expect he would do this.

“Lord, what are you doing?” She asked while struggling. But unfortunately, the difference between men and women was not small. Xie Chong had years of training in martial arts. His strength was peerless among humans. How could such a small movement be taken seriously?

Eventually, he unwrapped the white cloth.

Zhou Qing’s hand was beautiful. The nails were smooth and light pink, just like a newborn baby. It was very pleasing to the eye. But the tip of her little finger showed a completely different look. The originally soft pad of her finger was now streaked with scars. Although not deep, they were numerous and dense, as if they were fishing nets used for many years.

Looking down, Zhou Qing also discovered this.

Because she needed it to mix the aromatic herb, she must often use her blood. Sometimes, because the previous wound on her finger had not yet fully healed, she had to create another. Eventually, the unsightly, centipede-like scars covered her entire finger. Since she had it wrapped in white cloth all day, others did not find out about it.

Unimaginable anger welled up in his heart – like scorching flames. However, it did not entirely incinerate Xie Chong’s reason. He gritted his teeth, “Miss Zhou, this official is sick, but you do not have to torture yourself this way.”

That handsome face became hideously distorted. But for some reason, Zhou Qing was not afraid. She gently shook her head, “The Commander need not worry. This wound may look creepy, but in fact, it will soon heal–”

Before she could finish her words, she was grumpily interrupted by the man, “This official will not allow it!”

The words that welled up in her throat were swallowed back, and her beautiful brows were slightly wrinkled; Zhou Qing glanced at him quickly and said in a delicate voice, “Lord, just now, I used the herbal fragrance to dispel the evil energy in your body. But although this herb is good, it is not as good as the Benzoin herb.”

“Benzoin herb?” Xie Chong’s thin lips slightly parted as he asked.

“The reason why you feel the dull pain in the sea of marrow is that you are suffering from the ghost disease. If you want to cure it, you must go to the country of Anxi, which is 25,000 miles away from Luoyang, to get this herb. It is said that by burning the benzoin, you will be able to enlighten the gods and ward off all evils, and your illness will be completely cured. And then this little woman will not have to hurt herself.”

At first, Zhou Qing did not intend to mention this matter to Xie Chong. After all, the country of Anxi was too far from the Great Zhou. Since ancient times, few caravans had reached there, and it was not known whether benzoin really existed or could cure persistent diseases.

This herb was like a big cake drawn out of thin air. For a hungry person, this could not fill his stomach. But at this moment, Zhou Qing has no other choice. The Commander was unwilling to let her take blood to mix herbs. So, how to suppress the medulla sea of disease? 

After settling her mind, she continued, “Lord, today’s tranquilizing herb has already been prepared. Let us light it first. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a pity to waste the herbs?”

The man nodded stiffly.

Zhou Qing, as usual, was kneeling on the light yellow futon. There was a slight pain in her little finger, but her face appeared unbothered and calm, not even half a frown as if she did not feel the pain at all.

As if his heart seemed to have been poked, Xie Chong only found it a bit difficult to breathe.

Thick yellow smoke from the herbal cake enshrouded the small, jade-like, white face, causing him to suddenly become irritated. When the smoke dispersed, his emotions slowly calmed down.

Regardless of how long the herbs burn, they would eventually burn out.

In between the herbal furnace, those pitch-dark eyes were watching the woman. The first thing Xie Chong saw was the soft white cheeks, and then the eyes slowly moved down to her slender neck.

Zhou Qing was not short but had a slender frame, much slimmer than the ladies in the capital. Her neck was white and thin, tightly wrapped by the light green collar, tempting people to want to take a peek.

He even wanted to rip away the unsightly fabric and look at it thoroughly.

Forcibly restraining his increasingly unpleasant thoughts, Xie Chong’s body was taut. He waited until his breathing returned to normal before he said in a deep voice, “Miss Zhou, you only need to make ordinary tranquilizing herbs, supplemented by cilantro herbs, sandalwood, and other things. This official will send his men to the country of Anxi. You do not need to hurt yourself again.”

Zhou Qing neither nodded nor shook her head.

She knew very well that ordinary tranquilizing herbs may have some effect on ordinary people. However – as the Commander of the Jin Yi Guards – Xie Chong had blood on his hands and usually dealt with numerous penal institutions. It was impossible to use those herbs to soothe the mind. There was no other choice.

“Zhou Qing!” Noticing her unbothered reaction, there was a hint of anger in the man’s voice.

“Commander, this little woman has made it very clear. I will stop using the blood after you find the benzoin. A few drops of blood can’t do me any harm at all. The wound only appears to be a bit unsettling in your eyes.”