SDIWD - Chapter 82
Chapter 82
After wiping the sweat from Hua Mu's brow and seeing that she was sleeping relatively peacefully, Bai Zhen applied another cold compress to the injury before starting to rummage through the basket for medicinal herbs.
It was fortunate that the fracture was not displaced, but she had to prevent subsequent complications. In modern medicine, fractures rarely led to compartment syndrome, but Bai Zhen had witnessed the dangers of this complication back in her clan—having the wound split open again would be getting off lightly.
She was glad she had applied a cold compress to Hua Mu's leg from the very beginning, but she would still need a large quantity of herbs to help Hua Mu through this critical period.
This time, the two of them had lost too much equipment and supplies. The only silver lining was that Hua Mu had grabbed a jar of herbs before they left.
To prevent this complication, it was crucial not to tie the splint too tightly and to reduce the tissue edema as quickly as possible to prevent muscle and nerve ischemia.
Bai Zhen was physically and mentally drained from the crisis, but perhaps because Hua Mu was with her, she felt a renewed sense of strength.
The variety of herbs was incomplete, and the quantity was clearly insufficient. However, a few types grew not far from the cave, so she could go gather some now. Before the Young Lady woke up, she also needed to start a fire and cook a delicious dinner.
Hua Mu had that dream again. She was trapped in a sealed, dark, and cold box, falling endlessly.
Why wasn't Father coming to save her? Why wasn't Auntie coming to save her either? She was frightened and helpless, able to do nothing but cry.
"Sis-sister…"
She vaguely thought of someone to call for help, but she didn't know why that title came to her lips. She was an only child and had no older sister, and she never addressed her so-called cousins with such an intimate term.
But a warm embrace enveloped her, and she suddenly felt at ease. She had no mind for worry, no mind for thought. She knew she was safe, and that was enough.
I will protect you, Mumu.
Hua Mu woke up from both thirst and hunger. She didn't know how long she had slept. In her blurry vision, she saw the warm glow of a fire. It was still raining outside, and the sounds of the wind and waves were unabating, but the tsunami seemed to have subsided.
"Bai…" She couldn't speak; her throat was dry and sore. The pain in her left leg had turned into a dull numbness. Bai Zhen seemed to be applying medicine to it.
"Miss, you're awake?"
The Sentinel gently lifted her and fed her a few sips of hot water.
Hua Mu saw the tenderness in her eyes, a look that was plain to see. She suddenly remembered what she had done before passing out, and the other woman's response. A blush instantly spread across her pale face.
"Mmm… mmm…"
She shyly averted her gaze and turned her head to see the little cat they had rescued curled up beside her head, sleeping soundly.
"After I finish applying your medicine, we'll have dinner."
Bai Zhen gently laid her back down and returned to her original position to treat the wound on her calf. Her movements were light, but Hua Mu still felt a great deal of pain. She didn't dare look at her leg and asked in a hoarse voice, "Can my leg still be saved?"
Although she felt pain, it also seemed as if she couldn't feel her leg at all. She was terrified, but she forced herself not to cry.
"Rest assured, I won't let anything happen to you. This remedy is very effective. Many people in my village have had much more serious injuries than yours, and they were up and about after using it."
Using ingredients found on the spot, Bai Zhen took equal parts of nightshade, gardenia, rose myrtle, and Cherokee rose leaves, ground them into a powder, mixed it with cool water to form a paste, and applied it to Hua Mu's injury. The leaves of these plants were all excellent remedies for relaxing muscles, invigorating blood circulation, and reducing swelling.
The nightshade contained solanine, steroidal alkaloids, and other compounds that stimulated nerves and smooth muscles, constricted blood vessels, consumed histamine to promote the return of tissue fluid, had anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, and enhanced cellular immunity.
However, these herbs were somewhat toxic, so the dosage had to be carefully controlled.
Bai Zhen was such an honest person; she probably wouldn't lie to her. Hua Mu felt a little more at ease, then said aggrievedly, "Will it hurt a lot? How long will it take for me to get better?"
"Where I'm from, they say it takes a hundred days for bones and tendons to heal. You'll have to rest well."
"That long?!" Hua Mu was in disbelief. If she had to recover for that long, what about her… happiness!
Thinking she was worried about her daily life, Bai Zhen comforted her, "I will take good care of you."
Judging by Bai Zhen's behavior before she fell asleep, the woman should have gotten the hint by now. But considering how dense she could be, Hua Mu didn't dare get her hopes up just yet.
"Hmph, we've already parted ways, and you're not my guard anymore… Why should I let you take care of me?"
After saying this, she felt a pang of anxiety. What if Bai Zhen still didn't get it?
While re-tying the splint, Bai Zhen smiled. "Although I am no longer your guard, you said I could be your friend. It's perfectly normal for friends to help each other when they're in trouble."
Hua Mu grunted in pain. If she weren't immobilized, she would have kicked Bai Zhen in the face.
She spoke so reasonably, several orders of magnitude more clever than before, but this was not the answer she wanted to hear at all!
How could this be? The woman had clearly kissed her!
Hua Mu was so angry that her voice broke with a sob. "Who wants to be your friend! Who wants you to take care of them!"
Seeing her distress, Bai Zhen finally stopped beating around the bush. She hadn't meant to brush Hua Mu off, and she certainly wasn't teasing her. It was just that her naturally reserved personality, her shyness in expressing herself, and years of repression and lingering concerns had made her instinctively deflect.
"Then I won't be your friend. I'll be your… lover? Can I take care of you then?"
"Who wants you to be my guard, who wants… What did you say?"
Hua Mu thought she must have been dizzy with anger to be hearing things.
Bai Zhen looked at her earnestly and repeated, "I said lover. You asked me before if I liked you… I like you, and I only like you…"
Her heart was still filled with countless anxieties and uncertainties. The dazzling sense of happiness and the fear of defiling Hua Mu made her both excited and terrified.
But for now, just for this moment, please let her forget the past and the future.
"If you don't mind, may I be your lover?"
Ah, it was a confession!
Hua Mu could hardly believe what she was hearing. Bai Zhen's dark, deep eyes made her chest tighten, her breath quicken, and her head spin as if she were in a dream. She couldn't even feel the pain in her body.
She had fantasized about this confession countless times—romantic, passionate, sweet—but none of them could compare to this one.
Even without a grand banquet, even without a dreamlike field of flowers, even without a domineering and thrilling forceful conquest, even on this deserted island, even with the wind and rain raging outside, even while she was seriously injured… even if the world were to end the next moment, this was still the most beautiful, sincere, and moving confession she had ever heard.
The sheer truth of it was enough to make her want to scream with joy.
Of course, you can!
She desperately wanted to agree immediately.
"Be-be my lover or whatever… you're really… really bold. This Young Lady knew long ago that you were coveting me. Now you've finally shown your true colors."
Oh, for heaven's sake, why are you still putting on airs at a time like this? Just say yes already!
Bai Zhen smiled, a rare hint of gentleness in her expression.
"I'm sorry, I know this is just my wishful thinking…"
Hearing this, Hua Mu thought she was about to back down and hurriedly said, "I didn't mean it that seriously!"
Bai Zhen continued, "But if I am fortunate enough to receive your favor, I will repay you with everything I have."
Who would have thought this big fool was such a romantic, speaking in such a literary way.
Hua Mu cleared her throat awkwardly. "Since you've put it that way, it would be rather unkind of me not to give you a chance. Seeing how sincere you are, I'll reluctantly agree."
They were finally lovers!!!
Hua Mu screamed internally, her eyes darting around, not daring to look directly into Bai Zhen's.
Shouldn't there be a passionate kiss to celebrate at a time like this?
But she waited for a long time, and the other woman just sat by her leg, looking at her with deep affection, showing no sign of moving.
How could this be! She had injured her leg, not her mouth!
The Sentinel was truly clueless. Hua Mu was in despair.
"Y-you don't have to keep staring at me, even if you want to kiss me…"
Bai Zhen raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled. "Miss, I didn't…"
Didn't you?! That's not acceptable!
Hua Mu cut her off. "Since you're so eager, then… then a little kiss is… is fine…"
Realization dawned on Bai Zhen, and she obediently leaned down.
"Then please allow me to kiss you."
Don't just stop at one, a few more would be fine too.
Hua Mu closed her eyes nervously and let out a soft "Mmm."
Bai Zhen was a little nervous. She gently cradled the back of Hua Mu's head and carefully placed a kiss on her slightly pale lips.
The Sentinel had absolutely no skill when it came to kissing; she thought merely touching lips was a terribly presumptuous act. The last binding heat clearly hadn't fully enlightened her. In a calm state, she was still like a child.
Despairing of this block of wood, Hua Mu had no choice but to take the initiative, extending her tongue to lick the Sentinel's lips.
Bai Zhen froze for a moment, then lifted her face to look at her. Hua Mu kept her eyes closed, playing dead, her face flushed crimson. Her thick, platinum-blonde eyelashes trembled slightly, like alluring butterflies.
A feeling stirred in the Sentinel's heart. Unable to restrain herself, she lowered her head again, murmuring as if in a dream, "Please forgive my offense…"
If this is an offense, then please, offend me as much as you want.
Hua Mu instinctively wrapped her arms around Bai Zhen's neck, parting her lips to accept the Sentinel's clumsy tongue.
Although Bai Zhen was cautious and careful, her movements far from nimble, Hua Mu still tasted a sweet flavor. This was their first real kiss, their first as lovers. So this was how blissful it felt.
Hua Mu couldn't help but suck on the tip of the other's soft tongue, letting out an ambiguous whimper from her nose, showing no sign of passivity, and certainly not acting like an injured person.
She had waited for so many years; at least let her have her fill of kissing first.
Bai Zhen finally lost control, pulling Hua Mu into a tight embrace, passionately tangling with her soft, slick little tongue.
The person she had adored, once so unattainable, was now in her arms, sharing this dizzying, chaotic pleasure with her.
She shouldn't forget. Her loyalty existed only for the Young Lady. If this was what she desired, then no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, she should not be afraid.
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