Chapter 42: Applying Medicine

“You all can stay here and show off your bravery. I’m leaving!”

Xie Fan shot a hateful glance at Yin Ci before heading off in the opposite direction.

“I want to leave too… It’s one thing to have a trial, but risking my life? No thanks.”

“With so many of us, what do we have to fear from a demon?”

“Then you stay here. I’m going with Brother Xie,” one person asked, “Young Master Yin, aren’t you coming with us?”

Yin Ci responded, “The old man already said we can’t leave unless we break this curse. If you still want to run off, you’re a bunch of cowards. I’m not going with you.”

In the end, half of the disciples left, while the other half stayed.

Jiang Niannian glanced around.

Aside from herself, Yin Buqi, and Yin Ci, the only familiar faces remaining were Tang Murou and Jiang Ziyou.

The town had its share of deaths.

People gossiped about it often.

Although there was always a degree of fear, it had become commonplace since someone died almost every month.

Despite being remote, the town strangely attracted outsiders.

Although locals warned visitors not to go out at night, some people never heeded the advice.

As night fell, the surroundings became eerily quiet.

The town elder led the group to an inn.

Tang Murou tugged at someone’s sleeve and softly asked, “Do you smell that? It’s like something’s burning…”

The burnt smell wasn’t strong, but it was enough to cause discomfort.

“Don’t worry, Miss Tang. We’ll protect you,” someone reassured her.

“Yes, yes, Miss Tang is so gentle and lovely. We’ll take good care of you.”

“Thank you, everyone,” Tang Murou replied with a pitiful smile.

“The smell really is strong,” Yin Ci remarked, his delicate brows furrowing.

Usually poised and elegant, his expression now resembled someone who had just eaten something disgusting.

“All the buildings here are like this,” the elder explained, leaning on his cane.

“When we first arrived, many houses had been burned, but we rebuilt them. This inn is the best in town. I suggest you make do and stay for a while. Also, it’s best not to roam at night. That demon prefers to appear after dark.”

Everyone was divided into their rooms.

The innkeeper and his staff whispered amongst themselves, “That outsider who came yesterday died in the alley.”

“Was he skinned?”

“Does that demon have a hobby of collecting human skins? It’s been decades, and its method of killing hasn’t changed.”

Yin Buqi, who was about to head upstairs, paused upon hearing this, his brows knitting slightly.

Could it be the “Skinning Demon”?

“Brother Jiang, you’re going the wrong way. Our rooms are over here,” Yin Ci waved at Jiang Ziyou.

There were a lot of people, and the inn didn’t have enough rooms, so some had to share.

Yin Ci and Jiang Ziyou had grown up together, having been raised by Wen Shili.

Naturally, they were close.

Yin Ci asked, “Did you take your medicine today?”

Jiang Ziyou obediently nodded, “Yes, Master packed a whole jar for me and told me to take one pill a day. He also filled my storage bag with clothes, a silk quilt, healing pills, dried food, and candied fruits…”

Yin Ci glanced at his own empty storage bag but said nothing.

Meanwhile, Jiang Niannian had finished her bath and was now lying on the bed, resting.

The little Coal Ball was curled up on the floor mat, already fast asleep.

Suddenly, Jiang Niannian felt something was off.

A pair of cool hands was undoing her clothes.

She jolted awake.

It was Yin Buqi.

“Buqi, what are you doing?” She instinctively grabbed his hand.

Yin Buqi held a small, green porcelain bottle in the other hand, looking innocent as he explained, “I just wanted to apply some medicine to you.”

Jiang Niannian was confused, “Medicine for what?”

Yin Buqi lowered his gaze, his eyelashes fluttering slightly, concealing the redness in his eyes. “A few days ago, I wasn’t careful and hurt you there… it’s still sore, right? Every night after you pass out, I’ve been applying this medicine to help relieve the pain… It’s all my fault for not controlling myself around you.”

A bright red cloud of embarrassment exploded in Jiang Niannian’s mind, and she suddenly realized what kind of medicine he was talking about.

She backed away, “N-no need. It doesn’t hurt that much anymore.”

But Yin Buqi gently held her ankle, preventing her from escaping.

Leaning down, he kissed her lips, “If I apply the medicine, the discomfort will fade faster.”

“I-I can do it myself, right?”

Jiang Niannian stammered, her eyes darting nervously.

Yin Buqi raised an eyebrow and handed her the small bottle, “Sure, go ahead. I’ll watch you do it.”

The last thing she wanted was for him to watch!

Especially for such a private area…

He wasn’t going to give up, was he?

Jiang Niannian puffed up in frustration, her ears burning with embarrassment as she glared at him.

“Niannian, is there any part of you that I haven’t touched or kissed? There’s no need to be shy around me. Besides, what if you hurt yourself trying to apply the medicine? Wouldn’t that make things worse?”

His red eyes gleamed playfully, and his smile hinted at something deeper as his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Let me apply the medicine for you, okay?”

His long, narrow eyes lifted slightly, seductive and enticing.

Jiang Niannian was momentarily dazed by his gaze, and before she knew it, he had already moved in closer, pulling off her dress and spreading her slender, fair legs apart.

On her inner thighs, faint kiss marks and bite imprints still lingered.

Yin Buqi’s Adam’s apple moved visibly as his gaze darkened.

He buried his face in her neck, taking in a deep breath, “Niannian smells so good.”

Jiang Niannian felt his body pressing against hers, and unease began to stir within her as she shifted uncomfortably.

Yin Buqi’s breath grew heavier with her movement.

“Niannian, stop moving. Otherwise, the medicine won’t work.”

“Are you insane? We’re not at home!”

“As long as I think about you, this happens anywhere,” Yin Buqi scooped out a bit of ointment from the small jar and applied it gently.

“Don’t worry, Niannian. I’m not that much of a beast.”

Jiang Niannian held her breath as she lay in his arms, feeling utterly humiliated.

After his cool fingers withdrew, the ointment began to melt, bringing a soothing, cooling sensation.

Yin Buqi finished applying the medicine, covered her with the blanket, and got up to leave the room.

“You’re heading out in the middle of the night?”

“Yes.”

Yin Buqi nodded.

“But the elder said the demon comes out at night.”

“That’s exactly why I need to go now. You rest well, Niannian. I want to see what kind of demon this is.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Jiang Niannian pulled a simple black dress from her storage bag and changed, not allowing him to object.

“I’m not letting you go alone.”