The bathtub in the inn was too small to comfortably accommodate three people. Ping'an decided to take her bath first. After she finished, both men entered the bathtub, intending to soak themselves in the hot water until it turned cold.
Ping'an sat at the nearby table and began to meticulously record the recent events in her journal.
"Who's going to read those journals?" Zhao Renshu called out, a playful splash from the tub following his words.
"The younger generation," Ping'an replied, her pen scratching against the paper. "There's a person in my heart who I'm considering sending it to him."
Zhao Renshu quickly turned around, sprinkling water onto the floor in his excitement. "Who?" he demanded.
"That's a secret," Ping'an teased, her lips curving into a small smile. "I am not telling you."
"Keeping secrets from us, huh?" Zhao Renshu grumbled good-naturedly.
"Continue to soak your hands," Guo Baiyu instructed Zhao Renshu calmly. "I will apply some medication on them."
There was a knock on the door, and two waiters entered with their food. After Ping'an paid them, they left and closed the door. The two men then got up, dried themselves, and dressed.
After dinner, Guo Baiyu carefully examined Zhao Renshu's fingers. The index and middle fingers of his right hand required medical attention, still raw from his frantic digging. Guo Baiyu applied the soothing medication and meticulously wrapped the injured fingers.
Zhao Renshu looked at his bandaged fingers, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Ping'an," he began, "I remember you said you were going to be on top." He teased her with a suggestive tone.
Guo Baiyu pointed his finger to his lips. "Shhh..." he whispered, indicating Ping'an.
Zhao Renshu turned and saw that Ping'an had fallen asleep at the table, her head resting on her arms, exhausted. Guo Baiyu walked to Ping'an and gently carried her to the bed. He then lay next to her, by the wall.
Zhao Renshu quietly closed Ping'an's journal, blew out the candle, walked to the bed, and lay down beside her, completing their peaceful slumber.
The next morning, the lovers sat at the table downstairs, having breakfast. Lim Peizhi, Lim Yuehai, and the Huang Sisters walked in through the front entrance, their faces weary but determined.
"They are there," Lim Yuehai said, her eyes lighting up as she spotted their table. She pointed to the lovers.
The group made their way to the lovers' table.
"May we?" Lim Peizhi asked, gesturing to the empty seats.
"Please," Guo Baiyu invited politely.
The group sat down. Lim Peizhi and Huang Yueliang sat together on a bench opposite Ping'an. Huang Hongse sat next to Zhao Renshu, and Lim Yuehai sat next to Guo Baiyu.
"Young Master Lim," the waiter said, approaching their table, his voice filled with reverence. "It's an honor to have you here today."
"Bring us more food," Lim Peizhi ordered, his tone authoritative.
"Yes," the waiter replied, quickly scurrying away.
"Young Master Lim, what business brings you here today?" Guo Baiyu asked, ever the diplomat.
"Of course, you three," Lim Peizhi replied, his gaze firm.
"We? Why?" Zhao Renshu questioned, genuinely surprised.
"We didn't see the three of you at the party yesterday," Lim Peizhi explained. "My father asked the three of you to stay in our residence until you leave. He plans to send a servant to invite the three of you, but I decided to come personally."
"Let the mayor know that we sincerely thank him," Guo Baiyu said, "but we are leaving after breakfast."
"You are leaving? Why? Is it because we didn't host well?" Lim Yuehai asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"That has nothing to do with it," Guo Baiyu reassured her. "We have other business we need to attend."
"At least stay here until the end of the celebration party," Lim Peizhi urged, hoping to convince them.
"We are in a hurry, so we are leaving today," Zhao Renshu stated, firm in his decision.
"What is the hurry?" Huang Hongse asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"None of your business," Zhao Renshu retorted bluntly, earning a sigh from Ping'an.
Just then, a soldier ran towards Lim Peizhi, his face pale and distressed. "General, there are too many injured people in the town! We don't have enough space to put them. Also, not enough doctors. What should we do?"
"The clinic?" Lim Peizhi asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
"All clinics are already full of sick and injured citizens," the soldier replied, his voice strained.
"Call all the doctors and nurses to help," Lim Peizhi commanded, trying to find a solution.
"General," the soldier said, "all three clinics, even their students, are out helping."
Lim Peizhi took a deep, troubled breath, realizing the scale of the crisis.
Guo Baiyu looked at the worried soldier and said, calmly, "Tell the doctors to separate the patients. Have them treat the severely injured patients first." He waved at the waiter. "Please bring me a piece of paper and ink."
The waiter quickly brought a set of paper and ink. Guo Baiyu swiftly wrote something on the paper, then handed it to the soldier.
"Take this to the doctors," Guo Baiyu instructed. "Ask the staff to brew this medicine for the less severe patients while waiting for treatment."
"What is this?" the soldier asked, looking at the paper with curiosity.
"Pain relievers," Guo Baiyu replied. "Let them drink it every four to six hours. This will control their pain. In addition, it will help doctors treat critically ill patients who need to be treated first."
"Do as he say," Lim Peizhi ordered the soldier, impressed by Guo Baiyu's quick thinking.
"Yes," the soldier responded, quickly taking off.
Lim Peizhi smiled, a genuine admiration in his eyes. "Guozhao Baiyu is not only a great hunter. You are also a medical expert. When faced with difficulties, your calm and quick thinking is impressive. Today, I, Lim Peizhi, admit defeat."
"Childe Guozhao, you are also the first person my brother surrendered to," Lim Yuehai added, a teasing note in her voice.
"Childe Lim, you are also a great leader," Guo Baiyu said, deflecting the praise graciously. "You will become a beloved leader in the future. Let's just say that we are equal. You defeated me in combat skills, and I defeated you in knowledge."
Zhao Renshu shook his head and murmured, "Scholar talks," a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Jealous," Huang Hongse scoffed, taking a sip of her tea, a smirk on her face.
"Childe Guozhao," Lim Yuehai pressed, "since you are a doctor and we currently lack doctors, would you like to extend your stay and help people?"
"Why continue to persuade?" Zhao Renshu grumbled, still keen to leave.
"Baiyu, why don't we stay? You can help the people," Ping'an suggested, looking at Guo Baiyu with a soft plea.
"Ping'an, what does this mean?" Zhao Renshu asked, confused and slightly annoyed.
"Nothing," Ping'an replied, a gentle smile on her face. "As a doctor, if we take him away, Baiyu will greatly regret it."
"Also," Guo Baiyu added, turning to Zhao Renshu, "the fifteenth day of the month is in two days."
Zhao Renshu stopped arguing, his expression instantly changing from annoyance to understanding, as he knew what would happen on the fifteenth day of each month for Ping'an. "Fine," he conceded with a sigh.
Ping'an smiled at Guo Baiyu. "If you want to leave now, you can. We will wait for you here."
"Alright, I will be back soon," Guo Baiyu promised, rising from the table.
"I will show you the way," Lim Peizhi offered, eager to assist.
Zhao Renshu turned to Huang Hongse and asked, "Are you two going with them?"
"We will go to our uncle's house," Huang Yueliang replied, rising with her cousin.
"Okay," Zhao Renshu said. He smiled and turned to Ping'an, "Since everyone has a place they need to go, and we don't... should we visit those clothing stores and wait for Baiyu?"
"Alright," Ping'an agreed, a small smile on her face.
Zhao Renshu and Ping'an got up and walked out of the main entrance, leaving the Huang sisters and Lim Yuehai sitting in the inn.