Chapter 73 | After the Healers Leave

Xu Tianlong stayed against the awning post while Qing’er finished with the last patient.

The tournament lamps beyond the Medicine Hall had dimmed to half their earlier brightness. Noise from the outer grounds had thinned into scattered voices, bowls knocking together at late food stalls, and the occasional laugh drifting through the dark. Under the canvas, wet cloth and crushed herbs had long since buried the smell of dust.

Qing’er didn’t look up.

Her fingers pressed along the man’s wrapped forearm, checking the binding without turning the motion into ceremony. The patient, an older tournament attendant with a shallow cut and a badly bruised wrist, flexed his hand at her instruction.

"Again," Qing’er said.

He opened and closed his fingers.

"Mm. Better. Don’t carry anything heavy tonight. If it swells again, come back in the morning."

"Thank you, miss."

"Go sleep before you decide you feel fine and make it worse."

The man gave a sheepish laugh. Qing’er finally smiled, small and tired, and waved him off.

Xu watched him disappear past the hanging cloth.

The older attendant who had been helping with the lane stacked the last basin near the rear table. "That’s everyone."

Qing’er exhaled through her nose and straightened.

Only then did she glance toward Xu.

Her eyes went first to the torn left sleeve of his outer robe.

Then to his face.

Then back to the sleeve.

"Young Master..."

"No."

Qing’er blinked. "I didn’t say anything yet."

"You were about to ask if I’m hurt."

Her lips pressed together.

Xu lifted his left arm and rotated it. The torn sleeve gaped over unmarked skin.

Qing’er stared for another breath, then puffed her cheeks a little. "You could let me ask."

"And waste both our time?"

"It’s not wasting time if I’m checking you."

Xu pushed away from the post. "You’re done checking people tonight."

She opened her mouth.

He added, "You’re also going to eat."

That stopped her.

Qing’er’s gaze slid away.

Xu narrowed his eyes. "You skipped it."

"I was busy."

"I know."

"There were still people waiting."

"I know that too."

Her cheeks warmed. "Then why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you’re going to sit down and eat before I take you anywhere else."

Qing’er gave him a small, embarrassed pout.

"...Young Master is bossy."

"Mm."

That got a reluctant little smile out of her.

The covered meal had been kept from the guest courtyard, exactly as Lin had arranged earlier. Qing’er sat at the edge of the side table while Xu took the seat opposite her. She tried to make the first few bites small enough that he wouldn’t notice how hungry she was.

He noticed.

By the time she reached for another piece of roast meat, she caught him watching her.

"What?"

"Nothing. Eat."

Qing’er lowered her eyes to the bowl. "You’re still watching."

"Then eat faster."

"Tianlong..."

There it was. Softer than Young Master. More embarrassed too.

Xu’s mouth curved.

Qing’er saw it and immediately focused very hard on her rice.

A runner arrived before she finished the last few bites.

"Xu Tianlong?"

Xu looked over.

The young man bowed and offered a folded tournament sheet with both hands. "Semifinal formation diagram. Entrants are allowed the opening geometry tonight. Nothing beyond what is marked."

Xu took it. "Good."

The runner left.

Qing’er swallowed and glanced at the paper. "Tomorrow’s?"

"Mm."

Xu unfolded it only far enough to see the opening layout.

A narrow approach. Paired markers. The first pressure line began almost exactly where a straightforward first step would commit the entrant.

He looked at it for several breaths.

Qing’er leaned closer, then stopped herself before turning it into another problem to solve after a full day of work.

"Is it bad?"

"It’s annoying."

Xu folded the sheet again.

He hadn’t seen enough to call it dangerous, and certainly not enough to solve it. What he did know was simple: whoever had drawn the opening wanted the obvious movement punished immediately.

That could wait.

Qing’er had finished eating.

Xu stood.

She looked up at him. "Where are we going?"

He picked up the diagram. "Somewhere you won’t find another patient."

Qing’er’s face turned pink before he had even started walking.

"Tianlong..."

"Come."

She followed him without another question.

The Medicine Hall guest room was plain: wooden bed, low table, washstand, lamp, bench, shuttered window. Xu shut the door behind them. His sword came off his left hip and rested against the wall beside the door. The semifinal diagram went onto the low table, partly unfolded. His torn outer robe went onto the bench, and the rest of his clothes joined it.

Qing’er stood near the bed, suddenly much more aware of herself than she had been while binding wounds under the awning.

Xu sat back on the bed.

Then he looked at her.

"Take them off."

Qing’er’s fingers paused at her collar.

"All of them?"

Xu raised a brow.

Her blush deepened. "I know... I know."

She removed her outer layer first, folding it with the same instinctive neatness she used for medicine cloth before setting it beside the bench. Xu watched until she noticed.

Her hands became less neat after that.

The sash came loose. Then the robe. Then the thin inner garment, each joining the same pile beside the bench. Her bamboo hairpin was the last thing she removed from above her shoulders. She placed it on the low table, and hair spilled down her back.

When she finally stood naked in front of him, Qing’er covered herself for half a heartbeat.

Xu held out a hand.

"Come here."

She let her arms fall and walked over.

Xu pulled her directly into his lap and arms.

Qing’er gave a startled, soft "Mm!" before settling against his chest.

He brushed loose hair away from her cheek, then slid a hand down her spine. His palm found the round softness of her ass and squeezed.

Qing’er wriggled.

"Young Master..."

His other hand cupped her breast. The heavy softness filled his palm. He kneaded it, thumb brushing the nipple until it tightened.

Qing’er’s breath caught.

Xu looked down at her flushed face.

"You really are very cute, my Qing’er."

Her dimples appeared despite her embarrassment.

"You say that when you’re about to bully me."

"Do I?"

"Mm..."

Xu kissed her.

The answer disappeared into his mouth.

Qing’er melted into it quickly, arms moving around his shoulders. He kissed her until her breathing changed, then let his mouth travel along her jaw and down the side of her neck. She tipped her head without being told.

"Ah..."

He sucked the soft skin beneath her ear.

Qing’er shivered.

"Tianlong..."

Xu guided her down between his legs.

"Use your mouth first."

Her eyes flicked down.

Embarrassment returned to her face. She still knelt between his knees and wrapped her fingers around his cock.

"Like... this?"

"You remember."

She did.

Her lips closed around the head.

slurp.

Xu exhaled slowly.

Qing’er took more of him, tongue dragging along the underside before she pulled back. Saliva shone over the shaft. She went down again.

gulk.

Qing’er swallowed around the saliva pooling at the back of her mouth.

gulp.

"Mmh..."

Xu’s hand settled into her hair.

His hand held her at the depth she could take, then let her lift.

Qing’er tried deeper on her own.

ggk.

Her throat tightened around him. She coughed through her nose, eyes watering, then stubbornly tried again.

ghk.

Xu’s fingers tightened in her hair.

"Enough."

Qing’er pulled off with a wet slurp, breathing hard.

"Young Master wasn’t close?"

"I said enough."

She licked her lips and looked almost disappointed.

Xu pulled her back into his arms. His mouth found hers again, slower this time, until her breathing settled.

Then his hand slid between her thighs.

She was already wet.

His finger passed slowly through the slick heat of her folds.

squelch.

Qing’er’s hips twitched.

"Mmh..."

Xu pushed a finger inside her.

Her pussy tightened immediately.

He smiled against her neck.

"Qing’er."

"Mm?"

"I want you to do it again like the first time."

She blinked at him, cheeks still red. His finger curled inside her, and whatever answer she had prepared broke into a breath.

"Ah... T-Tianlong... you mean... me on top?"

"Yes."

He added another finger and worked them slowly through her wetness while his thumb found her clit.

Qing’er’s thighs squeezed around his hand.

"Do it better this time," Xu said. "Give me pleasure with this plump little pussy."

Her walls clamped hard around his fingers.

Xu stopped moving.

Qing’er froze too.

He looked at her.

"What was that?"

"..."

"Did your pussy react just because I talked to you like that?"

Qing’er hid her face against his shoulder.

"Mmm... Tianlong..."

Xu laughed quietly.

"Good girl, my little Qing’er"

He withdrew his fingers before the teasing could carry her too far.

Qing’er made a tiny sound of protest.

Xu tilted her chin up and kissed her again.

"Now climb on."

Qing’er swallowed.

Then she smiled, shy and eager at once.

"Yes... Tianlong."

She straddled him.

Xu lay back enough to give her room. Qing’er lifted her hips, took his cock in her hand, and rubbed the thick head through her soaked folds.

squelch...

"Ah..."

Her eyes fluttered.

"Don’t tease yourself."

"I wasn’t..."

"Qing’er."

She bit her lip.

"...Maybe a little."

Xu’s hand landed against her breast.

slap!

"Ah!"

The soft flesh bounced beneath his palm. Qing’er’s pussy clenched around nothing.

"Put it in."

She lined him up and sank.