Chapter 52: Detoxification

By the time they finally made it inside, both of them were completely soaked. Pei Yuan was staggering as he walked, his tall frame leaning heavily on Bao Ning’s shoulder. Her face was wet—it was impossible to tell if it was from sweat, tears, or rain.

Madam Liu had expected them to return in the evening, so seeing them back this early—and in such a disheveled state—startled her. “W-What happened?”

“He’s drunk. I’ll take him back myself,” Bao Ning said with a quick smile. “You go rest.”

Madam Liu was skeptical but didn’t dare ask further. “I’ll bring you two bowls of ginger soup shortly.”

“No need,” Bao Ning declined. “I’ll make it myself.” Pei Yuan likely wouldn’t want to see anyone right now.

Madam Liu agreed and watched them enter the house before retreating.

Ah Huang and the little goat had heard the commotion outside and were eagerly waiting at the door. When they saw the two come in, they rushed forward to greet them. Bao Ning had no time to entertain them. She struggled to help Pei Yuan onto the bed, stripped off his wet clothes, gave him a quick wipe-down with a dry cloth, and then covered him with a quilt.

Pei Yuan seemed to have fallen unconscious. Bao Ning, no longer caring about modesty, stripped him down to just his underpants, revealing a muscular chest and abdomen.

His body was covered in scars—some light and pale pink, others raised and twisting like large centipedes. On his left arm, a web-like pattern of toxins was visibly spreading, fast enough to see with the naked eye.

Bao Ning froze for a moment, a sour pain rising in her chest. How had this man become so fragile?

Worried he’d catch a cold, she dug out a thick winter goose-down quilt and covered him again, then quickly changed into dry clothes herself.

When she turned back, Pei Yuan was awake, staring at her. His eyes were bloodshot and unsettling, but he managed a soft smile.

“So beautiful,” Pei Yuan murmured. “I want to kiss you.”

“Now’s really not the time—can you act a little serious?” Bao Ning tried to scold him, but seeing his state, she couldn’t bring herself to. She turned away, retrieved the porcelain jar containing leeches, and went to get the medicine.

Ah Huang and the goat seemed to realize this wasn’t the time for play, and quietly lay down nearby.

Bao Ning opened the jar of leeches and, despite her fear and disgust, composed herself and gave the animals a command: “Guard the door. Don’t let anyone in.”

Ah Huang barked in response. Bao Ning picked up her acupuncture kit and sat beside the bed, rolling up the pant leg of Pei Yuan’s left leg.

Even though she’d mentally prepared herself, seeing it still made her flinch. Every vein looked alive, bulging and dark purple, with countless tiny dots visibly twitching on the surface. Bao Ning took a deep breath, looked away, and scooped out a spoonful of pre-prepared ointment.

She looked to Pei Yuan and gently asked, “Shall I begin?”

She bit her lip. “It might hurt.”

Pei Yuan lay there, turned his head to look at her, and suddenly said, “Ning Ning, I was just thinking—I’ve really wronged you.”

“…Why bring this up now?” Bao Ning paused, curling her fingers. “When have you ever wronged me?”

“Thinking back… you’ve done so much for me,” Pei Yuan said softly. “If it weren’t for you, I’d probably still be in that little courtyard, living like a cripple. You know me. I’m stubborn and prideful. I really believed that once my leg was ruined, my life was over. Death seemed like a good option.”

Bao Ning looked into his eyes, feeling her jaw clench as tears threatened to fall. She didn’t understand why he was suddenly saying all this—he was never the sentimental type.

“Rather than live looking fine but being pitied and called a cripple, I would’ve rather died in some unknown corner. But I was unwilling. I still had so much left undone—so many grudges unavenged. Just dying like that… it’s not who I am. But I also couldn’t keep going.”

“I don’t believe in gods or spirits, but during that time, I prayed every day that if Bodhisattvas were real, it’d be nice.”

Pei Yuan reached out and played with her pinky finger, gently rubbing it. “And then I met you.”

Bao Ning lowered her gaze, her nose stuffy. She wiped it hard with the back of her hand.

She had always wanted to hear a few sweet words from Pei Yuan. Now that he finally said them, she found she wasn’t happy at all. He spoke so earnestly, like he was saying his last words. It wasn’t like before—when even their bickering had a lighthearted tone. Now, it only made her want to cry.

“Are you annoyed by my rambling?” Pei Yuan’s eyes dimmed, and he sighed. “I’m saying all this now because I might not get the chance again.”

Bao Ning’s head jerked up. “What do you mean?”

“If I die,” Pei Yuan paused, seeing her eyes widen in panic, then smiled faintly, “Why so nervous? I said if.”

His voice slowed. “If I really die, and you’re still young, with your whole life ahead of you… I worry you’ll forget me. I worry that when you do remember, all you’ll think of are the bad parts. After all, I wasn’t that good to you.”

“My nature isn’t great. I was never born to be a good husband. But I do have some good points—I don’t hit or yell. You’ll just have to teach me slowly… if I get another chance.”

Bao Ning sniffled and snapped, “And if you don’t? If you die, I’ll remarry immediately. I’ll start a new life and forget you in a day.”

“In your dreams,” Pei Yuan narrowed his eyes. “If anyone dares marry you, even as a ghost I’ll dig up his family’s ancestral graves. You’ll behave and live as my widow forever.”

Bao Ning couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. “You’re shameless and unreasonable. I’m done talking to you.”

But after that back-and-forth, her earlier panic had eased somewhat. She stirred the ointment with the jade stick, glanced at Pei Yuan, then resolutely smeared it onto his calf.

This ointment was meant to draw the leech into the skin. Leeches love blood, but they’re not stupid—if the blood is poisoned, they can sense it and won’t bite. This ointment masked the smell, tricking the leech into biting and drawing out the poison. The cost, though, was pain.

Aunt Ming had once told her it felt like hundreds of needles piercing under one’s fingernail.

Bao Ning looked at Pei Yuan’s face. Sweat was already forming on his brow, and his fingers were tightly clenched around the blanket. Her heart tightened in sympathy. She didn’t ask if it hurt—there was no point. Of course it did. Better short-term pain than dragging it out.

Using chopsticks, Bao Ning picked up the fat leech, wiped off the mud on its body with cloth. The cold, slimy texture made her skin crawl. She glanced at Pei Yuan, who also looked her way and gave a small nod.

Gently, she placed the leech on the area where she’d applied the ointment. At first, the leech was listless, not very lively. But once it caught the scent, it perked up immediately, wiggling its head and tail before latching onto the skin.

Very soon, the leech’s transparent body began to change. A thin line of blood flowed from its head into its abdomen, which gradually swelled. Bao Ning had seen it feed on snails before—back then, the blood was bright red. But now, the blood was a dark purplish-black, faintly glowing, eerie and frightening.

Bao Ning sat beside Pei Yuan, holding his wrist as she observed the red mark’s changes.

At first, there was no effect. But as the leech continued to feed, the bean-sized, throbbing red mark gradually calmed down. The spreading poison also came to a halt—perhaps even slightly receding.

Delighted, Bao Ning looked at Pei Yuan. “Look! It’s working!”

Pei Yuan pulled her into an embrace, burying his face in the crook of her neck without saying a word.

His breathing, once ragged and heavy, slowly became calm. Bao Ning’s heart, which had been pounding wildly, finally settled. She clenched her damp palms—completely soaked in sweat—and felt a sudden sense of survival after catastrophe.

Even though this was just the beginning, the road ahead was still long. The leech detoxification process had to be repeated every fifteen days, without fail. That meant Pei Yuan would have to endure this pain twice a month—for at least three years.

Bao Ning stared at the fat leech on his leg, watching as it dropped off, bloated and full. It twitched a few times on the bed, then lay stiff and still.

Pei Yuan had fallen asleep against her shoulder. Bao Ning gently squeezed his fingers—no response. She quietly shifted and laid him flat on the bed. Right now, he was so docile, like a big dog, letting her move him however she wanted.

Bao Ning smiled faintly, remembering what Pei Yuan had said earlier—how he promised he wouldn’t retaliate no matter how she scolded or hit him. She wondered if he really meant it.

She reached out and brushed his eyelashes. Just like him, they were stiff and straight—not soft at all. She tried her own—long and silky to the touch.

After tidying up the bed and putting away the jars, Bao Ning lay down beside him. She couldn’t fall asleep, tossing and turning as she thought about the things Pei Yuan had said earlier.

He had clearly recognized his own flaws, always telling her to “teach him,” never once asking if she was even willing. He hadn’t paid any tuition, and he wasn’t the brightest either—what kind of student was that? She wouldn’t even accept him.

Her mind wandered. She remembered how Pei Yuan had once promised to wash her feet to make up after upsetting her—but he had kept putting it off. And now she was the one taking care of him instead. Staring at him, she grew more annoyed the more she thought about it.

So, she lifted her foot and kicked him in the face. Once wasn’t enough—she kicked again. Then quickly retracted her foot and nervously checked his expression.

He was still fast asleep, showing no signs of waking.

Bao Ning let out a breath of relief and justified it to herself. He had said it himself—he wouldn’t retaliate no matter how she hit or scolded him. She only kicked him twice—he wouldn’t mind.

…

After a whole day of tension, now that everything was finally settled and there was nothing left to worry about, drowsiness swept over her.

Bao Ning pulled the quilt up over her nose and drifted into sleep. By the time she woke again, it was completely dark. The thick quilt had made her sweat all over, leaving her sticky and uncomfortable. She twisted a little and opened her eyes—only to meet Pei Yuan’s gaze.

He seemed to have been awake for a while, tugging at her hair and teasing in a low voice:

“Taking advantage of a defenseless man—is that your idea of fun?”

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