Chapter 2

She was deeply grateful that the real Xu Ling Ai's talents had remained in this body, even if her memories had not.

It was only because of these talents that she knew how to embroider with grace or heal illnesses with precision. These weren't her skills—they belonged to the original Xu Ling Ai. Yet, when she held a needle or prepared medicinal herbs, her hands moved naturally, as if guided by an unseen force.

However, no matter how hard she tried, she could recall nothing about the original Xu Ling Ai. It was as if the memories had vanished entirely, leaving the body hers to claim.

After blowing out the last candle, Xu Ling Ai tiptoed toward the door, her steps light and deliberate to avoid waking Jiang Mama.

"Jiang Mama, I'll return the real Xu Ling Ai, I promise. And thank you for taking care of me," she whispered into the quiet night, though no one could hear her.

Even though learning the ancient customs and rules was a nuisance, she still felt a flicker of gratitude for Jiang Mama's patient care.

Gripping the torch tightly, she stepped into the forest. The crisp air wrapped around her like icy tendrils, making her shiver. Goosebumps prickled her skin as the cold seeped through her thin, ancient-style sleepwear. She hadn't even bothered to change before leaving.

The moon hung low in the sky, its pale glow filtering through the trees, casting long, eerie shadows along the forest path. The rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl accompanied her slow journey to the river.

She finally arrived at the spot Jiang Mama had described. The river glistened under the moonlight, its surface rippling gently. Xu Ling Ai scanned the area, her brows furrowing as she muttered to herself.

"How did I even fall into this place?"

She let out a frustrated sigh before stepping closer to the water.

"But who cares? As long as I can go back to hell, it doesn't matter!" she declared, her voice trembling with determination.

Balancing on the edge of a slippery rock, she hesitated. A sudden wave of fear washed over her. Memories of the last time—of choking, drowning, and suffocating panic—rose unbidden to her mind. She pulled her foot back instinctively, her heart pounding.

"Breathe in. Breathe out," she murmured, steeling herself. "Alright, I'm ready!"

With a deep breath, she pinched her nose and jumped. Her petite frame broke the surface of the river, plunging into the icy depths.

The cold water embraced her like a thousand needles stabbing into her skin. She opened her eyes, the faint shimmer of moonlight revealing darting fish and the river's murky depths. Pressing her palms together, she silently wished that this attempt would be less painful than the last.

But the water was unkind. Her lungs began to burn as her oxygen dwindled. She gasped involuntarily, water rushing into her mouth and throat. Her instincts screamed at her to surface, but she fought the urge, clenching her fists stubbornly.

Her nose stung, her chest tightened, and her vision blurred. Darkness crept in at the edges of her mind as she began to lose consciousness. Her only thought was to escape this world, to return to the hell she came from. Anything was better than struggling with these ancient customs and rules.

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her waist.

What...?

She was only half-conscious, but she could feel herself being pulled upward. A man's firm grip held her securely. As her body floated closer to the surface, she caught a glimpse of his masked face through the shimmering water.

She wanted to struggle, to push him away, but her strength had already left her.

The man's powerful strokes propelled them both out of the water. Gasping for air, Xu Ling Ai coughed violently, the sound harsh and ragged as water spilled from her lungs.

"Cough! Cough! W-why did you save me?" she choked out, her voice barely audible.

The man didn't answer. Instead, he turned to leave, his movements swift and deliberate.

It was then that Xu Ling Ai noticed the dark stain spreading across his white robes. Her eyes widened.

"Blood," she whispered, the word slipping from her lips like a realization.

She staggered to her feet, her legs weak and unsteady, and tried to follow him. But before she could get close, he spun around, drawing a gleaming sword that caught the moonlight.

At first glance, he appeared unharmed. But Xu Ling Ai's sharp eyes caught the telltale signs of poison—the blood pooling at his stomach had turned black, spreading like ink through the fabric.

"If you want to live, don't move," he growled, his voice low and cutting, laced with an icy authority that sent shivers down her spine.

Xu Ling Ai's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Are you suffering from short-term memory loss or something? You just saved me from drowning myself, and now you're threatening me if I want to live this shitty life?" Her words were sharp, her tone teasing as she tilted her head, feigning innocence.

Her defiance caught him off guard, though his expression remained unreadable behind the golden mask.

The tension crackled between them, but Xu Ling Ai recovered her composure quickly. She raised her hands in mock surrender, a smirk still playing at her lips.

"I might look delicate, but I've learned taekwondo, you know. So, how about you put down the sword before I kick your butt?" she quipped, her tone light, though her movements were cautious as she took a small step forward.

The man's sharp gaze didn't waver, unyielding and scrutinizing.

Xu Ling Ai let out a soft sigh, her tone shifting to something more genuine. "I'm serious. I just want to help," she said, her voice losing its playful edge. She kept her eyes locked on his, her movements slow and deliberate as if trying not to spook a wild animal.

The man didn't reply, but the faintest flicker of hesitation rippled through his stance. His grip on the sword remained firm, yet there was a silent question in the air—a battle between trust and caution.

"It's poison. Let me treat it," she said, her tone firm but not demanding.

The man stood still, his golden mask gleaming faintly in the moonlight. His black attire clung to his powerful frame, now damp from the river.

For a long moment, the silence hung thick between them. Finally, he spoke.

"How long will it take?"

"My house is close by. We need to stop the bleeding immediately," she replied, urgency lacing her words. She worried the poison would spread faster if they delayed.

Without waiting for his approval, she turned and began leading him toward her home. The path through the forest seemed endless, the torchlight flickering against the darkness.

"Jiang Mama! Gather painkiller leaves, poison antidote, clean clothes, a torch, and a bowl of water—hurry!" Xu Ling Ai shouted as they reached the house.

Jiang Mama rushed out, her face a mix of shock and worry as she saw Xu Ling Ai, soaked and disheveled, with an injured man in tow. But she didn't ask questions.

The masked man followed in silence, his sword still in hand. Only when they entered the house did he lower it slightly.

"Please don't move. I need to check your injuries," Xu Ling Ai said, her voice calm but firm.

The man's piercing gaze met hers, but he didn't protest as she knelt beside him.

To his surprise, she reached out to untie his robes.

"What are you doing?" he snapped, grabbing her wrist with startling speed.

She met his glare with unwavering determination. "I need to see the wound to treat it. I'm not trying to take advantage of you."

"I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable." Xu Ling Ai explained, her tone calm but determined.

She recalled the etiquette Jiang Mama had taught her: unmarried men and women should maintain boundaries.

"I'll do it myself," he said coldly, releasing her hands.

"Fine. It's not like I want to see your body anyway," Xu Ling Ai muttered, rolling her eyes.

I've seen countless male leads in Netflix dramas. His body is probably nothing special, she thought, suppressing a snort.

Despite the spreading poison, the masked man retained his strength as he removed his outer robes.

"Miss, I've brought everything you asked for," Jiang Mama said, interrupting Xu Ling Ai's thoughts. Xu Ling Ai nodded and quickly prepared the medicines.

As she worked, the torchlight illuminated the man's muscular frame. She froze, realizing she had never seen a man's body up close before.

Don't drool. Don't drool, she reminded herself.

Still, his physique was undeniably impressive.

"Cool," she blurted out before covering her mouth in embarrassment.

Her attention shifted to the old scars crisscrossing his body. Gently tracing one with her finger, she asked, "Did this hurt a lot when you got it?"

Sadness washed over her, though she quickly shook it off. These weren't her memories.

Focusing on the task, Xu Ling Ai knelt beside him and skillfully applied acupuncture to stop the bleeding. She spread the salve over his wounds and wrapped them using her torn nightclothes.

"It's done. Change the dressing twice a day, and avoid alcohol for a while," she instructed, washing her hands in the water bowl.

When she turned back, the masked man was gone. In his place lay a luxurious jade ornament.

"Is this his way of thanking me? Or did he leave it by accident?" she murmured, picking up the jade. It was intricately carved and gleamed in the torchlight.

This looks expensive... Can I sell it?

She gazed at it, lost in thought.

P.S.

Have y'all watched The Long Ballad?

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Thanks! 💖 - R