Muroung Xue''s POV


    Murong Xue lay motionless, listening to the faint creaks of the ship as the waves continued their relentless assault. The dim lantern glow flickered across the wooden walls of her cabin, casting long shadows that danced with the movement of the ship. Though exhaustion weighed on her body, her mind refused to rest.


    The moment Zhao Ming’s footsteps faded beyond the door, she slowly opened her eyes.


    Why… why did I insist that he treat my wounds?


    Her fingers brushed against the fresh bandages wrapped securely around her abdomen. His hands had been firm, steady—precise, yet strangely gentle. He had neither hesitated nor shown discomfort, but rather, he had tended to her wounds with the calm efficiency of someone used to such tasks.


    Yet, that wasn’t what made her heart uneasy.


    What must he think of me now?


    A noble lady allowing a man to undress her injuries—what would others say? What would her family say? She had never been reckless when it came to such matters, yet in that moment, she hadn’t wanted anyone else. The thought of another tending to her, even a female disciple, had felt… unnecessary.


    Her grip tightened on the sheets.


    Does Zhao Ming think I am shameless?


    She replayed the moment in her mind—the way she had watched him as he worked, the warmth of his fingers against her skin, the brief pause when he first touched her bare abdomen. Had he thought anything of it? Or was she the only one overthinking?


    Then, another memory surfaced.


    When I changed my dress… did he peek?


    Her face heated at the thought. She had asked him to turn around, and he had obeyed without hesitation. But still… she had felt his presence behind her, the awareness of his proximity making every rustle of fabric seem louder than it should have. Even though she knew he wouldn’t, a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder—if only out of curiosity—had he stolen a glance?


    Stop. What am I thinking?


    She turned onto her side, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at her wound. She was exhausted. That had to be it. The battle, the storm, the injuries—it was clouding her mind, making her think strange things.


    Right now, what mattered was reaching Beihai safely.


    She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to relax. But even as sleep began to claim her, she couldn’t forget the warmth of his touch, the lingering feeling of his hands against her skin. And somewhere deep within her heart, an unfamiliar emotion stirred—one that she wasn’t ready to name just yet.


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    Azure Dragon Disciples Gossip


    Below deck, the Azure Dragon Disciples gathered in small groups, tending to their wounds while the ship rocked gently with the calming waves. The battle was over, the storm had passed, and miraculously, they were all still alive. The tension that had gripped them for hours was finally beginning to fade, replaced by relief and exhaustion.


    "Can you believe it? We actually made it through that fight without losing anyone!" one of the male disciples said as he tightened a bandage around his arm.


    "Yeah, we got lucky," another muttered, shaking his head. "If it weren''t for Senior Sister Murong Xue leading the charge, and Brother Zhao’s quick thinking, we’d be fish food by now."


    A female disciple smiled. "Not just lucky—we had good leadership. Senior Sister was incredible. She didn’t hesitate for a second!"


    "Right? She even fought while wounded! That’s real strength."


    "And Brother Zhao..." another disciple added, lowering his voice slightly. "That guy is something else. He took charge like a natural. Giving orders, making sure we didn’t panic, distributing medicine—"


    "Speaking of medicine, thank the heavens for that," a wounded disciple groaned as he dabbed ointment on his arm. "We barely had enough to treat everyone, but Brother Zhao actually had extras. What kind of scholar carries that much medicine with him?"


    "More importantly, why did he personally give it to Senior Sister Murong Xue before anyone else?" another female disciple teased, raising an eyebrow.


    The room went quiet for a moment before smirks and knowing glances spread across the disciples'' faces.


    "You don’t think..."


    "Think what?" someone prompted, though the sly grin on their face suggested they already knew.


    A male disciple chuckled. "Come on, it’s obvious. The way Senior Sister let him treat her wounds? And she refused to let anyone else do it? If that’s not suspicious, I don’t know what is."


    Another female disciple covered her mouth as she giggled. "And when she changed her dress? I swear, I saw Brother Zhao turn around, but I bet he was tempted to peek!"


    "You think they—"


    "Shh! Don''t spread baseless rumors," a more serious disciple interrupted, though the corner of his lips twitched. "But... if they really are close, we should start calling him Brother-in-Law soon."


    Laughter erupted around the group.


    "Should we? Maybe we should wait until it’s official!"


    "I don’t know about you guys, but if Senior Sister Murong Xue actually ends up with Brother Zhao, I’d feel a lot safer following them. With the way they handled this battle, they’re a strong pair."


    "And you know what they say, strong men and strong women attract each other," a female disciple added with a playful wink.


    "But... if it''s true..." a younger disciple hesitated before adding with a mischievous grin, "there will be a lot of broken-hearted Senior Brothers back in the sect."


    Silence fell for a moment before another disciple burst out laughing.


    "Oh, absolutely! Senior Sister Murong Xue has plenty of admirers. If word gets out that she’s growing close to Brother Zhao, the sect might drown in jealous sighs!"


    "Senior Brother Liang will probably cry himself to sleep for weeks," another added with a snicker.


    "Not just him. There’s Senior Brother Wei, Senior Brother Duan, and even that cold-faced Senior Brother Feng who always pretends he doesn’t care but follows her around!"


    The group erupted in laughter again.


    One of the female disciples shook her head, smiling. "If those Senior Brothers find out, I wouldn’t be surprised if they challenge Brother Zhao to duels one after another!"


    "Ha! Like that would stop him. Brother Zhao is too clever. He’d find a way to win without even drawing his sword."


    "That’s true! Either way, this is going to be fun to watch!"


    The gossip continued well into the night, the disciples enjoying a rare moment of lighthearted conversation after the harrowing battle. Meanwhile, Zhao Ming and Murong Xue, oblivious to the chatter, rested in their separate quarters—unaware that their comrades had already started planning their future and preparing for the chaos their relationship might bring back at the sect.