A Hero's Heart - Chapter 3

The seventeenth woke up.

Since I did not know his real name, I gave the blind, mute man I had picked up the name Seventeen.

The Carefree Sect had sixteen disciples, counting me. He was the seventeenth.

At first, he did not seem to like it.

“Why do you have to be called that?” I asked reasonably. “If you have a name, tell me, and I won’t call you Seventeen anymore.”

He was lying weakly on the bed. When I finished speaking, he turned his head away.

He had a bad temper.

After waking, he either tried to leave or refused to communicate with me.

He often infuriated me, but the old doctor always advised me to be patient. Seventeen must have suffered something terrible in the past, the doctor said, and that was why he had become so guarded. I should be more considerate.

The old doctor really was a kind man.

Perhaps Seventeen thought so, too. After the doctor patiently reasoned with him for a long while, Seventeen finally stopped insisting on leaving and agreed to travel with me.

I stayed at the clinic for several more days.

By my reckoning, the people Father had sent after me had already moved on. It was time for Seventeen and me to continue our journey.

The old doctor was like an elder seeing his juniors off. He stuffed a great deal of dried food into my bundle.

“I don’t know where you two are headed, but I wish you a safe journey.”

“Thank you for these past few days. I hope your business prospers.” I realized at once that the wording was inappropriate and hurriedly tried again. After several failed attempts, I finally gave up and said, “In short, I wish you every success.”

The old doctor laughed.

Even the boy behind him laughed.

I had never known that words could become so sticky in my mouth.

Seventeen remained expressionless. I could not tell whether his face was naturally cold or whether he simply had no expression to begin with.

As for what he truly looked like, I still had no idea.

The blindfold covered most of his face. All I could make out was his straight nose, his thin lips, and the sharp line of his jaw, made more striking by his gauntness.

The old doctor said he never allowed anyone to remove the cloth from his eyes.

Perhaps his eyes were frightening, and he was afraid of startling people.

I did not agree with that idea. What could be frightening about a pair of eyes?

Still, on the night we left Qingyun City, I waited until Seventeen had fallen asleep and quietly reached for his blindfold. I wanted to see what he really looked like.

We were spending that snowy night in a ruined temple.

He happened to be lying beside a broken window.

I crept across, making as little sound as possible. Under the pale moonlight, I stretched out my hand.

But when my fingers were still several inches from his face, he suddenly caught my wrist.

Before I could react, I cried out and fell into his arms.

His embrace was even colder than the snowy night outside. His body was hard and rigid, all bone.

I shivered.

“Seventeen, it’s me.” I grimaced from the pain.

Seventeen loosened his grip only after hearing my voice.

He must have been angry.

Taking advantage of the moment, I clung to him shamelessly. “I was cold by the window. I thought holding on to you would be warmer.”

It was as if I had burned him. He released my hand at once and pushed me away.

I sat up, pleased with myself.

He really did look like a proper gentleman.

“Seventeen, we’re traveling together. There’s no need to be so particular about the difference between men and women.” I smiled brightly and teased him.

His brows drew together. He turned toward the corner, pressing his thin lips into a line.

He looked like an innocent young woman who had been bullied by a ruffian.

The sight made me laugh so hard that tears nearly came to my eyes. He was far more entertaining than the senior brothers at my sect.

After teasing him for a while, I dragged over the wool cloak the cart driver had brought and wrapped it around his shoulders.

“If you won’t let me hug you, then use this to keep warm while you sleep.”

I had bought the cloak for him in Qingyun City.

Even without removing his blindfold, he seemed somewhat annoyed.

I ignored it.