Chapter 102: Why Do You Always Follow Me?

We had only met a few days ago, only a handful of times, yet why did he repeatedly come to my aid? Now, learning that I was gravely injured, he had even made the special journey up to Lingyun Mountain to see me.

I opened my eyes, fixing my gaze on his face. My hands clenched into fists beneath the quilt as I asked, "What is your true identity? Why have you been following me, and what is your purpose? Also, how did you manage to get up to Lingyun Mountain?"

This enigmatic man, dressed like a scholar, was truly suspicious. He knew everything about me, and much about Zilian, yet I knew nothing of him except that his name was Putai. Whether that name was real or false, only he could say.

Putai was slightly taken aback, seemingly unprepared for my questions. He averted his eyes with a smile and said, "It is not convenient for me to reveal my true identity to Miss Yuge at this moment. But I can promise you, Miss Yuge, that I would never harm you."

"I don't care whether you harm me or not," I said hurriedly, sensing his evasiveness. "No matter what you do to me, I don’t mind. But I fear you might harm Zilian."

"Harm Immortal Zilian?" A mocking smile flickered across his face. "I am but a mere mortal, how could I possibly have the power to harm your Immortal Zilian?"

His words inexplicably unsettled me, and in a low voice I said, "Yet, I feel certain you are not a mere mortal."

"Oh?" Putai’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "If I am not mortal, then what could I be? Perhaps, like you, I am a little demon fish who slipped out of the demon realm to repay a debt of gratitude. Or maybe, like Immortal Zilian, I am a celestial being from the heavenly realm."

Before I could respond, he burst into laughter.

"Why do you keep following me?" I had longed to ask this question.

I raised my head, staring intently at him. His smile deepened, and in a soft voice he said, "If I told you the reason I have followed you for so long, it would be because..."

"Because what?" I pressed when he fell silent.

"Heh... I have no great cause. I simply enjoy helping others." His gaze shifted to my shoulder, his brow furrowing. "Was your arm injured by those four green bamboo demons?"

"Yes." I nodded tearfully.

Since my injury, this was the first time someone had asked about my wounds with such gentleness. Even Zilian had only glanced at me coldly.

"Would you mind if I took a look?" He smiled as he reached out his hand.

I bit my lip and leaned back slightly. Seeing the light in his eyes dim, I felt a pang of guilt. I recalled how, at the inn, he had personally removed the fish scale from my chest; he had already seen my body once before, so perhaps this time I could allow it.

"Very well." I gritted my teeth, as if resigning myself.

"Rest assured, I won’t actually look," he said.

He untied the ribbon from his hair, and the dark strands, once bound tightly, cascaded down like thick ink spilled and spreading, fluttering lightly in the breeze, curling around his fingers and neck.

"Now, Miss Yuge, you should feel safe with me," he said, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Then, he blindfolded himself with the white ribbon, tying it securely behind his ears before reaching out his hands again.

I raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You can’t see anything like that. How will you examine my injuries?"

Putai chuckled lightly, a mysterious glint in his eye. "I only need to touch."

"Touch?" I frowned inwardly. That seemed even more intrusive than looking.

I lay stiffly on the bed, watching his hand slowly extend toward me. His hands were unlike Zilian’s—Zilian’s fingers were pale, slender, but strong. His hands, by contrast, were delicate and feminine, with blue veins visible beneath the skin, like streams flowing continuously beneath a translucent surface.