Xiao Zhi saw it all in a blur of motion and sound.
One moment, Kabil's hand was raised. The next moment, Ruhan was there, throwing his arms around her, pulling her back as the blade came down. He jerked forward with a sharp, choked breath. Warm blood splattered against her sleeve.
She couldn't breathe. Her brain wouldn't process the image: Ruhan's body curved around her like a shield, and Kabil's sword pulling away with a sickening, wet sound.
Ruhan collapsed to one knee, still between her and Kabil.
Then she saw Kabil's face. He was smiling. It wasn't a wide grin, just a faint, terrifying curl of satisfaction.
"Now," Kabil murmured, his voice almost gentle. "Let's see how much more 'heroism' you have left in you."
He lifted the sword again.
No— the word died in her throat. But before the sword could fall, a second blade flew through the air, knocking Kabil's weapon aside with a violent crash.
Arkan stood in the doorway. One arm was still raised, fingers spread in the air where a blade had just left his hand. He looked almost bored, but his presence turned the room cold.
"Don't you dare lay your hand on the Khan's man," Arkan said calmly.
The words weren't loud, but they carried enough weight to stop the air in the room. They didn't need to be shouted to make Kabil freeze.
Kabil's fury flared instantly, but hesitation crept in just as fast. Xiao Zhi could see it in the tightening of his jaw, the way his fingers flexed before slowly loosening.
A eunuch could be crushed quietly.
But Arkan was not someone to provoke without consequence.
"Tsk," Kabil spat, picking up his sword. His voice was bitter, thick with resentment. "Don't get the wrong idea. This isn't over."
His gaze flicked briefly toward Ruhan, then to Xiao Zhi, as if giving a silent warning.
"Enjoy this little victory while you can."
He turned away before anyone could react, his footsteps harsh against the stone as he disappeared down the corridor, retreating without ever admitting his defeat.
With the threat gone, the adrenaline drained out of Xiao Zhi all at once. Her legs finally gave out.
She collapsed beside Ruhan, her fingers fumbling as she reached for his shoulder. She tried to speak, but her voice was thin and shaky. "Are you alright?"
Ruhan coughed softly, wincing as he shifted. His face was pale, but he forced a faint, crooked smile as if that alone could reassure her.
"I think so."
She knew it was a lie the moment he said it.
Blood was already soaking through the fabric at his shoulder. Seeing it made her stomach twist violently.
Arkan stepped closer, his gaze sharp and assessing. "We need to tend that wound," he said. "Before it gets worse."
Ruhan nodded, bracing his hands against the floor as if preparing to stand.
"Stay here," Xiao Zhi said suddenly, clutching his sleeve. "Let me take care of it," she added, her voice breaking.
Ruhan turned back toward her.
He opened his mouth to protest. But she clutched his sleeves even harder. She wasn't asking because she wanted to be useful. She was asking because she was afraid.
Arkan noticed it too. After a brief pause, he nodded once. "I'll fetch the medicine."
When he left, the room felt unbearably small.
Ruhan lowered himself beside her on the bed. He reached for her hand and held it firmly in his.
"I'm here," he said softly.
Her fingers tightened around his, holding onto his warmth. Her voice shook when she finally spoke.
"He almost killed you," she whispered.
Her eyes burned with tears she tried to hide, but she refused to let them fall. Not yet. Not while she was still holding onto him.
"I almost lost you."
The weight of it made breathing painful. It felt unreal.
She had always known this world was cruel. Blood, tragedy, and death were written casually into it. She had expected it in theory, accepted it as part of the story she'd fallen into. But seeing it happen right in front of her, unfolding in real time, was different.
It was real. So real it terrified her.
Ruhan's expression softened. "I'm still alive," he said gently. "I'm okay."
She wasn't convinced, but she nodded anyway, because she needed to believe it.
Arkan returned with the medicine and some gauze. He handed it to her without a word, his gaze flicking once to Ruhan's shoulder before stepping back.
Xiao Zhi took the gauze and the jar of medicine with trembling fingers.
But when she reached for Ruhan's wound and her fingertips brushed against his blood, her composure shattered.
Her hands began to shake violently, breath catching in her throat as tears finally flowed free.
Ruhan immediately took her hand again, squeezing gently. "It's alright," he murmured. "I'm okay. It's going to be alright."
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe.
She cleaned the wound, wrapped it with painstaking care, her movements growing steadier as she focused on the task. On him.
When she finished wrapping the last layer of gauze, he turned around to face her. His gaze drifted upward to her neck and froze.
"Where's the ointment I gave you?"
She lifted her hand weakly and pointed toward the vanity.
Ruhan pushed himself up from the bed, but she caught his hand. "I'll get it," she said softly. "You shouldn't move yet."
She crossed the room slowly and returned with the porcelain jar, opening it as she sat back down beside him.
She thought he would use it for his wound. Instead, Ruhan took the jar from her and shifted closer, settling back onto the edge of the bed. He dipped his fingers into the ointment and brushed it gently over her bruised neck, slowly and carefully.
When he finished, he leaned down and blew softly over the spot, as if the warmth of his breath might soothe what his touch could not.
Xiao Zhi stiffened.
Only then did Ruhan seem to realize how close they were.
Too close.
He pulled back at once, forcing distance between them. His voice was steady when he spoke, but his hands trembled faintly.
"You should rest."
She hesitated, then asked softly, "Can you stay… until I fall asleep?"
He nodded.
He stayed until her breathing finally evened out and sleep claimed her.