Xiao Yi took out the medicinal ingredients.
The quality of these ingredients was quite good, and Xiao Yi sat cross-legged to begin concocting the elixir that would regenerate skin.
Besides needing to concoct the elixir to be taken orally, there was also a need to create a topical ointment.
The concocting process was very troublesome and complex.
Even if it were to be successful, for Little Lin and Yue Shanchuan's skin to return to its original state, it would take at least two or three days. Of course, this was because Xiao Yi had mastered countless ancient recipes. If it were an ordinary alchemist, they might not even be able to regenerate their skin.
Xiao Yi was fully focused on his alchemy.
Ying washed the clothes and then returned to the room, tidied it up, and then quietly squatted in a corner.
With her hands hugging her legs, her little head was buried between her knees.
Her gaze was fixed on Xiao Yi's room, she had never felt such warmth and security. After a while, Ying fell into a deep sleep, right after Xiao Yi finished concocting the elixir and had applied the first treatment on Yue Shanchuan and Little Lin.
Xiao Yi noticed Ying curled up in the corner and frowned slightly, stepping forward to pat her head, "Ying, isn't there a bed here? Why are you hiding in this corner?"
Revealing a brilliant smile, Ying's two dark eyes sparkled like black gems. Yet, with a strong effort, she said, "At home, Dad wouldn't let me sit on a stool or lie in a bed. My sister and I always squatted on the ground! Big brother, the floor here is much warmer than at home, I'm fine!"
Ying tried to stand up but found that her legs were numb, and with a cry of distress, she fell down.
Accidentally, she knocked over a cup at the side, shattering it.
Xiao Yi was about to help her up.
Ying, however, was terror-stricken and knelt on the ground, her head banging against the floor with a sob in her voice. Yet she still managed a stubborn smile, "Big brother, Ying was wrong. Ying shouldn't have fallen down in front of you. Big brother, I won't dare to do so again. Please don't drive me away, I beg you, I'll be good..."
Xiao Yi's hand, which was trying to help her, paused mid-air, or rather, froze in place.
He couldn't imagine what kind of environment could have made Ying .
She hadn't done anything wrong at all!
It was just that her legs had gone numb from squatting for so long.
Why then did she have to apologize so humbly? And while apologizing, she still had a smile on her face, forcibly holding back the tears in her eyes from falling.
Xiao Yi felt as if there was a heavy stone pressing on his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He carefully helped Ying up, looking at her eyes brimming with unshed tears, and the smile that was forcibly squeezed out—it was as if someone had a firm grip on his heart.
Xiao Yi let out a long breath and said softly, "Ying, you haven't done anything wrong..."
"Mhm mhm, brother is right, Ying didn't do anything wrong, Ying won't cry. Big brother, please don't be angry, Ying will listen..." Ying didn't dare to look at Xiao Yi, her voice trembling, but the smile on her face was heart-wrenchingly painful to witness.
Xiao Yi took a deep breath.
He knew this was a deep-seated fear, a conditioned reflex she had developed.
It was not a frost of a single day that resulted in the ice three feet deep.
It wasn't possible to change her just by his few words. He could only rub her head and said with a smile, "Alright, brother knows Ying is the best behaved. Ying, are you hungry? Brother will take you to eat something delicious, then buy you a set of new clothes!"
Ying's stomach grumbled, but she still shook her head, "I'm not hungry. Ying isn't hungry. Just give me a bit of what's leftover from what brother eats. Hee hee, brother, don't worry about Ying..."
Xiao Yi didn't say anything more and took Ying by the hand, walking toward the door.
He ordered a lavish meal.
Xiao Yi looked at Ying, who was visibly uncomfortable, and said, "Ying, you should eat up, this is an order from brother. If you don't, brother will be angry!"
"No, no, don't be angry, brother. Ying will eat obediently..."
Ying hurriedly picked up the chopsticks and began to eat, as if afraid that eating too slowly would result in punishment from Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi watched in silence.
After she had finished eating,
Xiao Yi took Ying to a nearby shop and bought her two sets of replacement clothing before they returned to their room.
In the next two days,
Yue Shanchuan and Little Lin's injuries healed very quickly, and their skin had mostly regrown. They just needed another day or two for their bodies to fully adapt to the new skin, and they would be completely healed.
During these two days,
Ying tidied up the place every day, did the laundry, and took care of Xiao Yi and the others' meals obediently.
She was incredibly well-behaved.
Xiao Yi noticed that Ying would always change into her tattered clothes whenever she did chores and would only wear the pretty new clothes when she was with Xiao Yi.
she would carefully fold her new clothes and place them neatly.
This was the prettiest clothing she had ever worn in her life!
Xiao Yi had completely taken a liking to this sensible little sister and treated her as if she was his own.
Ying also got to know Yue Shanchuan and Little Lin, of course after their skin had fully regrown. Knowing that they were injured, she would carefully feed them every day, and then sing to them like a big sister cooing to a baby.
Yue Shanchuan and Little Lin also genuinely grew fond of the little girl.
"Big brother, will Yue and Little Lin be fully healed this afternoon?" Ying blinked her dark and bright eyes, looking at Xiao Yi as she asked.
Xiao Yi smiled and nodded, "Yeah, they'll be all better this afternoon, then Ying will have three brothers to keep her company!"
Ying's eyes curved into crescents with delight, and her interaction over the last few days made her less reserved and fearful, and much more lively. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Big brother, can you give me a sea crystal later?"
Xiao Yi handed her a sea crystal and said with a smile, "Why? Is there something you want to buy, Ying?"
Ying smiled sweetly and said, "Yue and Little Lin will be healed this afternoon, and I want to buy two bunches of flowers for them to celebrate their recovery!"
Xiao Yi was moved and ruffled Ying's head, smiling, "Good, then make sure you're careful when you go out alone!"
Ying obediently nodded her head.
Ying went out alone to buy flowers, while Xiao Yi was in the room, making the final preparations for Yue Shanchuan and Little Lin's recovery.
Vital energy circulated over their bodies,
promoting the dissolution of the ointment on their skin, making the skin return to its normal state.
Xiao Yi let out a long breath. This was a very meticulous task and had taken quite a bit out of him. He looked at Little Lin and Yue Shanchuan on the bed, both of whom were now restored to their original state, although it would take some time for Little Lin's scales to regrow.
The bare Little Lin looked rather comical.
Seeing the two standing up in front of him, Xiao Yi smiled and tossed Yue Shanchuan the clean clothes Ying had washed: "Hurry and change into these clothes; Ying washed them for you!"
"Haha, clothes washed by Ying smell really good!" Yue Shanchuan said happily.
Little Lin drooped his head, "It's a pity that I haven't transformed yet and can't wear clothes..."
Xiao Yi threw a specially tailored garment over, "This was made for you by Ying, tailored to you. Try it on!"
"Eh? You got one for me too?"
Little Lin was surprised but then dressed up, and the clothes fitted nicely. He boasted proudly, "Hahaha, that's my Ying, I knew my care for her wasn't misplaced! By the way, boss, where is Ying?"
"Ying has gone to buy flowers for you guys, celebrating your recovery. But, by all accounts, she should have been back by now..." Xiao Yi furrowed his brows.
But at that moment...
The voice of the inn's server came hurriedly from outside the door, "Young master, young master, something bad has happened, Ying has run into trouble..."