"In order for your tendons to recover as soon as possible, Hua Tuo prescribed a regimen for you: for seven days after waking, you must soak in a medicinal bath for half an hour each day." Before the person in his arms could respond, Lü Bu explained directly.
Lü Bu carried Xiao Meng into the bathhouse and set him down on a chair by the door.
"Don’t move around. I’ll go next door to fetch the medicine," Lü Bu instructed, looking at Xiao Meng intently.
Xiao Meng answered seriously, "I won’t move. I’ll wait for you to come back."
Only then did Lü Bu’s expression relax a little, and he left the bathhouse.
Xiao Meng looked around in awe.
The bathhouse wasn’t large—square and plain, with just one door and one window. The window was slightly ajar for ventilation. In the center stood a thick, round hot stone, with three charcoal stoves underneath still heating it; clearly, this was where the bath basin would be placed.
Between the window and the hot stone stood a thin silk screen, embroidered with blooming peonies in gold and silver thread.
It was midday, and the weather was bright and clear.
Xiao Meng could imagine how, when sunlight streamed through the window and shone on that screen, the peonies would glow brilliantly, making bathing here a delight.
In each corner of the bathhouse sat a brazier, and with the three flaming stoves in the center, no wonder Xiao Meng felt this room was even warmer than the bedroom, making him break out in a sweat almost instantly.
The bath basin itself was not on the hot stone, but beside it.
Looking closer, Xiao Meng was stunned.
Most bath basins were made from thick wooden planks fitted together and coated with wax to prevent leaks—which was already considered high quality. But this large basin, big enough for two people to soak together, was carved from a single block of golden nanmu wood!
And the walls and floor of the bathhouse were all paneled with the same precious nanmu wood!
The bathhouse was simple, with no extra decorations, but it fully displayed the Sima family’s astonishing wealth—and this was just the bathhouse of Sima Lang’s private residence! At this moment, Lü Bu returned, and as soon as the door opened, Xiao Meng could smell the rich aroma of medicinal herbs.
Lü Bu brought in more than ten wooden buckets filled with liquid; nine or ten of them contained freshly boiled, steaming herbal decoction, while the rest were water. Lü Bu had prepared the medicine in the kitchen beforehand and brought it over.
He then shifted the stoves heating the hot stone, and, as easily as lifting a porcelain bowl, placed the large wooden basin on top of the stone. Next, he poured the buckets of herbal decoction into the basin until it was about two-thirds full, then carefully adjusted the temperature by adding water until it was just right. Only then did Lü Bu turn to Xiao Meng.
Xiao Meng stared blankly as Lü Bu swiftly and skillfully set everything up.
But thinking of all the work—preparing so much medicine, setting up the bathhouse—he must have started before dawn. Xiao Meng suddenly felt like crying.
He... has always done so much for me...
But I... have never done anything for him...
Lost in thought, Xiao Meng did not notice Lü Bu had come to him and was speaking gently, "Xiao Meng, it’s ready. It’s not too hot."
He reached out to help Xiao Meng remove his robe.
Xiao Meng jumped in surprise. "What are you doing! That—there’s no need! I can do it myself!"
He immediately tried to get up and walk to the bath on his own.
Lü Bu held him down gently. "Don’t move. Hua Tuo said if you move around on your own in these seven days, it will affect your recovery."
That tone again—like a strict father.
"You—Are you really going to help me bathe too?" Xiao Meng was so flustered his face turned red and his body grew hot, not entirely because of the steamy air.
"I’m just going to put you in the bath. Or would you rather soak with your robe on? Where would I find you a change of clothes?" Lü Bu gave him a look, sounding a bit exasperated.
At that, Xiao Meng’s guilt overcame his embarrassment and awkwardness. He thought about how much trouble he had already caused Lü Bu, and lowered his head without another word.
Lü Bu gently removed Xiao Meng’s robe. As his body met the warm, humid air, he didn’t feel cold, but still shivered involuntarily.
Unlike last time, when Lü Bu saw him naked during a crisis, when his shame was masked by the emergency, now...
Now...
Xiao Meng felt his whole body burning up.
Lü Bu was not faring much better.
Though he’d already seen Xiao Meng’s body while tending his wounds—and for a longer, more thorough time—back then he had to stay focused on the task at hand. Now, with nothing to distract him, he could not resist the temptation before his eyes.
That slender, delicate body, pale as snow like a crescent moon...
And between the legs...
His mind whirled.
His mouth went dry...
—No!
Lü Bu knew he absolutely could not look any longer.
Because his only goal now was for Xiao Meng to recover as quickly and completely as possible, he gritted his teeth and held his breath. While undressing Xiao Meng, he also fetched a cloth to cover him.
Lü Bu had prepared the cloth in advance, knowing Xiao Meng was easily embarrassed.
He then lifted Xiao Meng, his hands touching only where necessary. From undressing to lifting him up, it took less than the space of a single breath.
Xiao Meng was surprised that Lü Bu had even prepared a cloth to shield him, and felt a deep admiration for his thoughtfulness—completely missing Lü Bu’s sharp, sudden intake and pause of breath.
Lü Bu was a man of intense desires—for power, for beauty, for life itself.
The stronger the desire, the harder it is to suppress or conceal. Yet Lü Bu could.
"And what’s there to be shy about? It’s not like I haven’t seen you before—we’re both men," Lü Bu said nonchalantly as he carried Xiao Meng to the bath.
With that, Xiao Meng, who had just started to relax, instantly blushed again, lowering his head even more, feeling both mortified and strangely awkward. He wasn’t sure whether it was Lü Bu’s "not like I haven’t seen you before" or "we’re both men" that got to him, but the embarrassment was overwhelming.
Ever since meeting Lü Bu again, this man always managed to catch him off guard.
Lü Bu carried him to the bath and gently lowered him in.
Xiao Meng’s toes touched the herbal liquid.
"Is it hot?" Lü Bu asked softly.
"Mm... not hot..." Xiao Meng replied in a low voice.
"If it’s too hot, say so." Lü Bu whispered.
After all, the medicinal bath needed to be warm for its effect.
So Lü Bu held Xiao Meng, letting his feet acclimate first, then slowly lowering him until he was seated, with only his head above water. Only then did Lü Bu remove the floating cloth from the surface.
Xiao Meng felt at a loss for words.
He considered himself tall for a woman, yet in Lü Bu’s arms he seemed as light as a feather, completely weightless.
"All done, Xiao Meng. Soak for half an hour, okay? I’m a bit tired myself, so I’ll go rest for a while," Lü Bu said, straightening up.
"Okay. Thank you for everything. Go rest," Xiao Meng answered quickly—partly out of gratitude, partly because—whew!—Lü Bu was finally leaving.
He let out a silent sigh of relief.
Although he had grown used to Lü Bu’s constant presence,
Right now...
He felt he needed to be alone, to process the strange emotions of just now, and to let his anxious heart finally catch its breath.
"Alright," Lü Bu replied. He fetched the chair Xiao Meng had sat on and placed it by the window, then sat down right there.
What!!!?
Now, only a thin silk screen separated them, but Lü Bu could still vaguely see Xiao Meng’s wide, startled eyes through it.
"What? Did you think I’d leave you alone in here? What if you had another moment of despair and put your head under water?"
This perceptive man had seen straight through Xiao Meng’s thoughts, smiling teasingly.
Xiao Meng felt a little annoyed. "Last time I was just—a moment’s impulse, that’s all. I... I won’t be so stupid again!"
Thinking of Lü Bu’s injured right palm, and how he’d labored for Xiao Meng these past days, Xiao Meng was filled with guilt. He promised seriously, "Lü Bu, I swear, I’ll never try to end my life again. It won’t happen."
Steam filled the room, and the screen separated them, with Lü Bu sitting with his back to the light.
To Xiao Meng’s eyes, there was only a heroic silhouette through the mist.
"...That’s good," Lü Bu finally replied softly after a moment.
"But you’re still recovering. If anything happens or you faint, I need to know right away."
With that, he moved his chair so his back was completely to Xiao Meng.
"Don’t mind me. You soak, I’ll sit here. I’m just making sure you’re safe, that’s all."
"......"
Xiao Meng’s eyes stung, and Lü Bu’s silhouette grew blurrier through his tears.
In the bathhouse, the steam curled softly, enveloping the room in warmth and tranquility.
Copyright Notice:
The Burning Dream Chronicle Chapter 28: "Medicinal Bath"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF75ErSLGuK
Original work by Jing Xixian (King Heyin) (Vampire L), all rights reserved.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZJH65TzEw
No part of this work may be reproduced, adapted, copied, translated, or used commercially in any form without written permission from the author.
© Jing Xixian (King Heyin) (Vampire L), All rights reserved.
ns216.73.216.243da2
and then Add to home screen.