Bryson's injuries were very serious.
His chest, shoulder, arm, and back were all slashed by blades.
Some of the wounds were so deep, they looked like they could reach the bone.
The light-colored cotton robe he was wearing was soaked with blood,
creating a shocking and tragic scene.
His face was pale as paper, without any color, and even his lips had lost their usual redness.
As the doctor carefully treated the terrible wounds,
Missy stood nearby to assist.
It was her first time seeing such bloody and torn wounds,
and she couldn't help but feel a strange nervousness rise in her chest.
The doctor's hands moved skillfully, cleaning Bryson's wounds
while softly comforting him,
"Hold on, brave one. It'll be over soon."
Bryson kept his eyes tightly shut, the veins on his forehead bulging,
but he didn't make a single sound,
only letting out a few deep groans now and then, showing the pain he was enduring.
Seeing this, Missy became even more worried about him.
She couldn't help but ask in a soft voice,
"Doctor, will he be okay?"
The doctor replied without lifting his head,
"Don't worry. As long as we stop the bleeding in time and he takes some medicine, he should make it through."
Jerome rushed to the Wujiang Inn after hearing the news.
He pushed open the room door and saw Bryson getting his wounds treated.
He frowned and walked over to Bryson's side, his voice slightly scolding,
"How is it? Still alive?"
Bryson glanced at Jerome and gave a slight smile at the corner of his lips.
"You can see for yourself, can't you?"
Jerome frowned, looking carefully at all the blade wounds on Bryson's body,
and couldn't help but sigh,
"Looking at you, death isn't far off. Was it really worth it, risking your life for a woman?"
According to the officers,
when they arrived, they saw Bryson fighting the bandits with everything he had,
just to get upstairs faster to find Missy.
"What does that mean? Did Bryson get hurt because of me?"
Missy's voice was full of confusion.
"Missy, don't listen to his nonsense."
Bryson quickly explained, trying to calm her.
Jerome, resting his chin in his hand,
let his gaze settle on Missy's delicate face, now uncovered by a veil,
and a flash of admiration appeared in his eyes.
He nodded slightly, admitting,
"Yeah, she is quite pretty. But you, boy, you can't just throw your life away like that!"
Missy blushed a little at Jerome's compliment,
but the redness faded quickly.
She turned her head and looked at Jerome with confusion.
"What do you mean by that?"
she asked, her voice mixed with puzzlement.
Her eyebrows furrowed as if trying hard to figure out what Jerome was implying.
"What does my appearance have to do with Bryson saving me?"
she continued to ask, clearly not understanding his words.
Her face held a trace of confusion,
as if she were trying to understand what kind of connection there might be
between these two seemingly unrelated things.
"Your Bryson, he's not your—"
Jerome was just about to say something when Bryson interrupted him in time.
"Jerome, enough!"
Bryson's voice carried urgency and nervousness, as if he feared something.
He stared sharply at Jerome, warning him not to say more.
At that moment, the doctor finished treating Bryson's wounds.
He stood up and instructed,
"After he takes the medicine, as long as he doesn't get a fever tonight, he should be fine."
With that, the doctor left.
Jerome, who had been quietly watching from the side, noticed the tense atmosphere in the room.
He knew it wasn't the right time to stay longer, so he followed the doctor out,
leaving Bryson and Missy alone.
…
"Tell me, what is it that I'm not allowed to know?"
Missy's heart was filled with unease.
She recalled everything that had happened today. The strange details made her afraid to think more deeply.
Seeing Bryson remain silent,
Missy's heart slowly sank. She felt a kind of unspeakable fear.
"Maybe… I should leave tomorrow."
Missy tried to break the silence with her words.
She turned around and stood up, ready to leave the room.
But right after she spoke, she clearly felt the atmosphere become heavier.
"You can't leave."
Bryson's voice came from behind, calm but firm.
His hand inside his sleeve clenched into a fist without him realizing it.
Missy's steps stopped instantly.
She turned around, confusion and uncertainty in her eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
She asked softly.
Bryson didn't answer her question directly.
Instead, he spoke in a quiet, almost pleading voice.
"Missy, haven't I treated you well?"
Missy thought about all the help Bryson had given her.
She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Her voice carried a mix of guilt and hesitation.
"Bryson, you've been really kind to me… but I have to go home."
"I told you, I'll go home with you!"
Bryson's tone was full of determination.
Missy fell silent, unsure how to explain.
Her home wasn't here, and it wasn't a place Bryson could reach.
She bravely lifted her head, tightly holding the hem of her clothes, looking Bryson in the eye.
"But I can't keep troubling you. We only met by chance, and you've already helped me so much…"
Missy paused for a moment, then continued.
"Bryson, I know you're a good man. When I find a job, I'll make sure to repay you properly…"
Bryson shook his head slightly. He knew Missy was smart, not like the girls from Yu Kingdom.
His voice showed helplessness and regret.
"A woman can't find a job in Yu Kingdom."
Missy stayed quiet for a moment, then her eyes showed determination.
"I plan to dress like a man. Maybe that way, I'll get a chance."
Hearing that, Bryson gave a bitter smile.
"Missy, you're so beautiful. Even if you dress as a man, people will still notice you. And you have no background or support. Going out on your own is like walking into danger."
Missy bit her lip, hesitation flashing in her eyes.
But soon, she spoke firmly.
"Bryson, I'm not afraid of danger. If it means I can go home, I'm willing to do anything. Even if the road is hard, I want to try."
Bryson looked at her, his eyes full of pleading.
He spoke gently.
"Missy, wouldn't it be better to stay? I'll take care of you. I'll always treat you well."
Missy looked up in shock, staring at him.
Even though she was still young, she understood what those words meant.
She asked hesitantly.
"Bryson, do you mean…"
Bryson gave a soft smile and explained gently.
"I mean I want you to stay and be my wife. Do you understand now?"
Missy's heart was filled with fear. She stepped back in shock.
"Bryson, I'm only twelve! In my hometown, I'm still a child!"
Bryson's heart tightened when he saw her reaction. He pushed himself forward two steps, trying to hug her small body and comfort her.
But Missy pushed his hand away.
"Don't touch me!"
Bryson realized that his action might have scared her.
He quickly stepped back weakly and spoke in a calming voice.
"Don't be afraid, Missy. I'll respect your wishes. Before you grow up, I won't do anything that crosses the line."
Missy was shaking with anger.
She couldn't believe that the Bryson she trusted so much had always thought this way.
She looked at him, a cold smile on her lips.
"I'll never agree!"
Bryson didn't back down.
He pointed to the identity tag hanging on Missy's wrist, his voice cold and firm.
"Whether you agree or not, this is already a fact."
Missy looked confused.
She slowly lifted her wrist and looked at the metal tag.
Seeing her confusion, Bryson explained further.
"Look, your identity tag clearly says: Wife, Missy. Main household: Bryson. This shows that you are officially my woman, and I'm your legal husband."
After hearing that, Missy felt like her world was falling apart.
She stared into Bryson's eyes, full of shock and disappointment.
"So, you've been lying to me all along!"