Chapter 82: A not so painful wound
When Max was fully recovered, he retold his story to Kilik and Xianghua, and they did the same.
They soon realized they had the same goal, so they decided to continue their journey together. However, they soon realized too that they had no idea where to go.
Kilik and Maxi got along very well. They had a lot of things in common. For example, they were both proud with other men and very respectful with women.
They used to fight against each other to train themselves, and Xianghua amused herself watching them.
Since they didn't have a fixed course, they moved quite relaxed, and they didn't travel more than ten kilometers a day.
For the first time since Edge Master's death, Kilik and Xianghua had managed to forgot their sorrows and they felt happy again. It was the same for Maxi, who had recently lost his brother and his whole crew.
However, there was a little problem.
Another thing Kilik and Maxi had in common was their good taste for women, and the pirate soon noticed Xianghua's beauty.
He decided to hide it and not to try anything, because he knew that Kilik and Xianghua were happy together and he felt he had no right to interfere, but she was so pretty… He really made an effort to get rid of that thought.
Maxi was, in fact, a handsome man too. He could even have started a relationship with Xianghua if it weren't because of Kilik.
Everything went on normally until an accident happened.
...
One evening, while Kilik and Maxi were fighting and Xianghua was watching them as usual, the Nepalese failed to gauge a blow correctly and inflicted a deep wound on one side of Maxi's abdomen.
Maxi fell to the ground, in pain and bleeding. Kilik quickly dropped his staff and bent down to help him.
- I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!
- Ugh! – complained the Japanese. – I know, don't worry.
- Where did I hit you?
- Below my ribs. I think I'm bleeding. – answered Maxi with a painful expression, but trying to keep calm.
- Xianghua, help me to take his shirt off.
Both of themremoved Maxi's shirt, thus showing his brawny upper body, which was covered in scars and had a deep wound where Kilik had hit him.
- It doesn't look well. – said Kilik.
- I assure you it looks even worse from here. – replied Maxi.
- Xianghua... Do you know how to go back to the village?
- Ehm... – she doubted. – I…I don't know.
Kilik sighed.
- Ok, I'll go. Take care of him.
- Sure.
Kilik stood up.
- Kilik…
- Yes?
- Don't take long, please.
- Don't worry. I'll run as fast as I can. Maybe that wound is more serious than we think.
Xianghua lowered her head, because Kilik hadn't understood the reason of her request.
- I should be here in two hours, more or less. See you.
He dashed out.
Xianghua looked at Kilik until he grumbled in pain.
The girl bent down to take care of him.
- Does it hurt a lot? – she asked.
Maxi smiled
- Quite a lot, yes. – he claimed. – But believe me, I've been worse.
- When?
- For example, I was once stabbed in my leg during a naval battle. – retold Maxi. – Fortunately, we had a good doctor on board and no deaths had to be regretted.
- Was it so serious?
- No, I meant that HISdeath did not have to be regretted.I would have stood up and thrown him over the rail for his incompetence.
They both laughed, although Xianghua's stomach was upset.
- Listen, I think you should cleanthe wound. – suggested Maxi. – It may become infected.
- You're right.
Xianghua stood up and searched among their supplies. She took out the canteen she had used with Maxi before.
She approached him again.
- What shall apply the water with?
- We need some soft cloth… Is there something like that amongour supplies?
- No. –moaned Xianghua regretfully. – The only thing made of cloth are the bags, but they're too rough.
- Oh…
- Wait, I have an idea.
- What is it?
Xianghua grabbed the lower edge of her shirt and make a move as to take it off, but Maxi hurried to stop her with a signal.
- No, no, no! That isn't necessary.
- What's the problem? It's made smooth cloth… Furthermore, it isn't very cold here.
- But…what would Kilik say?
- He would say that he should hurt you more often. – mocked Xianghua, and they both laughed again. - I'm serious! Come on, I don't mind!
- If you insist…
The girl took her shirt off. Now her upper body was just covered by her underwear.
Maxi did his best not to look at her, but as soon as he felt Xianghua's wet shirt on his wound, he couldn't prevent himself from doing it.
- Don't worry, Maxi. I'm watching you as well.
- But…it isn't the same.
- Why? – asked the girl, looking at his eyes.
At that moment, Maxi thought about telling her what his feelings for her was the reason why it wasn't the same.
However, good sense prevailed and he just said:
- Never mind.
The girl didn't insist and finished cleaning his , she left her shirt to dry for some minutes and finally she put it on again.
Three hours later, Maxi and Xianghua in despair, Kilik came back along with a doctor.
The doctor treated Maxi's wound and said that if he rested, he would be good as new in a few hours.
The doctor headed back to the village and the three friends stayed there that night.
The next morning, they continued their journey without any further trouble.