Chapter 230: Oh! Trouble!

Tuan Tuan was very puzzled: "Exactly, this is just a broken thing I picked up! What's wrong?"

Su Yuheng's expression almost shattered.

Xiao Ningxun held back a laugh and said: "Su Young Pavilion Master, don't look down on the broken things my sister picked up; these broken things of hers are truly treasures!"

I haven't even told you yet, even that rain‑seeking dragon scale was picked up by Tuan Tuan from the bottom of the Biwave Pool!

Su Yuheng took the copper bell, turned it over and over, and said: "I don't know how to use this treasure."

Tuan Tuan became even more puzzled: "You've never played with a bell?"

"Huh? Play, I have played."

"Then it's fine! Just shake it, shake, shake, and the Gu worm will come out!"

Su Yuheng felt his brain wasn't quite up to the task: "Just, shake it and that's it?"

"Exactly!"

Su Yuheng looked completely bewildered.

Xiao Ningxun explained to him: "Su Young Pavilion Master, place this bell beside your father and keep shaking it; when the Gu worm hears it, it will appear."

"Lure it to the back of the hand, then pierce the back of the hand with a sword tip, and the Gu worm will be able to come out."

"Then squeeze out the black blood, and bandage the wound."

Su Yuheng suddenly understood, his gaze at the copper bell becoming reverent: "Now I see! Thank you."

He bowed deeply to Tuan Tuan and Xiao Ningxun: "I, Su Mou, am deeply grateful."

Tuan Tuan looked at him: "Hurry and go save someone! Return it to me when you're done!"

Su Yuheng said: "Certainly! Princess, please rest assured! I, Su Mou, take my leave."

Having said that, he hurried away.

Tuan Tuan ran to her parents' room; every night before bed she must cling to her mother and father for a while before she'll go to sleep.

Seeing her, Xiao Yuanhang became happy, laughing as he lifted her up and played her favorite "high‑high" game.

Cheng Ru'an smiled while watching from the side.

After playing for a while, Xiao Yuanhang sat down holding his daughter.

"Tuan Tuan, a few days ago Da Xia sent word that Wu Luo has been in seclusion ever since you left. This National Preceptor is sinister and crafty; we don't know what he'll do when he emerges, so you must be careful."

"Oh, what does 'closed‑door cultivation' mean?"

"I'm not entirely sure either; his cultivation was just sucked away by you, so he's probably trying every means to recover."

Tuan Tuan laughed: "Then I hope he stays in seclusion forever and never comes out."

Xiao Yuanhang laughed loudly: "Hahaha, Tuan Tuan is right! It's getting late—go to sleep now, we'll play again tomorrow."

"All right!" Tuan Tuan ran to Cheng Ru'an, kissed her cheek, and said: "Mom, I'm going to sleep!"

Cheng Ru'an smiled: "Go on."

Tuan Tuan lay in bed, recalling her father's words, and muttered to herself: "Bad National Preceptor!"

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

"Huh, this isn't the place where that bad National Preceptor locked me up, is it?"

"Did I dream again?"

"How did I end up here?"

Tuan Tuan turned around and immediately saw Wu Luo.

He was sitting cross‑legged in the center of a complex black formation.

There was a triangular pattern there, with three ever‑burning lamps each guarding a corner of the pattern, and the air was filled with a strange smell of mixed spices and herbs.

His eyes were tightly shut, and black energy swirled around him, winding and wandering.

Above his head, a dim light ball slowly rotated.

Within the light ball, a faint black shadow resembling him could be seen sitting cross‑legged, gradually becoming clearer and more solid.

Wu Luo's mouth corners twitched upward, his face showing a flicker of wild joy.

This is precisely the critical moment when his cultivation is about to be restored!

Only one final step remains; crossing it, he will not only fully regain his former state, but could even use this chance to advance further!

Tuan Tuan walked up to him: "Hey! Bad National Preceptor! Are you in seclusion?"

Wu Luo startled, the light ball above his head stopped rotating.

He opened his eyes, looking utterly astonished at the little rice ball standing before him: "How is it you? How could you get in here?"

Tuan Tuan exclaimed in surprise: "You can hear me speak? In my dreams, the people I meet can neither see nor hear me—you're amazing!"

She looked at the light ball above Wu Luo's head: "The little person inside looks just like you! Who is he?"

"That is my cultivation's true form!"

Wu Luo, anxious as fire: "It's just an illusion, useless. Are you dreaming? Go play elsewhere."

In his panic, the black shadow inside the light ball faded a bit.

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, looking at the black shadow: "Why isn't he as handsome as before?"

"Nonsense! It's because you're disturbing me!"

Wu Luo suppressed his anger, trying to coax her: "He needs quiet to become handsome again. Go play elsewhere, don't disturb him."

Tuan Tuan curiously gazed at the light ball, extending a tiny finger to lightly poke it.

The light ball shattered with a sound, the black shadow inside letting out a silent wail and instantly vanishing.

Wu Luo spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed limp on the ground.

Tuan Tuan jumped in fright: "I didn't mean to do that!"

Wu Luo looked at her, covering his chest and gasping for breath, unable to utter a word.

Ah! Trouble!

Tuan Tuan turned and ran, tripped, and fell, "Ah!"

She woke up, still dazed, wondering why she would dream of him—really strange.

She turned over and fell asleep again.

The next day, Tianqi Cheng, Gesang Gong.

Gongsun Chi was reading his father-in-law's letter when the assassination of Prince Ning failed due to a heavenly omen.

A heavenly omen? Xiao Yuanhang, when did you also get one?

It must be your Immortal Envoy's daughter.

It's fine; Wu Luo can leave seclusion today—once he does, your Immortal Envoy's daughter's doom will also come.

A eunuch rushed in: "Your Majesty! Urgent report from the Guoshi Residence!"

Speak.

They said, "The National Preceptor, while cultivating last night, suffered qi deviation, vomiting blood nonstop, gravely injured! He was supposed to leave seclusion today, but now he absolutely cannot!"

Trash!

Gongsun Chi waved his hand, and the eunuch hurriedly withdrew.

He pondered for a long time, then took up his brush and wrote a letter.

"Give the letter to Yu Jinzhong, and send a few more caravans to the capital of Lie Kingdom."

"As you command!"

Two days later, Su Yuheng went straight to the Ning Prince's Mansion, and a servant led him to the front hall.

Xiao Ningxun thought he had come to return the copper bell, leading Tuan Tuan in as she asked, "Is the old pavilion master well?"

Su Yuheng looked weary: "These past two days, I have tried countless times at my father's bedside, at different hours and different speeds, but that gu worm has shown no trace whatsoever."

"That copper bell, in my hand, is no different from an ordinary bell."

Xiao Ningxun exclaimed, "Really?"

Su Yuheng nodded: "Absolutely! I've racked my brains—could it be that such treasures are not for everyone to use?"

"Since it belongs to the Princess, must she be present in person for it to work?"

Xiao Ningxun thought: "No, an imperial physician in the palace has also used it, and the effect was no different from when Tuan Tuan used it."

Su Yuheng was at a loss: "This... I really don't know what to do."

Tuan Tuan looked at him: "Then I'll go take a look."