Chapter 546: Only you would come up with such a harebrained idea

Tuan Tuan's eyelashes twitched, her little brows furrowed.

Lu Wu struck while the iron was hot: "It's not just that it became that good-looking after drinking your blood, is it?"

"Good child, I'm this old—I won't lie to you."

"Give grandpa ten drops of blood—no, five will do; this old ailment of mine will be healed."

"Be good, listen; once I'm better I'll definitely buy you the tastiest candy."

He cupped his hand like a bowl, extended it toward Tuan Tuan, wearing a fawning smile and eager eyes: "Good, just a few drops will do—drop them here."

Tuan Tuan stared at Lu Wu, her eyes widening bit by bit.

"Is Xiao Feifei yours?"

Lu Wu hesitated, then instinctively nodded: "Yeah."

"Then you're Cheng Jing?"

Lu Wu hesitated again: "Cheng Jing? Who is..."

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Tuanzi shot out from under the covers and stood on the bed.

She clenched her tiny fists, her little face tense: "You want my blood?"

Lu Wu blinked: "Yeah, I'm sick! Child, your heart is so kind..."

Before his words could finish.

"Bang!"

A small fist landed squarely on his nose.

Lu Wu let out a miserable cry and fell backward.

Tuan Tuan put all her strength into a punch, only to find Lu Wu had vanished.

She blinked, looked around: "Huh? Old man, where'd you go?"

She puffed her cheeks, angrily climbed off the bed, muttering: "You got away fast! I still wanted to give you a few more punches!"

She rummaged through her pile of clothes, found the little embroidered pouch, pulled out a broken wax pellet shell, thought for a moment, and muttered:

"May that old man's illness only get worse, incurable by anyone!"

She relaxed her little hand, a faint light flashed, and the wax pellet shell vanished.

Tuan Tuan crawled back onto the bed, pulled the small blanket up to her chin, still seething: "You harmed my mother, and now you want me to cure your illness? Hmph!"

She tossed and turned angrily, and soon fell asleep again.

After a spell of dizziness.

Lu Wu came to, white drapes hanging to the floor, candlelight swaying gently—he was back in his own room.

He clutched his nose, the pain bringing tears to his eyes.

Who is Cheng Jing?

It looks like that child bears a grudge against Cheng Jing.

How would I know! I got punched for nothing over that Cheng Jing—what bad luck.

Missing such a great opportunity is a real shame.

Forget it—I lost another mouthful of essence blood, got nothing, might as well rest a few more days.

He rubbed his nose and wearily closed his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day Lu Wu was due to leave seclusion.

The servant called softly at the door: "Daoist Priest? The twenty-one days are up—are you alright?"

From inside came Lu Wu's weak voice: "Come in, come in!"

The servant pushed the door open and stepped inside; the room was gloomy, bloodstains speckling the white drapes everywhere.

Lu Wu lay on the bed, his face as pale as paper.

The servant gasped: "Daoist Priest! How can you look even worse than before your seclusion rest?"

Lu Wu had bitter words he couldn't utter; originally he only needed to regulate his breath and nurture himself to recover.

But this time was different—no matter how hard he tried, the lost essence blood and soul sank like a mud ox into the sea, never to return.

Quick, go fetch a doctor!

Yes.

The servant muttered as he retreated: "Again with the doctor? The two Daoist Priests the master hired—why do they constantly need a doctor?"

Lu Wu felt his breath catch in his chest from the servant's words, nearly vomiting blood.

At the same moment, in the horse gang's cargo depot, everything was filled with joyous cheer.

Everyone gathered in the backyard; Xue Tong nodded satisfactorily: "It's done—we've finally cured it."

All eyes turned in unison to Xuan Fu Weng.

Xue Tong crouched, pressed his fingers on the man's knee, and asked: "Do you feel anything?"

Xuan Fu Weng nodded: "Yes, numb."

"Numb means it's right." Xue Tong stood up: "Come, let's walk a bit."

All around, there was a sound of drawing breath.

Daoba widened his eyes: "Now? Just walk?"

Xue Tong gave him a sideways glance: "Otherwise? Wait another twenty years?"

Xuan Fu Weng pushed up with both hands on the wheelchair's armrests and slowly rose.

His two legs trembled, like two dry branches swaying in the wind.

Xie Guzhou hurried forward a step, reaching out to help, but he raised a hand to stop him.

I'll do it myself.

He clenched his teeth, slowly stepped forward with his right foot, landed, and steadied himself.

Then he stepped forward with his left foot; at last, both legs stood firmly on the ground.

Tuan Tuan ran up to him, clapping her hands: "Stand up! Grandpa, you're standing up!"

Xuan Fu Weng lowered his head to look at his own leg, his eyes reddening.

He looked at the Xiao Tuanzi before him, reached out and brushed the top of her hair: "Good child, Grandpa stood up, all because of you."

"What do you want? Tell Grandpa! Grandpa must thank you properly!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face to look at him, thought for a moment: "Grandpa, you sunbathe in this little courtyard every day, how boring!"

"I want you to walk out of here yourself; the sun outside is the good one!"

Xuan Fu Weng was stunned.

He lowered his head to look at Tuan Tuan, and for a moment didn't know what to say.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi's expressions flickered; our lady truly is very sensible.

Xie Guzhou's eyes reddened.

Xue Tong's mouth twitched upward: "Tuan Tuan is right; your leg has been idle too long. From now on walk more each day, and if you're quick, in a few months you'll be no different from ordinary people."

Tuan Tuan tugged his sleeve: "Grandpa? What's wrong with you?"

Xuan Fu Weng's Adam's apple moved, his voice a little hoarse: "The gratitude you want, is this it?"

Tuan Tuan nodded earnestly: "Yes!"

Xuan Fu Weng smiled, and as he kept smiling, tears surged into his eyes.

"Alright." His voice trembled, "Alright, Grandpa will walk out, we'll go right away."

Tuan Tuan laughed happily, and obediently stretched out her little hand to hold his arm: "Hold onto me, don't be afraid; I'm here, you won't fall."

Xuan Fu Weng supported Tuan Tuan, shifted his stiff legs step by step, and walked out of the backyard's threshold.

Sunlight poured down from above, landing on his white hair.

He lifted his head, squinting as he looked at the sky.

Decades had passed, and at last he no longer had to sit in a wheelchair all day.

Daoba stood behind, watching the silhouette of the old and the young, and inhaled sharply through his nose.

A man muttered softly: "Daoba brother, did you cry?"

Daoba slapped the back of his head: "You're the one who cried!" Then he brushed his face with his sleeve.

Suddenly, someone shouted: "The elder can walk now!"

The courtyard erupted instantly: "The elder really can walk now!"

The men howled and rushed over, surrounding Xuan Fu Weng and Tuan Tuan in the middle.

Xuan Fu Weng frowned from the noise: "What are you shouting about? Haven't you seen people walk?"

Xie Guzhou squeezed in, grabbed Tuan Tuan and lifted her high above his head.

"Little ancestor!" his voice cracked, "You truly are the lucky star of my Horse Gang!"

Tuan Tuan, held up high, giggled continuously.

The next afternoon, Xie Guzhou asked: "Little ancestor, this morning Xue Old Valley Master returned to Hidden Cloud Valley; are you also going back to Main Camp?"

Tuan Tuan pouted: "Don't you like me being here? I still want to play another day!"

Xiao Er could not bear to see his lady unhappy: "The miss finally came out; let her play another day."

Lu Qi also hurried: "One day isn't enough! Let the miss play a few more days; returning after a good time isn't too late."

Daoba shot Xie Guzhou a sideways glance, and Xuan Fu Weng glared at Xie Guzhou: "Why are you asking blindly? No need to meddle! Tuan Tuan can stay as long as she wants."

Xie Guzhou was at a loss, half laughing, half crying: "I'm just worried Prince would get anxious! I never meant to make her leave, you all!"

He walked to Tuan Tuan, crouched, pinched her little nose tip: "Little ancestor, if you were to live here your whole life, I'd be happy."

Tuan Tuan finally laughed: "Hmm! But, what fresh places are there to play?"

"Fresh places?" Daoba scratched the back of his head: "Little ancestor, how about I take you to a place where you don't have to hide?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, finally not having to wear a boy's clothes to wander: "Alright! Where is it?"

"Shazhoubao."

Xie Guzhou frowned: "Only you come up with such wild ideas!"

Xiao Er raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?"