Chapter 638: Let Me See the Child Once

Lu Wu sits on the haystack in the cell corner, slowly looks up: "Has the master arrived?"

Masked Man waves his hand slightly, a servant hurriedly brings a chair over, he sits steadily, looking down at him: "Spellcaster, you are truly foolish."

"I am not pursuing Wei Shen's death; I only ask you to fulfill your promise."

"But you deceive so much; is it that you don't wish to leave here safely?"

Lu Wu looks at him: "Wei Shen was careless, got discovered; his death is self‑inflicted, what does it have to do with me?"

"Everything I wrote to you is true, yet you cannot accomplish it; what does that have to do with me?"

Masked Man's gaze is calm: "Now your magical power is almost exhausted; I intended to prepare a generous gift, sending you back to the East Sea, so you can continue being a top‑level yin‑yang master there."

"Did not expect you to be so obstinately dull."

He stands up: "If so, then stay here; everything you have in Zhongyuan, I will send people to spread about you far and wide."

Lu Wu's face changes drastically: "Master, must you be so relentless?"

This old fox!

If he truly sends people to spread the word, wouldn't I have no foothold left in the East Sea?

Masked Man remains unmoved: "Between you and me, it has always been a matter of mutual benefit."

"I invited you with the heavy profits of ten cities, but unfortunately you lack the ability to take them."

He pauses, returns Lu Wu's words to him: "What does that have to do with me?"

Lu Wu's expression turns extremely grim, yet he still hesitates, unwilling to lower his head.

Masked Man turns and walks toward the cell's exit.

Lu Wu watches his back, unable to hold back: "Master! Wait!"

Masked Man's steps halt.

Lu Wu grits his teeth, needing to give him something genuine; otherwise, even if I teach him how to make the secret medicine, I fear I cannot preserve my own life.

Also, that child!

I cannot leave! I must obtain her blood, restore my cultivation, then return.

Otherwise, even if I go back I will be a wreck; once my flaw is exposed, all yin‑yang masters will mock me, and a lifetime of fame would be ruined in an instant.

He inhales deeply: "You sent the Blood Blade to invite me here; do you know that besides the Blood Blade, there is a Shadow Blade far superior to them?"

Masked Man turns around, silently watching him.

Lu Wu's mouth curls with a cold smile: "I was once the highest official of the previous Yin‑Yang Bureau; the Shadow Blade was created by my own hand."

"The Blood Blade is merely a hired killer who takes money and averts disaster for others; the Shadow Blade is vastly different."

Masked Man slowly walks back, resettling himself in the chair.

Lu Wu's mind steadies a bit: "The Shadow Blade's skills are astonishing; the Earth Escape Group can tunnel through three‑zhang city walls, the Water Ghost Group can hold breath for half a incense stick, and the Flying Ape Group can climb as if on flat ground."

Masked Man listens intently: "Anything else?"

"The Fire Demon Group can set fire in water, and the Silent Listening Group has extraordinary hearing, able to lie on the ground and discern horse hooves from miles away."

"With just a single letter from me, they will come to serve me."

Masked Man stares at him: "How many are there in total?"

"Each member of the Shadow Blade is a top expert, impervious to swords and spears, so there are only a hundred in total."

"Yet their coordination is so seamless that, though only a hundred, they can match the strength of thousands of ordinary soldiers."

"With such elite troops, how could your royal family allow them to emerge?"

Lu Wu leans on the wall, stands up, finally able to look eye to eye with the Masked Man: "Master, you think, how can a flesh‑and‑blood body be impervious to swords and spears?"

"Hard training?"

Lu Wu shakes his head: "That's a Zhongyuan technique; no matter how hard the skill, there is a vital point, and once that point is broken, a person becomes useless."

He shows a grimace: "The Shadow Blade's imperviousness comes from years of soaking in medicinal baths and taking my unique secret medicine."

Masked Man's eyes flicker: "So they still need to take medicine to this day?"

Lu Wu nods: "Just one pill per month is enough."

Masked Man understands: "It seems the spellcaster's skill is more than just rituals, my apologies."

"Then please have the spellcaster come with me, draft a letter, and order them to arrive promptly."

He pauses: "When they come, bring all the secret medicine Cheng Jing has taken."

"Attendants! Send the spellcaster back, and attend to him properly."

"Yes!"

As soon as the words ended, two servants hurried in; one supported Lu Wu's arm, bowing respectfully: "Spellcaster, at your service."

Lu Wu lets out a long sigh; once the Shadow Blade arrives, I will never again be manipulated by you.

I must go back to Xibei once more, find that child, snatch her out and drain her blood!

When my cultivation skyrockets, that will be the moment to wash today's humiliation with snow!

That evening, in the Guoshi Residence.

Tuan Tuan had just finished a hearty dinner, his little belly puffed up.

Eunuch Cheng laughed: "Little Princess was exhausted last night and ate a lot! She needs a good walk; now is not the time to sleep."

Chu Yuan said: "Let's go out for some fresh air and let Tuan Tuan run around the courtyard properly."

"Yay!" Tuan Tuan scooped up Xiao Feifei, and the group walked out of the secret room into the Guoshi Residence courtyard.

Xiao Ningyuan inhaled deeply the outside air: "The outside is better! The secret room is still too stifling."

The group sat in the courtyard drinking tea, watching the twinkling stars, chatting softly.

Tuan Tuan and a few junior Taoists chased Xiao Feifei around the courtyard, laughing heartily.

Chu Yuan looked at her: "May this battle be swift and decisive, sparing as many lives as possible."

"Tuan Tuan can also return to the Ning Prince's Mansion and spend some carefree days."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Yeah, Tuan Tuan's constant thought is just wanting to go home, a family reunion."

Hearing this, Tuan Tuan ran over: "Big brother, when can we go home to take a look?"

Xiao Ningyuan raised his hand and patted her little head: "Soon."

Tuan Tuan pouted: "But I really want to go back and see! Snow Clothes and Little White don't know how they're doing now, whether they've been bullied."

Xiao Er smiled: "Don't worry, miss, who would give them a hard time?"

Feng Zhou sighed: "I also want to go back and take a look at my private workshop."

Chu Yuan, wanting to change the topic, said: "Tuan Tuan, quickly get your fox out of my flower bushes! My flowers have all been trampled by it."

Tuan Tuan turned her head, and indeed, Xiao Feifei was jumping around in the flower bushes, trampling many branches and leaves: "Wow, Xiao Feifei, you're so mischievous!"

She pitter-pattered over, picked up Xiao Feifei and put her on the ground, then started chasing after her.

At night, Tuan Tuan ran until she was tired; Xiao Er scooped her up in one arm, Xiao Ningyuan picked up Xiao Feifei, and everyone went back to rest.

Xiao Er gently placed Tuan Tuan on the bed; Tuan Tuan turned over, still murmuring: "Going home..."

Xiao Ningyuan covered her with a small blanket, stroked her hair: "Be good, go to sleep."

Tuan Tuan fell into a deep sleep.

Huh, isn't this my home?

She looked around; it was late at night and quiet, and she found herself standing before the gate of the Ning Prince's Mansion.

Oh, I'm dreaming again.

Great! As long as I can go home, it doesn't matter if it's a dream!

She bounced in, first went to see Snow Clothes, then Little White; good, you both haven't lost weight.

Second Uncle was right, no one's bullying you, how nice.

But where is that bad guy?

Since I'm here, I naturally need to teach him a lesson before leaving.

She went to Yangzheng Pavilion, but there was no one; where did they go?

Just then, a woman hurried past the outer corridor, ordering a servant: "Hurry! Go tell the wet nurse, the Highness ordered to send it to the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion!"

The Listening-to-Rain Pavilion? Isn't that where the great-grandfather lives?

How come that bad guy doesn't live in Yangzheng Pavilion but moved to the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion?

Tuan Tuan ran to the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion; just as she entered, she saw a beautiful young woman sitting by the bed, shedding tears.

"Your Highness, I have been attending to you for three days; you promised to let me see the child every three days."