Chapter 654: Does he want to live or not?

After about half an hour, Lu Qi returned, gesturing to the few people, meaning to go back and say, Xiao Ningyuan nodded.

The four waited silently on the roof, waiting until Tuan Tuan was almost asleep.

Finally, the candles inside were blown out.

Xiao Er was about to hand Tuan Tuan over to Lu Qi when Tuan Tuan tightly clung to his neck: "Second Uncle, where are you going?"

Xiao Er pointed downward.

"I'm going too."

Xiao Er laughed, shook his head, and lifted her up.

Lu Qi silently pried open a few more tiles.

Xiao Er leapt down lightly and landed lightly on the ground.

He lay motionless on the ground, staring intently at the two on the bed.

Cheng Jing and Liu Guiyan were sleeping soundly, without any movement.

Xiao Er stood up, walked to the table, picked up the large medicine bottle, and placed it inside his robe.

Tuan Tuan looked around, patted Xiao Er's shoulder, and pointed to the ground beside the bed.

Xiao Er saw that Cheng Jing's and Liu Guiyan's clothes were placed on the stool beside the bed.

A delicate little sachet had fallen beneath the stool.

Tuan Tuan muttered lowly toward the bed: "Hey! This fell to the ground, do you still want it?"

The bed was silent.

Tuan Tuan cheered: "Second Uncle, pick it up!"

Xiao Er bent low, quietly approached, reached out and picked it up, slipped it into his robe, stepped back a few paces, leapt up, and returned to the roof.

Xiao Ningyuan whispered: "Withdraw."

Lu Qi put the tiles back in place, and the four returned along the original route to the National Preceptor's residence.

Only two remained on watch opposite, both dozing off.

Xiao Feifei, unable to get in, was anxiously running circles at the base of the wall.

Tuan Tuan poked her head out from Xiao Er's shoulder, delighted: "Xiao Feifei! You're back first!"

Xiao Er leapt down from the wall and picked it up.

The four and the fox landed in the courtyard and silently entered the secret chamber.

Only then did Xiao Ningyuan exhale a long breath.

Tuan Tuan hugged Xiao Feifei and flung herself into Chu Yuan's embrace: "Master! I'm back!"

Chu Yuan held her, his heart easing: "As long as you're back, did you find it?"

Eunuch Cheng hastily handed Tuan Tuan a cup of water: "Drink a little, Little Princess, are you thirsty?"

"Found it!" Tuan Tuan took it and gulped it down: "Thank you, Grandpa!"

She handed Xiao Feifei to Chu Yuan, rose to pour several cups of water, muttering: "For Elder Brother, for Second Uncle, for Seventh Uncle."

"Xiao Feifei's!"

Several people laughed as they came over and drank the water in one go.

"Truly obedient!"

"Eldest Young Master, why not tonight," Xiao Er glanced at Tuan Tuan, "make a move?"

Xiao Ningyuan stretched his arms and legs, having stayed on the roof too long, his limbs sore: "Don't rush."

Think about it: Lu Wu gave the medicine to Cheng Jing, but Liu Guiyan poisoned Lu Wu; tomorrow morning when Cheng Jing discovers the medicine missing, what will happen?

Feng Zhou heard it, a bit dazed: "Ah?"

Lu Qi laughed: "Eldest Young Master, excellent plan!"

"They'll attack each other, already distrustful. Won't this just turn into a chaotic mess?"

"Right, I followed that person to a residence, similar to Cheng Jing's lodging, also hidden among civilian homes."

"Inside there was an old man, looking listless; he must be that East Sea old dog, Lu Wu."

"East Sea?" Chu Yuan frowned: "They actually invited a master from the East Sea? Quite formidable."

Tuan Tuan asked: "Master, where is the East Sea?"

Chu Yuan replied: "The East Sea is a small overseas country with many islands, scarce resources, and in earlier years often raided our nearby waters."

"His Majesty sent troops three times, frightening them."

"In recent years we haven't heard from them; who would have thought they'd be involved with this Netherworld Peak."

Tuan Tuan snorted: "Even that little broken island country dares to cause trouble!"

"When the Imperial Uncle returns, we'll give them a beating! See if they're still honest!"

Xiao Ningyuan grew happier the more he thought: "Cheng Jing will surely panic to death without those medicines, hahaha!"

Hearing mention of the medicine, Xiao Er took out the medicine bottle and the sachet from his robe and placed them on the table.

"Wow! My treasure!" Tuan Tuan picked up the sachet, opened it, and tipped it onto the table, several small paper packets falling out.

"Tuan Tuan," Xiao Ningyuan asked, "what are these?"

Tuan Tuan blinked: "I don't know! Throw them away."

She picked up the sachet, turned it over, and said: "This little sachet is quite cute."

"I asked them, they didn't want it, so I had Second Uncle pick it up for me."

She happily folded the empty sachet a few times and slipped it into her own embroidered pouch.

Chu Yuan rose: "Everyone's tired, go to sleep quickly."

The next morning, the sky was just light.

Liu Guiyan reached out, took the outer garment from the stool, draped it over themselves, and slipped quietly out of the bed.

She turned back, glanced at Cheng Jing, who was barely opening his eyes, and bent down to tuck his blanket corner for him:

"Sleep a little longer; I'll go brew today's herbal soup for you."

Cheng Jing clasped her hand: "Why do you have to do it yourself? Let the servants handle it."

Liu Guiyan shook her head, gently placed his hand back into the quilt: "They wouldn't be as diligent for me. If I didn't do it myself, I wouldn't feel at ease."

Cheng Jing gave a faint smile, watching her hurriedly leave the room.

Morning light filtered through the cracks of the window lattice, fine golden shafts shifting inch by inch.

Cheng Jing, unable to sleep, sat up and leaned against the head of the bed.

He closed his eyes to rest his spirit for a moment, then slowly opened them, his gaze landing on the table.

He froze.

"What about that huge medicine bottle?"

He stared blankly for an instant, leaned forward slightly, and glanced under the table.

There was none.

He turned his head again, looking at the stool by the bedside, then at the side of the pillow.

Nothing there either.

His complexion darkened: "Servant!"

The servant pushed the door open and replied, "Here!"

Cheng Jing raised a finger: "Where is the medicine bottle that was placed on the table yesterday?"

The servant was startled, looked up at the table, then scanned the room, shaking his head cluelessly: "I, I don't know."

"Don't know? It was clearly placed here yesterday; it can't grow legs and run away, can it?"

The servant, terrified, fell to his knees: "I truly don't know! No one else entered here last night!"

Cheng Jing barked sharply: "Search for it quickly!"

"Yes!"

The servant moved the teapot, teacups, and everything else on the table aside, then began rummaging through the house.

After a moment, he stammered back: "No, didn't find it."

Cheng Jing's face turned ashen; he clenched his fist violently, gritting his teeth: "Lu! Wu!"

"Shadow Blade just arrived; did you think you could do whatever you wanted?"

As soon as the words finished, a dull pain struck both sides of his temples, like two invisible hands tightening around his skull.

Cheng Jing let out a muffled hum and clutched the bedding tightly.

"Cheng Lang!"

Liu Guiyan had just reached the doorway when she saw the cold sweat on his forehead, rushed over, and steadied his arm.

"What's wrong with you?"

Cheng Jing lifted his eyes, his gaze grim: "The secret medicine bottle from yesterday is missing."

Liu Guiyan's whole body went rigid, the color draining from her face instantly.

"Missing?" she turned toward the table, "How could it be missing? Didn't you just place it on the table before sleeping last night?"

Cheng Jing gritted his teeth fiercely: "It must be that old thief Lu Wu! He ordered Shadow Blade to do it."

"Lu Wu?" Liu Guiyan's lips curled into a cold smile: "Fortunately we poisoned him yesterday."

Cheng Jing nodded: "That's called striking first to be strong; otherwise today we would have no way to control him."

"Let's go, take the antidote, and we'll find him right now!"

"I want to see whether he truly wants to die!"

Liu Guiyan nodded, tidied her clothing, reached out to feel, and was stunned: "Cheng, Cheng Lang, where is the Sachet with the antidote?"