Chapter 133

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

The spider woman was invited into the Hou Mansion and met the Feng family young lady who needed her diagnosis.

This Hou Mansion young lady was cared for with not a single flaw visible, yet not a single part of her was well.

Crippled feet, several broken fingers, scars everywhere to be seen, a dull and scattered demeanor, and an immediate wariness and rejection upon seeing a stranger.

"I don't know her, make her leave at once!" Feng Zhu, kneeling on the bed, shrank back toward the inside.

Pei was about to persuade her gently, but the spider woman had already spoken in a calm voice, lightly extending her right hand as she said: "Young lady, do not fear. Look, we are the same."

Feng Zhu looked over, saw the broken fingers, and couldn't help but murmur: "You are also..."

As she spoke, her mind fell into confusion again, and she didn't know specifically what "also" meant.

The spider woman took up the words and nodded: "Also harmed by an evil spirit."

As she spread out a row of silver needles, she said: "But that evil spirit is already dead. I was saved, so I am no longer afraid."

The evil spirit dead, saved... Feng Zhu's lips moved slightly, repeating this sentence softly several times, then suddenly raised her head and asked: "Who saved you?"

Meeting those scattered, bewildered eyes, the spider woman vaguely felt that this sentence was more like the young lady's own self-questioning.

But the spider woman still had to answer: "It was a Great Wu, a Great Wu capable of hunting and killing evil spirits."

Feng Zhu's eyes suddenly surged with hatred: "Wu only harm people, how could he save someone!"

"No, that was an evil Wu, who must receive severe punishment." The spider woman hurriedly said: "The Great Wu is a Wu God, able to perform the Spirit Summoning Dance, exterminating evil."

The spider woman's gaze was firm and trusting, clear and bright, her voice full of soothing: "When the young lady recovers in the future, you may personally go watch a true Great Wu dance, and then you will know my words are not false."

As her words ended, the spider woman had already inserted a silver needle into Feng Zhu's hair.

Feng Zhu's finger trembled, but she felt a current of sour-numbing heat flow down from the top of her head.

The spider woman quickly administered two more needles in succession, and Feng Zhu gradually calmed, forgetting to struggle.

The spider woman and Pei Qing at her side exchanged a slight nod, both letting out a breath of relief.

Toward this diagnosis, the spider woman was extremely conscientious. From Huali's instructions, she heard that this time Huali had her come to the Lu Hou Mansion not merely to perfunctorily make a trip, but hoped she would do her utmost to treat the Feng family young lady.

Huali also admonished her that the Feng family young lady's mind was unclear, her words and actions might be disordered, and asked her to have more patience.

The spider woman did each one accordingly.

After one time unit, Pei personally saw the spider woman out of the Hou Mansion.

After the silver needles were removed, Feng Zhu fell asleep, and Lu Hou and Madam Shentu spoke in the outer hall.

Madam Shentu asked: "How come the one who came wasn't that newly appointed Tai Puzhe?"

"Sent word saying his injuries still haven't fully healed, and also said he knows Zhu'er's condition; there's a needle master in the Taiyi Shu whose specialty is more suited to this ailment... so he entrusted this needle master to make the house call in his stead." Lu Hou speculated: "Perhaps he just took office and doesn't want close dealings with the city's nobility... if so, then my consideration was lacking."

Only because that Shangsi Festival night he personally experienced this Great Wu God's extraordinary nature, afterward he thought to invite him to the door to diagnose his daughter.

"Even so, this young Tai Puzhe was very sincere." Madam Shentu said: "Though he declined, he didn't perfunctorily brush it off; the needle master he invited has quite some skill, and is meticulous and conscientious. Right now Doudou has rarely fallen into a deep sleep."

"Yes." Lu Hou said with regret: "It's just that Doudou's soul is unstable. I originally thought, since this Great Wu God is extraordinary, perhaps he might know some Soul-Summoning Technique..."

"Such things are invisible and intangible; rather they depend on fate and opportunity. Let's wait for the future." Madam Shentu said: "Since he just took office, let's not add trouble for him for now. Doudou's illness ultimately cannot be regulated in a day or two. This needle master is also good; another day remember to invite her again."

Lu Hou agreed. Madam Shentu asked a few more things about the newly appointed Tai Puzhe: "Recently the children at home are all discussing it, only saying this Great Wu God is very young, truly like a mountain ghost spirit, an otherworldly person..."

"I haven't seen his appearance yet; during the sacrifice he wore a mask." Lu Hou sighed: "Young he certainly is, only about sixteen years old. Extraordinary is truly extraordinary, extremely rare."

"Speaking like that, his age is about the same as that child Shaowei..."

"Should be about the same."

The couple spoke in low voices.

In the inner chamber, Feng Zhu had already fallen into a dream.

She dreamed day and night, but this time the dream was relatively much more peaceful.

Spring breeze, clear sky, all around only one child running happily around her. She didn't know whose child it was, but it made her feel very at peace.

Just as they ran, that child slowly grew up, from a short little child turning into a graceful young girl.

Feng Zhu anxiously wanted to see the young girl's appearance clearly, but the sunlight was too bright; what she saw was only a blur of light and shadow.

She vaguely realized this was in her own dream; the so-called inability to see clearly was because she couldn't imagine it. But why couldn't she imagine it?

Seeing her unable to figure it out for a long time, that girl seemed to get a bit angry, turned and ran.

She hurriedly gave chase, wanting to call out to that back in her mouth, but no matter what she couldn't make a sound, and didn't even know what to call. She could only helplessly search, searching until the sky turned dark, before finally finding the person in front of a cluster of peonies blooming just right.

She wanted to approach, but was blocked by a formless wall.

Could only watch from afar as that young girl faced away from her, squatted down before the flower cluster, her back figure somewhat aggrieved and desolate.

The moon not yet full but nearly so, in the courtyard with hanging lamps, Shaowei squatted before a pot of peonies, hands folded on her knees, sniffing the peony fragrance.

The floral fragrance was elegant, pleasant to smell, yet it made her not happy.

Shaowei stood up, instructed Xiao Yu: "When Yong Er comes tomorrow, have her send someone to move these several pots of peonies away. I don't like this."

"Okay, Young Master!"

Shaowei walked straight to the hall gate front, sat down on the stone steps, and began to daze.

A moment later, she saw Xiao Yu struggling to carry a large pot of peonies heading out of the courtyard.

Shaowei returned to her senses, knitted her brows: "What are you doing? Didn't I say to hand it to Yong Er tomorrow."

Xiao Yu hugged the flower pot and answered: "Young Master doesn't like them, so Xiao Yu will make them disappear immediately!"

"Just don't like, didn't say hate to the bone." Shaowei stopped her: "Put it down, no more moving. Have you finished copying all the characters I had you copy today?"

Xiao Yu obediently put down the flower pot, revealing a guilty expression, hesitated for a moment, then said: "Young Master, I only want to practice martial arts and build strength, so I can be as impressive as Young Master one day... learning to write is tedious and useless."

"Martial arts must naturally be practiced, but who said writing is useless? This Young Master is accomplished in both literature and martial arts." Shaowei's expression turned serious: "Moreover, if you don't write or read, you won't even know when you're being bullied in the future."

She said sternly: "Go to my study right now; you can't eat your late meal until you finish writing."

Xiao Yu went "ah," and said softly: "But I've already eaten..."

Shaowei changed her words: "Then you can't sleep!"

Xiao Yu nodded, and like a gust of wind, rushed into the study.

Shaowei, having displayed her authority for a while, saw the scene and revealed a satisfied expression.

She had no time to continue showing off, when she heard a very faint rustling from above the roof.

Shaowei looked up, and saw a grey shadow carrying another grey shadow leap down from above.

"Someone's been captured."

While speaking, Zhao Qie'an crouched down and placed the Shan Gu he was holding in his arms onto the ground; Shan Gu knelt on the spot, tears in his eyes, looking at the person sitting on the stone steps: "A Jie!"

Shan Gu was not skilled in lightness skill, and the arrow wound on his shoulder and arm had not fully healed, so his arm could not be used forcefully yet; after repeated consideration, the house slave had no choice but to carry him horizontally into the residence.

The house slave, whose arms were sore, walked into the hall by himself to find water to drink, only to hear the boy behind him, who was exhausting to listen to, sobbing: "A Jie, you saved my life again this time; I can't count how many times A Jie has saved me!"

Shaowei was too lazy to pay attention to these words, and only asked him about the important matter: "First tell me the urgent thing: they detained you at the Embroidered Uniform Guard for over ten days, what exactly was it for?"

Shan Gu wiped his tears, changed from kneeling to sitting, and answered seriously: "It was an old marquis surnamed Feng, whom they all call Lu Hou... This old marquis probably heard that I killed my way out of the siege at the mountain villa, and insisted that I have the makings of a general."

"But it was A Jie who brought me out of that siege..." Shan Gu said: "If we're talking about makings of a general, it should be A Jie."

This secret naturally could not be spoken; he simply did not let his guilty heart show, feeling that the old marquis had misjudged.

Shaowei did not deny it with humility at all, but only said: "Even if I am, does that mean you cannot be? You have talent for martial arts, both vigilant and brave; when practicing military formations before, Ji Jin also praised you for being very good at warfare—Lu Hou has long been on the battlefield; if he says you have the makings of a general, there must be a reason for it."

Shan Gu couldn't help but smile bitterly: "But someone like me, how could I have anything to do with being a general..."

Shaowei solemnly corrected: "Kings, lords, generals, and ministers—are they born of a special kind? Wasn't this taught to you when you read books?"

"And what do you mean by 'someone like me'? What kind of person am I?" Shaowei said: "I've already had Zhao Shu inquire; although your mother was a female slave, she was the most fierce female slave in this world; to avenge her master, she dared to hack Zhu Zhi to death alive—I may not have seen her, but I like and admire her!"

"As for your father Zhou Ju, although I don't know what kind of person he was before, he was tortured for many years and still had a heart of resistance, which shows his mind is firm and resolute." Shaowei: "And your grandmother, who was able to save you and raise you to adulthood, is also a real person of substance."

Shaowei finally concluded: "You have such fierce and resolute bloodline, experience of surviving great calamity; having some makings of a general is very normal; you are not allowed to belittle yourself."

Tears glistened in Shan Gu's eyes; he finally nodded heavily, raised his face and asked: "A Jie, then... do you also want me to join the army?"

Just as the Zhou Family Couple had evaluated before, this child had grown up like crops fertilized with manure; even though he had suffered hardships and misfortunes these days, it did not affect him growing through bitterness; now he already showed a tall stature.

His attitude remained loyal and well-behaved; he looked up at the girl sitting on the platform and said: "I'll listen to A Jie in everything."

Three days ago, that Lu Hou had gone to see him, asking if he had considered it; he made an excuse that he needed to ask again, which provoked the old marquis to raise his eyebrows and warn: 【A true man should achieve great deeds and serve the dynasty; this is only right under heaven—I have inquired; you have a pair of adoptive parents in the countryside; although they have the grace of raising you, they may not be able to give you good advice. You look to be sixteen or seventeen already; this matter must be decided by yourself.】

He was made somewhat ashamed by these words, and immediately said: 【I was planning to ask a god; this is the custom of our place.】

The old marquis frowned at him, at a loss for words.

He was not afraid at all: 【Since it should be my own decision, you should not detain me even more; let me leave now; I want to stay at a Taoist temple for a few days!】

Lu Hou looked at him, and this time nodded: 【You indeed have some backbone and courage; go to whichever Taoist temple you want; when you've figured it out, come find me at Lu Hou Fu.】

He really did run to a Taoist temple, until A Jie sent this Zhao Shu to steal him out at night.

A Jie is now using a false identity; his relationship with A Jie cannot be rashly proclaimed.

But telling Lu Hou he wanted to ask a god was not entirely a lie; he did not believe in ghosts and spirits; A Jie's words were the divine oracle.

In getting along with Shan Gu over the years, Shaowei was already used to making decisions for the family, but this time, she thought it over and over, yet said: "This matter still requires you to make your own decision; how do you think?"

Shan Gu lowered his eyes.

He had originally wanted to sweep the floor and chop firewood for A Jie for a lifetime, but now it seemed A Jie no longer lacked people to do these things.

On the road, he asked that Zhao Shu many things, and Zhao Shu also happened to tell him that his adoptive parents had been protected.

And having gone through this series of dangerous changes along the way, what had grown was not just his physique.

Shaowei put herself in his shoes and asked him: "When you are afraid or angry, what do you think of?"

Shan Gu raised his head: "If only I were stronger than my enemies; if only I could be more useful."

"I've thought that way too." Shaowei raised her chin and said: "So I transformed into a flower fox and became a great witch god."

Shan Gu couldn't help but be stunned; A Jie at this moment was like a fierce tiger; though she had added scars, she was extremely imposing; sharing hunting experience with him, who had just come out of the forest, she both showed him the results of battle and warned him of danger: "But I also almost lost my life for this."

Shaowei said seriously: "So you must make your own decision, understand?"

Worldly affairs change in an instant; leaving the original Taoyuan Lin, this vast world is now another truly dangerous and cruel jungle; Shan Gu looked at A Jie's shadow, then at his own larger shadow, and nodded solemnly: "A Jie, I will think it through carefully."

Inside the hall, the house slave who had originally gone to find water saw several plates of melon and fruit snacks on the food table, and simply drank some wine along the way; now holding a wine bowl, he also nodded with satisfaction; not bad; now this child arranging other children was also well-organized.

The gratified house slave took another big gulp of wine, raised his head, and saw Shaowei rushing in in a hurry, taking something, and then rushing out in a hurry.

"I had someone retrieve two taels of Zhu Zhi's bone ash; one tael was given to someone else; this one tael is left for you!"

Shaowei stepped over the door threshold, and explained first, so that Shan Gu wouldn't be unprepared when receiving it and drop and break it.

Shan Gu hadn't responded yet, when another voice sounded, asking: "Don't I get one?"

In the instant before hearing this voice, Shaowei had already turned her head to look, sensing it, and saw Liu Qi, dressed in black clothes, taking off the hood of his cloak, standing still in the courtyard, looking at her.

Mo Li, who was responsible for bringing the person, finally announced at this moment: "Young Master, the person has been brought!"

?? (Shaowei's prepared housewarming gift 【one tael of bone ash】)

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