Chapter 205: Undercurrent

Dong, dong, dong.

Morning.

Li Rui knocked on He Shan's door.

"Brother Li."

Seeing that it was Li Rui outside the door, He Shan beamed with joy.

Li Rui was stunned and cupped his hands in congratulation:

"Brother He, a new marriage—truly, happy events bring a glow to the face."

Seeing him open the door with a smile was common for others, but for He Shan, it was somewhat unexpected.

The two had worked together for quite a long time, but even he hadn't seen He Shan smile many times, let alone this kind of hearty laughter.

He Shan led Li Rui into the main hall.

"Brother He, that day Chief Jiang had an urgent order and I had to leave the city, so I couldn't attend the wedding banquet for you and your wife. I truly apologize."

As he spoke.

He took another purple sandalwood box from his sleeve.

He Shan hurriedly stopped him: "Brother Li, I already accepted the wedding gift that day; how can I let you spend more?"

Li Rui laughed: "This isn't for you. I heard your wife is in poor health, so I specifically found some tonic. Just accept it."

Upon hearing this.

A flash of hesitation crossed He Shan's eyes. If it were for him, he wouldn't accept it no matter how valuable, but since it concerned his wife, he hesitated.

Just as he was struggling, the item was already in his hands before he knew it.

He gave a bitter smile:

"Brother Li, thank you."

"We're brothers, what's there to thank? By the way, is your wife feeling any better?"

He had already heard from Yang Yong.

He Shan's wife was sickly; after the wedding, she only appeared once when thanking the guests, and according to He Shan, she was unwell at the time.

He Shan called for the servants to serve tea while saying apologetically:

"My wife is unwell and cannot come out to see you, Brother. I truly apologize."

"No matter."

Li Rui waved his hand.

He didn't have the weird fetish for other men's wives; seeing her or not was the same.

At his current state of mind, beauties were like withered bones.

"I really didn't expect, Brother He, that you would actually open your mind and get married. Who was it that said they would never marry?"

Li Rui teased.

He Shan laughed: "I was a blade-wielder before, and I made too many enemies. I thought that if I took a wife and had a child, and the enemies came to the door and hacked them to death, it would be too much of a loss."

"Then why is it not a loss now?"

"Lan'er..."

A softness flashed in He Shan's eyes: "If I die, she lives."

Clearly, he had the intention to fight to the death.

Fine.

Li Rui was even more amused; it turned out the iron-willed man had been moved by tenderness, and He Lan was actually playing the "pure love" card.

A good thing.

He Shan's expression made him even more curious: "How did you two meet? Where is your wife from?"

If she were a local from Qinghe, he would likely know her elders.

He Lan: "My family suffered a disaster, and I fled into the deep mountains and fell into a valley, leading to amnesia. He picked me up in the mountains."

"Uh..."

Li Rui was speechless.

This plot... was truly hard to describe. In his previous life, it would be a cliché, melodramatic show, the kind with ten thousand bad reviews.

He didn't expect it to actually happen.

However, he did know that He Shan indeed liked to wander in the mountains; when he was at the Armory before, he had even followed him.

Picking up a wife?

Interesting.

It was all family business; although he felt it was bizarre, it wasn't good to ask too much.

The two chatted for a while before finding an excuse to leave.

Just as Li Rui left.

He Shan was walking out of the main hall when he saw a graceful figure drifting over, smiling gently: "Lan'er, why did you come out?"

He Lan blinked her beautiful big eyes:

"Husband, who was that old man just now?"

"Li Rui, a patrol guard of the Benhu Cavalry. He used to manage grain at the Armory and is a good friend of mine."

"Oh."

The young girl was thoughtful.

Deep night.

He residence, inside the main room.

A rustling sound of dressing arose, and a figure stood quietly by the bed.

He Shan's eyes were tightly shut, lying on the bed with steady breathing.

He Lan watched for a long time.

Just now, she had put medicine in He Shan's tea; if nothing went wrong, by the time he woke up, she might have already left.

"Forget me."

Afterward, she walked out of the room with light steps, without making a sound.

Clearly, she possessed martial arts.

Where was she a sickly weakling?

She walked all the way out of the Anning Guard; because she was He Shan's wife, and she claimed she was buying wine for her husband, there was almost no obstruction.

Out of the military camp.

A moment later, she arrived at a remote alley.

A woman with a graceful figure and infinite charm stood in the center of the alley.

He Lan bit her lip:

"Master."

"Little Lan'er, you've worked hard."

Liu Jiaoniang's pair of slender phoenix eyes narrowed, full of mockery.

"This slave is Number Nine, not Little Lan'er."

He Lan's thin body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

Liu Jiaoniang snorted coldly: "As long as you remember. I really thought that by climbing into a man's bed, your soul had been hooked away."

"Th-this slave, dare not."

"It's best if you dare not."

Dangerous light flashed in Liu Jiaoniang's eyes.

He Lan, or accurately, Number Nine.

Was her "Charm Slave."

Charm Slaves like Number Nine were all women she specifically searched for from brothels, each with excellent looks and having learned a set of seductive arts.

What mountain forest encounter.

What love at first sight.

They were nothing but tricks to seduce men.

Number Nine's appearance was something she had calculated from the start, with the goal of planting an eye in the Anning Guard to help her find the Immortal Qi. Although she was proficient in the art of disguise, Jiang Linxian's methods made her difficult to fathom.

If she were discovered by Jiang Linxian, it would mean death.

So sending a Charm Slave was the safest method.

"Heh, men."

"Don't tell me you really think that if he knew you were a cheap slut ridden by ten thousand men, he would still fall in love with you at first sight."

"Give up that ridiculous thought."

Liu Jiaoniang sneered repeatedly; she was best at manipulating women's thoughts and seemed to be able to see through Number Nine's heart.

Number Nine trembled even more violently:

"This slave, this slave dare not."

Seeing the effect was good, Liu Jiaoniang's flaming red lips curled slightly.

"Speak, what is it."

=9+Shu_Ba

Number Nine said timidly: "Master, the Immortal-Seeking Stone you gave me has reacted."

Liu Jiaoniang immediately became interested and urged:

"Speak quickly!"

"It's an official named Li Rui. He came to the He residence, and the Immortal-Seeking Stone lit up."

"It lit up!"

Liu Jiaoniang's eyes narrowed slightly: "Li Rui..."

She hadn't told Number Nine that what she was looking for in the Anning Guard was Immortal Qi, but instead gave her the Immortal-Seeking Stone, telling her to find someone who could make the stone light up.

That person was the one hiding in the Anning Guard, possessing Immortal Qi.

But the awkward thing was.

Number Nine went to the Anning Guard, but the Immortal-Seeking Stone didn't light up.

After nearly seven or eight days, it finally reacted again.

Number Nine said: "I have already inquired; Li Rui went to the Huaqing Sect some time ago and only returned the day before yesterday."

"It's him!"

Bright light shot from Liu Jiaoniang's eyes.

Everything matched perfectly.

"Find an opportunity to lure Li Rui out and have him eat this bottle of medicine."

As she spoke.

Liu Jiaoniang took a bottle of medicine from her bosom and threw it to Number Nine.

A flash of hesitation crossed Number Nine's eyes.

"Master, this medicine..."

She knew too well that with her status, the only way to attract Li Rui out was through He Shan, but for something like poisoning, there was no such thing as poisoning only one person; the safe way was to poison everyone.

For some reason, she didn't want to see He Shan die.

Liu Jiaoniang sneered: "It's a sleeping potion; it won't kill anyone. I want the item; killing two imperial officials will only bring me trouble."

Number Nine was overjoyed:

"Yes, Master."

Watching Number Nine leave, the curve of Liu Jiaoniang's mouth increased.

Zui Xian Lou, private room.

"Brother He, is this how you treat guests?"

"At the last minute, you send someone to tell me a time and place; it's awkward to come, and awkward not to."

Li Rui walked into the room.

He complained to He Shan; although he called it complaining, it was actually just teasing.

Near the You hour, a maid from He Shan's house came to the door, saying He Shan wanted to treat him to wine; he had to stop his meal halfway and rush over.

If it were anyone else.

Li Rui might not have gone, but He Shan was an honest man, and he was newly married; he had to give this face.

When they were colleagues at the Ding-grade Armory, he discovered that He Shan just didn't like worldly sophistication, but his heart was good.

And in the future, he still had places where he needed the Armory.

Worth befriending.

He Shan said with some apology: "I went out of the city to play today, and when I returned, my wife thought of how she didn't see Brother Li yesterday due to illness, and felt apologetic, so that's why."

Li Rui then looked at the stunning woman leaning beside He Shan.

Not the kind of bright beauty, but like a little white rabbit, making all men in the world feel pity upon seeing her.

Beautiful as she was, she didn't fit Li Rui's preference.

Sat down.

He Shan raised his wine cup: "Brother Li, let me apologize to you first."

Li Rui waved his hand: "Between brothers, why say so much? Cheers!"

Both tilted their heads back.

Two taels of wine went into their bellies.

Li Rui commented: "Brother He, were you cheated? This wine is truly not great."

He Shan scratched his head:

"That shouldn't be; I specifically asked for the best wine."

Li Rui looked at He Lan: "Sister, please trouble yourself to ask the shopkeeper to bring a pot of the wine I stored here; report my name, the shopkeeper knows."

"Yes, Brother Li."

He Lan stood up gently and walked out of the room.

Li Rui didn't dislike the wine and stop drinking; the two drank bowl after bowl.

Suddenly!

With a clatter, the wine bowl fell from his hand and shattered into pieces.

He widened his eyes, looking at the wine pot in disbelief: "There... there is poison!"

He Shan was shocked.

Just as he wanted to stand up, a wave of dizziness surged, his vision went black, his neck tilted, and he lost consciousness.

A moment later.

He Lan returned to the room; where was there any wine Li Rui had stored? She looked at Li Rui and He Shan lying on the floor, her eyes complex.

Behind her, Liu Jiaoniang's voice rang out:

"Why, heart-pained for your lover?"

"No... no, Master."

He Lan hurriedly stepped aside and retreated to the side.

Liu Jiaoniang walked into the private room, looked at the two in the room, and then looked at the Immortal-Seeking Stone in her hand.

"Immortal Qi..."

Thinking that she could finally complete the Blood Shadow Old Ancestor's mission, her heart felt a surge of heat.

She used her toe to flip Li Rui's body over.

Then she searched him.

Soon, she pulled a small wooden box from Li Rui's bosom and opened the lid.

She saw a wisp of cyan Qi, as thin as a hair, lying quietly in the wooden box.

Liu Jiaoniang felt her breathing become rapid:

"Is this Immortal Qi?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 206 =====