Chapter 401

Chaotic and noisy sounds.

"..."

"... The injuries are too severe. Without enough True Qi to protect the body, many wounds have worsened significantly." The strange young girl's voice was cold and cool. "It's quite good to have saved a life."

"This is our young hero who turned the tide; you must use the best things," the strange man said, somewhat anxiously. "Aren't you called the 'Little Medicine Lord'? Are these external wounds really this hard to treat?"

"Even if I were Taishang Laojun, this person wouldn't be able to wake up right now."

"... Tianshan said they would send divine medicine very soon; it should be better then."

"What medicine?"

"... Just, healing pills, the kind that make wounds heal quickly once swallowed."

"【White Dragon Pill】 absorbs True Qi to transform into medicinal power, with a slow and gentle nature, suitable for his use; 【Yaochi Pill】 draws Xuan Qi into the body, and his body is fragile now, unable to withstand the scouring—which one is it?"

"..."

"This person is too silly, please take him out." Pei Ye felt a pain in his waist, and something thin and cool passed through his skin and flesh. The girl above turned her head. "This is the best treatment for now. Move him to the independent courtyard on the quiet cliff in the back. I will look after him from time to time over the next two days—are you a family member?"

"... Meow?"

"Then who are you?" The strange girl turned her head in another direction and paused. "Oh, you are Ming Qitian, then—"

"I can," Ming Qitian said. "Is there anything that needs to be done?"

"Nothing, just stay with him. Call me if there's anything unusual—he won't be able to wake up for a while."

It was at this moment that Pei Ye opened his eyes in a daze, meeting the pair of clear eyes looking down from above.

Both fell into silence.

Qu Xin tilted her head slightly and frowned.

Pei Ye's first feeling was that his body was bare. In a panic, he felt again and realized the thin quilt covering his waist and abdomen. He breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to prop himself up to look at the others in the room, but his whole body was completely numb and soft, unable to muster the slightest strength.

Only then did he realize his unimaginable weakness.

"He seems to have woken up?" It was Ming Qitian's familiar voice.

His vision went dark as the little cat leaped up, its green eyes pressed right in front of his face.

But the next moment, it was picked up by the scruff of its neck by a slender hand wearing a transparent glove and placed to the side.

"Don't disturb him first." This girl with cold and indifferent features stared down at him, pressed her hand onto his pulse, and relaxed her brow after a moment. "... So the meridian tree is abnormal. But it would be better for you to faint for another six hours."

She raised her hand, and Pei Ye's heart tightened. The next moment, a middle-aged man with a round face rushed forward: "Divine Doctor Qu, let me say two words first."

Pei Ye looked at him weakly, vaguely recognizing this as the attire of a Crane Inspector. He opened his mouth, only to find that he couldn't even speak.

Xiao Changgong said gently and slowly: "Young Hero Pei, the Immortal Platform and the Prefecture Office have both arrived. Master Sui and Hall Master Zhang have gone to pursue the fugitives without a moment's delay. Kongdong is now entirely in our hands. We will protect the Ming Ming Jianzhu and the two of you with the highest standards. You just need to rest and recover from your injuries."

"..." Pei Ye set his mind at ease. The support forcibly given by the "Bingle" seemed to suddenly withdraw, and an indescribable sense of dizziness and exhaustion surged up.

Afterward, his head was pressed by something cold and cool, his vision went dark, and he fainted again.

Kongdong, Medical Hall, Rear Cliff Courtyard.

The rain was still drifting thinly. Ming Qitian sat on the blue stone at the edge of the cliff outside the door, the black cat lying beside her.

"The little girl from the Mount Tai Medicine Hut said this time the foundation was damaged. If it weren't for the effectiveness of 【Bingle】, he wouldn't have been saved," the black cat sighed lightly. "But it can be considered barely stabilized."

"【White Dragon Pill】 is a rare divine medicine; it should be able to heal seven or eight out of ten when the time comes."

"Yes, but the truly fatal part is..." The black cat paused, looking silently at the falling rain outside the cliff.

Ming Qitian also did not answer for a moment, her thumb gently stroking the glaze on her knees.

It was the Edict Map.

The erosion of the youth's mind by the "Purple Bamboo Forest Dragon Immortal Secret Edict" far exceeded imagination. The Immortal descended to the world once and left voluntarily; how could he not leave anything behind?

This was his only servant body in the human world.

"Originally, you had already helped him remove the erosion and repaired his mind, but he chose to welcome the Immortal himself," the black cat sighed lightly. "... It is both nature and fate."

"Will he only die when this kind of erosion reaches its end?"

"He will definitely choose to die," the black cat said. "I only worry... that he won't even be able to die when the time comes."

"... I will think of a way."

"Hmm."

Just then, the person and the cat turned their heads at the same time. On the small path under the cliff, a little boy with red lips and white teeth ran up, stumbling. He didn't carry an umbrella, but he held something square tightly in his arms.

It was Kong Lanting.

"Greetings, Ming Ming Jianzhu!"

"Hello."

"This is a letter sent to Young Hero Pei from Bowang two days ago. It wasn't delivered to his hands in time, so it was stored up," Kong Lanting said crisply, peeling back the cloth wrapping to reveal a small square wooden box. "Master told me to hand it over."

"Oh." Ming Qitian took it and opened the lid to see that there were only two or three thin letters inside. "Thank you for your trouble."

"You're welcome, you're welcome! Ming Ming Jianzhu, you can call me if you need anything!" Kong Lanting turned and ran down again, his figure disappearing in an instant, not knowing how she would call him.

Ming Qitian watched the little boy leave and lowered her head to look at these few letters. On the envelope was very slender and elegant handwriting: "Kongdong Mountain Gate, for Pei Ye."

The signature was "Cuiyu Li Piaoqing."

Ming Qitian took one out, and the black cat leaned over: "Open it and take a look."

Ming Qitian's hand paused slightly.

"She had also secretly looked at yours before."

"..." Ming Qitian lowered her head, meeting the pair of green eyes, and remained silent.

She had originally intended to open it to see if there was any urgent matter so as not to delay, but after the black cat said this, it seemed a bit strange.

However, the thought flashed through the bright mirror, leaving no trace. Ming Qitian had already opened the first letter and lowered her head to read two lines, setting her mind at ease.

There was no urgent matter. This was an exchange between the two parties when the traces of Qu Zhu had not yet been seen. The letter was sent via the post station because the mountain formation would confuse the soul birds. Pei Ye had no more time after seeing the traces of Qu Zhu in Kongdong, so these were all delayed messages.

"【Qu Zhu】, good, I have noted this name.

I will find this name within two hours and find his former residence and whereabouts within a day. I will follow up with a reply to you shortly.

In addition, the 【Holding Xian Xinshi】 style in the 'Flying Feather Immortal Fourth Rank' that you described in detail—not only do I not understand it, but Master doesn't understand it either.

Pei Ye, don't make up your own words. If there are characters you don't know how to write, let Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming help you take a look.

Everything is fine here in Bowang, Pei Ye—are there any good-looking places in Kongdong? Write more to me when you write letters.

Give my regards to Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming and the little cat for me!"

Between the last two sentences, there was an ink mark that had been crossed out, which was no longer clear. Ming Qitian mobilized her Xuan Qi and reached out to wipe it away, reading it: "Pei Ye, your own life is always more important than hatred..."

This was a comfort that had not been received.

That was the youth's most silent and oppressive time. That kind of low, cold feeling must have been revealed in the strokes of the pen. The young girl was clearly very worried about his state. This letter was like a green skirt jumping in front of him, pretending to be coquettish to try to make him happy.

Ming Qitian flipped through the short note with her fingers. She actually remembered that the person most deeply hurt by Qu Zhu was clearly the girl herself.

————

Bowang, Yilan Mountain.

Fine rain tapped lightly outside the window. The damp smell of old wood was simple and fresh, and the ancient hall was quietly burning two candle flames.

The young girl sat on a small cushion leaning against the couch. The candlelight cast light and shadow on her quiet side cheek. She rested her head on the old man's shoulder, and the old man, covered by half a quilt, also leaned toward her, holding a sword scroll and smiling slightly. His two thin, withered hands were trembling uncontrollably.

"【Stepping on Water to Pluck Scales】 is lighter and faster, but there is always an end to it. If it gets any lighter, the sword will have no power, and the swordsman won't be able to use it..." Li Weiru's intermittent, hoarse voice suddenly stopped. He raised his hand to cover his mouth and coughed violently several times. Li Piaoqing handed him the handkerchief in her hand.

The old man gasped twice and smiled again: "Look... this 【Holding Xian Xinshi】 is meant to make him use 【Stepping on Water to Pluck Scales】 to break this limit, until it is 'light' to the point of exhaustion, and the swordsman can no longer use it, and the 'fast' will reach its peak."

"But, if it can't be used, what's the use?" Li Weiru squinted pleasantly at the sword scroll in his hand. "... So this is only half a sword. The second half is 【Breaking Ground】."

"【Breaking Ground】 is rebirth, which can be connected after the exhaustion of 【Stepping on Water to Pluck Scales】... In this way, it gives this sword another burst of power, thus becoming a stream of light after the withering..." Li Weiru paused, bent over, and covered his mouth to cough violently. This time, a large patch of dark blood was coughed onto the handkerchief, which was shocking to the eye.

He took one look and then folded it with a trembling hand, not showing it to the girl. He drank some water and smiled weakly: "So this 【Holding Xian Xinshi】 takes the meaning of the moment the cicada just 【Breaks Ground】 and is snatched away by a yellow oriole—what bad luck."

Li Piaoqing didn't look at the handkerchief either. She leaned on the old man's shoulder and was amused, just gently hugging the old man's fragile body more deeply.

"... It's really good, really good..." Li Weiru murmured hoarsely. "Confucius said, 'If one hears the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening without regret.'... Young Friend Pei has truly made me see a glimpse of the future glory of Cuiyu. It's a pity I can't thank him in person."

Li Piaoqing lowered her eyes, gripped the old man's hand tightly under the quilt, and passed gentle True Qi into him.

The old man's injury was worsening faster than anyone had imagined... Now he hadn't eaten anything for a whole day.

Two slight knocks on the door suddenly sounded outside the hall.

Li Weiru raised his head and smiled slightly: "Young Sect Master, go attend to your busy affairs first."

Li Piaoqing pressed her head against his neck and said softly: "I'll come to accompany you again tonight."

"Hmm, hmm."

Li Piaoqing opened the door and walked out. The young girl's lowered brows were cold and quiet: "What's wrong?"

"The secret room has been found."

Li Piaoqing picked up the Lost Cui Sword: "Let's go."

"Just as you said, it's not in the small villa outside the mountain, but under his former residence in the city. The abandoned underground waterway was renovated and enclosed by him, becoming the place where he studied that heart-amber."

"Because he often went out of the city, it seemed strange," Li Piaoqing explained. "Any discoveries?"

"... It has all been abandoned and cleaned up very cleanly. Nothing was left behind," Shen Yao said in a low voice.

Li Piaoqing's expression didn't change: "No matter, let's go take a look."

Shen Yao hesitated: "There seems to be a change in Kongdong."

Li Piaoqing's footsteps paused: "What?"

"A large number of Immortal Platform personnel and soldiers have entered Kongdong, and it is close to being sealed. I think the Huan Si Lou's plot may have already been exposed."

"Pei Ye... how are they?"

"I sent a letter from the Prefecture Office to ask, but there is no news yet."

"..." Li Piaoqing pursed her lips and gripped the sword hilt: "Then, what about Qu Zhu?"

"... There is no news yet either," Shen Yao said. "This is very new news, about six or seven hours ago. I think many people and things are still being investigated and arrested."

"Hmm," Li Piaoqing said. "Also keep an eye on the safety of the few officials we are familiar with—Crane Inspector Wu and Master Sui."

"... Hmm," Shen Yao hesitated. "Sect Master, I was thinking... since it has already been exposed, the Immortal Platform will investigate everything that needs to be investigated. We are already far behind here. Is it... unnecessary to invest more manpower?"

"Manpower is tight in many places," she added.

Li Piaoqing was quiet for a moment, looked at her with clear eyes, and said softly: "If we also give up... perhaps the last net will be gone."

"... What?"

But the young girl didn't answer again. The rain was fine and dense. She tied her cloak and hood and was the first to step down the mountain.

Like a green bird in the rain and mist.

————

Kongdong.

The intervention of the Immortal Platform was indeed like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

A large number of personnel arrived six hours later. All seventeen peaks of Kongdong were controlled simultaneously, and after the Play Master was captured, the Huan Si Lou was almost uprooted.

To achieve this, they had exposed too many traces. Now, under large-scale investigation, they were all dragged out one by one. Twenty-four states that had been prepared for a long time acted simultaneously, and the Huan Si Lou's thirty years of hiding and operation in Shaolong collapsed almost overnight.

With the clearing of the scheduling hub of the Huan Si Lou hidden in the Jin Yu Zhai, it represented the complete cracking of this major case. The information of the Immortal Platform regarding the "Huan Si Lou" was greatly enriched.

The woman and the youth at the center of the vortex were heavily protected by the most reliable personnel. The Crane Inspectors and Yan Inspectors led their men to expand the results like a storm outside. Although there were still many lingering effects and threads that would need months or even years to slowly digest, in terms of this single move, as something the Platform had begun preparing for since the beginning of the Wudong mission, everything had been done as well as possible.

One night passed just like that.

The next morning.

The rain was still drifting thinly, but the sky was no longer dark and gloomy. Clear lines of water hung from the corners of the courtyard eaves.

When Pei Ye opened his eyes in a daze, he felt his body was inexplicably much lighter. Although he was still injured and tired, that dying sense of exhaustion was gone, and his whole person seemed to have come back to life.

"They gave you the 【White Dragon Pill】, and the little aunt from the Mount Tai Medicine Hut applied the 【Silver Jade Weaving Life】 three times last night. Now there is no major problem," a steady voice sounded beside him. Pei Ye turned his head to see the old man who was as gentle as a scholar but as silent as Xiao Tuo.

The room door was wide open. He sat by the bed looking at the rain curtain under the eaves, a familiar long sword lying across his knees. He was in clean black clothes, presumably having just washed away the blood and filth, and his hair and body still carried the fresh moisture of water.

"... Master Sui," Pei Ye called out weakly.

"Crane Inspector Wu once said that if he encountered an accident, he would be willing to give this sword to you," Sui Zaihua turned his eyes, placed the 【Jade Tiger】 beside him, looked at him quietly with old eyes, and said softly, "You did very well. Pei Ye, you are the most outstanding young person I have ever seen in my life."

(End of chapter)

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