Chapter 25: Aftermath of Delivering the Letter, A Swap of Identities

"Can't… perform?!"

The county magistrate cried out in shock.

Imperial Physician Qian continued.

"Compared to this, that severed finger hardly counts as a serious wound."

That cry from the county magistrate woke the person who had just fainted on the bed.

A dark, hoarse voice rang out beside the two of them.

"What did you say?!"

Hearing the voice, the county magistrate hurried over and bent to help him up.

"National Preceptor, sir, you've awakened."

Borrowing his strength, the National Preceptor struggled to sit up and leaned against the soft pillow.

The movement pulled at the wounds that had just been bandaged on his body, and instantly cold sweat poured from him all over.

The county magistrate hurriedly beckoned a maid to come help wipe the sweat, then raised his own sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his brow, watching him nervously.

"How are you feeling, sir?"

The National Preceptor ignored him, his face dark as he looked toward Imperial Physician Qian.

"What did you just say?"

The National Preceptor's burns were extremely severe—his hair had already been burned away, his whole body covered in charred-black scars. Now, with that dark expression, he looked like an evil ghost crawling up from hell.

Under that shadowed gaze, Imperial Physician Qian felt as though needles were pricking his back; his whole body trembled as he stammered out a reply.

"Compared to the other injuries, this severed finger is—i-is still considered the lesser one."

The National Preceptor's face turned livid, and he slammed his fist heavily against the bed board.

"The line before that!"

Truly has no sense!

Must he be made to ask such an unspeakable question himself?!

"To answer Your Honour, Your Honour's injuries were too severe. That place—if the burned portion was not cut away, should it become infected, I'm afraid none of it could be saved."

Imperial Physician Qian kept wiping his cold sweat as he spoke.

Sweating buckets, he was.

This person was actually the National Preceptor, who held power over the whole court?

Oh my heavens!

So he had just… performed the castration on the National Preceptor!

Realizing this, Imperial Physician Qian dropped to his knees with a thud.

It's over—his life would be settled here today!

"Bang!"

The National Preceptor's eyes bulged in fury, his face flushed an angry blue-green. He felt the blood from his whole body surge to his forehead, his head buzzing, and darkness flickering before his eyes.

So—he had become a eunuch?!

He extended his right hand, missing two fingers, and tremblingly reached downward. The next instant, his face went white, then red, then blue-green again…

Finally, driven by humiliation and rage, he slapped the medicine bowl beside the bed flying.

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

Fearing he'd be taken out on, the county magistrate hurriedly led the maids out of the way.

Imperial Physician Qian even forgot to stand up, and simply rolled and crawled out of there.

Once outside, the two looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

Imperial Physician Qian slumped to the ground and looked up at the county magistrate.

"Magistrate, sir, this commoner is going to be done in by you this time."

The county magistrate was about to say something when suddenly a series of "clatter-crash-bang" sounds came from inside the room, interspersed with furious roars.

"Ah! Ah!"

"Who was it? Who exactly was it?!"

"I will kill you!"

"I will absolutely tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

Listening to those sounds, the people outside were seized with terror.

After a long while, a voice came from within.

"Come in."

The county magistrate closed his eyes heavily. No need to ask—that was certainly calling him.

He drew a deep breath and pushed the door open to go in.

The room was now a wreck—furniture and porcelain, some shattered, some broken.

The county magistrate bowed deeply to the National Preceptor.

"Does the National Preceptor have any instructions?"

The National Preceptor kept his eyes closed, his face expressionless, his tone inexplicably chilling.

"As for the matter of my injuries, I do not wish for anyone else to know."

The county magistrate nervously swallowed, a drop of cold sweat sliding down from his temple.

"Yes, this official understands."

"A few days ago, a band of bandits looted the Daoist temple clean and set it ablaze, burning it to ashes. Not a single person inside survived."

Hearing this, the National Preceptor nodded in satisfaction.

"The things in the Kufang..."

The County Magistrate bowed with cupped hands once more.

"Rest assured, my lord. This official will see it done properly."

Suddenly, the National Preceptor opened his eyes.

"Just now, a servant from your household came to report that the escort team transporting the Cheng Family's womenfolk was attacked outside the city?"

The County Magistrate nodded, first observing his expression for a moment, then replied thoughtfully.

"Indeed. They say the bandits were numerous and their strikes vicious. Only four Jiedai survived. Wu Meng had no choice but to send someone into the city to call for help."

Hearing this, a dark glint flashed through the National Preceptor's eyes.

"Were there any casualties among the Cheng Family?"

The County Magistrate shook his head.

"It seems not."

The National Preceptor snorted coldly at this.

"Lucky to be alive, though. What a pity."

They dodged it this time, but next time might not be so fortunate!

Hearing these words, the County Magistrate lowered his head even deeper.

Those words, he dared not pick up and continue.

The National Preceptor asked another question.

"What about those two Jiedai?"

"They were seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment in the residence."

The National Preceptor gave a contemptuous laugh and said something meaningful.

"They do have some luck, but good fortune won't stay with them forever."

The County Magistrate bowed slightly.

"Please rest assured, National Preceptor. This official has already made the arrangements."

After coming out of the room, the County Magistrate walked out of the courtyard with Imperial Physician Qian and the maid.

Gazing at the night, he let out a long breath.

Imperial Physician Qian had saved his life; how could he repay kindness with enmity?

"Brother Qian, you must take your family and leave the city tonight."

Hearing this, Imperial Physician Qian's tightly clenched fists loosened slightly.

"Then you..."

How will you answer to the National Preceptor?

The County Magistrate raised his hand to cut him off.

"Enough, hurry and go!"

Any later, and I fear I might change my mind.

Hearing him say this, Imperial Physician Qian dared not delay. After expressing his thanks, he hurriedly left through the back door.

As for that maid, she now sensed something was wrong and flustered, dropping to her knees on the ground.

"My lord, I swear I will not leak a single word of today's matter to anyone!"

The maid raised her head, looking at him with tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in rain.

"I beg you, spare my life."

The County Magistrate had just let Imperial Physician Qian go; surely he would show her mercy too?

But what answered her was a sharp pain. She stared in disbelief at the Dagger plunged into her chest.

"You know too much. Besides, the one who wants you dead isn't me!"

Wiping the blood from his hands with a handkerchief, he beckoned to a servant in the distance.

"Clean it up!"

"Yes."

"Where are those two now?"

The servant, expression unchanging, took the bloodstained handkerchief from his hand and replied.

"After eating and drinking their fill at the tavern, they went to Tianxiang House."

"Hmph!"

The County Magistrate gave a cold laugh.

"Two fools, that's all they're good for!"

"Is everything arranged?"

"Rest assured, sir. This one has already made all the arrangements."

……

On the Small path of Qiling Mountain, several dozen li away, a group of five hurried through the trees and thickets.

At the head was a woman — it was Cheng Qiuyun.

They carried hoes and ropes, along with some wooden contraptions, picking their way carefully along the mountain path.

After choosing several spots, they began digging on the spot.

Suddenly, a "buzz-buzz-buzz, sizzle-sizzle-sizzle" sound rang out. In just a few breaths, as the sound ceased, a tree as thick as an adult man's wrist snapped clean through.

Cheng Qiuyun: "!!!"

Truly worthy of being a divine artifact capable of slicing off a finger in an instant.

How magical!

With the chainsaw's help, setting up the traps went very smoothly.

When the sky was just beginning to lighten, the few of them cleaned up their traces and started heading back.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Qiling Mountain, that group of masked killers was still lying in ambush at the planned spot.

They would never guess that the hunter and the prey had long since switched identities…