Chapter 197: Ma Ling'er

That's what they say, but in reality, the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast is just one dish of each kind.

The tail asked curiously, "Wu Wu, where did you get so much money?"

"Oh, remember that big sister with the water bucket waist? She's the Chief Captain of the Guard Team. She asked me some questions about the escort team, then handed me a pile of cash as hush money."

"You, with your big mouth, can keep your lips sealed?"

"Of course I can't—that's why I'm telling you. But the Bucket Sister doesn't know! Right…?"

The last sentence clearly sounded guilty.

"You… tell Ye Ge the situation. Don't let anything go wrong."

"Don't worry! The Bucket Sister asked nothing but trivial questions! Don't look at me like this—I'm super smart!!"

As she spoke, Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu stuck out her hips and puffed out her chest.

She sent a brief message to Fang Yue, answered a few questions from him, and then nothing more happened.

At this moment, the kitchen had already served the first dish; Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu's eyes instantly sparkled. Finally, finally—not another steamed bun! Since leaving Gu Yue Cun, for some reason, Ye Ge always fed me steamed buns—I'm sick of them!!

…

Outside Ma Ling'er'er's room.

Fang Yue stared at the message from Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu, lost in thought.

Lin Duoduo asked Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu some questions—some about the escort team, some about Gu Yue Cun, and some about me, the escort team Captain.

Fortunately, Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu knew her limits; she feigned ignorance on all key questions, so Lin Duoduo's information was incomplete.

Knock knock.

Two light taps on the door.

"No way, no way, no one's really trying to sneak into a girl's bedroom at midnight? That guy's probably an old pervert—scary!"

Fang Yue: …

Face darkening, Fang Yue pushed the door open.

Inside stood Chen Xiaomiao, already recovered from the effects of the Ya Gucao.

Seeing Fang Yue enter, her face twitched—she clearly had trauma around him. She started to utter some eerie words, but only moved her lips, too afraid to speak.

Fang Yue glared at her: "Where's An Shenyi?"

"I, I don't know."

After being poisoned into silence, Chen Xiaomiao had been bursting to talk—but she held back in front of Fang Yue.

Fang Yue asked his second question: "How is Ma Ling'er'er?"

"How should I know? Do you think just because I'm with An Shenyi I've learned medicine? Then your eyes are probably broken—go see an ophthalmologist… cough! I mean, Ma Ling'er'er's still asleep. Kids sleep this long? She's probably faking it. I think a good beating would wake her up."

The second half of that sentence was forced out by Fang Yue's glare.

She dared not provoke Fang Yue—he was a ruthless one, willing to break bones without hesitation, and she had zero ability to resist.

This stupid game—doesn't PvP between players have any newbie protection?!

"If you don't know where An Shenyi went, and you don't know Ma Ling'er'er's condition, why are you even here?"

Fang Yue eyed Chen Xiaomiao suspiciously; she immediately puffed out her cheeks.

"You don't really think… An Shenyi, An Shenyi told me to stay here and watch over Ma Ling'er'er. In exchange, he helped me get the poison reversed early. He said if anything happens, I should scream at the top of my lungs—so stop glaring at me like that! If you glare again, I'll scream 'Assault!' Don't forget your reputation in the escort team isn't great…"

Though it was a threat, Chen Xiaomiao clearly had no real conviction.

Slandering Fang Yue might bring momentary psychological satisfaction, but the cost would be horrific—likely full-body fractures plus being dumped on Niu Niu's usual cart, forming the mute duo.

"Enough." Fang Yue rolled his eyes. "Get out. I'll wait here for An Shenyi."

"Yay!!"

Chen Xiaomiao bolted out the door. If not for An Shenyi's orders, she wouldn't have bothered staying in the room watching a woman.

Though unreliable, Chen Xiaomiao still closed the door behind her.

Fang Yue stepped closer to the bed, lifted Ma Ling'er'er's blanket, frowned at the bandaged wound on her waist, then pulled the blanket back over her.

"A Duan…"

At that moment, perhaps the slight motion of tucking the blanket stirred Ma Ling'er'er; she suddenly murmured in her sleep.

A Duan?

Who is that?

There it was—Fang Yue's gaze sharpened!

Masaka!

Fang Yue pushed at nonexistent glasses, adjusted his nose bridge.

Could A Duan be the one who injured Ma Ling'er'er?

No—Ma Ling'er'er was truly wounded by a strange, as proven by the Giant-Headed Blood Dog.

Then… did the strange take on A Duan's form to hurt her?

A shapeshifting strange?

"A Duan… A Duan…"

Ma Ling'er'er spoke again, fragmented, repeating those two words.

Clearly, this name held special meaning for her.

Fang Yue shook his head slightly and rose to leave—when suddenly a scorching, jade-like hand seized his wrist.

Ma Ling'er'er's voice followed immediately.

"A Duan… don't leave… A Duan…"

Wait, you're mistaking me for that guy?

Fang Yue quickly pulled his wrist free, but noticed Ma Ling'er'er's forehead was slick with sweat, her breathing heavy, her whole body weak.

Placing his hand on her forehead, he immediately felt searing heat—this temperature was nearly hot enough to burn out her brain.

Fang Yue frowned.

If Ma Ling'er'er died, how would he explain it to Ma Tiejiang when he returned to the village…

As Fang Yue was thinking this, Ma Ling'er'er, still feverish, suddenly opened her eyes half-dazedly—she was awake!

"A Duan… A Duan… A… Night? Deputy Captain?! How is it you?!"

Startled, the dazed Ma Ling'er'er recoiled as if frightened by Fang Yue, jerking upright in panic, then immediately succumbing to dizziness and vertigo.

Am I really that frightening to look at?

Fang Yue touched his own face—it wasn't anything unusual.

He felt a bit vexed, but still asked: "How do you feel? Is your body any better?"

"Mm… mm…"

Ma Ling'er'er seemed to be recalling what had happened before, observing the unfamiliar room, and asked cautiously: "I… I didn't die?"

"Heavy Injury to your waist, persistent high fever—Divine Doctor An could only keep you alive until we reached Mo Cun, where real treatment could begin."

"Divine Doctor An?!"

Memories of the past flooded back into Ma Ling'er'er's mind, and she instantly shrank into the corner of the bed.

"Where… where is he?"

"Divine Doctor An? I don't know—he just went out."

Fang Yue watched her, puzzled—she seemed terrified of Divine Doctor An?

"He's not here? That's good…"

Ma Ling'er'er exhaled a long breath, relaxing completely—but soon realized she was still not safe.

I was careless… truly careless! I never thought that bastard would strike me with Heavy Injury! He was just a possessed phantom hiding in the squad—how dare he be so bold!

Ma Ling'er'er's heart burned with rage and fear; recalling the events, her expression twisted into something grotesque: "Deputy Captain Night, do you know who injured me?"

(End of Chapter)