Chapter 543: A Rich Woman (1/10, Autumn Monthly Tickets)

Tomorrow morning — that is, the morning of the second day — and this was still You Sisi's optimistic estimate.

Who knew whether going to notify those sect powerhouses might run into some obstacles, whether strange things might appear on the road, and a little delay might mean they couldn't make it in time.

Dragging it out to the third day, or even missing that window entirely, was perfectly normal.

Only now did Fang Yue realize that all these so-called sect masters and faction leaders were, damn it, all from second- and third-rate sects — to put it simply, a whole flock of weaklings.

But Fang Yue only paused briefly, then politely greeted everyone as before.

The crowd, who had been frozen in embarrassment after You Sisi exposed their identities in public, now had a way out, and their impression of Fang Yue immediately shot up — although they really were small sects and small factions, and their strength wasn't much to speak of. But wasn't this why they'd come in response to the Summon Sect Order? No matter how you looked at it, they'd come to help. You Sisi's attitude had left a bit of a thorn in their hearts; Ye Baiyi really knew how to handle people.

Fang Yue hadn't thought that much about it — he just felt that since everyone had come to help, regardless of their strength, it was the thought that counted, and it wouldn't do to cold-shoulder them.

When asked what had happened and why the alarm bell had rung, everyone eagerly pointed at the distant sky.

"Lord Ye, please look over there — that black cloud, coming against the wind, is truly abnormal."

"Right! I've lived most of my life and never seen such a strange sight! There might be something eerie hidden inside that dark cloud!"

"Great minds think alike! I also feel something eerie is hidden inside — it might even be that the dark cloud itself is the eerie thing!"

"This is a bit tricky. The martial arts we've learned rarely include methods for dealing with aerial threats. We can only think of a way to shoot the eerie thing down from the cloud to maximize our combat effectiveness."

"I remember Qingsi had large war crossbows — I saw them once before. Later, because of… that incident with Lord You, they were put away. I wonder if they can still be brought out to use?"

The moment these words fell, the others' expressions changed at once, and they all fell silent.

Originally, seeing Fang Yue being so enthusiastically surrounded by so many people had already made You Sisi a little displeased. She frowned slightly, but said nothing.

But now that someone had brought up that incident, her face instantly darkened.

When she'd first come to Qingsi County, young and reckless, she'd made mistakes — she admitted it.

It was also after that incident, once Tian Erjun had forgiven her, that she truly came to understand how to be a Blue-Robed official, how to protect Qingsi County.

So much time had passed since then, and she had matured considerably. But hearing others bring up that matter again was like having her dark history dug up — it was inevitably irritating, especially with Fang Yue listening right beside her.

With a cold snort, she said icily: "First let's figure out what's going on with that dark cloud. If there's really something eerie, Qingsi will find a way to shoot it down on its own — no need for you lot to worry!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Lord You speaks wisely!"

Everyone hurriedly piled on smiles and flattery — clearly old hands at it.

But then again, any small sect that could survive in Qingsi County without much strength must have built up some real skill in the ways of the world.

Fang Yue raised his head to look at the distant high sky, but couldn't make out anything wrong with the dark cloud that occasionally rumbled with thunder and flickered with lightning.

"Since it's a dark cloud, shouldn't it bring Night Rain?" Fang Yue said hesitantly.

"Not sure, but with just that one dark cloud, even if it does bring Night Rain, it would only cover an area the size of one or two houses. We can just have people avoid it and take shelter."

Hearing that it was Fang Yue asking, You Sisi's voice instantly softened considerably, drawing rather odd expressions from the others.

"Then let's observe for a while first."

Observation or not, the group couldn't just sit idle. They issued orders, telling the villagers to all take shelter first, treating it as if Night Rain were coming.

The entire Qingsi County instantly became panic-stricken and chaotic.

They had naturally experienced Night Rain before, but a moving dark cloud bringing this unknown thing called Night Rain — the terror it brought was far greater.

Night Rain was an existence that only Rain-level powerhouses were qualified to face head-on; everyone else could only retreat three steps out of its way.

And Qingsi County… had no Rain-level powerhouse!

Below Immortal-level, all are ants; before Rain-level emerges, the world contends for supremacy.

Having no Rain-level powerhouse was the norm.

Most people might go their whole lives without ever getting the chance to see a single Rain-level powerhouse.

Everyone fought below Rain-level, battering each other bloody, but once one reached that Rain-level tier, they almost never made a move.

So Night Rain, as the Rain-level quality inspector, was practically a nightmare in everyone's heart.

Anyone who hadn't reached Rain-level held Night Rain in awe and kept three houses' distance from it.

You Sisi was no exception.

If this dark cloud weren't just the one, with a small range and the strange quirk of moving against the wind, she would have long since gone to take shelter from the rain.

Even so, thorough preparations still had to be made.

While everyone in Qingsi County stood at the ready in solemn array, the dark cloud had already drifted past the county gate and was floating toward the city.

Countless eyes were fixed on that dark cloud.

Fang Yue was no exception — during the day, he didn't have the ability to withstand Night Rain.

Without the boost of Night Breathing, he, a Xiantian Realm powerhouse, couldn't last long in Night Rain before dropping dead.

Fang Yue stared fixedly at the dark cloud high above. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but the back of his hand was getting hotter and hotter, more and more painful.

He looked down, and Fang Yue, who had taken shelter under the eaves, was instantly stunned.

The back of his right hand was actually sizzling from the heat, giving off the smell of scorched flesh.

The flesh looked as if it had been burned dry, exposing the charred black bone beneath, yet the mark was still exerting its power, still growing stronger.

"Ye Baiyi?!"

You Sisi cried out in alarm. She was the first to notice Fang Yue's abnormality and hurriedly pulled out a medicine bottle, sprinkling it onto the gouged wound on the back of his hand. Tiny blue pellet-like pills, like little ice cubes, rained down one by one, filling the wound on the back of his hand.

"Does it hurt?"

You Sisi even solicitously blew twice on the back of Fang Yue's hand. Only when she looked up and saw Fang Yue's stunned expression did her own face stiffen; she let go with a blank look, and took out a pink handkerchief.

"Ice Chill Injury Pills will slowly melt and heal the wound. Wrap it up — it'll heal faster."

You Sisi kept her face expressionless, forcing her tone to stay as calm as possible, but a slight tremor still crept into her voice, and her cheeks burned hot.

"Uh… thanks."

Under the scorching crimson mark, the Ice Chill Injury Pills quickly melted, and sure enough a cool, comfortable sensation spread through the wound — the searing pain was swept away, replaced by a cool, pleasant feeling.

What a fine medicine!

Fang Yue's eyes lit up.

If he had this thing, even when the curse flared up, he could enter meditation and reach a cultivation state.

Taking the handkerchief You Sisi handed over, Fang Yue wrapped it around his wound, and suddenly noticed a faint coolness coming from the handkerchief — it didn't seem to be an ordinary one.

After a brief pause, Fang Yue said, "This thing…"

"It's yours."

A rich lady!

(End of chapter)