Chapter 84: with translation of chapter title

At the moment the voice sounded, everyone froze.

The middle-aged man's body stiffened abruptly, even his cough swallowed back.

Second Master Liu's dark-blue slit pupils contracted sharply: "Impossible! How could he possibly appear on Wangting Mountain?!"

I also found it hard to believe—Liu Junyan had left seclusion?

Didn't he say it would be half a month?

I reckon the time; at most it's been less than ten days so far.

Besides, has more than half of the Merit in the hexagonal palace lamp been used?

When that tall, handsome figure turned the corner of the cave, the heart I had been holding finally settled back into place.

Liu Junyan waved at me: "Xiao Jiu, come over."

I immediately put away Feng Wu and sprinted over; Liu Junyan grabbed my drenched self with one hand, pulled me into his embrace, hugged me tightly, then let go: "Xiao Jiu, first take them away."

I hummed in agreement; though I was reluctant to leave his embrace, saving lives came first.

Tang Tang and I helped Song Ruoqing to her feet, lifted our legs, and prepared to exit the cave.

Just then, the middle-aged man spoke up: "Little girl, you may leave, but the things must stay."

Liu Junyan gave a cold laugh: "It seems I was still too merciful toward you back then."

As his words fell, I felt a foul wind surge up from behind, accompanied by a hoarse roar, then my body slammed to the ground, followed by continuous coughing.

That roar was like a dragon's cry, like a ghost's wail—an indescribable strangeness.

But when I turned my head, I saw the middle-aged man collapsed on the ground, coughing incessantly and spitting blood.

Meanwhile, Second Master Liu had already vanished without a trace.

I noticed Second Master Liu was like a loach—every time he appeared, he ran away extremely fast.

This must be because each time he shows up, it's not his true body, right?

It was only then that I suddenly realized: when Liu Junyan told me to go first earlier, I hadn't hesitated at all.

In my subconscious, I seem never to have doubted his ability.

Even though he had just emerged from seclusion.

Such trust truly has been cultivated since childhood.

I stopped looking; saving Song Ruoqing was more important.

Tang Tang's car had been parked in a concealed spot down the mountain; although it carried a first-aid kit, Song Ruoqing's condition involved little external injury, the fatal damage being internal.

I did a quick check and said, "Senior sister, we probably need to send Miss Song to the hospital."

"No!" Tang Tang declared firmly, "Xiao Jiu, you don't know—the Song Family's influence in Huicheng is too great; no matter which hospital we send her to, they'll find us. I'm taking her back to the Tang Family; my aunt knows a strange doctor, I've contacted him to come help examine her."

Tang Tang spoke while already making the call.

I supported Song Ruoqing into the back seat; while Tang Tang was on the phone, I kept looking toward the mountain road.

I wondered how Liu Junyan was faring inside Furong Cave now—had he resumed fighting that middle-aged man?

That middle-aged man is obviously Second Master Liu's father, but is he also Liu Junyan's father?

When father and son meet, why does it seem as if they harbor long-standing grudges?

Beside me, Song Ruoqing suddenly groaned in pain; I quickly refocused and saw black blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

I immediately frowned—black blood?

Could Song Ruoqing have been poisoned?

By then, Tang Tang had finished the call, turned back, and said, "Uncle Huo is in touch—he's already left his house; we're driving back now and should meet him at the old residence. Xiao Jiu, why don't I drive first and take Qingqing back, while you wait for your person?"

That phrase "your person" made my face flush instantly.

I thought it over, shook my head, and said, "Miss Song seems poisoned, her life hanging by a thread—we can't delay; let's head back first. He… he should be fine."

Tang Tang gave an "oh" and replied, "All right, saving lives comes first; your person looks strong enough—no need for us to worry needlessly."

She said this while winking at me, her eyes full of gossip.

I figured if Song Ruoqing's body could hold up, tonight she'd have dug up every detail about my little affair.

All I could do was give a light cough to urge her to drive quickly.

Tang Tang was to drive, Song Ruoqing remained unconscious, and if I didn't go with them, Tang Tang alone couldn't manage.

In the latter half of the night, the road was nearly empty; we raced all the way back to the Tang Family manor, where Uncle Huo was already waiting in the downstairs hall.

As we helped Song Ruoqing inside, I immediately saw a person sitting beside Uncle Huo.

A young, familiar male.

The young man also saw me, his eyes lighting up instantly; he set down his tea cup and smiled, greeting me: "Xiao Jiu, how did you end up here?"

I was also surprised, stammering: "Bái Jīngmò."

I truly hadn't expected to encounter Bái Jīngmò at the Tang Family manor.

The last time we met, we parted on bad terms; afterward, he came several times to the Dang Pu looking for me, only to be driven out by Li Qingying each time.

Seeing him again, he remained enthusiastic, but I was unsure what attitude to adopt toward him.

Tang Tang also stared at Bái Jīngmò in surprise, grinding her molars.

After that night's events, none of us expected Bái Jīngmò to dare show up at the Tang Family!

Uncle Huo had already approached, smiling: "When you called, Tang Tang, Bái Jīngmò happened to be chatting with me, so I invited him along; I didn't expect you young people to all know each other—that's perfect."

"Yeah, we know each other, we've worked together." Tang Tang replied neutrally, then added, "Uncle Huo, please first check Qingqing's condition."

Uncle Huo first examined Song Ruoqing's complexion, then lifted her eyelids to look, and took her pulse: "Miss Song has been poisoned by a slow-acting toxin that has entered her heart and lungs; ordinary medicines are useless. We must first drain the toxic blood, then give her a medicinal bath."

Tang Tang quickly asked, "In other words, this poison can be drawn out?"

"We'll still need Bái Jīngmò's help," Uncle Huo said. "If the toxic blood isn't cleared completely, even if she's saved, she'll be left with a latent root of illness; once it flares up, life will be worse than death."

I and Tang Tang both turned our gazes to Bái Jīngmò.

Bái Jīngmò immediately said: "First lay Song Ruoqing flat, I'll give her acupuncture to check."

I have long admired Bái Jīngmò's acupuncture skill; let's not talk about other things for now—his medical skill cannot be disparaged.

Tang Tang immediately had the butler prepare a guest room on the first floor; we placed Song Ruoqing on the bed, keeping her supine.

Bái Jīngmò disinfected the needles, then began acupuncture to draw blood.

He inserted the needles firmly, accurately, and ruthlessly; as each needle went in, black blood gushed out.

After about half an hour like this, the color of the flowing blood grew lighter until it turned bright red.

A fine layer of sweat appeared on Bái Jīngmò's forehead; the acupuncture consumed much of his energy, but fortunately the result was good.

Uncle Huo wrote a prescription on the side, instructing Tang Tang how to decoct the medicine, how to prepare a medicinal bath for Song Ruoqing after she wakes up, and how long she needs to soak to fully recover…

Here, Bái Jīngmò collected the needles, glanced at the time, and said: "Uncle Huo, it's getting late; I have to leave."

"Oh, right, you still have a surgery tomorrow noon; you need to hurry back to Jiangcheng." Uncle Huo apologized, "Bái Jīngmò, tonight really troubled you."

"No trouble, being able to help Uncle Huo is an honor for Bái Jīngmò." Bái Jīngmò packed his things; Uncle Huo wanted to see him off, but he said, "You and Tang Tang continue discussing the medicinal bath; Xiao Jiu will see me off. Another day when I have time, I'll invite Uncle Huo for tea."

Uncle Huo readily agreed.

Bái Jīngmò has already been called out, and he indeed helped tonight; I had no choice but to grit my teeth and see him out.

His car was parked on the front lawn.

I saw him to his car, then turned to leave.

Bái Jīngmò grabbed me: "Xiao Jiu, are you still angry with me? My grandmother certainly made a mistake, but I never intended to harm you, Xiao Jiu. Give me another chance; let's sit down and talk properly, okay?"

I shook my head, about to refuse, saying our paths differ and we cannot scheme together.

But before I could open my mouth, a light cough suddenly came from beside the gate.

I and Bái Jīngmò turned our heads simultaneously, and saw Liu Junyan, not knowing when he had arrived.

He was tall and big, wearing a dark blue long robe, leaning sideways against the gate; his amber vertical pupils emitted a cold light, fixed on the hand Bái Jīngmò had grabbed me with…