Chapter 99

I have a feeling that Liu Junyan seems to have already guessed who is behind this.

He knows well how formidable the other side is, which is why he is so cautious.

Alright, he told me not to worry about it for now, so I won't.

But I still can't put my mind at ease: "Let me remind Senior Sister's side, the Song Family… at a critical moment, could you help protect Song Ruoqing?"

Liu Junyan raised an eyebrow: "Are they all that important to you?"

I immediately nodded: "I don't have many friends, and I cherish each one."

"Good." Liu Junyan agreed, "Xiao Jiu, what you cherish is also what I cherish."

My heart stirred slightly; I gave him a grateful smile, then lowered my head to pull out my phone and send a message to Tang Tang.

I didn't expect that as soon as I opened WeChat, a message from Tang Tang popped up first.

Another photo.

It looks like a covert shot; the photography skill isn't great, the lighting is dark and the image quality is blurry.

But faintly one can see that it is an extremely luxurious shrine.

Above the shrine hangs a long plaque, with gilded large characters: Eternal Salvation Hall.

Both sides are covered with gold-lacquer wood carvings, the patterns extremely intricate.

But what is enshrined in the middle is not a deity statue or a spirit tablet or the like.

But a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twin dolls.

The dragon-and-phoenix twin dolls hang their heads, exposing the backs of their necks; the lighting is too dark and the covert angle poor, so I can't make out the characters on the back of their necks.

Yet behind them, lower down, I again saw that qilin statue.

It is virtually identical to the scene in Song Ruoqing's painting!

Below the photo, Tang Tang also sent a message.

Meng Po's Bowl of Soy Milk: The Song Family, their crimes are unforgivable even with ten thousand deaths!

Tang Tang is this kind of person: outgoing and talkative.

Once she talks less, it means the matter is serious.

I immediately replied with a message: Senior Sister, where are you now? Don't act rashly.

After a while, she replied: Junior Sister, I can't bear it.

I didn't dare call, afraid she might be crouching somewhere watching the Song Family, so I could only send a message: Even if I can't bear it, I must endure, Senior Sister, there are still people behind Wangting Mountain whom we cannot afford to provoke.

Meng Po's Bowl of Soy Milk: But Xiao Jiu, I suspect these dragon-and-phoenix twins are still alive; I cannot stand by and do nothing.

My heart gave a jolt.

Liu Junyan noticed I was off and asked: "Xiao Jiu, what's wrong?"

"The Song Family have produced another pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins," I said, "Senior Sister is watching them, and something bad may happen."

Liu Junyan's face instantly grew solemn.

Just now he had been telling me to not worry about this for the time being, but before he could even act and deploy, something went wrong over there.

I offered no opinion, waiting for Liu Junyan to make the final decision.

My heart rose to my throat, after all it is a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins who might still be alive, appearing to be only two or three years old.

Fortunately, Liu Junyan quickly decided: "I'll accompany you to Huicheng; tell Li Qingying."

I immediately felt relieved and sent a message to Li Qingying, saying we are going to Huicheng, so there's no need to keep the door open for us tonight.

The car sped all the way, and by the time we entered Huicheng's territory, it was already dark.

Tang Tang's call came in just then.

Her voice sounded weary: "Junior Sister, I'm back at the old residence."

I asked: "How is the Song Family side?"

"In a complete mess," Tang Tang said sadly, "this time I might really be unable to save Song Ruoqing."

I sensed her helplessness and said: "Senior Sister, we have already entered Huicheng and are heading to your old residence; what exactly happened with the Song Family?"

"Have you come to Huicheng?" Tang Tang exclaimed instantly, "Has the person from your family also come?"

I gave an affirmative hum.

Tang Tang immediately said: "The photo I sent you was taken covertly by Uncle Hu and sent to me; we originally planned an inside–outside cooperation to catch the Song Family off guard."

"Too impulsive, Senior Sister," I said, "the Song Family is the premier clan of Huicheng, backed by Wangting Mountain; even if Uncle Hu backs you up, going in alone gives you little chance of victory."

"Yes, the Song Family suffered a loss once; this time the villa inside and out is full of guards, I simply can't find an opening," Tang Tang said ruefully, "The Song Family had apparently been preparing to send someone to Wangting Mountain tonight, but in the evening, Song Ruoqing rushed to the shrine, slit her wrist, poured her own blood onto the shrine, breaking the formation; she suffered severe injuries, yet the Song Family did not send her to the hospital."

I was stunned for a moment, almost at a loss for words.

The phone remained on speaker, so Liu Junyan also heard.

After a while I asked: "Isn't Uncle Hu at the Song Family? He should be able to look after Miss Song, right?"

"How could the Song Family keep Uncle Hu after such a major incident?" Tang Tang said, "But that detestable person should still be at the Song Family; you remember Song Ruoqing's brother, right? He is seriously ill, and I think this pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins is likely meant to prolong the life of that precious lump of the Song Family."

Liu Junyan interjected: "Who is the detestable person?"

I replied: "Bái Jīngmò."

Liu Junyan nodded, then said: "Miss Tang, please drive over to pick up Xiao Jiu; I'll be waiting at the mountain pass road."

Tang Tang agreed repeatedly.

After hanging up, I asked: "Aren't you coming with me?"

"Go ahead first; I'll make a trip to Wangting Mountain," Liu Junyan said, "I'll come back to get you."

I thought it over; with him stepping in, Song Ruoqing should still have a chance.

When our car reached the mountain pass road, Tang Tang was already leaning against her car waiting.

I got out of the car, Tang Tang greeted me, then waved at Liu Junyan: "Junior Sister's husband… uh… little sister's husband, entrust the person to me, you can relax; I'll ask you to look after my friends."

Liu Junyan greeted Tang Tang politely, then drove away.

After I got in the car, as Tang Tang started driving, she was all fidgety: "Brother-in-law, you're so handsome, Xiao Jiu, quickly tell me, which direction do you usually kowtow toward? You've found such a handsome man to be your husband!"

I hesitated for a moment, then told the truth: "He's not human."

Tang Tang looked indifferent: "Does it matter? As long as he's handsome."

Er, okay.

When we arrived at the old residence, the butler had already prepared the meal.

Tang Tang answered a call, apparently from her father, so I went first to wash up in the room reserved for me.

As the hot water poured down, the burn scar on my left arm felt like a needle prick.

I quickly rinsed off, got dressed, took out the incense ash I had brought from the Qilin Temple, and applied it evenly to the burn scar.

But I don't know why, the moment the incense ash was applied, I only felt the burn scar become more painful, as if it were about to ignite.

No, it really was igniting.

I watched as, beneath the layer of incense ash applied to the burn scar, sparks gradually appeared.

Frightened, I hurried into the bathroom and rinsed off the incense ash with cold water.

I was still shaken, how could this happen?

Why can the incense ash save the children of Tafengcun, but not me?