Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 56

"No, I will bring her back to life!" Shen Chen's eyes shone brightly as he said this. "I will not give her to anyone else! She is my wife, Shen Chen's wife!"

Xiao Xiao sighed inwardly. Once, for a cold, hard knife, he had given away the woman he loved. Now, did he regret it? Did he only understand after that woman's death? ...Was this love, or... obsession?

Shen Chen walked straight to the bedside. "Let her go, Yuan'er!"

Shen Yuan's grip on the knife gradually loosened. Suddenly, someone leaped forward, snatched the knife from her hand, and held it to her neck.

"Xiao Xiao?!" Lian Zhao was surprised when he saw who had taken the knife.

Besides Lian Zhao, Qian Zhu Xi Yuan was also surprised.

"Master Shen, don't move!" Xiao Xiao shouted with great momentum.

“You…” Shen Chen was stunned.

Xiao Xiao said earnestly, "Master Shen, you don't want your wife and daughter to get into trouble together, do you?"

Shen Chen froze, unsure of what to do.

The atmosphere froze instantly, then the man laughed and said, "Miss, is this a threat?"

Xiao Xiao nodded earnestly, "Of course!"

“You can’t bring yourself to do it,” the man said, smiling at her.

She blinked and said, "You can try, but don't regret it."

Shen Chen tensed up. "If you... if you harm even a single hair on their heads, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!"

Xiao Xiao sighed and said timidly, "Didn't you want to use me to raise Gu worms? Even if I release them, they won't have complete corpses, will they?"

Shen Chen froze, speechless. He turned and looked at the man.

The man's eyes were icy as he looked at Xiaoxiao. "You think you're qualified to negotiate with me?"

Xiao Xiao felt uneasy. Qualified? She really wasn't qualified. To be honest, she didn't have the guts to actually stab Shen Yuan in the back. Now, her only bargaining chip was her former master, who had been a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect! She glanced at Lian Zhao, steeled her heart, and said, "Whether I'm qualified or not, you can ask the Lady Qian beside you."

The man looked at Xi Yuan, somewhat puzzled. Xi Yuan leaned closer to the man and whispered a few words in his ear.

The man's expression changed instantly. He looked at Xiaoxiao and said, "Fine, what do you want?"

Xiao Xiao took a deep breath and said, "Make sure everyone here leaves safely."

The man frowned and said, "Alright. I'll grant your request."

That easy? Master's name really is useful...

Just as Xiao Xiao was praising him, the man added, "However, you stay."

Xiao Xiao paused for a moment, then quickly calculated in her mind. She alone could trade for Lian Zhao, Wen Su, Yue Huaixi, and Yin Xiao—a perfect trade. Besides, judging from the man's reaction just now, he definitely wouldn't do anything to her…

"Okay," Xiao Xiao replied readily.

"Little one!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lian Zhao and Wen Su shouted out at the same time.

Xiao Xiao paused for a moment, then fell silent.

"Gentlemen, if you're going to leave, hurry up," the man said. "I don't have much patience."

"Xiao Xiao!" Lian Zhao ignored the man's words and charged forward with his knife.

At this moment, Shen Chen moved a step and gently tapped the bedpost. The floor inside the room cracked open, and Lian Zhao and the other three fell through the crack. Then, Shen Chen pulled down a rope, and the floor closed up, the stairs retracted, and the upper and lower entrances to the room were completely sealed off.

I'm a little embarrassed. What kind of safety is this? What if someone falls and gets injured?

"Don't worry, young lady, they're absolutely fine..." As if seeing through Xiao Xiao's thoughts, the man said, "Master Shen."

Master Shen nodded and pulled another rope. Several bronze mirrors flipped out from the wall, reflecting the four people who were safe and sound.

Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Junior Sister, can you put the knife down now?" the man said with a smile.

Xiao Xiao's eyes widened. "Junior Sister... Junior Sister???"

...

...This is a scene divider = =+...

Lian Zhao fell from the room and, having just regained his balance, hurriedly tried to climb back up, but the road was blocked and there was no way to go.

"Damn it!" Lian Zhao couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"Look! The secret passage has been opened!" Yue Huaixi exclaimed.

Following her voice, everyone looked and saw that the path they had come from, which had been closed, was now open before them.

"I didn't expect... that the other party would actually keep their word..." Yin Xiao smiled helplessly and said.

"What do we do now?" Yue Huaixi stepped forward to support him and asked.

Silver Owl shook his head.

"What exactly is Xiaoxiao's identity? Why did those people agree so easily?" Yue Huaixi asked.

Yin Xiao looked up at Lian Zhao and said, "I think those people think we're nobody, so it doesn't matter whether we're killed or not."

"Really?" Yue Huaixi asked doubtfully.

“What else could it be?” Yin Xiao said, glancing at Lian Zhao’s expression.

Lian Zhao simply looked up, his face expressionless. He had heard their conversation, of course. What had happened was shrouded in mystery and utterly incomprehensible; Xiao Xiao's actions just now had shocked him even more. But at this moment, he didn't want to ask any more questions; he only wanted to rescue her.

The four of them fell silent, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

"Hey..." Yue Huaixi suddenly spoke up, "Can you smell anything?"

After hearing this, the three of them realized that there was an unusual sweetness in the air, which seeped into their blood.

"This is... a curse-repelling incense?" Yue Huaixi rubbed her nose and whispered.

"Incense to ward off evil spirits..."

Throughout the entire world, those who know how to use this incense exist only within one sect—the Shennong Family…

...

...This is a scene divider = =+...

"Junior Sister... Junior Sister?" Xiao Xiao looked at the man in surprise.

The man slowly stepped forward, nodded and smiled, "That's right. In terms of seniority, your master is my senior uncle, so you are naturally my junior sister."

Xiao Xiao was a little bewildered. At this moment, Xi Yuan stepped forward and said with a smile, "Miss Zuo, I didn't expect to see you again."

Xiao Xiao was even more confused. What? Was the next development not torture, but casual conversation?

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Consider the lives of those people from earlier as my gift to my junior sister." The man reached out his hand and smiled at Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao looked at the hand, hesitated for a long time, and finally decided not to touch it.

"Master Xian, Young Master Wei, what is this...?" Shen Chen asked, puzzled.

“Master, you truly have no eyes to recognize a great man. The woman before you is a disciple of ‘Ghost Master’ Han Qing, a member of my Shenxiao Sect… You actually intend to use her to refine Gu poison; you are truly courting death,” Xi Yuan said.

Upon hearing this, Shen Chen exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Zuo, please forgive my previous offense."

Xiao Xiao was frozen. What's going on? What happened?

Xi Yuan stepped forward and said with a smile, "Miss Zuo, your master is the Celestial Master's most beloved disciple. If the Celestial Master sees you, he will surely be happy."

Huh? Xiaoxiao is completely confused.

"Gentlemen..." Ling You interrupted everyone, "Those four people we just let go will surely bring reinforcements. We shouldn't stay here any longer. Let's destroy the evidence and leave quickly."

“That’s true.” Xi Yuan nodded and took the little girl’s hand. “Miss Zuo, let’s go.”

Go?! Where to?! Shenxiao Sect?! Noooooo...

A little tearful, is that really so ominous?

...

Three Wisdoms and Five Guessing

Xiao Xiao walked helplessly down the dark corridor of the underground palace. Shen Chen led the way with Shen Yuan in his arms, followed by Xi Yuan and the young master surnamed Wei. Ling You walked behind her, and at the very back were the attendants carrying Yan Ji's corpse and Zhao Yan.

Xiao Xiao was caught in the middle of these people, naturally finding herself in a dilemma. Well, it's only been a few days, and she already has senior uncles and brothers; once she meets the Celestial Master, she'll soon have four generations under one roof, living in harmony... Heavens! This can't be true, can it?!

Xiao Xiao calmed her chaotic thoughts and began to think seriously. Her master had once been the prized student of Chong Hezi, the leader of the Shenxiao Sect. Later, he was ordered to investigate the whereabouts of the Nine Emperor Divine Artifacts, and during this time, he also served as a military advisor to General Yue Fei. However, after General Yue Fei's death, he retired from the martial world and disappeared without a trace. Her master had always wandered the martial world, without a fixed abode... Without a fixed abode? No, not without a fixed abode, but unable to stay in one place for long.

Thinking about it this way, Master's actions were an act of escapism. And the person he was escaping from might just be...

Xiao Xiao raised her eyes, looking at Xi Yuan and the young master surnamed Wei before her. Her master, Chong Hezi's most beloved disciple, leaving the Shenxiao Sect and retiring from the martial world—how could Chong Hezi possibly agree to that? And the reason for searching for her master was probably inextricably linked to the Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts. At this moment, their courteous treatment of her could only be for one reason.

Xiao Xiao looked up, tears welling in her eyes. Heavens! Did they think she knew the whereabouts of the Nine Emperor Artifacts? She was innocent! Just half a month ago, she didn't even know her master was a "Ghost Master"! But she absolutely couldn't tell them now, or she'd be dead. Tsk, if she got to the Divine Firmament Sect, she probably wouldn't be able to escape. Her only option now was to stall for time until Lian Zhao and the others arrived with reinforcements.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao quietly raised her hand and sealed three acupoints on her left wrist: Neiguan, Ximen, and Jianshi. Then, she squatted down and groaned softly.

Everyone stopped immediately.

Xi Yuan stepped forward, squatted down, and asked, "Miss Zuo, what's wrong?"

Xiao Xiao frowned and looked up, saying, "I was once given 'Snow-Refined Silver Light' by Yin Xiao, and it's time for the Silver Light to activate its effects..."

Xi Yuan smiled. "Why didn't Miss Zuo mention such a trivial matter earlier?" She turned her head and said, "Master Lingyou."

Ling You nodded, walked to Xiao Xiao's side, and took her pulse. Then he said, "The silver needle in your wrist has severed your meridians and true energy. I will remove it for you, and you will be fine."

Xiao Xiao nodded with a pained expression.

So, everyone stopped and waited for the needle removal to be completed before continuing their journey.

Lingyou took out a small bamboo jar from his pocket and opened the lid. A small golden worm slowly crawled out and landed on his small wrist.

As Xiao Xiao watched the golden Gu worm slowly crawl into her meridians, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

Ling You smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, young lady, this Gu will not harm anyone."

A faint golden light seemed to travel through her meridians until it disappeared behind the silver needle, where it stopped. Xiao Xiao felt a slight stinging pain, and then the golden light slowly moved back. The Gu worm crawled out of Xiao Xiao's wrist, twisted a few times, and died in her palm, turning into golden liquid that scattered without a trace. Only the gleaming silver light remained on Xiao Xiao's palm.

Xiao Xiao was stunned. As expected of the Shennong family, they could even use Gu worms in this way.