Ultimative Intelligenz

Kapitel 11

As he spoke, the longsword was already swung out.

Hua Jiuye brandished her short sword to defend herself, and at the same time, she flipped her fingers to draw the iron flute from her waist. She blew a low note, and the previously elegant and lazy giant python revealed a fierce glint in its eyes and bared its teeth as it pounced.

A fierce battle was about to break out, with swords flashing and flutes whistling, and the sound of furniture cracking echoing through the air.

Short, brief conversations could be heard during the intervals.

"If you cut my snake again, believe me, I'll make sure you're never able to have sex again!"

"Then please don't use the flute to poke where you shouldn't."

Shen Zhili sat there blankly, watching helplessly as her beloved room was about to be completely destroyed by two incredibly powerful humanoid weapons. She felt utterly hopeless and heartbroken.

"Damn it, stop it, all of you!!!"

******************************************************************************

Upon hearing this, the two figures who had been moving about suddenly froze.

The white figure swooped down first, its slender fingers gently stroking Shen Zhili's hair, which had been ruffled by the battle's aura, and asked softly, "Zhili, are you feeling unwell?"

Hua Jiuye wiped the iron flute and said lazily, "She's not in pain, she's heartbroken." She glanced at Shen Zhili and said sarcastically, "Still that poor, unsophisticated look."

Shen Zhili's expression changed several times, but she said with restraint, "Su Chenche, let's go."

Su Chenche sheathed his sword and scooped up Shen Zhili.

This time, Hua Jiuye didn't stop her, but said with a determined, half-smiling expression, "Junior sister, you still have to come back."

"You have no choice but to come back."

As the last note faded away, Su Chenche had already carried Shen Zhili out of the house.

Once the figure had disappeared from sight, Hua Jiuye slowly leaned against the wall and collapsed.

A few drops of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, falling to the ground with two soft splats, leaving bright red stains.

He managed to fight Su Chenche to a draw by relying on the snake and the poison in his body, which made people hesitant to attack him. If it were just a matter of martial arts, he might not be able to beat Su Chenche.

Now again... Damn it, why did it have to happen at this time?

He'll go back and slaughter those beasts in southern Xinjiang sooner or later!

The giant python resting nearby seemed to sense its master's discomfort, wriggling its deep purple patterns as it moved closer to him, its massive head nudging against Hua Jiuye's arm.

A hint of tenderness appeared in Hua Jiuye's cold eyes. The hand holding the short sword gently stroked the giant python, and her voice softened unconsciously: "I'm sorry."

The knife cut through the snake's scales, tearing open a bloody gash.

Hua Jiuye leaned over, her bright red tongue licking the snake's wound, almost greedily devouring the gushing crimson blood.

My rapidly beating heart gradually calmed down.

For a fleeting moment, his pale and eerie face contorted into a ferocious and reckless rage.

The giant python struggled for a moment, and Hua Jiuye seemed to be suddenly awakened, releasing her lips.

He slowly sat up, roughly wiped the snake blood from his lips with the back of his hand, and closed his eyes in self-loathing.

A deep black thread ran across her scarred wrist.

I never want to recall those hellish days, those days spent wandering in southern Xinjiang.

The giant python nuzzled closer, and he slowly embraced its massive body, pressing his skin against it as if only then could he find warmth within himself.

The warmth of long ago, the warmth he once wanted to protect for a lifetime.

The blankness and innocence alternated only for a moment, and when he opened his eyes again, they were once again replaced by a cold and indifferent expression.

This Gu poison is really in the way...

Hua Jiuye licked the lingering salty and fishy taste from her lips, carefully applying medicine to the snake's body with gentle and meticulous fingers, as if completing a work of art.

His outbursts are easily replaced by inexplicable emotions; he is no longer the weak and incompetent Hua Jiuye of the past.

No one can stop him from doing what he wants!

******************************************************************************

After carrying Shen Zhili for a while, Su Chenche remained silent, creating a somewhat awkward silence.

Why be so stubborn at a time like this!

“Go north, there won’t be any guards there.” After hesitating for a moment, Shen Zhili added, “The paralysis powder on my body hasn’t worn off yet. The antidote is in the second pouch of my clothes, it’s a small bottle. Just put it under my nose and sniff it.”

Before she could finish speaking, Su Chenche had already slipped his hand inside her clothes.

Shen Zhili asked expressionlessly, "Su Chenche, where are you touching?"

Su Chenche said innocently, "Find the antidote."

His hand reached further inside.

Shen Zhili held back: "Fine, I'll let it go for the sake of you saving me earlier... You bastard, don't push your luck!"

After smelling the antidote, less than half an incense stick later, Shen Zhili was able to move her hands and feet again.

Jumping down from Su Chenche's arms and stretching his limbs, Shen Zhili looked outside and said, "How did you get in here? With your skills, what are your chances of getting me out unharmed?"

"The one on your wrist..."

"Oh, you mean that Gu poison from the Southern Frontier?" Shen Zhili said with a nonchalant smile. "I've read medical books. The darker the color of the Gu from the Southern Frontier, the more dangerous it is. The one I have is probably the least worrisome."

After a moment of silence, Su Chenche suddenly asked, sounding somewhat aggrieved, "Aren't you angry at all?"

Shen Zhili was confused: "What?"

"Just now, your senior brother..."

Clenching her fist to her lips, Shen Zhili thought for a moment and said, "I am a little angry, but I was the one who wronged him first, and he probably wouldn't really hurt me... so I'm not too angry..."

Before the last sound was even left on her lips, Shen Zhili was already pulled into Su Chenche's embrace.

“But, Zhili… I was so angry and worried… When I saw you with your clothes disheveled, your shoulders and half your chest exposed, being held in his arms, I even wanted to kill your senior brother…”

"...You really don't need to emphasize how I was back then!"

That person seemed unable to extricate themselves from their sorrowful emotions.

Shen Zhili had just been relieved of the paralysis and couldn't break free at all. She looked up at the sky and sighed, "Do you really care that much? Why didn't you come earlier when we were at the town entrance... You should have seen Ye Qianqian by now."

Su Chenche loosened his embrace slightly and looked at Shen Zhili with surprise: "Are you jealous?"

Shen Zhili: "..."

Seeing Shen Zhili's eyes twitch slightly, her beautiful amber eyes curving into crescents, Su Chenche's smile held a hint of distress: "I really don't know her. She stopped me and before we could even exchange a few words, she started attacking me unreasonably. I still have the cut on my shoulder from her..." He paused, then added, trying to appease her, "But how could such a fierce woman compare to my Zhili? How could I possibly like her? I think it must be that she had a crush on me but couldn't have it, so she got angry and resentful... Uh, Zhili, why are you tearing my clothes off? In broad daylight, if you want to..."

Shen Zhili looked down, tugged at her clothes, and examined the wound: "Shut up!"

There was indeed a bleeding wound on my shoulder, but thankfully it wasn't particularly deep...

As Shen Zhili took out the most potent wound medicine and sprinkled it on, she thought to herself: Idiot, you're injured, but you were fighting so fiercely with Hua Jiuye just now!

However, she didn't notice the smile that unconsciously escaped from her lips.

Chapter Eleven

No.

After treating Su Chenche's wounds, Shen Zhili seemed to suddenly remember and asked, "What day is it today?"

Su Chenche thought for a moment: "The fifth day of the ninth month."

After counting the days with his head down, Shen Zhili frowned and said, "I need to go to a place first, not far from here."

Su Chenche smiled and said, "Wherever you go, I'll go."

Shen Zhili silently looked away.

Her courtyard was located north of a waterfall, so it was usually less guarded.

Following the edge of the waterfall down a hidden stone path, a grotto appears before you as you descend the steps.

Shen Zhili led Su Chenche into the cave and pointed to a sealed stone door inside, saying, "I'll probably be inside for half an hour. If you're in a hurry, you can wander around Huichun Valley first."

Su Chenche blinked and said, "Can't I go in with you?"

Shen Zhili refused without hesitation: "No, you absolutely cannot go in!" After thinking for a moment, she added: "There will be no danger inside."

There is absolutely no room for maneuver.

Su Chenche sighed, touched the bridge of his nose, sat down on the ground, and smiled at her: "Okay, I'll wait for you. But be sure to call me if anything happens."

The cave wasn't completely empty; Su Chenche casually picked up a book from the stone platform.

Hmm, it's a legendary storybook.

A cursory glance at the contents reveals a story about a wealthy young lady who falls in love with a scholar, but their families oppose their relationship. The young lady takes some money and elopes with the scholar, who uses the money to travel to the capital to take the imperial examination. He passes the exam, eventually gains recognition from the young lady's family, and they live happily ever after.

The story itself wasn't anything special, but the book ended with a neat and elegant calligraphy style that led to another ending.

The scholar used the money but didn't take the exam. Instead, he squandered it all and then planned to sell the young lady into a brothel to get another sum of money. When the young lady found out, she was devastated and killed the scholar before committing suicide.

The owner of the small calligraphy seemed quite satisfied with the ending and added a few more words.

People are fickle, only money is real.

Su Chenche stroked the storybook, pondering it repeatedly, and smiled gently.

His Zhi Li is so cute.

I then looked for other storybooks and read them one by one, and time passed quickly.

The stone door inside the cave opened once more, and Shen Zhili staggered to close it, her face much paler than before.

Seeing that Su Chenche was still there, Shen Zhili smiled slightly and sighed, "Don't mess up my books."

Su Chenche had already put down his book and helped her up.

He frowned, his concern genuine: "Zhi Li..."

This time, Shen Zhili didn't push him away, but instead buried her face in Su Chenche's arms: "I'm fine, just let me get some sleep."

She seemed extremely tired and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Su Chenche leaned against the hard stone wall, adjusting his position to make Shen Zhili in his arms as comfortable as possible.

With slender fingers, Su Chenche gently stroked Shen Zhili's slightly disheveled hair. Her sleeping face was peacefully hidden beneath the strands of hair. Watching her quietly, Su Chenche's smile seemed to quiet down as well. However, when he turned his gaze to the tightly sealed stone door, a shadow of gloom flashed across his amber eyes.