Ultimative Intelligenz

Kapitel 43

"Master Zhai, what are you saying?"

The businesslike tone of their voices silenced both of them. After a long while, Zhai Feng chuckled awkwardly, "Commander Lei, I was just joking earlier. Don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously..."

The Raikage, leader of the Twelve Nights Anbu, emerged from the darkness with his arms crossed.

His long ponytail, tied high, reached down to his waist, and his black bodysuit made him look exceptionally tall and slender, yet also exceptionally intimidating.

He was Su Chenche's childhood friend, having accompanied him in martial arts training since childhood and serving as his bodyguard for several years. Later, he was transferred to the Twelve Nights to oversee punishments. He was unyielding and extremely strict about separating public and private matters. Moreover, because of his special relationship with Su Chenche, even Su Chenche himself was somewhat wary of him, not to mention others...

Lei Ying looked at Zhai Feng with his calm eyes: "How could you have the thought of killing the master?"

Zhai Feng's heart skipped a beat, and she bowed her head humbly: "Commander Lei, it was all a slip of the tongue, I didn't mean it..."

A glint flashed in Raikage's eyes as he said, "This kind of person should be tied up and hung upside down to be whipped with a double-rowed thorny whip, a mixture of chili water and salt water, and once he's unconscious, pour it over him..."

He became more and more excited as he described it, as if he couldn't contain his desire to go forward and try it out...

Zhai Feng: "..." This must be the longest thing Lei Ying has ever said to her = =

Qingxing: "..." So Commander Lei is such a passionate person? ><

Having expressed his satisfaction, Lei Ying composed himself and asked with a serious expression, "Why exactly is he so desperate to get out?"

Zhai Feng kicked the duckweed.

Qingxing stepped forward, looking aggrieved: "It's for a woman."

Lei Ying frowned: "A woman? Ye..."

Qingxing quickly said, "It's not Ye Qianqian."

Lei Ying: "I know, Ye Qianqian was with me for a while."

Qingxing: "..."

I don't want to know anything about things like "the master climbing the wall" or "the master climbing the corner"!

Raikage: "What kind of woman is she?"

Qingxing: "Shen Zhili, the master of Huichun Valley... is the same Huichun Valley divine doctor we sought medical help from."

Raikage: "She's beautiful?"

Qingxing pondered, "Uh, very classy."

Raikage: "How much does he like her? Are you sure it's just liking her and not revenge because she hurt him while treating him? Or maybe she offended him unintentionally?"

Qingxing scratched her head: "No way... the master seems quite sincere. Why pretend to be stupid, act all humble and cute? He's spent hundreds of thousands of taels of silver..."

Is that so?

Raikage turned to think, clenching one fist and striking the other: "It shouldn't be that reason..."

Chapter 37

A hoarse laugh echoed in the empty dungeon.

Shen Zhili shrank back slightly and asked sharply, "Who exactly are you?"

The other party seemed to move. Through the dim light, a man's figure could be seen, but he was too thin, to the point of being emaciated. When Shen Zhili looked at the man's face, he was shocked and felt his scalp tingle.

The face was so badly disfigured that it was completely unrecognizable.

His smile vanished abruptly. "Well, I'm an unlucky fellow too." He paused. "Your lover's surname is Hua? What a nostalgic surname. Hmm, Hua Jiuye... That name sounds familiar, but it's been so long, I can't quite remember..."

Although that face was terrifying, once the initial shock subsided, Shen Zhili calmed down and asked, "You know a lot of things?"

The man said, "That's not wrong. I know a little about the secrets of the Southern Border royal family."

Shen Zhili gripped the cell door: "Then can you tell me?"

The man scoffed, "Why should I tell you?"

Shen Zhili changed her mind and said, "What if I could heal all your wounds?"

The man was taken aback, then raised his hand and said, "What good is it if you can cure someone if you can't get out?"

With a clanging sound of chains, Shen Zhili realized that several iron chains were piercing through his flesh.

Seeing Shen Zhili staring intently at the chains on his hands, the man added, "They're made of black iron; you can't break free."

Shen Zhili sighed silently and said, "Then how about this, tell me, if I have the chance to go out, how about I help you pass on messages to your family and friends?"

The man paused for a moment before lowering his head and saying, "I don't know."

Shen Zhili: "What?"

The man whispered, "I can remember other people's stories, but I can't remember who I am."

Shen Zhili was speechless for a moment. She rummaged through her body and found a small bottle, which she had bought on a whim when she went to see a doctor across the street from the clinic.

He kept a few for himself and tossed the rest to the other person from a distance: "These are some painkillers. Chew them up and apply them to the wound as a kind of wound medicine... uh, they can also be used to stave off hunger when you're hungry."

The man gripped the bottle, and after a long while, he chuckled: "Little girl, are you pitying me? I haven't felt any pain for a long time. You might as well save a few more for your lover."

Shen Zhili: "It's not about sympathy, but about giving others a way out and giving myself a way out. If one day someone I care about falls into the same situation as you, I hope someone else will do the same."

"Oh, then I'll accept it." The man said dejectedly, "Your words have suddenly made me feel a bit respectful. Young lady, consider it a favor. Ask me anything you want to know, and I'll try my best to answer you."

Shen Zhili sat back down: "Never mind."

The man asked in surprise, "Why?"

Shen Zhili: "It's really worrying that someone who can't even remember who they are remembers things..."

The person said, "I clearly..."

Shen Zhili interrupted, "I'm sleepy, I'm going to take a nap."

The person: "..."

Shen Zhili stopped talking, but the other person started making conversation instead.

"Little girl, wake up! Why are you sleeping on such a beautiful day? Come on, tell me, what's your name? And why are you locked up here?"

"Little girl, how's it outside? Describe it to me."

“Your lover looks quite good-looking. I vaguely recognized him when I looked at him just now. I think if I hadn’t been disfigured, I would definitely be just as good-looking as him.”

"Hey, little girl, I've said so much to you, you can at least humph once."

Shen Zhili: "Hmph."

The person: "..."

It wasn't that Shen Zhili didn't want to talk to him, but too much had happened in one day—the escape, the day's medical consultations, and then encountering Hua Jiuye being imprisoned in the dungeon. Hua Jiuye's concern had kept her on edge, and now that she relaxed, she simply couldn't take it anymore.

In my dream, I vaguely returned to the Valley of Rejuvenation.

A young man with a pure and kind appearance and sincere and clear eyes handed her a plate of glutinous rice cakes, his smile shy and bashful: "Zhi Li, try some, is it delicious? I made it myself."

She picked one up with suspicion, took a bite, and found the taste exquisite, melting in her mouth, making her unable to resist eating it in a few bites.

The young master looked on expectantly: "Is it delicious?"

Shen Zhili: "Is there anything else...?" I'm so hungry.

The young master turned around and suddenly had three or four plates in his hands, on which were displayed seven or eight kinds of pastries that looked and smelled delicious.

Shen Zhili's eyes widened, and he grabbed a large handful of pastries with both hands and swallowed them. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all the pastries on the plate were gone.

Young Master: "Is it delicious, Zhi Li?"

Shen Zhili patted her belly and smiled contentedly: "Delicious."

The young master grinned and said, "Now that you're full, it's my turn to eat you."

Shen Zhili: "..."

The young master ripped open his robe and pounced on Shen Zhili like a hungry wolf...

Shen Zhili suddenly sat up... she was awake, her eyes instantly shifting from blank to terrifying.

Leaning against the wall, hand supporting her forehead, Shen Zhili twitched her lips and slapped her forehead repeatedly. How could she have such a terrible dream?!

Was it because I was too hungry, or was it because...?

No, it must be because I'm too hungry!

It has absolutely nothing to do with Su Chenche!

But... Waaaaah, if only those pastries were real... I'm so hungry... I should have bought more food on the street before coming here.

As Shen Zhili was thinking, her elbow suddenly bumped into something.

Turning her head, she saw Hua Jiuye lying beside her, her eyes closed, it was unclear whether she was asleep or unconscious.

Shen Zhili's expression hardened, and he almost lunged forward to take Hua Jiuye's pulse. After confirming that he was out of danger, he then went forward to check his wounds.

With a tearing motion, Hua Jiuye's chest was once again exposed to Shen Zhili's eyes.

Shen Zhili paused, her wrist suddenly being grabbed. She looked up and met Hua Jiuye's slender eyes, the corners of which were upturned. Her bewitching beauty was like a night-blooming cereus, exuding a faintly alluring aura.

He opened his mouth and teased, "Junior sister is so impatient, so eager to get started."

He still teases her and nothing happens, but...

Shen Zhili: "You weren't taken away by the Elders' Hall people, they didn't do anything to you..."

Hua Jiuye's expression changed: "How do you know about the Elder Hall?"

Shen Zhili: "Yes..."

A head popped out from over there: "I said it."

Hua Jiuye pushed Shen Zhili behind her, his voice icy as he asked, "Who are you?"

The man said, "Young man, I understand your desire to maintain a good image in front of your sweetheart, but is it really okay to force yourself to be so stubborn?"

With a "whoosh" sound, something flew rapidly to Hua Jiuye's front.

Hua Jiuye was hit, her back arched, she spat out a mouthful of blood, and her face became even paler.

The man said, "Judging from this, you must have been..."

Hua Jiuye suddenly looked up, her voice violent: "Shut up!"

The pill that hit Hua Jiuye was the one Shen Zhili had given him. Shen Zhili silently picked up the pill and pushed Hua Jiuye down.