Peaceful Jianghu - Chapter 31
"That woman is very young?" The seventh concubine revealed a strange smile.
"Hmm." The old nun nodded, letting out a piercing laugh like an old owl. "This kind of taste is only found in the homes of naive young girls. It's very nourishing. Seventh Madam, this is fate. You're lucky to have such a feast today."
The seventh concubine's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Old Ni's withered arm. "Master, please help me catch her! I want to drink her blood!"
On the rooftop, Xue Beifan asked Xiao Dao, who was clutching his sleeve in horror, "Did your mother teach you how to deal with monsters?"
Even as he playfully punched him with the knife, he was still in the mood to joke, asking, "If we hide here, she won't find us, right? Right?"
As they were talking, they heard the old woman standing in the middle of the courtyard, her hands clasped together, beginning to chant a strange scripture.
At the same time, Xue Beifan felt a cold, biting mountain wind blowing from the forest against his direction. Meanwhile, something around him seemed to be stirring.
Be careful in remote mountains and forests. [VIP]
The old nun was chanting incantations like she was making hand gestures, but Xiao Dao listened carefully and realized that what she was chanting didn't sound like any Buddhist mantras or teachings; it sounded more like she was just talking nonsense. Strangely enough, there was actually some noise in the woods.
First, a mountain wind arose, then sand and dust swirled around with withered leaves, frightening the seventh concubine into quickly hiding behind the old nun.
Xiao Dao huddled in the corner of the roof like a little rabbit, watching the old nun below with curiosity. Xue Beifan was right beside her, feeling that something in the woods was acting strangely—was it a person… or something else?
The old nun chanted incantations for a while, then turned around and said to the seventh concubine in a sinister tone, "It's alright, they can't escape the forest."
"It doesn't matter whether the man leaves or not, but don't let that woman get away!" Seventh Concubine earnestly instructed. "These past few days, the master hasn't come to my place. He's been at Eighth Prince's place all day, or he's out there picking up some unknown little vixens."
"Don't worry, madam," the old nun smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "I've prepared some good things for you."
The seventh concubine, whose face had been composed all along, finally smiled.
Old Nun led Seventh Concubine back to the main hall. On the rooftop, Little Knife breathed a sigh of relief, tugged at Xue Beifan, and gestured for him to hurry up and leave!
Xue Beifan didn't move, raising an eyebrow as he asked her, "Did that old monster say we can't leave the forest? Are you still going?"
"Are you just going to wait here to get eaten?" Xiao Dao rolled his eyes at him.
Xue Beifan leaned closer and poked Xiao Dao's arm.
Xiao Dao covered his arm and looked at him, "What are you doing, you lecher?"
"Tsk." Xue Beifan chuckled dryly. "You're not much meat on your bones. You might be able to afford to feed that seventh concubine, but be careful you don't get caught."
"You're trying to scare me."
"Who's scaring you? That old monster is quite skilled. He's already spotted you on the roof, but it's strange he hasn't made a move to grab you yet."
Xiao Dao looked doubtful. "Really?"
"You're kidding me."
Xiao Dao stared at Xue Beifan for a long time, then pointed at his nose and said, "Little dog!"
Xue Beifan reached out and pinched the sharp tip of the knife between his fingers. "You brat!"
Xue Beifan held down the knife that was about to resist and reminded her, "Stop making a fuss, let's go see what that old nun and the seventh concubine are doing."
Xiao Dao hesitated for a moment, feeling that the Seventh Concubine was really crazy and that he might regret going to see her, but he was still pulled off the roof by Xue Beifan and quietly went to the back of the temple.
The Xianyun Temple wasn't large, and there were even fewer people. There were only a few people in the three courtyards: an elderly nun and a few young nuns sweeping the floor. It probably used to have some worshippers, but now that the temple is closed, it's practically deserted.
Xiao Dao followed Xue Beifan and arrived near the kitchen. They saw Seventh Madam and the old nun in a woodshed next to the kitchen, the door closed, looking rather furtive. The two quietly slipped behind the woodshed door and listened to the voices coming from the crack in the door.
The old nun was instructing the seventh concubine, "Give this medicine to Lord Cai, divide it into three doses, and it's best to put it in his soup."
"Will eating this really make him completely devoted to me and never stray again?"
“That’s right,” the old nun answered confidently. “Three days later, Lord Cai will first become mentally unstable. Then you can light this candle and tell him whatever you want, and he will listen to you.”
The seventh concubine happily accepted the candles and a bottle of medicine powder, and gave the old nun a large sum of money as a reward, showing her generosity.
Xue Beifan grabbed a knife and hid in the alley next to the woodshed.
"By the way," the seventh concubine said as she reached the door, turning back to ask the old nun, "Where is that wretched girl Yunting? When are we going to deal with her? I can't sleep or eat in peace until she's dead."
"Uh... Madam, did you not give her the medicine she was supposed to take?"
"He's eaten, but his temper has only gotten worse. Now look what's happened, he's not going to die and he can't get married, so he's stuck at home causing me trouble all day long." The seventh concubine stomped her feet three times as she said this.
Xiao Dao couldn't help but frown. It seemed that this seventh concubine would repeat the same action whenever she got angry. Stomping her foot once was one thing, but stomping it three times in a row was quite strange.
"It's alright," the old nun said calmly, reassuring the Seventh Madam. "Her temper will only get more and more volatile, and in the end, she'll die in a fit of rage, her liver and gallbladder ruptured. Seventh Madam, just try to avoid her for now. In a few days, she might even start hitting people..."
"Oh?" The seventh concubine smiled. "It would be best if she hit the master, so that the master can teach her a good lesson and avenge me."
"Don't worry, Madam." The old nun accompanied the seventh concubine as they walked out.
Xiao Dao and Xue Beifan felt a chill run down their necks as they hid in the alley.
"As expected, the most poisonous heart is that of a woman. Does this seventh concubine want Cai Bian to be childless?" Xue Beifan asked Xiao Dao. "What kind of medicine did the old nun give her just now that made her obey people?"
Xiao Dao looked puzzled. "There's no such medicine, unless..."
"What good stuff?"
“They’re asking her to use witchcraft!” Xiao Dao frowned. “If that’s true, Cai Bian might end up killing himself and all the women in his family.”
"Didn't the nun turn into a witch?" Xue Beifan shook his head in disgust. "Let's go."
"Why did you leave earlier? Why are you in such a hurry now?" Xiao Dao pointed to the sky. "It might rain. If we go into the woods later, we might get struck by lightning."