"A needle for praying for skill! A needle that will surely make your prayers for skill come true!"
"Seven-Skill Fruit, the Seven-Skill Fruit for the Qiqiao Festival! The Seven-Skill Fruit from Granny Qiao's House!"
……
The air was filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares. Unlike usual, there were many more items with a Qixi Festival theme. Feng Fei looked around excitedly, touching and examining everything. Li Yimo and Li Moxuan also looked on with curiosity, but they remained quiet and didn't ask to buy anything. Ming Feng, perched on Feng Fei's shoulder, also looked around curiously, occasionally chirping, attracting the attention of bird lovers on the street.
Suddenly, Feng Fei strode forward and called out to a man walking with his head down, deep in thought, "Officer!"
The constable looked up and immediately saw Feng Fei's somewhat exaggerated face. He was slightly startled and involuntarily took a step back. When he realized it was Feng Fei, he breathed a sigh of relief and said with a wry smile, "So it's Miss Feng. What a coincidence! I never expected to meet you in the market."
Feng Fei glanced behind the officer with a grin, and seeing that there were no other officers with him, asked curiously, "Are you out alone today, officer?"
This constable was the same one who had led the group a few days ago. Hearing Feng Fei's words, he smiled and shook his head, saying, "Don't call me 'constable,' my name is Liu Qiang, just call me Brother Liu." Seeing Feng Fei nod, Liu Qiang continued, "I'm not on duty today, didn't you see I'm wearing my regular uniform?"
Feng Fei glanced at it and, sure enough, it was different from the clothes she wore that day.
"Brother Liu, you looked so preoccupied just now, is something wrong?" Feng Fei asked curiously, her intuition telling her that what Liu Qiang was thinking about was related to what happened to Xiao Liu and the others a few days ago.
Sure enough, Liu Qiang sighed, glanced around, and finally said to Feng Fei, "Miss Feng, this isn't the place to talk. There's a teahouse not far away with very good tea; let's go there!"
Feng Fei nodded, but she didn't immediately follow Liu Qiang to the teahouse. Instead, she bought some snacks with Li Yimo and Li Moxuan. She wasn't a tea drinker, and she would get bored if she just sat there drinking tea.
Looking at Feng Fei and the other two who had returned after a short while, Liu Qiang couldn't help but chuckle: Were they going on a picnic or something? Their hands were full of bags and packets of snacks.
Chapter 43: A Person of Great Importance and the Courtyard Soon to Be Acquired
Feng Fei, along with the two children, Li Yimo and Li Moxuan, followed Liu Qiang into a teahouse not far away. They chose a relatively quiet private room to sit down. This private room was separated from the main hall by a beaded curtain. The liveliness of the main hall occasionally drifted in, but it didn't feel stuffy; instead, it created a more tranquil atmosphere.
Seated in the main hall was a scholar with a white beard, his occasionally dreamy gaze revealing his complete immersion in the story he was reading. Feng Fei listened intently for a while; it was indeed very interesting. His ability to tell well-known stories so captivatingly was truly remarkable.
Nodding, Feng Fei slowly turned her gaze to Liu Qiang. The waiter at the teahouse was beside Liu Qiang, asking what he wanted. Liu Qiang ordered a pot of tea and then didn't ask for anything else. Feng Fei then invited Li Yimo and Li Moxuan to spread the food they had just bought on the table. While eating, she chatted idly with Liu Qiang.
Suddenly, Liu Qiang sighed and said to Feng Fei, "Sister Feng, the case of the three Xiao Liu brothers is beyond my involvement. I don't know the details, I only know the outcome, a result I can't accept." Liu Qiang took a sip of tea, his heart heavy with gloom, but there was nothing he could do. His superior had told him that if he insisted on getting to the bottom of things, it might ruin his family.
He had always been an official in the Fengdu government. To be able to secure a position in the predominantly female Zhuque Kingdom truly demonstrated Liu Qiang's exceptional abilities. This was why the officials in the Fengdu government had been so considerate in revealing some inside information to him. Afterwards, he indeed dared not continue investigating, for he had a beloved wife and lively, adorable children; he couldn't afford to gamble.
This only added to his frustration. Today was his day off; normally, he would be at home chatting with his wife or playing with his son and daughter. But today, for the first time, he had argued with his wife and ultimately stormed out. He was frustrated by the case, and also regretted his rash actions.
"Zhao Ke has been imprisoned, and the female beggar named Xiao Ying has been taken away." Liu Qiang's myriad thoughts finally turned into this sigh, "In the autumn, the male beggar named Zhao Ke will be beheaded."
Li Yimo and Li Moxuan exchanged a glance, a bitter feeling washing over them. They hadn't expected that of the original seven, only the two of them would remain. Perhaps, Xiaoying was also there.
Feng Fei looked at Liu Qiang meaningfully: "Someone with a powerful background?"
Liu Qiang understood Feng Fei's seemingly random words perfectly, and nodded bitterly: "Yes, we can't afford to offend them." Then, he tilted his head back and drank another cup of tea, as if it were strong liquor to relieve his sorrow.
The cubicle suddenly seemed to quiet down.
Liu Qiang continued drinking his tea, constantly asking the waiter to refill his cup. Feng Fei, meanwhile, gazed at the main hall, lost in thought as the scholar swayed his head over his book. Li Yimo and Li Moxuan sat obediently beside Feng Fei, remaining silent, occasionally scooping up some food, either eating it themselves or feeding it to Mingfeng. The only sounds in the private room were the occasional chewing sounds and Mingfeng's occasional chirping.
Many more years passed, and Feng Fei noticed that the storyteller had taken a sip of tea and then stopped telling the story. He knew that one chapter of the story had ended and it was time to take a break and prepare for the next one.
Feng Fei seemed to have just thought of something and suddenly spoke up, startling Liu Qiang, who had been immersed in his own world.
"What's wrong, Sister Feng?" Liu Qiang put down his teacup and looked at Feng Fei curiously.
"Brother Liu, could you help us find a small courtyard suitable for the three of us, aunt and niece, to live in?" Upon hearing Feng Fei's question, Li Yimo and Li Moxuan's eyes lit up. They straightened their backs, glanced at Feng Fei, and then stared straight at Liu Qiang.
Stared at intently by the two children, beads of sweat slowly trickled down Liu Qiang's forehead. Somewhat embarrassed, he wiped the sweat away, pondered for a moment, and said, "I have some connections with the official in charge of housing rentals. I'll go and see him later, and let Sister Feng know the result tomorrow. What do you think?"
Feng Fei nodded eagerly, "That's perfect! I'm from out of town and know nothing about the situation in Fengdu. Luckily, Brother Liu is willing to help me!" Li Yimo and her brother also nodded enthusiastically, looking quite adorable.
Looking at Li Yimo and the other girl, Liu Qiang felt as if he were seeing his own two children, and his heart softened a little. "Miss Feng, don't be too angry!"
Feng Fei smiled, seemingly unperturbed, but still pushed all the untouched food piled up to Liu Qiang: "Judging from Brother Liu's age and manner, you're probably already married, and perhaps even have children. Take this food to your wife and nephews and nieces; it's all things women and children love." Liu Qiang was about to refuse when Feng Fei's face hardened: "It's nothing valuable! If Brother Liu isn't even willing to give me this little bit, then I wouldn't dare trouble Brother Liu to inquire about the house for me!"
Liu Qiang reluctantly accepted the gifts, but he was also somewhat happy, as he could use the money to appease his wife and apologize for his previous mistakes.
Seeing Liu Qiang hand over the items, Feng Fei couldn't help but smile. If it were her face under the disguise mask, that smile would undoubtedly be breathtakingly beautiful. However, with wrinkles, freckles, thick eyebrows, and exaggerated makeup, the smile was somewhat terrifying. Liu Qiang's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly and awkwardly took his leave.
Feng Fei watched Liu Qiang's hurried departure, completely bewildered.
Li Yimo, who only knew a little about the situation, covered her mouth and leaned on her brother's shoulder, smiling cautiously.
"Alright, let's go too!" Feng Fei called to the two of them and then went out of the cubicle first. Li Yimo and the other person hurriedly followed.
At this moment, Feng Fei and the other two were happy to finally have a place to stay, but also a little bitter because of the unresolved case of Xiao Liu and the other two. So they strolled leisurely through the market.
Before long, Feng Fei and the other two returned to the Dragon and Phoenix Inn. After washing up and having dinner, some of them began to cultivate and others rested.
Nothing was said that night.
As dawn broke, Feng Fei got up and was about to go to the courtyard of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn to practice a set of boxing techniques when Liu Qiang sent someone to look for her.
The person who came was the minor official who had come to Longfeng Inn yesterday to inform her that Feng Fei's case was no longer her concern.
"Brother Liu sent you to find me?" Feng Fei asked, pointing to his own nose. "It's still so early!"
"Has Miss Fengfei had breakfast?" the young official asked with a smile. Seeing that Fengfei nodded, he continued, "Then please come with me to the yamen! Bring some money with you."
Feng Fei was overjoyed. Could it be that the accommodation had been arranged? He immediately smiled and said, "Then please wait a moment, officer. I'll be right back!"
Before he finished speaking, Feng Fei went upstairs to the second floor. As soon as he entered the room, he called out to Li Yimo and Li Moxuan, "Xiao Mo, Moxuan, our courtyard is coming soon!" Seeing the two of them crowding around him to ask more questions, he quickly waved his hand, "I'm going to the yamen with some money right now. You two stay in the room! Haha, pack your things, and we'll move in when I get back!"
After finishing, she stepped out of the room again. She always carried her money with her. She went upstairs only to tell Li Yimo and Li Moxuan where she was going and what she was going to do, so as not to make these two still very sensitive children think wildly.
Chapter 44 The Spirit Spring Recognizes Its Master
Feng Fei followed the minor official to the yamen and returned to Longfeng Inn about two hours later.
But as soon as Feng Fei entered the inn, she was dumbfounded: the ground floor of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn was a mess, with many people rolling on the ground and groaning slightly, their bodies injured. Liu Xiaobei, who was somewhat acquainted with her, was even injured and unconscious. Guan Dayu was standing guard by her side with a furrowed brow, while Zhang Zhongfei was nowhere to be found.
Feng Fei was startled and quickly looked again carefully. He didn't see any trace of Li Yimo and Li Moxuan, so he hurried upstairs.
"Xiao Mo? Mo Xuan?" Feng Fei called out their names and suddenly pushed open the door, but saw no one.
Feng Fei rushed downstairs in a panic and ran outside.
She was going to find the two of them, her and Li Yimo. She hadn't spent much time with Li Moxuan and his sister, but they had already developed feelings for each other without her realizing it. This was the first relationship she had encountered since arriving in this strange world that she particularly wanted to hold onto.
At that moment, the owner of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn entered with a doctor. Feng Fei glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and realized that this doctor was the same white-clad physician who had taken Jin Ming from the Jin Family Clinic after she had saved the child. This realization only flashed through Feng Fei's mind before she dismissed it; she needed to find Xiao Mo and Mo Xuan!
Just as Feng Fei was about to enter the Dragon and Phoenix Inn with the innkeeper, the white-robed doctor from the Jin Family Medical Clinic saw him rushing out headlong and felt a strange sense of familiarity. His face remained expressionless as he continued walking with the innkeeper, his mind racing, trying to recall who this person who had given him that feeling of familiarity might be.
However, the immediate priority was to treat the injured, so the doctor in white suppressed his thoughts and got to work.
Feng Fei wandered around the streets like a headless fly. She didn't know where Li Yimo and the other person could go if they went out. After thinking for a while, Feng Fei ran towards the dilapidated temple outside the city. Maybe the two of them would go there!
The dilapidated temple outside the city was so run-down that it seemed a slightly strong gust of wind could topple it. The overgrown weeds outside were waist-high, meaning that children of Li Yimo and Li Moxuan's size would be impossible to spot once they hid inside. Feng Fei had an urge to rush in, but she restrained herself. Those two children weren't so bored as to play such a game! However, if she found them, she would definitely give them a good scolding!
Feng Fei gritted his teeth, glanced at the dense weeds, and stepped into the dilapidated temple.
The moment his foot touched the ground, he kicked up a cloud of dust. Feng Fei waved his hand and coughed lightly, "Xiao Mo! Mo Xuan!"
Feng Fei's voice echoed around, causing the tattered cloth hanging from the beams to sway slightly, but there was no response. Feng Fei walked dejectedly into the dilapidated temple, soon arriving at the main hall where a Buddha statue stood. The golden robes on the Buddha statue were long gone, and crumbling stones and soil fell in a rustling sound. The Buddha's features were barely discernible, but a faint, compassionate smile was visible. A dirty, tattered cloth still draped half over the statue, its former glory still faintly discernible.
Feng Fei sighed. Such is the way of the world. Time can bring people many classics, but it also takes away much of the prosperity.
Leaning against the altar in front of the Buddha statue, Feng Fei looked around aimlessly, his gaze wandering. Suddenly, a faint golden light shimmered from a pile of straw in the southeast corner. Curious, Feng Fei cautiously walked towards it, and soon arrived at the source of the golden light.
Standing upright, Fengfei couldn't see clearly what it was. She crouched down, about to lift the straw to examine it, when she suddenly fainted. Meanwhile, Mingfeng, who had been wandering aimlessly around the other parts of the dilapidated temple, turned back to check on Fengfei but found her missing. She immediately rushed to a pile of straw in the southeast corner, chirping and calling out, but to no avail.
When she awoke, she found herself in complete darkness, unable to see her own hand in front of her face. Feng Fei tried to scream, but found herself unable to make a sound. She was surrounded by what appeared to be water, her body gently bobbing up and down with the current, but not drifting away. It was as if something was gently holding her back, preventing her from leaving. This thought sent a chill down Feng Fei's spine.
The surrounding temperature seemed to drop as well. Feng Fei felt she could barely withstand the cold. Even the jade-colored spiritual energy within her body stopped circulating slowly and eventually ceased to fluctuate at all. Feng Fei's consciousness grew increasingly hazy. She tried to regain her senses, but to no avail. Finally, the cold froze her consciousness, and it ceased to fluctuate in the slightest.
Mingfeng, in a daze, searched the entire dilapidated temple, but still found nothing. Just as she was about to revert to her original form and burn the temple down in anger, a fair and beautiful hand pressed down on Mingfeng's small body. Mingfeng was startled at first, but the scent was familiar to her. She quickly turned around and saw a man wearing a moon-white robe and a silver mask. It was none other than Master Yue from Mengxi Mansion.
Mingfeng suddenly pounced into Mr. Yue's arms, chirping incessantly, as if it wanted to tell Mr. Yue all its doubts and confusion.
Mr. Yue gently stroked Mingfeng's head, and Mingfeng fell silent.
Mr. Yue walked around the place where Feng Fei disappeared. Suddenly, a ray of light fell into his eyes. He squinted and saw the golden light that Feng Fei had seen earlier.
Mr. Yue didn't rush to examine it. Instead, he took two steps back, and with a flash of his right hand, a strangely shaped, dark object appeared in his palm. Without any hesitation, Mr. Yue threw the dark object towards the spot of the golden light. It seemed light, but it landed on the ground as heavy as Mount Tai, shaking the entire ground where the dilapidated temple stood.
Dust settled in the dilapidated temple, finally collapsing with a crash, but the area around Mr. Yue remained perfectly clean; nothing had fallen near him. Then, a gaping, dark crack appeared in the center of the temple, and Mingfeng suddenly flew up, chirping loudly. Mr. Yue remained standing in place. A moment later, a spring gleaming with a cold light gushed forth from the dark crack, and Fengfei flew above that spring!
The spring seemed to be alive, suddenly extending a tentacle made of spring water that touched the walls that had revealed it, then gently wrapped around Fengfei's body and jumped up slightly. Mingfeng was anxious to rush forward to rescue Fengfei, but was stopped by Mr. Yue: "Mingfeng, come here."
Mingfeng obediently returned to Mr. Yue's side, its little eyes filled with anxiety. Although it did not understand why Mr. Yue would not let it save Fengfei, it knew that Mr. Yue would not harm Fengfei.
Mr. Moon wore a calm smile as he quietly watched the phoenix playing in the spring.
After a long while, the spring seemed to finally notice Mr. Yue and Mingfeng. It took a small step back, as if startled. Then, as if realizing that its reaction had made it the first to show its fear, it wrapped around Fengfei and hopped up to try and get closer to Mr. Yue. However, because it was wrapped around Fengfei, it found it difficult to get close enough to study Mr. Yue.
After hesitating for a while, Quanyan seemed to have made up his mind. He gently placed Fengfei on the ground, then floated into the air and slowly hovered around Fengfei. After circling three times, Quanyan suddenly stopped above Fengfei's forehead. Then, a drop of water with a dazzling silver light floated out of Quanyan and slowly covered Fengfei's brow.
The next moment, Feng Fei's body suddenly glowed, while Quan Yan's body trembled slightly, but slowly condensed into a milky white bead that floated in the air.
It seemed to quiet down, and there was no more movement around. After a long while, the milky-white bead suddenly extended four tiny tentacles, which then transformed into fluffy little claws. Next, a small bump appeared on its head, eventually forming a fluffy little head, but because of the abundant fur, facial features were not visible. After a while, a tuft of fluffy little tail emerged from its tail, and after the tail took shape, fluffy white down grew on the body of the milky-white bead.
When all these changes were complete, the little guy opened his hazy little eyes, pounced on Feng Fei's face, rubbed against him affectionately, and stuck out his pink little tongue to lick Feng Fei's face before remembering the person beside him.
The little creature wobbled over to Mr. Moon, its dark and lively little eyes staring at him for a while. Finally, it seemed to sense Mr. Moon's kindness and rubbed against his cold, silver-white mask.
Mr. Yue smiled, patted the little guy's head, gave Feng Fei a deep look, told Ming Feng and the little guy to take good care of Feng Fei, and then disappeared. The little guy looked around in confusion, bewildered by the sudden disappearance of this person it felt so close to. Ming Feng, on the other hand, let out a nonchalant call, seemingly mocking the little guy's lack of understanding.
As darkness fell, Feng Fei felt that he could move his limbs again, and the piercing coldness around him was gone. He slowly opened his eyes, only to have them covered by something white.