Xue Qing shook her head. "Liu Ying, you're too naive. The current situation is that an underage girl is clamoring to force an adult man to live with her. Okay, it's Xue Qing's thoughts that are too impure. But she really wants to know why Jian Die stayed. It can't be because she can't bear to part with him. She and Dong Chou have only just met."
"Aunt, I'm sorry I can't protect you anymore, but Brother Liuying is so skilled in martial arts, it's enough that you have him. I want to stay," Jiandie said firmly.
Although Cocoon Butterfly is still young, fifteen years old is not too young. People in the martial arts world are often precocious. The fact that she was able to come to the Central Plains from the desert alone shows that she is independent enough. Xue Qing believes that she has her own reasons for her decision, whether pure or impure, and respects her decision.
"Okay, Auntie respects your choice... If you can't stand it anymore, just send me a message by carrier pigeon," Xue Qing said worriedly.
"Sigh, whatever, just like your father, always meddling in other people's business." Dongchou sighed, took a big gulp from his wine gourd, and turned to walk back.
"Thank you, Auntie. Please take care!" Cocoon Butterfly rushed over and hugged Xue Qing, then ran after Dong Chou, calling out, "Second Uncle! Wait for me! Wait for me!"
"Should we tie her up and take her away by force?" Xue Qing said to Liu Ying, still worried.
"Giddy up!" Liu Ying had already started the carriage, but Xue Qing decided to give up. She also felt that it would be disrespectful to openly express her suspicion that her master would molest young girls in front of Liu Ying.
It was quite deserted with no one to talk to in the car. Fortunately, she still had her own book to read. After reading for a while, Xue Qing put the Emei Sect booklet back into her bag. It has to be said that the description of "washing out the worm eggs with plum wine when the wound is festering and infested with worms" is really not suitable as a pastime.
Upon arriving at the inn, Liuying went to feed the horses, while Xue Qing stayed in her room, listening intently to the footsteps outside, as if waiting for something. Soon, the door opened, and Anluo entered, locking the door behind her. Xue Qing wasn't surprised; she had already heard the light footsteps of the girl lingering outside her door. With Jiandie remaining on Mount Goulou, Anluo was the only one who would come looking for her.
"What? Did Yan Ming ask you to tell me that he loves me too?" Xue Qing said sarcastically.
“The Domain Lord didn’t say that,” Anluo replied coldly. “I’m here to tell you that your helpers have arrived.”
"Really? Where?" Xue Qing looked around, but saw no one except An Luo. Suddenly, something cold and sharp pressed against her neck. A gleaming dagger was pressed against her neck. Xue Qing glanced back and saw that the window behind her was open at some point. Had the person come in through the window? Although Xue Qing had lost her internal energy, her martial arts foundation was still intact. She was sharp-eyed and had keen hearing, and most noises could not escape her senses. Yet this person had been able to attack her silently. The skill of concealment could only be described as divine.
"Qi, don't hurt her, people will suspect something," Anluo said.
Xue Qing obediently withdrew the dagger from her neck. She quickly turned around to look at the person behind her. The person looked a little younger than her, and his lifeless features didn't seem cold, because he was completely expressionless. With colorless lips and lifeless eyes, Xue Qing wondered if someone had forgotten to close their coffin. This person was the other person besides An Luo who could be considered loyal to Yan Ming, the leader of the Hungry Ghost Path, and Yan Ming's sharpest claw to eliminate dissidents.
"What's your name?" Xue Qing asked, as she didn't have a strong impression of this person.
The man just stared at Xue Qing silently without saying a word, but An Luo spoke first: "His name is Qi, and he is mute."
"I see!" Xue Qing was a little startled. She thought the people from the Underworld were all aloof and silent, but it turned out they were mute.
"The Domain Lord is very pleased that you are in such a hurry to go to the Qilin Pavilion to help him," Anluo said again.
Xue Qing lowered her head guiltily. She didn't want to help Yan Ming with his work; she just wanted to give Yan Ming something to do.
Anlu handed Xue Qing an oval-shaped bamboo tube: "You know the situation in the Central Plains better than we do, so the Domain Lord has entrusted you with full responsibility for the Qilin Pavilion matter this time. Qi Hui has been following you in the shadows. The bamboo tube contains a moth we have specially raised. If you need it, he will release a moth, and it will come to you. During the mission, it will obey your orders."
It was rare for Xue Qing to hear something that made her happy from the mouth of someone from the Underworld. They had sent her such skilled cannon fodder from afar; they must have gone to great lengths for her.
"Thank you for your hard work. Tell Yan Ming to wait for my good news. I won't let him down." Xue Qing put on a sweet smile.
"I still want to remind you, the Domain Lord is in a bad mood right now. If you don't complete your task, he might give Qi a new order," Anluo said to Xue Qing before leaving.
Does this imply that he'll kill Xue Qing if he fails? Knowing Yan Ming's ruthlessness all along, Xue Qing wasn't surprised. Instead, she wondered why Yan Ming was in a bad mood—was he on his period? Oh well, how could a mere supporting character like her possibly understand the male lead's hormonal state?
Anlu left, leaving Qi to Xue Qing like a guide dog. The two stood alone in the room, facing each other, and Xue Qing felt a cold draft. Footsteps sounded outside the door. Qi glanced at the door, then jumped out through the window that was open on the opposite side. Xue Qing ran to the window and looked down. Outside was a dark night and a quiet street. Qi had already disappeared into the night. Truly a killer trained by Yan Ming, appearing and disappearing without a trace.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Liu Ying pushed open the door and entered the room: "Not asleep yet?"
"I was just about to go to sleep," Xue Qing said with a smile.
Liu Ying walked to Xue Qing's bedside and rearranged the bed: "Go to sleep early. We need to get up early tomorrow so we can reach Qilin Mountain before dark."
"Fireflies!" Xue Qing suddenly exclaimed.
"Is there anything else you need, Uncle-Master?" Liu Ying asked, turning around.
Xue Qing grinned: "It's nothing, I just wanted to see you one last time before I went to sleep."
Unaware of the meaning behind Xue Qing's words, Liu Ying's cheeks flushed pink. She turned and walked out, closing the door behind her. Through the paper-covered window of the inn, both inside and outside felt their own hearts pounding. Xue Qing didn't know why she was acting this way either. Was it retaliation for Liu Ying stealing her rouge while drunk? Yes, that was it. She knew perfectly well that Liu Ying had special feelings for her body, she knew it all along, and that's why she couldn't resist teasing him. But why did she, the one who was playing the prankster, feel like she was the one being teased? She slumped to the bedside, collapsed onto the bed Liu Ying had made, her feelings strange—a mixture of joy and loneliness.
Liu Ying stood outside Xue Qing's door for a long time, so long that his legs were already a little numb when he remembered he should leave. His martial uncle was becoming more and more strange, as if he had become a different person. At first, he had suspected that she might be in disguise. He had carefully observed the patterns on her face. It was definitely human skin, not painted on, and it was not a human skin mask. Her figure was still Xue Qing's figure, unchanged. He had spent fifteen years with Xue Qing day and night. If she were in disguise, she would definitely not be able to hide it from his eyes. It was just that she had changed too much. Her strange behavior and strange words were not only different from before, but also different from everyone here. Perhaps Yan Ming had dealt her too much of a blow. That man would only hurt her, so he would be the one to protect her.
Qilin Pavilion is located on a very large mountain. Why is the mountain so large? Because Qilin Pavilion is wealthier than Wudang or Shaolin. Qilin Mountain has three peaks. The main peak in the middle is the former site of Qilin Pavilion, but no one lives there now. The eastern peak is home to the East Qilin Pavilion, and the western peak is home to the West Qilin Pavilion. The two pavilions face each other across the main peak.
Xue Qing wanted to visit Xiao Guiying first, since she was more familiar with him. Ling Yu sent an envoy to visit, and the disciples at the foot of the mountain happily led Xue Qing up the mountain. When Xue Qing and Liu Ying arrived at the main hall of Dongqi Pavilion, no one greeted them for a long time.
Fearing that the two guests might feel that Dongqi Pavilion's etiquette was lacking, the maid in the main hall quickly explained, "The Pavilion Master has a friend here who is recuperating from an illness. The Pavilion Master visits her at this time every day, so... please have some tea first!"
Xue Qing pushed the tea away: "No need, I've already had seven cups. My friend is sick, I understand."
Another incense stick's time passed before Xiao Guiying hurriedly arrived.
"I am truly sorry to have kept you two distinguished guests waiting," Xiao Guiying said, bowing with his hands clasped in apology.
"For the most courteous Master Xiao to be late, he must be a very important friend," Liu Ying said, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
"I wonder what illness your friend has? Has a doctor been consulted?" Xue Qing asked politely.
“The doctor has examined her; she just caught a cold. She’s always been weak, and now she’s even weaker… Alas,” Xiao Guiying sighed heavily. “I’ve already sent someone to the Emei Sect to seek a remedy to strengthen her body and replenish her vital energy. I don’t know how many days it will take for them to return.”
A remedy to strengthen the body's foundation and nourish the vital energy? That name sounds familiar. Isn't it the one that Liu Ying gave me on the first day after I transmigrated? Anyway, I'm alive and kicking now, so there's no use keeping it. I might as well give it to Xiao Guiying. Saving a life is worse than building a seven-story pagoda, and it'll also do him a favor.
“Master Xiao, I happen to have brought some medicine to strengthen the body’s foundation and nourish the vital energy. Is this the one you’re looking for?” Xue Qing said, taking out the small celadon bottle from her bag and handing it to Xiao Guiying.
Xiao Guiying opened the bottle cap, smelled it, and said happily, "This is it. Thank you, Uncle Xue. Uncle Xue, come and see my friend. She must want to thank you in person."
With no reason not to go, Xue Qing and Liu Ying followed Xiao Guiying toward the side hall where their friend lived.
Nangong was poisoned