Une aura glaçante - Chapitre 126
Not long after, suddenly, the sound of light footsteps could be heard.
Xue Beifan also went over to take a closer look, and saw that there really was a figure at the gate of the courtyard.
He and Xiao Dao held their breath and waited. After a while, a woman in white came out, looking around cautiously. It was none other than Feng Wuyou.
Xue Beifan frowned, and Xiao Dao beside her gave her a wink—did you see that?
Feng Wuyou quickly walked to Hao Jinfeng's window. Because the birdcage wasn't hanging too close, and because Feng Wuyou was quite skilled in light footwork, she landed silently next to the cage. She took out a silver needle, which, in the moonlight, had a faint blue hue.
Xiao Dao curled the corners of his mouth, thinking to himself—a venomous woman! A venomous woman!
Feng Wuyou pulled out the needle, preparing to stab it into the birdcage, when suddenly, he heard the myna flap its wings a few times and then say, "Ugly monster, ugly monster!"
It was Xiao Dao mimicking the bird, but since the myna was in its cage, the sound, muffled by the cloth, was somewhat similar to what Xiao Dao was making from behind the window, so it didn't arouse suspicion.
Feng Wuyou's expression clearly changed. She became somewhat exasperated, glaring at the birdcage, gritting her teeth and raising the silver needle to stab again. Just then, the myna bird started chirping and singing, "The martial world has four treasures: umbrella, boat, recipe, and ugly monster."
Feng Wuyou almost jumped up, gritting her teeth as she looked around.
Xiao Dao got even more excited and, mimicking a bird's wagging tongue and spitting out its beak, continued to tease her, "I'm not afraid of a woman being ugly or old, I'm just afraid of a heart as vicious as a snake."
Feng Wuyou's mind raced. What were these birds saying? Could it be that Yan Xiaodao, that brat, taught them these songs and was talking about her behind her back?
Xiao Dao shook her head, then delivered the final blow, "Feng Wuyou is an ugly woman, Yan Xiaodao is a hundred times, a hundred times prettier than you..."
Enraged, Feng Wuyou ripped off the cloth cover of the birdcage, intending to stab the talking myna bird in the eye with a poisoned needle, preferably to poke out the eyeballs and mix them into Xiaodao's teacup for her to eat the next day.
But the moment she lifted the cover, she heard a buzzing sound.
Feng Wuyou was stunned, Xiaodao covered her face, and the scholar myna's voice came again, "Why did you have to stir up a hornet's nest? Now the beauty has turned into a pig's head!"
Feng Wuyou opened his eyes wide and saw that the birdcage contained not a myna bird at all, but a hornet's nest.
Xue Beifan looked at Xiao Dao in surprise.
Xiao Dao chuckled, reached into his hand, and pulled out a bottle of medicine. It contained a little anesthetic; the swarm of wasps had been stunned by the fumes and were behaving quietly. Now, the effects of the anesthetic had worn off, and they were quite agitated.
Sure enough, upon hearing Feng Wuyou scream "Ah!" and turn to run, a swarm of wasps buzzed relentlessly after her. Feng Wuyou was horrified; she had never been so disheveled before. Her hair was torn, her hair ornaments were gone, and her makeup was ruined.
Xiao Dao jumped up with joy, "I'll teach you to hurt people again! I'll sting you so badly you won't even dare to call yourself human!"
Xue Beifan stared at Xiao Dao in utter shock.
Xiao Dao clasped his hands together and bowed, "Those cats, dogs, and the old lady who sweeps the floor, I've avenged you today. When I have time, I'll shave Feng Wuyou's head and have her become a nun to chant the Rebirth Mantra for you."
Xue Beifan held his forehead, unsure of what to say. He couldn't even manage a smile or offer any appropriate comment. He just kept shaking his head, and finally poked Xiao Dao's palm with his finger.
Xiao Dao reached out and patted his head, asking, "Feeling better now?"
Xue Beifan nodded and replied, "That felt really good."
61
Unable to resist
Generally speaking, women are not to be offended, and women with malicious hearts are even more so. Yan Xiaodao offended Feng Wuyou, so she naturally anticipated that Feng Wuyou would retaliate against her, and therefore prepared in advance to be ambushed at any time.
But after waiting and waiting, the woman didn't come to retaliate, and Xiao Dao realized that something might be wrong. She must have some more important conspiracy or scheme to deal with, which was why she hadn't shown her face for so long.
There are still many things to do in the Beihai Sect. Xue Beifan has just returned and doesn't have much prestige yet. It's clear that the various hall masters and elders don't really like him.
Xue Beifan himself didn't care, but Xiao Dao couldn't stand it. However, it wasn't her business, and she didn't particularly like those rule-abiding old men either.
In addition, there have been some rumors circulating these past two days, saying that Yan Xiaodao is Yan Ruyu's daughter and a notorious female thief.
To be honest, Xiao Dao has finally come to understand that sayings like "clothes make the man" or "a saddle makes the horse" are just empty words for ordinary people to comfort each other. What's really true is that status determines worth, and position determines face. When a man is only charming and dashing, he will only attract the attention of one group of women. But when a man is not only charming and dashing but also has a noble status and great wealth, he will attract the attention of another group of women.
Xue Beifan was usually carefree and irresponsible. Although he was handsome and skilled in martial arts, most women who genuinely wanted a good husband wouldn't be interested in him. But now things were different. He was now the future leader of the Beihai Sect, and his future was practically glowing with prestige. Within days of his return, letters proposing marriage or expressing interest in establishing a kinship relationship poured in. Invitations followed in quick succession; he was constantly being invited and visited. The Beihai Sect, which had been quiet for a while, was bustling with activity again.
However, Xue Beifan didn't seem to care about this matter. He dismissed all the servants and didn't act like a sect leader at all. He followed Yan Xiaodao in and out all day, either carrying chicken feet or small baskets for her. The elders shook their heads at the sight. Compared to Xue Beihai's ambitious, steady, and mature appearance back then, he was far inferior.
That afternoon, after finishing his meal, Xiao Dao was munching on a sour pear, sticking out his tongue as he snorted, and finding the sourness quite enjoyable. He then swayed into the house.
"It seems to be getting colder." As Xiaodao entered the room, he saw Xiaoyue staring at the bed with a troubled expression, sighing.
"Huh?" Xiao Dao leaned closer to take a look and immediately gaped. "Xiao Yue, did you kill the hunter or what?"
As he spoke, he reached out and touched the bed... There were several layers of fur on the bed, in various styles including black, white, gray, and yellow floral, each one made of exquisite fabric. Xiao Dao wanted to rub against it and roll around in it.
"Hey, wait a minute." Xiaoyue grabbed the knife. "I want Chonghua to cancel it!"
Xiao Dao was puzzled, and after a long pause, he exclaimed in surprise, "Were they all gifts from Chonghua?"
Xiaoyue frowned and nodded.
Xiao Dao's lips twitched. "Wow, did he buy up all the fur in the city? Everyone else is going to freeze to death."
Xiaoyue shook her head, "I'll have him return it later, it's too much of a waste of money."
Xiao Dao pulled out a piece of white fox fur and draped it over Xiao Yue's shoulders to let her try it on. "This one is good. You can keep this one."
Xiaoyue glanced at it, pouted, and said, "It's strangely expensive."
Xiao Dao chuckled, packed the remaining large basket into a box, called two servants to carry it to the door, and turned back to ask Xiao Yue, "Is there any more?"
Xiaoyue nodded and pointed to the wardrobe.
Xiao Dao ran over and opened the cupboard door with a loud clatter.
"ah!"
"Xiao Dao!" Xiao Yue rushed to the rescue and dug out Xiao Dao, who was completely buried under the clothes.