There was a trace of ink next to the small character. I wondered if the master had wanted to write something down next to it, but stopped writing for some other reason.
Is my page blank in my master's mind? Or did he once try to write something, but abruptly stopped?
The sky gradually darkened, and a wind began to blow.
I took a sip of tea and continued turning the page.
As I flipped through the pages, I fell asleep on the table.
Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep and slept until nightfall.
With an empty stomach, he got up to ask Lou Xiyue for some food.
Candlelight was lit in the west-facing room of Louxiyue. I knocked on the door.
There was a lot of noise inside, but no one answered the door for a long time.
I'll knock again.
The door creaked open, and there was Ji Jiu. When she saw me, she gave a cold smile and stepped aside.
Lou Xiyue stood in the room wearing only his undergarments. His hair was slightly disheveled, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He looked at me when he heard the sound.
Although Lou Xiyue appeared calm, it took a full half-incense stick's time from when I knocked on the door to when it opened—enough time for Lou Xiyue to sit up from the bed, get dressed, and then stand in the room; for Ji Jiu to sit up from the bed, get dressed, comb his hair, and then open the door.
I was immediately filled with guilt, coughed, and stood there awkwardly.
Lou Xiyue asked, "What's wrong?"
I swallowed hard and said, "Actually, it's nothing. You guys continue. I just wandered over here while I was out admiring the moon."
Then he turned to leave.
Lou Xiyue smiled and put on an outer robe. "Xiao Xiang, I'm a little hungry. Let's go get something to eat."
We found a restaurant in Nanyang.
He asked me, "Have you figured out what kind of poison Uncle Three was poisoned with?"
My thoughts were still lingering on the fact that I had just stumbled upon Lou Xiyue and Ji Jiu's affair. I said, "You must have used up a lot of energy just now. Eat something to replenish your strength."
Lou Xiyue smiled and tapped my forehead. "What are you thinking about?"
He caught me off guard, and I rubbed my forehead, angrily replying, "Not yet. Did anyone else see your third uncle the day he was injured? Were there any clues left behind?"
Lou Xiyue pondered for a moment, then asked, "Are you only familiar with poisons from the Central Plains, or do you also know about poisons from other places?"
"What do you mean?"
Lou Xiyue said, "No one knows about what happened to Third Uncle when he was young. I think this poison may have been transmitted from Xue Kingdom."
I asked, "Lou Sanjian and Xue Guo formed a grudge during their battle back then, and now, so many years later, someone is seeking revenge?"
Lou Xiyue nodded.
The State of Xue is located east of the State of Li. The two countries are constantly at odds, with frequent border battles.
I said, "Then I'm not quite sure. My master has never been abroad, so he certainly hasn't treated people from the East."
Lou Xiyue frowned. "All the disciples in the sect were killed by someone who slit their throats. The Jade Luo Sect has a good reputation in the martial arts world. I really can't figure out who would seek revenge."
The martial arts world in Li Kingdom was relatively peaceful. The most sensational event in recent years was the theft of the "Mu Xue Sword Manual". After a long period of peace, the martial arts community was extremely bored. Finally, this outrageous incident occurred, and everyone rose up to fight against it, eager to find the sword manual.
No one expected that years ago, the master had already burned this sword manual, which would lead the feuds of the martial world to a climax, in Medicine King Valley.
Afterwards, Lou Xiyue gave me a general account of the Jade Luo Sect's activities. In summary, the Jade Luo Sect was a very large sect in the martial arts world, with a very wide influence, comparable to the Shaolin Temple. The only difference was that one had hair and the other did not.
I was deeply moved after hearing this. Such a complex and powerful sect exists in such a low-key manner, which truly inspires a sense of awe.
I looked at Lou Xiyue, "Are you perhaps the next sect leader of the Jade Luo Sect?"
He ate his food and nodded calmly.
I was overjoyed. "I'm your master. Can you spread the word about our relationship to the whole world? I'll benefit from it too."
Lou Xiyue said, "It's not the style of Yuluomen to spread the word. If you really want to become famous, you can go and join Shaolin Temple."
I put down my chopsticks. "If Lou Sanjian dies, wouldn't you be the biggest beneficiary? Are you perhaps orchestrating your own coup?"
He narrowed his long eyes and said, "Third Uncle is the person I, Lou Xiyue, admire the most."
I had never seen Lou Xiyue speak so seriously before. His sudden seriousness took me a little off.
Lou Xiyue looked at me earnestly and said, "Xiao Xiang, can you do your best to cure my third uncle?"
I said, “Of course, of course, your third uncle is my third brother. But right now I still can’t figure out the poison, so I can only use the Hundred Spirit Grass as a test medicine. As for the strange poisons in Li Kingdom, there are only a few dozen kinds, and they have never changed over and over again. For example, there is the Heartbreak Grass and the Heart-Scraping Essence. Occasionally, a few kinds will appear that look very different. They are just Heartbreak Grass mixed with a little Heart-Scraping Essence, or Heart-Scraping Essence mixed with some Heartbreak Grass and some water.”
I agreed with him, saying, "So I think it's not impossible that this poison originated from the Xue Kingdom in the East."
Lou Xiyue, fanning herself, asked me, "Shall we go to the Eastern Land?"
I shoveled some rice into my mouth. "Go to the East, and then come back. I'm worried your third uncle won't be able to handle it."
Lou Xiyue calmly said, "What I mean is, you and I will take Uncle San with us to the Eastern Land."
I picked up a dumpling and said, "If you add a strong wind and a horse, you'll think you're on a pilgrimage like Tang Sanzang."
Lou Xiyue sighed, "..."