More than half an hour later, the prison wagon stopped at a campsite. There were nearly two hundred tents of various sizes, with campfires flickering and a bustling scene. The bandits in the camp cheered wildly upon seeing their comrades return victorious, and swarmed in from all directions. The men and women on the wagon were all trembling like leaves, and Chu Tong hugged her legs, her heart filled with increasing fear.
The bandits led the prison cart to a camp, opened the door, and shouted, "Get the hell out of here, all of you!" Then they grabbed the nearest man and dragged him out like a hen, before spitting and saying, "Do you expect me to do all this myself?"
Seeing this, Chu Tong immediately jumped down from the prison cart, and the bandits shoved her into the tent. Chu Tong looked around and saw several men and women already crouching in the corner of the tent, huddled together with their hands covering their heads. Chu Tong copied them and crouched down as well. Knowing that things had come to this point, further words were useless; she could only try to escape. Soon, the tent filled with about twenty people. Chu Tong noticed a man in his twenties crouching beside her. Taking advantage of a moment when the bandits guarding her weren't looking, she whispered, "Brother, do you know why they brought us here?"
The man looked miserable and said softly, "Men are captured and enslaved, but women suffer an even worse fate, not even as good as prostitutes!"
Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately fell silent.
After a while, two bandits, laughing and joking, lifted the curtain and walked in from outside. Upon seeing the scene inside, they burst into laughter and said to the bandit guarding them, "Hou San'er, what good stuff have you brought this time?" As they spoke, they grabbed a woman and examined her face carefully in the candlelight. The woman was so frightened that she trembled all over, tears streaming down her face, and could only say, "Sir, spare my life."
Hou San'er had a pointed mouth and monkey-like face, with a hideous scar on his face, making him look particularly lewd. He laughed and said, "Don't mention it. I just took a look around. There are no beautiful women. They're all low-class goods."
A bandit dressed in blue said, "When we were lying in ambush nearby, didn't we vaguely see a little girl in animal skin dancing? Why didn't we capture her?"
Hou San'er said, "Don't even mention it. That woman was incredibly fierce. She killed two brothers and ran away. Ugh, and this time some pretty boy killed quite a few of our brothers too..."
The bandit holding the woman lewdly chuckled, "Damn it, no matter who died, we've made a killing this time. I'm feeling really uncomfortable right now, and all I want is to find a little girl to warm my feet and have some fun. I think this one is pretty good." He then glanced at the two men beside him, and the three of them exchanged knowing glances before bursting into laughter.
After laughing, Hou San'er seemed to remember something and hurriedly said, "Da Luo, don't be in such a hurry. I just remembered that the chief ordered today not to move the people who were captured. His new wife wants to select a few maids to take back and serve her."
Da Luo reluctantly put down the woman in his arms, glaring and cursing, "Damn it! The boss seems to be under some kind of spell, he listens to everything that woman says. I risk my life all day just for this moment of comfort!"
The blue-clad bandit grinned and said, "If I could have a wife as youthful and delicate as that, I'd listen to her in everything! Haven't you heard that sweet voice? It makes my whole body go weak."
Upon hearing this, Da Luo kicked him in the butt and cursed, "Is that all the guts you have?!"
Amidst the laughter and banter, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and a beautiful woman gracefully entered. She had an oval face, cherry lips, and almond-shaped eyes, lightly made up, and exuded a touch of allure. Her hair was styled in a high, cloud-like bun, adorned with a kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin, a gold and pearl hairpin, and two purple silk flowers at her temples. She wore a dark blue cloak with colorful floral patterns, and mink hand warmers in her hands. She radiated wealth and luxury.
The three bandits immediately stopped smiling when they saw her and respectfully said, "Madam!" But their eyes unconsciously drifted towards her, revealing a slightly infatuated look.
The beautiful woman noticed the lewd expressions on the men's faces but was not annoyed. Instead, her eyes held a hint of smugness and contempt as she nodded slightly.
Hearing the commotion, Chu Tong couldn't help but glance around out of the corner of her eye. When she saw the beauty, she was immediately shocked and her hands and feet turned ice cold. The woman was none other than Lü Qiao, who had been expelled from the Xie family by Xie Linghui!
Seeing this, Hou San'er hurriedly stepped forward and said solicitously, "Madam, all the ones we caught are here. Please take your time to choose." Lü Qiao slowly walked around. Whenever she walked up to someone, Hou San'er would step forward and pull up that person's hair so that she could see them clearly.
Green Qiao picked and chose, but was never satisfied. She frowned, saying, "He doesn't look clever at all," then raised an eyebrow, "How can his face be so unkempt?" She shook her head, "This woman has such rough hands and feet, she's practically a man. How can she be a personal maid?" Finally, after much searching, she found one she liked, gave a cold snort, and was about to leave when she suddenly noticed a thin, ugly boy squatting in the crowd. His face was dark and freckled, but his eyes were incredibly bright and lively—his expression was just like that of her sworn enemy from the Xie family! She stopped, stared intently at the boy for a moment, then pointed and said, "Him, he'll do. He seems somewhat clever; he could be a personal servant."
Upon hearing this, Hou San'er immediately walked up to Chu Tong, picked her up, and followed Lü Qiao out of the tent. Lü Qiao walked slowly with her head held high and chest out. Along the way, bandits would leer at her and call her "Madam," to which she would nod slightly, maintaining her air of a noblewoman. Lü Qiao went straight to a tent, lifted the curtain, and went inside, with Hou San'er pulling Chu Tong close behind.
The tent appeared simple and unadorned from the outside, but its interior was exquisitely luxurious. A long-haired carpet with a pale blue peony pattern covered the floor, adorned with several large, bright blue cushions resembling blooming flowers. In the center of the carpet stood a low, arched-legged tea table, upon which sat a gilded qilin, slowly exhaling blue smoke that carried the fragrance of jasmine. To the left of the tent stood a cabinet carved with coiled dragons, next to which was a dressing table with a large, clear mirror. On the table were rouge, face powder, a wooden comb, and several hairpins and bracelets—clearly not something an ordinary person could afford. To the right of the tent was a chaise longue covered with snow-white fox fur, upon which rested a light green, ink-splashed pillow. Behind the tent stood an eight-panel screen inlaid with mother-of-pearl and painted with the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. Behind the screen, a bed appeared to be, but it was indistinct and difficult to discern clearly.
Chu Tong looked around and thought to herself, "Tsk tsk, Lü Qiao really knows how to enjoy life. Although the furnishings in this room can't compare to the Xie Mansion, they are still quite luxurious in this wild grassland." Lü Qiao walked to the chaise lounge and sat down, waving her hand to Hou San'er and saying, "You may leave."
Hou San'er turned and left. Lü Qiao casually picked up a hand warmer, looked at the person standing with his head bowed in front of him, and said in a cold voice, "From today onwards, you will serve me. Be careful when serving tea and water, or you'll lose your head!" Chu Tong stuck out her tongue inwardly and said, "Goodness, Lü Qiao has quite the nerve. Back in the Xie family, I only dared to say 'watch your skin,' but now she's directly talking about losing her head. Her magnanimity is truly extraordinary."
After saying that, Lü Qiao glanced at Chu Tong and asked, "What's your name? How old are you?"
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Oh no! If I open my mouth, she will definitely recognize who I am!" She had a sudden idea. She looked up at Lü Qiao and made "ah-ba-ah-ba" sounds while gesturing wildly.
Green Bridge was taken aback, then frowned and sneered, "So you're a mute!"
Just then, the tent flap was lifted again, and a burly man with a shaved head, bull-like eyes and a tiger-like nose, a thick beard, and a crooked mouth walked in. He had a bandit-like air about him and looked extremely fierce. When he saw Lü Qiao, he chuckled and said, "Damn it, I'm so lucky to have a beautiful woman waiting for me when I get back." He walked over and sat down next to Lü Qiao, putting his arm around her waist and kissing her on the cheek. A hint of disgust flashed in Lü Qiao's almond-shaped eyes, but she pretended to be charming and gave him a sidelong glance, half-pushing him away, saying, "There are still servants I just picked out here." The crooked-mouthed man waved his bear-like paw at Chu Tong and the others, saying, "You go down and wait at the door."
Chu Tong was overjoyed and quickly withdrew. Looking around, she saw that the scene outside was still lively, with bandits drinking, eating meat, and celebrating. Several bandits were searching an old man's belongings nearby. When they saw a ring on the old man's finger, their faces lit up with joy. They raised their broadswords and chopped off the old man's finger. The old man cried out and fainted from the pain. The bandits picked up the ring, wiped the blood off with their clothes, and stuffed it into their sleeves. At this moment, cries rang out again. A woman, disheveled, ran out of a tent. Several bandits chased after her, laughing and joking, before rushing over and dragging her back inside. The woman cried and struggled, but the bandits laughed even louder.
Chu Tong felt her hair stand on end and immediately stood still beside the tent, not daring to make a move. A short while later, the sounds of a man and woman moaning came from Lu Qiao's tent. Chu Tong remained calm, subtly surveying her surroundings. She saw bandits guarding every side; escape seemed impossible. After a while, the burly man with the crooked mouth emerged from the tent, satisfied. Lu Qiao then called her inside to fetch water to serve him.
Chu Tong lifted the curtain and saw Lü Qiao sitting blankly in front of the mirror, wearing only an outer robe. Her hair was disheveled, and there were red marks on her neck. Chu Tong remembered the ugly, bandit-like man and felt a pang of sympathy for Lü Qiao. She picked up the copper basin and went over to her. Lü Qiao was lost in thought, reminiscing about her own beauty and charm, and how she had lived a life of luxury and pleasure in the Xie mansion, surrounded by her lover! She could have stayed by the Second Master's side as a concubine, but that vile woman Yao Chu Tong ruined everything! She was driven out of the mansion by the Second Master and left like a stray dog, sold by her family to a man in his fifties as a concubine! Unwilling to accept this, she eloped with a handsome young servant after he repeatedly showed her affection. Unexpectedly, in a remote border town, the servant ran away with the money, and she was captured and forced to become the wife of a bandit chief, living like a prostitute in this desolate place! She felt a wave of disgust as she thought about how that bear-like man had just vented his anger on her. When she looked up, she saw Chu Tong standing in front of her with a basin of water.
The more she looked at the little mute girl in front of her, the more she felt that her demeanor resembled her mortal enemy. Her anger flared, and with a swift movement, she knocked over the copper basin with a "smash," splashing hot water all over Chu Tong's face and body. Immediately afterward, Green Qiao pounced on Chu Tong like a madwoman, grabbing her and tearing at her, yelling, "You bitch! You bitch! It was you! You ruined me! Ruined me!"
Chu Tong dodged and protected her head, her face covered in water. During the struggle, the makeup on her face had been rubbed off, revealing her original fair skin. Unaware of this, Chu Tong continued to dodge. Suddenly, Lü Qiao's expression changed. She stared at Chu Tong for a moment, then abruptly threw her head back and burst into laughter, laughing so hard she almost fell over. Then she grabbed Chu Tong's collar, her eyes filled with boundless resentment, and said viciously, "Yao Chu Tong! It's you! I'd recognize you even if you were ashes!"
Chu Tong was immediately startled, feeling a chill run down her spine. She knew that Lü Qiao had seen through her act, and there was no point in pretending anymore. She composed herself, looked at Lü Qiao's resentful eyes, and laughed, saying, "Lü Qiao, long time no see. You're quite the dashing one, becoming the bandit leader's wife. You're living the high life, aren't you?"
Green Qiao trembled all over. She took a few deep breaths, grinned, and said with a sinister look in her eyes, "Yes, I was so popular. How did you, the favorite of the Second Master, end up here with me? Things change so much! Tsk tsk tsk, could it be that the Second Master has found a new favorite and kicked you out?"
Lu Qiao's words stung Chu Tong's heart, but she remained nonchalant and sneered, "I was kicked out, but you're lucky to have found a perfect husband."
Green Bridge's expression instantly changed, then she snorted and said viciously, "Yao Chutong, Yao Chutong! Now that you're in my hands, what are you so arrogant about? Do you think you're still that vice-young lady in charge of internal affairs in the Xie family? Do you think you're still that head maid who makes all the maids and old women bow and scrape at your word? Do you think you're still that little beauty who makes the Second Master fall head over heels at the mere flick of your finger? Hmph, back then you stirred things up, and the Second Master grew increasingly cold towards me. Then you shed a few tears of grievance, and the Second Master ruthlessly threw me out! You've got some nerve! You've driven me to the brink of despair, and all I want is to die!"
Hearing Lü Qiao's words, Chu Tong calmed down considerably. Considering that she was suffering from a deadly poison and didn't have much time left, she figured she might as well just go all out. She laughed a few times, sighed, and said, "I've finished complaining. What do you want now?"
Green Qiao giggled again, her almond-shaped eyes blinking a few times, and she said with a sinister smile, "What do you want? Guess what those men outside will do if they see a beauty like you?" As she spoke, she suddenly raised her neck and shouted, "Help! Help!"
Chu Tong was startled and immediately covered her mouth, glancing around in panic. No one rushed in through the door; the commotion outside continued. Lü Qiao struggled desperately, trying to scream, and Chu Tong wrestled with her. She tightly covered Lü Qiao's mouth, her eyes flashing with cold light, and instantly decided to kill her.
Green Qiao's eyes reddened, and she reached out to grab Chu Tong's face. Chu Tong turned her head and kicked Green Qiao in the knee. Green Qiao cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face. Just then, a loud thud was heard, and a burly body tumbled in from behind the tent flap, crashing heavily to the ground. Chu Tong and Green Qiao were instantly stunned, realizing that the person who had fallen in was none other than the crooked-mouthed leader! A dagger was stuck in his neck, and his limbs twitched a few times before going still. Immediately afterward, more than twenty bandits rushed in from outside, carrying steel knives, their expressions extremely fierce. The one leading them was Hou San'er, the one who had been guarding the prisoners!
Chu Tong and Lü Qiao were surprised and uncertain, and stopped what they were doing.
One of the bandits stepped forward to examine the body of the crooked-mouthed man, and then said to Hou San'er, "Third Master, the crooked-mouthed man is no longer breathing." As soon as he finished speaking, the group of bandits cheered.
Hou San'er laughed loudly, his scars on his face becoming even more grotesque. After laughing, he spat and said hatefully, "Good! Well done! Haven't I suffered enough at the hands of that crooked-mouthed bastard? Now, seeing him go to the Western Paradise with my own eyes is truly exhilarating!" He then glanced at the people around him and said smugly, "Crooked-mouthed bastard and his cronies have all been sent to the Western Paradise by us, drugged in their wine. Damn it, now it's my turn, Hou San'er, to sit in the leader's seat! As long as I'm here, I will never let the brothers suffer. I, Hou San'er, will eat the dry food, and I will never let you guys drink the water!" With that, he pulled open the dragon-patterned cabinet beside him, rummaged through the various bundles inside, and shook them out. Dozens of gold and silver ingots of various sizes clattered out, dazzling the eyes. Hou San'er waved his hand generously and said, "Brothers, take them and divide them up!" The bandits cheered and scrambled to grab them.
At this moment, Hou San'er turned around, his eyes fixed on Lü Qiao with lustful intent. Seeing her disheveled hair and clothes, he felt his mouth go dry. He grinned maliciously and stepped forward, saying, "Since Crooked Mouth is gone, this delicate lady can come with me!" The bandits laughed maliciously, saying, "In that case, we won't disturb our leader's good time." They immediately walked away, dragging Crooked Mouth's corpse with them. Hou San'er, already impatient, took two steps forward, grabbed Lü Qiao by the waist, and pulled her behind the screen.
Seeing this, Chu Tong was overjoyed and ran away. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lü Qiao waving her arms and screaming, "Chu Tong! Yao Chu Tong! Come back here!" Then she shouted, "The one who ran away is a woman! A woman!" Hou San'er was burning with lust and didn't care whether Chu Tong was a man or a woman. He flipped over and pinned Lü Qiao down.
Chu Tong reached the door and suddenly heard a pitiful groan coming from inside, followed by Hou San'er's lewd laughter. She wanted to escape quickly, but her legs wouldn't move. She had always hated Lü Qiao, and had even just harbored murderous intent towards her, but at this moment, she felt a strange sadness in her heart. After thinking for a while, she finally gritted her teeth and went back into the tent, took a dagger from her boot, gripped it tightly in her hand, and slowly walked to the screen.
Chu Tong glanced over and saw Hou San'er panting heavily on top of Lü Qiao. She took a deep breath, grabbed Hou San'er's hair with her left hand, and then slashed his neck with her right hand, cutting his throat. Hot blood spurted out, causing Lü Qiao to scream.
Chu Tong held up the dagger and said coldly, "Lü Qiao, either you pack your things now and escape with me, or you stay here and wait for another man to pin you down!"
Lü Qiao took a few deep breaths, trembling as she pushed Hou San'er away from her. She stared intently at Chu Tong's face, hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and whispered, "Okay, let's go!"
Lü Qiao wiped her face clean, changed her clothes, packed a few things, and left the tent with Chu Tong. After a long day of commotion, it was now late at night. The bandits, having robbed the caravan and then engaged in infighting, were exhausted. Only a few guards remained on night patrol; the rest had gone to rest. Avoiding everyone's gaze, Lü Qiao led Chu Tong to the stables with practiced ease, then whispered, "We'll leave through the western entrance of the stronghold in a little while. That night watchman is a drunkard; he'll surely be dead drunk tonight."
Chu Tong nodded, and the two of them led their horses quietly westward. Sure enough, the bandits guarding the western gate were already fast asleep, clutching their wine jars. Chu Tong was overjoyed and quickly opened the gate with Lü Qiao. She then mounted her horse, ready to escape. Lü Qiao, being a delicate woman, wasn't a skilled rider. She slipped and fell off her horse with a cry of pain, accidentally knocking over the wine jar beside the bandits. This commotion immediately alerted the others, and a loud shout rang out: "Who goes there!" Immediately, someone grabbed a torch and rushed towards them.
Chu Tong, already on horseback, felt his heart clench at the sight. Just as Lü Qiao got to her feet, a cold arrow whistled through the air and struck her right shoulder. Lü Qiao was in excruciating pain but still struggled to walk towards Chu Tong. Chu Tong was terrified at the sight of the arrow and immediately wanted to spur his horse to gallop away, but then he thought, "Since I promised Lü Qiao we'd escape together, I can't be unfaithful." With that thought, he grabbed Lü Qiao's arm, forcefully pulling her behind him, and shouted, "Hold on to me!" before spurring his horse and galloping away.
In the dead of night, Chu Tong couldn't see anything clearly, only the Big Dipper in the sky. She urged her horse northward. At first, there was a commotion behind her, but gradually, the noise faded away, leaving only the whistling wind in her ears. Chu Tong galloped for a while when suddenly she felt the person behind her loosen their grip. Turning around, she saw that Lü Qiao had fallen headlong. Chu Tong hurriedly pulled on the reins, dismounted, and rushed over to help Lü Qiao up. She held her in her arms and shook her gently, asking, "Lü Qiao, are you alright?"
By the dim moonlight, Chu Tong could only see that Lü Qiao looked listless and remained silent with her eyes closed. Suddenly, she felt something sticky on her hand. Upon closer inspection, she gasped in shock. The arrow had penetrated very deep into her flesh, and with the fall just now, the arrowhead had pierced right through!
Chu Tong knew that Lü Qiao probably didn't have much time left, so she quickly patted Lü Qiao's face and called out, "Lü Qiao! Lü Qiao!"
Green Qiao slowly opened her eyes, stared blankly at Chu Tong for a moment, and then burst into laughter. She laughed and cried at the same time, coughed several times, and said with all her might, "I often wondered who would be by my side when I kicked the bucket and closed my eyes. I never thought it would be the enemy I dreamed of skinning and eating! Hahahaha, God! God! You really know how to joke!"
Chu Tong remained silent. After laughing, Lü Qiao stared at Chu Tong's face for a while, then tremblingly reached out to touch her own cheek, saying, "I am so beautiful, so beautiful. The Second Madam said I was the most beautiful maid in the Xie household, and that I could be the Second Master's concubine. Yao Chu Tong, I only ask to be one of the Second Master's concubines; that's enough. I'm not in your way, so why are you so ruthless towards me! So ruthless!" She glared fiercely at Chu Tong, then sighed sadly, murmuring, "The Second Master is also a heartless and cruel man... Why am I so ill-fated, so ill-fated..."
Chu Tong frowned, shook his head and sighed, "Lü Qiao, it wasn't me who was trying to kill you, it was yourself... You relied on being prettier than others and wanted to use your looks to climb the social ladder. You're really stupid. Beauty is sometimes worthless! You gambled everything on this and lost everything! You're unlucky because you didn't value your life."
Green Qiao was stunned for a moment, then cried even harder. She suddenly gasped for breath a few times, then laughed loudly a few times. Then, staring at the sky, she murmured, "God, even if I am born ugly in my next life, I still want to be a young lady from an official family!" After saying that, she slowly tilted her head, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
Chu Tong stood there, holding Lü Qiao's body, somewhat stunned. She hated Lü Qiao, but her eyes were now a little wet. She thought to herself, "This world is truly strange. Lü Qiao and I were originally mortal enemies, but later we became allies, and now I'm the one who collects her body after she dies!" Thinking of this, she sighed, feeling a sense of shared sorrow, and muttered, "If the poison in my body is incurable, who will be by my side when I die?" She gave a bitter smile, laid Lü Qiao flat, took off Lü Qiao's cloak and covered her head and face, picked up the bundle Lü Qiao had packed when she left, and then mounted her horse without looking back, continuing to gallop north.
A painted boat comes down from the sky on the blue water.
Chu Tong rode her horse forward at breakneck speed until the first light of dawn appeared in the east, at which point she slowly brought the horse to a stop. Looking around, all she could see were vast, desolate grasslands, with no sign of human habitation, and only the towering mountains to the north in the distance. Exhausted and hungry, she dismounted and plopped down on the ground. While untying Green Jade's bundle, she muttered, "This bundle is so heavy, I wonder if there's any food inside." She opened it and found the bundle glittering with gold and silver valuables; there wasn't a trace of dry rations.
"Damn it!" Chu Tong cursed, dejectedly throwing her bundle aside. She lay down on the grassland, gazing at the sky and shouting, "Gold! Silver! I love you so much, but now I'd gladly exchange a gold ingot for a steamed bun!" She turned her head and saw the horse peacefully grazing. She got up and patted its neck, saying, "Brother Horse, Brother Horse, you're not bad, grass is enough to fill you up. I want braised pork! I want lion's head meatballs! I want stewed ribs!" She sat listlessly for a while, feeling unbearably hungry. Angrily, she grabbed a handful of tender grass and stuffed it into her mouth. Then, rousing herself, she climbed back onto the horse's back. Actually, she didn't know where to go; she just hoped that heading north would lead to human habitation, so she could fill her stomach first.
Chu Tong rode her horse, stopping and starting intermittently, making the day feel especially long. After sunset, the day became even more unbearable. Firstly, she was hungry and cold; secondly, wild beasts roamed the grasslands at night, their howls and cries adding to her fear. Chu Tong searched for some dry branches, took out a tinderbox, and tried to light it, but the branches wouldn't ignite. Seeing the tinderbox about to burn out, Chu Tong, in a fit of anger, pulled out the *Qunfang Sword Manual* as kindling, and ignited the fire. She spent the night in a state of half-sleep, half-awake. The next morning, Chu Tong felt chilled all over, and her limbs ached terribly. She inwardly cried out, "Oh no!" She had been poisoned, and although she relied on pills and acupuncture to control the toxicity daily, she hadn't taken any medicine for a whole day, and the poison was now spreading uncontrollably.
Chu Tong forced herself to stay awake. She continued forward, clinging to the horse's back. The excruciating pain twisted her internal organs violently several times over. Gradually, her vision blurred, and then she tumbled off the horse. Her body contorted in agony, she murmured, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die..." before slowly losing consciousness.
A beautiful woman with cicada-like hair, exuding a subtle fragrance, her slender hands covering her face with a white silk robe.
In a daze, Chu Tong smelled a faint fragrance, and her consciousness gradually returned, but she felt weak and powerless, unable to move at all. She heard the sound of horses' hooves, and her body swayed rhythmically, as if she were in a carriage. Then she felt a cool sensation on her face; someone was wiping her face with a handkerchief, and then she heard a clear voice: "Miss, look, she's not a man at all, but a beautiful girl!"
A melodious female voice said, "Yingshuang, her pulse is disordered, it seems she has been poisoned. Bring me the silver needles, I will suppress the poison first."
Several silver needles were inserted into Chu Tong's acupoints, causing a tingling sensation throughout her body, followed by an immediate feeling of relief. She struggled to open her eyes and saw a stunningly beautiful girl of sixteen or seventeen. Her face was like jade, her lips like cherries, her eyebrows like ink paintings, and her spirit like clear water. Her beauty was exquisite, like a bright pearl; her temperament was noble, like a fairy gliding on water. She wore a soft gauze dress with a silver-red base embroidered with daffodils, the gold thread embroidery of the daffodils shimmering brilliantly, complementing the light gold cloud-patterned undergarment. She wore a silver satin vest trimmed with gray squirrel fur, a matching phoenix skirt, and a plain white half-moon wavy waist belt, all of which made her appear both elegant and refined. Her glossy black hair was styled in a coiled bun, adorned only with a small, red-gold phoenix-head hairpin, giving her an ethereal and otherworldly air. Seeing Chu Tong awake, the girl smiled slightly, her dimples blooming like thousands of flowers blossoming simultaneously, a breathtaking sight. Chu Tong was stunned. She felt that she had never seen such a beautiful woman in all her life!
She stared blankly for a long time, then licked her lips and said, "Mother, am I already dead? Is what I'm seeing a fairy?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the maid named Ying Shuang burst out laughing: "You're still alive, not dead yet. You're really lucky! If it weren't for Miss's sudden decision to risk taking a shortcut home today, you would have been a wild beast's meal by now!" Then she said smugly, "You're right, my Miss is indeed a celestial being."
Chu Tong turned her head and saw a thirteen or fourteen-year-old maid blinking her eyes. She was very pretty, with an oval face, lightly curved eyebrows, and although her eyes were single eyelids, they curved into crescent moons when she smiled, which was very endearing.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "This master and servant have extraordinary bearing; they must not be from ordinary families. I certainly cannot be lacking in courtesy." She coughed lightly and said, "Thank you for saving my life, young lady!" Then she paused and said, "I'm hungry."
Chu Tong ate four steamed buns in one go, filling her stomach and feeling much more energetic. She chatted briefly with the mistress and servants in the carriage, learning that the woman's surname was Jiang, that she was from Beiliang, and that she had brought seven or eight servants to Da Zhou on business. On her return journey, due to time constraints, she had changed her route at the last minute, which is how she rescued Chu Tong. Chu Tong then inquired about the divine doctor at the foot of Liancang Mountain, but both women shook their heads, claiming they knew nothing.
Chu Tong's heart sank immediately. She had been separated from Wang Lang and was now lost in the vast world, not knowing where to look for him. The poison she was ingested was getting stronger every day. If this continued, she was afraid she wouldn't have much time left.
The master and servant then asked Chu Tong about her origins. Chu Tong perked up and made up a story, saying that she was a martial arts practitioner who had been chased by her enemies, lost all her martial arts skills, and was poisoned. That's why she went to the foot of Liancang Mountain to visit a famous doctor. Unexpectedly, she encountered bandits on the way and got separated from her companions. She had escaped here in a daze.
After listening, the woman nodded and said, "If you started from Yuxia Pass, it will take at least three days and three nights to get to that trade route, and the journey is fraught with danger. Why don't you come with us to a nearby town and make further plans? Perhaps someone in the town knows about that famous doctor."
Chu Tong said happily, "Then thank you very much, benefactor!" After saying that, she opened the bundle of green tassels and presented it to the woman, saying gratefully, "I have no way to repay your great kindness. Saying something like 'I'll be crushed to pieces' is too hypocritical. How about something more substantial? This bag of gold and silver is my token of gratitude!"
The woman smiled and declined, saying, "How can a person stand by and watch someone die? You are poisoned by a strange toxin; you should keep this money for your medical treatment."
Chu Tong initially thought the woman was just being polite and would accept the money after a few refusals. Unexpectedly, the woman was very insistent, and there was no greed in her eyes when she saw the money. Chu Tong immediately felt a bit of respect for her, but then she thought, "She's probably a young lady from a sheltered family, pampered all her life, and has never spent money before. She doesn't know the benefits of silver."
Chu Tong's carriage traveled for a day and a night. During their spare time, the woman taught Chu Tong how to use acupuncture to control the poison. The next morning, the group arrived at a town. Chu Tong felt the urge to leave. She looked at the bundle left by Lü Qiao and initially wanted to take a few gold ingots, but then she thought, "She saved my life. I promised to give her the whole bundle in return, and I can't break my promise now." But when she looked at the bundle again, she felt reluctant to part with it. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "Consider it as if I spent a whole bag of money to buy this life!" With that thought, she left a note saying "Take care" in Lü Qiao's bundle, then placed the bundle untouched on the carriage and slipped away under the pretext of urinating.
Chu Tong wandered around the streets twice, asking several townspeople, but no one knew anything about the miraculous doctor at the foot of Liancang Mountain. Feeling dejected, she entered a teahouse, went straight to the second floor, sat by the window, and ordered a pot of hot tea and a plate of pastries. Soon, the waiter brought the tea and pastries. Chu Tong picked up a pastry, took a bite, and found it bitter. Since entering the Xie family mansion, she had lived a life of luxury, and after seeking refuge with Wang Lang, she had been enjoying delicacies every day, unconsciously becoming picky about her taste. She frowned, swallowed the pastry, left the rest on the plate, and only poured herself hot tea. Staring at the cup, she sighed deeply, feeling a sudden sense of emptiness and helplessness, then remembering her deadly poison and limited time; she felt she was simply living one day at a time.
Just as she was worrying, Chu Tong suddenly felt a murderous gaze coming towards her. She immediately looked up and saw a young swordsman in his twenties sitting across from her at the opposite table. He had a rugged but very handsome appearance. He had thick eyebrows, a straight nose, and a pair of handsome eyes that were slightly upturned. His expression was carefree and unrestrained, but with a hint of frivolity. He wore a silver-gray robe and had a sword beside him.
He held a cup of tea, his eyes fixed on Chu Tong, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Chu Tong felt uncomfortable under his gaze, got up, and walked away. The man in gray followed her downstairs. Chu Tong's heart sank. She quickened her pace, running a few steps, then turned around to look, only to find the man in gray gone. She felt a slight sense of relief. Just then, a flash of cold light appeared in the alley, and a sword aura rushed towards Chu Tong's head. Chu Tong was so frightened her hair stood on end, and she cried out, "My God!" Instinctively, she used the "Lotus Steps" movement from the *Qunfang Sword Manual*, nimbly dodging to the side, and the sword missed. Before Chu Tong could recover, a second sword came immediately. In her panic, she hurriedly grabbed a wooden stick standing by the roadside to defend herself.
The man chasing Chu Tong was the gray-clad man from the teahouse. Chu Tong's rudimentary martial arts skills were no match for him. The man's eyes initially held intense killing intent, but after watching Chu Tong's demonstration, his gaze gradually shifted to astonishment. He even intentionally let her win, exchanging over a dozen moves with her. Chu Tong had read the *Qunfang Sword Manual* countless times over the past four years, memorizing its moves. Although she had never faced an opponent directly, she occasionally sparred with Xie Linghui for amusement. Chu Tong was exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted; although her moves were riddled with errors, she still grasped the essence of the art. She even managed to hold her own against the man.
Suddenly, the man used a move from the "Sword Manual of a Hundred Flowers" called "Twin Lotus Blossoms," attacking Chu Tong's vital point with his longsword. Then, he feinted and aimed straight for her left chest. Chu Tong saw this clearly and used the move "Double Plum Blossom" to deflect the man's sword. She then leaped into the air and used the momentum to slash at his right hand.
The man couldn't help but exclaim, "That's a brilliant move!" With that, he flicked his wrist, creating layers of sword light, using "Apricot Blossom Shadows" to deflect Chu Tong's attack. Then, he ducked and unleashed "Toad Palace Plucking Laurel" to sweep across Chu Tong's waist. Chu Tong was taken aback and hurriedly used "Blooming of the Last Rose" to slam her wooden stick into the ground to block the sword's force. She quickly retreated, only to hear a "crack" as the stick snapped in two. Chu Tong thought to herself, "Bah! A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle. I can't stay here any longer!" With that thought, she gripped the remaining half of the stick and feinted "Peach Blossom" to knock the man's face, then turned and ran into the street.
As soon as she reached the street, she felt someone grab her by the back of her collar and pull her backward with great force. Chu Tong was terrified and thought, "I'm doomed!" She flailed her limbs and screamed, "Catch the scoundrel! Catch the lecher!"
This shout was truly earth-shattering, drawing everyone's attention. Chu Tong yelled and cursed, "You shameless, despicable idiot! You dared to harass me in the street, trying to assault me! You lowlife, you son of a bitch! May your child be born without an anus! Your mother was a brothel prostitute who had an affair with Ximen Qing, giving birth to a shameless beast like you..." From a young age, Chu Tong had witnessed shrewish women from the streets, armed with kitchen knives, catching adulterers in brothels, blocking the entrance and shouting insults. The brothel madam, naturally, was no pushover either, standing with her hands on her hips at the door, speaking eloquently and with an air of unwavering authority. Chu Tong had always been amazed by their performances and had unconsciously learned a few tricks. These skills, which had remained unused in the Xie household for years, finally came in handy now.
The surrounding crowd was stunned by the long, powerful curse and quickly gathered around. They saw a strikingly handsome man carrying a ferocious, handsome young girl. The man's face alternated between pale and green as he struck Chu Tong's pressure points, then hoisted her onto his shoulder and turned to leave. He used his light-footed skill to disappear from sight in just a few moments.
Chu Tong hung upside down on the gray-clad man's shoulder, rising and falling with him. She felt her stomach churning, filled with resentment, but unable to speak, she cursed the man and his ancestors in her heart. The man carried her straight to a quiet grove, threw her off his shoulder, and released her pressure points. Chu Tong's face turned deathly pale. She collapsed to the ground and vomited violently, then stared warily at the gray-clad man, shrinking back slightly.
The man crossed his arms and said sternly, "Don't try to play tricks on me! Tell me! Where did you learn the Beauty Sword Technique?"
Chu Tong rolled her eyes and said, "Of course, it was taught to me by a reclusive master. He's very powerful! If you hurt a single hair on my head, he will definitely come after you!"
The man in gray raised an eyebrow and said, "You're just a maid in the Xie family. How could you possibly know any reclusive masters?"
Chu Tong was startled. The gray-clad man sneered, "A few months ago, Brother Hong came to me, saying that Xie Linghui had issued a heavy reward: one hundred taels of gold for bringing back the head of the girl in the painting." With that, he pulled out a portrait from his robes and threw it on the ground. Chu Tong stared at it intently and saw a girl with her hair in two buns. Her expression and appearance were so lifelike that she couldn't deny it at all.
The man in gray continued, "It's like finding a needle in a haystack. I've been searching for you in the martial world for months without any news, but I never expected to find you in this remote town."
A cold sweat broke out on Chu Tong's back. Her limbs went weak, but her mind raced in an instant. She laughed a few times and said, "What Xie Linghui gave you is nothing, just a hundred taels of gold. If you can let me go, I will..." Before she could finish the sentence, "I will tell you the whereabouts of the jade box," the gray-clad man shook his head, revealing an extremely frivolous smile. "Now I don't want your life anymore." He then sheathed his longsword, lowered his handsome face, stared at Chu Tong for a long time, and then smiled slightly. "If you tell me how you learned the Qunfang Sword Technique, I will not only spare your life, but also take you to find an antidote. I know you've been poisoned by the Northern Liang royal family's Thousand-Mile Pursuit Incense, and you're on the verge of death. Tsk tsk, besides, I can't bear to send such a pretty little girl like you to meet the King of Hell."
Chu Tong stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the gray-robed man, her eyes filled with suspicion. After a long pause, she nodded and briefly recounted to the gray-robed man how she had met Yun Yinghuai at the Xie residence, how she had obtained the sword manual, how she had studied it on her own over the past few years, and how she had used the manual as kindling in the grasslands. The gray-robed man listened, stunned for a long time, and remained silent.
Chu Tong urged, "Hey, now that I've told you the origin of the sword manual, shouldn't you give me the antidote?"