Jiangnan Gaiden

Chapitre 38

"Xiaoxiao, I want to ask you, from childhood to adulthood, have you ever met a man you liked?"

Ye Xiao hummed in agreement, scratched his head, and remained silent for a long time. Luo Qingcheng's heart sank: "Could it be that they can't even count them all?"

Ye Xiao hummed again, slowly lowered his head, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I used to have some cousins, but they disappeared from my life when I was five years old. After that, it seems like very few men have appeared around me... Even when I started to roam the world alone, it seems like no man could stay by my side for more than three days before disappearing... You and Lao San are exceptions. What does it feel like to have someone in your heart?"

Luo Qingcheng felt a surge of joy, but it was quickly followed by a chill. It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, chilling her from head to toe. Her love life was still a blank slate, and he had a chance to take advantage of her vulnerability, but the opportunity was gone. The opportunity had been given to the third brother. Although deep down he hoped to hand Ye Xiao over to Xiao Xun as soon as possible to ensure her safety, the thought suddenly made him feel a pang of bitterness, a bitterness that welled up in his eyes.

"What happened when you were five? Why did all your cousins disappear?" He managed to calm his agitated mood and changed the subject.

Ye Xiao pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment: "This can be considered a family scandal. My maternal grandparents' family was very large and originally lived in our house. But when I was five years old, my uncle contracted the plague outside. My mother secretly went to take care of him without telling my father. Unexpectedly, my uncle recovered but my mother was infected... and eventually died. My father was a stubborn man, and in his grief, he took his anger out on my maternal grandparents' family and drove them all away."

Luo Qingcheng said "Oh," and added, "It's an extremely heartbreaking thing that a couple can't grow old together. Your father is truly pitiful."

Ye Xiao sighed, "You're the first person to sympathize with my father after hearing this story. Everyone who heard it before thought he was unreasonable. Actually, my father always cherished my mother more than a treasure. After my mother died, he felt no joy in life, and I also felt sorry for him. However, I felt very lonely after that. I had to leave home early."

A dozen days later, the carriage finally arrived at Tiangong Valley. Located deep in the mountains, Tiangong Valley was already snowbound. The entire valley was covered in silver, a breathtaking sight of jade and ice sculptures. Ye Xiao had no time to appreciate the rare snow scene; he was anxiously looking at the vast expanse of white all around, unsure of the way into the valley.

She bought a horse at a high price, packed enough supplies, helped Luo Qingcheng onto the horse, and wandered around in the mountains for two whole days, almost freezing into a snowman, before finally getting on the right track.

Fortunately, the weather has been relatively fine these past two days, and as the sun sets, the thatched hut where the Seven Masters of the Heavenly Craftsman live can finally be seen in the distance.

"Although the Master of Hell is ruthless and has a strange temper, I've defeated him, so he'll definitely think highly of me and should be able to help you..."

Luo Qingcheng glanced absentmindedly at the thatched hut in the distance, then suddenly said, "There's no smoke coming from it."

Ye Xiao paused, then slowed his pace. Yes, it was dinnertime; why was there no smoke rising from the thatched hut?

She hurried along anxiously for a while, finally leading the horse to the front of the house. The wooden gate was tightly closed, and there was no sound; it seemed as if no one lived there.

Ye Xiao said, "You wait here," and quickly left Luo Qingcheng behind, rushing into the courtyard. No one was there. She broke into several thatched huts, but no one answered. She shouted at the top of her lungs for a long time before someone finally responded, "Who is it?"

Ye Xiao was overjoyed and looked at the person who had come from, recognizing him as the old man who used to guard the gate in Tiangong Valley.

"I'm looking for the Miraculous Healer Yama, but I don't know who he is..."

"They're not here. None of the Seven Masters of Heavenly Crafts are here. Someone has offered them a large sum of money to travel to the warm south..."

Ye Xiao froze, almost collapsing in despair. Even if they could find them in the south, three months had passed, and Luo Qingcheng was likely already dead... Suddenly, a thud was heard. Turning around, he saw Luo Qingcheng had lost his last bit of strength and had fallen headlong from his horse.

When Luo Qingcheng woke up, his eyelids were so swollen that he could barely see anything. He struggled to pry his eyelids open and could barely see Ye Xiao's face, who was silently shedding tears by the bedside.

“Come on, little girl, give this pighead a smile…” he yelled, but the sound he made was hoarse and mocking, extremely grating.

Ye Xiao turned back sadly, looked at his face which was so swollen that his features were no longer recognizable, and finally chuckled.

"Xiaoxiao, I'm going to die. There are some things I want to tell you. It's about my background, I'm actually..."

Ye Xiao suddenly opened her arms and hugged him tightly: "No! I don't want to hear such words! I must save you, I will never let you die..."

"Fine..." Luo Qingcheng struggled for a while in the tight embrace of her arms, finally giving up in resignation, "I'll give you one chance to save... me, can you let me go? I'm being strangled to death..."

Ye Xiao gave an "oh," then awkwardly let go of his hand, chuckling dryly twice.

Luo Qingcheng felt a sweet warmth in his heart. He reached out a hand that looked like a bear's paw and gently touched Ye Xiao's face. "Xiao Xiao, I'm really happy that you can watch me die."

Ye Xiao almost bit her tongue. This was clearly the most tragic thing in the world!

Luo Qingcheng felt cold at night. Even though Ye Xiao had lit several braziers and was sizzling with heat, Luo Qingcheng still shivered constantly. Ye Xiao finally couldn't bear to see him like that, so she changed the bed and held him tightly as they slept, trying to warm him up.

Luo Qingcheng felt incredibly happy. His only regret was that his body, from head to toe, had become completely numb. He felt nothing for the girl's smooth, supple skin or her pleasant fragrance, and he had no way to preserve these precious memories in his heart forever…

Early in the morning, Luo Qingcheng was awakened by a tingling, bone-deep numbness. Ye Xiao was gone from the room. She was gone! She had finally left him! A thought struck Luo Qingcheng, and he felt utterly devastated and helpless. He had originally given his life for Ye Xiao's, and after learning the truth, he had secretly rejoiced, feeling a sense of peace and tranquility, without a moment's hesitation or regret. However, his greatest wish was to spend the rest of his life by Ye Xiao's side. Now, with the pain in his heart and the numbness in his body, he almost collapsed.

Suddenly, I heard some noises outside. I calmed myself down and followed the sound, scrambling out the door.

Luckily, Ye Xiao was there; her little hands were red from the cold, and she was tapping something. Luo Qingcheng was delighted and slowly moved to Ye Xiao's side, leaning against her, watching her busy herself, wanting only to watch her a little longer.

After a long pause, Luo Qingcheng pondered over this and said, "I don't want to sleep in a coffin when I die."

The clanging suddenly stopped, and Ye Xiaoyan's face twitched: "This isn't a coffin! This is a car."

Luo Qingcheng pondered the object again: "I don't want to ride in a small car with square wheels..."

Ye Xiao finally lost his temper and shouted, "It's not a square wheel! I'm making a sled! I'm taking you out of the valley! Riding a horse-drawn sled! Can you even ride a horse looking like this?"

Luo Qingcheng showed no displeasure whatsoever, and moved even closer to her: "I can't tell at all. Xiaoxiao, are all ten of your fingers joined together? You're so clumsy!"

The poison has finally been cured.

Despite the utter ugliness of Ye Xiao's creation and Luo Qingcheng's repeated refusals, Ye Xiao still unceremoniously tossed him onto the so-called sled. A cotton quilt wrapped around the man, who was almost unrecognizable. Luo Qingcheng wriggled slightly in grievance, but lacked the strength to put up any real resistance, and had no choice but to give up. Ye Xiao tied the sled to the horse and slowly drove the horse out of the valley.

"If you're poisoned by this 'wind-induced poison,' you'll die within three months. Going south is definitely too late. However, perhaps there are others in the world who can cure this poison. I must try. I'm thinking of quickly going to some large cities and towns, posting notices widely, offering a large reward as bait, and announcing to all the renowned doctors and physicians in the world... to see if there's anyone who can cure your illness..." Ye Xiao said through gritted teeth.

Luo Qingcheng couldn't bear to spoil her mood, so he gave a faint reply and a wry smile. "Actually, I'd rather just quietly stay by your side, just the two of us..." he hinted tactfully. Unfortunately, Ye Xiao was adamant and didn't understand his thoughts. So he didn't insist anymore. Anyway, he could be with Ye Xiao, even if it was a little more troublesome, he didn't care.

In each town and city they arrived at, Ye Xiao indeed posted notices everywhere, offering a large sum of money, and took Luo Qingcheng to stop in the bustling city center to wait for good news. However, as the days passed, there was still no news.

Luo Qingcheng remained calm as usual, but Ye Xiao was so distressed that she lost her appetite and couldn't sleep at night. Her once plump chin quickly lost its round shape. Fortunately, Luo Qingcheng's eyelids were so swollen that he could barely see anything and couldn't see her miserable state, otherwise he would have been heartbroken.

With the March deadline fast approaching and it seemingly only a final farewell remaining, Ye Xiao finally decided to unleash her ultimate move once more. She brought Luo Qingcheng back to the bustling city, and amidst the countless onlookers, she murmured to herself, "All gods and bodhisattvas, great immortals, the Supreme Lord Laozi, your disciple Ye Xiao humbly beseeches you all to bless my brother Luo Qingcheng, that he may turn misfortune into good fortune, and that he may escape calamity and find peace. If anyone can save his life… I am willing to pay any price."

Luo Qingcheng said in a hoarse voice, "Xiaoxiao...did you not study hard when you were young? Why do I feel like you're pronouncing the names of the immortals so confusedly? The immortals will be angry...Besides, what kind of disciple are you? A Buddhist disciple or a Taoist disciple? I can't tell at all."

Ye Xiaoqiang argued, "The form of address doesn't matter, as long as it works, it's always worked..."

Luo Qingcheng couldn't help but smile: "Xiaoxiao...you always surprise me..."

However, after a long time, nothing changed except for the ever-growing crowd of onlookers. Ye Xiao finally collapsed to the ground in despair, tears streaming down her face. Why did it fail her on such a crucial occasion?

Not wanting to disturb Luo Qingcheng, who was lying dying beside her, she only dared to shed silent tears. She didn't know how long she cried, but she seemed to hear a sigh, and two round-toed, dark blue cloth shoes appeared in front of her.

Ye Xiao looked up with teary eyes and saw two people.

One was the ever-stern-faced herbalist, his cold gaze scraping across Ye Xiao's face like a knife, as if he were looking at meat on a chopping board. The other was the young boy, who rarely wore a cheerful expression.

"Are you really willing to pay any price for him?" the child asked with a grin, unusually ignoring the herbalist's gestures.

Ye Xiao was taken aback, then immediately nodded vigorously. Luo Qingcheng's heart skipped a beat when he heard the familiar voice, and an ominous premonition crept into his heart. He couldn't help but reach out and pry open his eyelids, and sure enough, he saw two people he didn't want to see.

The herbalist made a gesture, and the boy, still grinning, said, "I can save him, but it costs money, a lot of money. Are you willing?"

Ye Xiao once again transformed into a ravenous chick. The herbalist seemed to grunt and quickly made a gesture. The boy's cheerful voice rang out: "Eight thousand taels of silver. Not a penny less."

Ye Xiao was utterly shocked. After a moment of stunned silence, he looked up at the heavens and muttered, "I knew it was sent by a deity! They even know exactly how much ransom I owe..." He glanced at Luo Qingcheng, who lay limply on the door panel, like a moldy piece of pork. Ye Xiao finally sighed and, somewhat dejected, made a gesture to the herbalist.

The herbalist remained silent for a long time. Finally, the young boy, suppressing a laugh, asked, "What do you mean by the young lady's gestures? Are you imitating my master's sign language?"

Ye Xiao said listlessly, "...Deal."

The herbalist turned and left expressionlessly, with the young boy following closely behind. After a few steps, the boy gave Ye Xiao a sweet smile and said, "Come with me."

Ye Xiao quickly tried to drag Luo Qingcheng away, but heard him say, "No... I'd rather die than let this wicked person treat me..." She was startled by his words and, fearing that the pharmacist would hear and offend him, she immediately covered his mouth with her hand.

Luo Qingcheng whimpered a few times in grief and indignation, finally giving up resisting. The doctor seemed not to have heard him, and suddenly turned around impatiently, rushing over in three strides, picking up Luo Qingcheng like a sack, and running quickly to a courtyard.

The courtyard's size and layout were very similar to Langjing Manor's. Most of the trees in the garden had lost their leaves and were bare, with only a few sprigs of winter plum blossoms vying for attention in the corner. Above the gate, the character "恳" (kěn) was still written in a flamboyant style, its brows furrowed and eyes fixed on Ye Xiao with a mocking gaze.

Ye Xiao lowered his head and took out the silver notes that he had hidden very carefully. The doctor didn't even look at them, but took out a pill from his sleeve and rudely stuffed it into Luo Qingcheng's mouth.

Luo Qingcheng stubbornly refused to open his mouth, but the pharmacist showed no mercy. With a slight movement of his fingers, he dislocated Luo Qingcheng's jawbone and, amidst Luo Qingcheng's painful groans, inserted the pill into his mouth. He then pressed acupoints to prevent Luo Qingcheng from throwing up the pill. Having done all this, he angrily flicked his sleeve and disappeared into a room.

"You'll also have several large bowls of medicine with each meal, which you must drink completely. I'll instruct the servants to prepare it and bring it over." The young boy was quite responsible; he didn't leave immediately but instead gave Ye Xiao a series of careful instructions with a smile.

Several people hurriedly helped Ye Xiao lift Luo Qingcheng onto the bed. He didn't open his eyes or make a sound the whole time, only opening his mouth in pain.

Ye Xiao reached into his mouth and put his dislocated jaw back in place. With a soft click, the jaw was back in place, and his teeth reflexively snapped shut. Ye Xiao couldn't pull her hand away in time and was bitten hard. Tears welled in her eyes as she pulled her hand out, a surge of resentment rising within her. Why were his teeth still so strong when his body was swollen and festering all over?

Several large bowls of dark, oily medicinal liquid were brought over. Ye Xiao scooped some of it for Luo Qingcheng to drink, somewhat gleefully. However, his lips were swollen like two sausages, and his skin and mucous membranes had become thin and brittle; the spoon broke at the slightest touch, and some dark purple blood oozed out. Ye Xiao tried several times in distress, and finally threw the spoon away.

After thinking for a long time, she said to Luo Qingcheng, "Qingcheng... I can't feed the medicine down my throat."

Luo Qingcheng sighed and mumbled, "It's okay, just keep feeding me. Actually, I'm not in pain... I'm completely numb, I can't feel anything..."

Ye Xiao hesitated and said, "I've thought of a way... I can use my mouth to feed you... My mouth is soft... It won't hurt your skin."

Like a thunderclap out of nowhere, Luo Qingcheng was so excited he could barely speak: "What...mouth...I...like this..."

Ye Xiao breathed a slight sigh of relief: "You're not willing? Then I'll think of another way."

"No... uh, I don't think there's a better way... like this, I'll sacrifice myself..."

Ye Xiao put down the bowl, stood up, found two sheets of Xuan paper, tore them up, and blindfolded them.

"What are you doing?" Luo Qingcheng asked, propping his eyelids up with his hand and looking at her in utter surprise.

"I... I'll still cover my eyes. I'm afraid if I see your face, I'll throw up all the medicine..."

"..." Luo Qingcheng was greatly shocked.

Ye Xiao, her eyes covered, groped her way to the bedside, picked up the bowl, and comforted herself, saying, "It's okay... just think of it as kissing a pig... it's okay..."

"..." Luo Qingcheng was in unbearable pain.

Ye Xiao mustered his courage and took a big gulp of medicine. Just as he was about to approach Luo Qingcheng, he suddenly choked and sprayed the entire mouthful of medicine onto Luo Qingcheng's face.

"Do I still disgust you?" Luo Qingcheng's voice was low, his heart chilled to the point of madness. He realized he was so repulsive...

Ye Xiao shook his head sadly: "No, this medicine tastes awful..."

"..." Luo Qingcheng finally managed to salvage some face and self-respect. "How about we feed you with a spoon... I don't care..."

Ye Xiao shook her head, tears welling in her eyes, pinched her nose painfully, quickly swallowed some medicine, and fed it to Luo Qingcheng. Luo Qingcheng's heart softened; she felt a warm glow within her, a sweet and delightful sensation…

"Drink this," Xiao Xun said very kindly.

Mo Yinxue looked at him warily: "Aphrodisiacs? Don't try such low-down tricks on me! I won't fall for that!"

Xiao Xun grunted, gently stirred the medicine in his hand with a spoon, and said leisurely, "If you don't drink it, I can press your acupoints again... and then feed it to you with my mouth..."

"I won't open my mouth..." Mo Yingxue said firmly. Before she finished speaking, she felt a warm hand pinch her nose. She opened her mouth with a "ah" sound and felt a stream of sweet medicine being poured straight in.

Mo Yinxue almost burst into tears, but managed to hold them back. After the entire bowl of medicine was poured down her throat, she finally had a chance to ask, "What kind of medicine is it?"

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Xiao Xun didn't answer immediately, but instead reached out and released Mo Yinxue's pressure points. Mo Yinxue moved her numb and sore limbs and said coldly, "What exactly do you want?"

Xiao Xun stood up: "I can't keep your pressure points sealed indefinitely, nor can I keep watching you, but before the boss arrives, I need to make sure you don't escape. So, I had no choice but to resort to this tactic. Please forgive me, young lady..."

Mo Yinxue felt a chill in her heart: "You gave me poison?"

Xiao Xun immediately shook his head: "I have no right to take someone's life at will. I'm afraid that if I accidentally poison you, I'll commit an irreparable mistake..."

Mo Yinxue's tone softened slightly: "What kind of medicine is it? It can't be a tonic, can it?"