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"How do you know this is what he wants?! He was forced to cooperate with these people! Aren't you all safe and sound thanks to him?!" Shen Yuan retorted angrily.

"He has ulterior motives, do you expect me to thank him?!"

"At least you're not allowed to speak ill of him!"

"You...you're protecting him so much, and you still say you don't have feelings for him?!"

Even if I have feelings for him, it's none of your business!

The atmosphere became awkward immediately after Shen Yuan finished speaking.

Li Si covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Oh, you robber, you really are two-faced. Didn't you complain earlier that I sent Miss Shen away without letting you see her? Now, why are you bullying her?"

"Matchmaker, I don't need your interference!" Yin Xiao turned around, walked straight to the side and sat down, ignoring everyone.

Shen Yuan also turned her head away and stopped talking.

Just as Li Si was about to say something to ease the tension, a group of soldiers suddenly walked over and opened Luo Yuanqing's cell door.

The leader was a member of the Lian family, who said, "Miss Luo, please come out."

Luo Yuanqing looked at them in confusion and stood up.

"Miss Zuo instructed that you be taken to see her," the servant added.

"Miss Zuo?" Not only Luo Yuanqing, but everyone was puzzled.

The guard nodded and said, "Please come out. I won't be able to explain if I delay your orders."

Luo Yuanqing glanced at everyone and then walked out.

After the group left, Yin Xiao and Li Si looked at each other in bewilderment.

“You don’t need to worry, Miss Zuo is fine. She must have her reasons for looking for Miss Luo,” Shen Yuan said.

Li Si thought for a moment and said, "That makes sense. Miss Zuo is no ordinary person... Miss Shen, then I'll leave the rest to you."

Shen Yuan nodded. "The sect leader is already on his way and will arrive soon. You can all rest assured." She glanced at Yin Xiao and said, "I can't stay any longer, so I'll head out now."

"Hello……"

Shen Yuan hadn't taken more than a few steps when Yin Xiao called her back. She frowned, turned around, and said, "Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

Yin Xiao hesitated for a long time before saying, "Don't get too close to that kid surnamed Lian. He's, after all, Xiao Xiao's sweetheart..."

"Don't worry. Shen Yuan would never break up someone's marriage!" Shen Yuan replied, her voice tinged with anger.

“You too…” Yin Xiao wasn’t angry, and added, “If you fall in love with him, there’s nothing I can do about it…”

Shen Yuan was stunned. When she came to her senses, her cheeks were already burning red. She tried to calm her racing heart and muttered, "What does this have to do with me..."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and ran out of the dungeon.

Li Si looked at Yin Xiao and laughed. "Hey, bandit, are you jealous?"

Yin Xiao didn't answer. After a long while, he asked, "Hey, matchmaker, what exactly did you send this young lady to the 'music brothel' for?"

Li Si replied leisurely, "Hehe, it's a secret... However, this young lady is no longer the frail young lady she used to be."

Yin Xiao said, "That's too dangerous, she doesn't know any martial arts at all..."

"Don't underestimate women," Li Si said with a smile as she sat down on the ground. "Just wait and see."

Silver Owl could only remain silent, his heart filled with complex emotions, as he gazed out of the prison gate.

...

Undoubtedly

After Xiao Xiao used the bone-shaped scepter to instruct the soldiers to bring Luo Yuanqing out, she went to Wen Su's room.

Incense burned in the room, carrying the sweet scent of mimosa blossoms, presumably for calming the mind and aiding sleep. Wisps of white smoke filled the air, and the room was bathed in the cool moonlight. A few fireflies flew in through the open window, flashing their lights.

After a moment's thought, she still didn't light the lamp. She slowly walked to the bedside, knelt down, and took Wen Su's wrist in her hand.

Although the pulse was faint, it had stabilized. Just as Shi Mi had said, the meridians that had been severed by the internal force had all been reconnected; all that remained was detoxification and recovery.

She held his hand tightly, gazing at his peaceful sleeping face. A joy welled up inside her, and she smiled.

“Uncle-Master, now I understand why Yin Xiao called me Little Broom…” she said softly. “So, anyone who gets involved with me really does suffer misfortune.” She sighed helplessly and said, “I’ve finally realized… if I call someone ‘Master,’ they’ll either suffer serious injuries or die a violent death…”

She couldn't continue, so she gripped his hand tightly and said, "You'll be alright. I only called you 'Master' once, it can't be that eerie, right?" Her nose stung, and tears welled up in her eyes. "You'll be alright..."

She sniffed, calming herself. She took out a small box from her bosom. Shi Mi had only given her one antidote for the poisonous incense. This single antidote showed that although she was outwardly a "partner," everyone was still wary of her.

She opened the medicine box, looked at the antidote inside, and then brought it close to her nose to smell it. It had a bitter, slightly pungent odor. She wasn't a doctor, so she couldn't identify the medicine just by its smell. She frowned, deep in thought.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door. A voice outside the door said respectfully, "Miss Zuo, the person has been brought."

Xiao Xiao stood up and said, "Come in."

The soldier opened the door, led Luo Yuanqing inside, saluted, and then left.

As soon as the soldier left, Xiao Xiao lowered her head and began to ponder.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Luo Yuanqing looked around the room herself. When she saw Wen Su lying on the bed, she frowned, walked a few steps to the bedside, and said, "So he's here. How is he?"

Xiao Xiao cleared her throat and said loudly, "Sect Master Shi Mi has already reconnected his meridians, and it's only a matter of time before he recovers from the 'Seven Killings' poison. However, my uncle is weak and needs someone to help him circulate his internal energy. Right now, only your 'Mysterious Moon Heart Sutra' can lend him a hand..."

Luo Yuanqing said, "...He broke the alliance and refused to cooperate with my South China Sea. Why should I save him? Besides, I am poisoned by the incense and my internal energy is completely dissipated..."

“The poison incense is not a problem,” Xiao Xiao said. “The South China Sea has no connection with the imperial court, nor with the Shenxiao Sect. As long as Miss Luo agrees to my conditions, I can help you get away immediately.”

Luo Yuanqing's expression was cold and stern. "To be able to make these soldiers obey your every command, you truly are a man of the imperial court!"

"It doesn't matter which side I'm on. I'm only asking you, will you agree or not?"

Luo Yuanqing looked at Wen Su and remained silent.

“The South China Sea has nothing to do with today’s events. Miss Luo, you don’t want to ruin the South China Sea’s foundation because of this, do you?” As she spoke, Xiao Xiao handed over the antidote and said, “Take this antidote. After my martial uncle recovers, I will give the antidote to the remaining South China Sea disciples.”

Luo Yuanqing pondered for a long time before reaching out to take the box. However, the moment she touched the small box, Xiao Xiao grabbed her wrist and pulled her a few steps closer.

Luo Yuanqing was startled and was about to question him when she heard Xiao Xiao whisper in her ear, "Miss Luo, walls have ears, speak softly. I can't give you this antidote for now, I want to ask you for another favor."

Luo Yuanqing was even more confused. "You..." She thought for a moment, then lowered her voice, "What exactly do you want to do?"

Xiao Xiao looked around warily and said, "Uh...stealing medicine."

Luo Yuanqing's eyes widened. "Stealing medicine?!"

Xiao Xiao covered her mouth and touched her lips with her index finger. "Shh..." she whispered, "Miss Luo, what you need to do is very simple. You just need to pretend to heal my martial uncle here. And I will go and steal the antidote."

“You’re going? You might as well give me the antidote and let me go!” Luo Yuanqing said.

Xiao Xiao shook her head slightly, "Miss Luo, do you know where Shennong's pharmacy is? And do you know which medicine is the antidote?"

Luo Yuanqing couldn't answer and could only remain silent.

“I’ve been to the Shennong family once, so I know the general terrain. This antidote is used to identify the medicine,” Xiao Xiao said. “Moreover, if I were the one who stole the medicine, even if I failed, my life wouldn’t be in danger.”

Luo Yuanqing thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand."

"Hmm." Xiao Xiao smiled and then said loudly, "Ahem, Miss Luo, you really know how to be pragmatic."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yuanqing also said loudly, "My South China Sea has nothing to do with this matter, and there is no need for us to get involved."

Xiao Xiao lowered her voice again and said, "I'll call a maid over now, use acupressure on her, and we'll switch clothes to avoid being seen..."

Before she could finish speaking, there was another knock on the door.

Both of them were startled and looked towards the door with great tension.

The person who appeared at the door was Shen Yuan. She was dressed in a light pink dress, which gave her a touch of charm. In her hand, she carried a tray with a bowl of medicinal soup, a box of ointment, and several bandages. After entering the room, she bowed slightly to the soldiers guarding the door, then closed the door and went inside.

"Miss Zuo, I went to your room to deliver medicine, but no one was there, so I came here." Shen Yuan put down the tray and looked around the room. "Why aren't the lights on?"

Xiao Xiao was speechless, wondering whether she should make a move against Shen Yuan. Luo Yuanqing, however, smiled and said, "Don't worry, she's one of us."

Xiao Xiao was utterly bewildered, "One of our own?!"

Shen Yuan was also puzzled and looked at the two people with some confusion.

A moment later, the room was lit, revealing the figures of three women. Then, the door opened, and a woman in a light pink dress carried a tray out. Her eyes were lowered, she gave a slight bow to the guards, and then left gracefully.

Shortly after she left, a figure appeared in the shadows of the room, flashed by, and disappeared into the night.

...

It was past midnight, and the Shennong family residence was perfectly peaceful. However, the lights in the flower hall remained burning.

Inside the hall, Shi Mi sat upright in the main seat, her expression calm and indifferent. Lian Zhao sat in the secondary seat, a hint of weariness between his brows. Meanwhile, Qian Zhu Xi Yuan, sitting below, frowned deeply, her face full of displeasure.

Gui Jiu stood in the hall, respectfully and solemnly saying, "After Miss Zuo brought Luo Yuanqing from the South China Sea out of the prison, she used the antidote as a bargaining chip, forcing her to treat Wen Su's injuries. Luo Yuanqing has already agreed. The two of them are currently guarding Wen Su's room."

"Are there any other people coming in and out?" Shi Mi asked.

Gui Jiu glanced at Lian Zhao and said, "Shen Yuan went in to deliver medicine and stayed for about a quarter of an hour."

After listening, Lian Zhao said, "Master Qian, having heard all this, your suspicions about Zuo Xiaoxiao should be dispelled, right?"

Xi Yuan remained frowning and silent.

Lian Zhao said, "Now they are either seriously injured or have lost all their internal energy. This is the Shennong family, and the Lian family soldiers are guarding this place. You can rest assured, Master." After he finished speaking, he stood up. "It's getting late. You should all get some rest."

After he finished speaking, he led his servants away.

Xi Yuan watched him leave, her brows furrowed the entire time.

Shi Mi stood up and said, "My lord, in my opinion, as long as Wen Su is here, Zuo Xiaoxiao will not act rashly. These are ultimately matters for the court, so let the Lian family handle them. I don't want to get involved any more."

Hearing these words, Xi Yuan could only smile and say, "Xi Yuan understands."

Shi Mi nodded, and then left with her subordinates.

Xi Yuan muttered to herself, "I don't believe she'll be that honest..." She turned around and ordered, "Keep a close eye on them, and do the same to Lian Zhao."

"Yes." The subordinates received the order and dispersed.

...

Lian Zhao originally intended to return to his room to rest, but halfway there he still felt a little worried, so he changed course and went to Wen Su's room.

The soldiers outside saw him and saluted.