Укротитель зверей

Глава 44

This man has six fingers!

Mo Li narrowed his eyes slightly, "The Saint has six fingers, can heal flesh and bone, and bring the dead back to life."

He Nan, easily flattered, actually laughed out loud, but unfortunately, his neck was still wrapped around her neck, so his laughter was short and intermittent, sounding more like the sound of struggling and panting. He insisted, "This little girl is dying, I can save her."

I glared at him, silently cursing him. Mo Li's eyes darkened immediately after hearing those words, a sure sign of an impending storm.

I was afraid that Mo Li would suddenly turn on him in a fit of rage, but to my surprise, with a soft whoosh, the whip had already left He Nan's neck. He Nan's neck was suddenly freed, and a large amount of air rushed in. He immediately clutched his neck and coughed, and the red marks between his fingers were gruesome. He was indeed almost strangled to death.

I looked at him sympathetically, thinking to myself, "Serves you right for talking nonsense."

A voice sounded in her ear; it was Mo Li, hoarse, "Save her, what are your conditions?"

Huh? Now it was my turn to be dumbfounded, speechless, and unable to utter a sound for a long time.

3

The cave led to a long passage, and He Nan led us inside. The passage was also covered with bamboo strips, and it felt damp as we walked along. He Nan said that I was about to die. I was inevitably shocked when I first heard this, but I calmed down after a while. Anyway, I have been told that I am going to die from time to time over the years, so I have gotten used to it. As long as I can be with him, I don't care too much about my life or death.

The tunnel was dark and gloomy. As soon as Mo Li took a step, he grabbed my hand. I don't know if he was afraid I would get lost or if he finally surrendered to my various mishaps. As we walked, the hems of our clothes touched. His palm was warm, and I gradually felt happy. In the end, a silly smile appeared on my lips.

He Nan was a chatterbox, but Mo Li's silence was incredibly oppressive. The dark shadow of the whip seemed to still hover above his head, so he didn't dare to utter a sound the whole way. He would only look back at us from time to time, his eyes filled with unspoken words, and it was clear how much he was suppressing his emotions.

There was a light at the end of the passage, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a narrow exit, like a crack in the ground. He Nan ducked and crawled out. I hurriedly followed, but Mo Li pushed me behind him, so I had no choice but to follow him inside.

When I stepped out of the tunnel, I was shocked by what I saw.

It turned out that the tunnel connected to an underground valley, with deep mountain walls on all sides and a sliver of bright sky above, which shone down into the valley, making the valley seem even more profound.

At the bottom of the valley, there is a stream and flat land, which can accommodate thousands of people at the same time. Strange plants grow on the ground, their colors are enchanting and beautiful under the dim light. Many unknown animals move among them, each with a strange shape, and their names are impossible to recall.

“Not bad, right?” He Nan grinned. “Before I turned forty, I wandered all over the country. Then I stumbled upon this place and fell in love with its tranquility and the countless rare medicinal animals. So I settled here. In the past ten years or so, I’ve only been found twice.”

I asked curiously, "Besides us, who else came in? Who was it?"

He Nan looked pained. "Don't even mention it. Sigh, that time was a near-death experience, a near-death experience indeed."

I rolled my eyes at him, thinking to myself, "It's all because your martial arts skills are too weak. You should spend more time practicing martial arts. Unparalleled martial arts skills are more useful than anything else."

There was a small clearing in the valley, with a tiny wooden hut built out of it. He Nan led us carefully through the flowers and grass to get there. I saw a bright red flower next to me, its petals a vibrant yellow, a beauty I had never seen in the Imperial Garden. I couldn't resist bending down to take a closer look, but He Nan exclaimed, "Don't touch it! That's my Beauty Intoxication. Touching it will make you sleep for at least ten days."

Before I could even look up, Mo Li had already dragged me a good distance away, then glared at me and said, "Stay put!"

I sighed, thinking of my nanny.

Mo Li, oh Mo Li, you are getting further and further away from the image of the peerless master in my heart...

The cabin was furnished with little furniture, just a bed, a table, and a chair. The floor was covered with thick mats and blankets, giving it an exotic feel. He Nan said they were gifts from people when he occasionally went for a stroll on the grasslands, and I immediately thought of Sangza's words.

"You've saved someone on the grasslands?"

He immediately showed an insulted expression, "Of course! Doctors have the heart of parents."

...Is it the stepmother's heart?

"So these are gifts they gave you to thank you?" I touched the soft wool blanket beneath me. It was brightly colored, beautifully patterned, and had a small red heart embroidered on the corner.

I pointed at it like I was discovering a new continent, saying, "Look, people love you so much."

He Nan blushed, grabbed the blanket, folded it haphazardly, and stuffed it into a corner. "Don't talk nonsense, your older brother loves you the most."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room went cold. We both turned around and saw Mo Li's eyes flashing with a cold light. "What are you doing?"

Oh no, the expert is angry. We both swallowed hard, turned around, put our hands on our knees, and sat down obediently.

"Mr. He, you said Ping An's life is nearing its end. Could you elaborate?" Mo Li said, surprisingly being polite by addressing him as Mr. He.

He Nan was quite wary of Mo Li, glancing at the black whip tucked at his waist before speaking, and answering much more quickly, unlike when he spoke to me, he was much more hesitant and evasive.

"She was implanted with a Soul-Locking Worm. This worm is an ancient wonder that was later acquired by the Holy Fire Cult and passed down through generations by priests who offered it with their blood and flesh. If she had not been a priest of the Holy Fire Cult, she would have surely died a violent death if she had obtained this worm."

Ever since I met Dan Gui, I've felt sensitive every time I hear the word "priest," and now it's even more so. I couldn't help but glare at He Nan again, wanting to tell him to shut up. Besides, my brother said it was about unwavering loyalty, what does that have to do with the Soul-Locking Worm? If I didn't know that I couldn't let them know the origin of this thing, I would have jumped up and argued with him.

Mo Li remained silent, his face ashen, clearly having anticipated what he was about to say. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, I suddenly felt a chill. My fingers, as if on their own, slowly moved closer to him, finally touching the sleeve of his robe that lay on the carpet. He moved his hand, but neither pushed me away nor looked down at me, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing my grim expression, He Nan finally revealed a satisfied look. He stood up triumphantly and looked down at me as he spoke: "But since you've met me, then everything's fine. I can save her."

"How can we save him?" Mo Li asked in a deep voice.

"This will draw the Soul-Locking Worm out of her body."

I was startled and jumped up, clutching my chest. "No, it's not just one, there's another one. If you take it, what will happen to the other person?"

He Nan's two eyebrows arched upwards. "So you not only knew there were two of them, but you also knew they were inextricably linked."

I had a bad feeling in my heart. When I looked at Mo Li again, his expression changed slightly, and his gaze was like lightning, shooting straight into He Nan's eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

He Nan crossed his arms smugly, "You didn't know, did you? The Soul-Locking Worms are black and white, and they are planted in the bodies of two people. The white worm is the master, and the black worm is the assistant. If the master of the white worm dies, the black worm will definitely break out of the host's heart, and the person will die a gruesome death."

Mo Li lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. The atmosphere in the wooden house was oppressive, with the imminent threat of a sudden storm, which made the noisy He Nan shiver and fall silent.

I didn't know what had happened, but seeing him so silent, I suddenly felt a slight pain in my chest. I moved my hands and really wanted to hug him.

As if he had a premonition, he turned his head and glanced at me before I could make any move, his gaze deep and lingering.

Then he spoke, saying, "So you've always known."

The light in his eyes was complex and hard to understand, but the more incomprehensible something was, the more oppressive it became. Before I could even think, I instinctively took a step back. I realized that he was probably angry because I had known about this all along but had never told him. I immediately stammered uselessly, "Well, actually, I was just guessing."

I will always remember what he said on the mountain.

He said, "Peace of mind, I hate being scammed the most."

"You guessed so accurately!" He Nan, that idiot, exclaimed in amazement. My blood rushed to my head, and I immediately forgot that he was the only person in the world who could save me. I kicked him.

A gust of wind separated us. Mo Li stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said to He Nan, "Go on."

He Nan, already terrified, jumped into a corner of the room and answered with lightning speed, "Ancient books record that black and white worms live together in dependence. If they enter a human body, the host's life and death are intertwined. If the white worm is drawn out alone, the black worm's fate depends on the white worm. In short, the two worms are the important thing, not the two people. Actually, there are other similar cases, such as the legendary twin snow tapirs that only live in extremely cold places. Although they are relatively large, they share the same habit of living together in dependence. And there are also those that can only be found in the desert..."

"Shut up!" Mo Li and I rang out at the same time. I touched my nose and looked at him, thinking that it was rare for us to be in sync like this.

Mo Li's temples bulged with veins, as did the back of his hand gripping the whip handle. He lowered his voice and said, "Get to the point."

He Nan glanced at the whip, swallowed hard, and nodded. "As long as the Soul-Locking White Worm doesn't die, the person with the Black Worm won't die either."

I calmed down a bit, but then I couldn't help gritting my teeth, "Why would you put two worms inside two different people? Who came up with this underhanded trick?"

He Nan glanced at me. "Naturally, it was the idea of the Holy Fire Cult priests to protect the main insect. Holy Fire Cult priests are mostly women, and the more spiritual a person is, the weaker they are. They definitely need a top expert to protect them. But a sharp blade can easily injure others as well as itself. The best way to control a top expert is to make them share a life-and-death bond with you. Don't you understand?"

I glanced at Mo Li; he was expressionless, clearly having no objection to what He Nan had said.

I recalled the rules governing my household servants, and a deep sorrow filled my heart. It turns out there are so many perverts in this world, not just in the palace, but also many hidden among the common people, making it impossible to guard against them all.

4

"Since this thing is a treasure and needs to be raised by people, there must be many benefits, right?" It was rare to find someone who knew so much about these little insects, so I decided to ask them all at once.

“Of course there are benefits.” He Nan crossed his arms and looked at me.

"Make me immune to all poisons?"

He chuckled, "The biggest benefit isn't for you."

"Enough!" Mo Li suddenly took a step forward, which brought him right in front of He Nan, startling him so much that he almost covered his head and squatted down.

"Your conditions," Mo Li said.

"Huh?" He Nan was momentarily stunned.

"You'll draw out the Soul-Locking Worm for her."

Upon hearing this, He Nan immediately became arrogant again, straightened up, and extended his six-fingered hand. "Since you know my reputation, you should also know my rules."

"You saved someone's life, so you must take something precious from them, right?"

I listened with curiosity from the side, "Precious items? What kind of things do you want?"

He Nan shook his head. "That depends on the person. It also depends on what you have."

I looked down at myself and realized I was practically penniless. In the past, I could have killed him with a pearl, but now I've long since left the capital and wandered the martial world. I've risked my life with Mo Li, and I barely managed to keep my own life. What use are worldly possessions?

"I have nothing to give you..."

"What do you need? I'll help you," Mo Li said.

He Nan didn't even look at me. He looked Mo Li up and down, clicking his tongue repeatedly. "Since you asked me to treat her, of course you should pay for it. Not bad, not bad. You are a treasure from head to toe. What do you want from me?"

When Mo Li said he would give it to me, I was deeply moved and looked at him with sparkling eyes. But after hearing He Nan's words, I felt disgusted. What does it mean to be a treasure from head to toe? A pig is a treasure from head to toe. I wanted to kick him again.

He Nan stroked his chin. "Your skills are truly excellent, and your appearance is also good. I could take your face or twenty years of your skills, either would be fine with me."

I punched him; I landed a punch on his chin.

I have excellent lightness skills, and the room isn't big. I darted over in one go, and He Nan didn't have time to dodge. I hit him squarely. He was talking when his jaw was suddenly gripped by force, and his tongue was bitten by the closing teeth. I heard him scream in pain, and tears and snot came out of his eyes.

I wanted to punch him again, but Mo Li grabbed my hand. He frowned at me, "Ping An!"

I grabbed him and said, "This guy is crazy. Let's go. I don't want him to treat me."

He tightened his grip, remaining as immovable as a mountain, and spoke in a secret voice, "No, I must bring the sacred insect back to the sect, but this journey is too dangerous. You cannot come with me. After he removes the sacred insect from your body, I will make arrangements for you."

I stared at him blankly, gradually coming to my senses from the chaos. Then my breathing became intermittent, my nose tingled, and my eyes stung. I stared at him blankly, unable to speak for a long time.

So it turns out he was really looking for He Nan for me; it turns out he had already planned out my future.

He said he's alright, so you don't need to worry too much.

It turns out that everything he said was true!

He Nan looked at us with teary eyes, "Do you want me to save you or not? Give me an answer."

I have never hated anyone so much. With my hand still gripping Mo Li, I turned my head and glared at He Nan, saying, "This guy's martial arts are so bad, why be polite to him? Don't give him anything. If he won't save you, just beat him to death and see if he'll save you then."

Just as I was getting angry, I heard Mo Li's voice. He raised his hand, pointed at He Nan, and said, "Come here."

He Nan moved his foot, then pulled it back, shook his head, and said, "I'll listen from here."

"Alright." Mo Li glanced at me, which made me lower my head in shame.

See? More than a decade of royal prestige couldn't withstand three years of wandering. In his eyes now, I must be violent and rude, someone who explodes at the slightest touch and wants to kill the only person in the world who can save me. My image is completely ruined...

“Peace, Mr. He is known as a master healer and keeps his word. Once he receives the reward, he will definitely do his best to save you,” Mo Li said slowly.

He Nan nodded triumphantly, "And it has an expiration date. I will be responsible for treating any illnesses this person may have for the rest of their life."