They were close friends because, at their core, they were the same kind of people.
It was the first time Luan Wencheng had seen this so clearly. If at first he had only thought that Feng Luan and Ji Jinmo had a subordinate relationship disguised by the words "close friends," he no longer held that belief.
The atmosphere was heavy. Just as Luan Wencheng and the others expected her to erupt in anger, she waved her hand dismissively, "Rise!"
The oppressive feeling vanished instantly, and all returned to calm.
Xuan Yi expressed his gratitude and sheathed his sword, fastening it back to his waist. "Then Xuan Xiao..." He recounted the details of his pursuit and fight with Xuan Xiao, leaving nothing out. Luan Wencheng and the others listened intently. They had fought Xuan Xiao before; he had forced them back with a single move. Although hidden weapons had played a part, they knew firsthand Xuan Xiao's martial arts prowess. Yet, this guard beside her had pursued and forced both Xuan Xiao and his master to flee, disarmed.
They had known for a long time that Feng Luan's guard was skilled in martial arts. Now, with direct comparison, they had a clearer understanding. This guard had been by her side since Feng Luan rose to fame. Luan Wencheng, who had some knowledge of secrets, recalled the dark guard bearing the surname Xuan and couldn't help but think of him.
So, Feng Luan's relationship with the Regent was not after her fame from disaster relief, but before it?
Then, when Feng Luan appeared in the capital, was it because of the Prince?
All these thoughts converged, making Luan Wencheng's heart unsettled. This meant that the rumor of the Prince being poisoned during the year-end sacrifice was likely a solid fact.
Later, the side consorts and wives in the Prince's manor had successive misfortunes, making it hard not to speculate.
Seeing the myriad of thoughts hidden in Luan Wencheng's lowered eyebrows, Nan Shiying's lips curved into a cold smile. People from the Dali Temple were too thoughtful; any word or event could stir their hearts. However, it wasn't without its advantages. After all, the cases transferred to the Dali Temple were the difficult and complicated ones that the Jingzhao Office couldn't handle. If they didn't use their brains, how could they sort out the key evidence from the intricate clues?
After finishing her meal, she did not return to Ban Tian Yuan. Instead, she booked an upper room, the same one she had stayed in before. The innkeeper had kept the room vacant and had not rented it to anyone else.
Yaowang Valley opened its doors once every six months, for seven days each time.
The rooms at Ban Tian Yuan were not only for the residents of the 'gate' but also for the disciples who came down the mountain each time. The wooden houses were not large but were enough to house all of them.
On the first day of consultations, they saw only critically ill patients. After the disciples of the "Qing" generation had finished, their cases were reviewed by the Fourth Elder. Although each opening of the valley was for the disciples' tempering, they would not disregard the lives of the patients. Ji Cheng watched the medicinal pot; the wooden planks of the Ban Tian Yuan house had been permeated with the scent of herbs.
Du Lao lay down for half a day, only to be pulled up by the Fourth Elder to help with the examination. Now that he had finally gotten some rest, he looked at the patients camping on the construction site. The endless sea of people made his head throb.
That little rascal Nan Shiying was good at hiding away. As soon as she descended the mountain, she disappeared. If he had known he would be roped into hard labor by the Fourth Elder, he should have run away too.
Thinking this, Du Lao stood up. The Fourth Elder's gloomy voice drifted from afar, "Qin Qing, where are you going?"
Du Lao paused, then turned to look at the elderly woman standing in the corner, a medical book rolled up in her hand. This old woman, at her age, was still so annoying!
"I..."
"To get medicine, right?"
Du Lao: "..."
The Fourth Elder’s hair was snow-white, and her kindly appearance belied the fact that in her youth, she was a fierce person who would beat people with a stick at the slightest disagreement. However, Du Lao's gaze lingered on the medical book being crushed in her hand. Adhering to the virtue of respecting the old and loving the young, he nodded 'willingly' under the old woman's gaze, "Yes, to get medicine."
"Mm!"
The old woman nodded with satisfaction.
Night fell, and the moonlight was like frost.
Nan Shiying brewed a pot of tea. Two empty cups were placed beside the teapot. She lifted the teapot and poured tea into one of the cups.
A soft sound came from the window, followed by a gust of cold wind that swept into the room. A figure flipped through the window, and a faint scent of blood could still be detected.
Nan Shiying raised her eyes and beckoned to the person standing by the window.
Xuan Xiao had arrived earlier than she had expected.
Xuan Xiao walked over and sat down in front of Nan Shiying. He looked at the cups on the table, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup of tea. He tilted his head and drank the tea in one gulp, the warm liquid washing away the chill from his body.
"I am Xuan Xiao, greetings to the Divine Physician."
Xuan Xiao put down his teacup and bowed, but his eyes still held a hint of ferocity.
"Deputy楼主 Xuan is a smart man."
From the moment Xuan Xiao had set foot in the Yaowang Valley area, Nan Shiying knew he was not here for revenge.
"Just smarter than that useless Gongzi Xun," Xuan Xiao chuckled. Smart? Compared to Gongzi Xun, he was indeed smart. But compared to the person in front of him... Xuan Xiao lowered his eyes, refraining from further thought.
In front of Nan Shiying, Xuan Xiao did not hide his disgust for Gongzi Xun. If not for his good father, how could that useless Gongzi Xun have become the楼主 of Wan Ku Lou?
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow noncommittally, "Then why is Deputy楼主 Xuan so loyal to Wan Ku Lou?"
Xuan Xiao untied his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his arm. From his wrist to his elbow, it was covered in dense, worm-like protrusions of a bluish-purple hue.
Nan Shiying's gaze narrowed slightly, and she reached out to touch Xuan Xiao's wrist.
Tsk, Gu!
This was how Wan Ku Lou controlled its members?
"Who did it?"
Nan Shiying asked.
Although her expression did not change, Xuan Xiao could still see a trace of ferocity on her face.
"The former楼主, Gongzi Xun's father."
Nan Shiying released his wrist and her gaze fell upon the protruding marks on his arm. Once the Gu worm entered the body, it would not reveal itself at all unless it was acting up. Xuan Xiao's current condition suggested that he had tried to expel or suppress the Gu worm with external forces more than once, hence this situation.
His pulse was chaotic, and his internal organs were damaged. No wonder his eyes always had a reddish tint.
"Can you treat it?"
Xuan Xiao looked at Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying did not answer his question but instead asked him, "What are you willing to give for it?"
"Everything!"
"Including my life!"
Being controlled was more unbearable than killing him. Every full moon, he wished he were dead. Five years ago, he finally learned from that idiot Gongzi Xun that he had been poisoned by Gu. Their Wan Ku Lou was actually raised by remnants of Miao Jiang, and the entire Wan Ku Lou was nothing more than a giant Gu pit. Every one of their disciples was nourishment for the Gu worms.