[Fantasy] The Beauty's Tribulation (Complete) - 13-15

The Peril of Mount Ling (Part 1)

It is said that there are three extraordinary mountains in the world. The first extraordinary mountain is called Xuanfeng, located in the far north of the Western Regions. It is abundant with various rare and exotic animals, but due to its steep cliffs, the nature of the animals on its summit is difficult to discern. Legend has it that over the centuries, no more than ten masters have safely ascended this peak. Pei Xiaolei's grandmaster, Xiao Niangzi Minxin, and Zeng Hengzi, the master of the former martial arts alliance leader Ling Han, were among them. He brought back a pair of small birds from the mountain, and after several generations of breeding and raising them, they became the current guide birds – the "Pathfinder Birds." The second mountain is called Mingchi, perpetually shrouded in mist. No one knows its exact location, what lies on its summit, or has ever been to it; it is a mysterious and extraordinary mountain. The third mountain is called Mount Ling, located on the high ground of the Run Kingdom. Legend says it is covered with countless exotic flowers and herbs, the most famous of which is the red lotus, said to be able to cure all poisons in the world.

Pei Xiaolei and Daxiong stood at the foot of Lingshan Mountain, gazing worriedly at the only path that could barely be called a trail. The path wound its way up the mountainside at a 45-degree angle, its surface pieced together from gravel, about two feet wide, covered in slippery moss and weeds. Below the path lay a smooth, mirror-like granite cliff. Lingshan Mountain was so high that its peaks were hidden in the clouds, with only the smooth rock face at its base, about two hundred meters high, clearly visible. Therefore, no matter how skilled one was in light-footed martial arts, without footholds, it was impossible to leap over two hundred meters in one bound.

Under such circumstances, if one insisted on climbing the mountain, there was simply no other choice but to obediently take the narrow path.

The narrow path, only two feet wide and about sixty centimeters long, was barely wide enough for one person to walk on. Da Xiong, driven by his boundless curiosity, charged ahead, embodying the saying, "One learns the nature of fish by living near water, and the sounds of birds by living near mountains." Having grown up alone in the desolate mountains and forests, the bear paid no heed to the various small creatures that would frighten ordinary people. It swaggered across the wild grass and withered branches, sweeping away any poisonous insects, snakes, or ants that blocked its path with its large black paws, displaying the imposing presence of a great general on an inspection tour. Pei Xiaolei followed behind, and aside from having to be extra careful of the slippery ground, she made the journey much easier and felt completely at ease.

Pei Xiaolei pulled her cotton hat tighter and pulled her thick cotton coat even closer, carefully following closely behind the bear. After traveling for over ten miles along the winding mountain road, the temperature on the mountaintop dropped lower and lower. A thick layer of ice and snow covered the ground, and gusts of biting wind swept through the area, chilling them to the bone. One wrong step, a slip, and they could easily plummet into the abyss below. It took

Pei Xiaolei and her companions more than an hour to reach this section, which was about two hundred meters high, winding its way through the mountains.

At the end of the path, a lush green landscape unfolded. Despite the snow-covered mountains, spring was in full bloom. Red flowers and green leaves contrasted with the silvery landscape, creating a contradictory yet harmonious scene, offering a unique charm.

The ground was covered with various herbs, flowers, and other unidentified plants; though numerous, most were not particularly valuable. Da Xiong, with its gaping maw, continued to swagger ahead, clearing the way. Pei Xiaolei followed in its footprints, dealing with some small animals that Da Xiong had swatted away and were now seeking revenge. The two, human and bear, worked together seamlessly.

Suddenly, a "crack" sounded beneath her feet, the sound of bones breaking and crushing. Pei Xiaolei looked down, her brows furrowing slightly. She couldn't remember how many human corpses she had encountered on this path to Mount Ling—those who had frozen to death, starved to death, fallen to their deaths, killed by wild beasts, or mauled by poisonous insects and snakes… the causes of death varied, but none were as strange as the dark human skeleton beneath her feet.

"Da Xiong! Wait a minute!" she called out, looking up at Da Xiong ahead.

Da Xiong's fluffy black ears twitched, and with a "woof..." it turned around, casually tossing the thick cobra it was holding into the grass. It then came running over, lowering its head and nuzzling against Pei Xiaolei affectionately, its big, bright black eyes sparkling, incredibly obedient.

"So good!" she gently stroked its neck fur, offering a soft compliment. Along the way, Da Xiong's playful and adorable antics had somewhat eased her anxiety and uncertainty, calming her and making her more composed.

For some reason, she was particularly drawn to the skeleton.

After sending Da Xiong aside to keep watch, she half-squatted down, picked up a small clump of soil around the skeleton, rubbed it between her fingers, picked up a half-bones fragment from the ground, examined it closely for a long time, then turned the skull over, her face solemn, the furrow between her brows deepening.

The soil around the corpse still carried a greasy, foul odor. The skull's surface was smooth and clean, indicating the person hadn't been dead long. Although the body was decomposing quickly, the bones were still fresh, though their surfaces were entirely black. Unlike the other victims bitten by snakes and insects, these bones emitted a faint, herbaceous fragrance, like sandalwood. The skull's head had an even stronger odor, its color a bizarre mix of black and blue. Pei Xiaolei stood up, parting the dense weeds around the skull. Sure enough, several similar human skeletons lay nearby. She picked up a small piece of bone, and with a gentle squeeze, it crumbled into powder with a fragile "crack."

None of the skeletons had external wounds, suggesting they hadn't been attacked by large wild animals. Aside from the skulls, the blackening on the bones wasn't particularly pronounced or thick, making snake and insect bites unlikely.

So what happened?

Pei Xiaolei stood up, gazing at the lush greenery around her, a sense of unease rising within her.

"Daxiong, don't walk too fast ahead. Just stay two steps behind me. Be especially careful of the surrounding grass and trees, understand?" She patted Daxiong's head, gently instructing him like a child.

Daxiong tilted his head, rubbed against her feet, then looked up and licked Pei Xiaolei's hand, letting out two "woof woof woof..." sounds before running ahead of her. He continued waving his paws, head held high, proudly clearing a path through the grass, but this time his pace was noticeably slower. His two round ears stood up high, the tips twitching slightly from side to side, as if he were listening intently to everything around him.

The further they went into the path, the thicker the ice and snow became, and the fewer the plants and trees there were. It was hard to describe the feeling, but they saw more and more corpses—human, animal, and even some broken flowers and plants lying on the ground, making it look very desolate.

After wandering from mud to sand and gravel for over an hour, they arrived at a barren sandy area. The sandy area was not very large, only about two or three acres in size, but it blocked the path to the top of Mount Ling.

Pei Xiaolei only realized after reaching the top that the entire Ling Mountain was actually like a sky garden. Two hundred meters below was a smooth cliff. After braving the biting cold wind, risking being bitten and poisoned by poisonous insects and snakes, or being blown down the mountain by strong winds and smashed to pieces, she finally reached the top, thinking that her suffering was over. But when she looked up from the top, she found that the mountaintop she had been so happy with was just one level below the endless peak of Ling Mountain. In the middle of this level, there was another high cliff, also made of stone. Unlike the smooth rock cliffs of the first level, this cliff was covered with brownish-green vines and had very few weeds. It was clean and seemed much easier to climb than the second level at first glance. However, when you saw the only path, which we can call a "road," winding around the cliff at an 80-degree angle and almost vertically upwards, you probably wouldn't be laughing anymore.

Of course, how to advance to the next level is a matter for later; the immediate problem is how they will cross this sandy area.

The sand looks ordinary, with fine yellow sand and a few small clumps of green grass occasionally sprouting and dancing in the wind, very peaceful. However, Pei Xiaolei and Da Xiong dare not make any rash moves. A long row of strangely shaped corpses in front of them, seemingly pointing to the answer in this sandy area, suggests, whether explicitly or implicitly.

Pei Xiaolei picked up a fist-sized stone and threw it forcefully, sending it flying far into the sand.

"Whoosh..."

In the blink of an eye, dozens of green roots sprouted from the sand, completely enveloping the fallen stone. After circling it once, the roots flicked their wrists, sending the stone hurtling back at incredible speed. The stone struck Pei Xiaolei directly, but she dodged it safely. When she finally had a moment to look down, the roots had all vanished back into the sand with a whoosh. A chill ran through her;

she realized they couldn't walk on the ground anymore. Looking up at the path beyond the sand, a glint flashed in her eyes. It seemed their only option was to fly across. She had witnessed Da Xiong's light-footed skills before; while not exceptional, they could easily cover a few dozen meters.

"Da Xiong, it seems we'll have to jump!" she said. After a long silence, she looked down at Da Xiong curiously, only to find his eyes shining as he stared intently at the other end of the sand. Following his gaze, she was startled and quite surprised—a field of purple-blue flowers stretched before them! "

Awoo... Awoooooo..." Da Xiong howled several times in that direction, his sighs carrying a hint of homesickness.

"Da Xiong..." A dark shadow flashed before her eyes, and Pei Xiaolei hurriedly reached out to stop him, but it was too late. Da Xiong had already charged straight towards the flower bushes ahead.

The moment Da Xiong landed, dozens of green roots immediately sprouted from the sand, quickly binding its limbs and tightening them little by little. Da Xiong was no ordinary animal; it felt the pain in its limbs and roared angrily. With a jerk of its limbs, it tore off all the roots binding its feet. The remaining roots swayed and then shrank back into the sand. The large paw landed and immediately dug half a foot into the spot where the roots had disappeared. Yellow sand and black soil, but not a trace of green. Disappointed, Da Xiong sat on the ground, panting slightly, staring at the purple-blue flower ahead. He scratched his ear and began to walk towards it again, but this time his movements were noticeably slower. He staggered a few meters before collapsing onto the sand with a thud.

Slowly, tendril-like roots began to emerge from the sand, densely surrounding Da Xiong and tightly binding his limbs. Suddenly, the sand began to move. Come on, the sand rustled, and a large red flower, about three or four meters long and wide, floated up from the sand. Its center split open, revealing a large, slimy, blood-red mouth that smelled of fragrant grass, dripping copious amounts of black sap. It looked like it was spitting poison with fangs, a truly horrifying sight.

Roots lifted Da Xiong high, offering it as tribute into the flower's gaping maw. Just as this large piece of fat meat was about to be devoured, the unconscious Da Xiong suddenly opened its eyes, seemingly waking up, and let out a series of loud howls. It cried out a few times, waving its thick limbs, and in a few swift movements, tore off many more roots. The big red flower swayed, its mouth snapping shut, dripping out some black sap. As its center opened again, another batch of roots immediately sprouted from the ground. Unlike the previous ones, these roots were covered in sharp spikes and gears. Although Xiong was brave, now held high in the air, his movements were restricted by the roots, and he could only watch helplessly as the sharp spikes charged towards him.

It seemed these sharp spikes were about to pierce his flesh…

With a loud thud, Da Xiong plummeted from the sky, landing flat on its back on the sand. After a moment, it rolled over, arrogantly glancing at the fallen Big Red Flower beside it. Then, it hopped over to Pei Xiaolei, who held a sharp sword, and rubbed its head against her feet, its large, watery eyes looking at her pitifully, as if it had been quite frightened.

Pei Xiaolei planted the short sword, still dripping with sticky black liquid, into the sand, reached out and patted its head, saying, "Big Bear, you're really amazing. Were you hurt?" Upon hearing the news, Da

Xiong's eyes lit up. He let out a howl, "Awoo, awoo..." and, with his ears drooping, lay down on the ground, rolling around happily.

A large red flower lay sprawled on the sand, oozing black sap, its roots drooping limply. Nearby, a large black bear rolled around on a clean patch of sand, its limbs tucked in, raising clouds of dust.

The scene was somewhat bizarre.

After rolling around for a while, it was getting late, but Da Xiong still seemed reluctant to stop.

"Alright, alright, I know you're skilled in martial arts and strong, nothing's wrong. Get up, or the purple-blue flower will wither!" Pei Xiaolei coaxed helplessly. Her previously cold, poker face had vanished, replaced by a wry smile from Da Xiong's antics.

Da Xiong immediately got up, scratched his ears, and his attention returned to the flower patch.

"Let's go!" Pei Xiaolei patted its neck, nudging it forward.

"Awoo..." Da Xiong cried out and immediately pounced towards the flower bushes.

The Perils of Ling Mountain (Part 2)

Pei Xiaolei was very curious about the black sap on the large red flower. She took out an empty bottle from her bag, filled it to the brim, and planned to return it to the manor after descending the mountain as a gift for her master.

After the large red flower withered, the green roots on the sand gradually faded in color, from dark green to light green. The thorns and gears on the roots also disappeared. She found this strange, so she picked up a root, grabbed a leaping rabbit nearby, tied the root to it, and tested it. Sure enough, the toxins in the roots had been completely removed. With a casual pull, she managed to stretch dozens of meters from the sand. These roots, though small, were incredibly resilient. Looking at the almost vertical "path" at the top, her mind suddenly clicked... She turned and immediately pulled out dozens more roots from the ground, kneaded them together, and wove them into two ropes about the thickness of a thumb.

After weaving the ropes, Pei Xiaolei ate some dry rations and drank a sip of wine. The spicy liquor warmed her, dispelling the chill, and she felt quite comfortable. Da Xiong lay beside her, burping contentedly. A large patch of purple-blue flowers nearby was now bare, only leaves remaining; all the vibrant blossoms had been consumed. At her feet lay several of the purple-blue flowers that had helped her shed her strange martial arts. However, no matter how precious these rare flowers, blooming only once every fifty years and bearing fruit only once every fifty years, were, and no matter how much Da Xiong seemed to enjoy them, she dared not put any in her mouth. This place was far from the reach of the emperor; if she were to suffer any adverse effects like last time, this desolate mountain... In the wilderness, even the Emperor himself couldn't save her.

After resting for about half an hour to digest their food, they stood up from the flowerbed, packed their things, and set off again.

The path to the third level was steep and sloping, not to mention the sharp rocks hidden beneath the smooth surface—these were the real danger. These protruding rocks were as sharp as knives, smooth and thin on

all sides; a single misstep would surely draw blood. Two ropes made of intertwined roots were thrown upwards and tied to vines on the rock face. Pei Xiaolei and Daxiong climbed the almost vertical path with their bare hands, the ropes lightly tied around their waists as a safety measure. They climbed slowly, throwing the ropes upwards every so often. After several throws and pulls, they finally made it relatively smoothly past the halfway point. More and more thorns appeared, almost completely covering the cold rock face. Sharp stones were hidden among the vines and leaves, making them difficult to avoid. Both she and Da Xiong had their hands pricked to varying degrees, with beads of blood appearing on their palms, arms, and areas where their clothing was thinner.

Of course, compared to the previous danger, these minor injuries were nothing to either of them.

But slowly, Pei Xiaolei began to feel a tingling, burning sensation in her palms. Looking closely, she saw that her broken skin was covered with white, fluffy hairs, like those of dandelions. Pei Xiaolei stopped, steadied herself, and reached out to remove the hairs from her wounds. She peeled them off, only to feel a burning pain. Upon closer inspection, she realized that these weren't dandelions at all; the white hairs were actually tiny white spiders, now clinging to their wounds and desperately sucking their blood.

"Awooo... Awooo..." Da Xiong, a few meters away, suddenly cried out.

Pei Xiaolei turned her head and felt a chill run down her spine. Good heavens! Two white spiders, each the size of a washbasin, slowly crawled down from the vines, spinning silk threads towards Da Xiong. The threads were covered in spiders, the two dense white threads binding Da Xiong tightly. Numerous small spiders crawled onto its body, turning the once-large black bear into a giant polar bear.

"Da Xiong!" Pei Xiaolei shouted, immediately grabbing the vine with one hand and using her legs to propel herself towards the bear. She swung her short sword, severing the two white threads.

With the threads severed, Da Xiong's body sank, then slid several meters downwards. Although the white threads were broken, the small spiders remained, crawling densely all over Da Xiong. Da Xiong desperately waved its paws, trying to shake off the spiders, but the more it struggled, the further it fell. It and Pei Xiaolei had already climbed nearly a hundred meters; if it fell from this height, it would surely die.

What puzzled Pei Xiaolei was that despite her large and aggressive movements, the two giant spiders seemed completely unfazed, focusing all their energy on Da Xiong. They continued waving their claws and baring their fangs, crawling straight towards Da Xiong.

Da Xiong, who had already fallen nearly ten meters, struggled less and less, until finally, there was no sound.

"Da Xiong!" she called out frantically again! There was no response from below.

A wave of panic washed over her, but she saw that the two giant spiders were only three or four meters away from reaching Da Xiong. In a moment of desperation, she quickly untied the rope binding her, swung it down, and tied it to the vine binding Da Xiong. Then, holding the other end of the rope in one hand and the short sword in her mouth, she crawled towards the two white spiders. She slightly gathered her inner strength, preparing for a desperate battle. Unexpectedly, as she approached, the spiders didn't attack her. Instead, as she took a step forward, they timidly retreated two steps, looking as if she were some terrible, venomous demon.

She was slightly taken aback, before she could even think further, the rope in her hand suddenly became heavier. She immediately tightened her arms with difficulty, barely managing to hold on. The situation below Da Xiong seemed to be getting worse.

What was wrong? Why were they so afraid of her? Why? Why?

The more anxious she became, the more chaotic her mind became, unable to make sense of anything.

At this moment, the wounds on her palms started to itch. She looked down and saw that the small spiders that had been stuck to the various wounds on her arms were crawling out of her wounds on their own, and they were crawling faster and farther away as if fleeing for their lives.

Just as she was wondering about this, she suddenly felt that the backpack on her back was wet. She picked it up and saw that the bottom of the bag was dark and dirty—it was the bottle of liquid she had prepared to give to her master.

Could it be...? She raised an eyebrow, dipped her hand in the black liquid, and flicked it towards the giant spider. A few drops stuck to the rock wall, and the two large white spiders darted back several meters, their claws flashing. They stared at the liquid in her hand, still seemingly terrified.

Pei Xiaolei watched, her heart filled with joy and renewed determination. She immediately took a bottle from her bag and poured some down the root rope. The rope, woven from roots, immediately reverted to its original deep green color upon contact with the black liquid, and a faint grassy scent filled the air. The smaller spiders below were startled and scattered in all directions. In the blink of an eye, the giant white bear had transformed back into a giant black bear.

"Da Xiong! Get up!" With the crisis averted, she immediately pulled on the rope and shouted down. Her arm, gripping the rope, felt increasingly heavy. Even though the vines beside her greatly reduced the weight of Da Xiong on her hand, the remaining hundred-plus pounds were still more than a frail woman could bear.

The worst part was that instead of waking Da Xiong, she had brought back the two large spiders. Those two furry arthropods, perhaps resentful at having lost their prey, crawled to the base of the vine pulling Da Xiong and snapped several finger-thick sections of the vine in a few bites.

Seeing this, Pei Xiaolei quickly twisted her wrist, looping the rope around her palm several times and pulling tightly.

"Ugh!" Unable to bear the weight, she finally let out a muffled groan. Her left hand, gripping the vine, slipped two meters, leaving a scarlet welt. Her right hand, pulling on Da Xiong's rope, sank even harder; Da Xiong's entire weight was now on her arm, almost dislocating her elbow. She frowned, gritted her teeth, cold sweat pouring from her forehead, her lips bleeding from being bitten!

"Big Bear!" she cried out urgently, looking at the indistinct bear silhouette, now dozens of meters below, obscured by the surrounding mist.

"Awooo..." After a while, a faint sound finally came from below.

She was overjoyed and shouted, "Big Bear! At this height, can you safely get down to the sand below?"

The rope suddenly swayed, and the sound from below seemed to grow louder.

"Grab the vines next to you, I'm letting go!"

"Awooo... Awooo..." A more powerful roar followed.

She released her grip, immediately strained her ears to listen, and then breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there was no sound of anything heavy hitting the ground.

"Big Bear, don't come up again, stay down here and wait for me!"

"Awooo... Awooo..." The sound was farther away than before. Pei Xiaolei smiled upon hearing it; it seemed Big Bear had safely returned to the sand.

Pei Xiaolei truly felt relieved. She gently shook her right hand, "Hiss..." She gasped, her brows furrowing. Sure enough, she had strained her muscles. Looking up at the mountaintop, she saw that it was only about ten meters away from the top, where those large and small white spiders lay. She'd run so fast she was practically invisible, and it seemed the closer she got to the summit, the smoother the path became. The previously hidden sharp rocks were gone, replaced by smooth, large stones that could be used as resting places, occasionally appearing one at a time.

So, these short distances of a dozen meters didn't take her much time. Finally, using the stones as leverage, she leaped lightly and easily reached the top.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she didn't care about anything else, plopped down, took a sip of alcohol to warm herself, and immediately took out bandages and some medicine from her backpack. Luckily, she had previously packed the alcohol, bandages, and medicine in a separate waterproof, sealed bag, separating them from the spilled black liquid, so even if the liquid contained something, it hadn't contaminated anything else. She frowned, gritted her teeth, poured some alcohol on her two bleeding, broken palms to disinfect them, then applied the medicine and bandaged herself. The wound, stung by the strong liquor, burned fiercely, while the surrounding wind was biting cold, the liquor barely warding off the piercing chill. She had never faced such a dire situation before, let alone, alone in the lion's den. Slowly, she put her belongings back into her backpack, her delicate face reddened by the cold wind, but her eyes burned with unwavering determination, showing no fear.

She stood up, pulled her coat tighter, and glanced around. This level didn't seem much different from the previous one; the same white snow fell from the sky, and the ground was covered in vibrant green flowers and leaves, a scene of springtime beauty. However, the plants and trees looked unfamiliar, and the insects and small animals crawling around were far fewer in number and variety than below. Looking into the distance, she saw no higher cliffs to climb; the surrounding area was a flat expanse of green and white. It seemed this was the summit of Mount Ling.

Author's Note: As the year draws to a close, I've been busy with various matters...
so updates might be slower...
However, I will try my best to maintain two updates a week, and if time permits, I will strive to do three...
I hope everyone will forgive me... tat

Honglian

Pei Xiaolei remembered reading such a record in some medical books: "Honglian, born on the summit of Mount Ling, nurtured in the coldest place." The implication was that the summit of Mount Ling was the coldest place, and that was the right place for her.

A layer of snowflakes covered her thick clothes and hat. Her leather boots sank into the snow, the icy snow quickly reaching her calves. The cold penetrated her cotton trousers and socks, chilling her to the bone, leaving her legs stiff and aching. She exhaled white smoke, walking forward step by step, each step making a resounding clang. After walking for nearly an hour, she arrived at a vast, pure white world of ice and snow. Whether this was the coldest place, she wasn't sure, her limbs already numb from

the cold. Although the wind wasn't strong, almost all the surrounding trees and flowers were frozen to death, their withered branches buried under the snow; not a single patch of green could be found for miles around. Suddenly, Pei Xiaolei stopped, standing in the snowstorm, closing her eyes, holding her breath.

After a while, she opened her beautiful eyes, glanced around, and then quickly ran towards a raised slope ahead.

Here?

She knelt down, carefully brushing aside the snow layer by layer. She tapped the ground, and heard hollow sounds coming from below. Leaning closer, she listened intently and heard soft snoring sounds. She cleared away the loose stones and soil, digging little by little. After digging about two inches, she moved a few large rocks and finally saw a large, shallow cave. Looking down, she saw two red foxes, one large and one small, cuddling and snoring four or five meters below. A warm breeze wafted up from the cave, comforting her face. The cave

wasn't large, only five or six meters wide. She surveyed the surrounding area carefully from her elevated position. After a while, her beautiful eyes darkened, and she sighed in disappointment. The cave was bare, filled only with soft soil and rocks; there wasn't a single red lotus, not even a blade of grass. Unwilling to disturb the two foxes' sleep, she warmed her hands by the heater and prepared to move the stone back to cover the cave entrance again.

"Chirp...chirp...chirp chirp..." Just as she was about to seal the cave, a sharp cry came from below.

She quickly looked down and felt a chill run down her spine; goosebumps rose on her skin.

A snake, another snake, and a huge black one at that. It moved its slimy body, flicking its blood-red tongue, radiating cold air, confronting the larger fox inside the cave. The larger fox glared, bared its teeth, its fiery red fur bristling, radiating heat, and shielded the smaller fox behind it.

The air inside the cave suddenly became damp and murky, a sudden shift from hot to cold. From confrontation to slaughter, it happened in an instant. In the animal kingdom, the survival of the fittest, victory and defeat, often come at the cost of blood and life. The black snake won, a decisive victory. The large fox struggled, covered in blood, but didn't fall. Before the snake could pounce, it pushed off with its paws, retreating to the little fox's side. It rubbed its head against the little fox's head, chirped softly a few times, then suddenly raised its head, glanced in the direction Pei Xiaolei was standing, and bit the little fox's scruff of the neck. With a powerful throw, it tossed the furry, curled-up creature out of the cave, landing right in front of Pei Xiaolei.

Pei Xiaolei reached out and hugged it tightly. The little fox shrank closer in her arms, curling up even more warily. Warmth emanated from its fiery red fur. Pei Xiaolei loosened her grip slightly; in such low temperatures, the little ball of fire in her arms was surprisingly hot to the touch.

"It's alright!" she gently stroked its fiery red fur, comforting it.

The little furball's red, pointed ears twitched. After a moment, it looked up at her, its large, watery eyes blinking pitifully. Its round, pointed nose nudged her clothes, chirped twice, and then burrowed inside her cotton coat. Immediately, a warm sensation spread from her chest to her entire body, instantly making her hands and feet feel comfortably warm. However,

this blissful moment was short-lived. Before she could even properly enjoy this unexpected warmth, the cave beneath her feet suddenly rustled, and a giant snake, its mouth gaping wide and spitting blood, lunged out from the ground, its sharp fangs aimed straight for Pei Xiaolei's neck.

Pei Xiaolei sidestepped and took a few steps back, narrowly avoiding the dangerous attack. She landed rather disheveled, drew her sword, and leaped back nearly ten meters before stopping at a safe distance. She stared in astonishment at the large, sticky snake on the snow. This snake was clearly the same black one from before, but its color had changed dramatically in such a short time, from jet black to fiery red. Even the chilling aura it had exuded was gone, replaced by a scorching heat. The moment the snake landed, with a "tsk," the snow within a half-meter radius melted instantly, as if struck by a blazing fire.

The little fox in Pei Xiaolei's arms seemed to sense the unusual heat, suddenly poking its head out from under her coat, chirping loudly and frantically flailing its limbs against her chest, as if ready to pounce and fight the snake to the death.

Pei Xiaolei's chest felt hot from the sudden surge of heat from the fox. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she shoved it back into her cotton coat, her voice fierce yet firm as she snapped, "Stop it!"

The little fox paused, its eyes, red with anger, staring at Pei Xiaolei for a long while before chirping and lowering its head, its scorching heat dissipating as it quietly nestled in her arms.

Pei Xiaolei patted its body through her coat, instructing, "Stay inside, and don't come out!" She then gripped her sword tightly, watching the large snake slithering towards her with caution.

"Spit..." When it was still two or three meters away, the snake opened its jaws and spurted a stream of black liquid from its fangs. The movement was so fast that Pei Xiaolei dodged, leaping several meters away. Although she dodged quickly, some venomous droplets still clung to the hem of her coat, instantly burning several small holes in it with a "snap."

Pei Xiaolei glanced down at the scorched hem of her clothes, then at the black liquid emitting cold smoke on the ground. A chill ran down her spine. She took a deep breath, gathered her inner energy, and shifted her sword into a menacing stance.

Her brow furrowed as she watched the large snake slowly crawling towards her, her gaze sharp and intense.

Two meters, one meter… the snake drew closer, its expression growing increasingly grave.

“Hiss…whoosh…” The snake lunged forward.

A flash of white light, followed by a deafening boom, and the snake, roughly the thickness of a thigh and several meters long, fell to the ground. A torrent of black and red blood gushed from its wounds.

The snake convulsed a few times, not yet dead. It glared at Pei Xiaolei with resentment, then closed its jaws, its body suddenly swelling like a hot air balloon. Then, with a "bang," its abdomen exploded, and a small, translucent white snake slowly crawled out, dripping with blood. The little white snake was only the size of a pen, quite small compared to the large snake beside it. However, most terrifyingly, it hadn't even fully opened its eyes yet, but it was already devouring the large snake's flesh and blood. The more it devoured, the darker its color became.

She understood the principle of eliminating the root of the problem. She took a few steps forward, sword in hand, ready to stab the snake, but was suddenly drawn to a blood-red flower that the little white snake had dug out of the large snake's body.

A red lotus?

She was startled, then overjoyed, and immediately reached out to snatch it. The little snake, however, nimbly dodged, biting the red lotus and hiding to the other side, watching her warily. It had grown somewhat, from the size of a pen to the size of two fingers, its color deepening, white with black spots, like a spotted dog.

The little fox, which had been hiding inside Pei Xiaolei's cotton coat, suddenly jumped down from her arms, baring its sharp claws and growling at the little snake. The surrounding temperature suddenly rose. It stepped forward, seemingly determined to retaliate and avenge the great fox.

The little fox took a fierce step forward, while the little snake timidly took two steps back. However, just when Pei Xiaolei thought the red lotus was already hers, the trapped little snake was very alert. Taking advantage of their momentary lapse in attention, it seized an opening, and with a whoosh, bit the red lotus and darted into the snowdrift, then quickly escaped.

Pei Xiaolei was too tired to think anymore: Why didn't snakes hibernate in the dead of winter, but instead came out to hunt for food? Why could these reptiles, which move by rubbing their skin against the ground, move so swiftly in the soft, slippery snow? Why didn't baby snakes hatch from eggs, but instead transformed into mammals and kicked themselves out of their mothers' wombs? Why...? Why did all common sense seem to defy logic upon arriving at this sacred mountain? As soon as

the little snake darted away, she reacted nimbly, lightly touching the snow with her toes. Ignoring the little fox that had turned to vent its anger by tearing apart the large snake's corpse, she immediately gathered her inner strength and followed closely behind the little snake. Her martial arts techniques might not be the best, but in terms of inner strength alone, possessing half the inner strength of Xiao Niangzi and Pei Ming, plus the refined inner strength she had gained from teaching her second senior brother over the years, she was definitely a top-tier expert in the martial arts world.

The snake and the person chased each other in the snow for most of the hour, finally arriving at a high slope on the edge of the sacred mountain.

The little snake dropped the red lotus on the ground and quickly slithered into a cave.

Pei Xiaolei reached out to pick it up, but before her hand could even touch it, her arm was slapped hard. Her arm was already strained, and the sudden, violent slap sent a sharp, piercing pain through the injured area.

She turned around and saw a large black snake, several sizes larger than the one from before, appear behind her. Its large black tail swayed, its bright red tongue flicking fiercely at her.

"Hiss..." Before the noise subsided, another sound came from the direction of the cave. Pei Xiaolei glanced out of the corner of her eye and broke out in a cold sweat. The little snake was coiled up, perched on the head of a large white snake, and slowly emerged from the cave.

Pei Xiaolei took a few steps back, but was still trapped between the two large snakes, one on each side. She took a deep breath, gripped her sword tightly, and suddenly thought with a touch of self-mockery that she must have had a grudge against snakes in her past life, which was why she kept clashing with these reptiles in this life.

The two snakes attacked fiercely, spitting venom and using sharp gears in rapid succession. Their attacks and defenses were perfectly coordinated. After half an incense stick's time, even with her abundant internal energy and high martial arts skills, Pei Xiaolei was exhausted.

There were no gaps, no weaknesses; the two snakes cooperated too well, their teamwork was perfect. Now, Pei Xiaolei couldn't find a better way than to separate them and defeat them one by one.

With a flick of her foot, she kicked a snowball, throwing it directly at the large white snake. These snakes, unfazed by the cold, took the attack head-on without even turning their heads. However, while snakes might be impervious to cold and snow, they weren't necessarily immune to alcohol, much less able to tolerate strong liquor in their eyes. Mixing strong liquor into the snowball was a brilliant plan. Sure enough, the large white snake hissed a few times after being hit, then began to writhe in agony on the snow.

Pei Xiaolei swiftly leaped to its side, her sword flashing, and flung the small snake atop its head hundreds of meters away. The large black snake that had been lunging at her saw this and, without a word, turned and moved in the direction the small snake had disappeared.

"Sorry!" Pei Xiaolei dodged several wild spurts of venom, landing beside the still-writhing large white snake. She aimed her sword at its head and plunged it down, pinning the snake's head to the ground. The large white snake arched its body, violently thrashing its tail and kicking up large amounts of snow. Piercing black venom flowed from its fangs, mingling with the scarlet blood on its body, staining the snow red.

She walked around it, picking up the red lotus from the ground, but to her dismay, the once vibrant flower withered rapidly the moment she picked it up, finally turning into a pool of crimson liquid that dripped through her fingers.

"How could this be?" She looked down at her crimson palms, completely unable to believe it. The hope she had painstakingly found along the way had vanished before her very eyes. Her joy was instantly extinguished like a bucket of ice water poured over her head; the desolation and chill were indescribable.

There was no time to feel anything.

"Hiss... Spray..." A stream of venom sprayed towards her from behind.

She quickly moved aside, safely avoiding it. When she landed and regained her footing, the large black snake was already close behind, its smaller snakes coiled around its head, flicking their red tongues at her.

The surrounding air suddenly turned cold, and a large amount of icy air emanated from the large black snake. However, somehow, the snow on the ground had melted into water and quickly froze, freezing her feet, which were already numb from the cold. She struggled, trying to lift her feet, but even with almost all her strength, she couldn't move them, and the situation suddenly became very bad. The large black snake tilted its head, dropping the small snake to the ground. The small snake immediately pounced on the large white snake beside it, starting from its abdomen and devouring its companion piece by piece. The more it ate, the larger its body grew, its growth rate being more astonishing than traveling through a time machine.

Pei Xiaolei stopped, staring at the large white snake, her dark eyes brightening. She quickly took out the half-full flask of strong liquor from her waist, sprinkled some around the ice at her feet, took out a tinderbox, and lit it. With a boom, the surrounding area immediately burst into flames. The fire melted the ice and snow, relieving her predicament, and the bright red flames temporarily stopped the large black snake's attack, giving her suffering legs a moment of relief.

She shook the wine jug; it was light and empty. Realizing there were only a few sips left, she smiled calmly. It seemed there was no more material to use for her next trick. She raised the jug and downed the remaining strong liquor, not a drop left. In her current state, every bit of warmth was precious.

"Hiss..." Just as she tossed the jug aside, the enormous black snake, moving with incredible speed, lunged at her like an arrow. Pei Xiaolei took a small step back, glancing helplessly at the large rock behind her and the cliff face a few meters away. Now, she had no way to avoid it except to fight back head-on. "

Come on!" Her brows furrowed, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes as she looked at the blood-dripping sword in her hand.

"Snap!" Sharp fangs gripped her short sword. The black snake's tail lashed backward, sending up a flurry of white smoke, then, taking advantage of the chaos, its tail shot high, constricting Pei Xiaolei's feet.

Having just experienced the freezing cold, Pei Xiaolei, having learned her lesson, was determined not to repeat the same mistake. With a flick of the large black snake's tail, she leaped high into the air, her sharp sword slashing heavily across its back, leaving a deep, bloody gash. She landed smoothly behind it, and before it could turn over, she struck its tail again.

"Hiss..." The large black snake, in pain, twisted its body, its eyes red, and sprayed several jets of venom at her. She dodged cleanly to the side.

But... a visible arrow is easy to block, but a hidden one is hard to catch.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her ankle. Looking down, she saw a row of deep fang marks, still bleeding. The small snake hidden in the snowdrift had insidiously bitten her, then slithered back behind the large black snake.

Pei Xiaolei felt her body go limp; before she could even kneel, her body tilted, and she felt a burning bite on her arm. Then, the large black snake landed on the ground, its thick tail lashing out and slapping her hard on the back. She felt weightless, and was sent flying several meters. After a long while, she managed to prop herself up with one hand, scrambling to her feet in the snow, coughing up blood that she spat onto the ground. She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and, supporting herself with the hilt of her sword, slowly stood up. Her right arm had been bitten by the large black snake; her cotton-padded coat and the surrounding flesh had been torn open, bleeding profusely and staining most of the coat red. Whether the injury was minor or deep, she could barely feel it.

"This is terrible!" she muttered to herself, gazing at the increasingly blurry scenery ahead.

Two snakes slowly moved towards her, unhurriedly, as if contemplating how to torment her.

"I'm the female lead, after all! Half my soul has transmigrated here, there's no reason I should die like this! Pei Xiaolei, have confidence in yourself! You've been to the underworld, what are you afraid of!" She walked gracefully towards the two snakes, her encouraging voice growing louder and louder, her steps becoming steadyer and her movements faster. Blood trickled down her chin. With a light leap, she thrust her sword straight at the two snakes.

...

The large black snake died, killed by her single sword strike.

The smaller snake also died, bitten in two by a suddenly appearing fox.

The venom had dissipated, but a bitter, fishy taste lingered in her mouth. The fox dug a large snake gall from the carcass and made her swallow it. She'd heard snake gall was very nutritious, but she felt like crying.

The Red Lotus was gone. That Red Lotus, capable of curing all poisons and saving her second senior brother, was gone because of her carelessness… Pei Xiaolei

lay

on the snow for a long time before struggling to sit up. The snake venom in her body had been neutralized, but blood was still flowing from her arm. She took out some medicine from her backpack and poured it haphazardly onto the wound, but no matter how much she poured, it was all washed away by the gushing blood. Each time she wrapped the bandage, it was soaked through. She had wrapped it seven or eight times, like a rice dumpling, but the blood was still desperately seeping out. Her throat itched, and she coughed softly, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her chest felt heavy and still ached faintly. Her pale hands trembled slightly. She looked down at the crimson blood between her fingers, gritted her teeth, and stood up. No matter what, she had to find another Red Lotus.

The little fox that had been nestled beside her immediately moved closer when she saw her move, its fiery red head pressed tightly against her feet, rubbing against her again and again.

“Little one, I don’t have the strength to hold you anymore! If you like, stay by my side!” Pei Xiaolei said softly, her voice gentle. With that, she picked up the sword from the ground and slowly approached the three snake carcasses. The large white snake’s abdominal cavity had been eaten by the smaller snakes. She raised her sword and peeled open the snake’s body; besides the bones and white flesh, there was hardly any blood. A few steps further, the large black snake’s death wasn’t much better than the large white snake’s. Half its head had been cut off and rolled several feet away; its abdomen was ruptured, and the little fox had already dug out its gall bladder and given it to her as an antidote. She squatted down, held the sword sideways, and peeled open the snake’s abdomen, reaching inside to pull out the internal organs and intestines, examining them one by one.

The little fox rubbed its head against her leg, making a fuss for a while. Pei Xiaolei remained unmoved, busy turning over the snake's belly. The fox chirped twice, annoyed at being ignored, and started biting her trouser leg, pulling hard from side to side. Only when Pei Xiaolei finally paid it some attention did it leap in front of her, tilting its head and curiously looking at her, then licking her bloodied fingers with its tongue.

"Alright, stop fooling around! I have to find the Red Lotus!" Pei Xiaolei, regardless of whether the little fox understood or not, stroked its fiery red head with the back of her hand, making it move aside.

"Chirp...chirp...chirp chirp..." Hearing this, the little fox tilted its head back, but its chirping grew even louder. With a leap, it jumped into the pile of scarlet blood, tearing apart the red and white entrails with its claws.

"Fox!" she scolded angrily, reaching out to shoo the troublemaker away.

The little fox nimbly dodged, leaping far away with a bright red snake heart in its mouth. It ran to a patch of clean snow and began to pry open the snake's heart with its sharp claws, pulling out a small, round, white object the size of a peanut, which it then dropped onto the snow beside it.

Pei Xiaolei curiously approached, but the little fox ignored her, kicking its paws and busily running off again. When it returned, it was holding the small snake, now severed in two, in its mouth.

Pei Xiaolei squatted beside it, neither speaking nor moving, simply watching quietly as the little fox bit open the snake's neck. Like other large snakes, the small snake's blood was extremely cold; even in this frigid temperature, one could feel the chill seeping from it. The cold blood dripped onto the hard object, and after a while, the object suddenly cracked open with a "snap." A pure white lotus flower peeked out from the crack, swaying gently in the cold wind, slowly growing larger until it swelled to the size of a blooming rose before stopping its growth.

It was a white lotus! Pei Xiaolei stared in astonishment at the birth and growth of the white lotus, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

"Little fox, thank you, but I wanted the red lotus! Let's go, let's look elsewhere!" She forced a smile at the little fox, propping herself up to stand. Perhaps due to excessive blood loss, her steps were unsteady, and she seemed a little lightheaded. She tried to take a step, but the little fox nibbled at her trouser leg, blocking her path.

"What's wrong?" she asked, bending slightly as she looked at the little creature.

The little fox tilted its head, looking at her, chirping a few times before leaping back to the white lotus. With a "bang," its fur stood on end, and a burst of intense heat emanated from its body. Its dark eyes turned fiery red. Suddenly, it raised one paw and put it in its mouth, then bit down hard with a "squeak." Hot, scarlet blood dripped down, landing on the white lotus's heart. The originally translucent white petals gradually changed color—white, light red, pink, fiery red—finally settling on a vibrant, blood-red hue.

This was... a red lotus? Pei Xiaolei immediately squatted down again, carefully examining the blooming, wondrous flower on the ground. The more she looked, the more delighted she became. This flower was indeed as described in the medical books: "Red Lotus: white core, red petals, cold inside, hot outside!"

But how could she take this red lotus home?

Pei Xiaolei took out a box from her bosom and placed it beside the red lotus, beginning to worry. Having learned her lesson from the previous incident with the red lotus, she dared not act rashly again. Finally, the little fox, quick-witted as ever, first scooped some snow from the ground and put it in the box, then picked up the red lotus and gently placed it inside. Next, it jumped onto the snake's corpse, dug out a tiny white dot the size of a pearl grain from the snake's heart, placed it next to the red lotus, and finally covered them with another layer of snow before closing the box and pushing it to Pei Xiaolei's feet.

"Thank you, you're such a good helper!" Pei Xiaolei smiled and patted the little fox's head as it leaned closer, praising it. To prevent accidentally knocking over the red lotus on the way down the mountain, she took out the few remaining bandages from her backpack, tightly wrapped the box, and hid it in her bosom. Then, she took out a white silk handkerchief, folded it into a strip, and tied it to the little fox's still bleeding front paw. The little fox flicked its fluffy, fiery red tail, raised its injured front paw to look at it curiously, and then tilted its head back to lick Pei Xiaolei's cold fingers. The bloodstains on her hands had just been washed away with snow water, but now they were frighteningly pale, and her hands were terribly cold; no matter how close the little fox got, it couldn't warm them.

Pei Xiaolei coughed lightly, wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, and, supporting herself on her knees, struggled

to her feet. Looking at the vast expanse of white ahead, she said, "Let's go! It's time to go down the mountain!" The little fox followed closely at her feet, never falling behind,

its fiery red fur slightly bristling, radiating warmth around her. She walked slower and slower; half an hour had passed, and the surrounding scenery remained a vast expanse of snow, without a trace of green. Her thick cotton coat was soaked, half-stained with blood. Suddenly, she stopped, looked down at the little fox, and said softly, "Little one, come closer, I feel cold!"

"Chirp..." The little fox nuzzled against her feet, its dark eyes gradually turning red, and the surrounding snow instantly melted into water. It glanced up at Pei Xiaolei every now and then, but dared not leap onto her rashly, instead staying close at her feet.

She paused for a moment, slightly adjusting her inner energy, then lifted her foot to continue forward.

She had heard that people could hallucinate when they were too tired; she hadn't believed it before, but now she believed it completely.

"Shang..." she called softly, smiling faintly, reaching out to smooth the furrowed brows of the fox-like eyes before her. Before her hand could touch them, her body went limp, and she collapsed into a warm embrace.

...

When she woke up, she was lying on a man's back, her body warm, her breathing more even, as if she had received a lot of internal energy. A thick, fluffy cloak was pressing down on her, covering her completely.

She stirred, raised her head, still a little groggy, and hesitantly whispered, "Shang?"

Neng Shang paused, took a deep breath, and said, "You're finally awake!"

"Yes! How did you get here?" she murmured softly, then peeked out, curiously looking around at her surroundings. Her expression changed slightly, and she struggled, saying, "Shang, put me down!"

"Don't move, lie still!"

"Shang, take Honglian back first, put me down quickly!" She struggled again, her voice urgent.

"Don't move!" he suddenly roared angrily.

The little fox, leading the way, was startled by the noise behind him and immediately ran back, baring its teeth and claws at the unfamiliar human man, poised to fight. But a drop of cool liquid hit its little head directly. It touched it with its paw, then licked it—salty. It looked up in surprise at the human man above it whose eyes oozed a strange liquid, flicked its large tail, and suddenly didn't know what to do.

Pei Xiaolei was startled and fell silent. Shang had never scolded her so loudly before.

"Are you angry?"

Shang raised his head slightly but didn't speak. He simply tightened his grip on her, domineeringly restricting all her freedom of movement.

She silently buried her face in his back, only then realizing that her third senior brother, who always laughed and performed magic tricks to make her happy, who always acted as if the sky were falling to cover him and making money was the only thing that mattered, was actually trembling slightly… After a long, quiet silence, she sighed and softly said, “Below the sharp rocks is another layer of sharp rocks. How many miles of these sharp rocks can you carry me across?”

“I’ll carry you until I die, I’ll definitely get you down the mountain!”

“What…nonsense are you talking about!” She gasped, coughed twice, gritted her teeth to swallow the metallic taste rising in her throat, and continued, “I don’t want you to die. Who can’t go before me…” As she spoke, she became too weak and fell asleep again, a faint, glaring crimson stain still clinging to the corner of her lips, but her expression was much calmer and more serene than before.

There was actually another path to the summit of Mount Ling. Another path that no one dared to take.

This narrow path, constructed of rock, winds around Mount Ling like a bridge. Sheer cliffs flank it, making it utterly treacherous; a fall would be fatal. There are no wildflowers or snakes, no poisonous insects. For dozens of miles from the foot of the mountain to the summit, only these sharp stones remain, their tips as thin and sharp as blades, hard and razor-sharp. Some of these stones are coated with deadly poison; these deadly killers lurk among thousands of sharp rocks, impossible to find. The stones are very close together, less than half an inch apart, offering no place for a human to rest, not even a foothold.

On this perilous path, a small fox, seemingly leading the way, nimbly weaves between the rocks, glancing back every few steps with a mixture of wariness and curiosity as it watches the human following behind.

The strange human man purses his lips, his long, narrow fox eyes half-closed, his arms tightly wrapped around the woman behind him. He walked steadily, yet with incredible speed, each step leaving a trail of blood in his wake…
03-07

Reminiscence (Part 1)

The name Qin Ao had been buried for so long that he had almost forgotten it; it was once what he called himself. His

days at the First Manor under Heaven were so busy that he had forgotten the fact that he had once been a prince of Qin , hunted down.

When the woman who called herself Aunt Yun stood before him, her eyes filled with tears, it took him a considerable amount of time to remember this aunt who had risked her life to carry him out of the Qin palace. Aunt Yun was accompanied by a girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, similar in age to Xiao Lei. The difference was that she possessed a body several times healthier than Xiao Lei's. Sometimes, watching her dart around him, he would think how wonderful it would be if Xiao Lei could one day run freely and laugh heartily like her. This girl was named Zhao Yiqing, Aunt Yun's niece, a cousin he had never met. Aunt Yun said she was the wife she had chosen for him.

Wife? He smiled faintly and answered clearly, "Aunt Yun, I have been married for many years!"

Aunt Yun's face paled, and she immediately demanded that he divorce his wife and remarry.

His face turned cold, and he immediately refused sternly.

After several cold looks, Aunt Yun gave up the idea of forcing him to divorce his wife, but she still insisted on putting Zhao Yiqing into his life, and compromised by saying, "Even if Yiqing can't be your wife, she will be your concubine." Concubine

? He smiled coldly and turned away. Only occasionally, when he looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, he would wonder what Xiaolei would do if she knew about this?

Would she personally send a congratulatory gift and generously give up her position as wife, or would she be more or less moved?

He closed his eyes, and the answer was obvious.

He arranged for Aunt Yun and Zhao Yiqing to live in his villa and treated them as honored guests! Apart from ordering people to send them fine clothes, silks, and nourishing foods every month, he only visited them once in a long while. Aunt Yun, with her special status and some ailments, was secretly kept in the inner courtyard, with no outsiders allowed in or out. Her daily life was managed by Zhao Yiqing and several maids, and the expensive medicines and silks were received by this cousin, who was disguised as frail and sickly. He hadn't hidden this little girl very well; he believed his other fellow disciples, and even the elders of the village, had heard of her, but he had never seen them inquire about her.

Nearly a year passed like this. Then, a servant from the other courtyard said that Zhao Yiqing had fallen ill again and asked him to return to treat her. He waved his hand, telling Lin De to take some tonics and medicines to see her for him, while he continued his usual routine between the pharmacy and Yiqing Residence.

Xiaolei's health deteriorated day by day, and she was less and less lucid. When he was by her side, she rarely spoke, often just gazing absently at the sky outside the window. After their marriage, despite being husband and wife, she was more polite and distant than before.

That night, Ruomei suddenly rushed to find him, stammering and unable to utter a complete sentence for a moment before finally dragging him to Yiqing Residence.

When they arrived, she was sitting at her desk, painting on rice paper with a brush. The faint scent of ink filled the room, peaceful and elegant. He approached and looked down. It was a scroll, five or six feet long, composed of three paintings, all depicting a young woman. She was sometimes running and leaping brightly in the woods, sometimes riding a spirited horse across a vast grassland, riding with exhilaration. Or, surrounded by lush green trees, she was sitting with five people in the countryside, laughing and joking.

She put down her brush, studied the painting carefully for a while, and then noticed someone beside her. She turned to look at him, a slight surprise in her eyes, followed by an understanding smile. Her smile was still faint, but warmer than before, and she spoke much more than usual.

"Second Senior Brother, how is my painting?" Her soft voice rang out as she pointed to the last painting. Her delicate face, lightly powdered, appeared exceptionally beautiful under the lamplight.

"Very well painted, extremely lifelike!" He gazed at the men and women surrounding the woman in the painting, speaking softly, his voice strangely hoarse.

"I'll give this painting to you, okay?" She looked into his eyes and smiled, her words carrying a hint of mischief she hadn't seen in years.

"Okay! I'll definitely treasure it!" He nodded, a lump forming in his throat, his eyes slightly warm.

He walked to her side, bent down, and lifted her up, placing her on the bed and covering her with the blanket. He then pulled out her wrist, about to take her pulse, when she suddenly recoiled, pulling her hand back under the covers, saying calmly, "Never mind today, I'm a little cold!" He didn't hesitate, reaching directly under the covers. She dodged, then said, "Second Senior Brother, I'm tired, you should go back first!" She then softly called out, "Ruomei, take Second Senior Brother back!"

Ruomei's eyes were red, but she stood still.

"Ruomei!" she suddenly called out.

"Yes, Second Young Master, please!" Ruomei was startled, then immediately came over, half-inviting, half-pushing him out of Yiqing Residence. As soon as they stepped out of the gate, dozens of guards rushed over, immediately surrounding him. After taking him back to his residence, the gate was closed and locked with a click, and then thousands more guards from the Ministry of Justice arrived, surrounding his residence in layers.

That day, Yiqing Residence was bustling with activity, with many people coming and going. Elders from the Hidden Department, the Dark Department, the Ministry of Justice… all twelve departments, both overt and covert, were invited in. When they came out, they glanced up at him, hidden in the tree, shook their heads secretly, and left with solemn expressions, pretending not to have seen anything.

At midnight, he sneaked into her boudoir and exchanged blows with the hidden guards lurking in the shadows. The twenty-four guards clasped their hands and withdrew. Ruomei, her eyes red, opened the door to the inner room and went out, ignoring him, who was presumably imprisoned, standing before her.

A strong herbal scent filled the room. Several "Sunrise" pills sat on the table, and a bowl of water, tinged with a faint red, sat not far from the bed. She lay on the bed, her face pale and lifeless, clutching a red jade pendant tightly in her hand. This pendant had been placed on her body by her master and mistress at birth, and for over a decade, it had never left her side. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she were enduring immense pain. A stinging crimson trickle slowly escaped from her tightly closed lips.

He wiped the blood from her lips and reached out to check her pulse; her pale, thin hands were icy cold. Time passed slowly, his expression growing increasingly grim. "Xiaolei!" He leaned down and whispered anxiously in her ear, "Xiaolei, wake up!"

Half a moment passed, but the woman on the bed offered no response except for the ever-increasing crimson trickle from her lips.

He took a "Sunrise" pill from the table and swallowed it, then crushed another and dissolved it in the medicine. He then pried open her tightly closed lips and forced her to swallow it.

He gathered his inner energy, forcefully suppressing the rapidly rising heat within him, quickly removed his own clothes, and then carefully removed hers layer by layer. The chill on her body slowly faded, and she gradually warmed up. He rolled over and leaned over her, gently kissing her forehead, saying, "Xiaolei, I'm sorry! I broke my promise!"

... (The following content is omitted; please refer back to Chapter Two.)

He loved her. He couldn't remember when it started, but over time, her image slowly appeared in his heart, gradually filling it with the passing years. The moments after that night only intensified his intoxicating love.

He was hers, but she wasn't his alone. He had known this since childhood, but when she swore to him that she would love only him for the rest of her life, he couldn't hide his secret joy. How he longed to hold her in his arms and possess her entirely before his other fellow disciples could interfere.

But he couldn't!

Lin De sent a letter saying that Aunt Yun was critically ill and asked him to go to the other courtyard immediately. A letter arrived, tucked inside a lock of gray hair. The hair was dry and gray, a lock cut from his mother's own hair years ago and given to him.

Xiaolei went to the library, where her third junior brother, having received the news, was already waiting.

A complex emotion flashed in his eyes. He waved his hand, stopping the servants from searching for her in the library, and lowered his head to open the scroll she had given him. He examined it carefully, his gaze finally settling on the last painting. His fingertips lightly traced her portrait, yet he couldn't conceal the familiar smiling faces beside it.

"Prepare the horses! I need to leave the manor immediately!" He closed the scroll, opened another sheet of white paper, and wrote a few words, simply saying he would return as soon as possible and not to worry.

When the fast horse arrived at the villa, Aunt Yun was sitting on the bed drinking her medicine. Seeing him, she happily got out of bed to greet him. After taking her pulse and examining her, he frowned, looking up at the spirited woman before him. Her illness was far less serious than Lin De had claimed. Before she could say anything, Lin De had already knelt down with a thud to apologize. Aunt Yun took his hand and explained, "Don't blame him. I forced Lin De to write the letter by holding a knife to my throat!"

"You can all leave now. I have something to say to Aunt Yun!" After a moment of silence, he waved his hand, dismissing Lin De and Zhao Yiqing.

He moved a stool and sat down by the bed, looking at the middle-aged woman who was sitting up on the bed. He said, "Aunt Yun, so many years have passed. Why have you suddenly come to see me?" "

You finally asked me!" she sighed, then continued, "Ao'er, are you already impatient with Aunt Yun? Are you still blaming me for leaving you alone back then? Under those circumstances, even if I had kept you by my side, I wouldn't have been able to protect you at all... Now, after so many years, we've finally managed to see each other again, but you refuse to do anything I want. You must still blame me, right?..." Aunt Yun became agitated as she spoke.

"Aunt Yun, I've never blamed you. Calm down!" he said, pulling her hands away from his tightly gripped hands.

“How can I not blame you? You must have suffered a lot. I’ve heard that the number one manor in the world is especially strict with its servants. To reach your current position, you must have endured immense hardship. I shouldn’t have so rashly handed you over to them. If I had been able to take you with me and endure for a few more years, things might have turned out differently!”

He raised an eyebrow, subtly avoiding Aunt Yun’s outstretched hand.

She glanced thoughtfully at the doorway, lowering her voice slightly, “Yiqing is General Zhao Sheng’s only daughter. If you marry her, one-third of Qin’s military strength will be under your command. I saved Yiqing’s mother when she was young, and the two of us later became sworn sisters. She died young, and I raised Yiqing myself. You don’t need to worry about her character. Over the years, I’ve often talked to her about you, and she knows you very well. In addition, after nearly two years of getting to know each other, I can see that she has fallen for you. Now that old man Qin Jing is halfway to his coffin, he’s finally had a change of heart and feels guilty.” "You and your mother, plus these past two years, seeing his sons becoming more and more useless, he misses your mother, who was framed and burned alive, and you, the missing sixth prince, even more. Last year, posthumously granting your mother the title of Imperial Concubine was a public announcement, hoping you would return... All these years, I've been hiding my identity, moving among the powerful and influential in Qin, waiting for this opportunity. Ao'er, Aunt Yun has already paved the way for you. Marry Yiqing and come with me, and the Qin kingdom will be yours!"

Aunt Yun's voice grew colder and colder, until finally, every word was filled with deep-seated hatred: "From then on, all those who framed and humiliated my sister, I will personally tear them to pieces!"

"Aunt Yun, do you still remember my mother's last words?" His voice was indifferent, devoid of emotion.

"How could I not remember!" The woman on the bed slammed her hand on the table, roaring angrily, "She told us to leave, never to set foot on that filthy land of Qin again." As soon as she finished speaking, tears streamed down her face.

“Let me take you back to Runguo! I’ve had people take care of the house there all these years, so it should be fairly clean! My mother’s memorial tablet and cenotaph are also placed in Luoxiang, where they are still being worshipped.”

“No, all these years of enduring humiliation and hardship are for the purpose of personally killing those beasts. I won’t die content until I see their corpses in a different place. Luoxiang, after I avenge my sister, I will go back to guard her tomb. Ao’er, the hatred for my mother is greater than heaven, you must come with me, that old bastard Qin Jing is dying!”

“Aunt Yun, how did you find me so quickly?” He changed the subject.

"Of course I heard about it!" Aunt Yun replied, but her tone was already somewhat displeased. "I know your status is different now, but how can being an adopted son of a manor compare to the prestige of being the ruler of Qin? You've been clever and quick-witted since childhood; you should understand this difference in importance."

He frowned slightly, stood up, and said, "Aunt Yun, please rest. Don't think too much. I am now a member of the number one manor in the world. Everything in Qin has nothing to do with me anymore. If you like the environment here, you can stay. I will fulfill my duty as a junior and serve you for a thousand years. If you don't like it here, I can send someone to take you back to Luoxiang. However, please send Zhao Yiqing back. It's really damaging to a young lady's reputation to wander outside!" After saying this, he left without waiting for Aunt Yun's reply.

Author's Note: These two chapters can be considered side stories of "The Good Doctor," and should be read independently!
Although they cannot be separated from the preceding and following chapters,
these two chapters mainly focus on "The Good Doctor" as the main narrative thread!
Please adjust accordingly!

Reminiscence (Part 2)

As night fell, a commotion erupted in the inner courtyard.

Lin De rushed in, shouting, "Second Young Master, something terrible has happened! Aunt Yun... she's hanged herself!"

"What?" He put down his book, jumped up, and strode towards the inner courtyard.

There weren't many people in the inner courtyard. The three maids serving him breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him. Lin De gave them a signal, and the maids immediately followed him out. Soon, only he, the sickly Aunt Yun lying on the bed, and Zhao Yiqing, who was comforting and attending to her, remained in the room.

"Aunt Yun!" he called as he approached the bedside.

Aunt Yun turned her face away from him, saying, "Go away. I don't have a disloyal and unfilial nephew like you. If I had known you were such a heartless beast, I shouldn't have carried you out of the fire. It would have been better if you had gone with my sister; at least she wouldn't have been so lonely walking alone. I was wrong. I shouldn't have handed you over to Master Pei, letting you grow up alone in misery. I shouldn't have come looking for you again, blocking your path as the second young master of the most prestigious manor in the world, only to be despised by you for nothing. I shouldn't have stayed alive, unable to help my sister avenge her, and raising such an unfilial son..."

"Aunt Yun, please listen to Brother Ao's explanation! Brother Ao will definitely not ignore you! Brother Ao, don't just stand there, say something! You will definitely come back to Qin with us, right?" Zhao Yiqing pleaded with both of them, looking quite busy.

"Yiqing, go back and rest. I can take care of things here!" He took the rice porridge from Zhao Yiqing's hands and said.

"But..." Zhao Yiqing looked at Aunt Yun on the bed with worry, hesitating.

"Go back now!" Seeing that she didn't move for a long time, he simply put down his chopsticks and personally saw her out.

As soon as the door closed, Aunt Yun's cold voice rang out from behind: "What else do you want to say? Are you trying to annoy me again because you think I haven't died fast enough?"

He sighed inwardly and said, "Aunt Yun, I am Qin Ao. Although this isn't some earth-shattering secret, it's not easy for outsiders to verify. More than ten years have passed, I've grown up, and my appearance has changed a lot. There are tens of thousands of orphans taken in by the Number One Manor in the World. Don't you think it's too suspicious that you were able to find me in such a vast sea of people in such a short time?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm just guessing whether someone deliberately led you to find me, luring me back to Qin!"

Aunt Yun raised her head, looked at him for a long time, and her emotions slowly calmed down. She tilted her head and thought for a while before saying, "Go back. Let Qing'er come in and keep me company!"

Seeing that Aunt Yun didn't seem to want to continue the topic, he didn't force her. He bent down to tuck her in before saying, "Okay! Aunt Yun, please rest well and don't do anything foolish!" After saying that, he walked out.

Just before he stepped out of the house, a voice came from behind him, "You really don't want to marry Qing'er!"

He paused, then said, "I've already married Xian'er, Aunt Yun, please don't force me. As for Miss Zhao Yiqing, please send someone back to her!"

...

After that day, things were quiet for a few days. He also had some free time to handle some trivial matters here. Just as he finished packing his things to meet Xiaolei, a maid from the inner courtyard ran over and reported that Aunt Yun wanted to see him. He frowned slightly, put down his luggage, and went to the inner courtyard.

"Aunt Yun, did you need something from me?" he asked as he entered.

Aunt Yun glanced at him, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Ao'er, I've thought a lot these past few days, and I think what you said might not be unreasonable. I haven't been back to Runguo for a long time either. Will you take me back?"

Seeing that he remained silent for a while without answering, Aunt Yun's voice unconsciously rose a half tone: "What, you won't even take your elderly aunt back to her hometown?"

"Of course not, Aunt Yun, then when would you like to leave? I'll have someone prepare!"

"Leave now. My things are all packed. I heard you were about to leave, so this is perfect. We don't need to prepare anything; we can just get in the carriage and go!"

He hesitated for a moment, and finally, under Aunt Yun's increasingly cold gaze, he turned to the side and respectfully said, "Aunt Yun, please!"

Runguo was not far from his villa. Normally, he could arrive in a month on horseback, but now, traveling by carriage with two women, the journey was much slower, and it took him almost two months to arrive in Runguo.

Runguo was his mother's homeland. When she was sixteen, on her way to her wedding, she was abducted by Qin Jing, the King of Qin, who was traveling. The next day, her childhood sweetheart and fiancé risked his life to demand justice, only to be beaten half to death, gagged, and bound like an animal before being thrown into her room. He could only watch helplessly as his wife was brutally violated by Qin Jing. The following day, as soon as Qin Jing left, his mother struggled to approach her fiancé, only to find that the man who had loved and protected her since childhood was dying, and soon after, he died in her arms.

Later, she was taken back to Qin and entered the Qin palace, where she was given the title of Zhaoyi. Although her mother was extremely beautiful, she was gentle by nature, and even when she was greatly favored, she was still constantly harassed in the Qin palace. It wasn't until her stubborn adopted sister, who had gone out to study under a master, also entered the Qin palace and was appointed a female official that her life became a little better. After she gave birth to the sixth prince, her favor with the emperor increased even more. However, she eventually became an eyesore and fell into a trap. Qin Jing angrily ordered her to be severely tortured. Then, one day, he suddenly missed her beauty and had her brought out of the prison. But when he saw her haggard face, he felt disgusted, immediately slapped her, and ordered her to be thrown back into the prison. After that, he never remembered this woman he had taken from him again. His mother hadn't seen the light of day for over half a year. Many prisoners, seeing her in such a wretched state, took lustful desires…

A year later, Aunt Yun, having bribed her way, took him with her to secretly see his mother at his desperate pleas. That day, he heard noises from one of the cells and peeked out. He saw his mother lying on a haystack, several strange men on top of her. Aunt Yun immediately covered his eyes, pulled him out, and went inside with a long sword.

Later, Aunt Yun helped his mother out. His thin mother, dressed in tattered clothes, with gray hair, wrapped in a ragged floral quilt, stood before him, her gaze unfocused. He ran to embrace his mother, but as soon as he approached, she pushed him to the ground. She looked at him warily, as if she didn't remember him as her son.

"Mother, it's me, Ao'er!" He got up and reached for her hand again.

She raised her hand and pushed him away again, her eyes cold.

"Mother…" he cried out in desperation.

Unexpectedly, a large number of soldiers appeared and surrounded the three of them. The man in the center was his father, whom he had only met a few times—Emperor Qin Jing of Qin. The man glanced at his mother with disgust and cursed her as a harlot. He then ordered the three of them to be locked in the prison and had it burned to the ground.

The fire was raging, and those outside the cell were desperately pouring oil inside, causing the flames to spread rapidly.

The fire reached his mother's clothes, but she didn't flinch. He ran to help extinguish the flames, but was pushed down again. "Mother..." he stammered, but the flames caught fire on his clothes. He quickly stood up, but the flames on his body only intensified. He was so anxious he almost cried. His mother, who had been keeping her distance, suddenly stepped closer and, disregarding her own burning clothes, struggled to extinguish the flames on his clothes with her bare hands. She handed him to Aunt Yun and finally spoke: "Go, and never set foot on that filthy land of Qin again." She then led them to a collapsing back door of the prison. She used her body to brace against the falling doorpost, allowing Aunt Yun to carry him away. She herself perished in the inferno.

After leaving the fire, they thought they had escaped death. Unexpectedly, they were followed by wave after wave of assassins, who nearly drove them to their deaths. Later, they encountered their master, who, for some reason, took a liking to him. Aunt Yun then made an agreement with her master, entrusting herself to the most powerful family in the world. From then on, she would have no connection with anyone except the Pei family. While protecting him, her master also ensured Aunt Yun's safety from the assassins.

He still remembered the agreement, written in red on white paper: "Once you enter the Pei family, your life and death belong to the Pei family." All past events are now nothing.

All past events are now nothing? He smiled self-deprecatingly. His master's wife hadn't completely sealed away this memory of his. As he grew older, many things slowly came back to him. And now, as he and Aunt Yun stepped onto the land of Run Kingdom again, many forgotten fragments surged into his mind.

"I'm back! After all these years, I'm finally back!" Aunt Yun stepped down from the carriage, walked to his side, and looked around at the scenery with great excitement. She then dismissed the others and led him by the hand for a long time before finally stopping in front of a large tree.

"Ao'er, do you know, my sister found me here. I was just a tiny little thing then, squatting here, starving. Seeing how elegantly dressed my sister was, I thought I'd take the opportunity to steal her money to buy something to eat. But before I could even do anything, my sister automatically gave me all the good food she had, and even draped her cloak over me to keep warm. At the time, I thought it was just a momentary act of kindness from those rich young ladies, and they would forget me soon. But the next day, my sister came again, bringing me lots of food and clothes... In the end, I got greedy and went home with her. Madam and Master are kind people; seeing my pitiful state, they adopted me as their goddaughter. My sister is kind and gentle, with no temper. Fortunately, her family is well-off, and she always has someone by her side..." I've always had a childhood sweetheart protecting me, so I've never suffered any hardship. Later, I went to a master to learn martial arts, intending to rush back for my sister's wedding, but something came up and I was late. Two months later, when I returned home, I learned that my sister had been kidnapped to the Qin Kingdom. Three or four hundred people from your maternal grandfather's family and your sister's husband's family—some died, some fled—both families were once prominent in Luoxiang, but overnight, they were reduced to ruin.

Aunt Yun patted him, who remained silent, and continued, "There are many things my sister and I have never told you. Even when you were highly favored in the Qin Palace, my sister always yielded. Firstly, she was afraid of being reminded of painful memories; secondly, the older you get, the more your features resemble my deceased fiancé."

He was startled and turned to look at Aunt Yun in surprise.

Aunt Yun turned to look at the large tree in front of her, a slight, cold smile playing on her lips.

"Aunt Yun, Brother Ao..." Zhao Yiqing's voice came from afar.

She looked in the direction of the voice, her smile warming slightly. "Qing'er is quite good. It's foolish of you to insist on not marrying her!"

"Aunt Yun... my father is..." He didn't pay attention to her last words, taking a half-step forward, wanting to continue asking about his biological father.

Aunt Yun waved her hand, stopping him. "Alright, let's go back. Just remember what I told you today." With that, she put on a kind smile and walked towards Zhao Yiqing.

In the carriage, Zhao Yiqing sat obediently beside him, her phoenix eyes occasionally stealing shy glances at his handsome profile.

"Aunt Yun, Brother Ao, please have some tea!" She poured two cups of tea and handed them to them.

The two took the cup, and he took a sip, asking, "What kind of tea is this? It tastes very fragrant!"

"This is 'Emerald Eyebrow Dew,' a tribute from a barbarian tribe in the Western Regions. The Emperor bestowed a jar upon my father, but he doesn't like tea, so he gave it to me. Seeing the bumpy journey, I wanted to brew some fresh tea for Aunt Yun and Brother Ao to enjoy," Zhao Yiqing replied tactfully, blushing, and poured him another cup.

"So it's Emerald Eyebrow Dew?" He smiled faintly, secretly memorizing the name. This tea tastes excellent; later, he could ask someone to bring some back from the Western Regions for Xiaolei.

"This tea is indeed excellent, and it's rare to find someone as virtuous as you, Qing'er! It's a pity some people don't appreciate it!" Aunt Yun took her hand and patted it affectionately, then looked thoughtfully at her nephew beside her.

He put down the tea; he could now ignore such words.

Three days' journey from Luoxiang, Aunt Yun suddenly claimed to be unwell and lay in bed, refusing to leave the inn.

The next day, a troop of Qin soldiers, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, surrounded the inn. Aunt Yun, instead of being alarmed, was overjoyed. She immediately recovered and got up, excitedly going downstairs, but her face changed drastically upon seeing

the soldiers, her expression darkening. She and Lin De were upstairs, squeezed among a crowd of onlookers, watching the increasingly chaotic scene below. She gripped her sword tightly. "Lin De," she said, "have the others blend in with the guests and find a way to escape in the chaos!"

Lin De nodded, immediately patting the guards behind them and pulling them into the crowd, disappearing into the commotion.

This was a fairly large inn, with three or four hundred guests and diners. Forced together by the sudden arrival of Qin soldiers, some began to grumble and curse, including many sword-wielding outlaws. The atmosphere between the two sides was already tense, and with the added fuel of the fire from the guards of the Number One Manor, it was inevitable that someone would break out into a fight, and the surrounding situation suddenly became chaotic. He leaped from the crowd and attacked the burly, bearded man who was holding Aunt Yun captive.

He thought the bearded man would dodge his attack, but unexpectedly, he met it squarely.

It was supposed to be a feint, with only moderate force, and only average against a strong internal force. However, as he landed, he felt a burning sensation in his chest and vomited a mouthful of blood. He was slightly alarmed and quickly tried to regulate his internal energy, only to find that it had become chaotic after the previous movement. The more he tried to regulate his energy, the more his body went against him.

Poisoned? He glanced at the blood he had vomited on the ground and quickly checked his pulse.

"Ao'er..." Aunt Yun broke free from the man who was holding her and rushed towards him. After taking only a few steps, she also vomited a mouthful of blood.

He immediately stepped forward to support Aunt Yun.

The surrounding crowd had dispersed, some gone, some dead, the area cleared, leaving only the Qin soldiers and a few figures standing in the center of the canteen.

"Where's Fu Li? What did you do to him?" Aunt Yun shouted at the bearded man.

"Fu Li? You mean your old flame?" The bearded man sneered, clapping his hands. A cloth bag was brought over, which he tossed to the ground. A blood-covered head rolled out.

"Fu Li?" Aunt Yun screamed, suddenly kneeling and reaching for the head, weeping. He grabbed her, preventing her from getting closer, and said, "The head is poisoned!"

She was startled, then turned to look at her nephew, whose lips were also bloodied, her eyes blurry with tears, her voice hoarse, "Ao'er, when were we poisoned?"

He shook his head, also finding the poisoning very strange.

"Sixth Prince, it's been a long time!" A voice came from behind the bearded man. A man in his late twenties stepped forward, and the bearded man immediately bowed slightly, moved a stool over, and respectfully invited the newcomer to sit down.

"Qin Wei..." Aunt Yun's emotions had calmed down considerably. Looking at the newcomer, she seemed to understand. She sneered, "The dignified Fourth Prince of Qin, what brings you here?"

"Lord Yun, even the wind can blow you and the Sixth Prince out after hiding for so many years. Why can't I show my face? Besides, if my carelessness causes my elder brother to lose the throne, not only will my elder brother not forgive me, but even my queen consort will not let me off easily. Don't you think so, Qing'er?"

"Cousin, you're so mean! You keep talking nonsense to tease me! I won't stand for it!" Suddenly, a beautifully dressed young woman rushed down from upstairs, bypassing Aunt Yun and the others, and went straight for Qin Wei.

Qin Wei pulled her into his lap and flirted with her in front of everyone, saying, "You can't refuse, you're my precious princess!"

Zhao Yiqing giggled, completely ignoring the gaze Aunt Yun was giving her.

"Isn't there poison in 'Emerald Eyebrow Dew'?" he asked Zhao Yiqing, supporting the swaying Aunt Yun.

"Brother Ao is so clever!" she laughed.

"You drank it too, why are you alright?" he asked again.

“Because I don’t know martial arts. This strange poison is useless to those who don’t know martial arts or have internal energy. It only works on those who are highly skilled in martial arts and have profound internal energy. As soon as you mention internal energy, the poison will spread throughout your body.” She paused, then turned to look at Aunt Yun, her voice lowering, “Aunt Yun, you have always treated me well. As long as you stop interfering in the Sixth Prince’s affairs and stop trying to seize the throne and seek revenge, I will definitely find an antidote for you and take care of you as a junior until the end.”

“Qing’er, I underestimated you!” Aunt Yun seemed to have calmed down from her shock. Her voice was faint, revealing nothing but deep sorrow.

"..." Zhao Yiqing turned her face away, and after a long while, she said, "The First Prince is my distant cousin, and the Empress is my aunt. Even if our Zhao family doesn't care about politics, we still understand the principle of shared prosperity and shared ruin. The Fourth Prince and I were betrothed even before we were born. It's just that you've been too obsessed with revenge all these years, which is why you can't see clearly. I never went to the Prince's mansion to gather information for you. Originally, if the Sixth Prince were just an ordinary mortal, it wouldn't have been inappropriate for us to keep him around out of respect for you. Who knew he would be the adopted son of the number one manor in the world, that renowned divine physician. Your Majesty..." "He's really getting senile. I don't know where he got this news, but he actually wants to pass the throne to him! Forcing us to take drastic measures. Aunt Yun, all those connections you've cultivated, apart from Fu Li who genuinely wants to help you, are all just doing it out of respect for the Zhao family. Speaking of which, I really have to thank you. If you hadn't lured the Sixth Prince out of the territory of the Number One Manor, if you hadn't schemed to get Fu Li to lead troops to force him back to Qin, we wouldn't have been able to touch this thorn in

our side." She then turned to another person and said, "Sixth Prince, although you're clever, sending people to investigate me, unfortunately, in just a few months, how much do you think you can find out? And although you appear cold to Aunt Yun, you actually trust and respect this aunt quite a bit. Once Aunt Yun makes a scene, you're helpless."

He quietly looked back at her, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her words.

"Hahahaha..." Aunt Yun suddenly raised her head and laughed loudly, "So, all these years, everything I've done has been in vain." "Haha, how laughable and pathetic! Now I've lost Fu Li's life and dragged Ao'er down with me. What face do I have left to live?" As she spoke, she suddenly coughed up several mouthfuls of foul blood, her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground. Her nephew called out several times without response. Finally, after a long while, he pulled a bracelet from his robes, beckoned to Zhao Yiqing, and said with a scattered gaze, "Qing'er, come here. This is a bracelet I had someone buy for me in a foreign land. I originally intended to give it to you when you became Ao'er's wife, but now it seems… even in this state, you are still the child I've raised for over ten years. Thinking back, Aunt Yun has also wronged your mother. Many things were done by Aunt Yun's own arrogance… The victor is king, the loser is villain. I don't blame you for what happened. But Aunt Yun wants to personally put this jade bracelet on your wrist, as Aunt Yun's last gift to you." "

Each word was spoken with a mournful, desperate tone.

After several such cries, Zhao Yiqing was somewhat moved. She hesitated for a moment, then finally got down from Qin Wei's arms and slowly walked towards Aunt Yun. When she was still a meter away, she stopped and stretched out her hand. A jade bracelet, its cool touch sliding against her skin, landed on her wrist. Suddenly, her body lurched forward. Before she could even cry out, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen as a sharp sword plunged deep into her stomach. She stared at Aunt Yun in shock, her eyes filled with a complex mix of fear and dread.

"You wretch! I poured my heart and soul into you in the Zhao mansion, clearing away everyone who stood in your way, and you turn around and do this to me!" Aunt Yun's cold voice rang in Zhao Yiqing's ears. "The underworld is cold; come and join me!"

"You..." She stared, opened her mouth, but only managed to utter a single word before she breathed her last.

"Shoot the arrows! Kill them all! Leave no one alive!" "Qin Wei, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, suddenly shouted.

His words had barely left his lips when dozens of crossbows fired simultaneously, raining down arrows from all directions

. He grabbed Aunt Yun, leaped into the air, and jumped to the second floor, dodging the hail of arrows. Although he hadn't uttered a word since then, his face was terrifyingly cold.

"Chase them! Don't let a single one escape!" shouted the burly man below, immediately leading a group of men to rush towards the second floor.

Then, the clash of weapons, the slicing of flesh, and the screams of agony rose and fell… He single-handedly fought against a hundred, blocking the stairwell from above, managing to stop the Qin soldiers charging up the stairs, preventing them from taking even a single step to the second floor.

"Give me the arrows, fire!" Qin Wei's voice rang out again, and more than a hundred archers suddenly surged in from below. Upon receiving the order, over two hundred crossbows fired simultaneously at the second floor, creating a hail of arrows. He scooped up Aunt Yun and retreated back to the inner courtyard on the second floor.

"Second Young Master, over here, over here..." At the corner of the pavilion, his sleeve was tugged, and Lin De's anxious voice came through.

"Why are you still here? Didn't we tell you to leave first?" He questioned Lin De and his four guards.

"If Second Young Master doesn't leave, we dare not leave!" they all said in unison. Lin De, even more stubborn, took Aunt Yun from his arms, carried her on his back, and pulled him forward. "There's a secret passage here, Second Young Master, please come with me."

"Second Young Master, take care!" "The four guards let out a tragic roar and charged back with their swords, fighting the Qin soldiers who were chasing after them.

As soon as the three entered the secret passage, Lin De immediately sealed the entrance. It wasn't until they exited the secret passage, boarded the prepared carriage, and were safely transferred to a safe place that Lin De noticed that the silent Second Young Master was in very bad shape.

"Second Young Master, what happened to your eyes?"

He touched the corner of his eye, and a wet liquid flowed from it, carrying a faint smell of blood. He frowned, took out a pill from his pocket, and swallowed it with water. After a moment, the bleeding in his eyes slowly stopped, but his vision was still blurry. He turned his ear and asked, "How is Aunt Yun?"

"No, not good!" Lin De choked out.

He fumbled for a towel in the carriage, wet it, and pressed it against his face to wash away the bloodstains. Then he helped Aunt Yun, who was lying on the ground, to sit up and gently called her name.

After a long while, Aunt Yun slowly regained consciousness. She looked up at her nephew, gently stroking his cheek, and said weakly, "I'm so sorry to my sister. Not only did I not keep her dying wish to take you away from Qin forever, but I also had to personally send you there, bringing these demons upon you. I'm also sorry to Master Pei. I promised him I would never come looking for you again, but my selfish desire was to avenge my sister. No, perhaps all I did was to vent my own anger. In the end, I ruined your hard-won peaceful life. This must be my retribution; my broken promise has finally been punished by heaven."

"Aunt Yun, please stop!" His voice was hoarse, and bloody tears began to flow again from the corners of his eyes, which he had already wiped clean.

Aunt Yun, however, seemed completely blind to the bloody tears dripping onto her cheeks. Her eyes were bloodshot and unfocused.

“Ao’er, speaking of which, I haven’t even met your wife yet! You like her so much, yet you never bring her to me to see. Aunt Yun doesn’t even know what kind of girl she is…” As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, and her hand slowly fell to her sides…

“Aunt Yun…” Lin De looked at Aunt Yun, who was stiff and motionless in his arms, and burst into tears.

Aunt Yun was not buried in Luoxiang, but rather in a mountain valley dozens of miles away from Luoxiang, along with her mother’s cenotaph. There, the plum blossom array he had planted served as a barrier, ensuring that no one could disturb their peace.

The poison in his body deepened, affecting not only his eyesight but also his limbs and bones. His body gradually became numb, and eventually, his movements became clumsy. He had tried several times to climb Mount Ling to pick the Red Lotus, but each time he died before achieving his goal, collapsing from exhaustion halfway through the journey. Afterward, in his delirium, he seemed to have said something, and he seemed to have encountered someone along the way, but he couldn’t remember anything.

But, in a hazy state, he seemed to hear Xiaolei crying… As the soft sobs began, an indescribable emotion, sharper than poison, pierced his heart, tearing it apart piece by piece.

Don't cry… Xiaolei… Be good, don't cry anymore… Xiaolei…

Master

! “Hmm!” Pei Xiaolei groaned softly, waking up in excruciating pain. She moved, accidentally aggravating her wound, and a burning pain immediately shot through her shoulder. She frowned and looked down, seeing a thick new bandage wrapped around her shoulder, a faint herbal scent emanating from it. Seeing that the bleeding seemed to have stopped, she breathed a sigh of relief. However, her head still felt heavy and she was somewhat dizzy.

“You're awake?” A familiar voice came from above. Turning her head, she looked in the direction of the voice and found herself wrapped in a thick blanket, nestled in Neng Shang's arms.

Ancient roads were far from smooth. Even on official roads, one inevitably encountered potholes and rough surfaces, let alone on the narrow paths they were now traveling on. The carriage bounced violently, making a constant "clattering" sound. Yet, amidst this jolting and swaying, she slept soundly. Besides her own exhaustion, Neng Shang, who had been holding her and using himself as a human cushion, deserved immense credit.

"Mmm! Shang!" She nodded, forcing a pale smile, and responded softly.

The little fox curled up beside her heard the sound, its fluffy red ears twitched, it raised its little head, and with a leap of its chubby little legs, jumped high onto Neng Shang's arm that was holding her. It chirped a few times at her, then lowered its head to lick Pei Xiaolei's cheek, making her pale face all wet. Neng Shang couldn't stand it and tried to shoo it away several times, but it persisted, jumping and leaping about relentlessly. Only after Pei Xiaolei coughed softly did it obediently jump down, curling up in a ball on the stool closest to her, continuing to radiate warmth.

Looking at the little fox, Pei Xiaolei's mind went blank. She sat up abruptly, glanced around, and exclaimed, "Where's Da Xiong? Oh no, I forgot Da Xiong on Mount Ling!"

"Don't move! Just lie there, the bleeding from your wound has only just stopped!" Neng Shang pulled her arm back, immediately pressing her down, adjusting his position, and holding her even closer, saying, "It's here!" Then, with a wave of his hand, the wind lifted the curtain of the carriage. Pei Xiaolei looked through the curtain and saw a large black bear sitting steadily next to the coachman. This curious creature was constantly looking around, occasionally nuzzling against the coachman like a child, or curiously poking his arm with a melon seed. The pitiful coachman, his face ashen, was clearly trembling with fear, yet he remained dutifully at his post, feigning composure as he drove the carriage. Pei Xiaolei stared in disbelief.

"On my way to Mount Ling, I saw it sitting on the sand below a cliff, clutching a bunch of flowers. It would take a bite of a flower, its eyes welling with tears, glancing up at the cliff top, looking utterly pitiful. I guessed it was the big black bear Ruomei mentioned, the one that climbed Mount Ling with you! It's very clever and amusing. As soon as I introduced myself and explained my purpose, it started rolling on the ground, paws in the air, until I told it to go down the mountain and wait for us. It did, however, give me the rope it had wrapped around its body!" With that, the fox-like man narrowed his eyes, pointed to the rope on the nearby table, and chuckled softly.

Pei Xiaolei listened, recalling the scene, and couldn't help but smile as well. Looking up at the coachman beside Da Xiong, she felt he was in danger and pitiful, so she called out, "Da Xiong! Come here!" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was soft and gentle enough for Da Xiong to hear clearly.

"Awoo..." Da Xiong turned around at the sound of her voice, blinked his big, dark eyes at her, and let out an excited cry. He immediately abandoned the poor coachman beside him and climbed into the carriage.

Da Xiong was very happy to see her awake. He brought his big, dark eyes close to her face, about to stick out his tongue and lick her face, but was stopped by Neng Shang, who was prepared. He was displeased, but didn't make a move. He just looked at Pei Xiaolei in his arms and pitifully let out a few "Awoo Awoo..." cries.

Pei Xiaolei smiled and said, "Stay in the carriage, don't tease the coachman outside! I'm injured, you have to be good!"

Da Xiong glanced at her pale face, then at Neng Shang beside her, let out a soft "Awooo," lowered his head, and obediently lay down at Neng Shang's feet. The little fox curled up on the bench half-opened its eyes, glanced at the large black bear that had suddenly barged in, yawned softly, and then lowered its head to continue sleeping.

Inside the carriage, two humans, a fox, and a black bear, although it seemed a bit crowded, the scene was quite harmonious.

Pei Xiaolei was only briefly awake, asking Neng Shang a few questions intermittently, before collapsing back into a deep sleep in Neng Shang's arms, exhausted.

When she woke up again, it was three days later. An elderly man over seventy years old was sitting by her bedside, taking her pulse.

"Grandmaster?" she exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked at the old man sitting by the bedside.

The old man seemed to have anticipated her waking up at this time. He glanced at her, his expression devoid of any gentleness, and immediately began to scold, "Lei girl, do you really like to joke with your own life?!"

"Your grand-disciple wouldn't dare!" Pei Xiaolei had just woken up and was already being scolded by her grandmaster. Although her head was still a bit fuzzy and disoriented, she knew to quickly get out of bed, put on her clothes and shoes, and kneel respectfully before her ancestor, Zeng Hengzi. With this movement, she was pleasantly surprised to find that most of her pain and discomfort had subsided. She subtly circulated her internal energy, and sure enough, her internal energy flowed smoothly and even her internal injuries had healed. Overjoyed at being fully recovered, she looked up and smiled, "Thank you, Grandmaster!"

Zeng Hengzi's heart softened at her gratitude, so he stopped arguing with her and waved his hand to change the subject, saying, "But Lei'er, it seems that your long journey has not only helped you get rid of that strange skill, but also given you several quite mellow internal energies. You can now skillfully use the internal energy your parents gave you back then?"

Pei Xiaolei nodded and said, "Yes! Senior Brother has already taught me how to circulate and utilize this internal energy."

Zeng Hengzi smiled and said, "Xiao Yizi is always reliable. By the way, where did you and Xiao Sizi go a few months ago? The manor was in an uproar looking for you two."

Pei Xiaolei didn't want to waste time on this topic, and only briefly said that she and Xingwen had been accidentally swept away by water into the deep mountains and were tied up for several months. Before Zeng Hengzi could ask the next question, she changed the subject and asked urgently, "Grandmaster, what about Second Senior Brother...?"

To everyone's surprise, Zeng Hengzi's white eyebrows furrowed upon hearing the name of this master and disciple he usually doted on, and he said impatiently, "He's fine. He drank the Red Lotus Water, which neutralized all the poison, and he's woken up. He's just a little weak and is resting next door. He won't die." Then his voice became heavy, and he shouted, "I've only been in seclusion for a few years, and you disciples and grand-disciples have already grown wings, each one more unruly than the last!"

"Grand-disciple wouldn't dare!" she immediately lowered her head, kneeling with dignified authority.

"What else are you afraid of?" Zeng Hengzi suddenly slammed his hand on the table, angrily rebuking, "My two disciples, including your father, were both exceptional individuals, yet they both died young because of 'love,' wasting all their talents. And you? You've always been aloof and cold-hearted. I thought that after this trip, you'd experienced some things and wouldn't be as confused about love as your parents. I never imagined you'd not only learned it all, but even gone too far. The Number One Manor in the World is now down to just you. Your grandfather, parents, and all the departments within the manor have gone to great lengths to preserve your bloodline. If something really happens to you because of this scoundrel, how can you face them? What about the hundred-year history of the Number One Manor in the World?" "Do you still care about the foundation? What about the millions of ordinary people on this land who depend on the Pei family for their livelihood? Don't you care about their fate? Your parents brought Xiao Dazi and the other children back with such care and attention, hoping they would protect you and give you wings. If these four grown men can't even protect a little girl like you, and you have to work tirelessly for them, then what's the use of my No. 1 Manor raising them for decades?"

Although Pei Xiaolei was very unhappy with her husband's words, filial piety was paramount. She clenched her fist and ultimately held back, saying only, "Grandmaster, the matter of climbing Mount Ling was due to my recklessness and lack of foresight; it has absolutely nothing to do with Second Senior Brother."

"Absolutely no connection?" Zeng Hengzi sneered and asked, "Little Erzi, do you know who it is?"

Pei Xiaolei raised her head and answered clearly, "I know, my second senior brother is the sixth prince of Qin!"

"Very good. Do you remember how your eldest senior uncle and your grandfather died?"

"Qin sent spies to steal the secrets of my Mu tribe, causing the wrongful deaths of my eldest and second senior uncles, the expulsion of my third senior uncle, and my grandfather fell ill and died within half a year!"

"Do you remember what oath I swore at your grandfather's bedside?" Zeng Hengzi continued, his voice even lower.

Pei Xiaolei looked into Zeng Hengzi's eyes and said, "You said you would kill all the royal family of Qin!"

"Very good. You saved him once with the Red Lotus, which can be considered as severing his connection with the Number One Manor in the World. After you have rested, do this for your grandmaster!" After saying that, he put down a dagger on the table.

Pei Xiaolei glanced at the gleaming white dagger, her delicate brows furrowing. "Second Senior Brother isn't a member of the Qin royal family."

"Oh?" Zeng Hengzi's voice rose slightly as she stared at her.

Pei Xiaolei shifted her body, slowly standing up. She raised her head, meeting Zeng Hengzi's gaze directly. Her voice deepened, and she said, word by word, "He is my husband, Pei Xiaolei's husband!"

"Girl, do you intend to defy me?" Her voice turned icy, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

"Xiaolei wouldn't dare!" Though she said that, her eyes showed no sign of backing down. She then suddenly asked, "Excuse me, does Grandmaster still remember the 'blood oath'?"

"The blood oath? Of course I remember!" Zeng Hengzi's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, "Xiaolei, have you found the blood oath?"

Pei Xiaolei pursed her lips, only smiling and not answering. After keeping the old ancestor in suspense, she said, "Grandmaster and the elders often say that if you hadn't been careless back then, Grandpa wouldn't have had to be coerced by the King of Chu to write that blood oath to protect you, which forced Grandpa's grand plan to be abandoned halfway. You also said that whoever could retrieve the blood oath, you would grant him one wish. Is that right?" "

Yes, being forced to write that blood oath was the biggest mistake and shame of our lives. Whoever can find the blood oath, whatever he wants, we will grant him."

"Grandmaster..." she said easily, drawing out her voice.

"Where's the blood letter, girl? Tell me quickly!" she asked anxiously.

"I've already burned the blood letter!" she said, shrugging.

"What? Burned it?" Zeng Hengzi's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets.

Suddenly, with a "bang," the door was kicked open, and an old woman rushed in, grabbing Zeng Hengzi's hand and pointing urgently at a compass, saying, "It's true, old man! Look, the blood letter is really gone!"

The old woman carefully placed the compass on the table, pointing to the chaotic four-turn needle on the compass for Zeng Hengzi to see. After a while, Zeng Hengzi suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily, shouting, "It's gone! It's really gone!" Then he turned around and patted Pei Xiaolei's shoulder, praising, "Girl, well done! You truly are my good grand-disciple."

Uh... Pei Xiaolei was startled, not by Zeng Hengzi's change of expression, but by the old woman who had suddenly barged in.

After her parents' sudden passing, her health deteriorated rapidly. Although several senior disciples assisted with the affairs of the manor, many decisions were delayed because they were often scattered and unable to handle matters promptly. In particular, many confidential matters required the immediate review and processing of the manor lord or trusted confidants. Especially at that time, having just grieving the loss of her parents, Pei Xiaolei, upon assuming the position of manor lord, immediately used various pretexts to send away her senior disciples one by one. Afterwards, she suffered a severe illness. Although she miraculously survived, her health plummeted, rendering her completely unable to manage the overwhelming affairs of the manor.

Everyone initially assumed Pei Xiaolei would bring back her four sons-in-law to help with the affairs, but unexpectedly, the seriously ill Pei Xiaolei personally visited and begged several elders who had helped her grandfather establish the manor to form an elders' council to handle some of the manor's affairs. These elderly men were all unfathomable figures, all of whom had fought alongside her grandfather, Pei Jianxun, to establish the number one manor in the land. Some were Pei Jianxun's sworn brothers, some were his close friends, and some were his personal attendants and guards… Although they had begun to live semi-secluded lives after Pei Jianxun's death, none dared to show the slightest disrespect to these founders, legendary figures, and descendants of the number one manor. Furthermore, the manor lord's family treated these elders with utmost respect, making their status in the manor almost equivalent to that of an emperor emeritus.

Zeng Hengzi, being Pei Jianxun's sworn brother and Pei Xiaolei's mother's master, held an even more extraordinary position in the manor. Coupled with his unconventional and extraordinary abilities, high martial arts skills, and handsome appearance… the admiration for him was even more fervent and enduring. The old woman before them was Zeng Hengzi's wife. Besides being a member of the Elder Council, she was also the one who taught Xiao Niangzi and Pei Xiaolei various esoteric arts.

"Grandmother, you...you've come too?" Seeing the newcomer, she was so surprised she stammered. If she remembered correctly, this woman had been rumored to have stayed within the manor since its founding, never leaving even a step. What kind of extraordinary hurricane had brought her here? The old woman

put the compass back into her sleeve, pulled Zeng Hengzi to sit on a stool beside her, looked at Pei Xiaolei, and said in a deep voice, "Lei'er, kneel down!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Xiaolei dared not delay and immediately knelt down again with a thud.

"We old folks came out to support you back then, firstly because your health was too weak, and secondly because we needed to find the blood-written letter. We couldn't sleep soundly until that letter was found. Now that you're much better, and the letter has been burned, our two worries are gone. This manor should be returned to you young people." With that,
he pulled a seal from his sleeve, symbolizing the Elder Council of the Number One Manor under Heaven, and handed it to Pei Xiaolei.

Pei Xiaolei hesitated for a moment, then resolutely raised her hand to accept it respectfully, saying, "This grand-disciple will certainly follow the teachings of our masters and revitalize the Pei family!" With the cold, heavy seal in her hand, all the power of the Number One Manor under Heaven, along with this seal, was once again entirely in her grasp.

The old woman looked at her and said again, "Girl, if Xiao Erzi were just your husband, and now your man has been poisoned and framed, what would you do?"

Pei Xiaolei raised her head, her eyes slightly narrowed, and her clear, cold voice rang out in a low voice from her throat: "Kill them!"

"Good!" Zeng Hengzi, who was standing nearby, slammed his hand on the table and shouted. He personally bent down and helped Pei Xiaolei up, saying solemnly, "The cause your fathers did not complete is now entrusted to you to finish on their behalf! Ten thousand elite soldiers from the Zhili Elder Council have been deployed outside. They have been trained for a thousand days, and they will be used in this moment. How to use these people is up to you, Lei'er!"

"Yes!" Pei Xiaolei nodded.

"Alright, alright, old man, Lei'er has just woken up. Let's not disturb her rest any longer. Come with me for a walk!" Seeing that everything was settled, the old woman wanted to pull her husband away.

Zeng Hengzi ignored her words and shouted, "I just woke up, what are you resting for? Girl, come here, your master will teach you some more things..."

"You're not leaving, are you? Fine, this old woman will leave by herself!" The old woman's words were cold as she turned and walked out.

Zeng Hengzi shuddered. He was fearless, but he was a little afraid of his wife. Now that he saw his wife leave with a strange expression, he didn't dare to stay any longer. He immediately chased after her, calling out, "Madam, don't walk so fast... wait for me, wait... wait..." As soon as he

stepped out of the room, he saw Neng Shang standing at the door with a medicinal meal. He didn't know how long he had been standing there, but his hair and clothes were covered with a thick layer of snow.

"What are you still standing there for? Go inside!" Zeng Hengzi looked at Neng Shang's fox-like eyes, which were staring at him with a half-smile, and suddenly felt his old face was being shrewdly shrugged. He immediately roared angrily, turned around, and chased after his wife, shouting as he ran. His voice was completely different from his previous angry outburst; it was now incredibly obsequious.

"Madam, didn't we agree that one of us would play the bad cop and the other the good cop? Why are you stealing my lines?" Zeng Hengzi followed his wife, carefully choosing his words.

"And you still dare to talk! What do you mean by 'doing this for our master's sake'? You old fool, you actually encouraged Lei to kill Xiao Erzi! You're ruthless!"

"If we don't use drastic measures, how can we see their true feelings for each other!"

"A potent medicine?" The old woman smiled disdainfully, exposing his shameful past. "I don't know who it was, but as soon as they heard that Xiao Erzi had been ambushed, they abandoned their training and seclusion, and immediately mustered ten thousand elite soldiers to come and kill him!"

Zeng Hengzi scratched his head, chuckling somewhat sheepishly, and explained, "My medical skills still depend on Xiao Erzi to pass them down to me. If something happens to him, where am I going to find such a talented grand-disciple to inherit my mantle? Talented people are easy to find, but genius is hard to come by. Back when I was..." He rambled on, getting into his story, but then he noticed that his wife's expression remained indifferent, seemingly... Having no intention of sharing his joy, he changed the subject, fawningly leaning closer to his wife, "But, old woman, our girl is really something else. Not only did she dare to defy me, she even dared to use a blood oath to negotiate with me. That aura, that courage, she really has a bit of Old Man Pei's style..."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's face softened, instantly blossoming into boundless joy. She raised her head proudly, saying, "Of course! You see who taught this girl? And today, your acting was so full of flaws. As soon as Lei realized what she was doing, she knew how to turn the tables and play tricks on you."

"Nonsense, what flaws? I was just too happy to hear the blood oath was gone. And you're criticizing me? You were just as happy as I was, rushing in! You're both equally bad, so don't judge each other!" "Hmm? What are

you talking about? Who's equally bad?" The old woman's voice rose slightly, and she stopped.

"No, I didn't say anything..." Zeng Hengzi was taken aback, then immediately chuckled and tried to cover it up, stopping in his tracks with an extremely fawning expression. He took the opportunity to reach out and hold his wife's small hand in his palm, continuing to mutter, "Madam, did you notice? Just now, when Pei girl said 'kill them,' her expression, her tone, it was exactly the same as old man Pei's when he was young..."

"That's right, don't you think..."

Deep in the plum grove, two white-haired old people, hand in hand, walked away, bickering noisily... March 7th - Nengshang,

the little fox

, carried the medicinal meal into the room. Pei Xiaolei was sitting on a stool, brushing the dust off her knees. Seeing him put down the meal and walk towards her, she smiled faintly and said, "How was it? I handled it well, didn't I?"

Instead of praising her as expected, Nengshang shook his head in disagreement, saying, "It was good, but you didn't have to go overboard. You can kneel, but did you have to kneel so hard? I could hear the sound of your knees hitting the ground clearly from outside!" After saying that, he took a large cotton coat from the side and wrapped her up tightly, continuing to complain, "It's so cold, why didn't you wear more clothes!"

It was rare for Pei Xiaolei to see him act like such a mother hen. She suppressed a smile in her beautiful eyes and let him nag until Nengshang took her back to bed and was about to roll up her trouser legs to check if her knees were bruised or injured. She stopped his hands, laughing, "I'm fine. I was all bark and no bite just now, trying to be clever with my sincerity. My master isn't stupid; he knows the gravity of my kneeling. But, hehe... he just loves this kind of thing!" Then her gaze shifted to Neng Shang's feet, her playful expression fading as she asked worriedly, "How are your feet? Are they badly injured?"

Neng Shang readily took off his shoes, revealing his toes for her to see.

His fair feet, aside from a few scattered red marks, showed no signs of injury.

"This... your feet are clearly injured!" Pei Xiaolei was astonished by the sight. On Mount Ling, she had clearly seen her third senior brother's shoes pierced, blood staining the sharp stones. Wait a minute, she blinked, immediately unbuttoning her clothes and looking down at her shoulders. Sure enough, the wound on her shoulder was gone, only some newly grown flesh showing a faint red tinge.

"What happened?" she asked, looking up at Neng Shang.

Neng Shang stared at the exposed skin on her shoulders for a while before regaining his composure. He helped her adjust her collar, then, worried she might be cold, pulled the blanket over half of her body before explaining, "The little fox you brought back, its blood mixed with the black liquid in the bottle you brought back, can create a magical medicine. Applying it to wounds can quickly cause them to scab over and heal. My master said that in a few days, even these red marks will disappear, and the injured areas will be completely undetectable."

"So magical?" She took the small bottle Neng Shang handed her, opened the cap, and sniffed it. Sure enough, it had a familiar grassy scent. "I found it strange before. This black liquid seems poisonous, but it didn't affect me at Mount Ling."

"This black sap isn't poisonous to us ordinary people, but it affects the plants and animals on Mount Ling. It's probably related to the soil there. The few flowers and small spiders that the big black bear brought back from Mount Ling withered and died after ingesting this black sap."

"No wonder those spiders were so afraid of me. After the sap in my backpack was spilled, they didn't dare come near me again. Those who died on Mount Ling probably ate the flowers or small animals there and then came into contact with the venom, which is why they died. This also explains why the people who died on the road were scattered in various places." Following this conclusion, Pei Xiaolei sorted out her thoughts, and suddenly the reasons for some of the inconsistencies she encountered on Mount Ling became clear. Knowing that this bottle of medicine was hard-won, she carefully wrapped it in cotton cloth and put it in the drawer. After speaking, she

looked up and happened to see a splash of fiery red entering from outside the door. Her eyes curved into a smile. With a gentle beckoning of her hand, she said, "Fox, come here!" The little creature's ears twitched, and it immediately darted towards her, leaping accurately into her arms with a powerful kick. Pei Xiaolei chuckled and hugged the fluffy little fireball tightly. The little creature arched its body, stretched, and a wave of heat emanated from its fur, warming the room cozy. Pei Xiaolei was amused by its appearance and affectionately stroked the fox's fiery red fur. The little creature, feeling very comfortable, yawned and then lay down on Pei Xiaolei's lap, falling asleep with a soft "snoring."

Pei Xiaolei looked up at Neng Shang beside her and smiled, "It seems we've brought back an extraordinary fox!"

Neng Shang nodded and also affectionately stroked her slightly messy hair with his hand. His movements were very gentle, as if he were touching a rare treasure; the slight touch was ticklish and tingling. Pei Xiaolei lowered her head, her delicate face slightly flushed, and for some reason, she suddenly felt embarrassed.

Neng Shang leaned closer, lifting her blushing cheeks, and gently touched her lips before slowly deepening the kiss. It was intense, yet devoid of any lust, only a deep longing lingering between their lips.

After a long while, with their breathing becoming increasingly heavy, he reluctantly ended the deep kiss.

"I missed you so much!" he whispered, stroking her head and gazing into her misty, bright eyes.

She stared blankly at him, still breathing heavily, her chest heaving, her mind still reeling from the intense kiss. It wasn't until the little fox, who had fallen asleep on her lap, let out an uncomfortable whimper that she snapped out of her daze. She quickly moved the fox to the bedside table, draped it with cotton wool, and the little creature, half-opening one eye wearily, glanced at Pei Xiaolei, curled up, and fell into a deep sleep again.

After this commotion, Pei Xiaolei realized her face was burning hot, even her ears were flushed. She placed her hands on her cheeks, her heart pounding wildly. Having not seen her third senior brother for months, this sudden, intimate kiss stirred a strange feeling within her, somewhat like first love—a bittersweet longing, a fear of separation. It was truly strange; despite their already intimate relationship, her heart had suddenly been thrown into turmoil, making her feel love for the first time once more.

"What's wrong? Your face is suddenly so red? Are you feeling unwell?" Neng Shang looked at her cheeks, which were suddenly getting redder and redder, and became very nervous. He quickly reached out to touch her forehead.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, it's just, um, I suddenly feel a little hot!" She pulled his hand off her forehead and hurriedly covered it up. For some reason, she felt her breathing become a little short, and the temperature on her face didn't drop at all, but instead rose even higher. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of her body. This couldn't go on. She lowered her head slightly, threw back the covers, and tried to get out of bed, changing the subject, "I'll go check on Second Senior Brother!"

Neng Shang, however, wasn't buying it. He pressed her back onto the bed, covering her completely with the thick blankets, and then felt her forehead before stopping her, saying, "You should rest well and recover. Second Senior Brother only briefly regained consciousness a couple of days ago when he was given the Red Lotus Water. Since then, he's been in a deep sleep. Our master said he was severely poisoned, damaging his spleen and lungs. We shouldn't disturb him; let him recover slowly in his sleep. This is best for his recovery!"

Hearing this, Pei Xiaolei felt relieved, and the flush on her face gradually faded. Seeing that she didn't have a fever, Neng Shang breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn't relax. Instead, he pulled her tightly into his arms, his hands gripping her so tightly it felt like he wanted to melt her into his own flesh and blood. He held her like this for a long while, until the woman in his arms was almost breathless from his embrace, before he finally released her, slightly widening the distance between them. Looking down into her eyes, he said, "That day on Mount Ling, you almost scared me to death! Just now, our master's reprimand was absolutely right. If the four of us men combined can't even protect you, what use are we? Promise me you won't act recklessly like that again. For us, nothing is more important than your safety. You don't need to worry about anything anymore. No matter how big the problem, we'll take care of it for you. Whatever you want, whatever you desire, we'll get it for you. Just stay healthy and happy, smiling peacefully, that's enough!"

Pei Xiaolei shook her head, smiled gently, and said: "I'm not a clay doll, I won't break at the slightest touch!" she said, leaning into Nengshang's arms, taking his hand and intertwining her fingers tightly, murmuring softly, "Over the years, you've always protected me and cherished me. Although I've distanced myself from you time and time again, you've never strayed from me even a step. Before, I could only stand helplessly in the distance, watching you toil for me. Those days may have seemed peaceful, but I often felt cold inside! Driving you away from my side was like driving away the warmth in my own heart! Now, finally, all those concerns are gone, and now, I really don't want to be too far away from you! I also hope that I can do something for you!"

"Have you done enough for us? Over the years, while you were at the manor, how many things did you shield us brothers from? Do you want me to recite them all to you?" A pair of fox-like eyes stared intently at her, a deep undercurrent of emotion surging within them.

Pei Xiaolei was startled and stared at him blankly for a while. Knowing he was serious, she fluttered her long eyelashes, half-closed her eyes, shook her head, and said softly, "How can what I do compare to what you do!"

Neng Shang then pulled her into his arms with a sudden force, and chuckled, "Silly girl, we're husband and wife! How can we be so calculating and separate? We're not doing business!"

"But..."

"No buts!" Neng Shang rolled over, lifted the blanket, and crawled under her, pressing her down beneath him. He lowered his head and kissed her, swallowing her words and tongue. Their lips and tongues intertwined, and the air around them suddenly became rapid and ambiguous. This skillful French kiss made Pei Xiaolei feel dizzy and lightheaded. His kisses moved from her lips to her earlobe, his breath light as he spoke. One hand, somehow, slipped inside her clothes, his slightly cool palm accurately covering her firm breasts. As the kisses on her neck grew more frequent, his hand began to wander, kneading and shaping her fullness in various ways, lightly and heavily.

"Let's do what a husband and wife do!" his voice was low, brimming with barely concealed desire.

"Mmm!" She wanted to refuse, but a soft sigh escaped her throat. Her mind knew it was inappropriate, but her body responded uncontrollably to his teasing, slowly unfolding itself for him.

Soon, amidst her contradictory resistance, her clothes were loosened layer by layer, revealing him between her legs. His mouth greedily nibbled and sucked at her breasts, while his other hand moved along her breasts, down her navel, past her lower abdomen, slowly reaching inside her trousers. With the movement of his fingertips, a familiar desire rose within her.

"Mmm..." She breathed comfortably, reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck, her body arching slightly as she involuntarily yielded.

Her dazed eyes suddenly brightened. She quickly withdrew her hand, placing it back under the covers, and pressed down on Neng Shang's fingers, which were trying to penetrate her trousers further. Pei Xiaolei stared at the man on top of her with hazy eyes, took a deep breath, and as if gathering considerable courage, said seriously, "Shang, now... don't!"

Neng Shang's fox-like eyes narrowed slightly, he sighed, and finally withdrew his hand from her trousers. He bent over and slowly and meticulously rearranged her clothes, one by one, before getting out of bed. After straightening his own clothes and putting on his shoes, he turned around and lifted the little fox, whose claws were tightly clenched on his shoulder, baring his teeth

and making a fuss. His face was dark and slightly bluish. Pei Xiaolei, seeing this, had long since lost all sense of humor and burst into laughter, burying her face in the pillow.

Neng Shang, helpless, stared at the heartless woman on the bed, then at the little fox he was holding, still baring its teeth at him. He was furious and extremely frustrated.

"Xiao Lei, you must be hungry too. I'll heat up the medicinal food first! Just kill this fox, it'll be extra for you!" He said through gritted teeth, then picked up the tray from the table with one hand and the troublesome little fox with the other, and walked out looking annoyed.

"Third Senior Brother, please do as you please!" Pei Xiao Lei waved at him, continuing to chuckle to herself on the bed. She wasn't worried about the little fox's safety at all. Even if her Third Senior Brother didn't care about her, he would at least remember their master. Such a precious animal as the little fox was cherished by their master; they would never allow anyone to harm it.

Neng Shang had just left when Ruo Mei followed him in. She had just been startled by the furious Third Young Master as they brushed past each other, and now she saw her young lady curled up on the bed, chuckling incessantly. The contrast between the two was too great, and she was momentarily stunned. After

a while, Pei Xiaolei's order came from the other side of the bed: "Ruomei, prepare hot water, I want to take a bath!" After Pei Xiaolei

bathed and

changed, and after some playful fighting, she was half-coaxed and half-fed by Nengshang into drinking a large bowl of rice porridge mixed with various nourishing medicinal herbs before she was allowed to leave the room.

Several large tents had appeared around the small thatched hut at some point. These past few days, her grandmaster, grandmother, and Nengshang had been staying in these tents, while she and her second senior brother were staying in the only two rooms in the thatched hut. A small path had been cleared in the Plum Blossom Formation, allowing for fast horse travel. The path was very mysterious; instead of breaking the formation, it blended into the Plum Blossom Formation, making it convenient for their own people and more effective in confusing the enemy, thus enhancing the entire formation. Without proper maps and directions, even walking along small paths, outsiders could easily get lost. The only person in the world capable of modifying her formation so effectively, besides her grandmaster, was undoubtedly her great-grandmother. These past

two days, she often sat silently beside her second senior brother, gazing at his sleeping face, lost in thought. Sometimes Shang would sit quietly beside her, sometimes he would meet with generals in the tent. Since entrusting the ten thousand elite troops entrusted to her by her grandmaster to her third senior brother for deployment, she had stopped worrying about battles, focusing solely on tending to the physician's bedside, wondering when he would wake up.

Then one day, a messenger suddenly shouted from afar, "The Qin army has discovered one of our soldiers lurking in Run Kingdom and is now preparing to launch a full-scale attack to annihilate us!" The loud voice startled Zeng Hengzi, who had just returned from a stroll and was examining the physician inside. Zeng Hengzi exclaimed, "Little Erzi is recovering well!" and hurriedly pulled Pei Xiaolei outside.

"Girl, have you ever killed anyone?"

"Yes!"

"Then, have you ever tried killing tens of thousands of people at once?"

"..."

"Come on, let's go see how those bastards are planning to kill tens of thousands of enemies at once!"

When Zeng Hengzi and Pei Xiaolei approached the tent, the generals inside were having a heated discussion. Upon seeing Zeng Hengzi, the generals inside the tent all rose to their feet and saluted. Zeng Hengzi had served in the army for some time, and the generals remembered this unconventional old man. However, they had never seen Pei Xiaolei, who followed Zeng Hengzi in. At first glance, although they were momentarily surprised by her composure and beauty, they quickly categorized her with the group of pretty but fierce maids like Ruomei, assuming she was their young mistress's servant. Military territory was not a place for a mere servant to enter and leave at will. The old man was unconventional, but that didn't mean they could let him run wild. Just as they were about to reprimand him, the commander, the Third Young Master, suddenly stood up from his seat and rushed towards the beautiful maid. His face, previously stern, softened considerably, and he asked in an unusually gentle tone, "Xiaolei, what brings you here!"

Xiaolei? Pei Xiaolei? Young mistress? Master?

Upon hearing this, the generals' minds went blank for a split second. Then, they all knelt down with a thud. Although they had never seen the young lady's face, they had never forgotten the name of their lord, the master of the most powerful manor in the land. But wasn't it said that the master was in poor health and had been resting in his room these past few days? Why was he suddenly here?

"Generals, please rise!" Pei Xiaolei bent down and helped up the eldest deputy general who was kneeling at the front. The others, feeling inferior, dared not accept the young lady's help, but seeing the deputy general rise, they did not dare to refuse and immediately stood up. They then reported their names and positions to the young lady one by one.

Pei Xiaolei was pulled to the head seat by Neng Shang and sat next to him. Zeng Hengzi automatically took the first seat to the left of the head seat, crossed his legs, and watched the generals below, who were completely unmoved by the sudden arrival of these two guests, who were so startled they dared not even breathe. Pei Xiaolei, however, seeing the atmosphere become somewhat tense, smiled and tried to ease the tension, saying, "My master and I are just here to listen in. Everyone can continue the discussion without worrying about us." However, despite these words, the tension in the tent had dissipated considerably due to their arrival. But the absence of tension did not mean compromise or retreat. The conflict between the two factions inside the tent regarding how to fight the battle remained intense.

The two sides held their own opinions and argued for another half hour without reaching a conclusion.

Zeng Hengzi sat in his chair, snoring soundly from exhaustion. Pei Xiaolei had a general understanding of the opinions on both sides. On the left, the generals led by the Third Senior Brother advocated trapping the 20,000 Qin troops encamped in Luoxiang, cutting off their food and water supply, and starving the 30,000 Qin soldiers in Luoxiang to death, achieving the greatest victory with the fewest casualties. On the right, the generals led by Deputy General Chen advocated a swift victory, taking Luoxiang by force, and using the time gained to support the remaining troops lurking in Runguo, quickly clearing out the Qin army and returning to the capital. Furthermore, a messenger had just delivered an urgent report that Qin had dispatched another 150,000 troops to Runguo, seemingly targeting the Number One Manor in the World. This made time even more pressing, and Deputy General Chen's tone became even more forceful.

Pei Xiaolei considered the military strength of both sides. Currently, their own troops lurking in Runguo numbered around 30,000, while the Qin army was roughly twice that number. The Qin army's main force of 30,000 was all in Luoxiang, while they had deployed 20,000 troops hidden around Luoxiang. 20,000 against 30,000 wasn't difficult for the army of the Number One Manor under Heaven; the challenge was that they had to evacuate Runguo before Qin reinforcements arrived. The problem now was that Second Senior Brother's condition wasn't suitable for a long journey, a fact Third Senior Brother understood well, hence the siege tactic. While this method delayed them slightly, it preserved their strength to the greatest extent possible. The tactic itself wasn't bad, but as Deputy General Chen said, time was of the essence. They couldn't afford to fight a numerically superior Qin army, a direct confrontation with the hundreds of thousands of Qin reinforcements.

"What's your opinion, Miss?" Both sides suddenly fell silent, their gazes turning to Pei Xiaolei, who had been pointing at the map silently.

Pei Xiaolei raised her head under the watchful eyes of the crowd and said, "How about we compromise on this matter?"

"May I ask, Miss, what is your compromise?" the generals asked in unison.

“Like this…” Pei Xiaolei pointed to the map and began to explain her ideas.

A moment later, a flicker of excitement appeared in everyone’s eyes. However, just when everyone thought things were settled according to the young lady’s wishes, Deputy General Chen suddenly changed his tune, refusing to take 20,000 troops with him, nearly causing Neng Shang to overturn the table. Only after questioning him did he reveal that the Grand General had ordered that if they found the young lady, they must not leave her side, even at the cost of their lives. Upon hearing that it was the Grand General’s orders, the other generals immediately switched sides.

Seeing this, Pei Xiaolei sighed inwardly. Her senior brother held immense prestige in the army; even if she, the manor lord, ordered a refusal now, it would likely be far from enough to sway the determined generals.

What to do?

Pei Xiaolei thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "Send the order down to Xingwen to lead the Chu army to the border between Qin and Run, and try to hold off the Qin reinforcements there! Tonight, have the spies in Luoxiang prepare to smuggle the grain out of the city immediately. Tomorrow morning, we will begin the siege." She then pulled out a map copied from the Qin general in Luoxiang, spread it on the table, and pointed, "Deputy General Chen, lead 10,000 soldiers to surround the east and west sides of the city. Pay special attention to the hillside behind Luoxiang. The terrain there is treacherous and unpredictable. You can use the terrain to set some traps there, but you must send heavy troops to guard it. The enemy might be desperate and try to escape through this area. There are 2,000 Qin soldiers here and here respectively, responsible for communication and supply transport outside the city. Tonight, you will disguise yourselves as merchants transporting supplies and smuggle in some poisoned rice. And whatever you do, 'replace' these 4,000 men!"

"Remember, everyone, we don't need to pay attention to their provocations. Do not launch an attack on the city. The Qin army has already secretly set many traps around the city gates of Luoxiang. These traps have a range of only about a mile; as long as we don't get close, they can't harm us. We'll start here, placing iron traps scattered in the soil

. Dig several deep trenches here and there to trap the horses' feet. Each vanguard soldier will be equipped with a bronze mirror; if the sunlight is sufficient, use the mirrors to reflect light onto the horses' eyes. Do you all understand?" "Understood!" everyone immediately replied.

"I want immediate results. Since we want this war to end quickly, let's make it as quick as possible! If the Qin soldiers in Luoxiang haven't been reduced enough in two days, then directly mix these medicine powders from our master into their well water. Remember, within five days at most, no matter what method you use, I want every single Qin soldier to disappear from my sight forever!" Pei Xiaolei finished speaking, took the packet of medicine powder her master tossed to her, and placed it on the table.

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys!"

An hour later, outside the tent.

"Girl, you've got a good grasp of poison! Very much like your grandmaster!"

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Since they're so skilled with poison, let's let them try the poison of our Number One Manor and see how it tastes!" Pei Xiaolei said coldly, then her tone shifted, becoming somewhat teasing. "Besides, Grandmaster carries such a large bag of poison powder and dragged me to watch their battle formations—isn't that hoping his grand-disciple will do the same?"

"Hahahaha…Girl, you've become even more amusing in the years! Good, much cuter than before!" Zeng Hengzi laughed, patting her shoulder, looking like he couldn't ask for more from his grand-disciple!

“Using poison may not sound honorable, but war is never a glorious thing. How to achieve the greatest victory with the least sacrifice and reduce casualties among the generals and soldiers below is what we, as those in power, should strive for for those generals and soldiers who charge into battle. No matter how glorious the reputation, it cannot compare to the lives of those precious people.”

“Girl, aren’t you afraid that history will record a grudge against you in the future?” Zeng Hengzi laughed.

Pei Xiaolei tilted her head slightly, gazing at the dazzling crimson plum grove before her, and said, "So-called history is all written by the victors!"

Zeng Hengzi took a step closer to her, placing a book in her palm, and said, "Girl, your grand-grandmother isn't used to life outside. In a little while, I'll be going back to the manor with her, and I'm afraid I won't be able to look after you anymore. Give this book to the second son when he wakes up; it will be good for him. Don't worry about things in the manor; with us old folks here, things won't get chaotic. Outside, do whatever you want, just be careful and don't do anything foolish that will cost you your life. In the past, your grandfather and your parents suffered so much because of that blood-written letter, enduring so many years of hardship and hidden losses. Today, their unfinished business is in your hands!"

Pei Xiaolei nodded, a smile playing on her lips, "Grand-disciple understands!"

...

That afternoon, all the generals left the Plum Blossom Formation to prepare for battle. Grand-grandmother and grand-grandmother went home hand in hand, returning to the Number One Manor under Heaven. As for Da Xiong and Little Fox, it's said they became fast friends after meeting again. That day, Little Fox was angrily tossed aside by Neng Shang, and she landed right in Da Xiong's arms, who was dozing nearby. Somehow, the two of them, through that bump, developed a friendship. Now they often wander off hand-in-hand, sometimes disappearing for an entire day. Soon, the vast Merlin was left with only her, her second senior brother, her third senior brother, Ruomei, and Lin De.

Although Neng Shang was the commander-in-chief, he didn't have many opportunities to fight personally. Many tactical plans were left to Deputy General Chen, a seasoned battlefield veteran, to allocate manpower. He didn't need to be involved in every detail, but he had to arrive at the army early the next morning to join the other generals.

That day, he stayed with Pei Xiaolei in the doctor's room for half an hour before returning to his tent alone.

Half an hour later, Pei Xiaolei arrived at his tent. She found him sitting in a chair, his brow furrowed, lost in thought. A suit of armor lay neatly on the bed, gleaming with a cold white light.

"What's wrong?" she asked, approaching him.

He slowly raised his head, his deep black eyes gazing at her silently.

After a long pause, he softly asked, "Do you love me?"

She opened her mouth, then choked on the question.

"Have you spared any of the attention you give to Second Senior Brother for me?" His voice was faint and soft, as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind.

Seeing that Pei Xiaolei didn't reply, he gave a self-deprecating laugh and continued, "I don't like you getting up in the middle of the night and rushing to Second Senior Brother's room in a panic. I don't like you always secretly hiding away and crying alone. I don't like you thinking of another man when you're beside me… I'm even a little afraid that after Second Senior Brother wakes up, will you still have me in your eyes?"

Pei Xiaolei slowly lowered her head, the light in her eyes dimming. She finally understood why, as her second senior brother's condition improved, her third senior brother's demeanor grew increasingly melancholic. Several times, he would sit beside her, staring blankly at her for half an hour without saying a word. He became very proper, suddenly no longer liking to hug and cuddle her. A few nights, she thought he would come over, but when he did, he would only say goodnight and leave.

Author's Note: Um, my computer monitor broke a few days ago! That delayed the update.
After several days of troubleshooting, I finally got a new LCD screen. Sorry
for keeping everyone waiting for this chapter! So, in the next chapter, would you like to continue the story or something else? /// o(∩_∩)o A moment of jealous silence felt like an eternity.

"Yes!" Large tears welled up in Pei Xiaolei's eyes, dripping onto the ground. She raised her head, reached out to lift the man's cheek, and looked him in the eye. Her voice was low and deep, trembling heavily. "I have you in my heart, always have, and it has never changed for anyone else. I still remember when we were little, you would often sneak out of the village to buy lots of pretty things to coax me into taking my medicine; when I was sick, you would tell me stories by my bedside; during the years I sent you away from the village, every now and then, no matter how busy you were, you would detour to see me, making up silly excuses to tell me you were just coming back to get a change of clothes; I remember how beautiful the blood lotus you gave me was, I remember..." Pei Xiaolei's speech slowed down, her voice became indistinct, and finally, she became incoherent.

"I'm sorry!" Neng Shang's heart softened, and he pulled her into his arms. Her warm tears seeped into his clothes, but it felt like a fire burning in his chest. A moment later, after the woman in his arms had calmed down, he pulled away slightly and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "I don't like you crying! Not at all!"

Pei Xiaolei sniffed, raised her fist, and punched him a few times in the chest. The tears that had just stopped started flowing even more fiercely after those words: "If you don't like it, why do you still make me sad? You clearly know that Second Senior Brother's condition is not optimistic, you clearly know that I am sad, you clearly know that if you say this, I will cry, why do you still say it? Why? Why?"

A series of accusations followed as her fists landed rapidly on Neng Shang's chest, thumping loudly.

Neng Shang stood motionless in front of her, letting her vent her anxiety of the past few days.

Finally, Pei Xiaolei's fists softened, her hands raised high and then gently lowered, and finally, Neng Shang hugged her tightly in his arms again, fists and all.

"I'm sorry!" Neng Shang stroked her long hair and apologized softly.

The soft sobs gradually subsided. She lifted her head in his arms, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Second Senior Brother is ill, so naturally I have to take care of him. That doesn't mean I don't care about you. I don't know who is more important to me, you or me. I've never compared, and I never will. You are you, and Second Senior Brother is Second Senior Brother. No one can replace the other! I'm greedy and domineering. Since I accepted you both, I won't allow you to leave me again. My love is limited; I can only give each of you a little. I can only try my best to do this well, to fulfill my responsibilities as a wife..."

Neng Shang didn't speak, only listened quietly, holding her tightly until the woman in his arms quieted down.

She fell asleep, her soft breathing filling the air. After the crying, the huge weight on her heart seemed to have been lifted with her sobs. For the past month or so, she had been either traveling or killing... her mind had been constantly on edge, and Second Senior Brother's injuries had kept her in a state of constant anxiety. As long as her second senior brother remained asleep, she felt uneasy, often waking in the middle of the night to grope around him in the dark, watching his sleeping face. She always hoped that when he woke up, she could be there for him immediately. Perhaps she was too focused on her second senior brother, inadvertently neglecting her third senior brother, who would get up in the middle of the night to drape a robe over her and silently stay by her side.

She knew she was being unreasonable, taking advantage of her third senior brother's indulgence to vent her anger on him.

Neng Shang gently picked up Pei Xiaolei and placed her on the bed. As he bent down to sit up, he felt a weight on his chest and looked down to find Pei Xiaolei tightly gripping his collar. He tried to pry her fingers open, but after a soft moan in her sleep, she gripped even tighter, leaning against him. He couldn't do anything about it, so he lay down beside her fully clothed, letting her rest her head on his shoulder and sleep soundly against his chest.

She slept very soundly. When they woke up, the sun had already set.

Upon hearing the noise, Ruomei, who had been waiting outside, greeted them softly, "Miss, the Third Young Master's dinner is ready. Would you like to eat?"

Pei Xiaolei stretched, having slept so soundly that her whole body felt limp. Still sleepy and groggy, she yawned and called out, "Keep the dinner warm and boil some water. I want to take a bath!"

Nengshang also sat up, gently moving his numb arm, and called out, "Boil more! I want to take a bath too!"

Ruomei responded and ran off into the distance.

Pei Xiaolei reached out to rub Neng Shang's arm and forearm, asking with concern, "Are you feeling better? Is it still numb?"

Neng Shang shook his head, only smiling at her until he saw her delicate face, before gently stroking a stray hair from her cheek and saying, "I'm fine!"

Pei Xiaolei looked up at the man who had suddenly leaned towards her, opening her mouth to say something, but her lips went limp and were silenced. She blinked, not yet reacting, when a long tongue slipped into her mouth, deftly intertwining with hers. The man's soft lips covered hers, lingering and caressing. Their saliva mingled, their breathing gradually becoming heavy and disordered, the low moans between them growing more rapid.

"I want you!" he said, pressing her down beneath him, his hoarse voice filled with intense desire, his alluring fox-like eyes narrowed.

She was panting heavily, staring blankly at him, clearly still reeling from the intense kiss. Her gaze followed Neng Shang's eyes downwards, her face flushing slightly. Her third senior brother's clothes were disheveled; she had unknowingly pulled down the collar, revealing his well-defined chest muscles.

Neng Shang followed her gaze to himself, a smirk playing on his thin lips, his shrewd fox-like eyes flashing. Suddenly, he lifted himself from her and began to slowly undress. His movements were slow, elegant yet subtly seductive. When he finally removed the last garment, his tanned, muscular skin was faintly visible beneath the thin fabric—simply "sexy."

Pei Xiaolei had truly witnessed the power of a handsome man's charm; she was practically staring wide-eyed as the man before her undressed.

The weather was clearly quite cold, but for some reason, she felt her cheeks were burning.

Suddenly, Neng Shang got up naked, rummaged through the cabinet, found a small wine flask, climbed back onto the bed, gulped down a few mouthfuls himself, and then fed a mouthful of the wine to the woman beneath him.

The wine wasn't strong, around ten degrees, sweet and sour, with a smooth, rounded taste.

"Wine?" The familiar taste brought Pei Xiaolei back to her senses immediately.

Neng Shang's foxy eyes flashed, and he looked at her with some surprise, saying, "You know what kind of wine this is?"

Uh? Pei Xiaolei paused, nodded, and then asked hesitantly, "'Fragrant and spicy, with a delicate and mellow flavor,' this is a top-quality wine, is there anything wrong with that?"

"Hehehehe..." Neng Shang suddenly laughed, his fox-like eyes flickering slightly. He slipped under the covers, rolled over, and pinned Pei Xiaolei beneath him again. With a hint of disappointment and resentment, he said, "I specially brought this back from the Western Regions' Dayuan Kingdom. I wanted to let you try it, since I've never seen this in the Central Plains, to bring you good luck. But..."

A sharp sound rang out, and Pei Xiaolei's heart skipped a beat. She, she, she had been confused by her memories of two lifetimes. Grapes and wine hadn't yet been introduced to the Central Plains from the Western Regions in this world.

Ugh! How was she going to explain this?

She swallowed hard, her large eyes innocently gazing at the man on top of her. The aftereffects of the wine slowly crept in, and her dark eyes held a captivating, languid sexiness.

"When I was little, a Western Region barbarian gave my parents a pot of this wine. Because it was novel and rare, my mother once poured me a small cup!" She quickly came up with a reason, since it happened so many years ago. No one would think to investigate whether someone had actually given her a pot of wine back then among the countless people and guests who had dealings with the manor.

"So that's how it is!" Although he said this, Neng Shang's resentment didn't lessen at all, and his movements became even bolder, as if he was certain that Pei Xiaolei wouldn't resist. He skillfully began to undress the woman beneath him. Her coat, blouse, and bodice were quickly removed. The small black iron hairpin that was pinned to Pei Xiaolei's hair was taken off. Neng Shang glanced at it indifferently and casually tossed it on the bedside table. He then pulled a jade pendant from her waist, squinted at it, and noticed that the characters "Lei" and "Wen" were clearly and neatly engraved on it. He raised his eyes, his fox-like eyes flickering slightly, and then tossed the jade pendant and hairpin together onto the bedside table. After thinking about it for a moment, he felt it was an eyesore and swept them into the drawer.

"You... have already acknowledged Senior Brother and Junior Brother?" His voice was low, revealing no emotion.

Hearing this, Pei Xiaolei's heart sank, and she nodded solemnly, quietly looking at him.

He stopped speaking and continued his actions, removing the clothes still clinging to her body one by one and tossing them out of the covers.

Pei Xiaolei was completely naked, offering no cover whatsoever, and without any resistance. The entire process could even be described as her cooperating perfectly, allowing the man on top of her to undress her completely.

Even when they were both fully exposed, neither of them uttered a word.

He positioned himself between her legs, gazing intently at her, one large hand supporting his body, the other pressing against her chest, beginning to knead it wantonly.

The thick quilt covered them both tightly, so she couldn't see his muscular physique, only feeling his burning body heat through skin-to-skin contact. He lowered his upper body and gently kissed her slightly parted lips, his kisses tracing a path down her neck.

Pei Xiaolei remained quiet, only letting out a few soft moans, and cooperatively shifting her body slightly in response to his seductive advances.

Her legs were gently parted, and she sighed softly, closing her eyes and slowly unfolding her body, preparing to receive him.

He entered, and with a low sigh, slowly pushed into her body. The familiar rhythm, the deep penetration, his and her breaths and moans mingled together, rising and falling.

He was gentle, each thrust incredibly deep, as if trying to squeeze himself into her body, but his withdrawal was extremely gentle. Clearly, his infatuation with her body remained, yet his advances and retreats lacked some of his usual domineering arrogance.

They say sex is one of the best ways to relieve stress. But why, in this loving act, did the heavy burden in her heart not ease at all? Instead, with each thrust, each effort he made to bring her pleasure, it felt like a heavy stone crashing into her heart.

She cried, sobbing beneath him as she received his pleasure, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls.

"I'm sorry! Shang, please don't do this, I can't take it!" she sobbed, covering her eyes with her hands, her voice hoarse.

Neng Shang stopped, forcefully prying her hands apart, forcing her to look him in the eye.

Both pairs of red eyes looked less attractive than the other.

Neng Shang stared at her, his lips tightly pressed together. One hand on her waist, the other on her shoulder, he suddenly lifted her up, placing her on his waist. His large penis, still inside her, thrust even deeper into her tight, narrow passage with the change in position.

"I'm angry, very angry!" He gripped her buttocks, lifting her upwards, then, with the weight falling, he thrust his hips upwards with tremendous force, his hard, thick penis, like a sharp blade, plunging heavily into her body.

"Mmm..." Her body trembled violently as a certain spot was struck precisely. A familiar yet strange pleasure surged from that spot, spreading in waves. Her body trembled involuntarily. The sobs that had been tinged with sorrow were now mixed with her moans, rising and falling, completely changing the tone. At first glance, it sounded like the ecstatic cries of a woman experiencing the ecstasy of lovemaking.

"You're mine, you're mine, you're mine...?" Neng Shang roared, repeatedly asserting his ownership, his movements below never ceasing for a second, growing even more intense with each roar.

Pei Xiaolei couldn't withstand the intensity. She gripped Neng Shang's shoulders tightly with both hands to prevent herself from falling. Her body contracted tightly, squeezing the foreign object inside her. Her eyes remained tightly closed, trying to stop the tears from falling, but somehow, with the increasingly intense thrusts below, the tears overflowing from her eyes grew even more profuse.

"Hmm!" She groaned softly, suddenly feeling a jolt as her body stumbled, and their position shifted back to man on top.

She had barely lain down, the blankets not yet warm, when her slender waist was suddenly lifted again, her legs draped high over the man's waist, one on each side.

"Don't cry!" A rough voice reached her ears, soft lips landing on her eyes, kissing away the wet, salty tears at the corners of her eyes. "Xiaolei, you must remember, you are mine, here, here, everything you have is mine!" From her eyes to her private parts, every inch of her smooth skin was caressed by him. Finally, he raised his head, gazing at her with deep, dark eyes. Suddenly, he took her left full breast into his mouth, biting and kissing the round, pink nipple hard, then teasing it with his tongue, sometimes sucking and swallowing, sometimes gently and heavily nibbling.

"Mmm..." Pei Xiaolei couldn't help but moan softly as the tingling sensation that seemed to pierce her heart surged through her chest. She involuntarily twisted her body, trying to escape the strange feeling. However, her resistance was futile; her flailing limbs were quickly subdued by Nengshang, rendering her immobile. Her fair legs were spread wider, and with a deep roar from a man, her body lurched as her wet, private parts were subjected to a heavy, rapid thrust from above. There was no gentleness, no skill, only power and heat.

"Ah...ah...hamm..." Her head was tilted back, her mouth slightly open, and a series of high and low moans escaped her lips. Her body rose and fell with his thrusts, her private parts opening and closing, swallowing the massive, forceful male member. Her tender inner orifice tingled with a subtle pain. He hurt her, yet she opened herself up even more, responding to his every rough thrust, letting him, like a wounded lion, dominate her, fighting and biting. His wild manner seemed to be brandishing his fangs, enduring the pain of his wounds, truly telling her that he was her king.

"Hmph! Xiaolei, I love you!" A final withdrawal, a deep thrust, the massive, veiny sword throbbing, plunged all the way in, straight into her womb. Then the man's high-pitched roars came one after another. Before she could recover from the extreme stimulation, her buttocks were firmly held, a slight tearing pain coming from the depths of her swollen passage. Before her body could react, her private parts were subjected to another thrust, faster and more forceful than the last. The intense thrusting forced Pei Xiaolei to open her tearful eyes, her gaze hazy as she looked at the bloodshot-eyed man riding on top of her.

"Hmph... Third, senior, brother, um... enough... slower... a little... ah!" Pei Xiaolei's words were incoherent, and she began to beg for mercy intermittently.

However, the man on top of her paid no heed, and his movements on her waist were not slow but even faster. Large beads of sweat slid down his red forehead and dripped onto Pei Xiaolei's flushed body, immediately mixing with the fine sweat on her skin.

"Um... um... Shang, no... ah... ah ah... ugh..." Pei Xiaolei suddenly screamed and forcefully threw her head back. She felt a burning sensation deep inside her swollen private parts, and a stream of hot white fluid shot into her depths. Her rosy passage opened and closed rapidly, and a deadly spasm rushed through her body. She arched her back and sat up for a moment before slowly falling back down, collapsing limply on the bed.

With a soft "pop," he pulled away from her, rolled over, and lay down next to her, pulling up the fallen blanket to wrap them tightly together. Their

rapid breathing gradually calmed, their bodies satisfied but unable to fill the emptiness in their hearts.

"Shang!" She fluttered her long eyelashes, still glistening with moisture, turned halfway around, and looked at the man beside her, breaking the silence first, speaking softly.

Neng Shang was lying on his back, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his brows slightly furrowed, a faint mist rising in the depths of his eyes. He reached out from under the covers, took one of her small hands, and intertwined their fingers.

"Today, just consider it me being crazy!" His deep voice held no trace of the exhilaration that followed passion, only a calm. "I know perfectly well that you can't be mine alone, but every time I think of you in someone else's arms, I'm consumed by jealousy."

"I don't blame you! Really!" Pei Xiaolei shook her head, squeezing his hand tightly in return.

“For the past six months, I’ve thought about you every single moment. When I see pretty clothes and jewelry on the street, I can’t help but buy them, thinking that one day I’ll make sure you can wear them too. When I see a beautiful place, I always remember to bring you there sometime. If I try a good wine, I always carry a few jugs with me so you can taste it… I’ve never loved anyone like this before. The days when my heart aches when I can’t see you, and I feel restless when we’re far apart, are simply unbearable.”

Pei Xiaolei listened quietly to him, her slightly furrowed brows slowly relaxing. She moved, propping up her tingling body, and rolled over to press against Neng Shang’s chest, bringing her lips close to his and giving him a quick peck. She said, “I don’t know how to respond to you. I only know that when you’re not here, I’ll miss you. I’ll remember everything you’ve done for me.”

“I can no longer give you a complete heart, but I can promise that there will always be a place for you here, a place that no one can shake!” As she spoke, she placed his hand on her chest, feeling her steady heartbeat.

Neng Shang gazed quietly into her clear eyes for a long while, then narrowed his fox-like eyes, turned around, and pressed her down beneath him again. His gaze burned as he looked at her, saying, "Promise me, when you're with me, you'll only think of me."

"Yes! I promise you!" she replied, reaching out to wrap her arms around his waist, whispering in his ear, "Now, I'm yours! Belonging only to Shang!" As soon as she finished speaking, her body trembled violently, and a familiar foreign object was inserted diagonally into her narrow body again.

"Ugh... Hmph... Shang, you, don't, don't... Ugh..."

...

Ruomei paced around the tent, her face full of worry. The water in the pot boiled and cooled, cooled and boiled again; more than an hour had passed, and she still couldn't find a suitable opportunity to step forward and report, "Miss, Third Young Master, the bathwater is ready."

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