Chapter 20: Uneasy

The Lotus Tower is looming in the morning mist, just like Li Lianhua's mood at the moment.

Half a month had passed since we parted at the cliff. Li Lianhua's injuries were gradually healing, but the weariness between his brows grew ever deeper. He continued his daily routine of studying medical books, tending herbs, and teaching Fang Duobing martial arts, as if everything was normal.

Only Fang Duobing knew that Li Lianhua sat alone by the window every night, lost in thought, gazing at the carefully nurtured Wangchuan flower. The flower, still vibrant in its jade vase, shone faintly with a blue light, as if carrying some unfulfilled oath.

That day, the two were sorting out the clues they had recently found about Nan Yin when a clear female voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Excuse me, is Doctor Li here?"

Fang Duobing opened the door and saw a girl in a goose yellow dress standing outside. She had lively eyes and eyebrows, and a short sword on her waist. She looked heroic and charming.

"Who is the girl?" Fang Duobing asked doubtfully.

The young girl smiled sweetly, "My name is Su Xiaoyong, and my grandfather is Su Wencai. I'm an old acquaintance of Divine Doctor Li. I came to visit you while I was passing through here."

Li Lianhua looked up at the sound, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Miss Su? Please come in."

Su Xiaoyong skipped in and looked around without restraint. "This Lotus Tower of Divine Doctor Li is indeed as famous as it is said to be. It's very elegant!" Her eyes fell on Li Lianhua, and she suddenly frowned. "But Divine Doctor Li doesn't look well. Is he ill?"

Li Lianhua chuckled, "No problem. How's Mr. Su doing these days?"

"Grandpa is fine, but he keeps talking about playing another game of chess with Divine Doctor Li." Su Xiaoyong sat down familiarly and poured himself a cup of tea. "I came out to travel this time, and Grandpa specifically asked me to come visit you."

Fang Duobing was stunned watching from the side. He had never seen anyone act so naturally and casually in front of Li Lianhua, as if they were old friends.

Li Lianhua was used to it and said gently, "Miss Su has come from afar, why not stay a few more days?"

"Well, thank you for bothering me!" Su Xiaoyong smiled brightly, then suddenly lowered her voice, "Actually, Daddy asked me to come here for another matter."

She pulled out a roll of yellowed letters from her bosom. "Grandpa said you might be investigating the Nanyin people. This is a clue he stumbled upon, and it might be useful to you."

Li Lianhua took the letter, her expression slightly serious: "Thank you, Mr. Su, for me."

Fang Duobing, who was standing by, didn't notice that a black shadow quietly disappeared in the shadow of the trees in the distance.

In the Golden Yuan Alliance, Di Feisheng looked at the secret report presented by Wu Yan with an expressionless face.

"The woman in white?" Di Feisheng's voice was as cold as ice. "Have you found out her identity?"

Wu Yan lowered his head. "It has been confirmed that she is Su Xiaoyong, the daughter of Su Wencai. She is known as 'Exquisite Sword' in the martial arts world. She has a graceful swordsmanship and is a lively and cheerful person. Her grandfather was an old friend of Li... Li Xiangyi."

Di Feisheng's fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the teacup: "How long will she stay in the Lotus Tower?"

"It's still unknown. But from what I've observed, he and Li...get along very well." Wu Yan chose his words carefully. "They study clues about Nan Yin together every day and practice swordsmanship. It seems...they get along very well."

The teacup shattered quietly in Di Feisheng's hand, the porcelain shards piercing his palm and blood dripping through his fingers. He seemed oblivious, only saying coldly, "Keep staring."

Wu Yan dared not say anything more and bowed and retreated.

Di Feisheng sat alone in the hall, looking at the blood dripping from his palm, and suddenly remembered the gentleness with which Li Lianhua bandaged his wound that day.

At that time, the man frowned slightly, saying "Leader, how careless!" but his movements were meticulous. He pretended to have lost his memory, enjoying this rare care, and even secretly wished that time would stop at that moment.

But now... Li Lianhua has a new companion. A young, lively girl with a bright smile. Together they will research clues, practice swordsmanship, and perhaps even share their secrets over a moonlit night of drinking.

Di Feisheng waved his hand suddenly, sweeping all the tea sets on the table to the ground. The sound of them breaking was particularly harsh in the empty hall.

He hated himself for still caring. He hated himself for letting Wuyan go and find out about that person even though he was clearly being used and betrayed. He hated himself even more for the uncontrollable bitterness and anger he felt when he heard that person had a new partner.

"Li Xiangyi..." Di Feisheng gritted his teeth, each word frothing with blood, "You really... never need me."

In the Lotus Tower, Li Lianhua suddenly felt a pang in her heart and the medicine spoon in her hand fell to the ground.

"What's wrong?" Su Xiaoyong asked with concern, "Is the old injury still not healed?"

Li Lianhua shook her head, her eyes subconsciously looking towards a certain direction outside the window, and gently pressed her chest: "It's okay. I just feel a little... uneasy all of a sudden."

Fang Duobing muttered to himself, "That devil must be cursing people again! Ever since he left, Li Lianhua has been feeling uneasy..."

"Fang Duobing!" Li Lianhua stopped him sternly and then started coughing.

Su Xiaoyong blinked curiously. "Is the demon you're talking about Di Feisheng, the leader of the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance? I heard he and Divine Doctor Li fought a fierce battle in the mountains behind Si Gu Men half a month ago, and both were injured?"

Li Lianhua remained silent, but Fang Duobing couldn't help but say, "What do you mean both sides suffer losses? It's clearly Li Lianhua..."

"Fang Duobing!" Li Lianhua interrupted again, her tone unusually stern, "Go to the backyard and dry the newly picked herbs."

Fang Duobing left with a pout. Su Xiaoyong looked at Li Lianhua's suddenly pale face and wisely didn't ask any more questions.

That night, Li Lianhua sat alone by the window, gazing at the Wangchuan flower in a trance. Su Xiaoyong quietly approached and handed her a cup of hot tea.

"The miracle doctor seems to be worried about something?" the girl asked softly.

Li Lianhua took the teacup and smiled slightly: "The affairs of old friends are not worth mentioning."

Su Xiaoyong sat down across from him, sizing him up with her chin in her hand. "Is it related to that Flute Alliance Leader?"

Seeing that Li Lianhua didn't answer, she continued, "I heard on the way here that after returning to the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance, Alliance Leader Di went on a killing spree and dealt with many traitors, especially Jiao Liqiao's former subordinates. Now everyone in the alliance is in danger. They say that the Alliance Leader is even more ruthless and violent than before he lost his memory."

Li Lianhua's fingertips trembled slightly, and a little tea spilled out.

Su Xiaoyong saw this and suddenly said, "Daddy always said that there was a grudge between Divine Doctor Li and Alliance Leader Flute that was difficult for outsiders to understand. But Xiaoyong felt that the Divine Doctor was not a heartless person, and there must be something hidden behind it."

Li Lianhua looked up at her, her expression inexplicable under the moonlight: "Miss Su is very good at judging people?"

"I'm not very talented, but I can see the worry in the doctor's eyes." The girl smiled sweetly, "Just like that Lethe flower. It can cure all kinds of poisons, but the doctor would rather use ordinary medicine to suppress its own toxicity and take good care of it. Is he waiting for someone who needs it?"

Li Lianhua was stunned for a long time before she said softly, "Young lady, you are smart, but there are some things... it's better not to know."

Su Xiaoyong didn't ask any more questions, but stood up and bowed: "It's late, Miracle Doctor, please go to bed early."

After she left, Li Lianhua sat alone in the moonlight, gently stroking the petals of the Wangchuan River, muttering to herself: "Have I become even colder... Ah Fei, this is not the ending I want."

On a distant tree, Wuyan silently recorded all of this, and sighed in his heart: Leader, if you knew that he still cared about you, would you still be so determined?

At this moment, in the Golden Yuan Alliance Leader's Hall, Di Feisheng's face was cold as he heard the secret report that Li Lianhua and Su Xiaoyong were having a good conversation again.

"Wu Yan." He suddenly said, "Prepare the horses."

"Where is the leader going?"

A cold light flashed in Di Feisheng's eyes: "Lotus Tower."