Chapter 26 Every Yan person likes me, you're one of them...

When a person falls ill, no matter how wicked they are, they are still someone who has been built with a lot of effort, and we can't just leave them to fend for themselves.

Shi Mi called to Ali Dao, who carried the man back to the bedroom. After settling him on the bed, Shi Mi looked at his face twice. It was undeniable that he was handsome, but he was certainly not likable.

Ugh, it's infuriating to watch, so I just pulled the blanket over his face. Then I untied his jade belt, opened his clothes, inserted the talisman into his spirit core, and poured the blood I had prepared beforehand, drop by drop, into that thin red thread.

Half-heartedness cannot be completely deactivated; I already taught him a lesson last time, but he seems to have forgotten. Once the heart stops beating, the blood supply stops, and it will take a very long time to revive it... I don't know how long I'll have to endure tonight; it's truly distressing!

The person on the bed was oblivious and lay stiffly. With nothing to do, she sat by the window and flipped through the county annals of Chong'an City.

This city was only built five or six years ago, but there are many significant and minor events worth recording. Initially, a few families moved in; what were their lives like, from birth to old age and death? Later, when war broke out, how many people joined the army, and how many were buried alive? By the end, there was no precise number left to record, so the chilling phrase "countless" was used.

Countless things have happened, all thanks to the man in the bed. Now, we have to save him, which shows that the Grand Tutor is lucky; he'll live a little longer.

Closing the county gazetteer, she strolled slowly to the bedside, her hands behind her back. From beneath his slightly open collar, she saw his neck—slender, well-proportioned, yet powerful. If a knife were to slash it, the splattered blood would surely be like fireworks on the Lantern Festival, staining the entire room red!

However, this was just her imagination. She couldn't let someone she had finally won over die so easily.

She waited a while, then lost her patience and nudged him with a finger. "Lu Min, wake up."

But he didn't react at all.

Looking back at the incense burner, almost two incense sticks had burned; by now, she should have opened her eyes. Could it be that her vital energy was exhausted, and she was truly dead?

He can't die yet, it's not time. She bent down, intending to check his breath. But his breath was faint, and she couldn't tell if he was breathing or not. Unable to be sure, she simply plucked a hair from his head and held it to his nose.

She didn't know if it was the pain that woke him up, or if it was truly time for him to return to life, but she suddenly realized he had opened his eyes. Her face was very close to his, about a fist's width apart, and she was startled to see a pair of dark pupils staring straight at her.

"Just say something if you wake up. I thought you were completely dead." She lowered her hand to the edge of the bed, quietly shook it, and brushed away a strand of hair.

She tried to straighten up, but plans don't always go as expected, and Lu Min's old problem flared up again. A huge arm force landed on her back, pressing down on her and knocking her flat on the ground.

Then Shimi piled on top of him like a human pyramid, trying many ways to break free, but all in vain. She was like a fish leaping ashore; no matter how hard she tried, her body was firmly nailed to him. She immediately regretted it, "How could I forget to tie you up? My womanly compassion has really ruined me."

He couldn't hear her complaints at all; nestled close to her, he felt immense satisfaction.

As the Yanren evolved into humans, each renewal of life felt like a rebirth. Ran Dian and the others had their own special boxes, which were like a mother's womb, providing them with a sense of security. However, Ban Yan, in order to quickly become like a human, did not prepare a box. His attachment had nowhere to go, so he naturally set his sights on Shi Mi, who, to him, was his box.

But this entanglement was suffocating; he held her tightly, giving her almost no room to struggle. His face was pressed against the crook of her neck, and simply holding her wasn't enough; he preferred to rub against her affectionately. Shimi almost cried for help; the Grand Tutor's overwhelming affection was too much for her to handle. If this continued, she feared she would die in his arms.

With a "smack," she slapped him across the face. "Are you faking it? Trying to take advantage of me!"

Lu Min's eyes were pure, so pure it was as if Xiao Wu had reappeared. He felt a little wronged after being hit, but he was clearly still brave. The arm that was holding her didn't loosen; instead, it tightened around her even more, as if afraid she would run away.

The confused one cried out, "Let go! I can't breathe!"

He relaxed slightly, looked closely at her face, and, in his dazed state, clearly said to her, "Ami, I like you."

Shimi said he knew, "Every Yan person likes me, who do you think you are?"

However, with this face, one moment he was arguing and fighting with her, and the next moment he turned into this, which is quite exciting, like the line between Buddha and demon.

Unfortunately, the people of Jiuzhang Prefecture were not fortunate enough to witness this. If they had been able to see the Grand Tutor's amorous side firsthand, they probably wouldn't have been able to help but burst out laughing during their meeting.

Shi Mi struggled and thought, finally managing to break free of his tight encirclement and catch her breath. Although he was unable to control himself, a few harsh words from you could still appropriately stop him.

He then sternly reprimanded, "Hugging is fine, but no more rubbing against each other! What if you rub against each other and cause sparks?"

He lifted his head from the crook of her neck and looked at her cautiously. "I just wanted to be closer to you, that's all."

Shi Mi didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only pat him on the back.

She couldn't understand why his needs were so much higher than those of ordinary puppeteers. Perhaps it was because he had suppressed them for too long, causing his heart to become twisted, and that indulging in unrestrained release while his nature was in motion was a form of effective self-preservation.

He endured this for the duration of an incense stick burning until the effects of the medicine finally wore off. He silently released her and lay motionless on his back, no one knowing what he was thinking at that moment.

Shi Mi was quite composed. She got out of bed, straightened her clothes, and turned to him, saying, "Next time, time it better to be earlier than later. It's a good thing you collapsed here; if you had collapsed in front of the chief accountant, it would have scared him to death."

But that wasn't what puzzled him. "It's been over a month, and there's been no improvement at all; in fact, it's gotten worse."

Shi Mi said, "The blood of the puppet master is like Five-Stone Powder to you; it's normal to be temporarily dazed. But to say it's more serious is not entirely true. Last time after the revival, you couldn't even control your hands and feet, but this time you're clearly much better. One shouldn't be too greedy; one should know how to be content."

She always hit the nail on the head, leaving him speechless. He sat up, slumped over, and sighed, "I'm sorry, I lost my temper again."

Shi Mi said it was alright, "I just love how you're cold as ice beforehand and warm as fire afterward. Everyone has a side that no one knows about. Others may not understand you, but I do." He then gave her an understanding smile.

Looking at her smile, Lu Min felt a surge of complex emotions—remorse, self-reproach, and shame. No matter how strong his self-control was, he just couldn't control himself for that short period of time.

If only he could simply lose his memory, but unfortunately, his memories grew ever clearer. He remembered every word she spoke, every breath she took. He even conjured up a picture in his mind: she was a fragrant flower, and he was a snake drawn by her allure. He coiled around her, head held high, flicking his tongue, greedily savoring her. He had to struggle to control himself to avoid swallowing her whole.

He dared not think about it anymore; it was simply unbearable to recall. The more disheartened he became, the brighter her smile grew. Sometimes he felt that this woman was the cruelest of all. Look at her, always wearing a smiling face, open and easygoing, but her true feelings were never revealed.

Perhaps it's time to thoroughly investigate her background; I wonder what secrets she might be hiding.

He was pondering to himself, but she had already told him to leave.

"Aren't you going to get up and walk around a bit?" She raised her chin. "If you can walk, go back. Maybe you can still make it to the accounting desk."

The issue of the tug-of-war before he fell to the ground remained unresolved even after he regained consciousness. He stood up and said, "You still refuse to come back with me."

Shimi said, "Yes, I have made up my mind and have my own plans. Don't worry, once I find out the truth, I will return to Jiuzhang Prefecture and discuss the inside story with you."

His eyes were filled with distrust. "How are you going to investigate? What if a young woman gets into danger?"

Shi Mi said, "I still have Ali Dao and the others; they will protect me."

Lu Min chuckled, "Relying on those three puppeteers?"

Shimi nodded, "Before we befriended the Grand Tutor, we also had to travel the world. The Yan people aren't very smart, but they are very loyal and brave. With them around, there won't be any trouble."

Seeing that she had made up her mind, he knew it would be difficult to change her mind, so he thought for a moment and said, "I will send you a squad of assassins. Their every move will be at your command. Don't misunderstand, I don't mean to monitor you, I just want to ensure your safety."

After all, they were bound by fate; only if she lived could he be free from worries. She couldn't afford to make the slightest mistake before he had complete control over the puppeteer's whereabouts.

Shi Mi naturally understood, "No one in the world wants me to live to be a hundred years old more than the Grand Tutor. Out of consideration for your feelings, I will take good care of myself. As for the assassins, there's no need for that. When Ali Dao goes berserk, even ten assassins can't defeat him."

She spoke in a half-truth, making it difficult to discern her intentions. Since she was truly unwilling to accept it, he stopped pressuring her and paused slightly before saying, "I will send someone to deliver your gold to you tomorrow. But I must reiterate, please be mindful of your new identity and do not use the title of Grand Tutor's wife to make public appearances."

Shimi nodded repeatedly, "I understand, I understand. I'm not stupid, I won't cause trouble for the Grand Tutor."

After giving his instructions, he stopped talking and coldly looked away, walking out of the mansion with his hands behind his back.

In the alleyway of the courtyard, Bai Heliang stood far away against the wall. When he saw the Grand Tutor come out, he hurriedly went to greet him.

"Select ten elite guards to protect the lady's safety," Lu Min ordered expressionlessly.

Bai Heliang immediately understood and bowed his head in agreement.

The imperial carriage stopped in front of the gate. He lifted his hem and boarded the carriage, the gold-embroidered trim falling onto the vermilion lacquered footrests. He stepped up one step, paused, and added, "Don't let her find out."

Bai Heliang bowed even lower, uttered a deep "Yes," and tumbled under the carriage. When he straightened up again, the Grand Tutor's magnificent carriage had already glided into the dim night, bathed in the light of the lanterns.

Meanwhile, the knowledgeable person inside the mansion was quite satisfied. Lu Min, as expected of the Grand Tutor who oversaw the affairs of the king, was meticulous and quick to understand others' needs. To explore everywhere, one must first have money in their purse. Especially in places like the Ghost Market, which hides countless eye-catching treasures, and where one cannot buy on credit, it's best to bring plenty of money, which will also give them more confidence when asking prices.

As for the issue of showing one's face in public, the solution is simple: pull an old mask out of the box and put it on your face. It's an ordinary face, so ordinary that you would never want to look at it a second time if you passed by it on the street.

However, upon further reflection, she realized that overly sophisticated disguise techniques would arouse suspicion. She didn't believe Lu Min hadn't arranged for bodyguards for her; since eyes were everywhere, it seemed more reasonable to be clumsy and wear a veiled hat.

In any case, I should get some rest first. When I woke up the next day, I saw Ali standing straight in front of the door, holding a box in his hands. "The Grand Tutor sent someone to deliver this."

Shi Mi didn't dare reach out; if she did, Ali would dare to strike. A thousand taels of silver was not something a young woman could easily lift.

He pointed inside, indicating that he should put it in the cabinet. Before leaving, he put a piece in each of their pockets. Looking up, he saw that they were all staring at him expectantly. Shimi said, "You can't put all your eggs in one basket, and the same goes for gold."

The three nodded repeatedly, feeling that they had never been so wealthy in their lives. Even when driving the carriage, Ali Dao stood up straight.

We drove to Never Sleeps City, and just like last time, we arrived at the city gate just as the sun was about to set.

There are certain requirements to enter the Never-Sleeping City for fun; as always, the gatekeepers require you to pass through a gate. Ran Dian and his companions, empty-handed, looked at each other in bewilderment. They had been scaling walls and rooftops with ease, but now that they were using the main gate, they were being asked to pass through a gate. They should have just waited until dark to climb over the wall; that would have been so much easier.

Shi Mi, on the other hand, was quite confident. He calmly took out four bills from his bundle and handed them over, saying to the gatekeeper, "We are from the Lu residence in Liren Lane. We have come to visit Madam Xie. Please pass on a message for us."

Presumably, Madam Xie had already given the order, for the guards' gloomy faces immediately lifted upon hearing the name "Liren Alley."

"So you are a distinguished guest of the Lu residence. Madam has instructed that there is no need to announce the arrival of distinguished guests; just introduce them directly."

The four paintings were respectfully returned, and Shimi tucked them back into her bundle. Ran Dian and the others were quite surprised and asked her in a low voice, "Where did these come from? Did you paint them last night?"

Shi Mi rolled his eyes. "This isn't something you can just draw on casually. It only works if it's stamped by the prefecture. I'm in Jiuzhang Prefecture with a heavy responsibility, not just to move. Just the day before yesterday, I asked the magistrate to get us four transfer documents. Not long after, he came back with blank documents that had been stamped. We can fill in our own names on them."

Yan Dian was in an uproar, "Having a powerful backer makes you tough! Ah Mi, may I ask what our surname is?"

Ami said, "His surname is Lu. The plaque in Liren Alley says Lu Residence."

“Lu Randian, Lu Yandian…” Ali Dao asked her, “What’s my name? Lu Ali Dao?”

Shi Mi said, "You're not a barbarian, so you can't have a four-character name. A concise name is most important. Your name is Lu A Dao, which has a chivalrous feel to it. You can tell at a glance that you're not someone to mess with."

Ali Dao seemed dissatisfied. "It sounds like a blacksmith's name. The blacksmith in the West Market is called Shou A Dao."

Shi Mi smacked his lips. “Names aren’t important, surnames are. When you’re out in the world, just say that the Grand Tutor is a relative of yours. You’ll earn your respect yourself. Be smart.”

As they spoke, they arrived at a magnificent mansion, where Madam Xie was already waiting at the foot of the steps. Although she needed assistance, she was radiant and full of vitality, clearly having recovered very well.

When acquaintances met, they merely smiled and nodded. Madam Xie silently welcomed the woman in and silently invited Shi Mi to take a seat. After dismissing the maids serving in the hall, she rose and bowed to her, saying, "Please convey my gratitude to Master Yan for his profound kindness. My transformation is entirely due to Master Yan and you. May I ask what brings you here today?"

A purely cooperative relationship requires little emotional buildup. Shimi succinctly stated, "Ghost Market. Please, Madam, find a way to send us down to Deer Sea."

If it's difficult for ordinary people to enter the Never-Sleeping City, then getting into the Ghost Market is even more difficult. That place deals in shady businesses; it's not as simple as handing over a pass and enduring a few questions to get in. The Ghost Market relies on referrals; if you want to go to Deer Sea, you need a respected senior figure as a guarantor and to sign a waiver of life and death. Therefore, very few people know about the Ghost Market. I only learned about it from my master's casual mention of it.

Madam Xie readily agreed, saying, "The market opens at midnight tonight. As long as I give the word, you ladies can move freely. However, while entering the Ghost Market is easy, its rules are not like those of the Never-Sleeping City. It has its own set of regulations. I can manage the Never-Sleeping City, but I cannot manage the Ghost Market. You ladies must be careful once you enter. If you need me, I can accompany you. At least with me by your side, the merchants in the Ghost Market will give you some face."

Shi Mi said there was no need, "We can go by ourselves, no need to trouble you, Madam. I see you are breathing a little rapidly, it is not advisable for you to move around too much for now, you should rest carefully."

After he said that, everyone present felt awkward.

After all, not long after Lady Jie changed her body, they stuffed her into a carriage and bumped her all the way back to Nightless City. Now they're saying she's not fit to move around... There's nothing we can do. Ami doesn't treat them like human beings, and that's been going on for a while now. The Grand Tutor was treated the same way back then, so we'll get used to it.

Madam Xie naturally dared not express her dissatisfaction, and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, thank you for your concern, young lady."

Yan Dian asked, "After you came back, did your family still recognize you?"

Speaking of this, Madam Xie had a lot to say. "At first, I was old and faded, but overnight I was rejuvenated, and everyone was dumbfounded. Fortunately, the people around me were all old men who had been with us for over twenty years and had seen what I looked like when I was young. In addition, the Never-Night City was located on the Ghost Market, so it wouldn't be surprising if they found some kind of remedy. Therefore, no one questioned it, and no one dared to ask."

Shi Mi said that's good, "I was worried they wouldn't recognize you and would take the opportunity to kick you out."

Madam Xie said, "Those who could make the decisions are all dead, and the household is full of servants. Who would have the guts to do that! But to be honest, I am even more grateful to Master Yan now. I really can't grow old, and I have no right to grow old."

Upon hearing this, Yan Dian knew there was more to the story and asked bluntly, "You've found love again?"

Madam Xie paused for a moment, "It's not that she's found love again, it's that my useless daughter was cheated on by a married man. That man swindled all of my daughter's savings and took it all to support his wife. He sold houses and land to buy shops, and everything was registered under my wife's name. If the family needed anything, he would come to my daughter to ask for it... That foolish girl was actually willing to give it to her."

Ran Dian had a unique perspective: "What a good husband!"

Madam Xie's face stiffened again. "Other people's good husbands never come to you. Fortunately, I discovered it in time, otherwise, if the family business were handed over to this good-for-nothing girl, it would probably be all gone in less than a year."

Shi Mi and San Yan felt the same way, saying, "It's alright, it's alright."

After her indignant outburst, Madam Xie regained her composure. She let out a soft sigh, her brows relaxed, and said, "Enough of this. Please excuse the young lady's amusement in this domestic matter. Everyone, please rest for a moment. I'll make the arrangements now. The entrance to the Ghost Market is hidden; after passing through the Ten Miles of Scenic Beauty, you'll still have to go a while. There are boats moored by the water platform behind the house, ready to be used at any time. I'll have the old boatman take you there. Once you see the plaque for the Bronze Water Fortress, you'll be close to the Ghost Market."