"Sister Xiaohui, you must remember your words, otherwise I won't be able to stay here, and more people will be affected..." Qiao Qiu said, then shut her mouth.

"What will happen?" Xiao Hui realized the seriousness of the situation after hearing what she said.

"The consequences are unimaginable to you, and I can't say anything about them," Qiao Qiu said before walking away.

Xiao Hui followed, shocked but determined to help her keep it a secret.

Qiao Qiu walked ahead, looking at the jade flute, and suddenly noticed a small crack around it.

She gently pushed the door open with her thumb and glanced at it; a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

It turned out to be a rapier.

How did he know she could use a sword? What if she couldn't? Wouldn't that be a waste of her talent?

Qiao Qiu pressed it back to the original state.

Xiao Hui followed behind her but didn't see what she was doing.

The two went up the mountain, and Qiao Qiu looked around. It turned out that Qiao Qiu was not a person with high medical skills, and she could not reveal her high medical skills.

So Qiao Qiu gathered some medicines on the mountain for treating colds, curing colds, strengthening the body, and for heatstroke, etc.

Xiao Hui was very curious when she saw that she was even digging up dandelions. "Miss, these are just ordinary grasses. Why are you digging them up?"

"You may not know this, but cooking porridge with this is good for your health. Dandelion itself has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and dissipating nodules, and promoting urination," Qiao Qiu explained.

Xiao Hui was truly amazed when she heard what she said. "I didn't know that ordinary grass could have so many uses."

“Many things that you can see with your naked eye can be used as medicine,” Qiao Qiu said.

Xiao Hui said with a grin, "Miss, you know so much."

"Read more books, and you'll know too."

"Let me read books? Spare me! I hate reading the most. I can do other things, just don't make me read. Miss, please tell me more about these herbs so I can remember their effects later."

"Okay, then you'd better remember that," Qiao Qiu said with a smile.

"Uh-huh."

The two spent the whole day picking herbs on the mountain, and Xiao Hui's small basket was already full of all sorts of herbs.

Back at the foot of the mountain, the two sat down to rest.

"Sister Xiaohui, we'll be going back soon. Please don't tell Mother that we've gone up the mountain."

"Miss, don't worry, I won't tell anyone. If I do, may I be struck by lightning."

“Hey, I didn’t make you swear an oath.” Qiao Qiu pulled her hand down.

"Hehe... Ah!"

Xiao Hui was laughing when suddenly her expression froze, and she collapsed.

Qiao Qiu jumped to her feet, looking around warily. "Who is it?"

"Not bad, it's not easy to remain so calm."

The voice was cold and clear, like flowing water, yet carrying a hint of sinister charm, completely different from Yu Ge's. If she wasn't mistaken, Bai Shu had arrived.

A dark figure leaped down from the tree, landing lightly and silently.

Qiao Qiu saw that he had his back to her and her lips twitched. "If you're sick, get treatment. If you're not, get out of here. Also, I've released my maid's pressure points."

"You're quite an interesting girl."

Qiao Qiu squatted down, pinched Xiao Hui's chin, and looked at her face from left to right.

He was hit in the pressure point that made him faint.

"I'm not the most interesting person in the village."

"Who is that?" Bai Shu still didn't turn around.

"Finding her shouldn't be difficult. It's in the southeast direction, at the house with the locust tree at the entrance." Qiao Qiu was very honest; she was essentially playing matchmaker for the male and female leads.

Bai Shu heard strange noises and turned around. Qiao Qiu was picking up herbs from the ground.

"Aren't you afraid of me at all?"

"Afraid of you?" Qiao Qiu was taken aback. "If you were afraid of me, would you have let me go?"

"You're just a young girl, what good would it do to let you go?"

As soon as Bai Shu finished speaking, Qiao Qiu's body trembled slightly. She shrank to Xiao Hui's side, her voice instantly becoming soft and cute, "Please let me go, okay? I still have parents to support. They will be heartbroken if something happens to me."

Bai Shu paused for a moment when he saw her pitiful yet frightened eyes.

"Boring."

That girl's composure just now was probably an act.

Qiao Qiu almost rolled her eyes, and continued pitifully, "You said you would let me go."

Bai Shu's eyes narrowed. "You dare to lie to me!"

"How could I dare to lie to you? I'm just a little girl who's lived here since I was a child. I've rarely seen strangers. You came and knocked my maid unconscious. How could I not be scared?" Qiao Qiu said, sounding aggrieved and on the verge of tears.

"Don't cry, or I'll kill you." Bai Shu was most impatient with seeing women cry. "Have you seen a man in white?"

"Are you looking for that older brother? He stayed at my house last night and left this morning," Qiao Qiu said cautiously, though there wasn't a single tear on her face.

"Gone? Where did they go?"

“He walked straight ahead from the village entrance, but I don’t know where he went. I’ve never been outside since I was a child,” Qiao Qiu said.

Bai Shu looked at her a couple of times, feeling that something was off, but she seemed perfectly normal.

"I'll tell you everything I know, will you let us go now?" Qiao Qiu asked.

"I can let you go, but if you dare to utter a single word about it, and I find out, I will slaughter your entire family. You may leave." Bai Shu flicked his finger, and a burst of energy shot towards Xiao Hui.

Qiao Qiu hated it most when people threatened her at the drop of a hat. Xiao Hui's eyes twitched, and she quickly pressed her pressure points, causing Qiao Qiu to faint again.

Hearing the noise, Bai Shu turned to look at her, his eyes revealing a hint of seriousness. "Your acting is so realistic, and you even have martial arts skills. Who exactly are you?"

"Your ancestor!" Qiao Qiu grabbed a tree branch and attacked him.

Bai Shu was shocked and raised his hand to block the branch with his sword, forcing him to retreat. Qiao Qiu did a somersault, striking him on the head with her heel.

Bai Shu reached out and grabbed her ankle, looking into her eyes. "You are indeed extraordinary."

"Hmph, I hate it when people threaten me. Congratulations, you've run into a dangerous situation. I've been holding back this sullen attitude for so long, but I'm done!"

Qiao Qiu kicked Bai Shu's hand with her other leg, forcing Bai Shu to let go. She then flipped over in the air and hit him in the face with a tree branch.

Bai Shu leaned back to avoid her, only then realizing that he had angered her.

"With your abilities, why should you be confined to this poor and remote place? If you follow me, I will give you countless riches and honors."

"Hmph, don't try to fool me with those sweet words. Do you think I'd believe you?"

Qiao Qiu's attacks showed no sign of abating; she knew that Bai Shu wouldn't do anything to her now.

Bai Shu wanted her to become one of his top generals, and he certainly wouldn't harm her; he was very measured in his interactions with her.

"I didn't lie to you."

"Even if you're not lying to me, I can't leave here." Qiao Qiu took a few steps back, leaving the battle circle, and threw away the branch. "You can leave now, but don't ever show your face here again."