Chapter 101 I will definitely make sure you live to be a hundred years old
"Are you injured?" Zhang Jinghuai stood in front of her, his gaze sweeping over her carefully.
Shen Huixue shook her head: "No, I had already left when the accident happened."
She was still worried about her missing mother, so she couldn't help but be a little more indifferent when facing Zhang Jinghuai.
Zhang Jinghuai took her hand and said in a low voice, "It's not safe in the city right now, I'll take you back."
"But my mother..."
"Is she still at the Shen family's house?" Zhang Jinghuai couldn't help but turn his head to look in the direction of the Shen family's house. It was clearly a formation that sealed off the space, and now it was impossible to enter the Shen family's house. He just didn't know which side had made the move.
"I don't know yet. She said she'd come out to find me in a little while." Shen Huixue looked a little confused. She had been looking for her mother, but hadn't been able to find her.
Her mother's words that morning, and the sudden accident that befell the Shen family, kept Shen Huixue from calming down. She was terrified that her mother would stay in the Shen family and never be able to leave.
Zhang Jinghuai seemed to sense her unease, so he pulled her into his arms, patted her back reassuringly, and said in a gentle voice, "Don't worry, I'll send people to look for her right away, and we'll definitely find her."
Shen Huixue rested her head against his chest, smelling his scent.
He carried a faint scent of wine, as if he had just left a banquet.
She raised her head, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Zhang Jinghuai lowered his head slightly, and the two were quite close, almost able to feel each other's breath. Shen Huixue turned her head away.
Zhang Jinghuai sighed inwardly, knowing the occasion was inappropriate, and did not insist.
Let's go.
Just as he was about to help Shen Huixue mount her horse, he suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves coming from afar.
The sound of hooves grew closer, and soon they could see the figure on horseback.
He was a young man, full of heroic spirit, and there seemed to be a familiar feeling in his eyes.
As the horse approached, the man dismounted and said to Zhang Jinghuai, "Young Master, didn't we agree that I had something to discuss with you? Why did you leave alone?"
"Something unexpected happened. What brings you here, Deputy General Liu?"
The man glanced at Shen Huixue beside him and suddenly laughed, "Brother-in-law, why be so polite with me? Just call me by my name."
Shen Huixue suddenly realized what that familiar feeling was all about. She had met the prince's fiancée before, and that girl looked very similar to this Deputy General Liu in terms of their features.
Zhang Jinghuai did not correct his form of address, and asked calmly, "Speak, what is it?"
The man took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to him: "This is a letter from my sister to you. She asked me to bring it to you."
Zhang Jinghuai glanced at the letter and took it from his hand.
"Is there anything else?"
"Of course there's more." The man glanced at Shen Huixue again. "Military matters are very important."
It means it's inconvenient for anyone to listen in.
Shen Huixue understood what the other party meant, and even realized that the other party deliberately took out that letter in front of her to make her back down.
Such a tactful approach is truly befitting of a young master from a high-ranking official's household; he's a good older brother who knows how to protect his younger sister.
Shen Huixue whispered to Zhang Jinghuai beside her, "Your Highness has other important matters to attend to, so I will return first."
"Wait, I'll have someone take you back."
Just as Shen Huixue was about to speak, she suddenly heard someone call her name.
"Huixue."
"Mother." Shen Huixue turned around quickly and saw Shen Qingwu running from across the street.
Ignoring the presence of others, she quickly went to greet her mother: "Mother, where have you been? I couldn't find you."
Shen Qingwu held her daughter's hand. She noticed the group of people not far behind her daughter and saw that they were all looking this way. She said, "Something suddenly happened to the Shen family just now. Mother was terrified and it took her a long time to recover. Fortunately, we left in advance."
Shen Huixue looked worried: "Should we go to the clinic first and get two doses of calming medicine?"
Shen Qingwu shook her head: "Forget about getting the medicine, let's go home first. It's chaotic outside, and we don't know where that monster came from. We hope it doesn't come out and hurt anyone."
"Okay, let's go home first."
After Shen Huixue finished speaking with her mother, she turned to look at Zhang Jinghuai, who was standing there watching them but did not come forward.
She understood what the other person meant, gave Zhang Jinghuai a slight curtsy, and then turned to Shen Qingwu and said, "Mother, let's go."
“Okay.” Shen Qingwu seemed not to have noticed Zhang Jinghuai standing there at all. She only turned her head and glanced at him as she passed by them.
Her gaze was calm, as if she were merely confirming his appearance, before she turned her head away.
After the mother and daughter had walked some distance, Zhang Jinghuai waved to the guards behind him, and two guards immediately followed at a distance, escorting the two home.
There were hardly any pedestrians on the streets. The commotion caused by the Shen family was too great, and the people of Xiling all went back to their homes.
The mother and daughter walked at a fast pace. Shen Qingwu was in particularly high spirits today, and after walking for more than half an hour, she showed no signs of fatigue.
Shen Huixue only turned around to look when she saw her house. The two guards who had escorted them back were just watching from a distance, seemingly planning to wait until they entered the house before leaving.
Shen Huixue stepped forward and knocked on the door. After only two knocks, the door was opened. When Wu's mother saw that the two had returned safely, the worry on her face finally disappeared, and she welcomed them into the house.
"You're finally back."
"Aunt Wu, it's alright, everything will be fine from now on," Shen Qingwu comforted her with a smile.
Although Mrs. Wu did not understand the deeper meaning of her words, she could sense her happiness and couldn't help but smile and say, "I know, you two go and rest first. I'll make you something delicious today."
"Stew a chicken for Huixue," Shen Qingwu said.
"You don't need to remind me, it's been stewing for a while now."
After closing the gate, Wu's mother went straight to the kitchen, and Shen Huixue accompanied her mother back to the main courtyard.
Once they finally entered the house, only the mother and daughter remained inside. Shen Qingwu suddenly chuckled.
Shen Huixue looked at her: "Mother?"
“Hui Xue, those who killed your father will all die a horrible death.” Shen Qingwu’s smile seemed unstoppable; she sat there, laughing and crying at the same time.
Shen Huixue stepped forward, took her hand, squatted down in front of her, and looked up at her: "Mother, did you do what happened to the Shen family?"
"Of course it's me." Shen Qingwu raised her hand and touched her daughter's face. Looking at her face, which resembled Liu Feng's, it was as if she were seeing Liu Feng, who had been gone for many years.
Those people keep saying that humans and demons can't live together, yet they want to turn themselves into demons.
Why bother turning into a demon? Wouldn't it be better to just die?
“They are all the culprits. No one in the Shen family is innocent.”
"Mother, I know."
Shen Huixue didn't care about the life or death of the Shen family, but this matter was too big. If the Shen family was exposed, her mother, as Shen Zhiheng's biological sister, would inevitably be implicated.
What should I do? Should I ask Zhang Jinghuai for help?
Shen Huixue was somewhat bewildered for a moment.
Looking at her worried daughter, Shen Qingwu suddenly asked her, "Huixue, if there were a chance for you to become a demon, would you be willing?"
Shen Huixue was taken aback: "Mother, what are you saying?"
How could she possibly become a demon?
"Achan told me that as long as you have your father's inner core, you can completely transform into a fox demon just like him. Huixue, do you want to give it a try?"
Shen Huixue suddenly felt a sense of dread. Had she become... a fox demon?
She was a half-demon from birth, and was despised by the Shen family since childhood. People would avoid her at all costs if they saw her eyes.
She never imagined her life would change, that she would become a demon; it was something she couldn't even comprehend.
Besides these, there's also her mother.
She knew that her mother's sudden question meant she wanted her to make this choice, but...
"And what about you?" Shen Huixue asked Shen Qingwu. "If I become a demon, I won't be able to stay in the Great Xia."
“You’ve grown up now, you can’t always stay by your mother’s side. Wouldn’t it be better to leave Great Xia? If you leave here, you can live freely. Your father said that there is a vast world beyond Great Xia.”
"But I want to stay with you."
Shen Qingwu gently touched her daughter's face without saying a word.
Once the Shen family's crimes are confirmed, they will surely face certain death, and she will not escape either.
This was the inevitable outcome when she asked Achan for help, and she never regretted it.
But she didn't want her daughter to stay here with her.
Shen Qingwu shook her head: "This is where your father is buried. Your mother wants to stay here and be with him."
For a moment, neither the mother nor the daughter could convince the other.
At this moment, in a small courtyard not far away, although Achan could not go to the Shen family to join in the fun, she could still barely see the huge body of the Jiao Mother writhing at home, which was enough to satisfy her craving.
Unfortunately, I could only catch a glimpse before I could see nothing more. I wonder how things are going with the Shen family now?
With Bai Xiuming and Shen Zhuo in control of the situation, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Just as she was thinking, there was a sudden, urgent knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" Someone is coming to visit at this hour. Could it be Huixue and the others?
As Achan pondered this, she walked to the door.
Just as she was wondering what was going on, she suddenly heard a strange male voice from outside: "Miss Ji, I am Commander of the Mingjing Division. Please open the door. Lord Bai is injured."
Achan stepped forward and opened the door. The first thing she saw was Bai Xiuming being supported by two people.
He looked extremely disheveled. His bright red, wide-sleeved outer robe was torn in several places and stained with large patches of blood. His inner robe had a hole in the chest, revealing skin that was a noticeably different color underneath.
His eyes were downcast at that moment, and it was unclear whether he was still conscious.
"What's wrong with him?" Ah Chan asked hurriedly.
"Lord Bai was ambushed by the Four Realms Mysterious Water Serpent Demon and poisoned," the commander said succinctly.
Achan had no interest in asking about the Xuan Shui snake; instead, she leaned forward to look at Bai Xiuming's face.
As soon as she got closer, Bai Xiuming suddenly opened his eyes.
"Bai Xiuming, can you still recognize me?" Achan asked.
Bai Xiuming stared at her for a while before giving a soft "hmm".
Just when Achan thought the conversation was over, he spoke again, his mind surprisingly clear: "I've been poisoned by the Xuan Shui Snake. Think of a way to help me detoxify as quickly as possible."
Achan was somewhat troubled. She knew about this poison; it wasn't very toxic, and the poison could be eliminated slowly. However, this poison caused immense suffering, not only physical but also psychological. Speeding up the detoxification process would only intensify the pain.
"It's possible, but... can you handle it?"
Before Achan could finish speaking, something was thrown at her. She caught it in a flurry; it was a money pouch.
She was wondering why Bai Xiuming had given her the money pouch when she heard him say, "Didn't you want to know what I have? It's all here."
Achan quickly lowered her head. She had no cultivation and couldn't open this thing, which proved that it wasn't a money pouch, but a storage pouch!
"Take whatever materials you need here. As long as you can cure the poison in my body by tomorrow, you can choose anything from them."
"Really?" Ah Chan's eyes crinkled involuntarily. Such a wonderful thing, like a pie falling from the sky?
"real."
"It's a deal, please come in."
Afraid that he might change his mind, Achan warmly invited two commanders to help him inside.
At this moment, Chen Hui heard the noise and came out. She saw Bai Xiuming, who was in a disheveled state and clearly not in good condition, as well as two Mingjing Guards. She was caught in a dilemma.
One of the Mingjing Guards' expressions changed upon seeing Chen Hui, and he turned to Achan and said, "Miss Ji, please forgive me, but it would be best if this lady did not stay here while Lord Bai is undergoing his detoxification."
Bai Xiuming is currently suffering from a deadly poison, and the person in front of them is not even human. If anything goes wrong, they might have to atone with their lives.
Chen Hui wasn't angry. Given the current situation, if she weren't worried about A Chan, she would have already run far away.
Getting involved with Bai Xiuming could be fatal. He trusts A Chan, but he might not trust himself.
After hearing this, Achan thought for a moment and then said, "Huiniang, go and see if Huixue has come home yet."
Since the two families live close by, she can feel more at ease leaving Hui Niang there.
"Okay," Chen Hui replied. "I'll come back tomorrow morning. Be careful."
Without hesitation, Chen Hui turned and left.
After the two commanders of the Mingjing Division helped Bai Xiuming to Achan's bed, they respectfully said, "Miss Ji, we will stay outside the courtyard. If you have any instructions, just call out from inside the courtyard."
"Thank you both for your help."
After seeing the two off, Achan closed the door, grabbed the storage bag, and ran back to her bedside, looking impatient: "Bai Xiuming, open it quickly."
The man lying on the bed raised his forearm and moved his fingers slightly. Ah Chan quickly put the storage bag back into his hand.
He held the bag, and items fell out one by one, piling up haphazardly on the floor, quickly filling half the room.
At a glance, Achan saw a vast array of rare and precious herbs and trees, as well as countless rare minerals and pills.
There were also many rare and exotic animal parts that had been disassembled and sealed, and more than a dozen gourds used to store the blood of various exotic animals were on display.
Ah Chan was dazzled by the sights; she wanted everything.
"Is that all?" She was somewhat disappointed when she saw that the storage bag was no longer spewing anything out.
"There's no room in the other rooms."
“Okay.” Achan walked into the pile of treasures and began to pick and choose.
The venom of the black water snake can cause abnormal sensitivity in the body, increase pain, and induce hallucinations, making people unable to escape from these hallucinations.
Accelerating detoxification is actually quite easy; as long as you can help mobilize the body's internal energy, you can naturally speed up the elimination of toxins.
However, despite having so many pills, Bai Xiuming couldn't increase his cultivation speed.
Did they eat it all? Achan didn't think much of it. Luckily, she had previously prepared similar auxiliary herbs for cultivation. The herbs used by humans and demons should be similar.
There are also hallucinations caused by the venom of the Xuan Shui snake, which are more difficult to resolve. This situation is similar to the arrival of a demon in one's heart, and one can only rely on oneself. However, the physical pain can always be alleviated to some extent.
Bai Xiuming is so generous, A Chan can't just watch him suffer.
She selected a dozen or so items, and just as she was about to take another look, she suddenly heard someone behind her ask, "Have you made your selections?"
"Not yet." Achan glanced back and saw that the man was actually spitting blood.
She quickly placed the selected materials on the table beside her, walked around the things scattered on the floor, and went to the bedside.
"Why are you still vomiting blood?"
Bai Xiuming looked slightly helpless, as if he were willing to vomit blood.
Ah Chan took out her handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and assured him, "Don't worry, I will make sure you live to be a hundred years old."
Bai Xiuming looked at her, hallucinations already forming before his eyes, yet he still struggled to maintain a calm voice: "Are you cursing me?"
After thinking about it, Ah Chan realized that living to be a hundred years old seemed to be a curse for him.
"Oh, don't worry about it so much, just get the gist of what I mean."
"Yes, I understand." He didn't lie down again, but sat cross-legged on the bed.
Achan helped him take off his outer garment, then thought for a moment and went to untie his belt. Since his inner garment was also torn, she decided to take it off as well.
Bai Xiuming grabbed her hand at the right moment, his palm icy cold: "This is not necessary."
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