Chapter 37
Half a month later——
Liang Lun has already returned to Qingcheng to make advance deployments, gather troops, and collect intelligence within the sect. We can start the action once I am almost fully recovered.
With the influence that Zhang Shan and Xiao Ruoyin had in the sect before, they were still able to find some confidants. Otherwise, why were they able to go back and assassinate Ouyang Qingjun? It must have been a collaboration between inside and outside.
Under Wu Yunran's treatment, I can really move around freely. Although I still can't use my internal energy, it's much better than being trapped in a wheelchair and coughing up blood at every turn.
It seems that everything is going on in an orderly manner, but in fact, there is still a hidden danger that I have not dealt with properly, and that is Xiao Ruoyin.
He is really becoming more and more perceptive.
If this time bomb isn't properly handled, it's possible that all our efforts will fail. Now that things have progressed so far, we absolutely cannot let it collapse from within.
Xiao Ruoyin now believes that Zhang Shan's personality has changed drastically since she came back from the brink of death, and he himself has become sensitive and suspicious.
I'm thinking about the possibility of having a frank talk. Plans can't be set in stone; they must be adjusted based on changes in the people around us.
I thought Chu Yingyu would pack up and carry me in the coffin back to the Eight Palaces, but in fact he was still staying in Taohua Village, like a ghost every day.
Like a retired old man who does nothing all day?
There are still more than twenty days left before he returns to the Eightfold Palace to report.
Since he's still here, can I keep recycling him? Not only do I have Sifanglou helping me seize the position of leader, but if I can also bring Chu Yingyu along, wouldn't that increase my chances of success?
My calculations were clacking as I had to think of another bait to hook him.
Alas, I feel a little guilty for keeping this secret from him, but I am not sure about his mental state. I wonder if he will be controlled again and do something to me twice.
"Junior brother, let's go find Chu Yingyu. Since he hasn't left, let's continue to ask him for help." As soon as the idea popped up in my mind, I called Xiao Ruoyin.
"What use is he to?"
"If you can kill Ouyang Qingjun, you won't be useless. If you can use it well, you will be a treasure."
“…”
He followed me reluctantly, but he didn't have to. The reason I asked was because I thought Xiao Ruoyin was jealous and quick-tempered, so I had to tell him in advance. Otherwise, he would be furious if he knew I was going to see Chu Yingyu without telling him.
After shouting a few times outside the door, the door of the house was opened and Chu Yingyu, dressed in farmer's clothes, walked out.
A person with a good figure looks good even in a sack. After admiring my widower's figure, I smiled.
"Could you please let us in and sit down?"
“…”
Although he looked reluctant, he hesitated for a moment and still opened the fence gate.
After leading us in, Chu Yingyu was making tea again, but there were no snacks left. Damn it, it was rare that I wanted to eat a few!
"Since you are Xiao'e's husband, I will call you Brother Chu. You helped me invite Liang Lun and Wu Yunran, which was a great help. You also killed my enemy Ouyang Qingjun. I am really grateful to you." I began to make friends with him, looking at him with a smile.
"Don't get me wrong, I didn't do it for you." Chu Yingyu responded coldly.
It seems that the reason I caught Chu Yingyu's eye was really thanks to Xiaobai. On the other hand, if Xiaobai looked like me, he must be a handsome male dog.
Thinking of Xiaobai, I wanted to go see Lai Fu, but it was absurd to use Zhang Shan's body to look at a dog.
Noticing my silent sigh, Xiao Ruoyin asked me what was wrong. I quickly collected my thoughts. This guy has been getting more and more perceptive lately. I was obviously very careful not to show any unnecessary movements or thoughts, but he still stared at me.
Because you're worried about your senior sister, right? I hope Xiao Ruoyin isn't a hidden lunatic.
"You may not believe it when I tell you." After careful consideration, I started talking with an embarrassed expression.
Chu Yingyu remained unmoved. He looked out the window from time to time, looking at the swing under the tree.
"I wonder if Brother Chu has ever dreamed of Xiao'e?"
“…”
The boy, who had been distracted, turned his head back, and fixed his scattered gaze on me, obviously waiting for my next words.
"There's a folk saying that after a person dies, they'll appear in their dreams. Logically, these dreams are meant for their relatives and friends."
"Did you dream about Xiao'e?" Chu Yingyu leaned forward slightly excitedly, bumping into the edge of the table and causing a few drops of tea in the cup to spill out.
Xiao Ruoyin couldn't help but roll his eyes. He now thought that I was a liar who was full of lies, but he couldn't expose me.
Seeing his expectant yet pitiful expression, I suddenly ran out of words to tell. The words burned in my throat, and I hesitated for a moment.
"She told you to be a good person and live a good life."
"What else?"
"Uh, be a good person! Benefit the people! Don't fight and kill, and blindly follow the Palace Master."
I admit that I had some ulterior motives.
Xiao Ruoyin patted me on the back and I met his gaze. He was urging me to get down to business.
In the end, I was defeated by my own momentary weakness. How could someone who achieves great things be easily shaken?
Two options seemed to emerge. A. Tell these two people the truth about the possession, and the three of them will work together. B. Take control of the situation by myself and prevent any incidents that might affect the final outcome.
The more people know my secret, the greater the risk, but on the other hand, it can also be a help.
Liang Lun, Liang Lun, you really taught me a good lesson. I dare not confess the secrets in my heart easily.
There are too many concerns.
After I traveled through time and made so many side quests, I really believed that Chu Yingyu would have a happy ending with me and fight against the poison, but in the end, he was killed on our wedding night.
Now I have another choice. Can I still make the right choice?
I shouldn't face these things pessimistically. After all, I have seen hope in desperate situations. But this time, no matter what choice I make, I have to control the situation.
I comforted myself that this time we just took a stroll around the house, and then Xiao Ruoyin and I went back to the clinic. Along the way, we were stared at by each other until sparks were about to come out of our faces.
"Don't look at me like that. I just think the lie of dreaming is too stupid. Chu Yingyu doesn't believe it. Why would he be so foolish as to help us seize the position of leader just because Xiao'e asked for help in the dream?"
"Why do I feel like he would believe it? Didn't you see how he treated Qin Xiao'e like a fool?"
I thought to myself, "If it were you, would you believe these weird things?"
Xiao Ruoyin hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, "No matter how strange it is, I am willing to believe it."
This answer undoubtedly gave me some confidence. He said he would believe me, so even if I told him the truth about the possession, wouldn't that help me win over my teammates? Wouldn't he be like Liang Lun, who turned the tables on me?
He and Liang Lun are not the same kind of people. After all, he likes Zhang Shan, and I have the leverage.
Noticing that I was lost in thought, Xiao Ruoyin, who thought I was thinking about someone else, flicked my forehead and said, "Zhang Shan, you'd better not have any bad thoughts."
"No, don't be nervous. How about this, while I'm recovering from my injuries, let's keep an eye on Chu Yingyu together."
Xiao Ruoyin said loudly with a cold face, "You still say you don't have any bad intentions? Look at what he's doing!"
"Because I have a secret that I'm wondering whether I should tell it to you, me, and him, four people in total." I stood in front of him with a serious expression, without a trace of joking.
"Three, you said one too many."
"Well, you'll know when I tell you later."
He stared at my face, trying to see something from it, but Xiao Ruoyin failed. He wanted to reach out and pull me, but this time I gently pushed him away.
"you……"
"It's very important. I hope Chu Yingyu's condition is like that of a normal person, so we need to observe him these days and then we can be honest."
"Why can't you discuss it with me first and then go to him."
I was stunned by his words. I actually touched my chin and looked at the handsome man, and began to think about the possibility of finally notifying Chu Yingyu.
I definitely don't know Xiao Ruoyin as well as Zhang Shan does. I'm afraid that he might turn evil or something, and then cause trouble, delaying my rescue of Chu Yingyu.
But actually, putting aside this loan bias, I can still trust him.
Because Xiao Ruoyin really likes Zhang Shan, and feelings are the most sincere evidence, which makes me feel that I can reveal the secret and work together.
The only thing I'm uncertain about right now is that idiot Chu Yingyu. After killing me, his condition has been up and down, but the pain is gone. His love for me hasn't faded yet, and I wonder if he'll repeat the same mistakes when he returns to the Eightfold Palace.
I pointed at Xiao Ruoyin and asked, "How much do you like Senior Sister?"
Xiao Ruoyin blushed immediately. He had never expected that I would say such irrelevant words. "You, what nonsense are you talking about!"
"Don't you like Senior Sister? Then Senior Sister should find Chu Yingyu to live with. After all, his wife is dead and Senior Sister doesn't have a lover yet!"
"You dare!"
"Can you give it a try for your senior sister?"
"...You're really weird."
"Yes or no."
"What's the point of just talking? Tsk, I've never thought of any other woman except you in my life!"
"Okay, let's go to the room and talk."
"Wait, wait! Senior Sister!"
Xiao Ruoyin, who was suddenly in a passive state, was so scared that his legs went weak and he actually called for his senior sister. I pulled his sleeve and dragged him to the side room. This guy didn't even dare to fart along the way, and his handsome face turned red.
I walked into the clinic, passed by the yard, and said hello to Yao Baicao and Wu Yunran who were drying medicine. I pulled Xiao Ruoyin into the room, then closed the door and window and pushed him onto the chair.
"Zhang Shan, calm down. You just recovered from a serious injury. Don't be so hasty to do such a thing!"
"Now, I'm going to tell you this secret. You swear to trust me and help me."
“…”
You can see with your own eyes that the other person's expression is confused, and there is loss in that look of expectation and struggle.
Who would be so awkward with you at this time? Didn’t you say you wanted to discuss it first?
His expression softened, and he pulled his sleeve out of my hand. Xiao Ruoyin sat up straight and said, "You'd better have an important secret."
Haha, men, instead of being a bit harsh, they have a bit of a temper, right?
"I'm not your senior sister."
“…”
Veins popped out of Xiao Ruoyin's head. "Have you had enough of this? Now that you're feeling better, your mind is no longer clear."
"I knew it was hard for you to accept, but think about it, since I got better, you've said yourself that I'm completely different now."
"You also explained that it's normal to change after going through the gates of hell."
"I'm kidding."
"...Zhang Shan, I'm really getting angry."
Sitting down next to him, I poured myself some tea to moisten my throat and began to describe the situation vividly: "I am actually Qin Xiao'e, Chu Yingyu's deceased wife. My soul entered the body of your senior sister because she gave up her body when she was near death."
Xiao Ruoyin's expression began to lean towards that of an unintelligent one, his mouth slightly open and his face dull.
"I've been pretending for so long, and it's really tiring. I don't know much about Zhang Shan and you, so I kept it a secret. You're curious why I know so much about Qin Xiao'e, because I am her. Basically, I've been resurrected."
"You're talking nonsense!" Xiao Ruoyin stood up suddenly in excitement, knocking over the chair.
"Look, I told you, but you still don't believe me. Don't worry, your senior sister's soul is still here. I'm just borrowing her body. If I can return to my own body and revive her, I can use the power of the Celestial Immortal to save her. She won't just have a short lifespan, but will be able to live healthily."
I know this matter is still quite difficult to accept, so after explaining it, I stopped talking and waited for Xiao Ruoyin to digest it slowly.
He looked at me in shock for a while, and then pinched his thigh.
After I drank three cups of tea, this junior brother finally came to his senses.
"This is ridiculous. You are Qin Xiao'e, and you occupied my senior sister's body. You are possessed by a ghost. Why don't you go find Chu Yingyu, who killed you?"
His attitude changed drastically. Xiao Ruoyin pointed at me with gritted teeth, wishing he could shake me out of Zhang Shan's body.
Sure enough, compared to acting out affectionate scenes, this kind of bickering situation is more suitable for both of us.
"If I could possess him, I would have gone on a killing spree! Please be polite to me. This is your senior sister's body. If you damage it, you will be responsible. If you dare to say something mean to me again, I will hit my head against the wall!"
"……you!"
"Let's calm down. We're both people who want to cooperate. Why get so angry?"
"Why didn't you tell the truth earlier!"
"I'm afraid I can't control the situation, so I have to wait and see. You've been suspicious of Zhang Shan since the beginning, but because you don't believe in ghosts and spirits, you can't figure out what the problem is."
I was so angry that I walked around the room twice, but after calming down, Xiao Ruoyin grabbed my arm and said, "Are you sure my senior sister is still alive and can come back? Can you use the inner power of the immortal guest to save her?"
I shook off his shackles in frustration, "I'm sure she's still alive and can come back, as long as I leave. But whether or not she can use the immortal guest's inner strength depends on whether I can return to my main body and revive. I can't go back at the moment. Besides, if it weren't for me, how would Zhang Shan have had the chance to receive treatment from Wu Yunran? Why don't you say thank you."
After forcing out a thank you through gritted teeth, Xiao Ruoyin asked again, "How can you leave Senior Sister's body?"
"To accomplish my purpose, of course."
"Why do you want to be the leader of the Xuanyin Sect?"
“This is not my ultimate goal.”
"Could it be that he wanted to gather the members of the sect to avenge and kill Chu Yingyu?"
"No, I want to save him. Becoming the leader, befriending the Sifanglou, and winning you over are all for the purpose of rescuing him from the Eightfold Palace."
Now Xiao Ruoyin understood the whole plan, and the vague feeling of something being wrong disappeared, but the look in his eyes when he looked at me was strange.
"Don't you hate him? He killed you."
"I've had enough of the hatred, now I have to get down to business."
"...You're quite generous."
"He had no choice. Anyway, after I became a spirit, I stayed with him for a while. Then I possessed Zhang Shan. Do you agree to cooperate with me?"
Xiao Ruoyin rubbed his forehead, "It's come to this, how can I refuse? Otherwise, you will occupy Zhang Shan's body and not return it."
"Smart guy." I clapped my hands in satisfaction.
"Don't be too anxious to be happy, I also have conditions."
"Tell me about it."
"You swear after me."
What kind of extreme reversal is this? Just now, I was the one who asked him to swear. After thinking about it, I decided to let him do it and raised three fingers.
"You are not allowed to use Zhang Shan's body to be intimate with Chu Yingyu, and you are not allowed to run away with him, otherwise you will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death."
"Of course not! If I use your senior sister's body, I, I will also feel the greenery above my head!"
"Then why were you doing so many little tricks before?"
“…”
I lowered my head in shame, my toes curling up in shame. Once Xiao Ruoyin and I had resolved all the lies and concealments, my heart seemed to calm down, and the loneliness of fighting alone gradually disappeared.
"Xiao Ruoyin, let's first observe whether Chu Yingyu can calm down before considering whether to tell the truth."
"I prefer not to tell him."
"Don't bring any ulterior motives." Seeing his objection, I reminded him.
"Yes, I'm just afraid that he might lose his mind and try to steal someone, or come and kill you again. I don't stand much chance against him."
"That's why we have to keep an eye on him. If he can hold his own, his chances of returning to the Xuanyin Sect and reclaiming the position of Sect Leader will be much greater. Of course, after my soul leaves, you can do whatever you want with the position of Sect Leader."
"Have you ever thought that if you fail, Chu Yingyu might have deliberately killed you. He is highly regarded by Qu Yesi and might be the next Palace Master."
Xiao Ruoyin, you really know how to rub cumin into a wound!
I countered, "Yeah, if we fail, Zhang Shan won't be able to come back, what should we do?"
Xiao Ruoyin: "..."
Me: "Let's stop bickering, okay? Only success is allowed, no failure."
He finally ended the conversation with a light snort.
First, I had a teammate with a sharp tongue and a bad temper. Next, I would see what Chu Yingyu would do. The next day, I began to wander around the village intentionally or unintentionally.
Xiao Ruoyin's comment on this was that I was like a sneaky flower thief.
Go away.
Before, I was in spirit form, so I could spy on Chu Yingyu every day. Now it's harder to deal with him. I don't know what he has done to my corpse. Could it still be wearing my wedding dress?
A hundred meters from my former home, I wandered in the distance, craning my neck from time to time to take in the sight. This time, I was the only one wandering around, while Xiao Ruoyin was processing the carrier pigeon message Liang Lun had sent.
"What are you doing."
“Oh my god!”
Suddenly, I heard Chu Yingyu's voice from behind me. Once again, I realized how elusive he was. I was so scared that I ran forward a few steps.
Chu Yingyu tilted his head and stared at me silently.
After suppressing my guilty conscience, I asked with an awkward smile, "You, why are you here?"
"See you lingering here."
“Ah, this…”
Chu Yingyu's eyes suddenly lit up, and his tone became more and more upbeat. "Did you dream about Xiao'e again?"
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