Chapter 55 A False Alarm
When Yun Yuan stepped into Xuanhe Hall, she felt something strange - it was too quiet.
She hurried through the front hall and pushed aside the bamboo curtains, only to find the doctor's bed empty, its white linen sheet meticulously spread, even the medicine pillow neatly arranged. How could this place look like it had ever treated a patient? If Yuanfeng Wei had truly brought the severely injured Yuan Yi here, how could he have left so little as a trace?
Song Hezi was nowhere to be found, the medicine boy was hesitant and evasive in his words, and the guard was as cold as iron and would not allow her to step into the deep courtyard.
The Yuanfeng Guards were guarding the outer courtyard. Feng Yanyuan had instructed that no matter what happened to Yuanyi Taoist, no one should leak any information.
Letting Yuanfengwei force their way into the inner courtyard would only alert the enemy. Furthermore... she wasn't sure if the medicine from Bagong Mountain was truly made by Song Hezi.
Yun Yuan lurked in the shadows of the eaves, quietly observing the shift changes. When the last group of guards entered the corridor, she unfurled her form, lightly touched the eaves, and disappeared into the backyard.
Under the cold moon and blue bricks, she crept along the wall, following the footsteps of patrolling guards. When she reached the moon-shaped gate deep in the courtyard, a familiar scent of medicine mixed with the rusty smell of blood hit her face, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
A flickering candlelight shone through the screened window, but no figure moved. Yun Yuan held her breath and moved closer—the room was strangely empty and silent.
She was confused and looked around again. Then she turned around and slipped into the room silently.
This was a pharmacy. Along the bluestone walls, medicine cabinets were arranged in a staggered pattern like a honeycomb, each sandalwood drawer inscribed with the name of a rare medicinal herb in gold lacquer. Between the open bookshelves, yellowed medical tomes piled high, the scent of ink and medicine intertwined in the air.
Yun Yuan followed the faint scent of blood, her fingertips skimming across rows of medicine cabinets. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a barely perceptible gap where two cabinets met—there was a secret room!
As she was concentrating, she suddenly heard a muffled rumbling sound coming from the stone wall. Her figure was as fast as lightning, and she spun around and disappeared behind the falling green gauze curtain.
Through the thin curtains, the bluestone medicine cabinet slowly shifted to the right, fitting seamlessly into the adjacent cabinet. The secret room was open, the candlelight illuminating the interior, and the rich aroma of medicine filled the air.
Song Hezi, his sleeves fluttering, walked out of the secret room. He tapped a stone brick beneath the medicine cabinet with his toes, and the mechanism rumbled again, and the stone door slowly closed back into place.
Song Hezi took two steps toward the door, then paused. As if struck by a thought, he turned back. He spread his fingers slightly, his palms pressed against the cool stone for a moment. The secret door, which hadn't yet fully closed, clicked and slid slowly to the right. Song Hezi stepped inside.
The secret door was still open, and the candlelight from inside the house could be seen through.
Her heartbeat roared in her ears, and Yun Yuan bit her lower lip tightly.
To go in or not to go in?
If she rushed in rashly, she would be trapped. But if she retreated, the stone door had a strange mechanism that she might not be able to crack, and the rumbling sound when it opened would alert others.
Just as she hesitated, the stone door suddenly slammed shut. In a flash, she gritted her teeth and darted into the secret room.
As soon as her toes touched the ground, a biting chill ran up her spine - Song Hezi was staring at her quietly, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Sure enough...he still noticed it.
Yun Yuan forced himself to remain calm, his eyes swept across the dark room inconspicuously, and seven or eight ways of escaping flashed through his mind.
Song Hezi took a few steps closer and said with a smile, "Your concealment skills are quite good, little girl. It's a pity you forgot that I am also a pharmacist." He looked her over and his eyes fell on the sachet on Yun Yuan's waist. "This plum fragrance is quite special."
Yun Yuan's eyes flickered as she suddenly noticed Taoist Yuan Yi sleeping peacefully on a stone couch deep in the chamber. The Taoist's chest rose and fell rhythmically, his face flushed, clearly out of danger.
She was slightly stunned, and the tense lines in her shoulders relaxed unconsciously. After thinking for a moment, Fang Yingying bowed and said, "Yuan'er is reckless. She trespassed into the inner courtyard and disturbed the senior."
Song Hezi flicked his wide sleeves, the candlelight flickering across his wrinkled face. "You're worried, girl... Perhaps you know about the drug from Bagong Mountain?" Seeing Yun Yuan nod, he added, "That drug is indeed derived from my Drunken Immortal Fragrance. It seems you're not the only one who can discern the secrets. This man must be a genius in pharmacy, and I'd really like to meet him."
Yun Yuan’s heart trembled slightly: Feng Xiaoming.
"However, this divisive tactic is also vicious. Fortunately, the King of Huainan does not doubt me."
Yun Yuan was stunned when he heard this.
In front of the ashes, the sharp scrutiny of King Huainan was still vivid in his mind - he didn't expect the prince to be so suspicious, but he had no doubts about Song Hezi, the person he was pointing the finger at.
"As for why they hid the person here and didn't allow the Far Wind Guards to come in..." Song Hezi turned and walked towards Taoist Yuan Yi, "Those thieves have spies everywhere and act very carefully. I was afraid someone would kidnap him and miss the opportunity to treat him, so I set up a triple defense - the Far Wind Guards guarding the outside, the security guards patrolling the middle, and the secret rooms inside." He suddenly turned around, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out. "I didn't expect that you, a little girl, would still take advantage of the loophole."
Yun Yuan felt guilty after hearing this and quickly explained, "Yuan Fengwei never doubted Senior Medical Saint. It was Yuan'er who was anxious for a moment..."
Song Hezi stroked his beard and laughed, his old laughter echoing in the stone chamber. "It's okay, I won't blame you." He waved to Yun Yuan, his sleeves carrying a scent of medicine. "Come closer and take a look, girl."
Yun Yuan leaned over to take a closer look and saw that Master Yuanyi's complexion had returned to its rosy complexion and his breathing was long and strong. It was just as she had expected, he would recover after just resting.
"This injury..." Song Hezi suddenly stopped smiling, a serious look appeared between his brows, "It was caused by Lei Zhentian's 'Thunder Infinite Palm'." His voice was low: "Fortunately, it only took 30% of the power. If the Infinite Palm was really used with full strength..." The old man shook his head and didn't say anything else.
That person actually has 30% of Lei Zhentian's palm power... Yun Yuan thought to himself.
"Thanks to Third Young Master Feng for sending someone to escort me in time." Song Hezi turned to Yun Yuan with a gentle look, "This life has finally been snatched back from the jaws of death."
At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted from outside the stone chamber. The sound of chaotic footsteps, mixed with the voices of the guards trying to dissuade them, approached from afar. A single, cold, urgent voice stood out—it was Feng Yanyuan.
When Yun Yuan rushed out of the house, she saw the young man in the corridor with his wide sleeves fluttering and kicking open the doors one by one. His face, which was usually as gentle as jade, was now gloomy and cold.
"Young Master!" Yun Yuan shouted.
Feng Yanyuan's body suddenly froze. He turned around and saw Yun Yuan standing safely in the courtyard. The ice in his eyes melted instantly. He quickly rushed to her and pulled her into his arms.
Yun Yuan felt her vision darken before she was enveloped in the delicate fragrance of pine and ink. Her ear was pressed against his chest, and the pounding of his heartbeat sent a shudder through her. Feng Yanyuan's jaw pressed against her ear, his hot breath spraying against it, stirring a subtle shudder.
"Sir... Sir..." Yun Yuan struggled hard, but the arms tightened around her. She whispered softly, "Sir... Senior Medical Saint is here too..."
"I'm leaving now!" Song Hezi interrupted hurriedly.
Yun Yuan's cheeks flushed as she listened to the footsteps fading away. Then she heard the elders repeatedly say, "Go, go, go! What are you looking at? Hurry up and leave too..."
In a blink of an eye, Song Hezi's figure disappeared outside the moon cave gate, and even the guards were driven out by him.
The Moon Court was silent.
The two people's sleeves overlapped, swaying slightly in the evening breeze.
Yun Yuan finally gave up the struggle. Only when his heartbeat gradually slowed did his arms loosen their grip around her. She took the opportunity to step back, freeing herself from his embrace. She lowered her eyes to stare at the shadows of the trees on the ground, afraid he would notice her blushing face.
Feng Yanyuan, who had calmed down, was at a loss for a moment.
It seemed as if these hands had forgotten where they were before. They just hung in the air for a while, then they put them in front of their lips and coughed twice, then suddenly looked up to admire the moon.
"Young Master..."
"you......"
They both opened their lips at the same time and fell silent at the same time.
The night wind rustled the bamboo leaves in the courtyard.
Yun Yuan pursed her lips and said softly, "What are your instructions, sir?"
Feng Yanyuan coughed twice: "You...you speak first..."
"The Medical Saint has brought the young back to health," Yun Yuan gathered her sleeves, "Master Yuanyi is out of danger."
These words were like the sound of a clear bell, instantly pulling Feng Yanyuan's wandering thoughts back.
"So Song Hezi..."
"Although the Immortal Drunken Fragrance is strange, it's not invincible." Yun Yuan sighed softly, "It must be another divisive plot. Fortunately, the King of Huainan has a keen eye and didn't fall for it."
Feng Yanyuan let out a long sigh and nodded slightly. "The Prince of Huainan has always been known for his ability to discern talented individuals. Seeing him today, I'm even more convinced that this prince's cunning is truly well-deserved." He paused. "It's a pity, I'm afraid he won't interfere in this matter of disguise this time."
Yun Yuan's eyes flickered slightly: "Why?"
"The trace of the medicinal herbs," Feng Yanyuan's voice sank, "points to the slave market."
Yun Yuan pondered for a moment: "The King of Huainan is in his prime now. If we rashly get involved..." She didn't say anything else, but just nodded slightly.
"Some of the people who were brought back claimed that it was the Ghost Head Gang who brought these leaders to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave."
"The Ten Thousand Demons Cave?" Yun Yuan frowned. "The Guitou Gang are assassins. Why would they kidnap these people and bring them back to their lair?" She looked at Feng Yanyuan and suddenly realized, "This is a setup targeting the King of Huainan..."
Feng Yanyuan nodded, "I'm afraid these leaders are no longer in Shouchun. After all, capturing them alive is of no use here."
"But we have to explore this slave market. There are ready-made slaves there, and the jurisdiction is loose, which is very suitable for disguise. Maybe we can find him..." Yun Yuan pursed her lips and swallowed the three words "Feng Xiaoming".
Feng Yanyuan thought of another name.
"If Second Brother really has a substitute and wants to repeat his old trick, he might be in Shouchun." His eyes were determined, "I must break into this slave market."
Yun Yuan raised the corner of her lips slightly, "The King of Huainan invited you to discuss matters, I'm afraid this is also his intention. After all, the slave market is..."
"This is the land of the Jianghu people. This prince is well versed in the art of 'Jiang Taigong fishing.'" Feng Yanyuan said, "But the slave market is a mixed bag, with so many slave shops that even a quick tour would take two days, let alone checking them all. If the prince doesn't show up, it will be much more troublesome."
Yun Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Since they've set up this trap, it would be a shame to waste it. Why don't we take advantage of their strategy and rescue the prince at the same time?"
Feng Yanyuan raised his eyebrows and suddenly smiled.
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