Chapter 36 The Debt of a Child (XI) His hand slid over her shoulder and back, pulling her into his arms…
"Giggle giggle giggle..."
A sharp, piercing laugh suddenly rang out.
At the same time, sand and soil fell from the roof beams with a "rustling" sound.
Song Qiling looked up and saw that the surrounding scenery was like an illusion, gradually dissipating.
She released Wang Hu, pushed him aside, and then turned and strode towards her junior brother and his group. "It seems that the Butcher was the key to the formation. Now that he's dead, this illusion probably won't last much longer."
As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly glanced at Wan Hongling, "Master Wan is being controlled by evil spirits, and his actions are not his own intention. Don't blame yourself too much."
Upon hearing this, the remaining people turned pale, and then a hint of guilt flashed in their eyes.
Who comforts people like that?
They just stabbed their own father because of your instigation.
Looking at Miss Wan again, she seemed to have lowered her head even further.
Her shoulders were shaking, and tears fell like pearls from a broken string; she was clearly heartbroken.
Song Qiling untied the ropes binding their hands and instructed them, "While the illusion hasn't completely collapsed, run away, run as far as you can, and don't answer anyone who calls your names."
After releasing everyone, she returned to Wan Hongling's side. Seeing that she was listless and had no will to live, she sighed and said, "You can't kill people in the illusion. Master Wan is not really dead. If you still want to live, carry your father on your back and leave this place."
Upon hearing this, Wan Hongling trembled. She couldn't care less about anything else. She whispered "Father," grabbed Master Wan's hands, and dragged him away with difficulty.
Seeing this, Qiu'er hurriedly staggered forward to help her young mistress carry the person.
Song Qiling then stood up straight and walked outside.
The law of cause and effect in this world is interconnected.
The seeds sown by our predecessors must be borne by our descendants.
-
The dilapidated eaves were shrouded in a grayish-white dust, and wild grass sprouted from the cracks in the stone steps, trembling in the wind and tickling one's cheeks.
Song Qiling slowly opened her eyes.
As far as the eye could see, the banner of 'Wanxing Trading Company' leaned slumped to one side, its corners drooping and obscuring half of the view.
After a moment of adjustment, she noticed that her limbs were gradually regaining strength. She pushed herself up and sat up, looking around.
Having shed its illusion, this place finally revealed its original form.
All around were broken walls and ruins, clearly a long-abandoned dilapidated temple.
Several blurry figures lay across the distance.
The woman's low sobs grew clearer as they approached, sending chills down one's spine.
"Father……"
Song Qiling turned her head to look in the direction of the sound and saw Miss Wan kneeling on the ground, holding Master Wan's face in her hands and crying out in anguish.
Judging from this scene, it seems as if someone has really died.
After hesitating for a moment, Song Qiling stood up and walked towards Wan Hongling.
“Master Wan’s soul has been disturbed by evil spirits; young lady, you must not forcibly wake him up.”
Upon approaching, she noticed that Master Wan's face was deathly pale and his lips were bloodless; he was even weaker than she had imagined, which explained Wan Hongling's deep concern.
After reaching out and feeling under his nose, Song Qiling felt relieved. She straightened up and said, "Rest assured and recuperate. Master Wan will wake up in less than three days."
Upon hearing this, Wan Hongling stopped sobbing, looked up at Song Qiling, and asked through teary eyes, "Really?"
Song Qiling nodded, "It's true."
She has plenty of experience with comas.
"If you are still worried, Miss Wan can burn this talisman to ashes, mix it with water, and have the master take it."
She handed Wan Hongling a yellow talisman folded into a triangle, saying, "Drink the talisman water, and it will protect Master Wan from evil spirits."
Having experienced the bizarre and supernatural events of the previous night, what else could Wan Hongling not believe?
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she took the talisman and tucked it into her sleeve. Then, she stood up and bowed respectfully to Song Qiling. "Master Song saved the life of my Wanxing Trading Company. Hongling is eternally grateful. Such a great kindness is beyond Hongling's means to repay..."
Song Qiling's heart skipped a beat.
If she continues talking, things might not go well.
“This is my duty, Miss Wan, you need not worry about it.” Song Qiling raised his hand to interrupt, smiling warmly. “If you really feel bad about it, how about you give one of our carriages to the four of us brothers?”
The calculations were made with great fanfare, but to onlookers, they sounded more like opportunistic exploitation.
Wan Hongling didn't seem to care, but a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes. "Sorcerer Song, are you leaving?"
Song Qiling nodded, "I have been a great bother to the business these days. If this continues, I fear it will hinder the business's important affairs."
These words were spoken with the utmost sincerity.
Song Qiling glanced at Gu Lianzhou and saw him standing unharmed not far away, staring back at her in a daze. She curved her lips and said, "I'm afraid my brothers and I are just not compatible with the caravan."
If that's the case, then it means you don't want to travel together anymore.
Wan Hongling was not one to be coy, and she knew that forced relationships are never sweet. So, she simply sighed, called over a nearby servant, gave him a few instructions, and then bowed to Song Qiling and his party, saying, "If fate allows, we shall meet again at the Prince of Nancheng's Mansion."
"Okay." Song Qiling returned the bow, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes.
She really needed to pay a proper visit to the Prince of Nancheng's residence.
But right now... she has more important things to do.
-
"Senior brother, is Master Wan really alright?"
The carriage swayed and rattled along the rugged country roads, the wind whipping up dust that pelted people's faces.
Song Qiling narrowed her eyes, raised her hand to her chin, and replied calmly, "That depends on his fate. As for his life... it's not in danger. What happens after he wakes up is not something I can control."
Whether one is foolish or insane depends on whether one's mind is strong enough.
If Master Wan has truly forgotten the butcher's memory, things will be much better. But if he has taken it seriously, then it's hard to say.
“Junior brother, not everyone is like you, able to enter and exit the illusory realm safely every time.”
She glanced at Young Master Gu, who was standing right in front of her, and couldn't help but sigh at his ability to cause trouble for thousands of years. "I should hurry up and try to get you into my uncle's hands as soon as possible."
"What, Senior Brother, do you want to get rid of this hot potato of mine as soon as possible?" Gu Lianzhou was self-aware enough to laugh at himself.
Song Qiling smiled, neither confirming nor denying, "Junior brother, I'm doing this for your own good."
“Of course.” Gu Lianzhou shifted his position and moved deeper into the carriage, squeezing Liu Dai, who was resting with her eyes closed, until she opened them.
After last night's ordeal, the young doctor, well-versed in pharmacopoeias, has come to accept the current situation well.
After all, compared to the monsters of Yin-Yang Stream, the butchers seemed far too kind and approachable.
Therefore, he adapted very quickly. As soon as he opened his eyes, he looked at Gu Lianzhou and asked, "Fourth Brother Gu, did you have a falling out with Brother Song?"
Unsure how he arrived at that conclusion, Gu Lianzhou wasn't annoyed, but simply chuckled, "Where did you get that from?"
Liu Dai stared at Gu Lianzhou for a long time, then looked away and turned to Song Qiling, "Brother Song seems to want to send you away."
Well, he heard their conversation perfectly clearly.
Young Master Gu pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and leaned back, letting out a muffled sound in his throat as he reluctantly responded.
Yes, his senior brother had made an agreement with him beforehand that when the time came, they would settle the money and go their separate ways.
What reason does he have to stay?
But... a nameless restlessness suddenly rose from my chest, burning me so much that I couldn't sit still.
Gu Lianzhou slowly opened his eyes and raised his hand to his heart.
When did he become so persistent and shameless?
-
The wheels rolled on, and we traveled for half a day.
Just as the four people in the car were starving and their stomachs were burning with hunger, a teahouse suddenly appeared on the wide roadside.
It's as if it grew out of thin air.
Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, the group jumped down and headed straight for the tea stall.
"Boss, tea!" Song Qiling bent down and pulled out a stool from under the table, calling out to the tea stall as if she knew it well.
The others didn't rush to sit down and rest. Yu Qi, being diligent, led the horse to the tree to tend to it. Liu Dai moved slowly, shuffling to the steaming stall, and together with Gu Lianzhou, craned their necks to look inside.
This is quite something.
All sorts of noodles, round and flat, thick and thin, lay quietly on the flour-covered griddle.
Faintly, the aroma of the bubbling broth in the pot could still be smelled, and the rising steam wafted into the noses of the two hungry young men.
What kind of tea should we drink?
They want to eat dumplings!
"Hey, I'm here!" A middle-aged man with a brown headscarf came out wielding a rolling pin to greet them. Seeing two hungry men gathered around the stall, he quickly put on a smile, "Gentlemen, what would you like to eat? What would you like to drink?"
They ordered several bowls of noodles and wontons, but still felt it wasn't enough, so the two asked for some smooth and tender tofu pudding, mixed it with bright red chili peppers and scallions, and brought it to the table to enjoy.
After finishing their hot meal, the group rediscovered the joys of being human, rubbing their bellies and staring blankly into the void.
"Burp—" Yu Qi let out a satisfying burp, then turned to look at Liu Dai, "Liu Xingchuan, this is human food."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was met with a glare.
"You talk like you've been starving for ages. I wonder who was reincarnated as a starving ghost the other day and almost ate us out of business." Liu Dai picked up the teacup on the table, brought it to his lips, and took a sip.
Yu Qi raised his eyebrows. "Speaking of the past few days, I was indeed possessed by a starving ghost, only eating and unable to savor the true flavor of food like I can now."
He raised his hand and patted Song Qiling on the shoulder, his eyes full of gratitude, "Thanks to my brother Song for his help."
After saying that, he slid his hand over the person's shoulder and back, and pulled them into a tight embrace.
Song Qiling frowned slightly, about to lash out, when she suddenly felt a lightness on her shoulder, and that unruly arm had been pulled down.
"Be grateful if you are, why bother with physical action?" Gu Lianzhou's expression remained unchanged, but his tone revealed a hint of impatience.
Yu Qi was stunned for a moment, then hesitated and asked, "What... am I that strong?"
Can you crush a person's shoulder?
Otherwise... what's wrong with this person?
"That's the rule of the sect," Song Qiling said without changing his expression. "With three fires on my shoulders, I don't let anyone touch them easily. Please forgive me, Brother Yu."
The verse flowed so smoothly that Gu Lianzhou was momentarily stunned.
He had never heard his master mention this rule; he was simply annoyed by Yu Qi's actions.
My senior brother is... always good at giving him a way out.
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