Xizhou Qu (6)
Xu Ning helped the man sit down on a stone block nearby, gently stroked his back, and tore a piece of cloth to bandage the wound on Tang Xixu's arm.
"Don't worry, Ah Xu, I will definitely win!" Xu Ning was unsure. Although Su Wujin was at a similar martial arts level to her, he was insidious and cunning, and was most likely to use underhanded tactics.
But people can't always discourage themselves.
Tang Xixu was weak, with a smile on his lips, and nodded gently: "Well, I believe Ningning can do it!"
With Tang Xixu's encouragement, Xu Ning was filled with strength. She turned and looked at Su Wujin, her expression suddenly changing, her face as cold as ice: "Since you are unwilling to take me to see Master Ye, then don't blame me for being rude!"
Xu Ning raised his hand and buckled the Xilin sword to his right shoulder. His eyes were fierce, and suddenly the sword was unsheathed. The momentum was like a rainbow breaking at dawn. Everyone's hair was flying within three miles, and the dust flew to three feet high. Looking again, a large piece of the stone pier and rockery not far away had been broken off.
Su Wujin slid back to the ground, Xilin's sword pointed directly at the center of his eyes, barely half a fingernail's reach. Su Wujin gasped in shock, barely supporting his upper body with one hand.
Xu Ning attacked forward again, but Su Wujin turned sideways and the sword missed.
Su Wujin took advantage of the situation and pushed Xu Ning's shoulder with his palm. To his surprise, a chill as if a fire had been extinguished rushed through his arm into his heart and lungs.
Tang Xixu realized something was wrong. He had been enjoying his wife's fight with a smile, but suddenly his face darkened and he stood up to catch Xu Ning.
He held Xu Ning with one hand, and with the other hand, he quickly spun like a flower in front of Su Wujin's chest. With the last palm strike, he hit his chest and abdomen. Su Wujin flew back to the stone pillar, and the stone pillar shattered while he was gasping for breath.
"Are you okay?" Fortunately, Su Wujin did not have the heart to poison his palm, otherwise Xu Ning would have died for sure.
Tang Xixu frowned and blamed himself: "I was careless. I'm sorry."
Xu Ning smiled faintly and shook his head.
"I know which room my father is in." Xu Ning looked at Tang Xixu with a weak breath and said in a low voice.
The young man understood and stopped arguing with them: "Take your master to the doctor quickly. If you miss the time, even the gods on earth can't save him."
Su Wujin glared at the two of them, full of unwillingness.
…
The aroma of various herbs filled the room. In the center lay a middle-aged man, about forty years old, with completely white hair. Beside him, a man in a black robe was holding a bowl of black liquid and placing a spoonful of it to the middle-aged man's mouth.
The black medicine spilled onto the ground. Tang Xixu slammed the man to the ground with his palm. Xu Ning screamed, "Stop!"
Xu Ning took a look and saw that the man was dressed like a witch.
"Are you from Miaojiang?" Xu Ning asked coldly.
The man stammered and couldn't speak. He just nodded and pointed at his mouth: "Hmm, hmm, hmm."
Xu Ning knocked the man unconscious and tied him up, preparing to take him back together.
Ye Yulan is still in a coma and shows no signs of waking up.
"Take it back first."
Xu Ning nodded in agreement. Tang Xixu carried Ye Yulan on his back, and the three of them disappeared into the night together.
Outside the room is a small forest with a path leading to the Daxin area.
There was a dark crowd outside the door. Those who came were agile and held crescent-shaped scimitars in their hands. They were not ordinary soldiers, but people from the Southern Sect.
"Want to leave? Not that easy."
At a glance, there were nearly a hundred people, and the exit was blocked. Xu Ning drew his sword to protect the two people behind him.
Tang Xixu put Ye Yulan down and said to Xu Ning, "Take Uncle Ye and leave first. Leave this to me."
"But your injury."
"It's just a minor injury." The young man smiled with a crescent moon on his face.
Xu Ning didn't hesitate and made a quick decision: "Okay. I'll wait for you at the dark post."
Xu Ning carried his father on his back and left at the speed of light.
Tang Xixu walked up to the wall, grabbed several hidden weapons in his hands, and spun them down from above. One weapon killed the people from the Southern Sect who surrounded him, and they fell down one after another.
The young man landed steadily on the ground. When the remaining Southern Sect members were about to attack again, Su Wujin raised his hand to signal them to stop.
Su Wujin raised his hand to adjust the sleeves of his gold-threaded white robe and said calmly, "City Lord Wen, that's not right. I should call you Tang Xixu. After all, that's your real name. They say I'm very secretive, but compared to you, I'm nothing."
"I know you're investigating your father's affairs. I can tell you everything I know, but only if Xu Ning and Ye Yulan stay in Xizhou."
Tang Xixu broke off a palm-sized leaf from somewhere and was concentrating on polishing his dagger. Suddenly, he raised his eyelashes, and his dark eyes hid endless coldness.
In an instant, the coldness turned into sharp cold arrows. Before he could rub his eyes, a black shadow flashed by. Su Wujin felt a cool breeze in his face, and Tang Xixu was already close to him.
Su Wujin, the leader of the Southern Sect and the prince of Xizhou who has killed countless people, is now under pressure from a powerful person.
"Do you think you can threaten me just because you are the prince of Xizhou? I will find out the truth myself." Tang Xixu was too lazy to even fight with him.
He turned around and glared at Su Wujin with contempt, half of his face bathed in the silver light of the falling moon: "As for Xu Ning, are you worthy?" After saying that, he left with his hands behind his back.
Su Wujin narrowed his eyes, his vision blurred slightly, his chest rose and fell rapidly, and his knuckles were clenched until they turned white. The people behind him wanted to catch up, but Su Wujin raised his hand to signal them not to chase.
…
"Why are you here?"
Su Zhanfeng crossed his arms and put one foot against the tree trunk.
"I was entrusted by Tang Xixu." Su Zhanfeng took over the unconscious Ye Yulan.
"Don't you Anfeng only take on killing jobs?" Xu Ning twisted his neck and stretched his shoulders.
"You helped Qu Xiang. She saved me before." Su Zhanfeng carried Ye Yulan on his back.
In just a few words, Xu Ning made up hundreds of stories in her mind. Her eyes rolled around and she walked sideways, looking quite unruly.
"You talk so little, it's strange that Sister Qu likes you. Do you know Li Jiangxin?" Xu Ning tilted her head and looked at Su Zhanfeng.
It's not bad, with handsome features and a bit of ruffian style, but it's a pity that Sister Qu likes elegant scholar styles.
Su Zhanfeng didn't say anything, and Xu Ning was the only one talking all the way.
Xu Ning continued, "She likes someone like Li Jiangxin. If you want to win her heart, listen to me. Talk more and help her more, especially when she encounters something important. That's when you have to perform well. Also, give her more gifts. Give her things she might need, otherwise it's just a waste of money."
Xu Ning squinted and looked sideways, and sure enough, the Su leader's ears were erected high above his head.
Su Zhanfeng didn't say a word all the way, and Xu Ning turned into an emotional master and spoke very clearly.
Soon they arrived at the place, and Su Zhanfeng stood up straight: "No more big things will happen."
Xu Ning stopped and turned around, confused.
"Not as long as I'm here."
Tang Xixu had planned well in advance and even brought Qu Xiang with him.
Qu Xiang felt Ye Yulan's pulse, her brows furrowed. "Strange, although there's still some poison in Master Ye's body, he didn't wake up and fall asleep again."
"unless."
"Unless what." Xu Ning squatted down, and the person lying on the couch made her feel mixed emotions.
"Unless Sect Leader Ye sealed his own acupoints and forced himself to fall asleep." Qu Xiang turned around and looked at the few people.
Xu Ning thought for a moment: "Can I unlock the Xue position now?"
"Let me clear the remaining poison with acupuncture, then I'll release the blood."
After Qu Xiang gave the acupuncture, Xu Ning cleared Ye Yulan's meridians as instructed.
"cough!"
The middle-aged man quickly spat out a mouthful of black blood.
About half an hour later, Tang Xixu came back.
"Why did you come back so soon?" Xu Ning took Tang Xixu for a spin to see if he was injured.
Xu Ning thought that the fight would last for a while at least, and he might get injured.
"Let Sister Qu take your pulse." Xu Ning was worried. Last time, Xue Bushuo told him that he had a cold and should not use his internal energy extensively. He didn't know if he used it today.
Qu Xiang carefully took Xu Ning's pulse, and he asked worriedly, "How is it?"
"You are just worrying about nothing. The city lord is fine." Qu Xiang teased her, and Xu Ning's face suddenly turned red.
"Zhan Feng has already freed Master Ye from his acupuncture. He will probably wake up soon."
Ye Yulan's forehead was covered in sweat, and Xu Ning carefully wiped it away. She hesitated and wondered how to face this so-called "father." The system was nowhere to be found, let alone his background information.
"let's go."
The other three went out and waited outside.
Taking advantage of Su Zhanfeng's absence, Qu Xiang dismissed the people around him and whispered, "Does she know about your cold?"
Tang Xixu was silent for a moment and then nodded.
"Since she knows, you must take good care of your body. If you continue to use your internal energy as vigorously as you did today, you will only have two years left."
Tang Xixu smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Two years is two years. I hope Miss Qu will not tell her the truth."
The young man looked down at the seams on the bluestone bricks.
"There is one more thing I want to ask Miss Qu."
"City Lord, please speak."
"Miss Qu, can you completely remove the poisonous marks on my face? Ningning has never seen my complete face."
Although the poison has been almost cleared, there are still traces of the poisonous lines on the face.
"Okay, it's just a small matter." Qu Xiang was about to leave, but stopped and said, "My masters and I will do our best to help you. This is the detoxification pill newly developed by Master Xue." Qu Xiang took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve.
Tang Xixu took it and said, "Thank you very much."
Qu Xiang raised his eyebrows in slight surprise: "Has anyone told you that you've changed a lot, especially since Xu Ning found you?"
A gentle look appeared on the young man's handsome face: "Maybe I have found the meaning of life again."
"I asked the chef to prepare several dishes. Would you like to have some?" When Su Zhanfeng came in, he was followed by several servants serving dishes.
…
Tang Xixu brought in the food. Ye Yulan was still asleep, so Xu Ning was not in the mood to eat and just ate a few bites casually.
That night, the darkness was as dark as ink, and near Daxin, a few cicadas could still be heard chirping. Xu Ning had been lying by Ye Yulan's bedside for a whole day and night.
Tang Xixu asked Xu Ning to go and have a rest, but Xu Ning refused and insisted on staying by himself. Tang Xixu was worried and rested on a small couch beside him.
"Don't go, don't go, Azhi, don't go..." Ye Yulan's face turned pale and sweat oozed from his forehead.
I suddenly opened my eyes in the nightmare.
Tang Xixu woke up first, and Ye Yulan stood up and was about to leave.
Ye Yulan thought he was Su Wujiu's man, so he started fighting without thinking.
Fortunately, he had just woken up and was weak, so he could not beat Tang Xixu. Otherwise, with Ye Yulan's strength back then, the next person lying in bed would be Tang Xixu.
Xu Ning woke up shortly after hearing the noise.
She rubbed her eyes and looked at the inexplicably familiar figure: "Dad." This figure and appearance are exactly the same as her father in this world.
Ye Yulan's hands hung in the air, his body frozen in place. Xu Ning called out again, "Dad, it's me, Xu Ning."
The middle-aged man finally turned his head in disbelief.
The face of the woman standing beside the bed looked very much like Fang Hongzhi when she was young. Ye Yulan thought he had seen his deceased wife again.
"Azhi, are you back?"
The rough voice was mixed with crying.
"Dad, I'm Xu Ning." Xu Ning walked forward, feeling an indescribable sense of movement in his heart, and his vague childhood memories became clearer.
At that time, she always had some bizarre dreams. The place in her dreams was ancient times. That was when she was younger and looked no more than six years old.
Ye Yulan's pupils trembled, and he said to Tang Xixu, "I apologize for any offense I caused you."
"No problem."
"I have something to say to this girl alone. Please wait outside for a moment."
Tang Xixu looked at Xu Ning, and Xu Ning nodded to indicate that he could do it.
After sending everyone away, Ye Yulan walked forward and pulled Xu Ning to sit on a stone block nearby.
The middle-aged man had a gentle and kind face, and raised his hand to stroke Xu Ning's hair.
"It's my daughter. It's really my daughter." Tears glistened in his eyes. "You are all alone in this place. My daughter has suffered."
"Your mother and I didn't intentionally abandon you and come here. We didn't expect that time travel would happen."
Ye Yulan frowned and lowered his head, sighing, feeling self-blame and guilt.
Traveling through time?! Xu Ning's eyes sparkled when he heard this.
Xu Ning couldn't wait to blurt out, "When was the People's Republic of China founded?"
Father Ye blurted out: "October 1, 1949."
Xu Ning's eyes lit up even more and she asked again, "Which cram school is the best?"
"Before the double reduction policy, New Oriental was of course the first choice." Ye Yulan crossed his legs and turned on his toes.
This makes me happier than seeing my "biological father". I can actually have a fellow countryman in this strange world!
Xu Ning hugged Ye Yulan's neck, tears of joy welling up in her eyes: "So we're from the same hometown."
"What fellow villager? You have no respect for elders. I am your father! Your father, your real father in the modern world!" Ye Yulan woke up very hungry and ate a few cakes.
"Dad?!" Xu Ning raised the corners of his lips, "And my real dad in modern times?" Xu Ning didn't have many memories of his parents, and only heard a few words from his grandmother from time to time.
Her father used to be a special forces soldier. He was a hero who died for his country. He passed away when she was three or four years old. Her mother also became a martyr while on a mission as a police officer. There are only names on the two tombstones, and people only go to worship them during festivals.
Ye Yulan put down the teacup and said slowly: "This is normal. I came here earlier than you."
"Have you read books like 'Marrying the Scheming Prince'? I came here through this book." Xu Ning couldn't believe it. It was impossible for a middle-aged man like him to read such an ancient novel about marriage first and love later.
"I didn't travel through time in a book. I died unexpectedly while on a mission that day, and then I opened my eyes and came to this world." Ye Yulan regained some strength and smiled, "Well, I guess you've heard of the legend about your father. Back then, I also started from scratch and established the Lie Yin Sect with my own abilities. In the words of those people in the martial arts world, I was the leader of a demonic cult."
"Awesome, awesome! You're so awesome." Xu Ning applauded in admiration.
"What about my mother? They all say it's Fang Hongzhi."
Speaking of Fang Hongzhi, Ye Yulan became sad: "It was indeed her. She traveled through time a year later. At that time, I met your mother while traveling. After a few words of communication and confirming her identity, I realized that she had also traveled through time."
"Wait, Dad, let me sort it out first." Xu Ning listened to what Ye Yulan said, and the more he listened, the more nonsense he became.
"You said you and your mother both traveled from the modern world. How did she get here? Isn't this a fictional novel?"
Ye Yulan looked at Xu Ning's surprised and bewildered expression and explained, "This is how I understand it. Perhaps traveling through a book is also a way to enter this world. It's like a key, a door. The people here must not be paper figures but living beings. Otherwise, there would be no such complete worldview and historical system. In short, this is another place that is completely different from our original living space."
At this point, Xu Ning suddenly realized something, and when he thought that the people he knew and liked were not paper people, he felt extremely happy.
"No matter what, it's a happy thing that my father and I can be reunited in this world after so many years. It's a pity that your mother..." As he spoke, tears welled up in Ye Yulan's eyes.
The lights were dim, drizzle fell in the dense forest, and the window paper reflected the melancholy figure of a middle-aged man.
"There's one thing I haven't told you. You have a brother."
Xu Ning was surprised: "Brother?" She suddenly remembered that in her previous life in the Mo family, someone had mentioned that her father had both a son and a daughter.
"Yes. It was because he joined Wangyue Tower that Ah Zhi and I were willing to entrust you to Xu Qiubai."
Combining this information, Xu Ning guessed someone: "Could you be talking about my second senior brother Xu Lian?"
"She is worthy of being my daughter. She follows Azhi and me and is smart." Ye Yulan smiled kindly.
Xu Ning was petrified again. Everyone was hiding very deeply, but Xu Lian had been by her side for so long without being exposed at all.
Xu Ning looked adorable. Ye Yulan added, "They didn't hide it from you on purpose. Don't blame them."
"Of course not. Master Xu treats me like his own daughter, and Second Senior Brother has never treated me unfairly, so naturally he won't."
After Fang Hongzhi came here, he remarried Ye Yulan. First, they had Xu Lian. They thought that "Xu Ning" was a boy this time, until they had a girl. They realized they were wrong.
The room was bright as day, with candlelight flickering. Ye Yulan told Xu Ning many stories about Xu Lian's childhood. Who would have thought that Yingshanhong, who is now famous in the world, once ran around the mountains naked.
The two chatted and talked about Fang Hongzhi again. "I'm sure you've heard about what happened sixteen years ago. Emperor Gan Ping wanted to keep your mother in the palace. In a rage, I led my men into the Central Plains. I wanted to take her home, but she was poisoned before leaving. On our way back to Tianshan, I was ambushed by a villain. Your mother died trying to save me."
Xu Ning's cheerful mood sank to the bottom, unlike the joy she felt when they recognized each other.
Seeing Xu Ning's anger drop suddenly, Ye Yulan consoled her, "Don't be angry, my dear daughter. I've already found out who really poisoned your mother. Emperor Gan Ping didn't want your mother to leave with me, so he poisoned her. Even if it costs me my life, I'll tear the emperor's child into pieces!"
As he was speaking, Ye Yulan suddenly slammed the table and Xu Ning couldn't help but tremble.
Ye Yulan was embarrassed and said with a grin, "My dear girl, I'm sorry. I was too excited."
"It's okay, Dad." Xu Ning shook his head. "Dad, do you know He Lansheng and Su Wujin?" Xu Ning told Ye Yulan everything he had experienced since coming here, including the system's golden finger, and everything he could say.
"Times are indeed progressing. More than ten years later, time travel actually has navigation, and even comes with an instruction manual. Back then, we had to figure it out on our own."
Her father is indeed her father. Like her, he likes to pay attention to things that have nothing to do with the main business.
"Dad, you're getting off topic."
"Oh, yes." The middle-aged man smiled and raised his little finger to pick up a strand of hair in front of his forehead.
"Of course I know these two brats. They are both your mother's apprentices." Ye Yulan was furious when he mentioned these two people.
"Back then, Ah Zhi was a legendary female hero. In such a feudal society, Ah Zhi didn't want the people to suffer too much. She sought universal peace and harmony. But how could this be possible? It directly threatened the interests of the ruling class. So she traveled the world, doing her best to help the people."
"It was this peerless beauty that attracted countless men, including He Lansheng."
A feeling of nausea suddenly surged into Xu Ning's throat, and she frowned and looked at Ye Yulan.
Ye Yulan sighed, "It was only when I accidentally entered his room and saw the painting on the wall that I understood his thoughts. Your mother expelled him from the sect because of this incident. I saw that it was difficult for him to survive in the Jin royal family, so I kept him in the Lie Yin Sect and gave him a position as a guardian."
"who!"
Ye Yulan was halfway through his words when he suddenly looked towards the door warily. He picked up a teacup and walked towards the door.
"Boom" A strong wind blew and the wooden door opened.
Tang Xixu had just walked to the door and was discovered before he could overhear a single word. The young man raised his hand and grabbed the flying teacup: "Master Ye has great kung fu. He has been asleep for many years, but he is still so agile."
"Ah Xu, this is my father." Xu Ning walked forward and pulled the man over.
When Ye Yulan saw the two of them pulling each other, he immediately felt unhappy.
My daughter whom I finally saw couldn’t be taken away by a pig, no matter how good-looking a pig is!
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on? Put your hands down. Can't you see I'm still here?" Ye Yulan pointed at the arms of the two men.
Xu Ning smelled the scent of war and hurriedly explained: "Dad, Ah Xu wants to see you about something."
Ye Yulan sat back and poured three cups of tea, placing them in front of two chairs in sequence. He said unhappily, "Tell me, what's the matter."
"My name is Tang Xixu, the second son of Mo Wenqing of the Mo family. Ten years ago, my elder brother died in the battlefield, but a month ago I received news that my brother is not dead, but was rescued by Master Ye's people. I came here specifically to inquire about this matter." Tang Xixu first saluted with his fists and still stood aside.
Ye Yulan took a sip of tea and said, "I don't know much about this. I just woke up this year, and many things in the sect are left to the four guardians to take care of."
Tang Xixu and Xu Ning now only know three of them: He Lansheng, Fu Ling, and Yin Wumeng.
"Dad, we only know three of them. Who is the other one?" Xu Ning asked directly.
"Your brother, Xu Lian." The old man answered very straightforwardly without any hesitation.
Xu Ning had cerebellar atrophy, and many people guessed it, but no one expected it to be Xu Lian.
"However, long before he became a disciple at Wangyue Tower, he no longer had any connection with the Lieyin Sect. To this day, there has been no fourth guardian."
Ye Yulan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Tang Xixu: "I know your father. He's a stubborn donkey. He has great kung fu skills, but unfortunately he followed the wrong person and insisted on helping that dog emperor. He thought he had a deep brotherly love, but in the end, it ended up like that."
Finally, Xu Ning and the others prepared to leave to let Ye Yulan have a good rest.
When Tang Xixu arrived at the door, Ye Yulan closed his eyes and was about to sleep. "Ning'er told me about your family's affairs. I don't know much. I only know that twenty years ago, the Mo family and their husbands had a good relationship with Empress Dowager Feng. I don't know why they became estranged later."
Tang Xixu turned around and wanted to ask again, but the person on the bed was already fast asleep.
The nights in Xizhou weren't exactly cold; the wind howled at times, moody and unpredictable. Dark clouds covered half the sky, but the silvery moonlight shone through the gaps between them, illuminating Xu Ning. She practiced her mother's moves over and over with the Xilin Sword, as if each time she performed them, she was seeing her mother again.
She wanted to go to the capital, enter the palace, and ask Emperor Ganping about what happened that year. She wanted an explanation for her mother.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
