Chapter 46 The Youth [New] Turns the Tide of Lin Pingzhi's Fate
On the southeastern sea, thick, leaden-gray clouds hung low.
A flock of silver seagulls, their wingtips skimming the surface of the sea, leaving behind some snow-white foam, soared above the water.
The Purple Whale Gang's large ship cut through the waves and sailed forward, its bow stirring up layers of water.
Hai Kuotian sat with his legs spread wide on a tiger-skin chair, a pipe in his hand; opposite him, Ding Feng, dressed in a blue robe, was drinking wine slowly with his head down.
The tobacco pipe glowed and dimmed, its red light reflecting Hai Kuotian's gloomy face: "According to what Young Master Ding says, it seems that I, Hai, have misjudged him?"
Ding Feng remained calm, slowly swirling his wine glass: "In his early years, Lin Yuantu of the Fuwei Escort Agency was renowned throughout the seven southeastern provinces. That wasn't just empty boasting."
Hai Kuotian gave a cold laugh and slammed his pipe on the table with a "smack".
“That kid is just too stubborn. Since we can’t get anything out of him, we can’t let someone else have it! How about…” He stretched out his thumb and drew a line across his neck.
Ding Feng raised his glass slightly and swirled the wine inside: "Dead men can't speak, this method is reliable."
Hai Kuotian squinted and pondered for a moment, then suddenly shouted outside, "Wang Dezhi! Li Debiao! Go and interrogate him again! Make sure that brat reveals the whereabouts of the sword manual!"
"If you still can't get anything out of me—" his voice turned cold, "then just chop him up and throw him into the sea to feed the fish!"
.
Lower deck.
While chewing betel nut, Wang Dezhi urged Li Debiao, "Open the hatch, hurry up!"
Li Debiao spat into his palm, swung the iron bar, and pried it open with force. A fishy smell rushed out.
In the dimly lit hold, several bamboo baskets were piled up, filled with fish, shrimp, and crabs, from which there were occasional rustling sounds. A sliver of light shone through the ceiling, illuminating the shadow of the person on the rack.
He was a young boy, his head hanging low, his hair messy and wet, with blood dripping from the ends.
The two of them climbed down the ladder, one after the other.
Wang Dezhi stepped forward and patted the boy's face. The boy hung his head and didn't move.
Li Debiao snorted coldly, turned around, grabbed a bucket of ice water, and splashed it all over the surface.
The boy's back shuddered violently as water rolled down his thin shoulder blades, running down his spine, over his scarred body, and mingling with blood.
"Cough...cough cough!" Lin Pingzhi suddenly woke up, his mouth full of the taste of blood.
He struggled to lift his swollen eyelids, and what he saw before him were still the two pirates who had been interrogating and beating him for days.
One grinned, revealing teeth stained red by betel nuts; the other carried a bucket of water, leisurely putting it back in its place.
Li Debiao put down the bucket, turned around, saw that he was awake, and sneered contemptuously: "You're pretty tough."
.
Wang Dezhi grabbed the boy's chin and chuckled, "No matter how tough your life is, it can't outrun the King of Hell. Tell me where the sword manual is, and I'll give you a quick death!"
Lin Pingzhi looked up at the faint light above his head and sneered inwardly. Sure enough, it was still for that Evil-Repelling Sword Manual.
"I'm asking you a question!" Wang Dezhi narrowed his eyes. "Don't be ungrateful!"
Lin Pingzhi turned his head and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
Wang Dezhi's forehead veins bulged, and he raised his hand to slap Lin Pingzhi. Lin Pingzhi's head tilted to the side, his face burning with pain.
He slowly turned his face and spat at the other person again.
Wang Dezhi was furious. He slapped her repeatedly with both hands, the blows echoing loudly.
"Ugh..." His ears were ringing, his nose felt hot, and blood started flowing down his nasal cavity. Lin Pingzhi fainted.
"You little brat, you're faking death again!" Wang Dezhi swung a bucket of ice water and poured it over his head once more.
Lin Pingzhi couldn't remember how many times he had been choked awake by the icy water. He trembled uncontrollably as blood dripped onto his clothes.
·
This kid let go of the Purple Whale Gang's cash cow.
The group of young women locked up at Tangxia Ferry were originally intended to be sold to brothels at sea to make a fortune. Who would have thought that this young man who suddenly appeared would ruin everything?
If this kid hadn't revealed his identity as the young master of the Fuwei Escort Agency, his life would have been in grave danger.
The leader of the Hai Gang spared the life of the Bat Prince because he had heard him mention the "Evil-Repelling Sword Manual." He had hoped to extract the manual's whereabouts from the boy, but the kid was incredibly stubborn.
·
Li Debiao glanced at him sideways and a smile appeared on his lips: "Heh, still a tough nut to crack. Old Wang, you take a break, I'll take over."
He stepped forward, reached out and patted the boy's swollen face, then suddenly leaned closer.
A mouthful of yellow teeth almost brushed against Lin Pingzhi's earlobe as he lowered his voice and said, "I'll ask you one last time—"
"Where is the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual hidden?!"
·
Ugh, looking like this, I'm afraid I've broken two ribs. Every breath I take is excruciatingly painful...
Those two beasts are so smug. No, we can't just sit here and wait to die...
Lin Pingzhi weakly raised his eyes, glanced at the pirate, and suddenly coughed at him, splattering blood and saliva all over the pirate.
Sure enough, Li Debiao immediately took two steps back and patted himself in disgust.
In that brief moment of distraction, he quietly broke off half a rusty iron nail from the rack and clenched it in his palm.
The sharp nail pierced his flesh, the piercing pain bringing him back to his senses. "Stop hitting me... I'll confess..." Lin Pingzhi's voice was weak, his eyelids trembling, "...I'll confess everything."
Wang Dezhi's eyes lit up, and he quickly leaned closer: "Tell me!"
"In...in..." Lin Pingzhi hunched over, his shoulders heaving violently, his words cut off in a cough.
The two pirates quickly pressed, "Where exactly is it?!"
Suddenly, Lin Pingzhi threw his head back and burst into laughter, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, laughing so hard that tears almost came out.
"What are you laughing at?!" The two of them immediately became annoyed.
Lin Pingzhi, having finished laughing, tilted his head and glanced at them sideways, cursing in a hoarse voice: "...The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? You blockhead, even a pig is smarter than you! Trying to get something out of me? Your house's feng shui must have been turned upside down!"
"You're asking for it!" Wang Dezhi punched him in the stomach.
Lin Pingzhi coughed up blood, trembling with pain, but he never lowered his head. He grinned, mocking the Purple Whale Gang's incompetence, which enraged Wang Dezhi so much that he wanted to throw another punch.
.
Suddenly, Wang Dezhi's raised fist stopped in mid-air.
The oil lamp flickered, casting swaying shadows on the bulkhead. In the dim light, the boy's clothes were disheveled, revealing a section of his fair neck.
"Wow, she looks just like a beautiful bride!" Wang Dezhi couldn't help but reach out and touch his face. He found it smooth and delicate, even more so than the finest porcelain.
Although Lin Pingzhi was handsome, he had an extremely fierce temperament. Normally, if anyone dared to speak frivolously, they would be slapped in the face, let alone physically assaulted like this.
Upon hearing this, he suddenly struggled to his feet, his eyes practically spitting fire.
"You're acting like a bastard, all tangled up!" The boy spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva in disgust, turning his head away from Wang Dezhi's filthy hands. "If you touch Lin Beixia again, you'll be crawling on the ground!"
"So fierce~ I've heard that Fujian is full of beauties..." Wang Dezhi grinned lewdly, reaching out to pull down the boy's pants. "Such good looks, it's a shame to feed them to the fish..."
Li Debiao rubbed his hands together and chuckled, "The gang leader said that if we can't get any information out of him, we'll chop him up and feed him to the fish... Since we're going to die anyway, why don't we two brothers... have a good time first?"
Lin Pingzhi's expression changed drastically as a terrible thought flashed through his mind—no, he didn't want to!
"Come on, have some fun with this old man!" The two men grinned as they untied the chains from the rack.
Lin Pingzhi was shocked and kicked at Li Debiao who was lunging at him. Li Debiao winced in pain and grabbed Lin Pingzhi's chin with his tiger's mouth: "You little brat, you dare to lay a hand on me!"
Although he was the young master of the Fuwei Escort Agency, he had been pampered since childhood and was spoiled. His martial arts skills were mediocre, and he was at a disadvantage.
The three of them tumbled together and crashed into the cabin wall, causing the bamboo baskets filled with fish, shrimp, and crabs to overturn.
With the back of his head slamming against the rack and his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, Lin Pingzhi became enraged. He suddenly roared and delivered a knee strike to the crotch of the two men: "Even the ancestral tablets in the house will be turned upside down!"
They were hit squarely, and the two pirates rolled on the ground in pain.
Lin Pingzhi pressed on, stabbing the iron nail hidden in his hand into Li Debiao's carotid artery. The nail was pulled out, blood splattering everywhere. Then, with a backhand slash, he severed Wang Dezhi's neck!
In that instant, he felt a surge of pleasure; the pent-up hatred he had been suppressing was finally released. He stabbed several times fiercely until his tiger's mouth went numb, then collapsed to his knees.
He killed someone, he killed someone... Staggering to his feet, he grabbed the rack for support, a sour, salty taste rising in his throat. He bent over and vomited violently.
Lin Pingzhi vomited and cried at the same time, but his stomach was already empty and he couldn't vomit anything. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with grief, his body went limp, and he slowly slid to the ground.
Tears blurred his vision, and he repeatedly told himself, "No! I, I did nothing wrong... These beasts... deserve to die... They should go to the eighteenth level of hell."
Lin Pingzhi gritted his teeth, forcing back his tears; now was not the time to cry. He looked up at the faint light above.
So close, yet so far.
He had to leave this place; he had to escape this hellish place.
Even if he has to crawl, he's determined to get out of this hell.
·
Lin Pingzhi was panting heavily as he dragged himself forward. Sweat and blood rolled down his temples, and every step he took aggravated his wounds, making it hard for him to breathe.
In the last few steps, he practically shuffled up on his knees.
When he finally reached the edge of the hatch, he grabbed onto a piece of driftwood like a drowning man, struggling with his last bit of strength until he crashed heavily onto the deck.
We finally escaped!
He struggled to sit up, only to see three shirtless men suddenly emerge from around the corner, coming face to face with him.
The man in the lead squinted and grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Hey, some rat cubs have crawled out."
The two people next to him laughed along, "That's really true."
"Capture him and hand him over to the gang leader for the reward!"
The three voices, rising and falling in cadence, echoed in the dimly lit corridor, carrying a playful, cat-and-mouse tone.
"Tap tap tap—" Without thinking, Lin Pingzhi turned and ran. He leaped onto the rope ladder, desperately climbing upwards with both hands, stepping hard over each horizontal bar.
He cannot die here.
He's only fourteen years old; his life has just begun!
This thought echoed repeatedly in his mind, becoming the only force that sustained him.
.
"Grab him!" the catching pirates shouted, pointing at him, their footsteps mingling with shouts. "Grab that brat!"
The roars grew closer and closer, and Lin Pingzhi was almost out of strength. Just when he was about to despair, a half-open door came into view.
A small basket hung on the door, containing a bunch of dried purple herbs, which stood out conspicuously.
Without thinking, he rushed in, slammed the door shut with a "bang," and frantically bolted it shut.
The boy pressed his entire body against the door, his heart pounding like a drum. Strangely, although the door was surrounded by pirates, no one dared to come forward and break down the door.
All that came was a low, fearful shout: "What are you good for? How could you let someone come here!"
"Quickly, summon the leader! Do not disturb those inside!"
"..." Lin Pingzhi gasped for breath and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.
In his panic, he had stumbled into forbidden territory where even pirates dared not act recklessly. If he fell into their hands and suffered endless humiliation, it would be better to jump into the sea and feed the fish. Lin Pingzhi gritted his teeth, forcing back his tears.
At least he saved those girls. Even in this situation, he didn't regret letting those poor girls go. If they had fallen into the hands of the Purple Whale Gang, their fate would have been even worse.
At least he didn't let the bad guys get away with it...
Thinking of this, he buried his face in his arms, curled up, his chest heaving violently, and a trembling sound that sounded like both crying and laughing escaped his throat.
But what happens next? How long can this door hold him back? Where will he run to then?
"what do I do……"
I wish this was just a terrible nightmare.
But the harsh reality was starkly clear before him. He had nowhere to escape and could only await his fate in despair.
·
Suddenly, a clear and melodious voice rang out.
"...What should we do? What should we do?"
Lin Pingzhi was startled and hurriedly looked up: "Who?!"
A woman in green robes was sitting by the window in the cabin. She wore a Nuo mask on her face, revealing menacing fangs.
The shimmering waves reflected her slender figure, casting a pale golden glow on her blue dress as it swayed gently with the waves.
It makes it difficult to distinguish whether the light follows people or people follow the light.
She sat there quietly, watching him for who knows how long.
·
When did this woman sit there?
Why is there not a sound? It's hard to say whether they are friends or enemies.
Lin Ping subconsciously took a half step back, his back pressed against the door panel, his whole body tense. He gripped the iron nail tightly in his palm and gave the other person a wary look.
A soft chuckle came from behind the mask, the tone gentle: "What's the panic? I'm not a she-devil, I'm not going to eat you up."
With no way to retreat now, Lin Pingzhi decided to take a gamble. He steadied himself, bowed slightly, and said in a hoarse voice:
"I've wandered into this place by mistake and disturbed you, elder sister. May I ask how I should address you?"
The woman tapped her mask with her curled fingers, and instead of answering, asked, "Ouch, you're badly injured. How did you get hurt?"
Lin Pingzhi steeled his heart and decided to tell the whole story: "To be honest, sister, some time ago, I witnessed these pirates kidnapping women. I couldn't stand it, so I devised a plan to release them. In order to stall them, I ended up in this predicament myself."
He took a breath and continued, "They come to interrogate me every day. Firstly, to vent their anger, and secondly, to force me to reveal the whereabouts of my family heirloom. I refused to tell them, and that's why I was beaten like this."
"I see. What a chivalrous and righteous young man," the woman said with great affection. "What's his name?"
"Lin Pingzhi." He paused, then added, "I am the young head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Fuwei镖局 (escort agency) in Fuzhou."
"Fuwei Escort Agency? I've heard of that name."
Seeing her sincerity, his heart warmed, and he simply said, "I am already at my wit's end. If you, sister, are willing to show me a way out, the entire Fuwei Escort Agency will repay you with the utmost gratitude!"
·
Lin Pingzhi felt like he had a rabbit in his heart, his mind racing with uncertainty.
Seeing that she didn't speak, that panic resurfaced, fearing that she wouldn't agree to it.
Before he could think about it any further, he suddenly heard a soft creak. It was the sound of the wheelchair moving. His heart tightened, then relaxed, and a sense of hope returned.
At this moment, You Mingjiang had already moved in front of him, her voice gentle and soft: "You are not very old, yet you are willing to risk your life to save people. Such a heart is truly rare. Now that I have witnessed it, there is no reason for me to abandon you."
She spoke calmly and steadily, but every word was precise and confident: "Rest assured and rest here. With me here, no matter who comes, they'll have to think twice."
Lin Pingzhi hurriedly bowed and thanked her, saying, "Thank you, sister!" After saying that, his eyes were fixed on the other person's wheelchair.
Upon seeing that the woman had difficulty moving around, the joy on his face just now froze instantly, replaced by hesitation, and his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
This is the Purple Whale Gang. Can a woman who has to rely on a wheelchair really protect herself?
If that's really the case... then who exactly is she?
You know, girls from ordinary families wouldn't have the guts to get involved in a den of wolves.
·
[Ding! Respected young hero, your act of showing concern for Lin Pingzhi has been detected, triggering a hidden quest.]
[Mission Name: Reverse the Trajectory of Lin Pingzhi's Fate]
[Mission Description: Lin Pingzhi's life has been fraught with misfortune. While the Fuwei Escort Agency has not yet suffered annihilation, a conspiracy has quietly begun to unfold in the martial world. Young hero, you must use your keen insight to uncover the hidden dangers. It is recommended that you unite with righteous figures in the martial world to intervene skillfully and, without revealing yourselves, prevent the Lin family's massacre. The martial world is rife with bloodshed; a single misstep can lead to total defeat. Please proceed with extreme caution.]
[Mission Reward: Unlock the special skill "Evil-Repelling Sword Intent (Weakened Version)"]
·
You Mingjiang's heart stirred slightly.
The intent of the Evil-Repelling Sword?
Just hearing the name makes you feel like it's an incredible opportunity!
Just as they were about to ask Lin Ping about his family situation, there was a sudden knock on the door.
·
"Tap tap tap! Tap tap tap—"
The knocking was soft, yet it was incredibly irritating.
Lin Pingzhi knew perfectly well that the leader of the Purple Whale Gang had come looking for him!
My heart sank to the bottom.
His eyes were wide open, staring straight at You Mingjiang, the fear in them like a mouse seeing a cat, impossible to hide.
You Mingjiang reached out and pressed down on his trembling shoulders, her voice soft: "Don't be afraid. Since I promised to save you, I won't let anything happen to you."
Having received this assurance, Lin Pingzhi's heart, which had been pounding in mid-air, began to settle back down.
After calming Lin Pingzhi down, You Mingjiang turned her wheelchair and arrived at the door. Her sleeves billowed, and the cabin door swung open with a bang.
Upon seeing her, the pirates standing at the door fell silent, too terrified to make a move.
"I should have said not to disturb my peace. Did you deliberately come here to make a scene to test my memory or my patience?" You Mingjiang's gaze swept over the crowd, and he held up three fingers, saying coldly, "If anyone is still here after I count to three, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"one--"
As one finger bent down, the pirates turned pale, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"two--"
As the second finger fell, some pirates began to stir, staggering backward.
Before she could count to "three," a burst of laughter suddenly rang out:
"Elder You, look at you, you look so radiant! I've missed you so much, I haven't seen you leave the house in ages!"
The pirates all breathed a sigh of relief and consciously moved aside.
Hai Kuotian walked over with a smile, followed by "Lone Eagle of the Sea" flying into the sky.
·
They're lying through their teeth.
She was wearing a Nuo mask, so you couldn't tell if she looked well or not.
You Mingjiang said calmly, "I'm afraid it's not that you want me to die, but that you want me to die, right?"
Hai Kuotian smiled broadly: "Elder You, you're too kind! As the saying goes, 'It takes ten years of cultivation to share a boat ride,' our friendship is no ordinary one. Please, just let me take that kid away, consider it doing my brother a favor. Now that you're free of trouble, you'll have some peace and quiet, won't you?"
"Is the face of Gang Leader Hai inlaid with gold or plated with silver?" You Mingjiang sneered. "How much is your face worth?"
Hai Kuotian's smile froze, his face turning pale and then red. He never expected You Mingjiang to be so ruthless.
After a moment of stunned silence, seeing that she was getting impatient, he quickly rubbed his large hands together and explained, "Elder You, look at the mess this has made! That kid has ruined Young Master Bat's 'goods'! If you send me to Bat Island empty-handed, I'm afraid... I won't be able to explain myself then!"
Suddenly, the Nuo mask loomed close, startling Hai Kuotian so much that his back slammed against the cabin wall. You Mingjiang narrowed his eyes and coldly shouted, "Are you threatening me?!"
"No, no, I wouldn't dare!" Hai Kuotian quickly smiled obsequiously, bowing and leaning forward. "Elder You, the person you've taken a liking to should naturally be enjoyed by you first. Keep him for as many days as you like, and when you're tired of him, you can hand him over to me..."
With a sharp "crack," before Hai Kuotian could react, half of his bloody pinky finger, along with the ring on it, fell onto the deck and spun around.
The pirates stared wide-eyed, their Adam's apples bobbing up and down, but they couldn't utter a sound.
Hai Kuotian staggered back two steps, his back slamming heavily against the cabin wall. Large beads of sweat rolled down his pale face.
Xiang Tianfei's face flushed red, and the veins on his neck bulged: "This is outrageous!" He rushed forward, but was held back by the pirates on both sides, and could only glare angrily with his neck stiff.
"Elder You, you..." Hai Kuotian leaned against the cabin wall, gasping for breath in pain.
"So that Chief Hai knows that the Purple Whale Gang is nothing but Young Master Bat's dog, while I am Young Master Bat's honored guest. It's not up to the dog to tell the guest what to do."
“If you continue to be so disrespectful…” You Mingjiang added slowly, “you won’t just leave behind a little finger.”
After saying that, she chuckled softly, raised her sleeves, and slammed the cabin door shut with a loud bang, making the ship's deck tremble.
Hai Kuotian trembled with humiliation, barely able to cover his bleeding severed finger.
Blood dripped steadily from between his fingers. Xiang Tianfei rushed forward, supporting his crooked arm, and said unwillingly, "Brother, why did you do this..."
"Shut up," Hai Kuotian stared at the severed finger, gritted his teeth, then bent down to wrap it in a handkerchief, gritting his teeth as he said, "Listen up, from now on... no one is allowed to come near here!"
The pirates responded in unison, glanced at the hatch with the purple grass basket hanging on it, and scattered in a flurry.
"Go find Ding Feng!" Hai Kuotian's steps were unsteady. He leaned on Xiang Tianfei's shoulder and stumbled away, supported by his second brother.
.
Inside the cabin.
After dismissing the Purple Whale Gang pirates, You Mingjiang washed his hands, put on a pair of medical nitrile gloves, and gestured to check Lin Pingzhi's wound.
Lin Pingzhi didn't hesitate much. He obediently unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his body covered in bruises, not a single patch of unscathed flesh. He sat quietly, letting her examine his injuries.
Yu Mingjiang reached out, and as soon as she touched the bluish-purple marks, Lin Pingzhi flinched. She pressed her fingers against his abdomen, gently pressing on his spleen and ribs.
She asked, "Does it hurt here? Tell me the truth."
"It doesn't hurt." The boy's shoulder blades twitched violently as if he had been burned by a spark. He lowered his head even further, his eyelids drooping tightly, not daring to meet You Mingjiang's gaze.
She stared into his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Don't try to tough it out. I'm a quack doctor. If you hide your illness, you'll be the one who suffers."
"It's nothing serious. Just some minor injuries..."
"It's just a minor injury..."
She braced her left hand against the boy's back, and suddenly pushed him with her right hand, causing his dislocated bones to make a dull "crack" sound.
Lin Pingzhi was in so much pain that he curled up like a shrimp. He gritted his teeth, and a muffled groan lingered in his throat, but he didn't let it out.
The swift repositioning technique and the irresistible force of the bone-pushing technique reminded him that the person before him was no ordinary itinerant doctor; he could instantly save him from his injuries, but he could also plunge him into an even more unbearable situation...
Be patient and don't annoy her.
You Mingjiang took out a jar of Tianxiang Disconnecting Glue, as well as triangular bandages and gauze bandages from the bamboo medicine basket.
The Tianxiang Broken-Healing Glue is said to be a sacred healing medicine of the Hengshan Sect, and also a trophy stolen from Blackwood Cliff. Later, it was given to her by Dongfang Bai as a thank-you gift for her trip to sea.
After applying the ointment evenly to the boy's ribs, You Mingjiang gently pressed it, pondering how to fix it in place.
Lin Pingzhi's breath hitched, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.
Don't be nervous, don't be nervous... He quickly forced himself to relax, his back was covered in cold sweat.
You Mingjiang unfolded the triangular bandage, folded it into a wide strip, wrapped it around his back to his chest, crossed it, and then tied a knot around his shoulder; then he took out a gauze bandage and, starting from his armpit, wrapped it diagonally around his chest, making sure it was tightly wrapped.
"Your broken bone has just been reset, so take it easy and don't try to push yourself. Otherwise, you won't be so lucky next time."
She glanced at Lin Pingzhi, then used gauze, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and other supplies from the first-aid kit to disinfect, stop the bleeding, and bandage all the wounds, large and small, all over his body.
Then, she poured out one ibuprofen sustained-release capsule and one amoxicillin capsule, and handed them to Lin Pingzhi's mouth, saying, "Take your medicine."
Taking the colorful capsules, Lin Pingzhi seemed thoughtful. He thought to himself: This lady's medicines and medical supplies seem somewhat different from others...
·
You Mingjiang reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyes, saying softly, "What are you standing there for?"
Lin Pingzhi was startled and quickly stuffed the capsule into his mouth. His Adam's apple bobbed violently twice as the dry capsule got stuck in his throat, making him choke and frown.
In his panic, he grabbed the bowl of water and gulped it down. The water hit his trachea unexpectedly, and a violent cough suddenly erupted. He bent over, pounding his chest, tears streaming down his face. He could only wipe the water from the corners of his mouth with his dirty sleeve.
Just then, a handkerchief smelling of purple gromwell landed in front of them: "Wipe your mouth, drink slowly, be careful not to choke."
Lin Pingzhi froze on the spot, his hand, which was half-raised with his sleeve, stopped in mid-air, and he even managed to suppress a cough.
He looked up, a hint of surprise and bewilderment in his eyes.
Seeing that he froze, You Mingjiang simply pressed the handkerchief to the corner of his mouth and wiped it a couple of times. Lin Pingzhi's face flushed red instantly, and he shrank back, his head hitting the ground hard.
"Why are you acting so absent-minded and reckless?" You Mingjiang frowned. "Did you aggravate your wound? Let me take a look."
Lin Pingzhi hurriedly waved his hand: "I, I'm fine..." Before he could finish speaking, a muffled rumbling sound suddenly came from his stomach.
He suddenly clutched his stomach, his cheeks instantly turning bright red. Although he had been tortured repeatedly these past few days, the pirates had not killed him in order to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual.
The most agonizing thing was the prolonged fasting; his stomach was burning with pain, and he was so hungry he was dizzy.
When You Mingjiang saw that his lips were white from hunger, yet he was still forcing himself to endure it, she was initially puzzled. But after a moment's thought, she realized that the boy was afraid of asking for food and appearing weak and vulnerable.
She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "There's some porridge simmering on the stove, but I only had a couple of sips before I got tired of it. It would be a waste to throw it away. If you don't mind... could you do me a favor?"
Lin Pingzhi's eyes welled up with tears, and he hurriedly turned his face away. His voice was hoarse with barely suppressed sobs as he said, "Okay."
·
"Gurgle gurgle—"
On the table was a small red clay stove, on which a clay pot was simmering rice porridge. The aroma of rice mingled with a cloud of white steam, and the surface of the porridge was covered with dense bubbles, splashing out tiny specks of rice glue.
You Mingjiang twirled her wrist, skimming off the white foam, and ladled the rice porridge into a rough earthenware bowl.
She turned around, holding the rough pottery bowl, and just then saw the boy hurriedly turn his face away.
He had been staring longingly at the rice porridge in the clay pot, his Adam's apple bobbing, yet he forced himself to remain composed.
She reached out and handed over the warm bowl of porridge: "Drink this bowl of porridge, fill your stomach, and you'll feel warmer."
Staring at the steam rising from the rim of the bowl, he licked his lips, held the steaming rice porridge, and sipped it slowly.
The rice grains are plump, and the cooking time is just right.
As the warm porridge slid into his stomach, a sudden wave of desolation washed over him. Lin Pingzhi couldn't help but think of the rice porridge his mother used to cook for him. Every time he ate something that upset his stomach, his mother would always make him rice porridge and then nag him, saying that his mischievous nature must have come from his father.
Thinking of this, his throat tightened, and tears streamed down his face, falling into the bowl. He wondered how his parents were doing; they were probably searching the world for him, going crazy with worry…
Another drop of water fell onto the surface of the porridge, creating ripples that spread outwards.
"...Are you homesick?" You Mingjiang gently took the rough pottery bowl away, a scent of purple gromwell wafting from his sleeve.
She blew on a spoonful of rice porridge to cool it down, then fed it to his mouth, and the boy obediently swallowed it.
By the candlelight, Lin Pingzhi sized up the person in front of him.
This woman in green, wearing a Nuo mask, was someone the pirates of the Purple Whale Gang feared like the plague.
Her identity must be extraordinary; she must be a very important person...
As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are intertwined.
If it weren't for this incident, when he was unexpectedly captured by the Purple Whale Gang and taken aboard their ship, he would never have known how vast the world outside was.
It turns out there are such powerful masters in the world.
I used to be a frog in a well in the镖局 (escort agency), always thinking that the best martial arts masters were at most on par with my father.
A thought suddenly occurred to her: This woman is kind-hearted; since she is willing to take such good care of me, she must not be a bad person.
If she is truly willing to help...
·
“This… sister,” Lin Pingzhi said, looking at her mask, “why are those villains so afraid of you?”
Hearing this, You Mingjiang turned her head curiously: "How did you get the idea that they're all afraid of me?"
Looking down at his hands, Lin Pingzhi said in a low voice, "When those people see you, they're like mice seeing an old cat. Their legs tremble, and they wish they could kowtow and beg for mercy."
You Mingjiang understood. He was subtly inquiring about her background, worried that she might be an even more wicked demon.
She stated bluntly: "I am the law enforcement elder of Blackwood Cliff."
Upon hearing these earth-shattering words, Lin Pingzhi abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with panic: "Blackwood Cliff..."
In the martial arts world, who doesn't know the formidable reputation of Blackwood Cliff? It's a place that strikes fear into the hearts of all.
Yet, the details of how she cared for him kept replaying in his mind. Would the law enforcement elder of Blackwood Cliff really take such good care of a stranger?
Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he added in a low voice, "My sister treats me... naturally very well."
Having finally found a glimmer of hope, Lin Pingzhi was unwilling to give up easily. She was a key figure at Blackwood Cliff; if she was willing to help, he might be able to go home.
Lin Pingzhi mustered his courage and cautiously looked at You Mingjiang, "Sister, are you... really willing to let me go home?"
After asking that question, his heart jumped into his throat, and he nervously awaited her answer.
You Mingjiang chuckled softly, fed him another spoonful of rice porridge, and only after seeing him swallow it did she slowly say:
"Otherwise what? Do I have to do things like 'yin-yang replenishment' and be unable to move my legs when I see a beautiful woman, and only then would I be worthy of the identity of Elder Blackwood Cliff?"
“I have no interest in teenagers.”
Lin Pingzhi was stunned and almost choked on the rice porridge.
His earlobes turned bright red, and he lowered his head to hide his embarrassment, muttering softly, "I misspoke, sister... please don't take offense."
But his eyes couldn't help but slip under the mask. How come this sister of Blackwood Cliff is different from the rumors?
Seeing that he obediently swallowed the last mouthful of porridge, You Mingjiang withdrew the spoon, gently placed it back in the bowl, and added:
"I saved you only because I followed my heart. Just focus on recovering from your injuries. Once we reach Qingyuan Prefecture, I will personally escort you ashore."
.
·
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Author's Note: [Let me see] Thank you to all the little angels for the nutrient solution:
[Heart] "Watching Everything Only Makes Me Nutritionally Balanced" +5 nutrient solution, "abu" +24 nutrient solution, "Chen Gongzi Bronze" +5 nutrient solution, "Huan Du Bai Lu" +10 nutrient solution, "A Jie" +5 nutrient solution, "Qing Zhu Hong Shao" +5 nutrient solution [Heart]
[Three-colored cat head] On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head, bringing high spirits and good fortune. [Pink heart] Wishing you good luck in your studies and career. [Purple heart]
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