The sky was overcast, without a ray of sunshine, yet it was both muggy and hot. Even the small green vegetables sold by roadside vendors looked wilted, let alone people. Experienced elderly people knew that such weather was very likely a harbinger of heavy rain, so apart from a few scattered stalls, there were hardly any pedestrians on the streets and alleys.
Just then, a thin, small child, so dirty that it was impossible to tell his gender, stumbled and ran forward in a narrow alley in the city, panting heavily from the intense running.
His slender right arm was always pressed against his chest, as if there was some incredibly precious treasure there. Occasionally, when he passed a corner, he would unconsciously look back. Upon hearing the approaching, chaotic footsteps, no matter how tired he was, he would immediately quicken his pace.
Someone is chasing him!
They chased him like a dusty little mouse, constantly darting through these narrow and wide alleys.
Around another corner, he slumped into a small alley, and little did anyone expect that even fate wouldn't be on his side this time.
There's a dead end in front of us!
The approaching footsteps left him with nowhere to retreat.
In desperation, he grabbed a broken basket that someone had carelessly tossed aside by the roadside, and the little boy shrank inside, hugging his knees tightly to shrink himself as small as possible. At the same time, he quickly calmed his breathing, because he knew that those chasing him all knew martial arts, and if he continued to breathe heavily like before, he would not be able to hide himself at all.
As the footsteps drew closer and closer, even though the child was still panting, he immediately covered his mouth and nose with his hand, no longer daring to make the slightest sound.
Soon, several men in black, armed with knives, appeared at the entrance of the alley.
Once the group realized that the alley was empty, the white-browed man leading the group raised his hand without hesitation and signaled the men behind him to begin searching everywhere. No household could be overlooked, because the little girl was very likely carrying the account book that could threaten the governor, so there could not be the slightest mistake. The little girl and the account book had to be destroyed together.
That scoundrel surnamed Tang has already been torn apart by five horses. They searched the house three feet deep but couldn't find the account book. So it can only be that it was taken away by his daughter who accidentally escaped.
Thinking this, the white-browed man, after his subordinates scattered behind him, picked up his knife and stepped into the alleyway piled with debris, while constantly stabbing the debris into the piles on both sides with his knife.
He quickly reached the basket where the little girl was hiding and stabbed her without hesitation.
The little girl, who was covering her mouth tightly, stared wide-eyed as the blade pierced past her side and was slowly pulled back.
The footsteps began to move forward, and her violently beating heart finally calmed down a little.
Before she could even catch her breath, a sudden change occurred. The basket that had been wrapped around her was cleaved open from the outside. The blade was so sharp that a sharp pain shot through her cheek, and a bloody gash appeared on her face.
"Found you, little mouse."
The newcomer's voice was sharp and cold.
The little girl even had the illusion that she was being targeted by a venomous snake.
"Where are the ledgers? Tell me!"
She watched helplessly as the other person reached out and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her off the ground.
Pain, suffocation, terror, and fear alternated in her eyes. She kept hitting the other man's arm, but as the man's grip tightened, all her emotions slowly turned into deep despair.
After running for so many days, she still couldn't escape. She had to go find her father and the others, wondering if they would be waiting for her on the Bridge of Helplessness...
Just as he finished thinking that, suddenly, a bright yellow figure descended from the sky.
The newcomer kicked the white-browed man's arm. Caught off guard, the man's arm loosened instinctively, and the little girl fell to the ground. Immediately afterward, a clean, warm hand grabbed hers. "Let's go!"
It was at this moment that the little girl realized that the person who had saved her was a handsome young man who was not much older than her. Even his voice was as clear and crisp as hers. He was wearing a bright yellow sword-fighting uniform with only a black trim along the cuffs and collar. He had a high ponytail, extremely dark and bright eyes, and dazzlingly white skin. In his other hand, he held a long sword that was still sheathed and had ornate tassels hanging from the hilt.
His youthful spirit, as radiant as the spring sun, made anyone who saw him sigh inwardly, wondering whose handsome young master this was, and how many innocent girls he would attract when he grew up.
Meanwhile, the girl, after he grabbed her hand, staggered to her feet and tried to run back with him.
The white-browed man from the Eastern Depot had already come to his senses. "You're asking for death!"
With a sharp shout, a claw reached for the boy's heart.
Fortunately, he was prepared. The moment the man approached, he raised the hand that was holding the sword, dropped the sword, and threw a pungent white powder directly into the man's eyes.
After hitting his target with a single blow, the white-browed man no longer cared about them and immediately covered his eyes, screaming in agony.
Seeing this, the boy in yellow didn't even have time to pick up his sword. He grabbed the girl's hand and used his clumsy light-footed skills to carry her over a wall. After many twists and turns, he even led her through a dog hole before finally stopping in a dilapidated, abandoned courtyard where the weeds were almost as tall as a person.
The girl was alright; she was dirty from the beginning, so even if she got dirtier, it wouldn't be noticeable. But the boy in yellow, who had been bright and neat, quickly became disheveled. His once neatly combed hair was now a mess, and his yellow clothes had several tears, making them tattered. Not to mention, the white-browed man had grabbed his chest hard, leaving three bloody marks.
The girl looked up at the bloodstains on the boy's chest and the very unusual red gourd-shaped birthmark beside him.
Once she had caught her breath, she immediately knelt down before the boy in front of her, "Thank you, big brother, for saving my life..."
Before she could finish speaking, the boy in yellow jumped aside in fright. "No, what are you doing? That's too much... It was just a small favor, there's no need for such a grand gesture."
He scratched his head. "Actually, before you hid here, I was lying on the roof to the side, stealing... cough cough, resting. Then I saw you come in, and then I saw those people come in. I could tell from their clothes that they were henchmen of the Eastern Depot. I've heard my father say that the people of the Eastern Depot are all bad guys, not to mention that he wanted to strangle you. For a martial artist, upholding justice is his duty, so you don't need to thank me at all."
He bent down and helped the little girl up, but as soon as she stood up, her stomach suddenly growled.
Hearing this sound, even the dust and dirt on the girl's face couldn't hide her flushed cheeks.
Are you... hungry?
Seeing this, the boy asked in surprise, then subconsciously reached out and touched his sleeve, a look of heartache flashing across his eyes.
His big chicken leg!
A guy surnamed Fang came to our house these past couple of days. He's been practicing swordsmanship much more diligently than I am. My dad even said that Fang's talent far surpasses Fang's, so to keep him from falling behind, he made him do even more training. But the training was so tough on Fang that he couldn't bear it. He finally managed to sneak out, bought a delicious-smelling chicken leg, found a quiet spot, and was enjoying his chicken leg while taking a break. Who would have thought...
Despite having so many random thoughts running through his mind, the boy gritted his teeth and stomped his foot, taking out the chicken leg wrapped tightly in oil paper from his sleeve and handing it to the girl with his eyes closed.
"I haven't touched this before, you can have it."
The girl stared in astonishment at the oil paper package in front of her, and then the other person stuffed it into her arms.
When she opened it and saw that it was a chicken leg, her eyes immediately welled up with tears. Before she even took a bite, tears started falling down her face.
"Oh dear, oh dear, don't cry..."
Upon seeing her cry, the boy immediately became flustered. He searched his pockets but couldn't find a handkerchief. In the end, he had no choice but to start wiping her tears with his sleeve, until his once clean sleeve was now covered in black.
This was the first time in so many days that the girl had been treated so gently. For a moment, she even forgot to cry and just blinked at him.
The boy's handsome brows suddenly furrowed. "Wait a minute..."
As he spoke, he pulled a small porcelain bottle, about the size of a thumb, from his pocket, uncorked it, lifted the girl's chin with one hand, and began to carefully apply medicine to the still-bleeding wound on her face with the other. "Don't move. If it hurts, just bear with it. This wound medicine was made by my mother. It's very effective. Sprinkle a little on it, and I guarantee your bleeding will stop immediately, it will scab over quickly, and it won't leave a scar easily!"
The boy's face was full of pride.
After a sharp pain, the girl felt him withdraw his hand. Then, seeing that she was still holding the chicken leg without eating it, he quickly urged her, "Why aren't you eating? Aren't you hungry? Eat it! I just bought it, it's still warm. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
"Um!"
The girl nodded vigorously.
The two then began to chat in the desolate little courtyard.
The girl said that her father was a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court, but because he couldn't stand the eunuchs in the Eastern Depot, he had been secretly investigating their affairs and even made an account book to present to the emperor. However, this caused him trouble, and now she is the only one left in the whole family.
The ledgers were always on her, which is why those people were so persistent and relentless in their pursuit.
This tragic experience infuriated the boy, who then cursed and swore for quite a while.
The sun was gradually setting in the west.
Even the most beautiful encounters must come to an end. After leaving this small, dilapidated courtyard, the girl told me that she was going to stay with a relative in the Luozhou Valley. Yes, at this time, she did not know that the place she was going to was called Medicine God Valley, but only that it was in the Luozhou area.
The young man emptied his pockets of almost all his silver, even prying off the jewels from his boots, to buy her a donkey for transportation and a lot of dry food. He stuffed the rest of the money into her arms, saying that there were some government agents scattered around his home, so he couldn't take her home. In addition, the atmosphere at home had been very serious these days, and he had overheard his parents talking privately more than once, as if they were about to move. He couldn't go with her, but he could give her money to go by herself and hoped she would have a safe journey.
The girl sat on the short, small donkey, her eyes red as she watched the boy wave goodbye. Suddenly, she asked loudly, "Big brother, what's your name? How can I find you later?"
What's my name?
Are you coming to see me again?
If I skip sword practice, won't my father find out? I'll definitely get a beating then.
Upon thinking this, the boy felt a sudden chill.
Immediately afterward, the bitter and resentful face of the boy surnamed Fang in his family flashed through his mind.
Fang Yunyang.
He quickly replied, then flashed a bright smile at the girl on the donkey.
"My name is Fang Yunyang."
Fang Yunyang...
She will definitely remember it.
Within the Kongshan Sect.
Standing in front of the courtyard where Yan Xingzhi was recuperating, Tang Ning's recollection ended there.
Yes, now, after Fang Yunyang led his fellow disciples from the Kongshan Sect in a great battle against the Blood Guards of the Jiyue Sect, they have come together to Kongming Mountain, where the Kongshan Sect is located.
It is said that two days ago, Fang Yunyang had already brought the seriously injured Huo Qingqing here. After handing her over to his master's wife and aunts, he hurriedly led his fellow disciples down the mountain to find Tang Ning and Yan Xingzhi. Then, they happened to encounter the two who were fighting against the Jiyue Blood Guards on a boat not far from Kongming Mountain.
As for why Tang Ning was here, it was because as soon as she arrived at the Kongshan Sect, Fang Yunyang's senior uncles and aunts brought up the matter of their wedding with smiles, and even asked when the two planned to hold the ceremony so that they could start making preparations and inform their relatives and friends to come and attend.
After all, the martial world has not been peaceful these past few years, and the evil cult is stirring up trouble. We need some good news to boost the morale of the righteous people, which is too low. At the same time, everyone can take this opportunity to contact each other and discuss how they should deal with the ever-expanding Jiyue Cult.
She had only recently seen Yan Xingzhi's birthmark, and now the marriage was approaching again. How could she proceed with her plans without coming over to inquire in person?
Thinking this in her heart, but looking hesitant and uncertain, Tang Ning paced back and forth at the gate of Yan Xingzhi's courtyard many times, and raised her hand many times as if to knock on his gate, but in the end she gave up every time.
Just as she was about to give up and turn away, the courtyard gate behind her was suddenly opened from the inside.
Upon seeing this, Tang Ning immediately sneered inwardly.
She knew the dog probably already knew she was coming, but it deliberately waited until she was about to leave before pretending to casually open the gate.
whispering sound.
"Miss Tang?"
Because the lingering poison and the knife wound had not yet been cleared, Yan Xingzhi was wearing a silver-gray squirrel fur cloak. His face was so pale it was almost transparent. He coughed lightly every now and then, and his whole being exuded an indescribable sense of sickly frailty and nobleness.
"Young Master Yan..."
Upon hearing his voice, Tang Ning quickly turned around and called out to him in the same way.
"It's so late, Miss Tang, what urgent matter brings you here? Why don't you come in and talk?"
He chuckled softly and stepped aside to make way.
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning hesitated for a moment before going inside.
As soon as she sat down in the courtyard, she took out several porcelain bottles from her bosom. "Young Master Yan, you've been injured again and again because of me. It's a pity that the herbs I brought from Medicine God Valley were all lost. There are quite a few herbs on Mount Kongming, so as soon as I got up the mountain, I immediately made some medicine to treat your injuries. This bottle of ointment is for external application and can treat your knife wounds. This bottle of pills is for internal use and can treat your internal injuries. And this bottle is specifically for the remaining poison in your body. Oh, and this bottle contains the strange poison in your body. Although I don't have much of a clue about it yet, try taking this bottle first. Maybe it can suppress the poison a little and make you feel less pain when it takes effect..."
It wasn't until he heard this that Yan Xingzhi's eyebrows suddenly twitched.
"May I ask, Miss Tang, do you think there is any possibility of a complete cure for the poison in my body?"
Although he had been accustomed to the monthly poisoning attacks over the years, which initially felt like a living hell, he would naturally be even more willing to accept such excruciating pain if there were an antidote.
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning's face immediately showed a troubled expression.
Seeing this, Yan Xingzhi smiled knowingly, "It was just a casual question, Miss Tang, please don't take it to heart."
Seeing Yan Xingzhi's expectant expression, and recalling Tang Ning's years of suffering from each attack of the poison, she felt a surge of anxiety and grabbed his wrist. "Trust me, give me time, and I will definitely develop an antidote for you. Then you won't be in pain anymore..."
Feeling the soft touch on his wrist, Yan Xingzhi raised an eyebrow in his mind, and then his gaze fell on his wrist.
Following his gaze, Tang Ning realized her rudeness and quickly withdrew her hand, biting her lip, "I was presumptuous..."
"It's alright, Miss Tang, a doctor's heart is like a parent's."
Yan Xingzhi smiled gently, but his mind was racing.
He put down the wrist that Tang Ning had just touched, and his other hand covered it, rubbing it incessantly, as if he were sensing something.
Just then, Tang Ning, who had hesitated for a long time, looked at Yan Xingzhi again and asked, "Young Master Yan, I have a question for you, but I don't know..."
"Feel free to ask."
Did you encounter any unusual people or events thirteen years ago?
Tang Ning looked at Yan Xingzhi with anticipation.
Thirteen years ago, Yan Xingzhi was nine years old. It was the year he saved Tang Ning, and also the year he was implicated by Fang Yunyang, resulting in the destruction of his family and the loss of everything.
Upon hearing Tang Ning's question, Yan Xingzhi, who had been smiling, instantly lowered his eyes, concealing the murderous intent, ruthlessness, coldness, bloodlust, and violence that surged within him.
When she opened her eyes again and looked at Tang Ning, she had regained her original gentle and refined demeanor.
"No, I haven't encountered anything."
He laughed.
Yes, he hadn't encountered anything.
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