Chapter 118 There are signs of a poisonous insect living in the Immortal Venerable’s heart veins…
It took an entire afternoon to make this batch of orange candy. From washing the oranges, peeling and chopping the skins, pounding the pulp to adding sugar and boiling it, Su Xiaoyuan did every step by hand, and finally packed six cans.
She tied a date-written label on the bottle and placed it in a bamboo basket. After a moment's hesitation, she sent a message to Ling Yue Xianzun: "Brother, the candy is ready. I'll have my puppet deliver it to you now. Is that convenient?"
Then he added: [And the clothes you left at my place last time have been washed. Should I ask him to bring them over as well?]
Ling Yuexianzun replied immediately: [Okay, thank you. I will activate the protective formation in advance.]
Su Xiaoyuan let out a breath, put down the communication mirror, and realized that her palms were sweating from nervousness.
She called the puppet, handed him the bamboo basket and the neatly folded and wrapped cloak, and asked him to deliver it to Immortal Master Ling Yue.
The puppet looked at her in confusion: "Why doesn't Xiao Yuan go and send him off herself? This is a good opportunity to get closer to him."
Su Xiaoyuan hesitated, "I... I'm a little tired after making candy all afternoon. I need to lie down for a while... Let's get closer next time..."
Afraid that he wouldn't believe her, she leaned back on the bed as she spoke, as if she had lost all her strength.
Fortunately, the puppet's IQ was not very high, and he believed her when he saw her like this: "Xiao Yuan, have a good rest. I'll be back soon."
Su Xiaoyuan: "Oh right, since I have to make this trip anyway, I might as well give a few cans to Kaishan. They both love it, so let them share."
The puppet said "OK" and went out with the basket and the cloth bag.
This trip took half an hour.
The bamboo basket that the puppet brought back was still full. Su Xiaoyuan took a look and found a few packets of her favorite old-fashioned candied fruits. They were brought back by Kaishan today and Yu Yingchun when they went down the mountain to play during the holiday.
In addition, there is a low-key yet luxurious wooden box. Although there is no pattern or carving, there is a faint golden light flowing in the texture of the wood, exuding a strong smell of money.
"What is this?" Su Xiaoyuan asked.
"It's Ling Yue's return gift." The puppet said lightly.
When Su Xiaoyuan opened the box and took a look, she couldn't help but gasp.
Lying on the black satin was the sugar jar she had given him last time, but it was full, filled to the brim with dazzling gems of all colors, each one different.
"What are these, Fu Tingyun?!" she exclaimed.
The puppet took a quick glance, looking as if he regarded money as dirt: "Stones from all over the Three Realms."
"How can you accept such a valuable gift..."
"He has no shortage of stones, Xiaoyuan can just take them to play with." said the puppet.
"How can that be? We can't accept this kind of thing..." Su Xiaoyuan said anxiously.
The puppet said calmly: "I am just a puppet. I don't know what to accept and what not to accept."
Su Xiaoyuan also realized that she shouldn't blame him, so she quickly hugged his waist, stood on tiptoe and gently kissed his chin: "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I asked you to run errands and still scolded you. Don't be angry, okay? I'll treat you to some candy."
"I'm not angry," the puppet said, "the candy is gone."
Su Xiaoyuan ran to the cupboard, opened the bottom drawer, and pulled out a can as if by magic, shaking it: "How could yours be missing? I saved it for you."
The puppet's eyes flickered slightly; "Did Xiao Yuan make this herself?"
"Of course," Su Xiaoyuan said, "This is the first can. If you like it, I'll make more tomorrow."
"No need, it's too tiring." The puppet still had no expression. He just pulled up her hands, looked at her with lowered eyes, and gently stroked her fingers - her skin was delicate, and her fingers were still red from rubbing orange peels with salt in the afternoon.
"It's not that hard to make a few jars of candy," Su Xiaoyuan put her cheek against the puppet's warm chest, "I used to have to do everything myself, but I've become lazy enough since you came."
"I'll go prepare dinner," the puppet gently supported her shoulders and pushed her away, "Xiao Yuan, take a rest."
Su Xiaoyuan stared at his back in a daze for a while, and the communication mirror made a "ding" sound, bringing her back to her senses.
[I received the candy, thank you.]
Su Xiaoyuan quickly replied: [You're welcome. Those gems are too valuable. I can't accept them.]
[These are just some stones I collected while fighting demons in my youth. Junior Sister, keep them for fun.]
Su Xiaoyuan became even more panicked when she heard this. Wouldn't that be more commemorative than ordinary gems?
[The puppet said that the candy my junior sister gave me was made by hand, and must have taken a lot of effort. It is much more precious than these stones.]
Su Xiaoyuan knew that she would not be able to convince him through the communication mirror, so she made up her mind to return it to him next time she had special lessons.
The next sword class is in two days.
During the two days, Su Xiaoyuan and the puppet used their free time to make hundreds of cans of candy.
Most of the work was done by puppets. Su Xiaoyuan would accompany him after school and help him.
The puppet didn't allow her to touch salt and water anymore, so she could only help with some easy and hands-free processes, such as packaging and labeling.
Naturally, she and Kaishan and his wife couldn't finish all the candy.
She used the object-transmission array to send some to her teachers and friends in the Yunyu Sect, and also gave some to new classmates that Tai Yan met.
Two days later, after a day of classes, the Wuji Palace's crane carriage was indeed parked outside the classroom.
When I arrived at the gate of Wuji Palace, I happened to meet Zhao Qingluan carrying a medicine box.
This time he arrived later than last time and had just arrived in front of the magic circle.
Without waiting for her to say hello, Zhao Qingluan smiled warmly: "What a coincidence, are you here to see the Immortal Master again, Fellow Daoist Su?"
Su Xiaoyuan nodded: "Brother Zhao, are you here to deliver medicine to the Immortal Lord?"
Zhao Qingluan looked terrified. "I don't deserve it. The Immortal Venerable and Fellow Daoist Su are equals. Logically, I should call you Uncle Master."
Su Xiaoyuan dug her toes into the ground, and Ling Yuexianzun was not shy about it during the sword class. He called her "junior sister" all kinds of things, and it was obvious that the news spread throughout the sect.
However, Immortal Master Ling Yue insisted on calling her Junior Sister, and she really didn't want to just randomly recognize him as her Senior Brother, which would mess up their uncle-niece relationship, so she followed his lead and called him Fellow Daoist.
"It's just that the Immortal Venerable is being modest," she said shyly, "I'm not sure I can pass the test and stay."
"Fellow Daoist Su, you're too modest," Zhao Qingluan said, looking at her face from the window of the cloud carriage. "I'm sorry to ask, but is Fellow Daoist Su suffering from a cold body and weak energy?"
Su Xiaoyuan was surprised: "Fellow Daoist Zhao, you knew it just by looking at it?"
Zhao Qingluan smiled: "It's just a trivial trick. Oh, right... wait a moment..."
Su Xiaoyuan asked Linghe to stop. Zhao Qingluan opened the medicine box and took out a small porcelain bottle: "I happen to have a bottle of warming and nourishing medicine here. Junior sister, you can try it."
"How can I do that!" Su Xiaoyuan quickly declined.
Zhao Qingluan: "Fellow Daoist Su, you don't have to be polite. If it works, tell me. The herbs are readily available in the warehouse, and I can refine it."
Seeing that she couldn't refuse his kindness, Su Xiaoyuan had no choice but to thank him and accept it.
She has no shortage of tonic pills. After all, she has money and a universal puppet. Her warehouse is full of good medicines. Her physique is a problem of system settings, and it cannot be transformed by just taking medicine.
After all, Zhao Qingluan is the senior brother of the heroine Lin Wan. Although she feels a little guilty, she dare not take the medicine he gave her casually.
She took out a can of candy from her Qiankun bag and gave it to him, having originally intended to share it with her fellow disciples.
Zhao Qingluan accepted it with a smile: "This is very good, and it's exactly what we need for those of us who taste medicine all day long."
When Su Xiaoyuan met Zhao Qingluan for the first time, she had a vague feeling that he had some grudges against her, but this time he was much more friendly, probably because he was also an i person.
After the two entered the palace, a deacon led them to another hall.
"This is where the Immortal Master lives and works." The deacon explained to Su Xiaoyuan while opening the door curtain.
Su Xiaoyuan looked inside and saw that the hall was empty.
The deacon led them to their seats: "Please wait a moment, the Immortal Venerable is still meditating and will be here soon."
Su Xiaoyuan looked around and saw that the palace was huge, but the furnishings were very monotonous. It was so empty that even the words she spoke could echo. In broad daylight, the curtains were drawn in the palace. There were many spirit stone lamps lit, but instead of making the space warm, it made it even colder and quieter.
It turned out that this was where he usually lived, completely different from the colorful and warm side hall, which was consistent with her initial stereotype.
The only bright color was a jar of orange candy on the table.
It was delivered two days ago, and the sugar in the jar has already dropped a layer.
It seems that the medicine is really bitter, Su Xiaoyuan thought, and ripples seemed to spread in her heart.
Zhao Qingluan's gaze naturally fell on the sugar jar, with a thoughtful look on her face.
Su Xiaoyuan noticed his gaze and her cheeks suddenly felt hot, as if something shameful between her and Immortal Master Ling Yue had been exposed to the public.
Just as I was thinking about it, footsteps were heard on the corridor outside the door.
Zhao Qingluan's expression was startled, and he quickly stood up and bowed, "My nephew pays homage to the Immortal Lord."
Su Xiaoyuan also stood up and saluted: "Greetings, Immortal Venerable."
Ling Yuexianzun's gaze passed from Zhao Qingluan to the young girl, and instantly softened as if ice and snow had melted. "Junior sister, please sit for a moment. I will first check your pulse and give you medicine, and then I will accompany you to practice sword."
Su Xiaoyuan hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Immortal Venerable, take your time."
Ling Yue Immortal Venerable said to the deacon, "Bring some of the newly made lotus cakes here for Junior Sister to eat. They go perfectly with the mist tea."
Su Xiaoyuan: "Don't bother me, Immortal Venerable, I'm not hungry."
"After a whole day of classes, how can I not be hungry?" Ling Yue Immortal Venerable said as if no one was around. "Eat a little so you can have the energy to practice swordplay later."
Only then did Su Xiaoyuan thank him softly.
Zhao Qingluan lowered her head and dared not utter a word, but her heart was like a raging storm.
Because he often came to deliver medicine recently, he might be the Taiyan disciple who saw Ling Yue Xianzun the most times. However, he had never seen Ling Yue Xianzun speak politely to anyone. Even to his master and even Sect Master Shen, he was cold, let alone such warm words and considerate care.
When he thought of Awan, who was seriously injured by the sword formation just for seeing the Immortal Lord and has been unable to walk until now, his heart was broken and he felt deeply sorry for her.
Yesterday, when he passed by the medicine house, he stopped by her window and heard her soft sobs coming from the room.
He couldn't help but look up at the woman.
She is indeed born with natural beauty, but there is no shortage of beauties in the fairy world. Zhao Qingluan does not think that beauty alone can impress Immortal Master Ling Yue. As for appearance, Junior Sister Awan is pure and beautiful, so what's the difference?
The more he looked at her, the more confused he became. No matter how he looked at her, there was nothing special about her. How on earth had she gained the favor of the Immortal Lord?
Perhaps Awan's suspicion was correct, this woman from the Yunyu Sect used some special means.
"Junior Brother Zhao, please take my pulse." A cold voice pierced his eardrum like an ice cone, bringing him back to his senses with a start.
Zhao Qingluan hurriedly said, "Yes, Immortal Venerable."
Immortal Master Ling Yue stretched out his hand, lifted up his sleeves, and casually placed them on the desk.
Zhao Qingluan carefully placed her fingers on his pulse point, held her breath, and began to use her spiritual power to explore his meridians.
If that woman had really used some trick, she should have left traces in her pulse... But he was here to check on Ping An's pulse. If he did something beyond his duties, would the Immortal Venerable discover it?... I heard from my master that the Immortal Venerable's medical skills were also very high...
But then Awan's pale, haggard face and red, swollen, tearful eyes appeared before his eyes.
For Awan, the risk is worth it!
Besides, this is also for the Immortal Master's own sake. If that woman really used some evil means, he, as his nephew, could not sit idly by.
He convinced himself, gritted his teeth, and separated a trace of spiritual energy, which quietly and quickly passed through the heart meridian that should not be touched.
There is indeed something unusual!
His heart skipped a beat and he quickly withdrew his spiritual energy. Cold sweat was already pouring down his back.
It turned out to be a Gu! There were signs of a Gu worm living in the Immortal Venerable's heart veins!
No wonder the Immortal Venerable was as if drugged when he saw this woman.
But different fields are like different worlds. He is good at medicine, not witchcraft, so he has no way of judging what kind of witchcraft it is, nor does he know whether it is an evil witchcraft.
Do you want to report the truth to the Immortal Lord?
No... He knew that many poisonous insects, especially the evil ones, had the effect of confusing the mind. If he rashly reported it to the Immortal Lord, the Immortal Lord might attack him under the influence of the insects.
It is better to hold back for now and make a long-term plan after returning.
Zhao Qingluan's mind was in a mess, but she had to pretend that nothing was wrong. She explained the pulse condition as usual, then took out the porcelain bottle of medicine from the medicine box and poured it into the porcelain bowl prepared by the deacon.
Immortal Ling Yue drank the medicine soup as usual, then took a candy from the glass jar on the table and put it in his mouth, saying to Zhao Qingluan, "Thank you."
Zhao Qingluan understood that this meant he was being sent back. He put away the medicine box, bowed, said goodbye to Su Xiaoyuan, and left Wuji Palace with a heavy heart.
He wanted to go to his master to discuss it immediately, but for some unknown reason he went to the medicine house first.
In Lin Wan's room, the curtains and drapes were drawn in broad daylight, and there were no lights on. When she walked to the door, the bitter scent of herbs wafted out.
Zhao Qingluan heard faint sobbing sounds coming from the gap in the door curtain, and then turned into rapid coughing.
He hurried in and saw that Lin Wan's pretty face was as pale as paper, with only an unnatural blush on her cheekbones and the middle of her lips stained scarlet with blood.
"Junior Sister Awan, are you okay?" Zhao Qingluan said in horror.
Lin Wan waved her hand: "Did Senior Brother go to Wuji Palace? How is the Immortal… Immortal Venerable?"
Zhao Qingluan felt bitter in her heart. Although she knew that the matter was of great importance and she shouldn't reveal too much to her junior sister, seeing her self-pity, she couldn't help but tell her about Ling Yue, the Immortal Venerable, who was poisoned by the Gu.
Lin Wan was not as shocked as he was, but her eyes were wet: "I knew that the Immortal Venerable was not such a person. He must have been deceived."
Zhao Qingluan felt uncomfortable.
Lin Wan raised her tearful eyes and asked, "What are you going to do, Senior Brother?"
Zhao Qingluan said, "After much thought, I still have to report this matter to Master first."
Lin Wan shook her head. "Master is a decent man with a sincere heart. He will definitely go to the Immortal Venerable to discuss this. We don't know what kind of Gu it is or how potent it is. Besides, Gu insects don't always come in pairs. What if the Immortal Venerable is infected with a single Gu? How can we prove it was Su Xiaoyuan who planted it? In my opinion, we can't alert the enemy."
"Junior Sister Awan is absolutely right," Zhao Qingluan said admiringly, "Junior Sister, what do you think we should do?"
Lin Wan: "To catch a thief and the stolen goods, only by finding solid evidence and catching her in the act can we completely expose her true colors."
"But the poison has already been put in," Zhao Qingluan said in distress. "If she doesn't do anything and keeps hiding her flaws, then we'll be left with nothing to do."
Lin Wan thought for a moment, then suddenly her shoulders relaxed. She sank softly onto the pillow and closed her eyes. "Forget it. That poison won't do any harm to the Immortal Venerable's body. He treated me so badly, so why should I worry about him? Brother, just pretend you don't know. This isn't something you or I can control."
"How can this be possible!" Zhao Qingluan was filled with righteous indignation. "The Immortal Venerable treated you like that that day because he was poisoned..."
Lin Wan said sadly, "What's the difference? He doesn't even have eyes for me."
Zhao Qingluan was about to say something, but Lin Wan just closed her eyes and said, "Brother, I'm tired. Please go back."
"Okay, okay, Junior Sister, have a good rest. I'll come to see you tomorrow." Zhao Qingluan said as she retreated to the door.
With one foot over the threshold, he suddenly turned around and said through gritted teeth, "Awan, don't worry, Senior Brother won't let you suffer in vain!"
If there is no evidence, you can fabricate evidence.
Every time the Immortal Venerable finished taking his medicine, he would eat the orange candy that the woman gave him. Coincidentally, he also had a jar of the same candy...
Lin Wan suddenly opened her eyes: "Brother, what do you want to do? Please don't do anything stupid for A Wan!"
"I understand," Zhao Qingluan's eyes were sore. "Awan, remember, no matter what happened, you were unaware of it. It was all done by Senior Brother alone. Do you understand?"
Lin Wan said anxiously, "Brother, please tell me clearly, what exactly are you going to do? You have a bright future, and I won't allow you to do anything stupid for me!"
Zhao Qingluan's voice trembled: "Having Awan's words is enough for my life." After saying that, he walked out resolutely.
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