Chapter 19 Jiuyi City (Part 3) Am I discussing this with you? ...
The two ordered a pot of tea, and the waiter, with dark circles under his eyes, limped over to serve it.
Shi Xianxue was startled by his half-dead appearance. "Wow, did you get beaten up for stealing wild vegetables in the middle of the night?"
The waiter's hand trembled slightly as he poured the tea, but he continued pouring without looking to the side, treating Shi Xianxue and the other person as if they were invisible. As soon as the cup was full, he slipped away as if fleeing.
He was terrified that Shi Xianxue would speak to him again, as if the woman in front of him was a deep-sea bomb, and if he stayed even a second longer, she would ignite the fuse and blow him to pieces.
Shi Xianxue was puzzled by his attitude. She turned her head and asked, "Did you hit him?"
Zhou Zheyue hadn't even swallowed his tea yet when he heard this, and he almost spat it out. He retorted, "How could I possibly bully someone who has no spiritual power?"
“That’s true.” Xiaoyue wasn’t the type to bully the weak. Shi Xianxue rested her chin on her hand and said, “Could it be that he really went to steal wild vegetables and got beaten up, and then got angry because I hit the nail on the head?”
"Very likely."
The two chatted casually as dusk fell, and a slender figure appeared like a ghost at the entrance of the inn.
Wu Xiutang always wore a black outfit. Although he had striking features and a bright red face, he always had a stern expression. Coupled with the increasingly low atmosphere, the waiters would slip behind the counter as if they had seen a monster whenever he appeared.
Since stepping into Jiuyi City, his temper has become increasingly gloomy. Shi Xianxue often sees him absent-minded and distracted. When she tries to talk to him, she is frightened by his cold and brooding gaze and speaks without thinking.
This caused their relationship to deteriorate further, and almost every time she tried to get close to him, she would be met with a murderous glare.
When their icy, cold gazes casually swept across the lobby, the two immediately buried their heads and began frantically eating the pancakes.
Wu Xiutang sneered and turned to go upstairs.
Two voices, which they thought were being kept very low, came from behind them.
"Has he left? I'm choking on my words."
"I don't know, they must have left. The footsteps are getting farther and farther away."
Shh, he has very good hearing, so watch your words!
The inn was doing poor business, and only the two of them were sitting in the lobby. It was difficult for Wu Xiutang not to hear them even if he wanted to. If he didn't know what kind of people they were, he would have suspected that they were deliberately letting him hear them.
A feeling of displeasure immediately rose in my heart.
He was uncomfortable, and naturally he wouldn't let others have an easy time either, so he turned around and walked towards them.
Shi Xianxue thought Wu Xiutang had already left, but when she looked up, she saw Zhang Bingkuan staring coldly at her from above. Shi Xianxue was speechless for a moment, and her mouth moved faster than her brain: "Hi, baby."
Wu Xiutang's eyelids trembled slightly, and the corner of her lower lip twitched very faintly.
Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Zhou Zheyue quickly put down the pastries in her hand, stood up awkwardly, and said politely, "Young Master Wu, you're back. Are you hungry? Would you like some pastries?"
Heaven can bear witness.
He was just being polite.
Young Master Wu did not become a disciple of a sect; he was self-taught. Compared to someone like him who was meticulously taught from a young age and showered with rare and precious talents, Young Master Wu was truly gifted. He could hardly imagine that if Young Master Wu had become a disciple of a master, his master would not have had to worry about his good-for-nothing son, and would have sighed much less and lived many more years.
The previous Blood Moon Secret Realm incident and this time the acquisition of the Nine Yi Fragrance made Zhou Zheyue feel a strange sense of admiration for him. His eyes sparkled when he looked at him. However, Young Master Wu had a really bad temper. Sometimes when he stared at him expressionlessly, his obsidian-like eyes, devoid of warmth, always gave Zhou Zheyue a suffocating sense of oppression.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was a hypocrite who loved dragons but was terrified of them.
"OK."
"Then we won't keep you... Huh?" Before Zhou Zheyue could react, a black figure had already taken a seat in the empty seat next to Shi Xianxue.
Zhou Zheyue immediately straightened her posture like an elementary school student and lowered her head with a restrained expression.
What should I do? What should I say? Young Master Wu is so powerful at breaking through boundaries with his talismans. I wonder if it would be offensive if I asked him for advice. Would he be willing to share his study notes with him? Miss Shishi is Young Master Wu's partner. She has to be careful around him every day and dare not bother him. How can I, an outsider, not be considered an offender?
Forget it, I'd better stay quiet. The more I do, the more mistakes I make.
While he was still lost in thought, Shi Xianxue was already glaring at him angrily.
She stretched out her arms to gather the pastries, and gestured with her lips in one direction: "Why are you staring at my pastries? That bag is for you, these are all mine."
"Yours?" Wu Xiutang lowered his eyes and laughed. The smile looked rather wicked to Shi Xianxue. Shi Xianxue had a feeling that he was up to no good, and sure enough, the next second, she heard him say it.
"I'll eat yours, give it to me."
Shi Xianxue slowly widened her eyes, unable to believe that he could be so shameless. Her face turned red with anger, as if she had smeared some crushed hibiscus juice on it: "Why? These were all bought for me by Xiaoyue. These are goose fat steamed cakes, rose shortbread, and lots of fragrant candies and nuts. Each one has a different flavor, and I want to try them all. Besides, don't you dislike cakes? You can eat your plum candy."
"Am I discussing this with you, Shi Xianxue?"
He's blatantly bullying her. Shi Xianxue used to want to be close to him and give him snacks, but his disgusted expression made her feel like Jinlian, who was serving medicine to Dalang.
Now that I'm not giving it to him, he's trying to take it from me instead, even though he clearly doesn't like those foods.
Seeing that Shi Xianxue was about to cry, Zhou Zheyue quickly said, "If Young Master Wu wants to eat it, I can go and buy more."
Wu Xiutang gave him a faint glance, and Zhou Zheyue immediately stood up straight and left the house in a haphazard manner.
Taking advantage of the moment when Zhou Zheyue had diverted Wu Xiutang's attention, Shi Xianxue seized the opportunity to stuff several pieces of cake into her mouth.
She lost count of how many pieces she stuffed in her mouth; she only felt her mouth suddenly become crowded, her tongue had nowhere to stand, and she couldn't chew the cakes properly, so naturally she couldn't swallow them.
I can't bear to spit it out, but I can't chew it properly either.
When Wu Xiutang looked over, she had puffed out her cheeks, tears welling in her eyes, and was looking at him with a stubborn yet resentful expression.
Like a greedy gray fox that never gets enough to eat.
Before he killed him, he was still thinking about the free-range chicken whose neck had been bitten off before he could eat it.
Wu Xiutang was in a rare moment of good mood.
He stared at her for a few seconds, then made a move to take it.
Shi Xianxue was even faster than him, stuffing a few more pieces into her mouth. She knew that the little villain never had a big appetite, so why would he eat pastries? He didn't like these things. All he did was to make her suffer; he simply enjoyed bullying her.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and the angrier he got, the faster he moved.
Suddenly, she froze, clutching her throat with one hand, her expression pained, making a whimpering sound, while her other hand gripped Wu Xiutang's sleeve tightly and pulled it down.
It was clearly choking and was calling for help.
Wu Xiutang rested his chin on one hand, looking languid as if watching some amusing acrobatics, with no intention of offering any help.
After coldly observing Shi Xianxue's embarrassing state—choking, her face turning red, and her eyes rolling back as if she were truly struggling to breathe—the young man finally made his move.
A sudden palm strike landed on her back.
The force of that palm strike was so great that Shi Xianxue's body couldn't help but lean forward, her soft chest hitting the corner of the table. The table leg was pushed forward a few inches by the force, making a screeching sound.
She whimpered in pain and spat out the crumbs of pastry that were blocking her throat.
With a burning pain in her chest and back, Shi Xianxue clutched her chest with her left hand, gasping softly in pain, but her right hand still managed to tuck the paper package into her bosom and carefully hide it.
Wu Xiutang laughed for real this time. Seeing that Shi Xianxue was still fearlessly opening another package, he didn't bother with her. He stood up, his smile unrestrained yet somewhat annoying.
"Very good. After spending these days together, I really like your forgetful nature. I hope you can still eat when the parasitic eggs of the Gu worms have drained you dry."
After saying that, Wu Xiutang went upstairs without looking back.
Are there worms in the cakes? Or are they poisonous insects?
Shi Xianxue exclaimed in surprise and rushed upstairs with the cakes in her arms.
Inside Li Fuchao's room.
The group was exchanging clues they had gathered over the past few days in their search for the Nine-Yi Incense.
They originally split into three groups: Jiuxiao Immortal Mansion searched for the path in the canyon, Li Fuchao and the other two went to the west side, while Wu Xiutang went alone to the most dangerous and deepest part, the east side.
To everyone's surprise, even though it was the season for the blooming of the Nine-Yi Fragrance, only a few clumps of green leaves remained on the canyon walls.
Since we really can't get it, Fu Zhen suggested: "I visited several pharmacies and spent money to buy a portrait of Jiu Yi Xiang. Why don't we conjure up a fake one? First, we can pretend to make a deal with the Lantern Girl, and then use that as an excuse to ambush her. Once she leaves the Lantern Tree, we can take her hostage and force her to hand over the Flower Dew."
Although it's somewhat dishonorable, the lantern girl is a demon, so what does it matter whether it's dishonorable or not?
"So who will act as the bait?"
They didn't know the Lantern Woman's background, but since she had been able to guard Jiuyi City for hundreds of years, she must have some real skills. Moreover, behind the lantern tree was the Misty Forest, which was far too close to Mount No Return.
Nobody wants to take the risk.
Li Fuchao: "I'll go."
Fu Liuwan was the first to object: "Brother Li, after passing through the Misty Forest is the Mountain of No Return. You can't afford to make any mistakes. Besides, if you really are the bait, the Lantern Woman will only be more wary."
She looked at Wu Xiutang, who had just entered, and said, "Young Master Wu can't go either."
He looked more menacing than Li Fuchao.
After speaking, she turned her gaze to Song Qingshu, the meaning of which was obvious.
Song Qingshu also felt that she was the most suitable, so she said, "It is my duty."
Wanting to verify, Shi Xianxue rushed in from outside, carrying cakes, shouting, "Why should she go? Why not you!"
That damned Fu Liuwan, that despicable little potato, must be plotting something wicked. She won't let her succeed.
Fu Liuwan ignored her, turning her face to the side as if she were invisible.
Wu Xiutang looked up from behind the crowd and said indifferently, "Otherwise, you go."
"What does this have to do with me? I'm asking why, as daughters of sect leaders, Fu Liuwan can hide behind you and live the life of a young lady, while Sister Qing Shu has to take the risk of becoming bait?" Watching someone's fist clench tighter and tighter, she suddenly said "Oh," and said infuriatingly, "It's probably because Qingyun Sect is the number one immortal sect. How can those little sects with no reputation compare to it?"
Fu Liuwan couldn't tolerate anyone questioning the name of her sect, so she stood up abruptly and pointed at her, retorting, "The title of the number one immortal sect is something from many years ago. Now, the strength of the Nine Heavens Immortal Mansion is no less than that of the Azure Cloud Sect. After this competition, it's still uncertain who will be the number one immortal sect."
Shi Xianxue: "In that case, it's only natural that the young lady of the First Immortal Sect would take on the role of bait to repair the seal, right?"
Fu Liuwan was most susceptible to being provoked: "Fine, I'll go then! Who's afraid of who!"
"Alright, it's settled then." Shi Xianxue slapped her hand on the back of her hand. "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond, Miss Fu, please don't go back on your word."
Seeing that things were not going well, Fu Zhen quickly said, "Miss Shi is joking. The matter of bait is only about whether it is suitable or not. It has nothing to do with status or position. It's just that my junior sister is too young and inexperienced. She is simple-minded and doesn't understand so many tricks. She is not as meticulous as Miss Song in planning and understanding the big picture. She is more suitable to be bait."
They really said both good and bad things to the people of the Nine Heavens Immortal Palace.
Before she could even speak, Fu Liuwan jumped up and down in a panic, "Senior brother, how could you embarrass me like this in front of outsiders? Do you think I'm clueless about the bigger picture and simple-minded? Why am I not suitable as bait? I'm perfect for it!"
Fu Zhen: "..."
Shi Xianxue gave a thumbs up: "You're absolutely right, you're perfect for it."
Wu Xiutang's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.
Fu Liuwan glanced in Li Fuchao's direction and saw his gentle gaze fall on her. She immediately said arrogantly, "Since I've said it, I won't go back on my word. I'm going to be the bait."
—
The night was deep and quiet, the sky was devoid of stars and moon, with leaden clouds drifting by, revealing a dim, muted light. The inn had long since closed, and Shi Xianxue thought for a moment before finishing the cakes, leaving only some candied fruits and other snacks.
She was actually a person with very little self-control, and she thought that these pastries had a short shelf life. In the hot weather, things would easily spoil. So, after the meeting ended and she was assured that there was nothing wrong with the pastries, she couldn't wait to finish all three big bags of pastries, driven by a strong sense of crisis.
After eating and drinking her fill, she stood up contentedly, wiped her mouth, and prepared to brush her teeth.
He turned around and froze.
The demonic bird, which should have been perched on the lantern tree, stood brazenly on the terrace. Its claws were black and very sharp, and in the heavy darkness of the night, its red eyes gleamed with ferocity. It was unknown how long it had been observing Shi Xianxue there.
Shi Xianxue paused, no longer moving forward, but quietly reached for the talisman at her waist.
The demon bird's eyes were exceptionally deep and eerie, and it looked at Shi Xianxue as if it were searching for prey. Shi Xianxue didn't know if it had landed here by chance or followed her all the way. This demon bird was not fully intelligent and would only attack if someone actively approached the lantern tree. How could it have found its way here?
Just as he was about to pull out the talisman, the bird suddenly spread its wings and turned to disappear into the night.
Before Shi Xianxue could even relax, the chill of the night relentlessly seeped into her teeth, followed by a piercing pain that exploded like fireworks in her cerebral cortex. She let out a shrill scream and rolled around on the bed, clutching her face.
It was absolutely untouchable; the slightest touch would cause excruciating pain. Her right cheek swelled up as she rolled around, and she trembled all over in pain. She rolled out of bed, wanting to eat some more pastries to ease the pain, but the door was kicked open violently from the outside. The poor door was teetering on the verge of collapse, as if it would fall apart at any moment.
Shi Xianxue was startled. When she saw the expression on the person's face, she felt that the door was her fate.
These few days of peace and quiet made her forget something.
That is, she and Wu Xiutang share a common pain!!
Shi Xianxue covered her face and retreated towards the window, terrified by his terrifying expression and incoherent: "If you kill me, you will die too."
Because of the love potion, Wu Xiutang has to endure more than twice the pain of Shi Xianxue. He has been abused since childhood, and being covered in wounds is commonplace for him. But this does not mean that he is a person who can endure pain. On the contrary, his pain nerves are extremely sensitive. Wounds that are not painful or hot for ordinary people are unbearable for him.
But his life is always filled with pain, from broken tendons and bones to being torn apart... Even this woman brought this upon herself, making him suffer the pain. Why should he have to experience all the pain in the world before he can stop?
Wu Xiutang's expression was blank with pain, but his gaze was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing her again and again.
He was so frustrated he wanted to kill her. This stupid woman in front of him was causing him pain time and time again, and he had to kill her.
Wu Xiutang made no attempt to conceal his murderous intent. The room was in complete disarray, as if a fierce battle had taken place, which startled everyone who rushed over upon hearing the news. Before anyone could approach, he grabbed Shi Xianxue and disappeared from the spot.
A note from the author:
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