Chapter 61 Now it's not so easy to leave.
The old ancestor was determined to die.
The snow-covered Flame Mountain couldn't dampen the joy of its inhabitants. The Fire-Eating Beast had found a good match and would soon recover, allowing them to move back from this cold place to the warm mountaintop.
The dragon elders and their unworthy sons were also very excited. With the siege of Flame Mountain resolved, they could be considered to have redeemed themselves, and the Emperor would surely be lenient in his judgment.
They worked alongside the people, tending stoves and warming wine. Last night, they drank with bitterness and unease about the outcome, but today the opposite is true; the bitterness is gone, and their hearts are filled with joy.
After the banquet was set up, the three elders of the Dragon Clan personally went to invite Duan Jiuyou.
Although she did the job by herself, the idea came from them, and they wanted to take the opportunity to curry favor with her so that they could also get some credit for it.
Unfortunately, this old ancestor has already fallen asleep!
Despite the fact that the gates were closed during the day, the disciples stood guard at the main gate of the courtyard and didn't let anyone in. Their explanation was quite reasonable: the patriarch had personally cleaned the beasts last night and hadn't slept all night. He rushed to Wangjin Mountain early this morning and naturally had to make up for the sleep he had missed.
The dragon elders, needing a favor from them, dared not urge their ancestor to get up. They told her that they had left food and wine on the stove and that once their ancestor woke up, she must attend the banquet. They ate and waited.
The disciples exchanged a few polite words and then let them go.
The dragon clan members turned back every few steps, while the disciples watched them go expressionlessly. Only after they had gone far away did they look back at the simple palace at the foot of the mountain behind them.
The snow was falling heavily, covering the palace rooftops in white. They looked into the palace along the cobblestone path, their eyes filled with endless worry.
Will he die?
One of the disciples asked in a low voice.
No one answered this question.
On Wangjin Mountain, the emperor's poison had already taken hold. Although they were not knowledgeable in medicine, they knew that such a trend was not a good sign.
Will he die?
Duan Jiuyou, who was guarding the emperor's side, was also pondering this question.
Since he shut down his five senses, he has never woken up again, and even his breathing is intermittent.
She dared not look at him too much, afraid that he might really "disappear" silently at any moment, while her left hand held three fingers tightly to his pulse.
It pulsates, very faintly, as faint as the silent snow outside the window, pale and powerless, shattering at the slightest touch.
Duan Jiuyou didn't know how long he had been sitting like that; he only knew that when he came to his senses, it was already completely dark outside.
The old folks had come to plead with her countless times, but the disciples only replied that she hadn't woken up yet. "White-bearded Duke" had also come twice. Duan Jiuyou knew that he, like her, was waiting for an outcome. He was waiting for Di Jiang to die, while she was waiting for him to live!
Sparks of light shone through the window as the disciples lit the lanterns in the courtyard. The dim light filtered in and fell on Di Jiang's lifeless face.
He was still unconscious; his pulse was barely perceptible.
Duan Jiuyou took a deep breath and stood up.
We can't wait any longer!
"Your Majesty, Duan Jiuyou has gone out!"
Duan Jiuyou's patience ran out, but Bai Tingxu's patience was no less.
Logically, the poison that afflicts the heart should have already seeped into her internal organs, but she hadn't shown any reaction here, almost leading Bai Tingxu to believe that Di Jiang had miraculously recovered.
The stalemate has lasted for so long, it's a contest of who can hold their breath longer. Now that Duan Jiuyou is rushing out, it's clear that the situation in the Imperial Territory is extremely dire.
Is the information accurate?
Bai Tingxu stood up but then stopped, ultimately fearing Duan Jiuyou's divine power, and only dared to make a move when she was not around.
The disciple who delivered the message confirmed it: "Our men saw her leave, but they didn't see the direction clearly, and she disappeared in a flash."
Bai Tingxu had long ago laid out numerous spies at the foot of the mountain, and Duan Jiuyou and the disciples of Aozong were under his surveillance.
"He's in such a hurry, it seems this person is about to die." Qi Xinghe's heart was pounding. He wanted to seize this opportunity, but was also worried about unforeseen circumstances. He urged Bai Tingxu, "Then let's hurry up and kill Di Jiang!"
If we're too late, and Duan Jiuyou returns, things will be difficult to accomplish.
Bai Tingxu said there was no rush: "She's gone, but her men are still guarding the place. We need to think of a way to get them away."
...
"Oh no! The fire-eating beast's berserk disorder has flared up!"
Half an incense stick later, someone ran down the mountain in a panic, and the people at the foot of the mountain were thrown into chaos.
Many of them went up the mountain to clean up their old houses today, but now that the fire-eating beast disease has broken out, half of them are trapped in the mountains.
The Dragon Clan elders and their unworthy offspring had already drunk too much at the victory banquet and were staggering on the ground, so they were completely unreliable. "White Beard Duke" was both shocked and anxious, and could only lead the people of Flame Mountain to ask Ancestor Duan for help.
Liantang and the others guarding the door were all shocked. How could they subdue the Fire-Eating Beast if the Ancestor wasn't in the room? They dared not reveal the truth. Seeing that the people were in a hurry to rush into the inner hall, Liantang had no choice but to make the decision and let the other disciples go into the mountain to provide support, while he stayed at the door to guard it.
This decision finally put the people at ease, and they dispersed one after another. However, the local official "Bai Hu Gong," who was the head of the mountain, remained standing in the same spot.
Liantang looked at him with a curious expression: "Aren't you going to go up the mountain to take a look?"
He was in such a hurry just now, insisting that they go up the mountain immediately, so why is he quiet now?
"Old Man with the White Beard" stood still, a faint smile appearing on his face: "If I leave, who will take care of the patient in the house?"
As he finished speaking, several figures appeared behind him. At first glance, they were all dressed as civilians of Yanshan, but upon closer inspection, they were all well-built guards.
"What patient?" Liantang was startled, finally realizing something was wrong. "What are you trying to do?!"
"Didn't I just say I was here to check on the patient in the room?"
Bai Hugong and his men approached step by step, and as they walked, a blue light flashed in their hands, revealing their usual weapons.
Knowing that the newcomer was up to no good, Liantang simultaneously drew his official knife and held it horizontally in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
Just as tensions were about to rise, the courtyard gate suddenly opened, and a person walked back from outside.
She was petite, dressed in a cumbersome and elaborate robe, with solemn yet charming features. She was none other than Duan Jiuyou, who had hurriedly left Yanshan in response to Bai Tingxu's secret report!
Bai Tingxu's eyes narrowed, and he glared fiercely at the messenger beside him, as if questioning, "Didn't you say she went out? How come she's back so soon?!"
The man accompanying her looked bewildered. He had no idea what had happened. Maybe she... she was going to the kitchen?
The attendant stared at the object in Old Master Duan's hand, cold sweat pouring down his face.
Duan Jiuyou held a bowl of hot porridge in his hand, his face showing no impatience. He looked at them while scooping up a spoonful and putting it in his mouth.
Liantang's expression relaxed as if he had seen a savior, and he hurriedly called out "Ancestor".
Duan Jiuyou grunted, looked around at the group of unfamiliar faces in the courtyard, and repeated, "What are you doing?"
Liantang replied in his original words: "They said they wanted to go in and see the patient."
"patient?"
Duan Jiuyou looked puzzled, but without stopping, he opened the door with his foot and said decisively.
"Then come in and have a look."
As soon as the door opened, past a landscape screen that blocked the wind, came a daybed with curtains hanging down. Liantang came in and lit six lamps, instantly illuminating the room.
Duan Jiuyou sat in the armchair, scooping up a spoonful of porridge, and said, "There's no one in this room, only a wolf cub that hasn't yet taken human form. Did you come to see it?"
This question was clearly directed at "White-bearded Duke".
"White-bearded Old Man" was speechless, never expecting to run into Duan Jiuyou head-on, and even less preparing an excuse in advance.
He didn't speak, and Duan Jiuyou didn't force him. He focused on eating half a bowl of porridge before putting down his spoon.
She said to Liantang, "Lift up the curtain. You must be hungry after sleeping for so long."
Liantang seemed hesitant, but still obeyed and lifted the curtain. Inside the curtain was a small ball of white fur. From the moment the curtain was lifted, "White Beard" stared straight in. The sudden influx of candlelight seemed to pierce its eyes. It stared at its wolf eyes for a long time before finally opening them completely.
"White Beard" watched it open its eyes, watched it shake off its long fur and stand up, its face showing a hint of annoyance, as if it disliked being disturbed from its sleep. Apart from its displeasure, there was not a trace of poisoning on its face!
Besides, if the poison penetrates deep into the internal organs, how could he possibly still have the strength to maintain his illusory form? Di Jiang is not a "real wolf," so even if the poison takes effect, he should be in human form, not wolf form!
Then the wolves in this tent are not from the imperial realm.
So who exactly is the Emperor's Territory?
Did an imperial territory actually exist?
Bai Tingxu belatedly realized that this whole affair was just Qi Xinghe's word. He said that Duan Jiuyou was with Di Jiang, and that Di Jiang was not dead. Besides his words, was there any other evidence to prove that Di Jiang was still alive?
He began searching for Qi Xinghe among the guards following him, only to discover that the kid had somehow slipped away!
Duan Jiuyou took out a bag of snacks from his sleeve and beckoned to the wolf cub: "You've slept for three hours and still haven't had enough sleep? Come and have something to eat."
The wolf cub yawned, stretched, and jumped onto her lap.
Duan Jiuyou fed the wolves some snacks, but his words were directed at Bai Hugong: "What kind of play are you putting on today? I don't understand it at all."
"White-bearded Lord" looked embarrassed and racked his brains before making up a reason: "The fire-eating beast on the mountain has started making a ruckus. I am afraid that it will rush down the mountain, damage the houses, and hurt the ancestor."
No one would believe this! Bai Tingxu knew that whatever he said now would be full of flaws, and he couldn't make anything coherent out of it.
Duan Jiuyou tilted his head to listen to the commotion. The roars of the fire-eating beast on the mountain had stopped. A disciple returned from the mountain and reported, "The fire-eating beast was attacked just now and was stabbed by someone. The roar just now was caused by it running around in pain. It has now calmed down, and the people trapped on the mountain have been safely brought down."
Duan Jiuyou nodded: "Find someone in the village who knows medicine to go up and take a look, and bandage it up."
The disciple should ask, "Then, Ancestor, should we search for the person who launched the sneak attack?"
Duan Jiuyou glanced at "White-bearded Elder" as if he were not paying attention, and then asked this earth immortal of Flame Mountain.
Anyone with eyes can tell that today's play was a self-directed and self-acted performance. Upon hearing this, "White-Bearded Man" immediately put his hands up and buried his head in his sleeves: "This humble official will send someone to find him right away!"
He was about to leave with his men when the door slammed shut with a loud bang, blocking their way.
Duan Jiuyou stood up from behind him, glanced at the man with his hands in his sleeves, and gave him a brief look.
"Want to leave now? Not so easy."
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