Chapter 7
Without being given any instructions, An Qi presented several more blank slips of paper. His usually calm and composed face showed a rare hint of arrogance: "Reporting to my lord, these were intercepted recently around Young Master Xi. It is believed that they were sent by Miss Xi or her maid. Their communication is all done under the guise of the black birds circling overhead."
He Ying stood by, a sudden chill running through her as an ominous feeling crept over her. An Qi didn't often serve his master closely, but He Ying keenly sensed that his master seemed... displeased with Young Master Xi and Miss Xi's frequent interactions. Especially that one, using his master's name! This thought, though vague, weighed heavily on her mind. Her intuition told her that if left unchecked, it could lead to disaster.
As expected, the person in the rocking chair suddenly became icy, and the back of his hand, with its distinct knuckles, tensed for a moment in the candlelight. His face remained expressionless, but his unfathomable eyes seemed to be filled with the icy depths of a cold pool, their profound mystery chilling. His voice, though as deep and steady as ever, carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, sinister undertone upon closer listening.
"go out."
An Qi was stunned. When he met his master's suddenly deep eyes, he felt an invisible pressure descend upon him. He was at a loss, but dared not hesitate for a moment. He bowed and quickly retreated from the study.
He Ying paused slightly, then subtly changed the subject, adding a touch of tact: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Mr. Tuo has learned of your departure for the Southern Frontier and is accompanying you. He will return to the capital to perform the procedure on Young Master Xi after Your Majesty has completed the bone setting."
As soon as he finished speaking, the usual gloom between Pei Yun's brows seemed to be swept away by a gentle breeze. A lazy and profound smile appeared on his lips, and as his eyes darted around, it seemed as if dark currents were surging beneath the abyss.
"Tell Mr. Tuo," he said in a clear, melodious voice, with a hint of nonchalance that left no room for argument, "that you need not come again. And there's no need to worry about Xi Yu either."
He Ying was filled with doubts. This sudden decision was completely different from his master's sinister demeanor just moments before. He dared not delve deeper and could only suppress his confusion, bowing his head in respect and replying, "Yes."
Xi Xiaodai frowned, gazing at the dying Yunwu on the bed. It felt as if a thousand-pound stone was pressing down on her heart, making it hard to breathe.
Since she awoke, two plain letters had been carried away by a black bird, but they remained unanswered, like stones sinking into a deep pool. Anxiety entwined her heart like vines, tightening inch by inch, and a nameless unease spread through her. Could it be that her senior brother... had encountered some misfortune?
The flickering candlelight cast a long, thin shadow of her. She stood silently for a long time, and finally, as if she had made up her mind, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes. She turned abruptly, pushed open the heavy door, and disappeared into the thick darkness of the corridor, heading straight for the room where Pei Yun was.
Before his toes even touched the steps, a burly figure stood blocking his way like an iron tower. He Ying's usually honest face was now covered in frost, and his eyes revealed undisguised meanness.
He spoke first, cutting off Xi Xiao's words before she could finish: "Miss Xi, Miss Yunwu is seriously injured, and you are powerless. This is a desolate wilderness, surrounded by wolves and jackals. If you leave our protection, I'm afraid... your chances of survival are slim. It would be safest to travel with my master."
Every word and phrase was a blatant threat.
A cold glint flashed in Xi Xiao's eyes. Ignoring him, she took a step forward to force her way in. He Ying moved slightly, once again precisely blocking her path, his tall shadow looming over her: "Since you've already agreed to my master's request..." His voice was low, carrying a chilling reminder, but his gaze was sharp as a hawk's, "you should see it through to the end. If Miss Yunwu's injuries delay my master's healing time..."
Before he finished speaking, a soft clang rang out, and the sword at his waist had already slid three inches out! A chilling glint flashed in the dim light of the corridor, reflecting in his emotionless eyes: "My Wen Yuan Marquis's mansion will not tolerate such disrespect and mockery from a mere country quack!"
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. Although he had vaguely sensed that his master's attitude towards this woman was somewhat strange and hard to explain, deep down, his intuition was like a thorn in his side. This woman was likely to be a disaster for his master's grand plans! Therefore, whenever he saw her, he felt as if a raging fire was burning in his chest.
"Heying." The voice was warm and gentle. The moment the words fell, the owner of the voice turned his head, a perfectly timed smile on his lips: "Miss Xi, please come in and say what you have to say."
Xi Xiao silently stepped into the inner room, her steps heavy. The scene outside the door had completely extinguished her pent-up emotions. She had originally intended to postpone the deal until the situation calmed down, but He Ying's "reminder," laced with the chilling glint of a sword, was like a bucket of ice water poured over her head.
From beginning to end, she had no say in this deal. All she could do was to do everything in her power to heal Pei Yun and then seize the opportunity to propose her own terms. Even though she still harbored many doubts about the unfathomable man before her, at this moment, he was the only variable in Yunwu's chance for survival.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with a calm and resolute determination. She bowed respectfully to the tall, aloof figure by the window, saying, "Young Master, I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace, and have no way to repay you." Her voice was clear and cold, yet carried a resolute determination. "Aside from a little bit of medical knowledge, I have nothing of value. My only wish now is to do everything in my power to cure your illness as soon as possible. My maid, Yunwu…"
Her throat tightened slightly, and she continued with difficulty, "...I beg you, sir, to lend a helping hand and take care of me. I, Xi Xiao, hereby swear that I will not leave until your health has improved somewhat. The consultation fee... remains the same."
I should have just told him how to use the medicine at the southern border, but after this experience, I'm going to go with him anyway.
The flickering candlelight cast her slender, thin profile onto the cold floor. The brief silence was oppressive, almost suffocating.
Her fingertips twitched slightly, and she finally mustered the last of her courage, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, almost inaudible: "There...there is another matter I need to ask...I have a senior brother named Xi Yu, but now...we have lost all contact with him. I wonder if, along the way, you could..." Before she could finish speaking, she hurriedly lowered her head, as if she could not bear the weight of that invisible gaze, and even her eyelashes trembled uneasyly.
Pei Yun's gaze, sharp as frost, swept across her lowered eyes without emotion before returning to the tea set in his hands. He remained composed, his slender hand holding the teapot, pouring boiling water into the purple clay teapot. Wisps of white steam rose gently, and he stirred the tea leaves with a silver spoon, his movements fluid and graceful. In this small room, he exuded an air of otherworldly elegance, untouched by worldly concerns.
Silence lingered and settled in the aroma of tea, pressing down on one's heart. After a long while, he slowly raised his eyes, a gentle, jade-like smile curving his lips, his voice clear and melodious like the clinking of jade stones: "It's only natural, a small favor, you needn't take it to heart, young lady." He lightly tapped the rim of the teacup with his fingertips, his gaze deep, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "To me, you are a lifesaver. A life-saving grace is greater than heaven; let alone taking care of a maid, even if you made any more requests..."
He paused, his smile seeming to deepen, carrying an unfathomable gentleness: "...It's all just what's right, what one should do."
Xi Xiao's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and she slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. Although this person's aura was as unfathomable as a cold pool, instinctively instilling a sense of distance and chill, his words at this moment could be described as upright and virtuous, quite gentlemanly. Perhaps... she was just being paranoid?
A long-lost warmth, tinged with sincerity, quietly melted away the defensiveness in her eyes. A faint smile finally bloomed on her lips as she bowed respectfully to the aloof figure brewing tea: "In that case... thank you, young master."
Pei Yun's gaze was like a lingering sore, fixed on the slender figure that disappeared outside the door, and a faint, yet strangely enigmatic, curve slowly appeared at the corner of his lips.
The descendants of the Witch Clan possess a forbidden secret and an ancient curse flowing in their blood, a secret capable of overturning life and death. This secret can only be inherited by women, passed down from generation to generation. Their blood is a rare and wondrous substance in the world, capable of regenerating flesh from withered bones and bringing the dying back to life; it can preserve youthful beauty and prevent the traces of time; and there are even ethereal legends that if their blood is mixed with the Ice Jade Powder of Qilin Mountain, one might glimpse the path to immortality!
However, such miraculous powers are a curse upon the witch women themselves, a wound that clings to their bones. Therefore, they must be extremely careful and avoid drawing blood lightly. Minor injuries may be treated with rare wild spiritual roots to make pills to aid healing; but if someone covets their essence and forcibly takes a large amount of it, at best their vital energy will be severely damaged, leaving them emaciated and in a long slumber; at worst, their very essence will be depleted, their spirit weakened, and their body destroyed, beyond any hope of recovery!
As for the witchcraft it inherits, it is a forbidden art that defies fate. Any attempt to use it will inevitably result in a curse from the witch god, causing the caster to age rapidly, be plagued by illness, and have their life force as fragile as a candle in the wind, with a short lifespan. Even after death, the soul will not be freed, forever condemned to the abyss, with no hope of reincarnation!
Such earth-shattering secrets are sealed deep within the royal archives, and only those of imperial lineage can glimpse even a fraction of them. Ordinary people, even seasoned veterans of the martial world and members of prominent families, rarely hear of their details.
Thinking of this, the smile on Pei Yun's lips suddenly turned into a chilling, contemptuous look. Xi Yu... how did he know? The answer couldn't be simpler.
They dared to harbor remnants of the Southern Frontier right under his nose, and even worse, they hid the bloodline of the Witch Clan!
A cold glint flashed in his deep eyes, like an ice needle dipped in deadly poison, piercing through the warm exterior. A chilling killing intent, like a venomous snake, had already coiled around his heart, silently tightening its grip.
At dawn the next day, the green-curtained carriage slowly set off, its wheels crunching over the damp morning dew on the official road. Yunwu was left at Qiyun Pavilion to recuperate, while she accompanied Pei Yun on his journey to the Southern Frontier.
Unlike before, she was now sharing a carriage with Pei Yun. Inside the cramped carriage, the delicate scent of precious agarwood wafted gently, which should have been calming, but instead only made Xi Xiao feel more and more uneasy. She turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on the intricate brocade patterns on the carriage wall, as if trying to count every single gold and silver thread.
Aside from her senior brother, who had been with her since childhood, when had she ever been alone in a room with another man like this? She even deliberately kept her breathing shallow, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the fine stitches on her cuffs.
In contrast, Pei Yun appeared calm and composed, like a gentle breeze and a bright moon. He leaned against a soft pillow, holding a yellowed ancient book in his hand, his gaze lowered and his expression focused, as if the person sitting beside him was just an ordinary accompanying physician, no different from the small sandalwood table and gilded incense burner in the carriage.
Outside the car window, He Ying's ever-present gaze would occasionally pierce through the thin gauze curtains, coldly sweeping in. Caught between internal and external pressures, Xi Xiao felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, and even the soft brocade cushions seemed to sprout countless thorns.
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