Chapter 40: What is there to be afraid of? In chains, without weapons,...
Lu Guiyan nodded slightly, his fingers caressing the long sword beside him. After a moment of silence, he finally turned around and said, "I've already given it to you. I never intended to take it back."
Before he finished speaking, a sneer suddenly rang out from the corridor. Qing Guiyu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Li Guicheng, one of the two envoys of the Law Enforcement Hall, standing in the night, holding an iron rod. His face was gloomy, and his eyes flashed with a cold light. It was the senior brother who had chased him that day and was poisoned by the medicine hidden in the flute.
"You sneaked into the room in the middle of the night, acting so stealthy. I see that in the years since you were expelled from Medicine King Valley, you've not only learned witchcraft, but you've also become quite proficient in the ways of these thieves." Li Guicheng taunted her, "Such behavior truly discredits the reputation of Medicine King Valley."
When they met the enemy in the Yulan formation that day, Qing Guiyu had been courteous. But since the two had already fought and had offended him, he was now silent and retorted with ridicule.
"If Senior Brother Li truly wants to make Medicine King Valley famous, there's no need for such underhanded actions. Why not throw away this iron ruler and ask Master to teach you some sword techniques? With your talent, you'll surely become a household name. Wouldn't that be great?"
As she spoke, she jumped down from the eaves, her clothes fluttering and the bamboo flute twirled in her hands.
This remark hit Li Guicheng's sore spot. Back then, Lu Guiyan of Yaowang Valley was famous for his swordsmanship, and the reputation of "Bai Yi Wuwang" was growing. At that time, Li Guicheng had indeed privately asked Han Shu for advice on swordsmanship.
However, the martial arts taught in Yaowang Valley are different from those of other schools. Its martial arts system is very complex and can be said to be the most complex in the martial arts world.
This has to start with the founder of the sect, Medicine King. Back then, old Mr. Medicine King was known for his divine medical skills. Not to mention the Black and White Impermanence who capture souls and take lives, even the King of Hell had to give him some respect.
This medical expert was, however, obsessed with martial arts. He was respected and sought help from the people of Jianghu, knowing his idiosyncrasies. He would often offer his unique skills to those whose lives were on the line in exchange for medical treatment.
However, although the old man was an expert in medicine, his talent in martial arts was mediocre. Even after decades of hard training, he still could not reach the pinnacle.
In his later years, when he lived in seclusion in Yaowang Valley, he saw that the martial arts secrets he had collected throughout his life had piled up like a mountain, but no one was inheriting them. He thought it would be a pity if they were buried forever. So when he treated heroes in the martial arts world, he often took them under his wing, teaching them both medical skills and martial arts.
Over the years, Yaowang Valley gradually became a well-known martial arts school.
Since the Medicine King first set this precedent, all subsequent generations have followed it. Therefore, there are still many disciples in the valley who come to learn martial arts from him, and the martial arts they learn are diverse and the moves are even more bizarre.
When people in the martial arts world talk about Yaowang Valley, who wouldn't praise its superb medical skills? But when it comes to martial arts, while they admire its vast secret manuals and its eclectic collection of strengths from various schools, they also criticize its complexity and impurities, making it difficult for it to achieve great success.
Senior Brother Li of Yaowang Valley's Law Enforcement Hall was also admitted to the valley as a young adult. At that time, Qing Guiyu, at the tender age of fifteen, was accepted as a closed disciple by the Valley Master, who allowed him to cultivate in seclusion within the valley.
She was ranked after Lu Guiyan, and was a popular figure among the younger disciples. By chance, she caught his eye at that moment, and he envied her for years. This grudge was a long one.
"Poisonous witch," Li Guicheng said angrily, "I can't rely on you to maintain the reputation of Medicine King Valley!"
He grew angrier and angrier as he spoke, his words becoming increasingly unpleasant to the ears. Qing Guiyu caught a glimpse of Lu Guiyan's eyes, and fearing he might suddenly attack, her heart tightened as she pressed the bamboo flute.
Fortunately, at this moment, the door of the Jade Pavilion creaked open.
Mo Guisheng stepped out of the doorway and was startled to see the crowd. Then, seeing Qing Guiyu, she exclaimed, "Huh?" with a look of surprise on her face. She looked Qing Guiyu up and down, frowning slightly as she said, "I was just about to look for you. How come you're already here?"
She looked at the door of the Jade Pavilion and frowned as she continued,
"That Young Master Jin Sheng just asked me to come look for you." Mo Guisheng turned his head and thought about it carefully. "Is there really such a thing as the ability to predict the future?"
She looked at Qing Guiyu, nodded, and said, "He said he wants to see you."
Li Guicheng brushed off his clothes and sneered, "This man claims to be the strategist, do you believe what he says?"
Mo Guisheng sighed, "The teachers have warned us long ago that he is very cunning and deceitful. But I see that he is in great pain, so it doesn't seem like he is faking it. If something goes wrong, how can I explain it to the elders? Besides..." At this point, she suddenly paused, and a hint of hesitation appeared between her brows.
"What's more?" Li Guicheng asked.
Mo Guisheng looked at Qing Guiyu with a complicated look, and finally whispered,
"He said... the pain from the poison is excruciating. Junior Sister Qing will definitely be distressed. Seeing him so miserable and pitiful, she will surely come to visit him as promised."
Qing Guiyu knew clearly in his heart that what Chen Juansheng was suffering from was not the love poison, but probably the cold poison.
Yesterday, I fought with Elder Meng in front of the mountain gate. Although it seemed that I won easily, the cold marrow skill was activated, and the cold poison may have spread several layers deeper.
But after Mo Guisheng mentioned this, she suddenly remembered that Chen Juansheng had indeed said in the medicine house the day before that if he felt sorry for him, he would ask her to come and see him.
Now that I think about it, it's almost like a code. He clearly wasn't the one who murdered Master, yet he chose to come alone the next day and confess publicly. Judging by Young Master Jin Sheng's actions and the conspiracy behind this, perhaps Qing Guiyu is the key to this situation.
Although she didn't know what Young Master Jin Sheng was planning, she was certain that Shen Juansheng didn't want to die. So she nodded, "I'll go take a look," and then turned to Lu Guiyan and said, "Little Brother, don't worry about me."
Qing Guiyu hurriedly took a few steps forward and reached out to push open the door of the jade storage pavilion.
The Jade Pavilion had four entrances and four halls, with long corridors winding around it. But today, the further she went, the darker it got, with few lights around. Fortunately, she had put in the effort in her early years and was very familiar with the structure.
When she reached the door of the house, it was almost pitch dark. She walked into the room and the door opened easily without being locked carefully.
When Qing Guiyu entered the room, she first smelled a bitter fragrance. There was also a hint of rusty sweetness in the fragrance. She became suspicious and looked around. She saw that the room was covered with curtains and the furnishings were very exquisite.
A celadon tea set sat on a rosewood table, a silver-embroidered gauze curtain hung by the window, and even the floor was covered with a cloud-patterned brocade rug. The disciples of Medicine King Valley were known for their austerity and frugality. Although he was imprisoned, they, out of consideration for his status, made his accommodations more comfortable than the embroidery rooms of wealthy young ladies.
"Miss Qing?" a voice rang out from deep within the curtains, as low and husky as the trembling strings of a harp. Qing Guiyu looked in the direction of the voice and saw only a faint silhouette behind the layers of gauze. The young man in black robes spoke with a tone of anticipation, yet seemed to be suppressing something. "Come closer... I'm... not feeling well right now."
It wasn't like I was treating him badly. Qing Guiyu thought to himself that this room was much more refined than Chen Juansheng's empty study room at the Zhongzhou City Inn, which had only a table and a chair and was bare on all four walls.
As she was thinking this, she was interrupted by the sound of metal.
When he saw it clearly, he was dumbfounded and took two steps back in shock, forcing himself to suppress the idea for a moment.
It's more than just neglect. Who came up with this idea?
Who dared to do this to him? How could he be willing to endure it?
Those shadows hanging from the ceiling were not just curtains, they also concealed chains.
A pale hand pulled aside the curtain, and chains rattled. Young Master Jin Sheng leaned against the edge, dark iron chains entwined around his slender body like venomous snakes, making him look like a sacrificial offering. The thickest chain clung to his neck, and the dark iron and silver chains snaked down from his neck, outlining his collarbone against the edge of his thin black clothes.
The long chain was tightly wrapped around his wrists, leaving red marks on his wrist bones as he breathed.
The chain was very short, and judging by his appearance, he could hardly even stand up. He was simply trapped in this small space.
"This one?" Chen Juansheng lowered his head to look at the shackles on his body, raised the corners of his eyes slightly, and shook his wrists nonchalantly. The chains immediately made a crisp sound of metal, and the bound fingertips turned a sickly pale blue due to poor blood flow.
Qing Guiyu examined the chains carefully. They were intricately tied around the young man's body, wrapping around his neck and waist, ensuring he couldn't move much without actually injuring his vital parts. The direction of each chain seemed calculated.
Shen Jiansheng suddenly chuckled, and the chains rustled with his trembling breaths.
"I think your fellow disciples are a little afraid of me. Teaching them this method will make them feel more at ease."
Qing Guiyu was speechless for a moment. Fearing him was perfectly legitimate. Young Master Jinsheng's reputation spread far and wide. Just now, he had shattered Elder Meng's sword with his cold silk at the mountain gate. Who among the valley disciples who came to look after him wouldn't be afraid of him?
Although he wasn't in such excruciating pain as Mo Guisheng had said, he did seem to be in some real pain, and even his speech was not as coherent as usual. His pale face flushed unnaturally, and the needle mark at the end of his eye looked as bright as blood. His Adam's apple was above the chain, rolling up and down as he spoke. He clenched his hand that was pulled by the thin chain and said,
"But if so,"
Shen Jiansheng suddenly turned around and coughed, his shoulders shaking in the chains. When his breathing calmed down a bit, he raised his eyelashes, his eyes moist with pain, through the messy hair, cast a shadow on her, his trembling eyelashes casting a shadow.
"Miss Qing is also afraid of me... I really don't know what to do."
"Chen Juansheng isn't a deity either." Young Master Jinsheng raised his hand in the darkness, and the chains clattered softly. Then he leaned slightly toward her, his long, black, silky hair falling, tangling with the cold, gleaming chains.
He chuckled, his breath a little unsteady, and it was as if every word was rubbed against an iron chain, leaving it hoarse with traces of rust and blood.
"...With chains all over my body and no weapons in my hands, how can I hurt anyone?"
Young Master Jinsheng leaned his head back, his hands on the edge of the couch, and spoke as if asking a question, but his tone was almost seductive.
The chain slid down his shoulders as he lowered his head, revealing a few red marks. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and his voice was soft with a hint of self-mockery as he apologized.
"But like this...it's much uglier. I'm afraid Miss Qing will dislike it."
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