"Who are they?" Xu Yuehuai interrupted the servant, already having some guesses in her mind.
The servant hesitated for a moment, then finally mustered his courage: "It's...it's the fake doctor's men. They told me to monitor you, to find an opportunity...to find an opportunity..."
"Looking for an opportunity to strike at me, is that it?" Xu Yuehuai picked up the conversation, her tone becoming colder.
"My lord, I really don't want to do this, please believe me!" The servant kowtowed repeatedly, his eyes filled with fear and pleading.
Xu Yuehuai decided to seize this opportunity. He helped the servant up and persuaded him, "Are you willing to help me? Let's expose the true face of the fake ghost doctor together."
The servant nodded emphatically upon hearing this, "I will do as you say!"
Everything within this mansion is quietly changing.
The next morning, inside the mansion, after a series of light footsteps, an exquisitely crafted invitation quietly landed on the mysterious table of the fake ghost doctor. The invitation was sincere, inviting him to the royal hunting grounds on the outskirts of the city to enjoy the beauty of autumn and to have fun exchanging archery skills.
The fake ghost doctor gently picked up the invitation, a smile playing on his lips that seemed to indicate he already knew everything. He turned to Xu Yuehuai, who was waiting quietly to the side, and said softly, "Daidai, come with me. Perhaps this trip will bring unexpected gains."
Upon arriving at the hunting grounds, the autumn breeze, carrying a cool and free spirit, rustled through the lush trees.
Dressed in a dazzling robe, as radiant as the sun, Prince Wuling stood in the center of the shooting range. Upon seeing the fake Ghost Doctor and Xu Yuehuai slowly enter, he immediately went forward to greet them, his words filled with undisguised enthusiasm and anticipation: "Ghost Doctor, young friend, your arrival has truly added much color to this autumn hunt."
After a warm exchange of pleasantries, the Prince of Wuling suggested a demonstration of archery to liven things up. The fake Ghost Doctor smiled and nodded, then gestured for Xu Yuehuai to join him on the field.
The arrows drew graceful arcs in the air, as dazzling as rainbows.
When it was Xu Yuehuai's turn, she deliberately flicked her wrist, causing the arrow to miss the bullseye, which drew whispers from the onlookers.
"I never imagined he was just a pretty face with no substance."
"I don't think he's very useful, so why would the Ghost Doctor keep him by his side?"
"Wow, that's some serious archery skill! Hahaha!"
However, instead of being annoyed, the Prince of Wuling laughed and said, "Silly little friend, your archery skills still need to be honed, but your courage is commendable. You will surely become a great man in the future."
Suddenly, a massive black bear, like a giant spirit from the shadows, burst forth from the depths of the dense forest, its target locked on the fake ghost doctor.
At that moment, the air seemed to freeze, and a tense atmosphere permeated every corner.
Xu Yuehuai quickly nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring taut, as if the crisis could be resolved in the next second.
However, just as she was about to release the arrow, she subtly twisted her wrist, and the arrow streaked through the air in an incredible trajectory, whistling past the black bear's ear. This action not only failed to solve the problem, but seemed to have angered the furious beast, whose roar was deafening.
"Die, you beast!" the fake ghost doctor shouted, his figure as elusive as a ghost. He deftly sidestepped the black bear's fierce attack, dodging the fatal blow.
At the same time, the longsword in his hand was drawn like lightning at dawn. With a flash of light and a muffled roar, the black bear's massive body crashed to the ground, blood gushing out like a fountain and splattering onto the surrounding withered leaves. The scene was shocking and chilling.
The Prince of Wuling and everyone else were shocked by this sudden scene and praised the fake ghost doctor's superb martial arts skills.
"What an astonishing blow!" King Wuling exclaimed, his eyes filled with admiration.
Xu Yuehuai observed silently from the side, secretly reminding herself that she needed to act cautiously.
After the hunt, to express his apology and gratitude, the King of Wuling specially invited the fake ghost doctor to bathe and relax in the royal hot springs outside the city.
As the group approached the hot spring, Xu Yuehuai suddenly clutched her abdomen, her face contorted in pain: "Master, I... I'm suddenly experiencing unbearable abdominal pain, and I'm afraid I won't be able to bathe with you."
The fake doctor seemed to see through Xu Yuehuai's disguise, but did not expose him. He simply nodded and said calmly, "In that case, you should rest here. I will be back soon."
After saying this, he and the Prince of Wuling entered the hot spring, leaving Xu Yuehuai behind. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he had once again cleverly avoided a situation that would expose his identity.
Xu Yuehuai sat on the bluestone by the hot spring, gazing at the hazy mountain scenery in the distance. She wanted to leave quickly, but unexpectedly, she waited for a long time until the afterglow of the setting sun filled the forest. The golden light and the rising steam from the hot spring intertwined to create a dreamlike picture, and she even felt a little drowsy.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, a soft sound of water broke the surrounding tranquility. She opened her eyes abruptly and walked over. She saw that only the fake ghost doctor remained in the hot spring. He closed his eyes to rest, seemingly completely immersed in this rare moment of peace.
"Come here and give me a massage," the fake doctor's voice suddenly rang out.
Xu Yuehuai could only approach slowly and step gently into the hot spring. The water temperature was just right, carrying a natural warmth that dispelled the chill she had just felt.
She stood behind the fake doctor and began massaging his shoulders and neck.
The fake doctor slightly opened his eyes and sighed softly.
Xu Yuehuai was secretly on guard. She knew that her every move was being watched by the fake ghost doctor, but she also knew that compliance and compromise at this moment might buy her more time and opportunities.
The steam from the hot spring continued to rise, blurring the view and the boundaries of time.
A delicate balance seems to have formed between Xu Yuehuai and the fake ghost doctor, a complex relationship that is both wary of each other and interdependent.
But eventually, this relationship will inevitably break down.
The fake ghost doctor slowly emerged from the misty hot spring, his eyes deep and unfathomable. He softly said, "Go back," and as he turned away, the threads of fate quietly intertwined. Xu Yuehuai slipped and fell, splashing water everywhere, instantly soaking her from head to toe.
This scene, though sudden, unexpectedly painted a picture that was hard to look away from.
Xu Yuehuai's wet clothes clung to her skin, and her unintentionally revealed graceful figure appeared both awkward and alluring under the interplay of moonlight and water.
The fake doctor's gaze froze instantly, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "So, you're a woman."
Xu Yuehua tried to cover herself with her hands, wanting to escape this sudden exposure and scrutiny, but with water stains everywhere, she could not escape.
"Want to hide?" The fake ghost doctor's voice rang out again, but without the previous playfulness, replaced by an elusive gentleness.
He approached slowly, making no further intrusion, but simply standing there quietly, as if waiting for an explanation or a decision.
At this moment, everything around them became background, leaving only the subtle tension between the two.
Xu Yuehuai finally mustered up her courage and looked up at the fake ghost doctor.
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