A moment later, Xu Yuehuai slowly entered the inner room. She was dressed in simple clothes and had a pretty face.
After bowing, she slowly walked towards the fake doctor, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"My lord, let me give you a massage." Xu Yuehuai deliberately made his technique seem clumsy, his fingertips touching the fake ghost doctor's shoulders and neck, the pressure just right, neither too strong nor ineffective.
The fake doctor slightly opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on Xu Yuehuai for a moment before slowly closing them again, seemingly enjoying the unexpected comfort. "Although the technique is clumsy, it has a unique charm. Continue."
Xu Yuehuai observed the fake doctor's reaction more closely, her fingers moving nimbly between the acupoints, sometimes as gentle as a spring breeze, sometimes as deep as a mountain stream.
The fake doctor's face showed a long-lost look of relaxation, clearly indicating that he was increasingly satisfied with Xu Yuehuai's massage.
"My lord, how are you feeling?" Xu Yuehuai asked, taking the opportunity to speak, her tone tinged with a hint of probing.
“Not bad,” the fake doctor replied briefly, “better than that guy just now.”
Xu Yuehuai maintained a calm smile and continued her "performance".
Every press, every rub, feels like a battle against fate.
Finally, the massage ended. The fake doctor waved his hand gently, indicating that Xu Yuehuai could leave.
Xu Yuehuai breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and slowly left the inner room.
Back in her simple lodgings, Xu Yuehuai, exhausted from a long day, practically collapsed onto the bed.
She closed her eyes, replaying the day's events in her mind, repeatedly processing every detail, trying to find more clues.
"Qi Guze, Pei Hai, I can't come to see you right now. I hope you won't worry too much about me," Xu Yuehuai murmured to herself.
The night was quiet and deep, but Xu Yuehuai tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
As time went by, a subtle undercurrent of trust grew quietly between Xu Yuehuai and the fake ghost doctor, like a gentle stream.
On this day, the fake ghost doctor suddenly announced that he would take Xu Yuehuai out, to an unknown distant place.
Although Xu Yuehuai had doubts, she couldn't suppress her curiosity and followed behind.
The carriage slowly pulled away, raising clouds of dust. Xu Yuehuai was surprised to find that the procession was far larger than she had imagined. Countless carriages stretched out one after another, like a silent dragon weaving through the dense forest paths.
She wondered to herself, "Could these carriages be carrying the crystals we've been painstakingly digging out of the underground mine these past few days? What exactly is the fake ghost doctor up to?"
Upon arriving at the dock, the sea breeze, carrying a salty and damp scent, hit her in the face, and Xu Yuehuai's gaze was drawn to the huge ships moored along the shore.
The bright flags on the ship fluttered in the wind, and the totems embroidered on them were clearly the symbols of the Wuling Kingdom.
This scene shocked Xu Yuehuai. The collusion between the foreign races and the Wuling Kingdom was much deeper than she had imagined.
She clenched her fists and secretly vowed, "I must inform Da Zhou and Ming Yue about this as soon as possible, in case of any unforeseen circumstances."
"What are you thinking about?" The fake ghost doctor's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Xu Yuehuai's thoughts.
She quickly composed herself and replied, "It's nothing, I was just awestruck by the magnificent sight."
The fake doctor smiled knowingly, but didn't press further. He simply said, "Let's go get something to eat and celebrate today's success."
Yixin Restaurant is located opposite the former site of Tianxiang Restaurant, and it is always bustling with customers.
Xu Yuehuai followed the fake ghost doctor into the room, each step feeling like walking on a knife's edge, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Inside the private room, the waiter greeted them warmly, his voice carrying a hint of flattery: "Gentlemen, what would you like to eat? Our dishes are all made according to the old recipes of Tianxianglou, and we guarantee you will be satisfied."
The fake doctor waved his hand casually and laughed, "Then bring out all your signature dishes and let this young man have a taste."
After speaking, his gaze lingered on Xu Yuehuai for a moment, his eyes seemingly holding a thousand unspoken words, yet instantly returning to calm.
Xu Yuehuai forced herself to remain calm, but her heart was in turmoil. Taking advantage of the opportunity to lower her head and straighten her clothes, she subtly observed her surroundings.
Although the new restaurant faces Tianxianglou across the street, its luxurious decoration and attentive service are clearly inferior.
She pondered to herself, "Have the people inside Tianxiang Tower been exposed? Is the fake ghost doctor's action a test?"
During the meal, the fake ghost doctor suddenly spoke, breaking the silence: "Yue Huai, you've been with me for a while now, have you ever thought about your future?"
This sudden question startled Xu Yuehuai. She looked up and met the fake ghost doctor's gloomy eyes.
"I..." Xu Yuehuai hesitated, then could only manage a bitter smile. "I only ask to stay by my master's side and protect myself."
Upon hearing this, the fake doctor said, "Preserving oneself is important, but sometimes, choices are more important than efforts. Have you ever considered that every choice you make could affect the fate of countless people?"
Xu Yuehuai was startled; she realized that there seemed to be a deeper meaning in the fake ghost doctor's words.
Just as she was about to speak, she saw a dark shadow flash past the window. It was the mark she had left, indicating that reinforcements were coming. She felt a little relieved.
The feast quietly unfolded, with waiters moving between the bustling kitchen and the elegant private rooms. Finally, a large table of delicious dishes, full of color, aroma, and flavor, was placed steadily on the table.
Xu Yuehuai parted her lips slightly and smiled at the fake ghost doctor beside her, saying, "Master, please have your meal."
The fake doctor, dressed in a black robe with a cold and stern face, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and tasted it lightly. Then he frowned slightly and said, "I thought there could be many novel delicacies in this world, but I didn't expect them to be even a fraction as good as what you cook yourself. These are really hard to swallow."
After saying that, he turned his gaze to Xu Yuehuai, with a hint of teasing and anticipation, "Why don't you go to the kitchen yourself and prepare a few dishes for me?"
Although Xu Yuehuai was surprised that the other party would make such a request, she quickly agreed: "Alright, please wait a moment, Master."
After speaking, she stood up and walked lightly towards the kitchen, leaving the fake ghost doctor alone to savor the subtle changes in the air.
In the kitchen, Xu Yuehuai's skills were superb, and in no time, several delicious dishes with perfect color, aroma and taste were completed.
She carried the food box back to the private room, but she was secretly on guard, feeling that the atmosphere tonight was somewhat unusual.
Back in the private room, the fake doctor saw the dishes and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes: "Your skills have improved a lot this time. They are truly exquisite and irresistible." He ate heartily, seemingly completely immersed in the delicious food.
Xu Yuehuai responded with a faint smile, but her gaze kept drifting out the window as she pondered her next plan.
She asked softly, "It's getting late, Master. Would you consider returning to your residence to rest?"
The fake ghost doctor put down his chopsticks, his eyes deep: "No rush. We'll stay here tonight and enjoy the night rain in the Jianghu. It's quite a unique experience."
The waiter came at the sound of their voices and arranged a spacious room for them. However, when Xu Yuehuai stepped into the room and saw that there was only a large bed and a small bed next to it, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
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