Unwilling to give up, she decided to continue exploring this labyrinthine palace. Inadvertently, she discovered a secluded courtyard where several men in black were busily carrying heavy boxes, from which a faint blue light emanated—the unique luster of crystals.
"What are they trying to do?" Xu Yuehuai then quietly followed behind them.
As they went deeper, Xu Yuehuai witnessed the crystals being sent into a secret chamber. Then, amidst the firelight and the sound of forging, weapons gleaming with a cold light were crafted.
Shocked, she secretly took a weapon when no one was looking and decided to go outside to find out what was going on.
Under the moonlight, Xu Yuehuai found a patch of grass, gently swung her weapon, and the grass and trees instantly withered wherever the sword tip touched, as if all their vitality had been sucked away.
This scene horrified Xu Yuehuai!
"This weapon... is so poisonous!"
Just as she was about to take a closer look, some subtle noises alerted her.
Xu Yuehuai quickly disappeared into the shadows. A man hurried over, dug a hole under a tree, and buried a black crystal inside. The crystal emitted a faint black light, exuding an ominous aura.
After the man left, Xu Yuehuai cautiously stepped forward and gently touched the crystal with a branch. The branch instantly ignited and turned into a wisp of green smoke.
"How much poison must this be!" Xu Yuehua muttered to herself. She quickly wrapped the crystal in a cloth she carried with her and threw it into the wilderness far from the crowds, fearing that it would continue to harm innocent people.
As dawn broke, Xu Yuehuai knew she had to return as soon as possible. She rushed back to her residence, only to find the fake ghost doctor standing at the door, seemingly having anticipated her return.
"Stop hiding, I know you've been following me," the fake ghost doctor said coldly.
Xu Yuehuai forced herself to remain calm: "I was afraid you would be in danger, so I followed you."
The fake ghost doctor sneered repeatedly: "Do you think I'd believe that?"
Xu Yuehuai remained silent, knowing that any explanation would be futile.
"Go in." The fake ghost doctor turned and entered the mansion, and Xu Yuehuai followed helplessly.
Upon entering the house, the fake doctor suddenly stopped, turned around, and ordered, "Take off your outer clothes; I need to examine you."
Xu Yuehuai was forced to slowly take off her coat, secretly relieved that those dangerous items had been properly disposed of and were not carried with her.
After carefully searching and confirming that everything was correct, the fake doctor said calmly, "Remember, there are some things you shouldn't know."
Xu Yuehuai lowered her head; she understood that remaining silent was often the wisest choice.
Night falls once more, and the secrets of those crystals and weapons are swallowed by the endless darkness, seemingly waiting for someone else to uncover the truth behind them.
"Eat this."
"Remember, be obedient." The fake doctor's voice was like a cold winter wind, piercing straight to the heart.
He toyed with a seemingly ordinary bottle of medicine in his hand, his eyes gleaming with ill intent.
Xu Yuehuai took the bottle of medicine, and with trembling hands opened it. A pungent smell instantly filled the air.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then drank the medicine in one gulp. Soon, a sharp pain rose from her lower abdomen and swept through her body like a tidal wave. She clutched her chest abruptly, and blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, dripping onto the cold ground and blooming into eerie flowers.
This poison, perhaps, cannot be cured by anyone else without a true ghost doctor.
Xu Yuehuai's consciousness gradually blurred, and everything before her eyes began to distort. She used her last strength to walk back to her room, and as her consciousness sank, she fell into endless darkness.
When a ray of sunlight shone on Xu Yuehuai's pale face, she slowly opened her eyes. Although the pain had subsided, the weakness and unease lingered.
She knew that she was under the control of the fake doctor's poison, and that the monthly torment was a fate she could not escape.
In order to survive, Xu Yuehuai had to force herself to go into the kitchen and start preparing dishes.
Although her hands trembled, her movements remained remarkably skillful, each dish embodying her yearning for life and her indomitable spirit. As the plates of delicious-looking dishes were laid out, she set off for the fake doctor's residence.
"Very good, take this antidote first." The fake ghost doctor smiled smugly when he saw Xu Yuehuai, as if everything was under his control.
Xu Yuehuai took the antidote and pretended to swallow it without hesitation, but secretly hid it under her tongue, waiting to deal with it when the other party was not paying attention.
Leaving the fake ghost doctor's wooden house, Xu Yuehuai strolled into the courtyard, where her gaze was inadvertently drawn to a stone emitting a faint light.
It was a rare crystal, exuding a mysterious aura. It must have been placed here for some other purpose.
So she didn't linger, but simply shook her head and continued on her way.
Arriving at the riverbank, Xu Yuehuai appeared to be admiring the scenery, but in reality, she was secretly observing the movements in the courtyard.
The flowing river reflected her resolute face and her wise eyes. She knew that to escape the control of the fake doctor, she couldn't do it alone; she had to find an opportunity to reveal the truth and seek true redemption.
Xu Yuehuai walked slowly along the riverbank. The river flowed gently, seemingly telling an ancient and long-standing secret. Her gaze inadvertently swept across the water's surface, and an unusual reflection caught her attention.
It was a man dressed in black with a cold face, hiding in the bushes on the shore. His eyes revealed a strong killing intent, and the direction he was staring at was the fake ghost doctor's wooden house.
Xu Yuehuai realized that this might be an opportunity for her to break free from the control of the fake ghost doctor. She took a few steps back without making a sound, found a more secluded spot to hide, and waited to see what would happen.
As night deepened, everything around us was enveloped in a deathly silence.
The assassin could no longer restrain himself and approached the fake doctor's cabin silently, like a ghost.
Xu Yuehuai held her breath, feeling both nervous and expectant.
However, just as the assassin was about to make his move, a dark figure swept across the rooftop and rushed straight at him.
"Who?!" the assassin exclaimed, retreating rapidly while drawing his short blade from his waist, ready to fight.
But the opponent was faster, closing in almost the blink of an eye. The two instantly became entangled in combat, their swords flashing and a bloody battle ensued!
Xu Yuehuai hid in the shadows. Although she did not recognize the man in black who had suddenly appeared, she could tell from his skills that he was no ordinary person.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend!
She decided to wait and see, and then offer her help when the time was right.
The battle was extremely fierce, and the man in black was clearly more skilled, gradually gaining the upper hand.
"call out!"
However, just as the assassin was about to be defeated, he suddenly pulled out a signal flare from his pocket and detonated it.
In an instant, a dazzling light ripped through the sky, followed by the sound of horses' hooves in the distance—reinforcements had arrived!
Seeing this, the man in black intensified his attack, attempting to finish the battle quickly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com