Chapter 491— Shameless!
As He Xi was listening to Xi San's report, a grave expression crept onto her face.
By the side, Gu Liufeng raised a cup and lightly drank and sip of tea before smiling and saying, "Their subordinates are truly fast. As long as they're a useless chess piece, they'll be completely and utterly eliminated. It's really ruthless enough, absolute enough!"
Gu Liufeng switched the topic when he saw concern surface in He Xi's eyes. "After passing through this event concerning Murong Manor and Sheng De Hall, I'm afraid that they'll soon know that Genius Doctor Xi is you. Xi San you have too many treasures that cause people to become crazy with longing on your hands, in the future, you have to tread carefully."
He Xi nodded her head, "You can be at ease, I know when I should look after my own hide and when I should press forward and slap faces. If they want the things in my hands, then they should try and see if they have the skills. I want to see if they have the life to come and leave!"
Gu Liufeng laughed, "Sometimes I really don't know where you learned such bizarre words from. Press forward and slap faces… En. Although these words are vulgar, their meaning is just right."
He Xi ignored Gu Liufeng's teasing and looked at Xi San, "Is there any other news?"
Xi San knit his brow and hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying, "There is another piece of news. This subordinate doesn't know whether it's fake or true, but one of Sheng De Hall's young waiters overheard a customer and merchant, who had come from far away, say these things. It's about… The news is about the Ice Fairy Lotus and the King of Hell."
He Xi's eyes dimmed and cold air unconsciously emitted from her body. Still, she lightly laughed and said, "Oh, let me hear it."
"That customer and merchant were saying that around Cang Ming Kingdom and Hao Yue Kingdom it's rumored that the Ice Fairy Lotus treated several martial artists who were infected with an odd poison whilst in Sealed Dragon Domain. Those martial artists, their sects, and family members are all extremely thankful toward the Ice Fairy Lotus. They even named her as "Xuan Nu Ren Doctor". It's heard that because of this matter, the Doctor's Association has even promoted her rank and nowadays, she's the highest ranked doctor in Miluo Continent as a Sixth Rank Doctor."
He Xi was startled when she heard the news. But before she could say anything, Gu Liufeng already erupted into angry words, "Does that black lotus flower fairy still want to save face? Obviously it was you, Xi Yue, who saved people in Hundred Herb Mist. She actually dares to steal all recognition?"
"Has she already forgotten that it was her careless treatment that caused several people to be reduced to puddles of thin blood? How can this woman became shameless to this extent?!"
For a moment Xi San was calm before he suddenly realized that his family's Master's contributions had all been claimed by some other woman and immediately became angered. "What's up with that bullsh*t fairy ah? Why would she falsely claim Young Miss' contributions? Does she want her face anymore? Could it be that those saved martial artists wouldn't refute her claims?"
He Xi coldly laughed and her mouth curved, slowly saying, "That's why this news has spread in mainly Cang Ming kingdom and Hao Yue kingdom. Cang Ming Kingdom is entirely under Feng Family's control, if they wanted to completely control public opinion, it would be an easy thing. And Hao Yue Kingdom is very far away from Jin Ling Kingdom. There were few people from there who came to Sealed Dragon Domain. Even if a few people knew the truth, they wouldn't go against Feng Family just for the sake of some insignificant doctor's innocence."
Xi San became so angered he clenched his fists and furiously said, "Don't tell me we'll just allow that rotten fairy steal Young Miss' contributions? Not only this, but nowadays, there's a wide spread rumor in Cang Ming Kingdom… Rumors that His Majesty King of Hell admires the Ice Fairy Lotus' humanity, benevolence, virtuousness, and kindness. Therefore, he has already intended to bring up marriage with Feng Family. But, His Majesty King of Hell is clearly acts partial toward you…"
Chapter 492— The Best Conclusion
Gu Liufeng couldn't help but sneer at this, “That's right. Anybody who saw that black lotus flower fairy's appearance whilst in Hundred Herb Mist must have been experiencing nausea for half a day afterwards! Nangong Yu would not be wanting to marry her unless his brain has short-circuited!”
Xi San was still feeling aggrieved, “But that rotten fairy has used your contributions to become a sixth ranked doctor, I'm too bitter…”
“Don't worry about it.” He Xi waved her hand and indifferently laughed, “If she wants to jump, let her jump at ease. The higher she climbs, the more tragic her fall will be. As for the Doctor's Association, Sixth Ranked Doctor… He he, would I pay attention to that?”
After saying this, He Xi called Gu Liufeng to follow her as they walked into Gu Youlan's room. The only one left behind was Xi San who was still standing in his original spot. For a while now he had admired his family's Young Miss, so he felt indignant at the injustice that his Young Miss was facing.
When He Xi first entered Gu Youlan's room, the first thing she saw wasn't Gu Youlan sitting on her bed, but instead she saw a lifeless Gu Yidao who was standing upright beside her bed.
Hearing sounds, Gu Youlan turned her head and saw Gu Liufeng entering the room. Happiness quickly flooded her features and a joyful smile appeared, “You've come Liufeng?”
Gu Liufeng immediately quickened his step and rushed over to Gu Youlan's side. He took a nearby pillow and adjusted it behind her so that she could sit more comfortably, “Mother, are you feeling better?”
Gu Youlan merely laughed and didn't respond. Soon after, she picked up a nearby red rope and weaved it into a strange design.
It could be said that the current Gu Youlan had improved but still hadn't.
After passing by this difficult time full of torment, the Cold Food pill addiction Gu Youlan had, had disappeared.
However, even though she was sober, after all was said and done, her mind had still received injuries. She last practically all of her memories and the only person she recognized was Gu Liufeng.
After she lost her memories, she would always take this red rope and weave the same, strange pattern whilst mumbling incoherently under her breath. At times, her face would be full of hurt and concern, but other times, she would have a joyous expression painted on her face.
Gu Liufeng gently brought some of her scattered hairs and brought it back behind her ear. His voice was soft as he said, “Perhaps this is the best conclusion. For Mother, if she could forget all the torment and suffering she experienced these past twenty years, she would be the happiest.”
“Although she can't remember anything now and her wisdom is that of a young child's, compared to the past twenty years, her life now is tranquil and mild.”
“But, my Jiu-jiu is the most unfortunate. For the sake of my Mother and I, he silently endured, fought, and persisted for so long. Yet in the end, he was left with just this one soul.”
He Xi softly sighed, “I'm sorry, I can't recover the people whose souls had been taken away.”
In spite of her words, Gu Liufeng laughed. “I haven't even thanked you and you're actually saying sorry to me? Xi Yue, do you want me to owe you until my next lifetime?”
“Anyway, isn't Jiu-jiu also happy now? He lost his souls, so he now lacks consciousness and desires. He only recognizes Mother, just like a most loyal guard, defending by Mother's side. Perhaps this is what he wanted to most in over twenty years.”
He Xi nodded her head and confirmed Gu Liufeng's theory.
After losing his soul, Gu Yidao was equal to a human body with no wisdom or spirit. He lacked desires and heart. But she didn't expect that after seeing Gu Youlan he would stick so closely by her side. One time, a stray cat hat run in front of Gu Youlan. He had nimbly picked it up and set it down before rushing it away.
Chapter 493— Home of Good Virtue
Even though he lost his soul, he still didn't't forget what he wanted to do the most, which was to protect her and to ensure that she didn't receive any harm.
This attitude made it impossible for He Xi to remain unmoved.
Gu Liufeng looked at his Mother's peaceful face and quietly said, “Actually, Jiu-jiu isn't my biological jiujiu. I don't even know what his previous surname was nor do I know why he changed it to Gu. Even more so, I don't know how he and Mother came to know each other. All I know is that he's been treating me so well ever since I can remember… So well in fact that I resented the Heavens. Why wasn't my biological father Jiu-jiu instead of that brute Murong Feng?”
“But, nowadays everything is good.” Gu Liufeng stood up and the smile on his face no longer had a hint of melancholy, instead, it was calm, “All of my hatred and desires have come to the perfect end. The rest of my time will be dedicated to fulfilling my promise to you, to serve you.”
“Xi Yue, if there's any need to use any of my territory, please, don't hesitate to ask.”
He Xi didn't get to respond to his claim when the sound of Dan Dan's crying voice suddenly rang out from outside the room, “Mother, Mother, that bad old man stole my freshly steamed meat! Wu wu wu… Mother you must take responsibility for Dan Dan ah!”
“Ai ya, you little pig, tell me how you don't speak any reason ah! This dish has clearly been prepared by my clever disciple, what's wrong with me eating a little? And I haven't even talked about you yet. You're so small, how come you eat so much? Where does all the food you eat go? So much delicious food has entered you, a little pig's, stomach, isn't that a waste of resources?”
“Wu wu wu, I dislike this bad old man Mother. Dan Dan doesn't want him to be Mother's master, doesn't want him to steal Dan Dan's food. Mother, is it okay if you drive him away?”
Hearing the big and small voices from nearby and distant places, He Xi felt her temple throbbing at their argument.
She expressionlessly looked at Gu Liufeng as she faintly said, “If you can settle those two annoyances for me, I'd even be fine with calling you Master!”
At first, Gu Liufeng blanked, then he burst into rambunctious laughter, “I didn't expect there to be any problem that would leave you, Xi Yue, helpless ah! I thought you were already omnipotent!”
He Xi blankly stared at him for a moment before lowering her voice to say, “During this period of time, you need to first deal with Good Virtue Hall's matters. Someone also needs to be trained for the matter pertaining Xi Lang and that group of children entering. When Good Virtue Hall's matters are on the right track, hand it over to Shopkeeper Zhou. His temperament is mild, which is the best suited for dealing with children. Following this, I have another very important matter for you.”
He Xi's tone turned serious at this moment and even Gu Liufeng withdrew his smiling expression. Nodding his head, “Xi Yue, rest assured. Those childrens' temperaments are determined and steady, I'm certain that their strength will help you in the future.”
The children rescued from Murong Manor's dungeon mainly consisted of homeless street urchins. They didn't even know their own surnames. They all mutually went by the same few nicknames of, 'Little Wolf', 'Naughty Monkey', and 'Little Stone'.
After they began following He Xi, He Xi changed their surnames to Xi, just like she did with Xi Jia and them. As for their names, they could each think of their own.
At a low price, He Xi had someone buy Murong Manor, which consisted of the burnt buildings that had turned into haunted houses. She named it “Home of Good Virtue” and arranged for those children to learn and train in those houses. The house's nature was analogous to the orphanages in her previous life.
After finishing instructing Gu Liufeng, He Xi turned around to leave the room. Once she exited the door, she was welcomed with a little pink pig throwing itself at her. In one motion, she carried it and held it within her bosom.
Chapter 494— Big Hunting Match
The front of her clothes was instantly soaked with the little fellow's tears. Following his sobs was a magic voice in her head that was tearfully complaining, "Mother, wu wu wu… You must take responsibility of Dan Dan ah. Dan Dan is suffering even more than the white cabbage in the floor [1]…"
You even know of white cabbage?! How many melodramatic dramas did you see then?!
On the outside there was the old man who was drinking, whilst letting out satisfying burps, and mischievously laughing, "Clever disciple, the wine's almost gone. Aren't you going to replenish some for your Master? And that snake soup from this morning was delicious ah, Master wants to eat more tonight!"
Ai… He Xi felt that she would rather eliminate a hundred Murong families and several cloaked persons combined before she would want to deal with these two big and small clowns.
It's been a long time since she's had such days!
What He Xi didn't expect was that she would unexpectedly receive a transmitting slip three days later.
This slip was different from the simple and crude one she had in her hand. The slip was silver and there was a dark red design drawn on by a cinnabar.
The first thing Hexi thought of was the middle aged man from Hundred Herb Mist who bitterly hated Feng Lian Ying and had lost his wife and child.
He Xi channeled her spiritual power into the slip and burned it. Soon after, a male's rough and hoarse voice, carrying anger and resentment, rang out in her ears.
As she listened to the man narrating, a cold smile appeared on He Xi's lips and her eyes shone with a deep profoundness which was faintly discernible.
She quickly asked for Xi San to appear in front of her. Dropping her voice, she said, "Xi San, you need to substitute me to deal with something."
"What matter? Don't hesitate to instruct me."
He Xi took the silver slip that was a third of the way burnt and softly entered a few words inside. Then, she poured spiritual power inside it, allowing it to fly up.
After the silver slip flew away, He Xi slowly told Xi San what task she wanted him to go complete.
The days passed as Dan Dan and the old man unnecessarily quarreled through them. Soon, the date approached for the big hunting match that the invitation from Ouyang Family mentioned.
The only thing that left He Xi gloomy was that when she announced she was to go to the hunting match alone, both Wu Xin and Gu Liufeng firmly opposed her.
Wu Xin's tone was heavy and his voice was full of refusal, "Wangfei, you can't go alone, let this subordinate go with you."
He Xi frowned, "Your injury still hasn't healed yet. If you use a large amount of spiritual power, you'll definitely injure your foundation. When that time comes, you'll quite possibly fall from Nascent Soul Stage down to Gold Core Stage and be unable to even near it again in this lifetime."
Wu Xin anxiously retorted, "But this subordinate's responsibility is to follow and protect Wangfei. How could this subordinate allow Wangfei to take any chances?"
He Xi's entire face was helpless. She looked at Gu Liufeng, whose expression was heavy, then looked at Wu Xin again before sighing, "Aren't you guys too wary? As far as I know, the hunting match is only held every four years and the host is Miluo Continent's Si Da Sect."
"The purpose of the hunting match is to search for gifted martial artists. After, Si Da Sect will recruit some. As for the ones Si Da Sect doesn't deem worthy, the imperial and aristocratic families can recruit them."
"Since they're looking for talent, there's a possibility for injury in the big match. However, it won't be uncalled for and bring harm to someone's life. Let alone for the fact that the big hunting match's competitors can only be at Foundation Establishment Stage, Meridians Stage, and Gold Core Stage. There are also guards at Nascent Soul Stage and some are from the imperial guards. This can be said to be the safest place and experience."
Speaking up to here, He Xi raised her head. Her phoenix eyes were narrowed, but a burning fire could still be seen in them, "I want to become strong. I don't want to be bullied or suppressed by anyone. So how can I escape danger? Escape competition?"
[1] white cabbage in the floor – usually used to represent children who have lost their mother
Chapter 495— Master's Obligation
"If I only hide away in safety and cultivate, I'm afraid that any movement would leave my life in danger and myself defenseless. Would I be any different from a caged canary?"
"Is this the life I, Nalan He Xi, wish to lead? Absolutely not!"
"Let alone the fact that I'm not alone. By my side I have Dan Dan, Little Purple, and Long Long, they can help me." He Xi sighed and her tone became decisive, "Therefore, if we're friends, don't dare to block me again!"
Wu Xin and Gu Liufeng turned to look at each other in dismay and were momentarily speechless.
Wu Xin wanted to go with her, but his injuries still hadn't completely healed.
Gu Liufeng also wanted to go, but he didn't have an invitation and the big hunting match wasn't just an event anyone could enter.
The room quieted down and for a long time, nobody spoke.
Suddenly, loud laughter sounded from outside, "Ai ya ya, really deserving to be my disciple. You're ambitious and have skill, it seems this Master really didn't pick the wrong disciple."
Those words had just been spoken when the door opened with a pop and an old man wearing shabby clothes and reeking of wine appeared in the doorway.
He let out a satisfied hiccup and mischievously laughed, "Although your words are pleasant to hear, your strength is far too weak. If you meet someone at Gold Core Stage you can risk your life. But if you run into someone at Nascent Soul Stage, ze ze ze… That would be far from good. Then, the clever disciple this old man worked so hard to get would be gone. Ai ya ya… Then wouldn't the fine wine and good food be gone… Very bad, very bad! Too bad!"
Wu Xin and Gu Liufeng were in the midst of concern when they heard this old man run over and cause trouble. They couldn't help but become fidgety, "Senior you clearly know He Xi wants to go take risks, yet you aren't thinking of any means to get her to not, how could you only stand here making cynical remarks?"
"Who says this old man is only making cynical remarks?" When the old man heard this, he became unhappy and immediately retorted, "Isn't this old man coming to think of a way? Ai, I say clever disciple, can you just not go participate in that pain of a hunting match? If you leave, then won't this Master be unable to eat fresh dishes for several months?"
He Xi glared at him and coldly stated, "Rest assured, I'll prepare half a year's worth of dishes and fine wine for you. I hope you don't drink yourself to death Master!"
"Ha ha ha… Drinking yourself to death and bursting full of food, isn't that life's best pleasantries? You know your Master's intentions far too well." When the old man heard He Xi's words, he wasn't angry, rather he burst into rambunctious laughter, "Since you're so clever, your Master must also fulfill his obligations…"
After saying this, the old man disappeared from his spot and brought He Xi along with him.
Wu Xin and Gu Liufeng both turned pale with fright from this stunt. They went to follow them, but found that they couldn't even sense the breaths of either of them.
Soon after, they heard the old man's loud laughter ring out from a distant place.
"You two babies, rest assured. I'm only teaching my clever disciple some defensive skills. This will guarantee that she'll return from the big hunting match safe and sound."
—
Ten days had already passed since that old beggar man had brought He Xi away and the big hunting match was just three days away from starting.
Alone, Gu Liufeng sat at the base of Cang Mountain in Bie Courtyard. He blankly stared off into the distance with wrinkled brows whilst drinking.
Suddenly, he felt a frosty wind blowing from behind his back, causing him to shiver from the cold.