Chapter 266 - 266: Two Sides (1)
Just after midnight…
The sudden arrival of soldiers turned the originally quiet White Millet Town into a mess. Only a large group of soldiers patrolling the streets and alleys were left. The Jianghu people who hadn’t had time to escape were tied up with ropes and squatting on the ground, awaiting investigation.
A raid had occurred on Grasping Moon Alley. The residences of the three major families had already been controlled, and the remaining disciples of the Grasping Moon Tower were all gathered in a courtyard for supervision.
The civilians of White Millet Town entered a state of martial law under the raid of the soldiers. Their doors and windows were tightly shut, and they stayed at home. Other than a few barks, there was no sound.
In an inn at the corner of the town, Ye Jingtang took the Black Office’s waist token and sent away the officers and soldiers who had come to search. After closing the inn door, he went to the second floor.
Suddenly, there was a military disaster. Even the innkeeper ran away, and there was no one else in the small inn.
Ye Jingtang arrived at a room on the second floor and stood in front of the window. He looked at the distant mountains and listened to the movements in the room next door.
In the room next door, it was much busier. A few candles were placed on the table, illuminating every corner of the room.
Daoist Xuanji, who was wearing a snow-colored dress, was lying on the bed. Her cheek pressed against the pillow, facing outward. Her closed eyes were calm and gentle, and her face was slightly red. She wasn’t moving.
Luo Ning, who was wearing a constable’s robe and covering her face tightly, was sitting in front of Daoist Xuanji and carefully checking her pulse. There was obvious heartache and concern in her eyes.
Pei Xiangjun didn’t hide her face. She walked in with a basin of hot water and placed it beside the bed. She asked gently, “How is she?”
Afraid that Daoist Xuanji would suddenly wake up and discover her, Luo Ning kept her voice low. “After taking the White Emperor Pill, her body’s condition has recovered a little… This little thief used the Soul Separating Needle. It will hinder the circulation of qi and blood. We have to take out the needle first.”
The Soul Separating Needle was so thin that no wound could be seen after it pierced into the flesh. Moreover, the poison stimulated the muscles to tighten. Forcefully pulling it out would damage the meridians and leave internal injuries. Once a martial artist was stabbed in an important acupoint, no matter how powerful they were, they would have to surrender obediently.
Ye Jingtang wasn’t ruthless and stabbed her butt. It could only restrain her, but it was still troublesome to remove it.
Luo Ning first gave Daoist Xuanji a matching antidote to relieve the poison of the Soul Separating Needle. Then she flipped Daoist Xuanji onto her side and untied her sash.
Daoist Xuanji was wearing a snow-white long dress. Only the hem of the skirt and embroidered shoes were adorned with a few plum blossom petals. The originally spotless white dress had a few small holes at the hem and some stains because of her fall from the treetop. But overall, it was still in good condition.
It was hot in June, so Daoist Xuanji didn’t wear many clothes. Under her white dress were an undergarment and thin white pants. When Pei Xiangjun saw the white clothes, surprise flashed across her eyes. “Daoist Xuanji is an otherworldly expert. I didn’t expect her to wear such smallclothes…”
Luo Ning was not surprised by this. After all, she had long known Daoist Xuanji’s personality. She was more immortal-like than her in the outside world, but in private, she was a drunkard who could do anything. “She’s an expert who has attained the Dao. How can she be restricted by the rules of the mortal world?”
Luo Ning explained for her old friend and continued working.
Pei Xiangjun didn’t stare at first, but while sitting in front, she noticed something from the corner of her eye. She tilted her head slightly and sized Daoist Xuanji up. “Eh- Did she shave herself or…”
Luo Ning had lived with Daoist Xuanji and Xue Baijin for a period of time and knew some small secrets that no one else in the world knew. She explained, “According to the cult master, when a girl is three years old, if she starts soaking in medicinal baths and practicing internal energy to build her foundation, when she grows up, she will most likely be tall, have a well-proportioned figure, and have fair skin. But some girls are too talented and too diligent. Before they reach the age of eleven or twelve, they have already opened all the meridians in their bodies, so they might become naturally bald there…”
Pei Xiangjun was skeptical and subconsciously glanced down. “There’s such a matter? I have the posture of the Eight Chiefs…”
“It’s just possible. It varies from person to person. Not everyone with good talent will be hairless… Besides, this isn’t a good thing. You look like a little girl. It’s embarrassing to be seen by others…”
Pei Xiangjun blinked her almond-shaped eyes. Perhaps it was the first time she had seen it, so she was curious and wanted to touch it with her fingers. But just as she reached out halfway, Luo Ning patted her hand. “If you can’t help, get out. Don’t cause trouble here!”
Pei Xiangjun retracted her hand. “I’m just curious. I’m a woman. I won’t touch randomly…”
Luo Ning gently massaged Daoist Xuanji. After her muscles that had been stimulated by the poison completely relaxed under the effects of the antidote, she pulled out the golden needle and carefully checked Daoist Xuanji’s pulse. Seeing that Daoist Xuanji’s body was beginning to recover rapidly, she breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re still curious… Do you want to become like this too?”
“Eh~? What nonsense are you saying…”
At the same time, at the window next door…
Ye Jingtang stood with his hands behind his back and looked at the chaotic town. His expression was cold as he frowned in deep thought, seemingly concerned about the country and the people.
But the two rooms were only separated by a wooden wall. The two women didn’t treat him as an outsider at all when they spoke. It was really difficult not to hear them.
Forced to gain new knowledge, Ye Jingtang didn’t know what to say. He could only suppress the distracting thoughts in his mind and try his best to pretend not to hear anything.
After he waited at the window for a long time, the rustling in the room next door quieted down. Then footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Thump, thump!
Creak-
The door opened, and Pei Xiangjun walked into the room.
From morning until now, she had been constantly running around and putting in 120% of her energy. She had exhausted too much energy and stamina. Her face was clearly tired. After closing the door, she even yawned and stretched. “Hmm- Eh?!”
But before she could finish stretching, Pei Xiangjun felt an itch on her waist.
The sudden touch made her body shrink. She hurriedly turned around and looked at Ye Jingtang, who had silently touched her back. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in annoyance. “What are you doing? How rude…”
Ye Jingtang looked at Third Lady, who put on the airs of an elder, and raised his hand to help tidy up her hair. “What’s the situation over there?”
With the door behind her and Ye Jingtang in front, Pei Xiangjun had to raise her head to look at him. She felt a little strange and avoided his gaze. “Daoist Xuanji is fine. Her body is very good, and she’ll probably recover tomorrow morning. Has the bird returned?”
“Not yet. Bai Siming was probably shocked by the fight and didn’t go to the Prince of Wu’s lair…”
Ye Jingtang continued to help tidy up Third Lady’s hair. Seeing that her face was red and she actually looked a little uneasy, he lowered his hand. “It’s getting late. Third Lady, have a good rest. I’ll keep watch.”
Pei Xiangjun smoothed her hair and sighed softly. “I want to rest. But Ning’er is afraid of being discovered by Daoist Xuanji, so she wants to hide outside. You have to guard here to prevent anything from happening to Daoist Xuanji. I can’t follow you and leave her alone outside. With her lousy martial arts skills…”
“Who are you saying has lousy martial arts skills?”
Squeak!
As they were talking, the door was pushed open, and Luo Ning, who was covered up tightly, walked in and raised her hand to pat Third Lady’s butt.
Ye Jingtang grabbed Ning’er’s hand and tried to smooth things over. “The town is in chaos now. How can I be at ease if you wait outside alone? It’s safer to let Third Lady follow you. You guys stay at the inn at the end of the street. Don’t run around.”
Luo Ning knew that there were many experts in Wu Province recently. She felt a little guilty staying far away, but she was also a little worried. She glanced at Ye Jingtang. “Daoist Xuanji is unconscious. You…”
?
Ye Jingtang spread his hands slightly, speechless.
Luo Ning thought about it and felt that the little thief had always been openly frivolous when women were awake. He really wasn’t interested in taking advantage of unconscious women. After thinking about it, she didn’t say much and changed the topic. “Do… do you need to recuperate?”
Ye Jingtang really wanted to recuperate, but Daoist Xuanji was right beside him. If she woke up halfway through his recuperation, there would be a huge problem. He shook his head and smiled. “Let’s talk tomorrow.”
Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun didn’t say anything else when they heard this. After getting their belongings, they left together.
Ye Jingtang watched the two of them enter an inn at the end of the street from the window. After Pei Xiangjun waved at the window, he raised his hand and waved, signaling the two of them to rest early.
Then he sat cross-legged on the bed with his long saber placed across his knees.. He listened to any movement next door and waited for Daoist Xuanji to wake up…