“Xi sister, no need to be shy.
As your elder sister, I can’t help much, but I can at least help you pack your bags.” Shi Cuiyan insisted on stuffing the bundle into Xi Fuhong’s arms, smiling like a smug little cat.
“…Do you think Ah Fu is fleeing a disaster? This is so big and heavy.” Xue Baihua suddenly appeared beside Xi Fuhong, startling her so much that she almost dropped the bundle.
She turned to see the Divine Doctor’s pale face, and couldn’t help but recall the dejected look on the Divine Doctor’s face when she was given the antidote that day.
“Divine Doctor…” Xi Fuhong called out timidly, only to be met with a cold glare from Xue Baihua’s beautiful eyes.
This Ah Fu was really something.
Ever since the Frost Flower poison was cured, she had truly distanced herself from her.
She wasn’t even informed about the discussion last night regarding the trip to Huangcheng Hill, and was only woken up by the noisy Shi Cuiyan early in the morning to learn about the plan from a young servant.
She thought Xi Fuhong was being reckless, agreeing to go with Xiao Qiyu to dig graves in a mass burial site.
Such a place was not only filled with heavy yin energy but also malaria.
Wasn’t she afraid of catching an incurable disease?
“…Ah Fu, have you forgotten that back in Tonghui City, you were too scared to even look at zombies? How come you’re volunteering to go ghost hunting with Xiao Dao Gu now?” Xue Baihua’s sarcastic tone made Xi Fuhong uncomfortable.
Of course, she was afraid of ghosts, but she was even more afraid of Luo Qingcheng.
“Miss Xiao said she would keep me safe…” Xi Fuhong’s voice was small, but everyone present heard it.
“I will definitely protect Miss Xi.” Xiao Qiyu smiled gently at her, causing Xi Fuhong’s ears to heat up.
She just couldn’t resist Xiao Qiyu’s gentleness, even if it was fake, she couldn’t help but be drawn in.
Xue Baihua’s face darkened, and she bit her lip as she pulled Xi Fuhong’s arm, handing her a blue and yellow porcelain bottle: “…I can also keep you safe.
This is Youtang Dan, it can resist miasma and poison.
The Ning Family’s cellar has been sealed for a long time, don’t take it lightly.”
“Th-thank you, Divine Doctor.” Xi Fuhong was flattered, holding the porcelain bottle in her hand, feeling warmth in her chest.
She didn’t expect the Divine Doctor to care about her, and not because of the medicine person relationship.
Unexpectedly, Xue Baihua snorted coldly.
The words “Divine Doctor” coming from Xi Fuhong’s mouth made her very displeased.
She wasn’t doing this as Miao Shou Yan Luo, but simply out of Hua’er’s concern for Ah Fu.
But Ah Fu could never see Hua’er’s kindness towards her, nor understand Hua’er’s affection for her.
“Sister Qi Yu, there’s no time to lose.” Qin Ke Yun looked up at the sky and said seriously.
Xiao Qiyu nodded, swiftly mounted her horse, and Xi Fuhong followed suit, feeling her heart racing with a strong sense of unease swirling in her chest.
She cursed herself for being cowardly and took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
Once Xiao Qiyu saw she was ready, they bid farewell to everyone, and with a flick of the reins, the two horses galloped away.
In the attic, Chen Tanghe looked at Luo Qingcheng, who stood with her hands behind her back.
Her silhouette appeared so lonely.
Clearly a woman, yet she hid her emotions and fears beneath a cold exterior.
Outwardly, she was the only daughter of the Luo Family, the young Luo Da Dangjia at just twenty years old, who had taken on the guise of a demon to avenge her family.
The current Luo Qingcheng had likely lost herself long ago.
“Are you worried, junior sister?” Chen Tanghe stood for a while before asking softly.
Luo Qingcheng only slightly turned her head at his words, so Chen Tanghe couldn’t see her expression.
“Indeed,” she said, looking at the now invisible galloping figures below the window, “I’m worried she’ll play tricks.”
“If you don’t trust Xi Fuhong, why insist on giving her the Black Dragon Tail Ring? If you’re afraid Gui Po will swap the Black Dragon Tail Ring, senior brother can capture Gui Po.
Why use the Black Dragon Ring to keep Xi Fuhong?” Chen Tanghe was puzzled, wanting to know what Luo Qingcheng truly wanted.
What could Xi Fuhong possibly offer her?
Luo Qingcheng closed her eyes, listening to Chen Tanghe’s questioning without any response.
Afraid? There were too many things she feared.
She feared Gui Po tampering with the ring tail, causing them to come up empty-handed.
She feared Xi Fuhong was a spy sent by Gui Po, putting them at a disadvantage.
She feared the Tiger Dragon Cave treasure didn’t contain the Luo Family’s whip manual, and everything would have to start over…
When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with exhaustion.
Years of pursuit and slaughter had made her weary of this life.
“If we can’t find it again…” Luo Qingcheng pursed her lips, the word “give up” stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
Chen Tanghe clenched his fist and sighed, stepping forward to pat Luo Qingcheng’s shoulder.
How much resentment and hope had this frail shoulder carried for the Luo Family? Every time he thought of Luo Qingcheng kneeling before their master and himself, small yet stubborn, he couldn’t help but feel heartache.
“Senior brother spoke too much, junior sister, don’t get stuck in a rut.
The Tiger Dragon Cave is still not found, and the whip manual is still uncertain.” Chen Tanghe raised a smile to comfort her.
He didn’t want to see Luo Qingcheng so helpless.
She was more suited to being the flamboyant, unstoppable Luo Da Dangjia.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qiyu and Xi Fuhong had already arrived at Huangcheng Hill, covered in dust.
Xi Fuhong tightened the reins, following behind Xiao Qiyu, feeling a chill down her spine.
In front of them, as its name suggested, was a completely abandoned city hill, with collapsed houses and exposed bones.
Whenever the wind blew, one could still smell the bloody scent of the malaria outbreak and the heavy casualties.
Though it was daytime, for some reason, dark clouds loomed, with no sign of rain, just a pure, eerie wind.
Xiao Qiyu dismounted and led her horse to a banyan tree, tying the reins to the thick trunk.
Xi Fuhong followed suit, mimicking her actions.
“We’ll wait here until nightfall.” Xiao Qiyu took out a bundle, retrieving five paper talismans.
The yellow paper with red characters looked eerie to Xi Fuhong.
At this moment, Xiao Qiyu drew a small knife, cutting her fingertip, letting the crimson blood drop onto the yellow paper, spreading like a plum blossom.
Xi Fuhong didn’t understand why she did this, so she quietly stood aside and watched.
Xiao Qiyu held the talismans between her index and middle fingers, chanting softly, then suddenly tossed them upward.
The talismans burst into flames mid-air, and almost simultaneously, Xi Fuhong saw Xiao Qiyu’s shadow split into five parts and dart away in the blink of an eye.
“What was that?!” It was her first time seeing such mystical arts, and she was intrigued.
“They’re my little ghosts,” Xiao Qiyu explained gently.
“…G-ghosts?!!” Instantly, her scalp tingled, and her legs went weak, causing her to fall to the ground.
Seeing this, Xiao Qiyu nodded with a smile.
Seeing her so afraid of ghosts, she suddenly wanted to tease her, intending to tell her about the time when she was blind and used a ghost to cover her body.
But the words stopped at her lips.
Because she couldn’t see at the time, she used Xi Fuhong to escape the deep valley, learned about the Baili family’s ancestral grave, and discovered she was in league with Gui Po, leading to…
“Miss Xi, don’t worry,” she said, lowering her eyes and raising a comforting smile, “The resentment here is heavy.
I summoned the little ghosts to block the resentful spirits.
They won’t harm you.
If Miss Xi is still worried, then please wear this.”
Xiao Qiyu took off a thin string from her neck, which didn’t seem special at first glance.
“There seems to be writing on it?” Xi Fuhong examined it closely after taking it, only to find densely packed characters on the string.
Although she couldn’t make out what was written, the craftsmanship was so exquisite that it must be an extraordinary treasure.
“This is a soul-binding string.
As long as you wear it, you don’t have to worry about being possessed by evil spirits.” Xiao Qiyu walked to the side to prepare for meditation.
“You gave me the string, what about you?” If I wear it, won’t Xiao Qiyu be afraid of being entangled by evil spirits?
She closed her eyes to rest, speaking calmly: “It’s fine.”
The first disciple of Bi Xuan Palace, Xiao Qiyu, would she really let ghost spirits possess her?
Hearing Xi Fuhong’s concern, she couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
Was she laughing at her naivety? Or her sincerity?
Sometimes she really couldn’t understand this girl, constantly being used, betrayed, and humiliated.
