Xue Baihua’s beautiful eyes slightly opened, making her look even more enchanting.
Xue Baihua, after three years, was still stunning, but her beauty was only skin-deep.
There was no sparkle in her eyes, just an empty shell.
A beauty without a soul is truly dull.
“Miss Xue, what an honor to have you here.” Lu Xiangyin left her jade throne, waving her hand to dismiss the servants.
Xue Baihua looked up, suspiciously eyeing the young Lu Xiangyin.
This person’s aura was strange, but she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.
Lu Xiangyin, unfazed by her scrutinizing gaze, leaned forward, closing the distance between them.
“You’re Xue Baihua, the Divine Doctor Xue, right?” Lu Xiangyin said with a faint smile.
Hearing this, Xue Baihua only responded with a smile.
Seeing her somewhat provocative smile, Lu Xiangyin’s faint smile deepened.
Truly arrogant, even as a prisoner, she showed no fear.
Such an interesting person should indeed be kept around to play with.
She wondered how long Xue Baihua could maintain this pride.
Would she still be able to smile so fearlessly then? Interesting, very interesting.
Lu Xiangyin hooked Xue Baihua’s chin with her hand and said with a smile, “I want you to stay.”
Xue Baihua remained silent at these words.
Stay? On what grounds?
“Of course, I will offer terms in exchange.
I think… the Divine Doctor is not lacking in miraculous elixirs, and gold and silver treasures… the Divine Doctor probably doesn’t care for them either.
So,” Lu Xiangyin released her grip on Xue Baihua’s chin and pointed to her heart, saying ambiguously, “what if it’s Xi Fuhong that the Divine Doctor misses?”
Xue Baihua trembled all over, angrily opening her mouth to bite Lu Xiangyin, but she dodged.
With a stretch of her five fingers, Lu Xiangyin mercilessly grabbed Xue Baihua’s long hair, forcing her to look at her.
“Don’t you want to? Don’t you want to see Xi Fuhong? It’s been three years.
During this time, has the Divine Doctor ever dreamed of the little servant from Fog Valley?” Lu Xiangyin’s every word was heavy, as if tempting, yet like needles piercing Xue Baihua’s heart.
She wanted to break free from Lu Xiangyin’s grip on her hair, but only ended up hurting herself more.
“No rush, the Divine Doctor doesn’t have to decide so quickly,” Lu Xiangyin released her grip and smoothed Xue Baihua’s hair, “Someone! Take the Divine Doctor into the valley.
I want her to meet someone.
By then, the Divine Doctor must make up her mind.
There’s no medicine for regret in this world, and I’m sure the Divine Doctor knows this better than anyone after three years.”
Xue Baihua looked bewildered as she was escorted by two maids to a secret passage.
The dark, long corridor was filled with cold wind, and every step she took felt heavy.
Lu Xiangyin had said she would let her see Xi Fuhong.
Would it be the runaway medicine person Ah Fu from her memory? The one she once longed for but cruelly left to die?
How should she face her? How should she meet her?
A loud rumble echoed through the corridor as the gate opened, revealing a valley surrounded by cliffs, with only a single low house in the valley, particularly conspicuous.
Xue Baihua stood halfway up the cliff.
To reach the valley floor, she would have to rely on the stone steps along the cliff, but her arms were bound, and she was restrained on both sides, so she could only look down by moonlight.
She saw a small courtyard next to the low house, with someone sitting there, someone she had never forgotten.
It was Ah Fu… Xue Baihua murmured in her heart.
It really was the medicine person Ah Fu!!
Suddenly, she struggled violently, opening her mouth to call out, but she couldn’t shout her name.
A wave of shock and helplessness surged in her heart.
She thought she had given up, but seeing her again made her want to kneel.
Ah Fu’s death was her fault! Three years ago, no, even earlier, she should have held onto her, but her pride let Xi Fuhong escape again and again.
In the end, she couldn’t keep her, couldn’t save her, couldn’t… love her.
“So, Divine Doctor, are you willing to stay and assist me?” Lu Xiangyin walked out of the secret passage slowly, standing beside Xue Baihua, looking down at Xi Fuhong sitting outside the house, dozing off.
Even from a distance, her sleeping appearance was clearly visible, her little head nodding, clumsy and cute.
Lu Xiangyin didn’t want to use Xi Fuhong but rather Xue Baihua’s love for Xi Fuhong… or should it be called guilt?
With a satisfied smile, Lu Xiangyin already knew Xue Baihua’s answer.
“As long as the Divine Doctor is willing to assist me, I won’t treat you poorly.
You only need to heal my wounds, and you’ll have an hour each day to see Fu Hong.
This condition should be quite generous, right?” Lu Xiangyin untied the hemp rope binding Xue Baihua’s wrists, her jade fingers lightly brushing over her shoulder, “This is not a dream, it’s real.
Ah Fu is not dead, living peacefully in Wu Feng Valley.
As long as you agree to my request, you can reunite with her.
How about it?”
Xue Baihua trembled all over, not paying attention to Lu Xiangyin’s words, her mind already filled with Ah Fu’s image.
Those old memories kept flooding back, her past attachment to her not diminishing but increasing.
Could she have missed Xi Fuhong during these three years? Saying no would be a lie.
Why deceive herself? Even in her dreams, Xi Fuhong never smiled, always stuck in the moment of sinking into the water, with a desperate face.
Has Ah Fu given up on her? Has she ever thought of her?
How could she miss her? It was because of her… Ah Fu died…
Ah Fu would hate her too much to remember the past fondly.
“Divine Doctor Xue, have you made up your mind?” Lu Xiangyin turned Xue Baihua’s face, forcing her to withdraw her longing gaze.
Consider? Is there even a need to consider?
Xue Baihua mocked herself inwardly.
She wished she could kneel before Ah Fu and beg for her forgiveness.
“It seems the Divine Doctor has made the right choice, but the Divine Doctor is very important to me, so…” Lu Xiangyin gave a signal, and the maid beside her immediately presented a luxurious treasure box.
The carved golden lock opened, and Lu Xiangyin rolled up her sleeve to take out a green pill, “Take it, as a sign of loyalty.”
Xue Baihua took the pill, feeling an urge to laugh.
Cold poison, she sacrificed Xi Fuhong to cure the cold poison, and now for Xi Fuhong, she was forced to take it again.
Ironic, ironic!
To take it or not to take it?
Xue Baihua squinted her beautiful eyes, tilted her head back, and swallowed it willingly.
Can a mistake be made again? Since it’s already wrong, she’s not afraid to walk a difficult path.
She’s only afraid there’s no medicine for regret.
If she misses this chance, will she have another opportunity to see Ah Fu?
She didn’t dare to even think about such speculation.
Lu Xiangyin watched her swallow the cold poison without hesitation, nodding with satisfaction.
Indeed, love and hate seem simple, yet they are complex and hard to understand.
If Xue Baihua was willing to take poison to see Xi Fuhong, why did she initially hurt her so cruelly? Lu Xiangyin squinted her eyes, her gaze wandering between Xue Baihua and Xi Fuhong.
After a while, she pursed her lips and smiled lightly.
This might be an unsolvable problem, but regardless of the answer, it doesn’t change the fact that Xi Fuhong wants a peaceful life and Xue Baihua is willing to be loyal.
She only cares if she can hold onto this piece.
The study’s furnace was burning brightly, filling the room with the scent of medicine.
Lu Xiangyin sat lazily on the couch, her sleeve rolled up, revealing half of her fair arm.
What should have been flawless skin was marred by an ugly scar, like a twisted red snake winding around.
At this moment, Xue Baihua was dealing with this scar, deftly stitching it with her fingers.
This act of stitching should have been excruciating, yet Lu Xiangyin didn’t even furrow her brow, as if what was being stitched was just a piece of embroidery, not a living body.
“Last month, the blood massacre of the Zhongyuan noble family alarmed the Righteous Path.
The leader plans to hold a martial arts conference.” There was another man in the study, kneeling on one knee by the table, his hands raised high in front of his brow, his face always lowered, making it impossible to see his features.
Lu Xiangyin heard this but didn’t rush to respond.
She took a porcelain cup, sipping some cold tea, looking quite leisurely.
“Where?” she asked calmly.
“Yes, the location is chosen to be near the main base, at the Liang Family Courtyard,” the man replied.
Xue Baihua remained silent.
