Villainous Undercover (8)
Song Xuyi kept listening to the system’s broadcast until she heard the system’s voice regretfully say, “They removed the silver needle, and the villain’s complexion looks much better,” and then her anxious heart finally settled down.
“The Valley Master was scolding the villain, saying she’s always so reckless and that if there’s a next time, she won’t save her. But the villain always has that silent, lifeless look, which makes the Valley Master very angry…”
The system gave a dry cough, paused for a while, then continued speaking: “Then the Valley Master, still angry, let her soak in the pool without caring for her, packed up things, and left…”
Song Xuyi let out a “mm” sound, slowly yawned, and as she heard the loud “bang” from the next door closing, she groggily thought: finally knowing that Fu Xiyu’s habit of slamming doors and throwing things when angry was learned from somewhere…
Finally, Song Xuyi couldn’t resist her drooping eyelids and sleepily closed her eyes.
After the system detected Song Xuyi had fallen asleep, it quietly sighed with relief—it actually felt somewhat guilty because it had hidden a scene from Xuyi:
When Fu Xiyu woke up from her coma and lay silently in the potion, no matter what Valley Master Song said to her, she had no reaction until Valley Master Song coldly laughed and taunted her: “Since you were prepared to die, why provoke that Song-surnamed little girl? That little girl worriedly hid in her room and quietly cried. You may be iron-hearted, but she’s originally like a soft and sticky dough. If you’re not there, who knows how she might be bullied…”
“She’s not dough to be bullied, and she won’t cry.” Fu Xiyu spoke expressionlessly but avoided Valley Master Song’s gaze and closed her eyes.
Before, no matter how much Valley Master Song spoke, she had no reaction. But as soon as Xuyi was mentioned, she spoke up, even the system noticed: In the villain’s heart, Xuyi’s position is different.
But the system didn’t want Song Xuyi to know about this matter: Xuyi has a deep-feeling nature, and she and the villain are destined to become enemies later. The system didn’t want to let Song Xuyi bear a psychological burden.
However, even after hiding this matter, the system had an ominous premonition; looking at the villain’s beautiful face, the more it thought, the more it felt worried. Perhaps because her illness hadn’t yet healed, Fu Xiyu, soaking in the pool in the bamboo house, was also tossing and turning without sleep… that night, the only one who slept well was probably Song Xuyi.
The next morning, Song Xuyi woke up, and the first thing she did was run to the bamboo house to check on Fu Xiyu’s situation.
However, to Song Xuyi’s surprise, the two middle-aged women at the door stopped her: “Miss Xiyu’s body is unharmed, but she still needs two more needle treatments, which will take about half a month. During this period, Miss Xiyu needs quiet recovery and cannot be exposed to wind or see guests. We hope Miss Song understands.”
“Miss Song can walk around Medicine Valley and see the surrounding scenery.” Seeing Song Xuyi’s astonished look, one of the women kindly suggested: “Rest assured, Miss Xiyu will soon recover.”
Song Xuyi, seeing the two women’s determined expressions, knew she probably couldn’t get in, so she gave up the idea of seeking Fu Xiyu. Then she remembered another purpose and asked: “Then… if I want to become a lay disciple of Medicine Valley, how should I prepare?”
“To become a lay disciple of Medicine Valley,” one woman frowned, looking Song Xuyi up and down: “A lay disciple must stay in Medicine Valley for at least half a year out of one year, and Miss Song probably doesn’t really meet our conditions.”
“Then is there no other way?” Song Xuyi didn’t expect lay disciples to have such condition restrictions and couldn’t help but frown.
“Miss Song,” another woman smiled and half-squatted, looking at Song Xuyi: “Can you tell us why you want to join Medicine Valley?”
Song Xuyi hesitated for a moment.
She naturally couldn’t say it was because, originally in the plot summary, she was a person from Medicine Valley, so she had to think of another idea. Luckily, there was a ready-made excuse right in front of her.
“I want to properly care for my senior sister and help people reduce their illness and pain,” Song Xuyi lowered her head, speaking softly and somewhat guiltily.
With her head lowered, Song Xuyi appeared shy in people’s eyes.
Hearing Song Xuyi’s answer, the woman’s face immediately showed a smile, and her voice sounded softer: “Alright then! Once your senior sister is a bit better, you can ask her. If she agrees, then you can become a lay disciple of Medicine Valley.”
The woman regarded Song Xuyi as a little girl who didn’t understand much, so she didn’t consider her words carefully. After listening, Song Xuyi felt doubt arise in her heart: Isn’t this Medicine Valley, not the Taiji Sect? Can Fu Xiyu really make decisions here?
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But Song Xuyi vaguely felt that the two women were not deceiving her: perhaps Fu Xiyu really does have the ability to influence Medicine Valley’s choices.
The original plot summary didn’t include an introduction to Fu Xiyu’s background, but from Valley Master Song’s close and familiar attitude towards her, and Medicine Valley’s importance placed on her…
Song Xuyi suddenly had a guess in her heart: Could Fu Xiyu’s background be related to Medicine Valley?
But Song Xuyi immediately dismissed her own guess: Given Valley Master Song’s domineering nature and her disdain and anger towards Lu Dun, if Fu Xiyu were really Valley Master Song’s child, she definitely wouldn’t let Fu Xiyu stay by Lu Dun’s side.
After thanking the two women, Song Xuyi began to walk aimlessly around Medicine Valley, sorting through the events of the past few days in her heart: Lu Dun and Fu Xiyu agreed on a three-day period, immediately after which Lu Dun’s complexion improved, while Fu Xiyu’s face turned as pale as gold paper…
Connecting this to Fu Xiyu’s later action of stabbing Lu Dun to death with a sword, Song Xuyi felt she seemed to understand the reason behind Fu Xiyu’s later actions.
Her mood became somewhat complicated for a moment. Song Xuyi had thought the villain might have difficulties, but she didn’t expect it to be such a situation.
And currently, it seems Fu Xiyu has no contact with the Demon Sect. After all, Fu Xiyu is still young, and perhaps she hasn’t yet come into contact with the Demon Sect to become a spy…
The future Fu Xiyu is very likely to be the great demon king leading the human world into disaster, but right now she is a victim persecuted by a sanctimonious person…
For a moment, countless thoughts flashed through Song Xuyi’s mind, and she finally made a decision: Fu Xiyu has not yet walked onto the wrong path of the original plot summary. If I help Fu Xiyu avenge, will it make everything in the future different?
After setting her determination in her heart, Song Xuyi urgently had the thought of becoming stronger.
Even though the women pointed out a path for her to join Medicine Valley, Song Xuyi also wanted to rely on her own strength to make Medicine Valley see her differently; this way, she could learn more things.
Therefore, after thinking it over, Song Xuyi walked to the medical huts near the valley entrance.
Inside the medical huts were patients from various places; in Medicine Valley, there is no distinction of high or low status, whether prince or mountain villager, all are uniformly placed in medical huts, and Medicine Valley rules that each patient can only have one serving person.
This further proved Fu Xiyu’s special status: Fu Xiyu alone could live in a small building in Medicine Valley and was personally treated by the Valley Master.
Inside the medicine huts, the strong smell of Chinese herbal medicine filled the air, along with some foul odors emitted by certain patients, making the average person feel uncomfortable upon entering. Yet Song Xuyi stood in the medicine huts for an entire day, carefully observing the doctors’ needle applications and medicine placements, helping them pass and feed medicine with very nimble hands and feet.
The doctors were mostly busy nonstop, assuming this child was only temporarily curious. Since Song Xuyi didn’t cause any trouble, they didn’t manage her and let her stay in the medicine huts. Originally, everyone thought she would know the difficulty and retreat after one day, but unexpectedly, she came again the second day…
Song Xuyi continued to come for seven days, and everyone noticed her interest in medical skills. Some doctors quizzed her for fun during their leisure time, but unexpectedly, Song Xuyi answered fluently, even providing some very reasonable insights on epidemic prevention.
More than one doctor developed a heart for cherishing talent and wanted to take Song Xuyi as a disciple. However, upon learning that Song Xuyi was a disciple of the Taiji Sect, they could only regretfully give up.
After all, Medicine Valley indeed has rules in place; without the Valley Master’s approval, no one dared to make their own decision to take Song Xuyi as a disciple.
However, Song Xuyi and Valley Master Song only met once, and the Valley Master is extremely busy managing myriad affairs daily, so Song Xuyi hasn’t had the opportunity to see Valley Master Song these days.
But probably because the doctors appreciate Song Xuyi’s serious and meticulous attitude, although there’s no master-disciple title, some doctors secretly began teaching Song Xuyi medical skills. Song Xuyi was busy learning new knowledge and later even took on a task to treat a noble young master, so busy that her feet barely touched the ground, she even forgot that half a month had passed, and it was already the day for Fu Xiyu to leave the bamboo house.
When Song Xuyi saw Fu Xiyu, she was treating that noble young master. The noble young master’s illness wasn’t considered serious, but he had many ailments, and his servants were exhausted beyond endurance, yet the noble young master continued to pick faults, constantly scolding the servants.
Song Xuyi couldn’t bear to watch, so she went directly over and gave the noble young master a good scolding. The noble young master, scolded by Song Xuyi, turned red-faced, yet stubbornly said, “Sister Xuyi, this is my family’s servant, even if I kill him, it’s no harm. But if you let me pinch your face, I won’t scold him again—”
Song Xuyi’s eyes turned cold, pondering adding some Coptis to the young master’s medicine to teach him a lesson, but unexpectedly, before the noble young master finished speaking, a black figure brushed past Song Xuyi—Fu Xiyu, with a calm face, walked to the young master’s front and picked up a nearby silver needle: “Young master’s illness is in the liver, better to reduce melancholy and irritation, nurture health and vitality.”
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Song Xuyi widened her eyes—Fu Xiyu came out?
What amazed Song Xuyi even more was that she took two days to identify the young master’s illness in the liver, yet didn’t expect Fu Xiyu to see it at a glance!
Could it be that Fu Xiyu also has medical skills?
Fu Xiyu’s next actions proved Song Xuyi’s guess. Facing the young master’s terrified gaze, Fu Xiyu raised her hand, and the needle fell decisively and neatly, placing the silver needle on the young master’s body. The young master immediately let out a scream—
Can this way… really work?
Song Xuyi subconsciously glanced left and right, then saw the veiled Valley Master Song standing nearby, with eyes full of amusement looking in this direction. The other doctors also had a familiar look and did not intend to stop.
Since Valley Master Song didn’t stop it, then… maybe Fu Xiyu truly has medical skills.
Ordinary people applying needles would still carefully explore the acupoints, but Fu Xiyu applied needles extremely swiftly, almost instantly finding the precise position to apply them. After she placed several needles, the young master widened his eyes in surprise at Fu Xiyu: “Oh, surprisingly not painful? I didn’t expect you, this ugly… you really have some skills!”
The young master once again showed off, looking at Song Xuyi:
“Sister Xuyi, I estimate I’ll soon be better. You’ve been focusing on taking care of me these days, and seeing you every day makes me happy. Why not come home with me when I’m better? My family has several houses, countless gold and silver, and servants…”
“——Ow! So painful!”
The young master hadn’t finished speaking when the corner of his lips suddenly twitched, angrily glaring at Fu Xiyu beside him—
Fu Xiyu leisurely pulled out a needle, her eyes lowered, still in that infuriatingly calm and unruffled tone: “Young master was too noisy, disturbed my mood, applied the needle in the wrong place.”
The young master was obviously very unconvinced, his face flushed red as he glared at Fu Xiyu. However, seeing the cold gleam emitted by the silver needle in Fu Xiyu’s hand, he shrank back a bit and finally chose to submit, lowering his head with suppressed anger.
“Heard you want to join Medicine Valley?”
Beside her, Valley Master Song walked forward at this time, smiling as she pulled Song Xuyi outside the medicine huts: “I observe you have quite some talent, and I’m naturally wholeheartedly in agreement. You and I hit it off at our first meeting; now I have emptiness under my knees, and if you’re willing, then be my goddaughter!”
As she spoke, Valley Master Song’s gaze turned towards Fu Xiyu in the medicine huts: “I originally selected a young valley master, and by reason, everything should be discussed with her, but she seems unwilling to inherit Medicine Valley. So I’ll make an exception this time and not discuss it with her, taking you in directly. Later, I’ll send a note to the Taiji Sect explaining this matter—Lu Dun, that old thief, certainly won’t oppose…”
Song Xuyi followed Valley Master Song’s gaze: Fu Xiyu was tightly pressing her lips, probably because she was just recovering from a serious illness, her complexion somewhat pale, as she seriously applied needles for the young master.
Fu Xiyu is Valley Master Song’s selected young valley master?
Song Xuyi widened her eyes: the shock of this matter even exceeded the surprise of Valley Master Song wanting to take her as a goddaughter.
In the original work’s summary, wasn’t there a rumor saying the original owner would be the new young valley master?
If everything hasn’t changed, then the original owner hasn’t yet entered Medicine Valley at this time, and rumors about the original owner only spread much later. So, is Fu Xiyu actually the predetermined Medicine Valley valley master?
Did something happen to Fu Xiyu in the future that made Medicine Valley abandon her, or… is the original owner just a pawn placed in the open?
Valley Master Song, looking at Song Xuyi’s expression, thought Song Xuyi was amazed because Fu Xiyu had medical skills, and the smile in her eyes deepened a bit: “Your senior sister is always so dull, but she’s actually very capable. If later you have anything you don’t understand, you can ask her. It’s a pity she’s good at everything, just makes her life too hard, and many things she hasn’t thought through—”
Valley Master Song restrained her smile and sighed softly: “Xuyi, I take you into Medicine Valley also for selfish reasons. Your senior sister lives with the hardship of an old woman at such a young age. I have some old grievances with your sect leader, so it’s inconvenient for me to take care of her. Can you help me take care of your senior sister more later?”
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Perhaps because she thought Song Xuyi was a child, Valley Master Song spoke to Song Xuyi without much reservation, which precisely proved Song Xuyi’s guess: Valley Master Song and Fu Xiyu have a close relationship.
As expected, Song Xuyi bit her lower lip and promptly nodded.
Song Xuyi didn’t expect that after she nodded, Valley Master Song’s eyes brightened, and she loudly laughed: “Good, good, good! Xuyi, from today you are my goddaughter!”
“Rest assured, godmother will definitely find you a good marriage after you grow up, so you can marry grandly! Our Medicine Valley is your maternal home…”
Song Xuyi’s eyes widened blankly, having not yet thought of how to reply to Valley Master’s words, when the young master in the medicine huts suddenly let out another scream, his voice echoing through the huts, full of grievance—
“——Ah!”
“I didn’t speak! Why are you needling me again?!”
The author has something to say:
Young master: I’m always the one getting hurt ~T_T
LP: Re-translated on October 09, 2024