Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 103

Volume 4: The Perils of the Jianghu

I Prepared This Especially for You

The first time her mother’s shadow guards dragged the people he had killed into the woods near the Kun Gate, Feng Lin had secretly followed.

The bodies were unceremoniously dumped in the forest by the shadow guards, who then laid out a few hidden weapons to create the illusion that the victims had accidentally entered the woods, triggered the mechanisms, and been killed.

After the men finished their work and left, Feng Lin emerged from the thicket where he had been hiding.

He wanted to take another look at the gruesome state of the dead. It was his handiwork, and he wanted to see how his creation had turned out.

He admired his work until the sun set behind the western mountains, finally satisfied. Just as he was about to head back to Changsheng Valley, he ran into an assassin from Xuanji Tower who had come seeking medical treatment.

Eager to prove his medical skills were no worse than anyone else’s in the valley, he didn’t even wait for the man to enter the valley proper before self-assuredly offering to treat him.

The assassins of Xuanji Tower, though ruthless and disloyal, were the type to repay their debts. After Feng Lin healed him, the assassin thanked him and said he would grant him one request.

Having long heard tales of Xuanji Tower’s assassins, Feng Lin naturally seized the opportunity.

The valley was full of disciples, and with his low seniority, he had always been overlooked.

But he didn’t want to be ignored. He had tasted the bitterness of being looked down upon since childhood, and it was a taste too bitter to bear. He wanted everyone’s eyes to be on him.

To achieve that, he had to possess the most exceptional medical skills in the valley.

Unfortunately, while he loved studying poisons and Gu arts, he had no passion for medicine.

At that time, the person with the most outstanding medical skills was that eyesore of a disciple of Hundred Herbs Elder’s, Feng Ruoqing.

So, he asked the assassin to take her life.

Unexpectedly, though she had no strength to even truss a chicken, she managed to escape unscathed. The lone assassin couldn’t handle her, so Feng Lin took his mother’s money and had Xuanji Tower issue a bounty order.

And that was how his connection with Xuanji Tower began.

Every time they traded, his people would ask him for Gu and poisons, and in return, he would make his own requests.

This became their established, unspoken rule for transactions.

To prevent others in the valley from discovering him, he always wore a hooded cloak to their meetings, and the trading spots were usually set near Changsheng Valley’s Kun Gate.

In the past, those who came to trade never complained. But the man before him had been here for less than a quarter of an hour and was already showing his impatience.

Feng Lin didn’t have a good feeling about him, but business was business. He took out several portraits. “I want you to kill all of these people.”

He then pointed to the portrait on top. “But leave her alive.”

The ones to be killed were, of course, Su Yi and her group. The one to be left alive was, of course, Ji Qingchi.

After the palace coup several months ago, the reputations of Ji Qingchi and Su Yi had soared, making them household names in the Yanxue Kingdom. After four of Xuanji Tower’s top experts perished in the imperial palace and Yiyun Tower was investigated, Hua Wushang finally understood that the woman who haunted his dreams was the reigning Ninth Imperial Princess.

He felt no anger upon learning that several of Xuanji Tower’s top assassins had been killed. He only thought, As expected. The woman I’ve set my sights on is truly extraordinary. If before he had merely coveted her beauty, after hearing that Ji Qingchi was the Ninth Imperial Princess, he now lusted after the power she held as well.

He had been full of resentment after being whipped by his father and sent here, but his eyes lit up the moment he saw the portraits Feng Lin presented.

He had staked out the Imperial Princess’s Residence for so long without a single glimpse of her. So she had come to Changsheng Valley! Those people from the Yanxue Kingdom were truly good at keeping a secret!

His heart leaped with joy, but hearing that Feng Lin wanted to spare Ji Qingchi, suspicion arose. “Why are you leaving her alive?”

Since they were both men, Feng Lin spoke bluntly. “Her status is noble and she’s beautiful. What do you think?”

Hua Wushang felt a sense of kinship, but he had no intention of revealing his own thoughts to Feng Lin. Moreover, he wouldn’t allow anyone else to covet the woman he had claimed as his. Thus, he merely snorted coldly, neither agreeing nor refusing. “Isn’t your Changsheng Valley famous for Gu and poisons? Can’t you deal with them yourselves?”

It was easy enough to figure out. They were, after all, guests in Changsheng Valley. If an “accident” were to befall them there, the Yanxue Kingdom would surely not let the matter rest.

Changsheng Valley was not like Xuanji Tower with its legions of martial artists and assassins. Most of its people were scholars with no strength to even truss a chicken. They had already offended the Huachen Kingdom; if they were to offend the Yanxue Kingdom as well, the two kingdoms might join forces against them. It could very well lead to the valley’s annihilation.

That was why Feng Lin had only dared to resort to secretly planting Gu and poisons, and why his mother had always been exceedingly polite to those guests from the palace.

Feng Lin’s expression changed, and he turned to leave. “If you don’t want to do this deal, then forget it!”

“Wait.” If he botched this transaction, he would be berated by his father when he returned.

Hua Wushang smiled faintly. “Your Excellency has quite a temper. I was just talking. Fine, Xuanji Tower accepts this request.”

At the same time, he made his own request. “This woman, find a way to get close to her. Tell her that the person she’s been longing for is already dead. And that she was killed by Su Yi.”

He produced a portrait of his own. On it was, shockingly, the face of Ye Shui.

A while ago, they had joined forces with Feng Lin. Six masters, plus traps and Gu worms, had failed to capture Ji Qingchi and her group. Ji Qingchi’s capabilities had stunned even his father. After discussing it at length in the tower, they concluded that capturing them from the outside would be difficult. The best way was to break them from within.

Ji Qingchi’s group was large; there was bound to be someone with dissent in their heart. So, they had their people investigate each one.

Ye Shui was the first target of their investigation.

The timing of her appearance was just too coincidental.

Why, just before setting out for Changsheng Valley, did Su Yi specifically have someone bring her to the capital?

Why would a simple country girl be remembered by the young miss of a marquis’s residence, and be brought all the way from the remote Fengcheng?

Ye Shui was terrible at hiding her emotions. Even when she was far away in Fengcheng, she paid extremely close attention to news of Su Yi’s “fiancé.” The people around her weren’t fools; how could they not know what was on her mind?

After a thorough investigation, the relationship between Ye Shui and her beloved “Chi Qing” became the biggest breakthrough.

Coincidentally, over a year ago, “Chi Qing” had died. And the rumor was that he had died to save Su Yi.

A woman’s fury is the most terrifying thing. Only a fool wouldn’t use it.

Feng Lin took the portrait. “Deal. My mother has already removed most of the poison from that sickly woman. They might be leaving in the next few days, so you’d better act fast.”

“Rest assured.” Hua Wushang snapped his fan open, his smile confident. “We will wait for the rabbit by the stump. I guarantee they won’t be leaving alive!”

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Feng Qing had been very busy these past few days.

Besides helping Su Yi expel the two types of poison from her body, she also had to study the secrets of the Gu King.

Gu arts, poison arts, and medical arts were said to be different, but in Feng Qing’s eyes, their principles were all interconnected.

She carefully took some of the Gu King’s blood and studied it, discovering that it could indeed suppress other Gu.

However, the blood was highly toxic and couldn’t be used as a direct antidote for Gu.

Feng Qing found herbs that could counteract the blood’s toxicity. She stayed in her apothecary for days and nights without sleep. Just as Feng Ruoqing was about to storm in and drag her out, she finally opened the door, laughing loudly. “It’s done! It’s done! This should be able to suppress most Gu now!”

She didn’t speak with absolute certainty, lest she get slapped in the face like last time.

Feng Ruoqing pulled her over to a chair. “Master, look at the dark circles under your eyes! Go get some rest!”

“Aiya, it’s fine, it’s fine. Old people need less sleep, you know,” Feng Qing said with a chuckle, handing the pills she had made to Ji Qingchi and the others. “I formulated this medicine to imitate the Gu. I’m confident it can suppress most Gu worms, but of course, it would be even better if you could find some Gu to test it on.”

They didn’t need to go out of their way to find Gu for testing; the test subjects came to them.

Not long after Feng Qing finished speaking, the Valley Master had her disciple bring a group of people to block the entrance of their bamboo lodge.

Su Yi sat in her wheelchair, looking at the menacing servants. “Valley Master, what is the meaning of this?”

The man in the lead shook his head. He didn’t actually know what his master meant, but since she had given the order, he could only obey. Unlike his junior and senior sisters, who only knew how to slack off, he followed instructions. “Master said that a valuable item has gone missing in the valley. Please forgive us, esteemed guests. We would like to search your courtyard.”

Nothing short of discovering her Gu King was missing could have spurred the Valley Master to make such a big move.

To only now realize her Gu King had been swapped out… frankly, the Valley Master’s perception wasn’t very sharp.

Ji Qingchi smiled faintly. “This is hardly the way to treat guests… but since the Valley Master wishes to search, please, be my guest.”

The item was hidden in an exceptionally secret place anyway; they wouldn’t find it in the courtyard.

As expected, the man led his people on a search but couldn’t find the “toad with a red spot on its head” that his master had described. He had no choice but to give up. “We have disturbed you, esteemed guests.”

“It’s no trouble.” Ji Qingchi smiled gently. As he passed, her hand brushed over his shoulder unnoticed. “We aren’t the only patients in the valley. Perhaps another patient took it by mistake. Young Master could try looking elsewhere. You might have better luck.”

“You have a point, my lady. My apologies for the intrusion.”

The man apologized sheepishly and left with his people.

The smile on Ji Qingchi’s face vanished instantly. She held out her palm, where two golden-winged insects struggled on a handkerchief.

When Feng Qing saw what was in her hand, she immediately walked over. “Ah, I recognize these. My junior sister uses these treasures to detect Gu in the wilderness… I think they’re called Wen Gu¹. They can sense the slightest trace of Gu… Don’t tell me she found out we stole her Gu King?”

Ji Qingchi handed the insects to her. “Senior, weren’t you looking to test your medicine? These will do nicely.”

“You’re right! I’ll go right now.” Feng Qing’s eyes crinkled into slits as she smiled. Taking the Gu, she shut herself in the medicine hut, eager to begin her experiment.

Su Yi asked, puzzled, “Your Highness, how did you get those golden-winged Gu?”

“They were on that man, but he seemed unaware of them. It looks like the Valley Master placed them on him before he came,” Ji Qingchi said with a frown. “She already suspects us. It seems we can’t stay here much longer.”

She looked at Su Yi with some hesitation.

Su Yi smiled softly. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. Old Senior has already cleared most of the poison.”

Feng Ruoqing also added, “Changsheng Valley is not the place it once was. There’s nothing to be nostalgic for. Master said she is willing to return to the Yanxue Kingdom with us. She is an expert in the study of poisons. As long as we bring Master with us, the remaining poison in Miss Su’s body can definitely be cured.”

Feng Qing had indeed cleansed the two types of poison from Su Yi’s body. However, there was one poison that, according to Feng Qing, even she didn’t recognize. But she was a master of poisons, and Su Yi believed that with her help, she would surely make a full recovery.

Ji Qingchi breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

She turned to Yue Ling. “Get ready. We leave Changsheng Valley in three days.”

Ji Qingchi set a three-day deadline. On one hand, it was to give Feng Qing enough time to perfect the Gu antidote. On the other, it was to give Su Yi more time to rest.

She believed they wouldn’t be exposed so quickly within three days.

Unexpectedly, on the evening of the third day, just as they had packed their luggage and were about to leave, something went wrong.

A great fire suddenly broke out in Changsheng Valley.

Autumn was approaching, and the valley was filled with bamboo lodges. A single spark could quickly ignite the connected buildings. In the eastern section, where the patients and valley disciples lived, a stretch of bamboo lodges was engulfed in thick, rolling smoke. The blaze lit up the sky, painting it almost entirely red.

“Quick! Put out the fire! This whole area is burning!”

“We don’t have enough people! There are still so many people in the fire!”

“Go get help! Hurry! Help! Somebody, help!”

“My child… My child is still in there…”

“Mom! My mom is in there too!”

The people of the valley scrambled to bring water, their cries for help nearly heart-wrenching.

A few family members of the patients seeking treatment were held back from the blaze, weeping as they knelt before the firefighters. “Please, I beg you, save her!”

Some of the trapped were carried out, their bodies charred black, a bloody mess as they rolled on the ground like demons from hell, their wails unceasing. “Mom… Mom… it hurts so much…”

The air, filled with the stench of something burning mixed with the smell of roasted flesh, was nauseating.

Yue Ling held her saber, looking at the weeping crowd from a distance. She frowned. “Your Highness, are we still leaving?”

It was a dark and windy night, and the valley was in chaos—the perfect time to escape.

But to just leave like this…

The purgatorial scene at the fire was truly hard on the conscience.

Ji Qingchi’s brows were tightly furrowed as she looked worriedly at Su Yi in the carriage.

Su Yi waved a hand, coughing from the ash in the air. “I’m fine. It’s just putting out a fire; it won’t take too long. Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda². Your Highness should go quickly.”

Ji Qingchi thought so too. Rescuing people wouldn’t take too long. They didn’t have to wait for the fire to be completely extinguished; as long as they saved everyone trapped inside, they could leave.

She left two of her most skilled guards to protect Su Yi and took the others to help with the firefighting.

The cries of anguish made Su Yi uneasy. Everyone else had gone to help, even Feng Qing couldn’t bear the sky-rending wails and had tremblingly gotten off the carriage to find water. Due to her weakness, Su Yi could only stay in the carriage.

But listening to the sounds outside, her heart ached. She called to the two guards, “You two go help fight the fire as well.”

The guards hesitated. “But Her Highness ordered us to…”

“It’s not that far. Just leave my maids here to watch me,” Su Yi said. “Go and come back quickly. It’ll be fine, won’t it?”

Unable to dissuade her, the guards had no choice but to grab buckets and run to get water.

Less than a hundred meters away, the sound of flames devouring houses, the pained cries of the injured, and the anxious shouts of the rescuers all seemed to weave into a web of despair, enveloping everyone within.

Su Yi watched the fire anxiously. Suddenly, the carriage wall was knocked on several times, producing a crisp sound.

Su Yi turned her head and was surprised to see Ye Shui.

She was covered in soot, her face streaked with grime. It was clear she had just come from the fire. “Su… Ji… hurt…”

It hadn’t been long since Feng Qing gave her acupuncture; she still couldn’t speak in complete sentences, only managing to blurt out a few words. But it was enough for Su Yi to understand.

“Are you trying to say Ji Qingchi is injured?”

Ye Shui nodded emphatically.

Su Yi’s heart leaped into her throat. She frowned. “But she’s so skilled in martial arts. How could she be hurt?”

“…Saved… them… many people…”

Could it be that Ji Qingchi was so focused on saving people that she got careless and was injured?

Ye Shui gestured at her arm, stammering, “Roof… fell… under… people… Ji… saved them… now… she’s unconscious…”

Ji Qingchi had been willing to lure away Xuanji Tower’s assassins all by herself for the sake of her guards. It was entirely possible she would injure herself today to save those people.

The fire was so fierce. So what if her martial arts were strong? Many firefighters died saving people every year.

With that thought, Su Yi completely believed her. “She’s unconscious?” she asked anxiously. “Where is she? Take me to her.”

Yan Can quickly tried to dissuade her. “Miss, the fire over there is so large. What if you get hurt?”

“I’m not going into the fire, just staying on the outskirts. It’s fine,” Su Yi said, telling her and Gancao to help her out of the carriage. “Miss Ye, quickly, take me to her!”

Ye Shui nodded and led the way, looking back at her from time to time.

The fire was less than a hundred meters from their carriage. Black soot drifted through the air, and the thick smoke and dark night made it hard to see the path ahead.

After following Ye Shui for a while, they still hadn’t arrived. Choking, Su Yi coughed and asked with her head down, “Miss Ye, are we there yet?”

Ye Shui kept her head down and didn’t answer. Su Yi felt something was strange, but given Ye Shui’s usual disposition, she didn’t grow suspicious and continued to follow her.

When they reached an area where the fire was weaker, Ye Shui suddenly stopped.

Su Yi looked around. The fire here had mostly been extinguished, and everything was charred. Besides the burnt, mangled, human-shaped objects, there wasn’t a single living person in sight.

Everyone was gathered where the fire was raging.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a sudden sense of foreboding washed over her. “Miss Ye, aren’t you taking me to find Ji Qingchi? Where is she?”

Just as her voice fell, a man’s mocking tone came from behind her. “Miss Su is truly a woman of deep affection.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Su Yi’s heart turned to ice.

She turned around, inch by cold inch, to see Feng Lin toying with two flint stones.

Su Yi’s gaze fixated on the flints in his hand. “This fire… you started it?”

“That’s right. What do you think? Is this fiery scenery beautiful?” Feng Lin gave her a brilliant smile. “You know, I spent days thinking about this, preparing it especially for you, Miss Su. You should admire it properly.”

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LP: … Ye Shui, I believed in you!

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