Yue’er did not answer my question directly. Instead, she gave me a meaningful look before turning and getting into her sleeping bag. I wanted to follow and ask, but Bai Ling’er stopped me.
“Let me pass. She knows my sect’s rules. I must get a clear answer. This is a secret of my sect that cannot be passed down. If I don’t get a clear answer, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
A chilling coldness flashed in Bai Ling’er’s eyes, and I instantly felt as if I were back in the Yin Bone Wind.
“Achoo… Ling’er, what are you doing?”
I shivered, hugging my shoulders with both hands, and looked at Bai Ling’er, who was still exhaling white mist, with surprise. I never expected Bai Ling’er to attack me for Yue’er’s sake.
Seeing my confused expression, Bai Ling’er gave me a wry smile like a snake and said, “Calling you a dense straight man is flattering. She’s angry now, how could she tell you what you want to know? Don’t you know? A girl’s thoughts need to be guessed. Being proactive won’t hurt you.” After speaking, Bai Ling’er also gave me a meaningful look, twisted her body, flew to Yue’er’s pillow, coiled up, yawned, and fell asleep.
Seeing this scene, I couldn’t help but curse inwardly, “You ungrateful little thing. I treated you so well, yet you’re colluding with Yue’er to bully me.”
Bai Ling’er raised her head slightly. I quickly gave her a smile and then walked out of the cave. If someone makes me angry, I must vent it. I was tricked by that old fox, and if I don’t get some benefit, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep tonight.
Before I could get close to Li Zuoquan’s tent, I was stopped by the duck-legged man and another bodyguard.
“Elder Li is resting. We’ll talk about any matters tomorrow.”
My eyebrows shot up. “What? Do you have a problem with me coming to see him? Did I not hit you hard enough just now? I’m telling you, if you delay my important business, you won’t be able to handle the consequences.”
Hearing this, the duck-legged man’s face turned green and then white. Finally, he snorted and turned into the tent. After a short while, the duck-legged man came out with a gloomy expression.
“Elder Li, please come in.”
As I passed him, I said in a voice only the two of us could hear, “Lackey.” The duck-legged man’s hands clenched into fists in anger, while I stood there waiting for him to lose his temper.
Unexpectedly, he finally lowered his fists, bowed to me, and uttered a word that sounded like “Please.” I secretly thought it was a pity.
I wished he would throw a couple of punches at me. That way, I would have a reason to complain to Li Zuoquan, not only to get a large sum of money but also to have an excuse not to go into the mountains.
With a cold snort, I lifted the tent flap and entered. Li Zuoquan was sitting upright in a grand tutor’s chair. Wisps of smoke curled up from the incense burner on the table, giving me a refreshing feeling.
“Elder Li, you truly have refined taste. Not only do you have fine tea to savor, but you also have ambergris to prolong life. I was worried about Elder Li’s health outside just now, but it seems I was worrying unnecessarily.”
Li Zuoquan, who had been closing his eyes to rest, opened them and looked at me. This made me involuntarily retreat two steps. What kind of eyes were these? How could they become like this?
The sharp and wise gaze had disappeared, replaced by a murky confusion. After looking at me for a long time, he finally refocused his gaze.
“Cough, cough… Young friend Song, you’re here. My body is becoming more and more useless. May I ask why you’ve come?”
I came with a belly full of fire. Not only was I tricked by you, but I was also scolded by Yue’er. I intended to confront you as soon as I saw you and berate you.
However, seeing him like this, I couldn’t bring myself to say any hurtful words.
“Brother Zhang’s Xuan Yang True Qi has been overused, so I came to ask you for some tonics for him…”
“This is a small matter. I will arrange for someone to send it to you shortly. Thank you both for your righteous intervention today; otherwise, my old bones would have been left here.”
Facing Li Zuoquan’s thanks, I quickly said it was my duty. Taking money means taking responsibility, which is only natural. But the underlying meaning was that your pleasantries were useless; money was more practical.
Li Zuoquan, as expected of an old fox who had lived for many years, immediately ordered someone to bring a satellite phone as soon as I finished speaking and had the money transferred to my account.
The subsequent conversation became much more relaxed. Li Zuoquan suggested that everyone rest here for a day and then set off after their bodies had fully recovered. I had no objections to this.
Let alone a day of rest, even a month, I would stay here and wait. I hoped he would wear himself out, and then I would leave.
Returning to the cave, Zhang Dabiao was still asleep. I placed the supplies I had obtained from Li Zuoquan by his bedside, added two bottles of water, and then lay down in my clothes.
However, I couldn’t fall asleep. Yue’er’s words always made me feel uneasy. Not only did she know my sect’s rules, but she was also strangely familiar with me.
That sense of familiarity was as if my parents knew everything I did, but I knew in my heart that this was impossible. I had not interacted with her for more than three days since we met.
It was impossible for her to know my affairs so thoroughly. Yet, she not only knew them but seemed to know them even better than I did. Perhaps Fifth Princess told her everything she knew?
Thinking of this, I sat up abruptly.
“Fifth Princess!”
How could I have forgotten her? Yue’er was someone Fifth Princess had planted. She must know all about my affairs. But even Fifth Princess shouldn’t know so much about my sect’s matters, right?
Just as I was pondering whether to ask Yue’er for clarification tomorrow, a noisy sound came from outside the cave.
“Quick, someone… get bandages, hemostatic gauze…”
“Where’s the doctor who came with them? Where did they go? Hurry up and wake them up.”
A series of curses made my heart sink. What had happened again? Since I couldn’t sleep anyway, I put on my outer garment and went out.
Exiting the cave, I saw a group of people busy running around. Some were boiling water, some were getting food, and others were holding medical kits, all looking tense.
I grabbed a bodyguard who was carrying medical equipment out of the cave and asked, “What are you guys doing?”
The person intended to get angry, but after seeing it was me, he retracted his scolding words, though he showed a hint of impatience.
“Daoist Master Fang and the others are back.”
Then, before I could ask further, he broke free from my grip and ran over with the medical box.
“Fang the old Taoist is back?”
When I arrived, Li Zuoquan was being supported and sat outside the tent. Standing beside him was Fang the old Taoist.
Both of them had extremely grim expressions, especially Li Zuoquan, whose face was so dark it was almost as black as an African’s. His gaze was fixed on the medical tent.
Following his gaze, one could see that the tent was brightly lit, with several figures busy inside.
“Who is injured?”