Chapter 3, Bone-Piercing Cold Frost

I understand! As I took a few steps forward, I rolled up Xie Yun's sleeves, only to see several distinct bruises on his arms, resembling marks just made by needles, dark blue and purple, which at first glance looked somewhat like the livor mortis on a corpse.

Li Sheng hurriedly came downstairs: "Ah Fei, what happened..."

A buzzing sound echoed in her mind

He was overjoyed, his face displaying an expression of fervor, as if a miser had unearthed a mountain of gold, and he nervously rubbed his hands together. After entering the room, he carefully set the backpack aside, circled around Xie Yun a few times, and tentatively held his fingers above Xie Yun's breath as if testing the temperature, then nodded knowingly as if he had confirmed something.

This object is called "Heavenly Gate Lock" and has as many as nine keys, which must be used in order to unlock it. It was gifted by Madam Nishang, the leader of the Feathered Garment Sect, and is guaranteed to be sturdy. The elder's exact words were: "Do not say it is merely him; even if one side is locked with Li Zheng and the other with Yin Wenlan, as long as there are no keys, they will not be able to break free."

Lin Bo waved his hand and said: "The four great demons of the Living and the Dead Mountain are as follows: the Azure Dragon Lord Zheng Luosheng is cunning and treacherous; the Vermilion Bird Lord Mu Xiaoqiao is brutal and eccentric; the White Tiger Lord Feng Feihua is capricious; and the Black Tortoise Lord Ding Kui cannot distinguish right from wrong—referring to Ding Kui himself, who harms others without reason. Perhaps if someone merely looks at him a moment too long, he would seek to annihilate their entire family. It is not that the young man provoked him. Alas, how else can one describe these individuals as the poison of the martial world?"

Xie Yun forced a smile, his tongue felt numb, and he could no longer speak. He did not know what those unscrupulous and deceitful individuals from the Walking Foot Gang had given her. He realized that the more he tried to circulate his energy to "expel the poison," the faster the effects of the drug took hold. Ultimately, he was unable to remain upright, his vision darkened, and he was helplessly laid down.

Zhou Fei took an empty cup and downed three bowls of cold water in one go, her fervent spirit finally calming down slightly. She suppressed her myriad emotions and said, "It's a long story about a child without a mother; let's discuss it later. Do you know where to find a doctor?"

Xie Yun looked down at her with an impeccable gaze and said, "Don't tell me you still don't know who the esteemed Ding Kui of the Xuanwu is."

She has never been tempered by the passage of time, nor has she ever been awakened in the midnight hour by the old years that cannot be revisited

Zhou Fei pushed him away, took matters into her own hands, and forced Xie Yun into a curled-up position. She snatched the lock from Li Cheng's hand and cuffed the other end of the Heavenly Gate lock to Xie Yun's ankle. The iron chain was about one foot long, and with this lock, if Xie Yun attempted to escape again, no matter how exceptional his lightness of body was, he would only be left with two options: to "curl up and roll on the ground" or to "squat and hop on one leg".

Lin Bo stopped him: "Young Master!"

Zhou Fei glanced at the snake's head that occasionally appeared through the gaps in his backpack. Although she was not afraid, she felt a bit of a chill run down her spine as she hesitantly scrutinized the poison doctor before her. She said, "This gentleman..."

At this moment, Lady Nichang interjected, saying: "Let me take a look at him."

The dizi in her hands made a "hush hush" sound, then fell silent, as if it had been mocking her all along. Zhou Fei, while idly playing random notes, pondered whether she should pay another visit to Madam Nishang to ask her once more about what "透骨青" (Tòu gǔ qīng) truly meant.

Li Sheng rubbed his nose and shivered slightly, feeling for the first time that he had offended Zhou Fei a bit too harshly during their childhood. He didn't have time to inquire about the details of how Xie Yun was captured, so he perfunctorily took his leave and ran along the wall.

Zhou Fei first approached cautiously to observe for a moment, confirming that he had truly fainted, before beginning to consider how to move this "object". She gestured slightly and felt that it was impossible to carry him on her shoulder, as her shoulders were not broad enough and there was insufficient space. She intended to lift him by his belt, but then discovered that Xie Yun's legs, which he claimed were "five feet long", were quite obstructive.

Upon hearing Li Sheng's question, Zhou Fei hesitated for a moment—locking that scoundrel Xie Yun in bed was certainly not a feasible option. Given that Xie Yun could withstand the pressure from the two major Beidou without showing any signs of defeat, it was likely that he would not be at a loss when faced with a damp bed frame and bedposts.

Inside lies a patient whose days are uncertain, yet this peculiar individual comes over and says, "The poison you have is quite rare, I envy you. Could you show it to me? What... detoxification? Oh, I don't know how to do that"

Zhou Fei felt that her temper might have been exhausted on Xie Yun just now, and at this moment, she was somewhat too lazy to erupt, even neglecting to drive out the snake and the person raising it together. After thinking for a moment, she said: "No, you don't care about treating the sick and saving people—why should you be allowed to see?"

At this moment, Wu Chuchu suddenly said: "Where is A Fei? Why hasn't she returned yet?"

The large coffin over there required the strength of sixteen strong men to lift it, so massive that it could "stand as a house". Its length, width, and depth were sufficient to accommodate an entire family lying down. When it made its appearance, it completely blocked the narrow alley. Any living creature with eyes could not help but glance in that direction, yet Zhou Fei remained utterly unfazed, focusing intently on Xie Yun and asking, "What are you?"

Zhou Fei was taken aback—more than two months ago, Xie Yun was still spending all day with her, precisely on the way back from Shaoyang to the Forty-Eighth Village. At that time, there was a condition for poisoning, probably just one Ma Jili.

Ying He glanced at Xie Yun and said indifferently: "He has been with the Toupou Qing for countless years; if that thing were a seedling, it would have long since grown into his flesh and blood. Not to mention the Guiyang Dan, even a Thunder Fire Bomb wouldn't be able to blow it apart!"

Li Yan asked, "Is no one taking care of that?"

This girl is extraordinary; she rarely makes enemies, but once she stirs up trouble, it is always with significant figures

However, Zhou Fei recalled the moment when Xie Yun suddenly intervened to stop Gu Tianxuan, and the genuine surprise in Gu Tianxuan's voice. If even "Jumen" was unaware of Xie Yun's identity, then it was even less likely that Ma Jili would be so well-informed. Therefore, he had no reason to specifically target Xie Yun, who appeared to be an unrelated outsider.

Zhou Fei and the others, in order to avoid trouble, did not disclose their sect's origins, only vaguely stating that they were from the "south." Compared to the majority who had only heard of the "descendants of the Southern Blade" without ever seeing them, Yang Jin's Broken Wild Goose Blade was much easier to recognize. Lin Bo and the others must have recognized the current leader of Qingyun Valley, who was famous for his "lack of proper occupation," and thus regarded them all as people from the southern border. Lin Bo's words slipped out without him knowing what the two "Li family members" at the table were feeling. Li Yan was just about to say something but was kicked by Li Sheng under the table, so she had no choice but to close her mouth in grievance and embarrassment.

Li Sheng furrowed his brows and said, "I will go take a look"

In that fleeting moment, amidst the clamor of the surrounding crowd, only he experienced a profound silence in his ears. Young Master Xie’s lips quivered slightly as he swallowed a thousand words, and suddenly, he smiled

The foremost skill of the itinerant gang is the art of thievery, particularly exemplified by the blue bat's black market operations. Among the ten varieties of soporific drugs in the world, eight are their original creations

Xie Yun's intended words were interrupted by this sudden turn of events. Amidst the commotion, he regained his composure and gently suppressed the impulsive words that had almost escaped his lips.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

"Hong Yu" is a false name that Xie Yun fabricated for Zhou Fei while in Shaoyang. Madam Ni Chang knows that her real name is not this, but she thinks it sounds quite nice, so she casually adopted it.

Before she could think it through, Li Sheng earnestly interjected: "It definitely won't work if it's in your hands; he is a man and you are a woman, which is inconvenient"

To outsiders, this statement may seem disjointed and incomprehensible, leaving them entirely unaware of her meaning. However, Zhou Fei's gaze flickered slightly, as she discerned several layers of meaning from Madame Ni Chang's words

Thirdly, the Monkey Duo indeed came for the harmonious blend of sea and sky; at this moment, many people in Yongzhou City are likely drawn in by those small ripples on the water

She had never doubted that many of the things she believed in and hoped for were merely unattainable illusions. Throughout a mortal's life, love and hate are both fleeting, and in the end, what remains is nothing more than the six words: "unattainable, unretainable"

Interfering in others' affairs and then turning away, quietly dying in some corner unknown to others, do you not feel particularly great about yourself? Are you moved for your own sake?

It was evident that the look of disdain on her face was too pronounced, and a fleeting expression of frustration crossed He Cong's face. After racking his brain for a while, he said: "Although I do not have the antidote, I can explain the details of the drug 'Touguyqing' to you."

He held a strangely designed lock in his hand, with a meticulously crafted latch that appeared quite heavy. There was a pair of handcuffs connected by a chain, one end locked onto Xie Yun.

How could one possibly perceive her anger? With great enthusiasm, he said: "The Bone-Piercing Blue can freeze a person into a dry corpse within three months. Look at him; he must have been poisoned over two months ago. By the way, wasn't Lian Zhen dead for three years? Who could have administered such poison?"

Li Sheng held the steel lock in his hand, his expression serious like that of an elder brother, clearly not joking. Zhou Fei, feeling both angry and embarrassed, found it awkward to argue with Li Sheng face to face about such a matter. Thus, she redirected her frustration towards Xie Yun and, with a sudden flash of inspiration, came up with a rather spiteful idea, saying: "Lock it on his own ankle."

Zhou Fei took a deep breath, clasped her hands behind her back, and stood silently for a moment, glancing at Xie Yun.

Zhou Fei looked up and saw him, letting out a big sigh of relief: "Brother, quickly call someone to give me a hand."

In a manner that suggested a fear that Zhou Fei might not understand, he gestured and said: "It is equivalent to building a prison cell, where the '透骨青' is the thief, and the formidable inner strength is the guard. As long as the guard does not abandon his post, he can keep the '透骨青' suppressed indefinitely—only, I do not know what kind of medicine he took, as he actually used a method similar to the 'soul-searching needle' to force out his inner strength... Hey, do you understand?"

The master of "Little Medicine Valley" shook his head vigorously and said, "I am not a doctor; I can't even tell the difference between a radish and a ginseng."

Xie Yun, feeling helpless, focused intently on the movements of the "coffin bearers" while casually muttering, "You..."

She wandered around for a while, then picked up Xie Yun's collar and fished out some loose silver from his arms. She moved Xie Yun to a roadside vendor selling straw hats and pointed at the vendor's wooden cart, asking, "Is the cart for sale?"

Zhou Fei hurriedly asked, "Madam, what have you discerned?"

Which one do you want to save

Lady Nizhang replied meaningfully: "If I had a way, that pair of 'big monkeys' that I just managed to drive away would probably not have come to Yongzhou."

Zhou Fei had actually had similar suspicions a long time ago; otherwise, she would not have stubbornly pursued Xie Yun for so long. However, hearing Ying He Cong recount everything from the beginning so clearly, she still felt as if she had been struck by a sudden blow. She was filled with a strong urge to grab Xie Yun by the neck, shake him awake, and then yell at him.

"Get lost." Zhou Fei shot her a glare with displeasure, then turned her pleading gaze towards Yang Jin, the "Master of Qingyun Valley," and said, "Brother Yang, you..."

How should one say: "I can give you a snake, you choose."

more than two months

"Who cares?" Lin Bo shook his head, "In a leaderless situation, there is not a single prominent figure like Shan Chuan Jian from back in the day who could take charge. Even if others harbor grievances, how could they dare to stick their necks out? Even the Li family has retreated to the deep mountains, closing their doors and surrounding themselves with forty-eight strongholds, indifferent to worldly affairs. Nowadays, it is already difficult to maintain one's own integrity; who has the time to stir up trouble?"

Whether it is a disaster or a calamity at the Forty-Eight Villages, what does it have to do with you?

I only have a rudimentary understanding of medicine," said Lady Nishang, "but this ... ...

Suddenly, Zhou Fei inadvertently pressed a random hole, and by sheer luck, the mute flute emitted a sudden sound, short and sharp. Zhou Fei was startled by her own action and looked at the small wooden pipe in confusion, as if she could not comprehend how it had produced a sound.

Xie Yun understood Zhou Fei. Although Zhou Fei was somewhat reasonable, she also had a temper. She definitely possessed the spirit and temperament of "If you don't like me, then just get lost." Xie Yun clearly placed his indifference on display, and she would never entangle herself further. As expected, after he spoke two sentences, Zhou Fei's expression gradually faded, ultimately settling into a blank face, and she replied through gritted teeth, "I know, not only do I know, but I have also personally dealt with the mad dogs under his command."

She had never doubted, unaware that many of the things she believed in and hoped for were merely unattainable illusions. Throughout a mortal's life, love and hate are both fleeting, and in the end, what remains is merely the six words: "unattainable, unretainable"

Xie Yun's limbs gradually began to lose control, and he staggered left and right for a moment before his back collided with the wall beside him. Zhou Fei, seeing that he had just been so vigorous in his movements, figured he wouldn't easily fall to his death, so she did not go to help him. She placed her hands behind her back and said in a very "reasonable" manner: "You ambushed me once, I will scheme against you once, and we are even now"

As the large coffin passed by, everyone fell silent, and the faces of the Zhu siblings turned pale. However, Yang Jin was relatively unrestrained; he walked to the window and glanced down. From above, it became apparent that the open coffin held a secret. Inside was a grand chair, along with several small tables wedged at the bottom of the coffin. On the tables were neatly arranged teapots, wine bowls, and other items. Sixteen robust men walked steadily, not a single drop of the filled cups spilling over. The open coffin indeed concealed a secret, featuring a grand chair and several small tables wedged at the bottom, with teapots and wine bowls placed neatly on the tables, while sixteen sturdy men walked with steady steps, not a drop of the wine spilling from their cups.

Xie Yun thought desolately: Why should I delay her when I could lie in a coffin right now

Zhu Chen was taken aback, awkwardly sitting back down, his pale fingers gently tapping on the porcelain cup on the table. Li Sheng patted his shoulder and was about to head downstairs when he saw the lady in the feathered attire from the performance troupe exclaiming at the door, "Oh dear, Xiao Hongyu, what have you brought back?"

Everyone was busy setting Xie Yun in place, all feeling utterly bewildered

Zhou Fei lifted her eyelids and said coldly, "What? I have already killed Zheng Luosheng. A mere mad dog under the Xuanwu seat can be easily dealt with. Is there any need to greet anyone?"

She took a while to digest these words, and only after a moment did she manage to get the lump in her throat to pass: "Li Sheng, do you want to fight?"

One should say with great joy: "Time is running out"

Zhou Fei had just come up to ask for her Five Bat Order, hurriedly turned around and left, and until now, no one knows what she is doing. Even Yang Jin, who glanced out the window, could be hit by Ding Kui's flying dart. With Zhou Fei's bear-like temper, could it be that she is simply going to start a fight with the people from the Xuanwu Sect on the street?

The items provided by Lady Nizhang are highly reliable, truly deserving of the phrase 'fair to both young and old.' The 'Wangchun Mountain,' which has not a single crack to this day, serves as the best testament to this.

Xie Yun: "... ..."

Zhou Fei gently exhaled and bowed to Madam Ni Chang, saying: "Thank you, Madam—uh, there is one more thing I would like to ask for your assistance with."

Zhou Fei paced back and forth repeatedly in the soft sound of Xie Yun's breathing, yet rules are not established by mere footfalls. She had not walked long before she became dizzy and had to stop. Casually, she took the flute from Xie Yun's waist, fiddled with it for a moment, and imitated his style to blow a few notes.

Li Sheng: "... ... Ah?"

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

He looked at Zhou Fei, believing her to be young and ignorant—not the "ignorance" of a "bastard," but the "ignorance" of "suffering." She resembled a flower that had just bloomed, growing on a sufficiently sturdy vine, alongside thorns. Every drop of dew that touched her was vibrant with life. She could withstand the wind and frost, and endure the harsh cold, carrying an innate wildness as if she had grown from the earth itself. Each day, she sought to become a little stronger, hoping that one day she would pierce through the thick fog, becoming unassailable. She resembled a flower that had just bloomed, growing on a sufficiently sturdy vine, alongside thorns. Every drop of dew that touched her was vibrant with life. She could withstand the wind and frost, and endure the harsh cold, carrying an innate wildness as if she had grown from the earth itself. Each day, she sought to become a little stronger, hoping that one day she would pierce through the thick fog, becoming unassailable.

Ying He Cong turned the straw hat over and said: "I saw someone accidentally spill some tea on it, and the boiling water immediately stopped steaming. When I reached out to touch it, I realized it was icy cold— I want to meet the person who was struck by the penetrating chill."

Is this person ill

However, in front of a large crowd, Zhou Fei found it quite inconvenient to inquire about such a sensitive truth. These intricate thoughts lingered in her mind for only a moment before she wiped them away.

According to Lin Bo, although the Feathered Garment Sect is not very active in the martial world today, over twenty years ago, it was among the four major assassins. Assassins naturally engage in the profession of taking lives; what kind of secret would warrant the hiring of an assassin as a witness and confidant?

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

She glanced down at Xie Yun, whose surroundings were marked by the white hair at his temples still remaining, and the mustache on his lips was half torn away by Zhou Fei, making him look quite comical

Ying He thought he had made a rather witty remark, only to be "wittily" thrown out by Zhou Fei along with the snake.

Secondly, Madam Nizhang clearly understands some of the internal affairs of the sea and sky, yet she is not the owner. Therefore, it is highly likely that what she said in Shaoyang is true; she is merely a "witness and keeper of secrets"

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Zhou Fei suddenly raised her head: "If we can find the Guiyang Pill from the Great Medicine Valley of that year, it can cure the poison, right?"

Zhou Fei's spirit was suddenly lifted, and her gaze turned towards him again

At this moment, the martial artists in the entire inn were in a chaotic discussion about the coffin procession that had just passed by, as well as whether the so-called "Northern Expedition Hero Conference" led by Huo Liantao could still be staged. No one paid attention to the commotion on her side. Only Madam Nishang was taken aback, walking over to lift the straw hat covering Xie Yun's face: "Your Majesty, is that you?"

Zhou Fei asked in a low voice, "Madam, do you have a solution?"

Zhou Fei's heels scraped harshly against the ground, producing a loud "creak" sound

This poison, the voice of Lady Nizhang grew increasingly faint, I have seen it before, but... hasn't Lianzheng already died

Who asked you to meddle in others' affairs

The silver needle itself leaves no trace; even if an inexperienced person accidentally pricks themselves and bleeds, it should heal within a day or two. However, the body of someone poisoned with the bone-penetrating toxin is special; once there is a bump or bruise, the blood beneath the skin will freeze on its own, which is why it has not dissipated for several months. "I understand now," said He Congfei quickly, "this person's poison must have existed for a long time, but at that time, someone infused him with profound internal energy to suppress the onset of the poison, and then used a secret method to seal his meridians..."

Lady Nisha replaced a nod with a gentle blink of her eye, giving her an affirmative answer—indeed.

As she spoke, she parted the crowd and stepped forward, reaching out to probe Xie Yun's hand, only to feel its icy coldness, which made even a truly dead person seem inferior—only a corpse that had been frozen would suffice

What I am thinking about is: Is it the same kind of poison that my Master Yu experienced back in the day?

Her thumb pressed hard against the pattern on the sheath of the Wangchun Mountain knife, feeling a bit like throwing Ying Hecong out. However, she saw that Ying Hecong did not need her to throw him; he suddenly stood up with a "whoosh," walking several circles around the room like a grinding donkey, getting faster and faster, with the sound of wind almost coming from his sleeves. Then he abruptly stopped and shouted, "I know!"

Ying He Cong emerged from an unknown mountain ravine, and upon seeing a stranger, he did not greet them or announce his home. Instead, he handed over a straw hat with a blank stare. This straw hat had been thrown onto Xie Yun's head by Zhou Fei, and after Madam Ni Chang took it off, it was carelessly placed somewhere, and no one paid attention to it afterward

A sudden chill ran up Yang Jin's spine. Without a moment's thought, he instinctively dodged to the side, only to hear a few sharp sounds of "thud thud." A row of palm-sized darts shot out from the green wooden coffin of the Xuanwu master, narrowly missing Yang Jin as they whizzed past him. Some struck the window frame, while others entered the room, where they were swiftly deflected by Li Cheng, who drew his short sword.

Suddenly, she abruptly raised her head, her gaze slightly focused, staring at the doorway. She casually tossed the broken flute onto Xie Yun's pillow and cautiously picked up the knife, walking to the door, where she pulled it open with a swift motion. Indeed, there was someone outside; the visitor was just about to knock when their hand fell short, and they exchanged a moment of wide-eyed surprise with Zhou Fei. However, the snake behind him grew impatient, making a hissing sound as if urging him on—standing at the door was none other than the poison doctor Ying Hecong.

This is somewhat akin to the 'Soul Searching Needle.' With just one sentence, it pinned Zhou Fei in place.

Zhu Chen subconsciously followed up, saying: "I also ... ..."

Firstly, the detoxification efforts of Yu Lao and his associates in those years were inextricably linked to the harmonious relationship between the sea and the sky

Zhou Fei no longer expected to hear any profound insights from his lips and stared at him blankly

She looked towards Lady Nizhang, who happened to turn her head to look at her as well

Li Yan cautiously asked, "Sister, did you cripple him?"

Xie Yun gazed deeply at her

Yang Jin was wronged, and for a moment, her face turned even darker

Seeing that Zhou Fei did not respond, Ying He inexplicably asked: "Still not clear? Is it that complicated?"

Zhou Fei brandished the long knife over his knee and thought to herself: "This is really troublesome; I might as well just cut off a piece."

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

In the guest room, only an angry Zhou Fei and a miserable Xie Yun remained.

Although Zhou Fei had no expectations, she still couldn't help but ask: "How is it?"

Madam Nichang was secretly taken aback, as she grasped Xie Yun's pulse and transmitted a thread of fine true energy. Immediately, she let out a soft gasp, only to see her delicate fingertips, resembling green onions, turn bright red as if they had been counterattacked by something. Madam Nichang quickly withdrew her hand, murmuring, "How could this be?"

Where does this familiarity come from

Moments later, under the trembling gaze of the vendor, Zhou Fei placed the silver down, tossed Xie Yun onto it haphazardly, and took a straw hat to cover his face, leaving only a strand of false white hair exposed on his head, resembling someone preparing to sell themselves to bury their father, as she pushed the "corpse" away.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Fei's heart sank; it was indeed the penetrating blue.

She has never been tempered by the passage of time, nor has she ever been awakened in the midnight hour by the old years that cannot be returned to

Ying Hecong, with a handsome face that betrayed his kidney deficiency, replied earnestly: "My name is Ying Hecong, and I am a snake breeder. Some people call me 'Poison Doctor'—but that is just nonsense; I only enjoy collecting various rare poisons from around the world and do not treat illnesses. The poison that the person you just carried in was afflicted with must be the 'Bone-Penetrating Blue' from the Northern Dipper's Lian Zhen, and I cannot be mistaken about that"

Then, she watched helplessly as Xie Yun brazenly presented his most punchable face, grinning and saying: "Do you see over there? Have you heard of the Qingmu coffin? That is the most treasured 'vehicle' of the Xuanwu Lord Ding Kui. He rarely brings it out except during festivals. Tsk, just as we entered the city, such a grand display. It seems that the living and the dead are determined to stir things up this time."

He had not yet launched into a lengthy discourse when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the fingertip he was holding onto Zhou Fei. Xie Yun's hands were too cold, inevitably somewhat numb, and by the time he realized it, it was already too late. He looked down in astonishment and saw that on the index finger of the hand gripping Zhou Fei, a blood bead with a chilling aura had emerged, the blood slightly purplish, not fully protruding before it was frozen—its origin was a small thorn between Zhou Fei's fingers.

Hmm. Ying He Cong nodded, but before Zhou Fei could feel invigorated, Ying He Cong doused her with a bucket of cold water, saying, "If someone has just been poisoned by the Bone-Piercing Blue and takes a Guiyang Pill, as long as they do not leave a place rich in moisture for the rest of their lives, living to seventy or eighty is not a problem. However, they..."

Zhou Fei: "Speak!"

Xie Yun's vision began to blur, and he instinctively took half a step back. He saw Zhou Fei leisurely wrapping that small sharp spike in satin and said: "Young Master Xie, with your knowledge of astronomy and geography, do you still remember what the Traveling Help is best at?"

At this moment, the surroundings were not quiet; a group of helpers left by the Xingnan Escort Agency were present. Therefore, neither of the two spoke, merely exchanging a glance before each nonchalantly shifted their gaze away. The so-called "unspoken understanding" does not require an extraordinary level of tacit agreement; as long as both individuals are aware of similar underlying circumstances and happen to be thinking about the same matter, it becomes easy to grasp each other's intentions through subtle expressions.

Having dismissed the idle onlookers, Li Sheng assisted in placing Xie Yunan in a newly opened guest room, and asked Zhou Fei, "Should we lock it?"

Zhou Fei exerted some force with her hand, causing the cart that was delivering goods to gently bounce at the entrance, crossing the threshold, and replying: "I picked up a 'father' who writes little tunes."

Li Yan was startled and exclaimed: "Yang Heitan, are you free? Why are you bothering him for no reason?"

Zhou Fei frowned, not yielding an inch, warily wedging her long knife against the door, and feigned ignorance, saying: "What is this 'bone-piercing blue'? What is your purpose here?"

Just when she was at a loss, Ying He had already taken Xie Yun's pulse for quite a while, and suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Oh"

As Yang Jin stood with his arms crossed, scrutinizing one of the "Four Great Demons," the figure of "Wu Dalang" in the coffin suddenly lifted his head. His gaze met Yang Jin's, and for a moment, the expressionless, wrinkled old face stared at him. Then, he bared his teeth in a smile—almost half of his teeth were missing, and the few remaining ones stood sparse and scattered, unable to conceal the dark, gaping mouth, exuding an indescribable eeriness and fear.

A short-statured man is lounging comfortably in one of them, drinking and basking in the sun. Due to his exceedingly diminutive frame, he cannot even poke his head out of this profoundly "deep" coffin.

Zhou Fei met his gaze expressionlessly for a moment, and finally stepped aside, saying: "Come in"

At this moment, the members of the Xingnan Escort Agency in the inn were already on high alert due to the personal arrival of Lord Xuanwu

A small "Bamboo Leaf Green" slipped out of the backpack and ran wildly without any direction, startling several passersby who exclaimed in surprise. Yingheng hurriedly rolled and crawled to chase after it.

As soon as these words were spoken, even the careless Li Yan could not help but feel tense

Xie Yun had long arms and legs, and just now he was roughly thrown onto the small cart used for carrying straw hats. As a result, many parts of his body inevitably brushed against the ground, and his coarse outer garment was now covered in dust. Inside, he was wrapped in a bulky cotton coat, which would allow him to directly join the beggars' gang if he went out. His brow was slightly furrowed, perhaps because the creased wrinkles obscured some of his spirit, making him appear extremely fatigued and truly downcast.

It was murmured, "How has this person cultivated such profound internal strength?"