Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 569 - 484: The Man in the Basement

Chapter 569: Chapter 484: The Man in the Basement

Late at night, all was quiet.

Gongsun Liuying slowly woke from her unconsciousness.

Having been asleep for too long, even the dim oil lamp made her squint and shut her eyes momentarily.

Once she’d adjusted to the light in the room, she caught the scent of a pervasive medicinal aroma, different from typical medicines, mingled with a faint and refreshing lotus fragrance.

"Oh, you’re awake?"

A blurry silhouette intruded into Gongsun Liuying’s vision.

Gongsun Liuying stared fixedly at the intruder for a moment before her sight finally cleared.

It was an extraordinarily alluring face, glowing with a radiant, captivating smile.

Gongsun Liuying frowned slightly. "Who are you?"

Lan Yeyue chuckled, "I am Mao Tu of Great Zhou’s Twelve Guards."

"Twelve Guards?"

A flicker of caution immediately passed through Gongsun Liuying’s eyes.

She had long heard rumors about the Twelve Guards—Chu Grand Marshal’s Twelve Generals, each endowed with supernatural abilities and exceptional talents. But after Chu Grand Marshal’s demise, the Twelve Guards scattered and were never heard from again in Jianghu.

It was said that not long ago, internal turmoil erupted in Great Zhou, during which the Twelve Guards reappeared.

However, it had nothing to do with her, so she hadn’t delved deeper into it.

"Seems your father didn’t tell you."

Lan Yeyue discerned the truth from Gongsun Liuying’s gaze. "I have another identity—my father is the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley."

"You’re the heiress of Medicine King Valley?"

Gongsun Liuying’s surprise dissipated much of her caution.

Lan Yeyue asked with a smile, "Heard of me?"

Gongsun Liuying replied softly, "When my younger sister fell gravely ill in childhood, my father took her to Medicine King Valley seeking treatment."

Lan Yeyue studied her expression and remarked with a smile, "You seem somewhat discontent."

Gongsun Liuying said indifferently, "The medical skills of our Thousand Mechanism Pavilion are no less advanced. If only I hadn’t been so young at the time, we wouldn’t have had to resort to Medicine King Valley."

The standing of Medicine King Valley in Jianghu could almost rival Witch Mountain—no one dared underestimate it.

Yet, Gongsun Liuying was born a Phoenix Girl, her status even surpassing that of royalty. The daughter of Medicine King Valley? She hadn’t taken her seriously.

Lan Yeyue burst into a laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

Gongsun Liuying frowned and asked.

It was amusing that Lan Yeyue herself was also self-assured.

She retorted sharply, "You’re trying to imply that you’re superior to Medicine King Valley, right? Then guess what? Who do you think saved you? Who do you think cured your father’s poison?"

Gongsun Liuying’s expression changed slightly. "My father was poisoned? Who poisoned him? How did he get poisoned?"

Sitting down in a chair, Lan Yeyue poured herself a cup of tea and leisurely sipped at it. "Miss Gongsun, let me offer you some advice—there’s always someone stronger, always more skilled. Don’t think too highly of yourself; there are plenty of people in this world who surpass you."

Gongsun Liuying, still in a weakened state, paused for a while before responding coolly, "Just because you treated me doesn’t give you the right to humiliate me."

Lan Yeyue smiled with an ambiguous expression, "Humiliate you? Was it me who forbade you from wielding the Phoenix Girl Sword?"

Gongsun Liuying clenched her fingers tightly.

Lan Yeyue spoke freely and with relish, "Be a little humble, and perhaps I might enlighten you."

In the past, Gongsun Liuying never bowed to anyone.

But the palace’s recent events were extraordinarily strange, and she urgently needed answers.

Suppressing her anger, she addressed Lan Yeyue, "Miss Lan, please enlighten me."

Though her tone still held some arrogance, this was the best concession she could manage.

Lan Yeyue didn’t continue to be difficult and asked with a smile, "What do you wish to know?"

Gongsun Liuying hesitated before asking, "Is the Phoenix Girl Sword—the Qingluan Sword—fake?"

Lan Yeyue replied earnestly, "I’ve never seen the real Phoenix Girl Sword, so I can’t say for certain. When your junior sister drew the sword, did you feel anything unusual?"

"Unusual?"

Gongsun Liuying thought back, an ominous feeling creeping over her as she said, "Yes, it felt as though the sword was being pulled out of my very being..."

The pain and the sense of being hollowed out—that memory alone sent chills down her spine.

Lan Yeyue rubbed her chin and said, "Your Life Chart was stolen by her."

Gongsun Liuying murmured skeptically, "Life Chart... stolen?"

Lan Yeyue explained, "You are the Phoenix Girl. By taking your Life Chart, she became the Phoenix Girl and successfully drew the Phoenix Girl Sword. It’s that simple."

"If that’s the case, then everything makes sense." Gongsun Liuying’s brows furrowed deeply. "But how did she manage it?"

Lan Yeyue poured herself another cup of tea. "That, I do not know. When my father arrives, you can ask him."

Gongsun Liuying asked urgently, "Your father is here in the Imperial City?"

Lan Yeyue took a sip. "In Medicine King Valley."

Gongsun Liuying queried, "When will your father set out?"

Lan Yeyue shrugged. "I’m not sure. He’s in seclusion. Perhaps he’ll emerge tomorrow, or perhaps not for a year or so."

Gongsun Liuying’s expression turned grave. "I can’t wait."

She couldn’t bear even a single day without being the Phoenix Girl!

"Indeed, you can’t."

Lan Yeyue swirled her tea cup. "Anyone whose Life Chart has been taken will gradually deteriorate. At best, they’ll be plagued with chronic illness; at worst, they’ll die. Honestly, had it not been for me, your Thousand Mechanism Pavilion would’ve been arranging your funeral right now. I can only save you briefly, but I can’t save you forever."

Gongsun Liuying asked anxiously, "Is there a way to undo it?"

Lan Yeyue replied, "There is. Simply avoid her entirely—stay as far from her as possible and never appear before her."

Gongsun Liuying’s face darkened. "You’re telling me to live in disgrace?"

Lan Yeyue sighed, "You could also drive her away—preferably out of the Southwest—but now that she’s the Phoenix Girl, your Liang Country’s Majesty likely won’t let her leave."

Gongsun Liuying clenched her fists. "Is there truly no other solution?"

Lan Yeyue shook her head apologetically. "That’s all I know."

Gongsun Liuying’s tone grew colder. "Suppose—just suppose—she were dead?"

Lan Yeyue let out a wildly exaggerated laugh. "You’re planning to kill her for her fortune? The virtuous and benevolent Miss Gongsun from the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, almost like a reincarnation of Buddha, turns out to have such a wicked side."

Gongsun Liuying retorted, "She stole my Life Chart, robbing me of everything. Doesn’t she deserve punishment?"

Lan Yeyue grinned faintly. "If the Phoenix Girl were someone you could kill, she wouldn’t truly be the Phoenix Girl. I’ve told you everything, Miss Gongsun. Farewell."

As Lan Yeyue stepped out the door, a Hunting Eagle fluttered its wings and took flight from the rooftop.

-

Meanwhile, Meng Qianqian wasn’t aware that Lan Yeyue had so swiftly left the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

She arrived once again at the underground cellar where arrays were being crafted.

The markings she had left in the secret chamber had been tampered with—likely by Xiao Rong’er.

After Gongsun Liuying’s incident, Xiao Rong’er’s first reaction must have been that someone had interfered with the array here.

Meng Qianqian infiltrated the secret room once more, found the stone bed, and spotted the man from before.

Meng Qianqian approached him.

A fire-starter would leave a lingering scent in the sealed chamber.

Meng Qianqian could only use the Luminous Pearl embedded in the wall.

When she brought the Luminous Pearl closer to the man, she noticed he seemed to be muttering in his sleep, mumbling something incoherent.

Meng Qianqian leaned in, listening for a long time, but still couldn’t make out his words.

The man was gaunt, with snow-white hair and beard, his wrinkled face filthy, making it impossible to discern his original features.

"Senior."

Meng Qianqian gently tapped his shoulder.

He suddenly woke and, as before, grabbed her hand.

This time, Meng Qianqian did not pull her hand back. Instead, she brushed aside his messy hair and began using a handkerchief to carefully wipe his face clean.

Yet he was so emaciated that his appearance had completely changed.

She still couldn’t recognize him.

Still, if she didn’t know him, surely she recognized the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

Who else would be locked away by the pavilion, if not some terrible wrongdoer?