Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 164: Arrival

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Arrival

With those words, he picked up the lantern and went into the house to find herbs. Xi Chenyu knew then that Master treated him differently.

After a while, Master came out with the herbs and said, "Wait. Take the medicine home after it’s brewed."

Brewing it at home might arouse suspicion. Not many families in the village kept their lights on at night. Xi Chenyu nodded and went with Master to the kitchen.

While brewing the medicine, Master asked about Xiao Yunjing’s condition.

"Oh? You said he fainted only after his poison was neutralized, and then he started to develop a fever?"

"Yes," Xi Chenyu nodded.

Master fell into deep thought upon hearing this. He had been here for twenty years and knew a fair bit about the Baiyue Clan. That poison was concocted by the Poison Elder; ordinary Detoxification Pills couldn’t neutralize it. The boy said the man’s poison was clearly neutralized, so why did he then fall unconscious and develop a high fever? Master became interested in this man and decided to take a look at him later.

It was night, and everyone was asleep, so no one would notice the young man. The young man often visited him, sometimes for a meal, sometimes just to accompany him on a walk. It was no different from usual and wouldn’t attract attention.

Of course, he had his own selfish desires. If only...

He longed to leave this place.

Those years ago, alas...

When Master thought of the past, he was filled with regret.

After all these years, he still wanted to leave, but he lacked the ability. Not to mention, the entire clan territory was surrounded by a formation. Every time he approached it, someone would follow him. He knew the Baiyue Clan had never trusted him. His life had been spared only because he promised never to leave and to serve as their Master for life.

He wasn’t like the people here, who could see in the dark and seemed naturally gifted in martial arts—every one of them an expert. He also cultivated, hoping that one day he might become an expert and perhaps find a chance to leave. But twenty years had passed, and he had only managed to reach the initial stage. Not like this boy, whose skills had become formidable with just a little guidance from him.

Master snapped back to his senses, looked at Xi Chenyu tending the fire, and said, "I’ll go with you to take a look later."

Xi Chenyu looked up, his heart thrilled, and nodded. "Okay."

He had no idea what to do, so if Master went to take a look, he might think of something.

After the medicine was brewed, one of them carried the lantern, and the other carried the medicine. The medicine pot was well-sealed, so the medicinal aroma didn’t escape. They walked at a leisurely pace, chatting as they normally did, on their way back to Xi Chenyu’s house.

Upon returning to the house, Xi Chenyu quickly bolted the door.

Meanwhile, Master went to check on Xiao Yunjing on the bed. Xiao Yunjing’s face was contorted in pain, flushed crimson, burning hot, and covered in fine beads of sweat. Master took Xiao Yunjing’s hand to check his pulse. The moment he touched the pulse, he was startled; the man’s pulse was racing incredibly fast. How could he possibly diagnose what was wrong with him?

"Master, what’s happened to him?" Xi Chenyu leaned in and asked softly.

"I don’t know. I can’t diagnose him. Hurry and give him the medicine to see if it helps," Master shook his head. He had never encountered such strange symptoms—such a high fever and rapid pulse.

Xi Chenyu immediately poured out the medicine. One of them lifted Xiao Yunjing while the other poured the medicine down his throat. Perhaps because the fever had made him thirsty, Xiao Yunjing, though unconscious, actually drank the entire large bowl of medicine.

After he finished drinking, the two of them watched over him. About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed, but Xiao Yunjing’s condition remained the same, showing no signs of improvement.

Truthfully, Master wasn’t very skilled. He could handle headaches and fevers, but faced with a situation like this, he was at a loss. He stood up and said, "Young man, I must go back. Keep a close eye on him. Whether this person lives or dies will depend on his own fate." He still had to teach tomorrow and couldn’t afford to let anything slip.

Xi Chenyu nodded and escorted Master out the door. Master exited, paused as if wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing and left with his lantern.

Xi Chenyu understood the meaning behind Master’s hesitation. He closed the door, walked to the bedside, and stared blankly at Xiao Yunjing. He truly didn’t know what to do. Should he carry him back to the cave, or just let him die in his house?

Meanwhile, Mr. Xiao, after a night of searching the mountain, finally met up with Yun No. 6 and his companions. By then, everyone was utterly exhausted and had to rest where they were.

"Yun No. 6, tell me in detail what happened after you entered the mountain," Mr. Xiao instructed Yun No. 6.

Yun No. 6 bowed and said, "Reporting to Old Master, after we went up the mountain..." Yun No. 6 explained everything in detail.

After listening, Mr. Xiao stroked his beard and looked at the dense forest before him. When he was guarding the border, he had heard that this Yanshan Mountain Range was very mysterious. Because it served as a natural barrier, and travel didn’t pass through it, no one had ever explored it. Its specific conditions were unknown to anyone. From what Yun No. 6 had just said, he suspected that someone had laid a formation within the mountain. There were indeed people in the world who understood arcane arts like Qimen Dunjia; otherwise, where did the battle formations used in warfare originate? If Third had indeed blundered into a formation, it would be perfectly normal for them not to find him.

He looked at the exhausted soldiers and the boundless forest. Searching the mountain with this handful of troops felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. Even if they brought in two hundred thousand men to search, it was uncertain if they could find him. Alternatively, they could fell all the trees on the mountain. But neither of these methods was feasible. Never mind two hundred thousand men; the frontier garrison totaled only one hundred thousand soldiers. If all were mobilized, Yanshan City would be left defenseless. Wouldn’t that be like opening the gates wide and inviting the enemy in at their leisure? As for felling the trees, it would take a good ten or eight years just to clear a path to the middle of the mountain range. By that time, it would be far too late.

"Old Master, what should we do?" Yun No. 6 asked anxiously.

Mr. Xiao’s eyes narrowed as he said, "Have the soldiers return. Send a message for everyone from your Secret Sect to come and search the mountain for your master."

Upon hearing this, Yun No. 6 immediately nodded. This seemed to be the only viable option at present. He glanced at the soldiers. They were as exhausted as dogs after only one night. If they could find their master in this state, it would be as if ghosts were helping. He quickly ordered Yun No. 32 to make the arrangements. Then, their small group, including Mr. Xiao, headed deeper into the mountains. To avoid getting separated, they tried their best to stick together.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingli, with Wuqing and three others taking turns carrying her, finally reached Yanshan City on the afternoon of the second day. Just then, Yun No. 20, who had been concealed in the shadows, received a message from the Secret Sect. He passed the message to Gu Qingli. Upon reading it, Gu Qingli nearly fainted. As expected, something had happened to Xiao Yunjing.

"Miss!" Wuqing and Wuyou immediately supported her.

Gu Qingli pressed her temples, collecting herself a little, and said, "We must enter the mountains quickly."

"Yes," they all responded in unison.

Wuqing and the others continued to take turns carrying her as they set off.

Not long after they had left Yanshan City, they encountered Yun No. 32 leading the soldiers back. After Gu Qingli learned the situation from Yun No. 32, she immediately sped towards the Yanshan Mountain Range. Yun No. 32 also quickly sent a message to Yun No. 6 about Gu Qingli’s arrival.

Four hours later, Gu Qingli’s party arrived at the foot of the Yanshan Mountain Range. Gu Qingli looked at the tracks left by the soldiers going up and down the mountain and said, "We’ll follow these tracks up the mountain for now."