Chapter 38: Warning

Near the south gate of Changshan County, in front of a stall selling small accessories, a group of children was playing a game with a sweet-looking girl.

“Guess which hand it’s in?” Wen Xiang asked with a smile, holding out two fists.

“Left side, left side!”

“It is the left side, we saw it!”

“Sister Xiang, we won this time, no cheating!” the children shouted and laughed noisily.

Wen Xiang opened her left hand, and it was empty. She then opened her right hand, which held three or four pieces of gummy candy.

“How did that happen…”

“I clearly saw it in the left hand!” The children were immediately confused.

“I’ll give you one more chance.” Wen Xiang smiled like a fox.

Just then, a withered old man passed by Wen Xiang. He seemed to say something, and Wen Xiang’s expression immediately darkened. She handed out the gummy candies to the children, thought for a moment, and turned toward a shop. She borrowed a pen from the shop’s accountant and asked for half a piece of paper. After writing a few words on the paper and thanking him, she turned and walked away.

More than twenty minutes after Wen Xiang left the south gate, a middle-aged Martial Artist carrying a large cloth bag on his shoulder walked in from outside the city. His face looked tired, and his hair was strange, looking as if it had been chewed by a dog; some parts were long, some were short, and in some places, the hair seemed to have fallen out, exposing the scalp.

It was summer, and the weather was hot, but a chilling aura drifted around the middle-aged Martial Artist. People passing by him felt a cool breeze, which was very comfortable, so they often looked at him with curiosity.

As soon as the middle-aged Martial Artist entered the city gate, a waiter from a teahouse approached him with a smile: “Excuse me, are you Brother Gui?”

“I am.” The middle-aged Martial Artist was stunned. “Is something wrong?”

“Someone asked me to give this to you.” The waiter handed over a slip of paper.

The middle-aged Martial Artist opened the slip and saw four words written on it: Beware of ambush.

The middle-aged Martial Artist frowned: “Who asked you to give this to me?”

“A child,” the waiter replied.

“A child? How old? Where is he?”

“He left long ago.” The waiter smiled bitterly. “I reckon that child is like me, just a messenger, only six or seven years old…”

“Did you ask him who gave him the slip?”

“I did. He said it was an old man.”

The middle-aged Martial Artist stopped talking. He knew that asking further would yield nothing. However, since the other party was so cautious, passing the slip through several people, the warning inside was likely not baseless.

Just then, several people walked toward the city gate, and one of them shouted from afar: “Brother Gui, where have you been?”

The middle-aged Martial Artist looked up. He recognized the other person, who was also a Wandering Martial Artist. They were quite familiar with each other. Normally, he would have told him directly as there was nothing to hide, but now he became more cautious and replied vaguely: “I just took a stroll around the Black Forest and dug up some medicinal herbs.”

A cold aura flowed within ten meters around the middle-aged Martial Artist. Those people felt it as well and looked at each other.

…

In the bedroom of Miaodao Pavilion, Su Tang was placed on a soft couch. His face was exceptionally pale, and his breathing was weak; there was almost no movement in his chest. Several wounds had stopped bleeding, or rather, there was not much blood left to flow.

Wen Xiang reached out her finger and touched Su Tang’s neck. After a moment, she suddenly said: “You didn’t intentionally let him get so heavily injured just to get a verification, did you?”

“How could that be possible?” Long Qi was stunned.

“I asked around. Those assassins might have followed Mr. Su all the way. In other words, they have been lingering near Miaodao Pavilion for more than a day or two,” Wen Xiang said slowly. “You didn’t notice at all?”

“This is indeed my fault. Miaodao Pavilion has been peaceful for a long time, so the defenses became a bit lax.” Long Qi sighed. “Don’t forget, Su Tang was personally appointed by the Grand Exalted. How could I be so absurd? Moreover… I have no need to verify anything. Often, ignorance is bliss. Besides, once Su Tang takes over, I will completely leave Miaodao Pavilion. What significance does your background have to me?”

“He is about to pass away,” Wen Xiang said. “Please go out.”

“Alright,” Long Qi said. “I have already prepared the medicinal herbs. I almost emptied several shops. Should I have them sent in?”

Wen Xiang’s expression was complex. She shook her head and said: “Not needed for now. I will say it again, he really is almost gone.”

Long Qi stopped talking, turned, and walked out. Closing the door, his eyes were full of doubt. The reason he had simply emptied the medicine shops was that he didn’t want Wen Xiang to misunderstand and think he coveted the secret formulas. To his surprise, Wen Xiang didn’t need them, which was strange. Did Wen Xiang want to just go through the motions? Was she waiting for Su Tang to die? That didn’t seem right… she could have simply said that Su Tang was beyond saving. Given Su Tang’s current state, no one would doubt it.

Xiao Buhui and Tong Fei sat in their seats, remaining silent. Su Tang had just entered Miaodao Pavilion; it would be fake to say they had deep feelings for him. They felt pity for Su Tang, but more than that, they felt rage. The Pavilion Master of Miaodao Pavilion had been attacked in broad daylight. If they didn’t do something, the day Miaodao Pavilion collapsed would not be far off.

To this kind of provocation, they had to strike back with the strongest posture!

“What did Wen Xiang say?” Xiao Buhui asked softly.

“She will do her best,” Long Qi said.

“If Mr. Su doesn’t make it through this crisis, will you come back?”

“I’ve already left, why would I come back?” Long Qi shook his head.

“I see…” Xiao Buhui paused, then smiled. “Once this matter is over, let’s all find some time to gather and have a good drink.”

“You’re still in the mood to think about drinking at a time like this?” Long Qi frowned.

“He means we should have a farewell dinner,” Tong Fei added bluntly. “The Great Master already gave you a chance once; he won’t give you a second. Instead of waiting for the Great Master to find some fool to make a mess of Miaodao Pavilion, it’s better if we leave first to avoid that nonsense.”

“Who dares to give you nonsense?!” Long Qi said, his gaze falling on Xiao Buhui. “Buhui, how about…”

“Don’t get any ideas about me,” Xiao Buhui interrupted. “I hate doing these mentally draining things the most. By the way, did you ask Wen Xiang?”

“Wen Xiang, she…” Long Qi suddenly thought of something and turned pale with shock. He jumped up from the chair all at once, tiny beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead, and his eyes went blank.

“What happened?!” Xiao Buhui asked hurriedly.

“No… nothing,” Long Qi forced a smile.

“Nothing?” Xiao Buhui looked at Long Qi seriously. “In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you this scared. Is the sky falling?”