FID – Chapter 948

Chapter 948 – It’s a Blessing to Have Met Them

“You stingy iron rooster, you’re actually giving me silver?” He squeezed the brocade pouch and found it thick and heavy, with something solid inside.

Curious, Xue Qinglian opened the pouch. Inside were silver notes and a sycee-shaped jade pendant. He raised an eyebrow. It was the jade pendant Qian Wanjin usually wore at his waist.

“What, you’re giving me your personal pendant too? I’ve never worn something this tacky, take it back.”

Qian Wanjin exploded, “Tacky your ass! That pendant lets you withdraw up to 500,000 taels of silver at any bank across the nations. And it gets you free stuff at any Qian family shop! I haven’t even used it myself. I’m giving it to you and you’re complaining? Get lost!”

Xue Qinglian immediately tied the pendant to his waist, then opened his arms and pounced on Qian Wanjin. “Xiao Jinzi, you’re so considerate! If you were a woman, I’d totally marry into your family!”

“Xiao Shitou, protect me! This bastard’s trying to take advantage of your man!”

Shi Xianrou instantly transformed into a protective mother hen, and the three of them broke into a chaotic scuffle.

Liu Yusheng and Feng Qingbai watched from the side, smiling at the scene, savoring this rare moment where the five of them could still be together.

Originally, Xue Qinglian had wanted to stay and attend Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou’s wedding in November, but the other four firmly rejected the idea.

The Gu worm in his body was like a ticking time bomb, constantly threatening his life. He had to seek a cure as soon as possible. There was no telling when something might go wrong.

Liu Yusheng had once tried using spiritual spring water to lure the Gu worm out, but the attempt had failed. The Life Link Gu was different from the type Feng Mohan had been afflicted with. It wasn’t affected by the spiritual spring water.

Because of this, Xue Qinglian had to set out as soon as possible. The sooner, the better.

Although he was about to embark on a long journey, Xue Qinglian didn’t bring any luggage. In his pocket were only the silver notes and jade pendant Qian Wanjin had given him, and a gourd-shaped jade pendant gifted by Liu Yusheng.

The moment he saw the shape of the pendant, he already knew it must contain some kind of treasure inside. He carefully hung it around his neck and tucked it under his collar.

“Lucky Nannan, you know I’m headed to Miaojiang, right? That place is barren with no chickens, no eggs, not even bird droppings, and the people there are wild. I heard every single one of them knows how to control insects, and they’re extremely xenophobic. If an outsider steps into their territory, they’re treated like an invader and captured. It’s super dangerous. So I think the little bit of treasure you gave me just isn’t enough. How about giving me a gourd or two more to take along?”

By now, the group had arrived at the riverside dock outside the capital. Without a word, Feng Qingbai lifted him up and tossed him off the carriage. “You can leave now.”

After landing steadily with a somersault in front of the carriage, Xue Qinglian shouted toward them, “I’m about to leave! Who knows how many years it’ll be before we meet again, and this is how you treat me?!”

The curtain of the carriage was lifted by a long, slender hand, revealing a refined and handsome face.  “Do you want me to see you off with tears and sentiment?”

Despite the gentle tone, Xue Qinglian shivered and immediately jumped onto the boat docked at the shore. “You’re not here to send me off. You’re dumping baggage, aren’t you? Fine, don’t bother seeing me off anymore. I’m leaving! Until next time!”

“Hey, Xue Qinglian,” Qian Wanjin shouted, “Xiao Shitou and I are getting married this November. After that, you’ll be the only single guy left in our group. Next time you come back, you better bring a partner. Otherwise, when we hang out again, you’ll be the odd one out, all lonely and pitiful. No one’ll be around to keep you company!”

“Scram, damn it! I’m nothing like you people. One by one, you’re all jumping into the grave like it’s a party. Talk about asking for suffering. Being single and carefree is way better. Why can’t you all see that?” He entered the cabin, plopped down on a low stool and shouted, “Set sail!”

The four on the carriage didn’t get off, but neither did they immediately turn and leave. They remained parked at the dock.

Xue Qinglian didn’t walk out of the cabin to put on some dramatic show of reluctant farewell either.

He propped his chin with one hand and gazed out from the cabin doorway, watching as the dock slowly faded from view. Even though the carriage was now far away and he could no longer make out the heads poking out of its window, he could still clearly feel the eyes watching him from afar.

These people…

In all the decades he’d lived, meeting them was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Even if that little parasite inside his body ended up killing him, he figured it was worth it.

Xue Qinglian had left, but Xue Zhong was still in the royal residence. They couldn’t just keep him in Liuyun Pavilion, being served by the king’s attendants.

What? Did he get out of prison only to retire in the King’s Manor? 

Qian Wanjin was the first to object.

“What are you planning to do with that old bastard?” he asked the moment they returned to the residence. “He’s a cripple. He can’t carry, can’t lift, and can’t even walk. Someone has to bring the bowl right to his face just so he can eat. Don’t tell me you plan to just keep supporting him like that? And the worst part is we can’t even let him die!”

Just thinking about it was infuriating.

Of course, no one wanted to deal with it. But if they didn’t, then what about Xue Qinglian? Xue Zhong’s life was tied to his. Crap, that was the most frustrating part.

So he looked at Feng Qingbai with high hopes. He might not have a solution, but that didn’t mean Feng Qingbai wouldn’t.

This man was a monster genius. What could possibly stump him?

The man gave him a glance, then opened his lips lightly under Qian Wanjin’s eager gaze. “I don’t know either.”

“…You’re messing with me, right?”

“I am.”

Screw you, Feng Qingbai, you bastard.

“We can’t throw him back into the Clan Court prison. Annoying as he is, we still have to keep him alive. Until Xue Qinglian finds a way to undo the curse, we’ll just have to endure it,” said Liu Yusheng, helplessly.

She didn’t like seeing that gloomy face either, but there was nothing she could do.

“Put him in the servants’ quarters. Have someone deliver two meals a day. Just make sure he doesn’t die,” Feng Qingbai said.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Qian Wanjin frowned. “One meal is enough. There’s no need to be generous, just keep him alive. It’s not like he came to the manor to be treated like royalty.”

“The manor can afford the extra meal. If something actually happens and he starves to death, Xue Qinglian would come back as a ghost and haunt you for revenge,” Feng Qingbai changed the subject. “You and Shi Xianrou are getting married in November. There’s less than two months left. Are all the preparations done?”

“Most of it’s ready. We’ll go over things again later and see if anything needs to be added. The guest list for the wedding banquet is still being finalized,” Qian Wanjin said. “You know how it is. My Qian family has got a big business empire, connections all over Nanling, Dongyue, and Beicang. For my wedding banquet, people are breaking their necks trying to get in. The guest list has to be carefully curated. It’s the biggest headache for me right now.”

“Then what are you still doing here? Hurry up and get going.”

“…You changed the subject on purpose to get me to leave, didn’t you? Do I annoy you that much?” Qian Wanjin blew up again.

“I have things to take care of too. I don’t want to neglect you as a host. Let’s meet another time,” Feng Qingbai said indifferently. His casual tone somehow made Qian Wanjin feel at ease.

“Fine, I won’t hold you up from your important business. Just be sure to show up on time in November. And don’t bring some shabby gift. You’re the King of Nanling, after all. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of the other distinguished guests.”

His attitude was almost identical to Liu Zhiqiu’s.

All about the money.

Birds of a feather flock together. Having grown up together, it was hard to say who rubbed off on whom.