FID – Chapter 1022

Chapter 1022 — The Real Mastermind

  Up to this day, he no longer wished to mention that person’s name.

  He had never imagined that one day his life would be tied to that person in such a manner. How utterly ironic.

  “Whether that place is truly gone or not, I’ve decided to keep searching. Perhaps we might still find some clues.” Feng Qingbai paused. “As long as things haven’t reached a true dead end, it doesn’t mean there’s no hope at all.”

  Xue Honglian froze slightly, lowering his eyes. He hadn’t expected someone like Feng Qingbai to say words meant to comfort. With his personality, saying something like that must feel unnatural even to himself.

  But perhaps this was what having friends meant.

  Liu Yusheng agreed with Feng Qingbai. “I’m with Feng Qingbai on this. No matter what others say, unless I verify it with my own eyes, I won’t give up.”

  “…Thank you.” He said this to both of them. In all his life, with his identity, Xue Honglian had never said thank you to anyone. The words felt stiff and awkward.

  Liu Yusheng pressed her lips together in amusement, her soft laugh easing some of the heaviness that had settled after learning Miaojiang was gone.

  “What are your plans now?” Feng Qingbai asked. “Will you leave with us, or stay in that village a while longer?”

  Before Xue Honglian could answer, Liu Yusheng spoke up, “Of course he’ll stay in that village. Didn’t they say that envoy is coming in a few days? If Xue Honglian isn’t there, what will happen to Qian Yi? Her bloodline is pure; the envoy definitely won’t let her go.”

  Feng Qingbai raised an eyebrow. “Since when has he ever had any compassion? If he chooses to stay, it’s definitely not for that Qian Yi.”

  Xue Honglian lifted his eyes, unsurprised that Feng Qingbai could see through his thoughts. Sometimes, the person who understands you best is precisely your rival. After all the years they had competed, Feng Qingbai’s understanding of him wasn’t less than anyone close to him.

  “There are many secrets in this village. Until those secrets are revealed, I won’t leave.”

  “What kind of secrets? You’re staying as an outsider. When that envoy arrives and sees you, he won’t fail to be suspicious. Even if members of the Saintess Tribe protect you, the outcome may not go as you expect. It might even stir up greater trouble.” Liu Yusheng wasn’t optimistic about his choice.

  From the moment they officially entered Mo City, being constantly under hidden surveillance, she had already guessed the temperament and methods of the Xiliang Emperor. He was extremely wary of foreigners entering Xiliang, and given the importance of the Saintess Tribe to him, he would never tolerate an outsider staying among them; even in the name of a protector.

  Xue Honglian wasn’t naive; he trusted that she understood this. Liu Yusheng, too, was curious about what secrets this village might hold that could make Xue Honglian risk staying behind.

  After hesitating for a while, Xue Honglian finally spoke. “There are people in this village who can control poisonous creatures—centipedes, scorpions, that sort of thing.”

  That statement alone was enough for anyone perceptive to spin countless speculations, and it was deliberately left at that.

  With his temperament, he wouldn’t reveal anything before confirming it fully—but he was even less willing to let two people who were genuinely worried about him waste their time chasing a mirage that might no longer exist.

  As expected, his words immediately shocked the two of them.

  “Able to control snakes, insects, rodents… isn’t that the kind of skill only the Miaojiang people know?” Liu Yusheng exclaimed in astonishment.

  Feng Qingbai then added, “So you suspect that the Saintess Tribe might very well be descendants of the old Miaojiang people. Even if they’re not, they’re at least connected to Miaojiang, right?”

  Xue Honglian nodded. “That’s why I want to stay and see if I can find more evidence to support my theory. By the way, I once heard from the villagers that besides the Saintess Tribe, Xiliang also has a Gu Medicine Clan. Judging by the name, they seem related to Gu.”

Feng Qingbai pondered for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll send someone to investigate over there. You handle this side. Let’s set a limit of one month. We’ll regroup here in a month.”

  Xue Honglian replied, “Okay.”

  A month wasn’t very long, but for people like them, it wasn’t short either. Moreover, Feng Qingbai’s identity wouldn’t allow him to stay in Mo City for too long; it would raise extreme suspicions in Xiliang and could trigger unforeseen complications.

  On top of that, he couldn’t neglect the state affairs of Nanling for too long, so one month was already his limit.

  With plans set, the three of them parted ways.

  Before leaving, Xue Honglian handed a small vial to Liu Yusheng. “This is venom extracted from a Xijiang snake. It has a paralyzing effect. I’ve tested it, and it’s just as effective as Mafeisan, and more convenient. As long as the dosage is right, it won’t harm the human body. You can use it when treating patients.”

  When Liu Yusheng took the vial, Feng Qingbai’s entire face darkened.

  Xue Honglian ignored him, giving what he wanted to give, and vanished in a flash.

  “I didn’t expect there to be a miraculous venom,” Liu Yusheng thought. “I’ll experiment with it a few more times when I get back. If it’s really as Xue Honglian said, it could be extremely useful.”

  No sooner had she finished speaking than she felt her waist tighten, falling into the man’s embrace. His expression was pitch-black. “Let’s go back.”

  “…” Liu Yusheng felt in between tears and laughter.

  On the way back, she remembered something. “Wasn’t it said that many people in Xiliang are secretly watching us? The people who should be in the inn rooms are returning from outside. Doesn’t that just raise suspicion?”

  “It won’t,” Feng Qingbai said calmly. “Wei Zi has already taken care of it. The story that will circulate is simple: the King of Nanling went out with his consort, and along the way managed to shake off the watchers. Our return will simply appear as coming back from a journey, nothing suspicious.”

  He naturally left no loose ends. Everything the woman might think of, he had already considered. And what she didn’t anticipate, he had already arranged. Even if those watchers were secretly observing them, they would be powerless, only left to fume in frustration.

  Indeed, things went exactly as Feng Qingbai predicted.

  They returned openly through the city gate. The guards were surprised but not shocked, which meant they were in contact with the spies. The guards themselves were among the watchers.

  Back at the inn, Feng Qingbai immediately ordered Wei Zi to gather information, to learn from the locals whether Miaojiang had truly disappeared.

  If it had, they would continue searching, but their focus would no longer be on pinpointing Miaojiang’s exact location.

  Confirming Xue Honglian’s suspicion was the current priority.

  If their guess proved true—if the Saintess Tribe and the Gu Medicine Clan really were descendants of Miaojiang, or somehow connected to the vanished Miaojiang—it would show that Miaojiang, once independent of all nations, had likely been quietly claimed by Xiliang decades ago.