Finest Servant

Chapter 505 An Unexpected Encounter at the Summit

"Where are you going?" Gao Qiu's voice tinged with urgency upon hearing the news. "Do you need me to secretly deploy troops for protection? Is an army of 100,000 sufficient?"

An army of 100,000? Ridiculous. Master Lin snorted dismissively, "What I am about to do is of the utmost secrecy within the Great Hua Empire. Aside from you and me, no one else is allowed to know. Should anyone dare to pry—Gao Qiu, I trust you know what to do."

Hearing the solemnity in his voice, Gao Qiu nodded hastily, "Understood. Rest assured, Brother Lin, if anyone dares to expose your whereabouts, I will personally remove their head."

"What is he up to?" Seeing Gao Qiu's carriage moving further and further away in the opposite direction, Qin Xian'er asked suspiciously, "Is he actually angry with us? Why won't he interact with us?"

Her expression showed some worry. Xiao Qingxuan gently took her hand and reassured her, "Sister, don't worry. You know My Dear's temperament well. He has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. It's unlikely that he's easily angered. Most likely, he's hiding something from us."

Qin Xian'er felt Xiao Qingxuan's grip on her palm, struggled briefly, but seeing her heavily pregnant, her face filled with concern, she stopped resisting. "Why are you holding me? Be careful, I might accidentally hurt you." Qin Xian'er pouted and turned her face away but allowed Xiao Qingxuan to hold her hand.

Ning'er chuckled softly, "What could he possibly hide from us? Every renowned young lady in the capital who has set eyes on our big brother is already here, save those who can't catch his eye. Where else could he go to philander? Ah, perhaps some young lady from another province has arrived in the capital today?"

Her words amused the other wives, who giggled blushing. Only the Second Miss pouted, "The bad guy is not chasing after skirts. He must be up to something important. I trust him!"

"Achoo!" Sitting in the carriage, Master Lin sneezed loudly, startling the horses trotting alongside. Gao Qiu quickly leaned in, "Brother Lin, what's the matter? Did you catch a cold from waking up too early?"

"No, no, I'm not that frail," Lin Wanrong waved his hand, chuckling. "Perhaps someone is thinking of me. Gao Qiu, how much farther to Fairy Hall?"

Gao Qiu squinted, estimating the distance, "To avoid the watchful eyes of your wives, we took a longer route. We should be there in about half an hour."

Longer route was an understatement; it felt like a journey to the heavens. Lin Wanrong shook his head and yawned, letting it pass. By the time they reached the Jade Buddha Temple, the sky was already bright. A thin layer of mist meandered through the mountains. The distant summit appeared as elusive as a fairy palace, ethereal and unreachable.

Fairy Hall had been transformed into a school. It was still the season of the spring equinox, and few people were about. The path leading to the mountaintop was already wide open. As they ascended the steps, they were greeted by green pines and vibrant cypresses, a multitude of competing blooms, and the subtle fragrance of flowers wafting through the air. The mist wrapped around them, refreshing and pleasant.

"This is quite a good place, even better than the Penglai Fairy Pavilion," Lin Wanrong mused. Despite the steep mountain path and his injuries, he and Gao Qiu were making slow progress, affording Master Lin some time to appreciate the scenery. "When I, Old Gao, retire, I'll build a straw hut here. I'll pick fresh flowers and drink fine wine every day, living a carefree life like the immortals."

Lin Wanrong snorted, "What's so great about being an immortal? Casting aside all emotions and desires, they're devoid of even basic feelings. What's the difference between them and a tree stump? It's much better to be a mere mortal like me, deceiving and enjoying life to the fullest."

"Well said, well said," Gao Qiu laughed heartily. Then, he became shy, "But if I were to find some four-legged companions to share my carefree life on this mountain, I'm afraid I wouldn't feel at ease. You know, Brother Lin, I'm a rather introverted person. I always feel guilty for hours after visiting the Eight Alleys."

Having spent a long time with Master Lin, Old Gao had thickened his skin quite a bit. Even Master Lin admired his audacity. The two reached the mountaintop, still joking and laughing. The ruins of a once heavily bombarded archway lay before them, covered with overgrown weeds and debris, barely recognizable as the once bustling area it had been.

Suddenly, Lin Wanrong stared ahead, dumbfounded. Before him stood a small spiritual tower at the grave of the late Hall Master. An incense burner was placed on top of it, three sticks of incense rising to the sky. Beside the grave was a straw hut with a bamboo door. The stone in front of the door was exceptionally smooth, as if someone lived there.

"Fairy Sister!" Lin Wanrong yelled excitedly, forgetting his injuries and attempting to move forward. A sharp pain shot through his leg, causing him to stumble. Fortunately, Gao Qiu reacted swiftly and caught him.

"Brother Gao, help me over there quickly," Lin Wanrong urged, gripping Gao Qiu's arm painfully. Gao Qiu dared not delay; with a grunt, he pushed Master Lin's wheelchair forward.

In a few steps, they reached the straw hut. Lin Wanrong couldn't help but pause, hearing his own heart pounding. The inside of the hut was eerily quiet, the bamboo handle on the door clean and polished, indicating that the owner was a clean person.

"Yuxi," Lin Wanrong muttered, his eyes suddenly moistening. With trembling hands, he gripped the handle and slowly pushed open the bamboo door, exclaiming, "Fairy Sister, I've come—"

Crash! As soon as he opened the door, an object came flying straight for Lin Wanrong's face.

"Brother Lin, get back!" In a split second, Gao Qiu shouted and moved like lightning, positioning himself in front of Lin Wanrong. He slid the wheelchair back and swatted the incoming object away, yelling, "Who dares to attack an official of the imperial court? Do you wish to die?" Ｒ

The flying object hit the ground with a 'plop,' breaking into several pieces. It was nothing but a water ladle made from a hollowed-out gourd, weightless and harmless.

"What a malevolent hidden weapon!" Gao Qiu exclaimed in alarm, hurriedly extending his arms to shield Lin Wanrong behind him. "We shouldn't stay here long! Brother Lin, you should withdraw first. I'll cover you."

"Giggle—" A crisp voice emanated from the thatched hut. "Tell me, Lord Lin, where did you find such a bodyguard? His skin is as thick as yours. Oh, what happened to your leg? Was it my sister who did it? Serves you right!" The young woman burst into joyous laughter, clearly in high spirits.

Gao Qiu's face tightened, remaining stoic as he stood protectively in front of Lin Wanrong. Lin Wanrong patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "Relax, Brother Gao, she's no stranger; she's my sister-in-law."

From the hut emerged a girl of about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a light yellow robe. Her face was pretty, and she had bright eyes and white teeth. Although young, she was already remarkably beautiful.

"So she's your sister-in-law," Gao Qiu nodded seriously, flexing his sturdy wrist, "Good thing I pulled my punch in time. Otherwise, your sister-in-law would have met her untimely end, thanks to my unparalleled martial arts. Quite fortunate!"

Lin Wanrong burst into laughter and said, "Well said, Brother Gao! I thank you on behalf of my sister-in-law."

"Tsk," the young girl scoffed coldly at Lin Wanrong, "Who's your sister-in-law? Don't call me so affectionately. My sister may care for you, but that has nothing to do with me. As for this burly fellow you're with, I could flip ten of him with just my little finger. He'd better keep his mouth shut, lest he incur my wrath."

Gao Qiu roared with laughter. "Brother Lin, truly, your sister-in-law is well-trained by you. She even boasts better than you!"

At this, Lin Wanrong rolled his eyes. ‘When have I ever boasted? I've always been honest.’ ‘This sister-in-law is Fairy Ning's disciple; she could indeed beat ten of you, Gao Qiu, without breaking a sweat.’

The young girl sneered as she listened to them converse, a flash of silver flickering in her hand before she swiftly revealed a silver needle.

‘Needles are coming!’ Lin Wanrong felt a chill run down his spine. He hurriedly patted Gao Qiu on the shoulder, "Brother Gao, be cautious with your words. My sister-in-law is genuinely formidable."

"Ah, what's there to fear," Gao Qiu winked slyly, leering as he spoke, "It's often said that a man's sister-in-law is like his half-buttock; he can touch her however he wants. Your sister-in-law is youthful and beautiful—although a bit young, still—she's plenty interesting. Besides, Brother Lin, you're so dashing and handsome, it's only natural for a brother-in-law to flirt with his sister-in-law. After all, why let the water flow into someone else's field? Look, she's smiling at you, Brother Lin, don't forget to invite me to the celebratory feast—"

‘This guy's loose lips will be the death of me,’ Lin Wanrong thought, sweating profusely. He quickly looked over to see the young girl's expression growing increasingly icy, the silver needle in her hand glittering ominously. With a flick of her wrist, a flash of silver light shot directly towards him, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Ah!" Gao Qiu let out a pained exclamation, his face instantly turning pale. "Brother Lin, this is bad—"

"What's bad? Did you get pricked?" Lin Wanrong patted him sympathetically on the shoulder. "I warned you not to speak recklessly. My little sister-in-law is highly skilled in martial arts. Offend her and you'll suffer the consequences."

Frantically, Gao Qiu waved his hands, "No, no. Brother Lin, it's you—"

"Me? What's wrong with me? You should worry about yourself; that needle is very potent." Seeing Gao Qiu's abrupt change in complexion and the cold sweat rolling down his face, Lin Wanrong hurriedly reassured him. "However, Brother Gao, you don't need to be overly concerned. The silver needle is actually not poisonous. At most, you'll feel a bit cold, then numb, then tingly, and finally a bit weak—like having a sauna. You'll be fine since you're skilled in martial arts—"

"No, Brother Lin," Gao Qiu cut in, finally seizing an opportunity to speak. His voice quivered, "I wasn't pricked. It's you—"

"You're not going to say that I was the one who got pricked, are you?" Lin Wanrong laughed heartily. "Today is April Fools' Day, and Brother Gao, you love to joke with me. You were the one who spoke ill of her, not me. Why would she target me?"

"Brother Lin, it's true, it's true." Gao Qiu was nearly in tears. "Quick, look at your butt—"

Butt? Can't the man use a more refined term like 'buttocks'? Lin Wanrong followed Gao Qiu's gaze and subconsciously touched his left buttock. He felt what seemed to be a thin, quivering ice thread. The chilling sensation had numbed half his backside.

"Little sister, what are you doing?" Lin Wanrong shivered, his face turning ashen. "I didn't provoke you. Why target me and ignore the real culprit? It's taboo to strike a man's buttocks and a woman's waist!"

"Hee-hee, why aren't you calling me your sister-in-law now? It sounds quite pleasant to the ears," the young girl chuckled. "This big fellow is your henchman, and whatever he says is surely orchestrated by you, right? 'Shoot the horse before the man; catch the leader first.' Haven't you heard of that?"

‘Damn it, Gao Qiu, this lecherous old man is going to get me killed.’ Lin Wanrong sighed, "Brother Gao, weren't you supposed to be protecting me? How did I end up getting pricked?"

"I don't know," Gao Qiu made a bitter face. "You said she's your sister-in-law. If a sister-in-law wants to prick her brother-in-law, what can an outsider like me do?"

‘God, why does everything that comes out of Gao Qiu's mouth get twisted?’ Lin Wanrong realized he couldn't rely on Gao Qiu anymore. Seeing the young girl on the opposite side grinning but hiding malice behind her smile, he could only brace himself. "Well, little sister, Miss Xiangjun, could you please remove this needle? If word gets out that a young girl pricked a man's buttocks, it won't sound too good."

Li Xiangjun snorted, "What doesn't sound good? If anyone dares to gossip, I'll cut off their tongue. As for the needle, it stays until I'm in a better mood."

Lin Wanrong knew Li Xiangjun's personality all too well. This cheeky girl had as many tricks up her sleeve as he did. If she said the needle wouldn't be removed, then there was truly nothing to be done about it.

"Brother Lin, how about I find a magnet to see if we can extract this needle?" Gao Qiu was ever so considerate, promptly suggesting a solution.

‘How did I end up making friends with someone as detrimental as old Gao?’ Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth in annoyance. If his legs were in working condition, he would've kicked the man out by now.

"Let's not do that," Lin Wanrong strived to keep his composure, his face dark as charcoal. "Force is mutual. What if the magnet also gets sucked in by the powerful pull of the needle? My behind is not a basket, you know!"

Li Xiangjun was standing quite close to the pair, and she couldn't help but laugh, her cheeks flushed as if stained by rouge. Feeling a bit improper, she hurriedly covered her cheeks with her sleeve and turned away, her ears glowing red from laughter.

"Ah, why didn't I think of that?" Gao Qiu had a moment of enlightenment, offering Lin Wanrong a thumbs-up in sincere admiration.

Li Xiangjun was blocking the entrance, so naturally, they couldn't enter the house. Seeing that the one living here was not Fairy Ning, Lin Wanrong felt disheartened. No wonder he hadn't seen this impish girl these past few days; she had gone up the mountain.

Across from them, Thousand-Forsake Peak was shrouded in mist, obscuring the view. The love chain stood still in the morning wind, quivering ever so slightly, as if it were a ladder that stretched to the heavens.

The image of Fairy Ning leaping through the air to catch the love chain flashed before his eyes, and Lin Wanrong, filled with excitement, urgently said, "Brother Gao, quickly, help me over there to have a look."

Gao Qiu was about to assist him when Li Xiangjun swiftly stepped in front of them, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "So, you're leaving just like that, without removing the needle? You should know I've coated it with 'Seven-Step Powder.' Do you know what that is? Tell him, Big Guy!"

Gao Qiu was startled and blurted out, "Seven-Step Powder is a deadly poison, made from a blend of Crane's Red Crown and Nine-Tailed Scorpion venom. Legend has it that anyone who is poisoned will not make it past seven steps. There's no known antidote."

Seeing Gao Qiu rattling off this information as if reciting from a textbook, Lin Wanrong laughed, "Where did you hear about the potency of this Seven-Step Powder, Brother Gao? It sounds quite terrifying."

"It's no joke," Gao Qiu clutched Lin Wanrong's sleeve nervously. "The storytellers at the tea houses all say so, and I've read about it in various books during my training."

Books that Gao Qiu would read? Probably something like "The Golden Lotus" or "The Carnal Prayer Mat." Lin Wanrong, exceptionally clever, didn't believe a word of it. "So what if it's Seven-Step Powder? I'm in a wheelchair! Let's go, Brother Gao!"

Gao Qiu had no choice but to push Lin Wanrong forward, his heart jumping to his throat at the thought of the legendary potency of Seven-Step Powder.

"If you don't listen to me, don't blame me for the consequences," Li Xiangjun huffed, counting aloud, "One, two, three—"

‘There are plenty of fake medicine peddlers out there. I'd be strange to fear you,’ Lin Wanrong thought, laughing carelessly.

"—Seven!" Just as the wheelchair had moved a few steps, Li Xiangjun shouted, and Lin Wanrong collapsed, falling flat on his face.

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