Chapter 173
Not far away, Dai Heng had already had his line of sight blocked in time by Lu Yi on the side. Lu Yi averted his gaze, making eye contact with Lu Shi, who was crouching on the tree, to avoid seeing what shouldn’t be seen.
Lin Qingyang’s brain had already crashed and rebooted; his cheeks felt like they were on fire.
“You guys… continue chatting, I’ll leave first.” Besides making a quick exit, Lin Qingyang couldn’t think of any other way. He couldn’t expose Chu Lishu in public. Oh, dear God, he shouldn’t have come!
But Lin Qingyang’s reaction was not to Chu Lishu’s satisfaction. He didn’t show any intention of letting go of the hand he was holding.
“It’s okay, we’re done talking,” Chu Lishu looked at Dai Xueyang with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Miss Dai, in the future, you will also meet a husband worthy of trust. But rest assured, the promise I just made will be fulfilled, even if you can’t keep yours.”
Dai Xueyang was initially quite embarrassed, but upon hearing the last sentence, she admired Chu Lishu’s skill in handling people. Their earlier commitment was sincere, even if there was no marriage involved. The Dai family would keep their word, even if there were hidden complications behind Chu Lishu. They had to play it by ear. At least, they could live up to their commitment to Chu Lishu.
Dai Xueyang bowed in acknowledgment, and Chu Lishu spoke, “Once you successfully join the Seventy-Two Fort, contact me through the Chen Lan Merchant Agency. I will provide you with some information.”
Dai Xueyang felt a warmth in her heart. The information Chu Lishu would provide was bound to be helpful for their endeavors. Initially, she thought they would have to fight alone, starting from scratch. The feeling of having a powerful support behind them was truly reassuring. It was as if, by following Chu Lishu’s commands, any task would become manageable, making one willing to follow his lead without questioning the future.
It’s a pity; if he were not a strategist but a true leader, the siblings would have been more willing to pledge their allegiance to him.
Turning away and leaving with Dai Heng, there was nothing to regret in their hearts.
Lin Qingyang numbly waved his hand in farewell, and it wasn’t until Chu Lishu said, “Let’s go back,” that Lin Qingyang stiffly turned to look at him, his face filled with indescribable emotions, while Lu Yi and Lu Shi had long disappeared from sight.
Chu Lishu had an innocent look on his face, as if he hadn’t done anything wrong. “Is there something you want to say, Cousin? Because of what just happened?”
“You… you did those misleading things and still talk about having someone you fancy. I’m your cousin!” Lin Qingyang felt flustered and confused. It was true that he had a crush on Chu Lishu, but did Chu Lishu also create a narrative of himself liking his cousin? Would that mean his crush narrative had collapsed?
“Cousin, didn’t you notice?” Chu Lishu looked serious, as if he wasn’t the one who had just taken advantage of the situation.
Lin Qingyang’s heart trembled, sensing something. Could it be that the male lead really had feelings for him!!!
Chu Lishu explained, “Before you arrived, Miss Dai said a lot. She’s a kind and affectionate girl, but I don’t have any feelings for her. I didn’t want her to waste her youth for me, so I straightforwardly rejected her. However, she didn’t believe me and even offered to be a concubine, being quite persistent. I had no other choice, and with your arrival, I had to stage this little act to put an end to all her thoughts. It’s for her own good. But Cousin, you can rest assured, they will be heading to the remote Xinan, and our reputations won’t be affected. If we meet again in the future, I believe Miss Dai will have let go of her feelings for me.”
Listening to these words, Lin Qingyang’s face went from red to blue, nearly scared out of his wits! His heart almost stopped! So, everything was just to make the girl give up, and he was used as a shield.
Lin Qingyang choked a bit. “Was such an exaggerated approach necessary? It’s only been a short time…”
“Because this is the second time?” Chu Lishu raised an eyebrow, his eyelids drooping as if savoring something. Then, he said with a serious expression, “Well, since it has happened once, it naturally doesn’t feel much different the second time. So, just now, I didn’t have any psychological obstacles. I just wanted to end it quickly. Should Cousin have me hug and hold you, drag it out, and then she would still not be believed until I kiss you to prove it? Dai Xueyang is quite clever. Isn’t this the most efficient way?”
Looking at Chu Lishu’s self-assured demeanor and confident tone, Lin Qingyang was inexplicably convinced for a moment. Yeah, they had already experienced more intense things, so what did a gentle touch of lips matter? But why did it still feel like something was off?
Right, why did he have to reject it in the first place? Making him sacrifice so much!
“That Miss Dai isn’t bad…” Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but say. At least, that kind of proposition wouldn’t have any harm for Chu Lishu; otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed in the original plot.
Chu Lishu glanced at Lin Qingyang. This fool clearly liked him, yet he was talking about other girls. It was either jealousy or unease. Sigh… such a temperamental person.
“In my heart, there’s only… important matters; there’s no room for other women. There are many good girls, but I don’t like any of them,” Chu Lishu stated.
Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu with a complex expression. Was he really non-CP material? “Aren’t you afraid of ending up lonely and old?”
Chu Lishu smiled and, gazing into Lin Qingyang’s eyes, replied firmly, “I won’t be.”
Lin Qingyang thought about it and realized that the male lead’s desire for companionship was quite simple.
As they walked back, Lin Qingyang still felt a bit awkward, especially with a tingling sensation on his lips.
Trying to break the silence, Lin Qingyang spoke, as the quietness made him uncomfortable and prone to overthinking. “By the way, what did you mean by providing information to Dai Xueyang? Aren’t you letting them handle things on their own?”
He remembered from the original plot that indeed, he had subjugated the siblings and sent them to unify the Seventy-Two Fort, providing necessary manpower for Chu Lishu to overturn the court. It also laid the foundation for the later tyrant to have control over the martial arts world. Their abilities had greatly improved during that time, and within a year, Dai Heng became the sole fort leader, an astonishing speed that left people speechless. Naturally, the mastermind behind him was Dai Xueyang, serving as his military strategist. At that time, Lin Qingyang already thought the siblings were impressive, but unfortunately, they met a tragic end later.
After Lin Qingyang asked the question, he didn’t hear Chu Lishu’s response. When he turned to look, he saw Chu Lishu looking at him in confusion, “Why didn’t you ask me first why I sent them to subjugate the Seventy-Two Fort?”
Lin Qingyang suddenly didn’t know how to answer. Of course, he knew why, but he forgot to ask that question first. The male lead’s mind was indeed agile, and he had been too careless.
“Uh, I was more concerned about this question, so I asked it first. I was planning to ask about the purpose of subjugating later,” Lin Qingyang quickly tried to cover up, his face involuntarily becoming a bit unnatural.
Chu Lishu immediately understood, looking at Lin Qingyang with some helplessness. What? He had rejected Dai Xueyang in front of Lin Qingyang, and Lin Qingyang was still afraid he would secretly contact Dai Xueyang? Truly a small vinegar jar.
“I’ve gathered some information about the Seventy-Two Fort before. It’s just for them to use. Otherwise, waiting for them to complete the subjugation task would take too long. The current royal family struggle is intensifying, and the situation on the Fourth Prince’s side can’t wait. Prime Minister Li’s power is not as deep as the three major families, so they need a group of martial artists for possible use. Once they successfully join, I can provide them with some assistance to expedite the process,” Chu Lishu explained both questions in one go.
In fact, before Chu Lishu came to the capital, he had once wandered to the Seventy-Two Forts. At that time, he collected information from each stronghold, analyzed their strengths and weaknesses, and devised a series of strategies tailored to them. It was a juicy piece of meat, the best thing for Chu Lishu without any existing influence. He had originally intended to handle it personally, but due to limited time and resources, he had to prioritize. Thus, he temporarily abandoned the plan to subjugate the Seventy-Two Forts. Unexpectedly, he encountered the siblings from the Dai family, who were suitable candidates and could be of use. Everything he saw and heard on his revenge journey was stored in his planning. Just like with the recent Wu Xin Fort, he stored information and would use it when needed.
Lin Qingyang also suddenly understood. It wasn’t written in the original plot, but it turned out that it was because of Chu Lishu’s behind-the-scenes manipulation that the Dai siblings shone so brightly. They indeed had skills, but those skills alone wouldn’t have achieved such an exaggerated result. Everything was aided by the male lead from the sidelines.
Lin Qingyang used to only admire Chu Lishu’s skills, but now he felt a bit distressed. Has Chu Lishu been exhausted all this way?
Seeing Lin Qingyang’s uncertain expression, Chu Lishu thought that his explanation might not entirely reassure Lin Qingyang. He said, “I’ll handle the information. Cousin, could you help with writing and delivering letters? Is that okay?” This way, there should be no worries about jealousy.
Lin Qingyang was momentarily surprised, feeling that the male lead was increasingly trusting him. He dared to let him do such things? He quickly nodded, realizing that his chances of becoming a supporting male character were not far off. Once he became a supporting character, he could provide more help, even if it was not particularly useful, he could still share some burdens.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but smile and nodded, saying, “Rest assured, leave these miscellaneous matters to me. Don’t overwork yourself.”
Seeing him like this, Chu Lishu chuckled helplessly. “Ah… it is a bit tiring.”
If they could freely exchange their feelings, there would be no need to hold back, fearing that he might hurt Lin Qingyang. He would have to constantly indulge Lin Qingyang’s temper. How could it not be tiring?
However… Chu Lishu couldn’t help but smile, willingly accepting the pleasant exhaustion that came with it.
Before long, the siblings who successfully joined the Seventy-Two Forts received a letter. The contents were like a comprehensive guide to conquering the forts. Dai Heng was incredibly excited.
However, what left Dai Xueyang speechless was that, within a perfectly normal letter, the ingenious strategies and greetings were written in different styles, as if Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang had jointly written to them. It reminded Dai Xueyang of the day when they were shown off, and now, she was so far away. Was it really necessary? Was it truly necessary?!
【Ding, Main Mission 2, Mission 8: Help the male lead subdue the Dai siblings. – Completed】
The two returned to their tent, and the others had yet to come down from the mountain. However, Mu Huichun had descended and sought them out. Finding them absent, he went back to his own tent where he brewed medicine. He instructed Chu Lishu to visit him when he returned.
Chu Lishu went alone and found Mu Huichun looking displeased inside the tent, fiercely pounding medicine with a pestle.
“What happened?” Chu Lishu inquired.
“That place got burned, and I don’t know which idiot did it. I didn’t get to see anything,” Mu Huichun complained, feeling like his trip was wasted.
“Since it’s a gathering place for poisonous substances, it’s quite normal to be burned down,” Chu Lishu commented. Moreover, there were many poisonous snakes there, and they were likely discovered, leading to the decision to burn the area. “Besides, those toxins might not have any research value for you, especially since we all rely on the detoxifying medicine you provide!”
Mu Huichun, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but smile. “Really?”
Chu Lishu seemed to have realized something. “Then, the detoxifying medicine should have the same formula I obtained from master. However, this time, it not only detoxifies but also provides immunity to all poisons for several hours. How is that possible?”
Mu Huichun was taken aback, “Really?”
Chu Lishu frowned, “You don’t know?”
To his surprise, Mu Huichun chuckled, “I didn’t expect my random experiment to actually yield such miraculous results.”
Chu Lishu furrowed his brows slightly, “What do you mean?”
Mu Huichun immediately became excited, “I just made some improvements to master’s detoxifying medicine, but I haven’t tested it. You guys are the first batch of testers. Quickly, tell me what poisons it can cure and how long it lasts!”
Chu Lishu suddenly felt a headache coming on, while Lin Qingyang, who was in another tent, unknowingly escaped a potential ordeal.
“It’s unstable. After all, the poison in each of us is different, and it seems like the duration varies as well. Young Master Xu you just witnessed only experienced a brief detoxification,” Chu Lishu explained.
Although Mu Huichun was eager to understand, the toxins in their bodies had already been neutralized, and there were no signs in their pulses to trace. The poisons on the mountain had also disappeared. They could only wait for another opportunity to try again.
Mu Huichun couldn’t help but carefully observe Chu Lishu in front of him. “You really are my senior brother. This is the first time I’ve truly seen someone whose appearance was changed by Tianxuan Pill. It’s truly miraculous.”
“Did our master receive my message and send you here?”
Mu Huichun nodded, saying, “Master said that some things are destined in your fate, and he can’t forcefully intervene. Changing it might be even more unfavorable for you. However, since you asked, he allowed me to come and help. But senior brother, although I specialize in medicine, our master himself is powerless against the situation with Tianxuan Pill. I’m afraid I can’t help alleviate your suffering.”
Chu Lishu’s eyes flickered. He knew that their master must have foreseen something again. “I asked you to come not for Tianxuan Pill, but for Lin Qingyang’s mother. She is seriously ill and doesn’t have much time left. If you have nothing urgent, stay with us for a while and attend to her.”
“Oh, no wonder he asked me to help with medical treatment. But senior brother, what exactly is your relationship with him? The scent of Tianxuan Pill on him is too strong. If not for this, I wouldn’t have followed him to find you,” Mu Huichun asked in confusion.
Unlike Mu Huichun, Chu Lishu couldn’t smell the scent of Tianxuan Pill. After some thought, he figured that the two of them were probably too close.
Chu Lishu explained his current identity and then said, “These are my current roles. As for Lin Qingyang…”
“Your cousin?” Mu Huichun asked.
“That’s just the surface relationship. In reality, we are very close. You’re still young; you’ll understand in the future,” Chu Lishu explained slowly. His junior brother was only fifteen years old, and he didn’t want to instill too much in him at the moment.
Mu Huichun really wanted to express that he wasn’t that young anymore, but facing his senior brother, he still felt the same as before, not daring to contradict too much. It was quite strange, even though his appearances was completely different now.
In Mu Huichun’s memory, Yuan Ran from back then, even as a young man, had a tall and imposing image, complemented by delicate features. The royal nobility exuded from him, making him appear like a gilt-edged jade carving, noble, beautiful, and sacred, inviolable.
Now, Chu Lishu still had a handsome and ethereal appearance, but there was a gentle quality to it, making him seem like someone one could easily bully. However, once his deep gaze swept over and he spoke with a low tone, the aura of the past Yuan Ran still emanated, and people instinctively listened.
With senior brother having gone through great difficulties and their master not coming out to help, Mu Huichun did have some opinions. However, seeing both of them so calm, Mu Huichun didn’t say anything. He could only do his best to help. “Senior brother, shall I perform acupuncture? You were affected by quite a few poisons before. Even though they’ve been neutralized, the aftereffects of Tianxuan Pill still seem to be affecting you.”
“Sure.”
On the other side, Lin Qingyang had been waiting until everyone else went down the mountain. Not seeing Chu Lishu return, he became worried. He ran to Mu Huichun’s tent but didn’t rush in. Instead, he stood outside and called out, “May I come in?”
“Come in,” Chu Lishu’s voice replied.
When Lin Qingyang entered, he saw Chu Lishu lying on the bed, and Mu Huichun standing beside him, performing acupuncture.
“Is there… any problem?” He noticed bloodstains under the bed, and Chu Lishu’s face was extremely pale, showing signs of exhaustion.
“There was an issue, but it’s resolved now,” Mu Huichun replied, also looking a bit weary.
“Cousin, it’s perfect timing you came. Let me formally introduce. I once studied the art of Divination, the Five Elements, and Eight Trigrams under a master. This is my junior brother, proficient in medicine. I specifically brought him here to treat Aunt. I plan to keep him in the family. What do you think?” Chu Lishu introduced the two.
“I couldn’t ask for more,” Lin Qingyang realized that Mu Huichun was probably the disciple Chu Lishu mentioned, the reclusive master from another world. The original plot did not mention the matter of him treating her mother.
Lin Qingyang was suddenly moved and was about to express gratitude when Mu Huichun, full of curiosity, said, “I heard from my senior brother that when his old ailment flares up each month, taking the painkiller you provided relieves the pain. Since he finished his supply, do you have more? Can you show me? Is it from the West Moon Country? I want to see if I can replicate it.” The things they couldn’t accomplish amazed Mu Huichun.
Lin Qingyang felt a bead of sweat on his forehead. He had intended to refuse, but afraid that if he declined, Mu Huichun would go directly to the West Moon Country. Reluctantly, he took out one.
However, unexpectedly, once Mu Huichun got hold of the medicine, he seemed to be ensnared in a magical state, completely engrossed in studying it and paying little attention to the outside world. Therefore, he didn’t inquire about the origin of the medicine.
While they were talking, Yue Chen and Huo Luo also arrived. They were somewhat worried about Chu Lishu, so they came to check on him.
As they needed to break camp and return to the capital, Lin Qingyang went ahead to prepare the carriage, leaving them space to converse.
As a result, shortly after coming out, he encountered the Eldest Prince.
The Eldest Prince was clad in military attire, and the dried bloodstains on his body formed a mottled pattern on his red cloak. Wang Tong’en was also surrounded by a solemn and murderous aura, closely following behind. The two exuded a majestic aura reminiscent of warriors on the battlefield.
Lin Qingyang originally intended to salute and leave, but the Eldest Prince stopped him.
If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of coffee for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!
Thank tou ciacia