Your rudder could probably turn into an electric fan even without wind, couldn’t it?
But right now she truly couldn’t say much more. Her entire back where it had made contact with the old monster was numb. Earlier, afraid that Second Senior Brother would foolishly blurt out “Junior Sister,” she had mustered all her strength just to utter those two words.
Senior Brother clearly couldn’t adapt to her honey-tongued yet sharp style either. He glanced at her again, probably feeling unable to communicate, then turned his gaze away and tugged at Tie Ci.
Tie Ci gave him a flattering smile.
She had seen Second Senior Brother Le Wuxun rarely, but the impression was deep—after all, every time she saw him, his styling would assault her eyes.
“Master instructed me to check on you when I had time. I didn’t expect to arrive and find you in such a pathetic state,” Second Senior Brother frowned. “You’ve completely ruined my lifelong reputation.” As he spoke, he casually stuffed a pill into her mouth.
But Tie Ci immediately spat it out, using her eyes to signal that he should give it to Feiyu.
She knew the people from her sect—each had their talents, but they shared one common trait: most were cold-hearted. For the sake of their fellow disciples, saving her was one thing, but they would never give precious medicine to just any random person.
For example, the beauty beside her right now.
However, contrary to her expectations, Second Senior Brother said with disgust, “Aren’t you revolting?” He raised his hand and stuffed a pill into Feiyu’s mouth, then said, “Pick up what she spat out and feed it back to her. It’s not an antidote anyway—what’s all this pushing back and forth for? Are you trying to display your fake plastic friendship?”
Second Senior Brother was consistently sharp-tongued, and Tie Ci had long been immune to it. But she cared about the latter half of his sentence. At this moment, Feiyu had already fed the medicine back to her, and after a moment she could speak again, so she said, “Senior Brother, if this isn’t an antidote, then what is it…”
“How would I know? Master gave it to me, saying you could use it in emergencies. There were only two pills total. I saw you were completely stiff right now, which should count as an emergency, so I gave them to you both. If you’re dissatisfied with my arrangement, then spit it out.”
Tie Ci: “…”
What emergency, my ass.
A life-saving pill for replenishing vital energy at critical moments—it wasn’t a targeted antidote. Wouldn’t taking it be a waste?
She could feel that her poisoning wasn’t particularly severe. After all, she hadn’t directly contacted the old monster. When her back had collided with him, she still had layers of clothing and even fake skin as barriers providing isolation and protection. The reason she temporarily couldn’t speak was that her true energy was flowing strangely, and the heavy impact had caused internal organ pain.
Indirect poisoning could be expelled through cultivation.
But no one could reason with Second Senior Brother. He wasn’t cowardly in fights, but he got excited in arguments, his mouth like it had a machine gun mounted on it. The consequence of arguing with him would only be annoying yourself to death. The best approach was to give him the cold shoulder.
But Le Wuxun continued, “Master ordered me to look after you. If you die, I’ll lose face too. How about this—a disciple of the Medical Maniac is nearby. I’ll drag him over to examine you both.”
After speaking, he roughly tousled Tie Ci’s hair and turned to leave.
Tie Ci’s head was knocked sideways by his roughing, but she was used to it. Rolling her eyes, she straightened herself up. Turning her head, she saw Feiyu staring at Second Senior Brother’s retreating figure with sinister eyes.
Tie Ci didn’t notice her dangerous gaze—she was puzzling over something else. She felt that Second Senior Brother was unusually diligent today. Normally, he would rather die lazily in a reclining chair than run errands for other people’s affairs.
Even Master could only command him mostly because she always had strange ideas and various peculiar costumes to attract his interest.
Tie Ci didn’t really understand Second Senior Brother’s background. She only knew his family lived on an overseas island, having left the mainland several generations ago. Their ancestors were extremely illustrious—so illustrious that their descendants had changed their surname seeking stability, transforming their original surname into their current one. Because the family’s power was too strong, even after going overseas, they were said to be like kings in their local area.
Though Master’s medicine wasn’t an antidote, it was still a spiritual remedy. The dark energy between Feiyu’s brows had also faintly dispersed somewhat. She suddenly asked, “What kind of outfit is your senior brother wearing?”
When he had turned around earlier, she had seen something sharp trailing from his rear end, like a swallow’s tail.
“Oh, that’s called—what was it—Baroque or Rococo-style aristocratic clothing? That thing on his rear is called a tailcoat, and those on his legs are stockings. I’ve seen them in Master’s fashion design drawings. His is still a simplified version—normally there should be lots of lace, ribbons, embroidery, and the shoes should have heels too.”
Feiyu imagined those stockings on hairy legs stepping into heeled little leather shoes, and her whole person felt unwell.
“Your master is quite the eccentric?”
“The whole sect is full of oddballs—only I’m normal. But let’s talk about you, top courtesan. Why did you suddenly disappear, then suddenly reappear?”
“Who disappeared?” Feiyu said quite aggrievedly. “I was captured by Murong Duan’s remaining subordinates for severe interrogation. I finally escaped and returned to Lingquan Village, but you had already left. At that time, Murong Duan’s people were still searching everywhere on Qingyang Mountain for him. I was afraid they’d discover Lingquan Village and rescue Murong Duan, so I didn’t dare approach the village to inquire about your whereabouts. I went straight out of the mountains and wandered around several nearby towns for quite a few circles. Today when I was walking the mountain path, I unfortunately encountered that old monster. He wanted to take advantage of me, so I chopped off one of his hands. While fleeing, I was discovered by that group of black-clothed men. I had a poison attack at the time, so I fell into their hands… and coincidentally finally met you.”
Hearing this seamlessly perfect explanation, Tie Ci smiled.
Reunion was fate—why pursue so many details? In any case, Feiyu wouldn’t harm her. If she wanted to harm her, there would have been no need to save her so many times.
Performance at life-and-death moments was proof enough of everything.
The medicine was good medicine. Both of them had recovered considerably by now. Supporting each other, they climbed up and saw the surroundings as if burned by fire—trees withered, leaves scorched, insect corpses everywhere, and quite a few small animals that had been caught in the crossfire lying dead in the grass. For a moment, both felt the sensation of surviving a catastrophe.
Tie Ci glanced at the poisonous plants and insects scattered everywhere by the wind, worry showing in her eyes.
The old monster’s poison was too powerful. The key point was that wind couldn’t blow it away, rain couldn’t wash it away. It was said it could persist for ten days.
With such strong wind, the entire Qingyang Mountain might be ruined. And what about the academy students—what if the poisonous substances were blown their way?
Burning wasn’t an option either—the wind was too strong, and it could easily cause a mountain fire in minutes.
She needed to order the academy people and her own people to evacuate immediately.
But giving orders now would be tantamount to exposing her location.
Tie Ci hesitated only briefly before pulling out a signal flare. A streak of deep red shot straight up to the sky—one of her exclusive signal codes meaning: Danger, evacuate everyone immediately.
She fired two of them, meaning everyone had to leave regardless of who they were. She believed Xia Houchun would understand her meaning and take the academy students away as well.
After firing the flares, they couldn’t stay here. Tie Ci left markers for Second Senior Brother, helped Feiyu up, and didn’t forget to take the umbrella cover Second Senior Brother had left them for protection against poison.
The top was a transparent yet flexible umbrella cover woven from some unknown silk threads. Instead of an umbrella handle underneath, it was connected to countless silk threads that were finally gathered in a small box. The small box had a hand crank that could retract the silk threads.
Feiyu retracted some of the silk threads, watching as the umbrella surface, covered in poison, continuously dripped black-green toxic water due to the vibrations, while the umbrella surface remained smooth, clean, and undamaged. She couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement. “Is this also your master’s creation? This material is very special—I can’t tell what it’s made of.”
“It’s one of Master’s research projects. Her dream is for people to fly in the sky. She says some people can ride giant iron birds and cross ten thousand li in a single day. She says this probably can’t be achieved here in the short term, but we can start with hot air balloons. This is probably one of her failed experimental products that she casually used as a barrier.” Tie Ci looked at the material and said, “Several senior brothers have traveled thousands of li searching for these materials. According to Master, hot air balloon principles are similar to Kongming lanterns, but the requirements are higher. They need stable, sufficient heat sources for burning, and most importantly, materials that are heat-resistant, can withstand high pressure, have sufficient strength and elasticity to bear the gravitational changes in the air… Honestly, every time she talks about these things, I feel like I’m listening to heavenly scripture.”
She herself found it absurd and couldn’t imagine giant iron birds flying in the sky. In the past, because this related to her identity and the content was too ridiculous, she was unwilling for Master to suffer mockery for it and had never mentioned it to anyone else. Now she spoke of it quite casually, speaking seriously yet couldn’t help glancing at Feiyu, afraid of seeing mocking or scornful expressions on the top courtesan’s face.
But Feiyu listened even more seriously and even pondered for a while before suddenly saying, “If there really were such hot air balloons that could fly high and carry a dozen people inside, then all the cities under heaven would be exposed before people, with nothing left unbreachable.”
Tie Ci’s heart jolted violently.
She looked at Feiyu in amazement.
Because she had had this thought too.
But she was the Crown Princess—her status and knowledge made her instinctively think of the military applications when she saw this thing.
Why did Feiyu, this fake top courtesan, also have this kind of strategic vision?
Feiyu continued, “It could also be used for prison interrogations. If someone stubbornly refuses to talk, invite them for a hot air balloon tour. Finally, hang a rope under the hot air balloon and let them dangle—it’s more real than any death threat. If they still won’t talk, just cut the rope with one slash. Effortless and clean.”
Tie Ci couldn’t help but laugh.
This person’s thinking was quite unique, jumping immediately to interrogation and torture. She spoke of killing as casually as cutting vegetables.
Curiosity about the top courtesan’s true identity surged in her heart.
This person could bend and stretch, could be salty or sweet, and didn’t carry the kind of character imprint that ordinary children from poor or wealthy families would have. It was difficult to guess her origins for a moment.
Like someone soaked in bitter water in a wealthy nest, trapped in a cage on a golden throne. Born with inherent nobility, yet facing the daily persecution of sharp winds and harsh frosts—only this could create such a nature that was warm on the outside but cold on the inside, both pampered and able to endure worldly hardships.
At this moment, footsteps sounded behind them, quite hurried. Tie Ci turned back and saw Second Senior Brother carrying someone over at a run, with faint sounds of battle cries behind him. Tie Ci’s expression changed. “Oh no.”
“Looks like he’s gotten himself pursued.”
“Whenever he goes out, he’s bound to cause trouble and get chased,” Tie Ci said. “And he always dresses so shockingly, conspicuous as a lantern. If people don’t chase him, who would they chase? Let’s quickly take another route and not get tangled up with him.”
Feiyu strongly agreed. The two turned on their heels and changed direction, but Second Senior Brother shouted behind them, “I brought the doctor for you—just try abandoning me and see what happens!”
The two could only stop and wait for Second Senior Brother, who rushed past them carrying someone like a gust of wind. Seeing that direction, Tie Ci felt something terrible was about to happen and shouted, “Second Senior Brother, don’t go there—that way is…”
But it was too late. Second Senior Brother had already become a small dot in the distance. This universally disliked man might not excel at other things, but his internal energy and lightness skills were quite exceptional. After all, if he didn’t run fast and far enough, he would have been beaten to death long ago.
Tie Ci had no choice but to help Feiyu follow. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed behind them and groaned inwardly. This ghostly whirlwind had somehow brought that group of Murong Duan’s people nearby again!
Murong Duan’s voice could already be faintly heard behind them, calling out, “Crossbow unit, prepare—”
Ahead, Second Senior Brother charged for a stretch then came to an abrupt halt. A moment later, his loud cursing came through: “Son of a bitch, how is it a cliff!”
Tie Ci sighed.
Qingyang Mountain had many small peaks. She had known there was a cliff in that direction, which was why she had shouted at him.
While running, she began turning the box handle, and Feiyu immediately understood her intention and helped turn it together.
Fine white silk threads slowly extended before their eyes, like countless wisps of cloud drifting toward the sky.
After a moment, both felt a sudden jolt in their hands, and a cloud-like canopy covered their heads.
Tie Ci laughed, “Feiyu, let’s have a romantic adventure today.” She grabbed the threads and charged forward with long strides.
Ahead was the cliff. She thought Feiyu would be afraid and reached out to cover her eyes.
But Feiyu smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Tie Ci’s heart stirred.
By now they had reached Second Senior Brother’s side. Three steps ahead was the cliff. Tie Ci grabbed Second Senior Brother and took a large stride forward—
The next instant, their bodies were suspended in air.
Wind howled past their ears, scenery blended into lines, the earth spun into a palette of gray, yellow, and green, about to slam into them heavily.
Second Senior Brother cursed, “I hate that all costume dramas have cliff-jumping scenes!”
But their bodies suddenly jolted, then their downward momentum slowed, and the scenery froze.
They were indeed floating in mid-air.
Above their heads was a large cloud-like umbrella canopy. From the cliff above came Murong Duan’s frantic commands and the whistling sound of arrows. The umbrella surface kept trembling lightly. Feiyu looked up with some worry, afraid the umbrella might break and they would all be finished. But Second Senior Brother tied the threads around his own waist and those of the people beside him while saying nonchalantly, “What’s to fear? They can’t hit us, and even if they do, it’ll slide off.”
Feiyu obediently said “oh” and smiled, “Thank you for the explanation, Senior Brother.”
Second Senior Brother lifted one eyelid to glance at her and said nothing.
Tie Ci looked on in bewilderment.
Incredible—Lao’er had undergone a personality change today.
In the past, encountering this kind of situation, he would definitely have made sarcastic remarks or even taken the opportunity to frighten people. Today he was being so kind, honestly explaining things to Feiyu?
She glanced at Feiyu again—smiling face like a flower, beautiful as jade, her gaze at Second Senior Brother flowing with tender waves that ordinary people truly couldn’t handle.
Understood.
This was a face-judging world.
Tie Ci suddenly felt a bit depressed.
She was also a beauty and had grown up with them since childhood—why had they never looked at her differently?
But she didn’t know that sometimes being too familiar actually made one like brothers. She also had that kind of noble appearance and temperament that didn’t easily inspire possessive desires in men at first sight.
Feiyu, on the other hand, with those corners of her eyes and brows, limitless charm—such things were rare in the world.
At this moment, dawn was about to break. The scenery in the mountain valley was hazy and moist like an ink painting. The giant umbrella descended leisurely along the cliff face like a cloud, cool breeze passing under their feet, flocks of birds dancing at their sides, while their garments fluttered and subtle fragrance arose.
A beautiful and atmospheric experience.
If only she were alone with Feiyu, it would have been perfect.
Tie Ci glanced at Second Senior Brother—his whole body rigid, eyes tightly closed, facial muscles twitching, looking exactly like a corpse.
Feiyu was asking him with puzzlement, “Why is Senior Brother so tense?”
Second Senior Brother’s eyelids fluttered rapidly. “Obviously—for someone with acrophobia, tension is an irresistible physiological reaction.”
Though Feiyu didn’t quite understand his words, she could basically guess the meaning. She narrowed her eyes and said, “That’s not necessarily true. Fear is something—the more you fear it, the more arrogant it becomes. If you challenge it head-on, it will also dissipate.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? How can acrophobia be controlled…” Before Second Senior Brother could finish, Feiyu interrupted him again, gently and softly, “Senior Brother has shown me life-saving grace. I can’t bear to see you controlled by this so-called mere fear. If you lose an escape opportunity because of this in the future, that would be terrible…”
While speaking so persuasively, she extended her hand and pushed Second Senior Brother downward.
Second Senior Brother let out a scream and plummeted rapidly.
The entire mountain valley echoed with his “ahhhhhhh” cries.
Tie Ci was greatly alarmed. She didn’t know when Feiyu had cut the thread tied around Second Senior Brother’s waist. She quickly reached out and leaned over to rescue him but was pulled back by Feiyu, who flicked her wrist and had already thrown out a vine, wrapping around Second Senior Brother’s waist.
The screaming stopped abruptly. A moment later came Second Senior Brother’s loud cursing: “You little wench! You’re repaying kindness with enmity! Quickly pull me up!”
Feiyu looked down and said with a smile, “Senior Brother, I’m not lying to you—I really have seen someone cured of acrophobia this way.”
Hearing this, Tie Ci’s heart stirred, suddenly remembering when she first met Feiyu—she had leaped from a high tower and fallen into her arms.
“I don’t care if it’s cured or not! Quickly pull me up!”
Feiyu crisply agreed, alternating her hands to pull him up. Just as he was about to be pulled up, Second Senior Brother said, “Shiba! Just standing there watching like an idiot instead of coming to help!”
Feiyu’s eyes darkened, and she loosened her grip. Whoosh—Second Senior Brother went down again.
“…”
Tie Ci, whose reaction had been slow due to a certain discovery, failed to rescue him in time and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Honestly, in all these years, apart from in front of Master, she had never seen Second Senior Brother get handled so miserably.
She turned to look beside her—the disciple of the Medical Maniac that Second Senior Brother had dragged over was actually Rong Pu.
Second Senior Brother was truly lacking in virtue. When asking someone to help with detoxification, he didn’t treat them with any courtesy and actually knocked Rong Pu unconscious and carried him the whole way. If they weren’t acquainted, Tie Ci would really worry that when it came time for detoxification, Rong Pu might simply poison them instead.
The large umbrella slowly drifted down toward the bottom of the cliff. There was slight vibration below—Second Senior Brother, having learned his lesson, was climbing up with his eyes closed.
Tie Ci was somewhat amazed. She knew about Second Senior Brother’s acrophobia—he didn’t dare ride even slightly tall boats, and when he reached heights, his whole body would stiffen with muscle spasms. But now, being forced into it, he was actually climbing rope.
It had to be said, watching this scene was quite satisfying.
After a while, he had climbed higher and grabbed hold of a thread to secure himself. Wiping his face, he glared at Feiyu, grinding his teeth.
Feiyu raised her innocent, beautiful face, long eyelashes fluttering.
Looking at her, Second Senior Brother actually averted his gaze first.
After a long moment, he said, “You’re the first woman who dares to treat me this way.”
Tie Ci suddenly shivered.
She was suddenly reminded of what Master had mentioned about ancient CEO novels.
“Very good, little vixen. You’ve successfully caught my attention.”
…