Feiyu was also staring at her. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t been wet and facing each other before, but those times they were in dangerous situations with no time for other thoughts. At this moment, with the other’s breathing audible, she realized the person before her had a graceful neck, snow-white skin, bright eyes and white teeth, with an elegant and profound beauty.
Her eyebrows were slightly moist like crow feathers, while her eyes sparkled, reflecting this pool of green water. Amid the noble elegance, three parts of alluring charm were added.
Feiyu’s expression became somewhat strange, and she sank deeper into the water.
This was serious. Could I actually be gay?
The water rippled as the two stared at each other, each swimming back three feet.
Until the old man’s fishing rod swung between them, and his angry voice came: “Don’t want it! Each one of you is fickle as water!”
Feiyu turned and swam away, her laughter carrying from afar: “Want what? At your age, what you need is to examine yourself three times each morning when you get up: Can I still eat? Can I still get it up? How many days do I have left!”
The old man’s fishing rod flew out, Feiyu cried “Ouch!” and a water trail disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Here, Tie Ci smiled at the old man and said, “She and I aren’t the same type. Please don’t take your anger out on me.”
“That’s true indeed,” the old man said. “Speak then. You want to see the person in charge of this village—what do you want to say?”
“If he truly finds it inconvenient to see me, then please convey a message: ‘A dragon lurks in the depths, does it yearn for the high heavens? If you are unwilling to remain content, I am willing to lend a helping hand.'”
After hearing this, the old man shook his head and cast his fishing line again.
“How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside the couch? Let alone actively invite people to sleep there. Young man, do you think we country folk don’t understand these worldly principles?”
“You are not the fish, how can you know the fish’s joy? But you are not the fish, so you surely don’t know the suffering of fish avoiding sharks and whales!”
Before Tie Ci finished speaking, a woman washing clothes far along the riverbank suddenly dropped her beating stick, smashing the blue stone she was washing clothes on with a crack. She stared straight ahead and said, “Watching you run around the village these past days, I knew you had improper intentions. To think we kindly let you stay to heal your wounds, only to nurture your ambitions! You court people, with your bellies full of scheming—whoever deals with you is unlucky. Don’t bring trouble to our village’s peace. Pack up and get lost early!” With that, she kicked up the washing basin, caught it under her arm, and stomped away.
The fishing rod in the old man’s hand didn’t move at all. “Lady Sun has a violent temper, but she’s not wrong. We don’t get involved in your affairs. Don’t mention meeting the village chief—we won’t pass along any messages either. Young man, don’t be too greedy in life.”
Tie Ci lowered her head and smiled without speaking. She helped clean all the fish, strung them on willow branches, then took her leave.
The message should still reach them, but judging by their expressions, they wouldn’t trust her.
Having lived in the village for these few days, she could almost confirm that the people in this village indeed belonged to the Hidden Dragon organization. She just didn’t know if they were descendants or subordinates, or which princely residence they had originally belonged to.
During one casual stroll, she deliberately exposed a corner of her seal, and the other party noticed but remained unmoved.
Perhaps they had already detected her identity but didn’t care, allowing her to stay in the village to heal because of their impressive strength. They didn’t mind her observation and probing, but going further was impossible.
This group had been passed down through generations, never ceasing their martial practice, with shocking strength. Perhaps they had always been preparing for something.
She had vaguely suggested cooperation, offering to help achieve their dreams, but they didn’t trust her and were instead annoyed, thinking she harbored ill intentions.
Some people were unwilling to remain in the countryside, while she had no attachment to imperial power.
The world thought that as the Imperial Princess, she must be thinking of ascending the throne early and ruling the world, and she didn’t deny this.
But that was because if she didn’t fight, she, her father, and mother consort would have no way out—they would face a dead end.
But if there were an opportunity, she would rather not face this mountain-like pressure and wave-like turmoil. She would take her father and mother consort to retreat to the countryside, farming and weaving from then on, serving her parents.
She wished to see camellia flowers blooming all over the mountainside, her mother tending flowers under the green vine arbor, her father reading and drinking tea in the corridor.
The prerequisite was that everyone could preserve their lives and live peacefully.
But who would believe it? Just like this Hidden Dragon village—a place full of experts who suspected she had developed greed and wanted to recruit them.
When Tie Ci returned, she was met with cold treatment. Dongde’s family closed their doors and wouldn’t let her in, leaving the child outside, saying that since her injuries had healed, she should leave. The village couldn’t harbor outsiders for long.
Tie Ci picked up the child and looked around. Neighbors all closed their doors and windows. Only the fat widow who had previously chased her waved her handkerchief from afar, shouting: “Handsome brother, if you agree to be my husband, you’ll be one of the village family, and everything can be discussed!”
Tie Ci sighed, thinking this Lady Sun was probably quite a figure in the village to have mobilized so quickly.
It was normal for them not to trust her sincerity. A forced melon isn’t sweet—she should just leave.
She was carrying the child toward the village exit, wondering where Feiyu had gone, when suddenly a courtyard gate opened and Lady Sun rushed out carrying a child, blocking her path. “You can’t leave! I merely drove you away, yet you dared poison my child! Give me the antidote!”
Behind her, villagers poured out, blocking her way. Some with violent tempers had already begun cursing Tie Ci for repaying kindness with enmity.
Tie Ci was stunned. She saw that what Lady Sun held was her youngest son. At this moment, the child was in his mother’s arms, making “ah ah” sounds but unable to speak, seeming to have difficulty breathing. His face was purple-blue and his eyes rolled back—clearly he was only breathing out and not breathing in.
Lady Sun’s hair was disheveled, her eyes red, reaching out to grab her. “Give me the antidote!”
Tie Ci dodged and said, “Lady Sun! Be reasonable! Your son obviously just had this happen, but I was just talking with Old Ming by the river. Old Ming can testify!”
The fishing old man stood to one side, frowning and nodding.
But Lady Sun said, “Even if you were just talking with Old Ming, who knows what you did before? You’ve been wandering around this village daily, and everyone was unguarded against you. If you secretly administered some delayed-action poison, who would know? Besides, you have an accomplice—where is she now!”
Hearing this, Tie Ci’s heart jumped. Feiyu was indeed not here. Had Feiyu heard her conversation with Old Ming while in the water earlier? This courtesan had always acted mysteriously and obviously wasn’t an ordinary brothel woman. If her identity was also unusual and she had designs on this Hidden Dragon organization…
As this thought turned, she felt very displeased, but Lady Sun’s screams interrupted her thoughts.
“Egg! Egg! Bastard! Quickly give me the antidote!”
The child suddenly made a choking sound and his body leaned backward. Tie Ci’s gaze followed, and she suddenly caught a flash—she actually saw an apricot pit stuck in the child’s throat!
She immediately understood and quickly thrust the baby into Dongde’s wife’s arms, saying, “Fine, I’ll give you the antidote!”
The screaming Lady Sun was stunned as the child was snatched away by Tie Ci. Tie Ci immediately placed the child on the ground, bent slightly, embraced the six or seven-year-old child from behind, made a fist with one hand, positioned it on the child’s abdomen, and pushed upward with force.
This series of actions looked inexplicable to everyone. Lady Sun went crazy with anxiety and raised her palm to strike Tie Ci heavily. Tie Ci was performing emergency aid and couldn’t dodge, only gritting her teeth and offering her shoulder to Lady Sun’s palm.
Before the palm wind arrived, the force was already hitting her face. If this palm struck solidly, broken bones would be inevitable. Tie Ci’s expression didn’t change, and without raising her head, she generated qi with her fist and thrust upward forcefully.
With a “poof,” a date pit suddenly shot out from the child’s mouth.