Inside Biluo Palace.

In Wanglan Pavilion.

The poisoned spikes in Kuanglan Wuxing’s body had been expelled, but he remained unconscious because the poison was still deep within him. To cure the poison from his spikes required the “Green Enchantress” pearl, but at least he was no longer controlled by the spikes and free from that inhuman suffering. After Meihua Yishu’s drunken episode that day, his spirit had been dazed, as if he had suffered some great shock. The people of Biluo Palace dared not disturb him again. To know what had happened to the Seven Flower Cloud Travelers back then, they had to remove the Yellow Bright Bamboo poison from both men, otherwise even if they regained consciousness, they would only suffer in vain.

After expelling the poisoned spikes, Fu Zhumei had returned to his room to rest. There were no guards outside Kuanglan Wuxing’s door. Miss Hong, carrying a bundle in her hand, slowly approached, pushed open the door, and entered.

Kuanglan Wuxing still had disheveled hair all over his head. Miss Hong gently brushed aside his long hair, revealing a face with distinct features that could be called handsome, though he was over thirty and had suffered much. The deep haggard look on his face would probably never be erased. Sighing, she opened the bundle and took out a bottle of pink medicine. She stared fixedly at Kuanglan Wuxing’s face. After looking for a while, she put the pink medicine back and took out a bottle of brownish-yellow pills instead. She poured out one pill and gently placed it beside Kuanglan Wuxing’s pillow. Then she pulled out seven or eight silver needles from the bundle, raising them to pierce Kuanglan Wuxing’s forehead, but after a slight pause, she didn’t pierce and put them back in the bundle. She gazed at Kuanglan Wuxing for a while, sighed wistfully, packed up the bundle, and quietly withdrew.

What was she doing? Tie Jing, who was hiding on the roof to protect Kuanglan Wuxing, frowned and gracefully landed. She had left behind a pill. This young lady was extremely cunning—the pill she left behind shouldn’t be touched. He checked Kuanglan Wuxing’s pulse and found nothing unusual, then immediately slipped away quietly. Shortly after Tie Jing slipped away, the brownish-yellow pill suddenly exploded with a loud “bang,” filling the room with smoke and making the house tremble. Biluo Palace disciples rushed over upon hearing the sound and were alarmed to see that Kuanglan Wuxing’s shoulder had been injured by the pill explosion, blood flowing freely. Fortunately, the explosion had deflected slightly and hadn’t pierced his throat, otherwise he would have died for certain. Tie Jing had just rushed toward Ri’ai Residence where Wanyu Yuedan lived when he suddenly heard the loud explosion. His face changed—the Palace Master had allowed this woman to move freely within the palace, and trouble would come sooner or later. As expected—but after that loud explosion, the door to Ri’ai Residence also opened, and Wanyu Yuedan emerged fully dressed, walking slowly.

“Palace Master—” Tie Jing shouted. “Miss Hong placed explosives in Wanglan Pavilion—” Wanyu Yuedan wasn’t surprised and had just said, “Don’t go in…” Before he could finish his sentence, a human figure swept past like a hawk, instantly bursting into Wanglan Pavilion. Wanyu Yuedan couldn’t see the figure, but he heard the sound of wind as it swept past. He immediately raised his voice: “Don’t go in—”

Wanyu Yuedan rarely shouted so loudly. Tie Jing was startled and looked in the direction of that figure, seeing it burst into Wanglan Pavilion like lightning. The Biluo Palace disciples who had just entered to check the situation had already carried Kuanglan Wuxing out of the room. Hearing Wanyu Yuedan’s command, they all retreated gracefully, but suddenly seeing someone burst in among them, they couldn’t help being startled. Just as that person entered the door, a second explosion sounded from within, and thick purple smoke began to emanate from the shattered window frames.

“Scatter, it’s poisonous!” Tie Jing called out urgently. Wanyu Yuedan had already walked to Tie Jing’s side and called loudly: “Xiao Fu! Xiao Fu! Xiao Fu…” The purple smoke inside the room gradually dissipated, and someone came out swaying, holding several pots of orchids in his arms, his face covered with dust. After walking seven or eight steps, he set the orchids on the ground, let out a sigh, and actually laughed: “They’re still fine…” Hearing his voice, Wanyu Yuedan’s tense brow relaxed slightly. “Was there poison in the room?” Tie Jing frowned as he looked at the person who had burst in to save the orchids—a person in white clothes with disheveled hair, precisely Fu Zhumei. He didn’t know what relationship this white-clothed young man had with the Palace Master. When Fu Zhumei had entered Biluo Palace ten years ago, he was still a child and had never met Fu Zhumei face to face, so he would never think that this white-clothed young man was Wanyu Yuedan’s elder. But this person could expel the hundred-plus poisoned spikes from Kuanglan Wuxing’s body—his martial arts were extraordinarily impressive. For such a person to burst into an exploding room just to save a few pots of orchids was really… he truly didn’t know what to say about him.

“Poison?” Fu Zhumei was completely unaware there had been poison in the room. He turned back to look at the still-smoking house. “Ah…” Having expended great effort expelling the poisoned spikes from Kuanglan Wuxing, his internal energy was greatly damaged. With deadly poison pervading the room, after his “ah,” he swayed slightly and fell backward. “Put away the orchids and help him back to his room.” Wanyu Yuedan’s expression had calmed. “Big Brother Bi, have Miss Hong bring the antidote.”

Behind the crowd, Bi Lianyi stood distinguished and upon hearing this, bowed slightly: “Yes.”

Seeing Fu Zhumei being carried away, Tie Jing looked at the still-smoking room and let out a long breath. Miss Hong had left explosive devices beside Kuanglan Wuxing’s pillow. The first explosion injured Kuanglan Wuxing to silence him for Feng Liu Shop, prompting him to call for Wanyu Yuedan, while the second explosion was meant to release deadly poison when Wanyu Yuedan examined Kuanglan Wuxing’s injuries, to kill Wanyu Yuedan. Such a vicious and calculating plot—if Wanyu Yuedan hadn’t been wise enough to refuse to enter, it would have been difficult to prevent. Only instead of harming Wanyu Yuedan, it had inexplicably injured that white-clothed young man. He didn’t know how this matter would end.

Guest chamber.

Miss Hong gazed wistfully at Wanglan Pavilion through several doorways. Two explosion sounds had risen, and voices filled the air, but her heart felt no joy whatsoever. With a creak, the door was gently pushed open, and Bi Lianyi, still carrying a cup of hot tea, slowly entered.

This man was very handsome, very patient, very quiet, and very determined. She looked at the hot tea in his hands. “Wanyu Yuedan… didn’t die?” Bi Lianyi’s face showed no particular expression, very calm: “No.” He handed her the hot tea. “Deep autumn is cold and windy. This is ginger tea.” She took it and sipped lightly. “Since he didn’t, what are you here for?” As it grew deeper into autumn, her hands and feet were ice-cold. This cup of ginger tea was very comfortable to hold. In recent days, whenever he had time, Bi Lianyi would bring her a cup of scalding ginger tea. He never said much, but she naturally understood.

“The antidote.” Bi Lianyi said flatly.

“Antidote?” Miss Hong laughed softly. “Who was poisoned? So I didn’t lose completely after all. Did Wanyu Yuedan send you to ask me for the antidote?” She set down the ginger tea and stood up gently, her red sleeves flowing. “Why didn’t he come himself?”

“He didn’t come because he doesn’t consider you an outsider.” Bi Lianyi said. “Since you’ve mistakenly injured someone else, with your magnanimity and bearing, you shouldn’t refuse to acknowledge it.” Miss Hong smiled charmingly. “What magnanimity and bearing do I have? Who said I was admitting defeat? No matter who was poisoned, it’s all good, otherwise wouldn’t all my efforts be in vain? I won’t give you the antidote. Tell Wanyu Yuedan that within three days, I want Liu Yan’s whereabouts and news.” Bi Lianyi stared into her eyes. “This decision isn’t clever and disappoints both me and the Palace Master.” Miss Hong’s expression darkened, and with a slap she struck the table. “I’ve already wasted many days in Biluo Palace. Do you know the suffering of worrying about and missing someone? Within three days, I want news of him! I don’t want to hear anything else!” Bi Lianyi’s brow furrowed slightly. He stepped back two paces and left, closing the door.

She held the ginger tea he had brought her, its warmth still lingering, watching him leave so calmly. Her heart suddenly filled with rage. This person… no matter what you said to him, he would never get angry. At most he’d say one word: disappointed. Disappointed, disappointed! Why should I make you all happy and satisfied? Who asked you to treat me like family? Who’s family with you people? This huge Biluo Palace is full of people who don’t know what they’re thinking… madmen! Sitting down dejectedly, with a crash she smashed that cup of ginger tea, seeing steam rise and porcelain shards fly everywhere. Master, Master… where exactly are you? Why has there been no news for so many days? Do you… do you know how much suffering and difficulty Little Hong has in her heart? She picked up the teapot from the table and with a clang threw it to the ground. After smashing the teapot she smashed the teacups, and after smashing the teacups she smashed the tea tray as well. Looking at the mess of broken porcelain on the floor, she stared for a while, then suddenly collapsed on the table and began crying loudly.

At this time in Fu Zhumei’s room, Wen Renhe was taking his pulse while Wanyu Yuedan stood to one side, asking gently: “How is the situation?” Wen Renhe frowned. “I’ve never seen this kind of deadly poison. This seems to be the same type as the strange poison in the Seven Flower Cloud Travelers, with subtle differences, but I believe they all come from Yellow Bright Bamboo. Imperial Plum… eh… Young Master Fu has deep internal energy and normally wouldn’t be easily invaded by poison, but his power is now greatly damaged and won’t recover for two months. He can’t expel the poison himself. And in two months’ time, I’m afraid the poison will have taken effect. Ordinary detoxification pills have no effect on this poison.” Wanyu Yuedan’s eye wrinkles slightly contracted. “So it must be the ‘Green Enchantress’?” Wen Renhe smiled bitterly. “With my silver needle power, I might be able to sustain him for one month, but after one month, without the ‘Green Enchantress,’ I definitely won’t be able to control the poison.”

Fu Zhumei had already awakened by now and upon hearing this, rubbed his hair: “Ah…” Apart from another “ah,” he seemed to have no other thoughts. Wen Renhe glared at him. “This old man is also several years your senior. Young Master Fu isn’t a child new to the jianghu either. How could you be so careless?” But Fu Zhumei truly didn’t care much about being poisoned or not. He widened his eyes at Wen Renhe: “It doesn’t matter…” Wen Renhe said angrily: “How can it not matter? This is a rare poison under heaven. Even if you… even if you have world-shocking abilities, once the poison takes effect you’ll still die!” Fu Zhumei shook his head. Seeing Wen Renhe’s confused and dissatisfied expression, he shook his head again: “Everyone has to die.” Wen Renhe was exasperated. “You’re just planning to die like this? You… with all your cultivation, now when the jianghu is in turmoil, you don’t care anymore? You can just go die?” Fu Zhumei was tongue-tied and shook his head repeatedly. “No, no, I… I was thinking… ah, actually I’ve thought about death for a long time. Of course I was originally very afraid of death too, but after thinking about it for so long, I feel it’s nothing special. It’s not because I… not because I think I can just go die casually. I just feel there’s nothing to be nervous about. Those meant to live will naturally live. If it can’t be cured, then there’s nothing to be done. People always have to die… wanting to cry, being afraid, feeling unwilling… I don’t have any of that, so I don’t know what to say.” Wen Renhe and Tie Jing beside him looked at each other. They had seen countless people with incurable diseases or hopeless injuries, but had never seen anyone like Fu Zhumei. Tie Jing coughed lightly: “You’re very philosophical about it.” Fu Zhumei smiled at him: “Mm.” Wen Renhe huffed heavily, unable to agree with this laissez-faire attitude in his heart, but didn’t know what to say.

“Death… this kind of thing,” Wanyu Yuedan said gently, “until you’re really about to die, talking about it too much is useless.” When he said this, Tie Jing and Wen Renhe immediately became solemn, and even Fu Zhumei held his breath and didn’t dare speak much. Only to see Wanyu Yuedan smile slightly: “But the matter of the Green Enchantress pearl is beyond Biluo Palace’s capabilities. I’ll send a letter to Young Master Tang, hoping he can lend assistance. And if such rare treasures are circulating in the marketplace, Biluo Palace won’t hesitate to spend its entire wealth to obtain them for Young Master Fu, so… don’t talk about life and death. You won’t die.”

“Xiao Yue, A’Li he…” Fu Zhumei widened his eyes. Wanyu Yuedan’s delicate and elegant features contracted at the eye corners, his brow line slightly curved: “He’ll bring you the antidote.” This was Biluo Palace, and no one could change what Wanyu Yuedan said. Fu Zhumei frowned—he absolutely didn’t want Tang Lici to know about this matter, but even if he objected again, Wanyu Yuedan would definitely send the letter. Once Xiao Yue decided on something, it was decided and wouldn’t change.

Just then, Bi Lianyi slowly entered: “She says within three days she wants Liu Yan’s whereabouts and news, then she’ll give the antidote.” Wanyu Yuedan sighed gently: “I guess she doesn’t have the antidote herself, but I agreed.” Fu Zhumei had been poisoned in Biluo Palace, so Biluo Palace absolutely wouldn’t let him die, even if Fu Zhumei had only saved a few pots of orchids in Biluo Palace.

Tie Jing and Wen Renhe both frowned. To obtain Liu Yan’s whereabouts, there was currently only one clue: have the future Shaolin Temple abbot compose a poem for someone, then kowtow three times. Everyone knew that Shaolin Temple currently lacked talent, and the most likely to ascend to the abbot position was Master Puzhu. With Master Puzhu’s cultivation and character, bearing the honor and disgrace of Shaolin Temple, how could he possibly kneel to anyone? Moreover, it wasn’t even clear who had spread such rumors. Even if Master Puzhu was willing to compose poems and kowtow, to whom should he compose poems and to whom should he kowtow?