Chapter 117 (2/2)

In the carriage, Ning Que said in a coa.r.s.e voice, ”I'm beat now, I'll tell you the whole story when getting back home. Remember to bring the sword.”

Having arrived at Lin 47th Street, Ning Que, due to his serious injuries, had slept as if he was dead, not opening his eyes all along. Sangsang took out the Pu sword, put it into the big black umbrella, and fastened them onto her back. With the help of the coachman, they carried Ning Que together like a rice bag into the Old Brush Pen Shop, and tucked him into a quilt.

It was mid-summer, and the quilt was heavy and warm. Soon, Ning Que was starting to sweat, and finally awoke, not knowing how long he had slept.

Opening his eyes, Ning Que recognized it was his home, exhaled a sigh of relief, allying all the fear buried deep inside of him, which made his extremities a bit cold.

Staring at several glazed tiles on the roof through which some sunlight came in, Ning Que was quiet for a while, then suddenly said, ”I mentioned to you a student called Chen Pipi… Take a note for me, as I owe him one. At some proper time or place, remind me to repay him.”

Sangsang was pouring boiled water into a bucket and preparing to get him a shower, and did not expect him to be awake already. She went over and sat next to him, asking ”But how to repay him?”

”Although I am not sure how he did it, he saved my life. I told you many times that your life and mine are of utmost importance in this world. Therefore, it is fine to repay him at whatever cost.”

Ning Que looked at Sangsang's contemplating face, reminding her with a smile, ”Of course, not at the expense of our lives.”

”What on earth happened, young master?” peering at his pale cheeks, Sangsang gently asked.

”The tea specialist was a cultivator, and I was injured badly. I only recall that I fainted on the street, and I don't know what happened after that.”

Ning Que was trying to recollect his memory of the strange incidents from yesterday morning until now, with a vague kind of feeling of when he fainted in particular. With a confused look in his eyes, Ning Que frowned and repeated, ”Curiously, I have no idea whatsoever what happened.

”Cook anything, I'm famished.” He did not enjoy being clueless about what had happened to him. As he could not figure it out, he just let it be, and gave it no more consideration.

Something clicked in Ning Que's mind at once, and he supplicated Sangsang like a beggar. ”Could you not make noddles with fried eggs or with pig's large intestines, please? It is hot and they must have turned sour and bad… How about we treat ourselves better tonight given my serious wounds?”

Upon hearing this, Sangsang was feeling sorry, thinking to herself, ”I am merely a handmaiden, how could I possibly shortchange you? I was only saving for your future marriage.”

”I gave the coachman 10 silvers…”

She inclined her head, and continued softly, ”While you were asleep, I asked for a bowl of pickled daikon from the antique landlady next door, and simmered it with a duck.

with a duck. It'll be ready in a moment. ”

Finis.h.i.+ng her words, Sangsang fetched a boiling hot towel and wrung it out, put it where Ning Que could easily reach, and then walked outside and wiped her little red hands on her ap.r.o.n.

”I gave the coachman 10 silvers.” Sangsang meant to tell her young master that although she was inexperienced and frugal, she was by no means a maid who could not tell the severity of matters. She never said no when it came to something urgent.

Ning Que was lying on the bed, watching her little figure bustling around. Reflecting on the irritating tone in her earlier words, he could not help laughing. Sangsang saw him lying against the head of the bed, swiftly walked to the window and shut it, and commanded him to get more rest.

The light in the room was suddenly dim, except for a faint light s.h.i.+ning through the glazed roof. With a warm candlelight lit on a desk, Sangsang was accompanying him quietly.

Watching the candlelight, Ning Que's smile gradually faded away.

Yan Suqing, the tea specialist, was a cultivator, which was the covert factor that considerably spoiled his plan. Were he not lucky enough, he would probably be dead by that lake. Then it would have been impossible to have the chance to run away to the street, let alone hide away in the Academy for a night and come across Chen Pipi, a swindler in West Hill.

During his unconsciousness, he was sure that something had transpired, otherwise, he could not explain how his wounds were healed nor the pain in his chest. However, he did not have the slightest clue of what exactly happened nor what Chen Pipi had done to him.

Ning Que could not think anymore, and was feeling very tired mentally and physically. He felt his body was a bit slimy as he had sweat earlier on, and wanted to clean up a bit. When he had almost reached the towel, his hand went stiff.

He suddenly realized that there seemed to be an invisible obstacle between his hand and the towel.

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