Chapter 322 - The Flare-up of the Heartless Curse (2/2)

Xiao Chen watched a girl dressed in a greenish-blue traditional dress strolling in. The crevices of her fingers were stained with remnants of herbal medicine and her body exuded the faint fragrance of medicine. Xiao Chen stood up and said, “Miss Ye.”

Ye Mulian placed her hands on her hips and bent her knee to perform a curtsy. “Young Master Xiao.”

Ling Fei and Wan Yanyan’s heart throbbed. They knew they stood no chance with Xiaoyue, a high and mighty fairy. However, they never expected there to be such an otherworldly lady in a desolate place like this. She had the charm of your next-door well-bred young lady.

Ye Mulian wore a floral pin decorated with greenish-blue beads in her hair. The light from the setting sun outside filtered past her, giving her shadow an alluring charm. Ye Lingfeng smiled and made the introductions. “This is my daughter, Mulian.”

“Greetings, everyone.” Ye Mulian curtsied with a smile. “I’ve received medical training since young. I’m afraid that the only way to create an antidote for the Devil’s Carnage is to enter deep into the Abyss of Devil’s Aura…”

Before she could finish her sentence, two voices rang out in the hall at the same time. “No!” “Yes!”

The one who refused was, naturally, Xiao Chen. The one who agreed was Ling Fei. Xiao Chen said, “Miss Ye, you were infected with the Devil’s Carnage last time. You must stay away from the Abyss of Devil’s Aura this time.”

Ling Fei rose to his feet. “Brother Xiao, you’re too cautious, are you not? The way I see it, there’s no reason not to allow Miss Ye’s kind intention. There are so many of us here; surely we’re capable of protecting her.”

The rest didn’t comment. Su Zimu was engrossed in savoring the fragrant tea while Xu Gu had his palms put together. Xiaoyue was staring at the calligraphy on the folding screen. Qingluan said icily, “The league named my master as the leader of the group this time. That means his word is final!”

Wan Yanyan sneered. “Leader? What an impressive leader. The leader hasn’t even spoken and yet his subordinate is already bossing people around.”

“You!” Ziyun’er was about to lose her temper but Xiao Chen reached out to stop her from speaking. Ye Lingfeng laughed awkwardly. “That’s enough, Mulian. Don’t make a fuss anymore. We can rest assured with Hero Xiao and the rest investigating the abyss. Let’s drop the topic.” He then clapped his hands at the servants outside. “Start the feast!”

“Humph!” Ling Fei flicked his sleeves and returned to his seat.

The Three Friends of Winter exchanged glances. All of them looked worried. The eighteen members of the trip this time, they thought, were far from united.

Following the feast, Ye Lingfeng settled everyone down in their respective accommodations. Xiao Chen occupied the small courtyard that he had previously stayed in. In the darkness of the night, the courtyard looked no different than when he had left it: the herbal medicine hanging on the walls, the wicker basket by the well, the medicine on the grindstone, the pestle and mortar by the step with ungrounded but dried herbs inside.

However, Xiao Chen couldn’t see even a single dried leaf in the courtyard. The servants must have been tidying the place every day even though it was unoccupied. Zhiluan hung his head dispiritedly. “Meow. I still end up here after running so far…”

Xiao Chen walked up to the steps and sat down. He looked up at the courtyard doors. This vantage point reminded him of how Huangfu Xin’er had come here to bid him farewell. Suddenly, he recalled the days they spent here, how he shielded her with an umbrella as they walked in the snow, how he led her horse along the frozen lake, how they encountered an assassin along the way…

Events of the past replayed in his mind and a sudden pain pierced his heart before reaching every nook of his body. The pain was so intense that it threatened to rip apart his soul, making him feel a torment worse than death.

Zhiluan was still strolling around the courtyard. Xiao Chen was still fine the last minute he saw him, but when he turned his head around a second time, he found Xiao Chen collapsed on the ground and twitching nonstop. A frightened yelp escaped his mouth. “Meow! The kid is going to die! Hurry and come!”

The flare-up of the Heartless Curse this time was much more painful than his last, so much so that Xiao Chen couldn’t even speak. The color of his complexion flickered between green and purple. It felt like countless Sword Qi was colliding inside him. He raised a hand with immense difficulty and said, “Do-Don’t shout…”