Chapter 1012: Why does it have nothing to do with this old man? (1/2)

Pill King realized that Han Yunxi’s group had bad intentions after Long Feiye gave orders to set a fire! Although the pill furnace was part of the medical cottage grounds, he and the Pill Furnace Master[1] rarely crossed paths or dealt with each other. As long as Han Yunxi’s group didn’t aim for him, Pill King was quite willing to stand by and watch the show. He had been slighted in his youth at the pill furnace too.

As soon as Long Feiye issued orders, his shadow guards began to move. They had come prepared because it wasn’t easy to enter the Medicine Requesting Cave to meet with the Pill Furnace Master. Although they had passed through the three trials last time, they would still need to face three obstacles upon re-entry, most likely with different challenges. Thus, the best way to meet with the Pill Furnace Master was 1) reveal their identities and have the man give them entry or 2) force the man out himself.

The former had them meeting Pill Furnace Master, the latter had Pill Furnace Master meeting them. But they weren’t here to beg for medicine this time, but to demand payment on a debt. Thus, it had to be the old man meeting them instead. No matter how many obstacles laid in wait, as long as they set a fire at the entrance to the Medicine Requesting Cave and filled it with smoke, the residents inside would be forced to come out. The shadow guards soon blocked the entrance with firewood and Long Feiye lit them up personally. Soon enough, there was a blazing inferno with black smoke stretching to the skies.

Xu Donglin personally watched over the flames and adjusted the firewood as necessary with the change in the winds. As it burned, thick coils of smoke drifted into the cave. Pill King watched from the sidelines while stroking his beard with a devious grin. He had no idea how Pill Furnace Master had offended Han Yunxi and Long Feiye, but only rejoiced that he had never forced the couple too hard at the start. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a good end of it either. He was Han Yunxi’s master in name, so in some ways he’d even profited instead.

Han Yunxi and Long Feiye stood shoulder-to-shoulder watching the fire, her with her arms crossed and he with hands clasped behind his back. Han Yunxi wasn’t very tall, but her spine was ever straight, giving her thin back a mighty presence that would even quell men. There was no need to say more about Long Feiye, who could give off the air of an aggressive warlord scorning the world just by standing still. Both of them were expressionless.

Gu Qishao sat on a tree branch watching the pile burn. However, his eyes were dull and almost distracted. As the flames went on, they burned faster through the kindling until the shadow guards were forced to resupply the wood. Meanwhile, time trickled by. The shadow guards stationed at the back of the cave also came over to report twice that everything was going well. Han Yunxi and Long Feiye had both experienced the Medicine Requesting Cave, so they knew it was a large place. They were in no hurry for their quarry to slip out.

But four full hours passed with no one emerging from its depths. What was...going on?

“Is there something fishy inside the cave?” Han Yunxi muttered. As soon as she spoke, something strange happened: all of the black smoke rushed inside the cave as if sucked up by some invisible force.

“Very fishy,” Long Feiye was surprised, but he didn’t lose his cool.

Gu Qishao grew restless as he kept switching positions on the branch before perching on its limb. His narrow eyes blinked in thought. After a while, Xu Donglin personally rushed over to observe the cave and reported, “Your Highness, the back entrance is the same. What should we do?”

“Understood,” Long Feiye was calm.

Attacking with smoke was simply probing at the enemy. Han Yunxi next brought out a vial full of poison and gave it to Xu Donglin. “Add this to the fire until it’s all burned up.”

Then the poison would travel along with the smoke into the cave before dispersing in the air. Although the Medicine Requesting Cave had multiple stone doors, smoke could travel through the smallest spaces and permeate through the entire space. Unless there was a poison storage space within the cave that could nullify the poisons, everyone inside would fall victim. It was guaranteed that Han Yunxi’s toxins would force anyone inside to come begging for an antidote!

Xu Donglin prepared to leave with the poison when Gu Qishao suddenly jumped off his tree. “Wait!”

Naturally, Xu Donglin stopped. Han Yunxi and Long Feiye exchanged glances and prepared to speak, but Long Feiye got the first word.

“I’ve already said, this has nothing to do with you! No matter who it is, those who go back on their words need to pay the price!”

Gu Qishao pulled a long face and looked towards Han Yunxi, who seemed even sterner. “Whether or not this fails or succeeds has no relation to you.” Her words were even blunter than Long Feiye’s. If they wanted to ruin Medicine Requesting Cave, then that was their business and not Gu Qishao’s. Even if they couldn’t handle Pill Furnace Master, they wouldn’t ask Gu Qishao for help.

Gu Qishao still looked displeased, but he didn’t say a word, making it hard for anyone to read his thoughts. Just what was he planning?”

“Xu Donglin, you’re still not going?” Long Feiye asked coldly.

Gu Qishao reached out an arm to block Xu Donglin before his severe expression suddenly broke into a smile. “Why does it have nothing to do with this old man?”

Is he...planning to meddle? But to help or hinder us?

If he wanted to help, how would he do it? Why would Pill Furnace Master give him any face? If he wanted to hinder, could he bear to let down Gu Beiyue? He should know better than anyone which side to choose!

Long Feiye and Han Yunxi were still puzzling when Gu Qishao said loudly, “Gu Beiyue’s matters are my matters! I’ve got my sights set on the Returning Dragon Pill! Don’t destroy that pill refining furnace. Come, I’ll take you all inside!”

So Gu Qishao’s helping us?

If he was really the “Little Loony” that Pill Furnace Master wanted to find, then he must have a reason for avoiding the topic of his master every single time! If he helped them now, was he planning to acknowledge his identity?