Chapter 1154: Tang Li, Im back (1/2)

What was wrong with Gu Qishao?

He only felt hungry and sluggish. It was different from his usual exhaustion, which recovered with time. Although he looked to be sprawling lazily in his seat, the fact was that he had no energy. He desperately wanted to sleep on a shady roof somewhere.

Glancing back at Long Feiye, he broke into a dazzling grin and said, “Tsk tsk, Your Highness the respected crown prince, since when have you started caring about others?”

Long Feiye only gave him a deep look before dropping his questions. He leaned back against his own seat to stare at the blue skies. Autumn skies were free of clouds and always looked so far away.

Gu Qishao stared up as well, a beautiful smile playing about his lips. Abruptly, he broke out into a mountain song.

“Singing a mountain song, songs over here and meetings over there; a mountain song is like spring river water, not fearing the shores and full of curves…”

Everyone looked towards Gu Qishao, but that only made him sing louder and merrier than before. The entire trip was much more lively with his voice accompanying them.

--

Han Yunxi noticed that Ning Jing didn’t really speak much. Su Xiaoyu had mentioned how the woman lost her two front teeth, but didn’t go into the details. Everyone knew implicitly that Bai Yanqing was to blame. If Han Chen hadn’t left him behind, Han Yunxi would probably explode and vent all her temper on him.

As Han Chen was planning to stay at Clearbreeze Peak to cultivate for the next three years, she wouldn’t be sending any people over to “take care” of Bai Yanqing. For the sake of Ning Jing’s dignity, everyone pretended not to notice a thing. None of them asked any questions, and Han Yunxi sat meditating over taking her to a doctor when they returned.

If she remembered correctly, the history of Chinese medicine had records of treating bad teeth as early as the Han Dynasty. By the Tang Dynasty, they could even fill in cavities. The Tang Dynasty’s medical canon Xin Xiu Ben Cao (新修本草) contained detailed accounts of filling teeth with various amalgams. Such technology matured by the Song Dynasty until there were specialist “dentists” in charge of filling and fixing teeth.

Cloud Realm Continent’s medical advancements were definitely superior to that of ancient Chinese canon. Some of its medical arts even surpassed the skills of modern day. Han Yunxi believed that with Gu Beiyue’s assistance, they’d definitely track down a helpful doctor.

By the time they made it down the mountain and back to the medical academy, it was already the middle of the night. They didn’t alert many people on the way. Gu Qishao stood up from his chair just as Long Feiye gave him a cold look.

“There’s nothing left for you to do, so you can leave,” he said simply.

Chu Xifeng was already on attendance. On the way back, His Highness had instructed him to escort Gu Qishao back to his rooms and guard him until Gu Beiyue came over.

“I did my part in saving Ning Jing too. At least let this old man witness a couple’s reunion with Tang Li?” Gu Qishao said as he dashed into the courtyard.

“Your Highness, that fellow can still run. He shouldn’t be in too much trouble,” Chu Xifeng observed.

Seeing that Han Yunxi and the others were walking in as well, Long Feiye didn’t speak and followed after them.

--

Ning Jing was floored by the sight as soon as she entered the courtyad. It was filled with shadow guards and all of the windows and doors to Tang Li’s rooms were sealed. One guard murmured by Long Feiye’s side, “Last night the Tang Clan Head insisted on going back to the Tang Clan. We subordinates couldn’t stop him, so we had to resort to this.”

Long Feiye nodded in tacit approval. This was a similar scene to the house arrest in Three-Way Black Market. But! Back then Tang Li was still in his right mind, while now…

Ning Jing looked back at Han Yunxi, perplexed. “Princess, we...did we go the wrong way? Tang Li...where is he?”

She had kept quiet the whole way, but it was about time she asked. Han Yunxi felt stifled and couldn’t bring herself to speak. Finally, it was Gu Beiyue who broke the silence.

“Miss Jing, the Tang Clan Head thought you perished in the sea of flames. Because he was too grieved...he’s a little…”

“Tang Li is really inside?” Ning Jing interrupted. “You guys locked him up inside the house?”

“Miss Jing, the Tang Clan Head is…” Gu Beiyue was about to reveal the truth when Han Yunxi grew angry.

“Open the doors! Why are you guys locking him up? Open it!” As she finished, Ning Jing immediately dashd into the room.

Inside the rooms, Tang Li was sitting by himself on the bed with his head bowed. He seemed to be muttering something to himself. Ning Jing was already standing in front of him and everyone else had come in, but the commotion didn’t seem to reach him at all.

Ning Jing grew afraid as she carefully called out. “Tang Li…”

Tang Li didn’t react. Ning Jing’s eyes turned red with tears as she turned towards Han Yunxi. Fear, confusion, and panic were all written on her face.

“When we reached the cliff, we only saw Su Xiaoyu. He thought you fell to your death, so he...he lost his mind.” Han Yunxi said in a choked voice.

“Lost his mind…” Ning Jing’s tears streamed down her face as she slowly turned to Tang Li. She couldn’t accept what she was hearing. “A’Li’s lost his mind?”