Chapter 7

"Your master was quite famous in the State of Zhao. I thought that by inviting him out of seclusion this time, we could resolve this matter, but I didn't expect it to end this way."

Zhao Shisong led the way, his face filled with regret as he spoke.

"However, you don't need to be afraid. The illness in my household might just be due to the cold and dampness, combined with my wife's frail health. It shouldn't be too serious."

Ning Changjiu nodded and said, "Master devoted his life to this path and died because of it. In a certain sense, it could be considered a good end."

Zhao Shisong hadn't expected this young man to be so open-minded. He laughed a few times and praised, "If things go well in the future, I believe you will surpass your master."

Ning Changjiu replied, "Thank you."

Ning Xiaoling walked silently beside him.

Zhao Shisong glanced at her and found this young girl to be delicate and adorable, but there was always a hint of coldness in her eyes. He couldn't help but tease her, "Little girl, how old are you, and how long have you been learning from your master?"

Ning Xiaoling answered honestly, "I'm fourteen years old, and I've been studying with my master for three years."

Zhao Shisong nodded and said, "I see you have a good aptitude. You must have learned a lot over these years, right?"

Ning Xiaoling cursed Ning Qinshui in her heart but smiled and said, "Not really. Cultivation always requires time and effort."

"The little girl is quite modest."

"Mr. Zhao is too kind."

Zhao Shisong's residence wasn't far away, and they arrived as they were talking.

At the entrance of the residence, a wandering Taoist with a yellow talisman on his forehead was walking out, muttering to himself.

"This remedy has always worked, but why isn't it working today? Could I be possessed?"

The wandering Taoist saw Zhao Shisong return and immediately stopped, bowed, and said apologetically, "Your Highness, I am sorry, but I cannot understand your wife's illness. It seems neither evil nor demonic, and it has me stumped."

Zhao Shisong sighed and said, "It's fine. Take the money and go home."

The wandering Taoist responded and then noticed the two young Taoists in robes following Zhao Shisong.

His face changed slightly, and he asked curiously, "Are you also in this line of work?"

Ning Changjiu asked, "Is there a problem?"

The wandering Taoist circled around them, shook his head, and said, "You have potential, but listen to an elder's advice: go back, don't waste your time."

Ning Changjiu ignored him and looked at Zhao Shisong, saying, "Please lead the way, Mr. Zhao."

The Taoist's face turned red with anger, and he stomped his feet, saying, "In this imperial city, I can rank among the top five in our profession. I'm giving you good advice, but you won't listen!"

Ning Changjiu ignored him, and Zhao Shisong, who was already annoyed by the Taoist's attitude, waved his hand and led Ning Changjiu into the residence.

After a few steps, the Taoist turned and followed.

Ning Xiaoling, who naturally disliked him, frowned and said, "Stinky Taoist, why are you following us?"

The Taoist puffed up and said, "I'll just watch from the side. I want to see what you can do, to be so confident at your age."

Ning Xiaoling's eyebrows shot up, and she was about to retort, but Ning Changjiu directly said, "It's fine, let him follow."

...

As they passed through the courtyard and corridors, the ancient and elegant house echoed with coughing sounds.

A servant girl at the door saw Zhao Shisong return, called out "Master," and stepped aside to let them through.

Inside the room, a young woman was lying on a bed, her cheeks pale, her eyes half-closed, and she occasionally clutched her chest and coughed, looking frail but beautiful.

Ning Xiaoling had expected a dignified and virtuous lady, but she was surprised to see such a young and beautiful woman, around twenty years old, and she didn't know which of the wives she was.

The young woman saw Zhao Shisong and tried to get up to greet him, but Zhao Shisong quickly ran to her side, held her hand, and comforted her a few times.

The young woman glanced at them and frowned, saying, "That Taoist just left, why is he back? He seems useless, and his presence is annoying."

"You..." The wandering Taoist took a deep breath and sighed, "Madam, you are right."

Then she looked at the two unfamiliar faces and weakly smiled, "This young Taoist is quite handsome, and looking at him makes me feel a bit better."

Ning Changjiu didn't respond to her compliment.

He looked around, his gaze passing over the high beams, as if searching for something.

The Taoist watched him with interest, waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

Ning Changjiu reached into his sleeve and felt around but didn't pull anything out.

The Taoist couldn't help but laugh, "What, did you forget to bring the talismans? Need I lend you some?"

The young woman on the bed frowned, and Zhao Shisong glared at him, making the Taoist stop laughing reluctantly.

Unexpectedly, Ning Changjiu really held out his hand, "A copper coin will do."

"A copper coin?" The Taoist frowned, "Are you mocking me, boy?"

Ning Changjiu held out his hand.

The Taoist looked at the others' gazes, sighed, untied his money bag, and threw a copper coin to him.

Ning Changjiu caught the coin and placed it on a small wooden cabinet in front of the young woman, then said, "It's done."

Everyone was stunned.

Done? What's done?

The Taoist was at a loss, "Do you think we're all fools?"

Zhao Shisong was about to speak but saw the copper coin on the cabinet split into three pieces. His mouth opened in surprise as he looked at Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu calmly looked at the young woman on the bed and asked,

"Do you feel better?"

The young woman glanced at the coin, chuckled, and was about to shake her head, but when she met his gaze, she felt a cold wind pass through her mind, making her stiff and cold.

After a moment, her smile returned, "Well, I do feel much better, and my body feels lighter."

Zhao Shisong saw her improved condition and was overjoyed, looking at Ning Changjiu with even more kindness, "I always thought that spending money to avoid disaster was just a joke, but today I see that you, young Taoist, are truly extraordinary. I don't know how to thank you."

Ning Changjiu said, "My junior sister and I have nowhere to go."

Zhao Shisong quickly said, "Someone, clean a room and arrange for the young Taoist to stay temporarily."

The Taoist was dumbfounded, not knowing what had happened, "This... this, are you two in cahoots to trick me?"

Zhao Shisong ignored him and waved his sleeve, "Show him out."

"Hey, I..." The Taoist stomped his feet, "My copper coin!"

Ning Changjiu said, "You can owe it."

...

In the middle of the night.

The young woman woke up from the bed, lifted the curtain, and lazily stretched her body, smoothing her long hair over her shoulders.

She slowly turned her head, about to light a lamp, but suddenly gasped, clutching her heart in fear.

In the dimly lit room, a figure was faintly sitting by an elegant wooden table.

"Stop pretending." The voice spoke, and the candle lit up.

"You... you?" The woman's chest heaved, and she scolded, "You young Taoist, I thought you looked decent, but you sneak into my room at night. What do you want? Get out now, or I'll call for help!"

Ning Changjiu turned his chair and calmly looked at her, "Tell me about your young lady."

"Your young lady?" The woman grabbed her collar, "What nonsense are you talking? Do I look like a servant?"

Ning Changjiu said, "You've been pretending to be sick in bed for days, so you can't go out. I saw your young lady today, and I can tell you about her."

The woman stared at him, then laughed, "Men, young and old, are all the same. You've come this far, yet you still act so proper. Do you think I'll give myself to you just because you cured me? If the master hears, he'll have you beaten out."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Don't you want to listen?"

The woman laughed, "You young Taoist are unreasonable. Come, I'll listen. Who is my master?"

Ning Changjiu said, "She has many pawns in the city, but the layout is hasty, and coordination among them is difficult. You haven't received a message from your master for several days, right?"

The woman shook her head, "I don't understand what you're saying."

Ning Changjiu continued, "She is also severely injured. It's understandable, given how many people want to kill her. She can't truly escape unscathed."

The woman looked at the young man across the lamp, her expression filled with resentment, "You came... just to say these irrelevant things?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I'm just an ordinary Taoist. I haven't decided my stance yet. Every word you say next could influence me."

The woman's eyes flickered, then calmed, and she smiled, "I've never seen an ordinary Taoist who sneaks into a woman's room."

Ning Changjiu didn't respond, just quietly looked at her. The woman suddenly felt that the figure in front of her wasn't human but a cold, lifeless ghost.

She gradually lost her smile, "An ordinary Taoist? Then why are you in the imperial city? Don't try to fool me with talk of upholding justice."

Ning Changjiu said, "I don't need to explain myself. A wise man doesn't stand under a crumbling wall. If I can protect myself, I can also intervene."

"Hmm? Quite a bold statement." The woman looked at the young man sitting quietly, and her breathing slowed involuntarily.

Ning Changjiu said, "Just tell me a simple story about your young lady. You don't need to betray anything."

"A simple story?"

"Yes, like her name, or what happened three years ago."

Her name? Three years ago?

Do you really need to go to such lengths to scare me? Anyone in the palace would know. Am I the fool, or are you?

The woman was stunned, not knowing how to respond.

Ning Changjiu thought she didn't want to talk and didn't bother with more words.

A golden hairpin, which had been on the dressing table, suddenly flew to the woman's face, almost touching her nose.

The woman's throat moved, and she swallowed carefully, not daring to move.

"Are you testing me?" The woman still didn't give up.

"No." Ning Changjiu sat quietly, waiting for her to answer. He raised his hand, and a deadly aura suddenly emanated from him.

The woman sighed in resignation, "My young lady's surname is the same as the state, Zhao, and her name is Xiang'er. Three years ago..."

Zhao Xiang'er...

In the quiet night, she slowly began to tell the story.