Chapter 13: Uncle and Sister-in-Law

Hearing him speak so respectfully of his father, Hu Fei was very pleased, but seeing his mother's smile, he turned his eyes and said, "Who knows if you're just saying nice things about my father because you saw us?"

"Not at all, not at all!" Song Qingshu's expression was solemn, and his tone was natural: "In today's world, the title of 'great hero' seems to be everywhere. However, there are only two and a half people I truly consider to be great heroes."

"Oh, there are so many heroes in the world. I wonder which two and a half have such an honor?" Hu Fei's mother was also intrigued, and her cold expression changed.

"Guo Jing, who guards Xiangyang, serves his country and people, and is truly worthy of the title of great hero." Song Qingshu thought to himself, but he was a bit disappointed that Guo Jing had spent all his energy on national affairs and had neglected his family somewhat.

"Guo Daxia is indeed a great hero." Both mother and son nodded in agreement.

"The remaining half," Song Qingshu deliberately paused, "is the Snow Beggar Wu Liuzhi, who truly remembers a single meal of kindness and never forgets it. He is truly a remarkable man in the world." As for why it was only half, Song Qingshu was unsure whether this era's Wu Liuzhi was the one from Jin Yong's novels or the historical figure.

"Although I haven't heard of this person, if what you say is true, he indeed deserves the title of great hero." Hu Fei's mother usually admired such heroes and couldn't help but show a different expression.

"Who is the other one?" The child couldn't contain his curiosity and quickly asked when Song Qingshu didn't continue.

Song Qingshu didn't answer directly but recited a poem: "In Liaodong, there is a hero, Great Hero Hu Yidao. His martial arts are unparalleled, his courage reaches the clouds. His righteousness fills the world, his tenderness lingers in his heart. It makes scholars envy, wishing they could meet him."

His words made Hu Fei's mother's eyes sparkle, and she looked at him deeply. "The widow thanks you for the poem in memory of my late husband." At this point, she was truly at ease. If Song Qingshu wasn't really familiar with and respectful of Hu Yidao's life, he couldn't have written such a fitting poem. In just a few lines, Hu Fei's mother seemed to hear her husband's hearty laughter again, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Hu Fei found Song Qingshu more and more likable. Hearing the regret in his poem, he felt a surge of heroism and, pulling on Song Qingshu's sleeve, said solemnly, "I admired your heroism in the tavern earlier. Although you are not physically strong, you have a backbone of iron. If my father were here, he would regret not meeting you sooner. Hearing the regret in your voice, I am willing to swear brotherhood with you in his place. Would you agree?"

Hu Fei's mother was shocked and tried to cover his mouth, "Fei'er, don't be silly!"

Indeed, Hu Fei lived up to his reputation as the Snow Fox, always full of heroism. Song Qingshu laughed heartily, "Indeed, you are Hu Daxia's son! I would be honored." He then pulled Hu Fei to the northeast and knelt down, grabbing a handful of yellow earth as incense: "I, Song Qingshu, admire the style of Hu Yidao of Liaodong and wish to swear brotherhood with him. Heaven and earth bear witness, mountains and rivers form the alliance, the heavens and the earth attest to this heart."

Hu Fei also knelt and said solemnly, "I, Hu Fei, swear brotherhood with Song Qingshu in my father Hu Yidao's place. I do not seek to be born in the same year and month, but I do seek to die on the same day..." Hu Fei was still young and couldn't think of a proper oath, so he recited something he had heard in a play.

"Fei'er, you are being silly," Hu Fei's mother was embarrassed by his inappropriate oath.

"Brother, it's no problem. I was already dead, and now I am fortunate to have this life." Song Qingshu wasn't lying; the real Song Qingshu was indeed dead.

Hearing him call her "sister-in-law," Hu Fei's mother's heart skipped a beat, and she said somewhat awkwardly, "Fei'er is being too silly."

"I admire his heroic spirit from a young age. If I hadn't already sworn brotherhood with my elder brother, I would have wanted to swear brotherhood with him." Song Qingshu smiled, "Fei'er, we can treat each other as equals in private."

Hu Fei, who had impulsively sworn brotherhood using his father's name, suddenly realized he had lowered himself by a generation and was feeling depressed. Hearing this, he was overjoyed and called out, "Big Brother!"

Seeing the two of them fooling around, Hu Fei's mother closed her eyes in pain and changed the subject, "Uncle... Uncle, I notice you seem to lack vitality. For a young man like you, this shouldn't be the case."

Song Qingshu's body tingled when she called him "uncle," and he quickly replied, "Sister-in-law, you are perceptive. I was severely injured before, and now my meridians are severed..."

Hu Fei's mother was shocked, "Uncle, may I feel your pulse?" Seeing that he had already sworn brotherhood with her husband, she was less concerned about propriety.

Although he knew it wouldn't help, Song Qingshu politely extended his hand. He felt the touch was cold and smooth, and his heart stirred.

"Who could have inflicted such a severe injury on you?" Hu Fei's mother's face changed dramatically after a short while.

Song Qingshu reluctantly withdrew his arm and smiled bitterly, "I made a grave mistake in the past, and this is my just punishment. Sister-in-law, there's no need to worry."

"You are quite philosophical," Hu Fei's mother looked at him in surprise, then her eyes lit up, "By the way, we are on our way to visit the Poison Hand Medicine King. I've heard he is not only skilled in poison but also a great healer. Perhaps he can cure your injuries."

"Coincidentally, I came to Dongting Lake to find him." Song Qingshu sighed, "What a coincidence."

"If you don't mind, let's travel together." Hu Fei's mother said softly.

"I would be honored!" Song Qingshu was delighted and quickly added, "Does Sister-in-law know where the Poison Hand Medicine King lives?"

"We have been searching for years and only recently found out he is in the Dongting Lake area, but we don't know the exact location." Hu Fei's mother's delicate eyebrows raised slightly, and she said helplessly.

"I know he is in the Dongting Lake area, but I asked many people, and no one knows where the White Horse Temple is." Song Qingshu was also troubled.

"Mother, didn't we pass through a small town called White Horse Temple a month ago?" Hu Fei asked.

The long-standing doubt was about to be resolved, and Hu Fei's mother's face lit up. Song Qingshu also sighed with relief, went to the lake to wash up, and wiped off the shoe prints and bloodstains on his body and face. Hu Fei's mother was impressed by his appearance and thought to herself, "Uncle is such a handsome man, and his heart is as heroic as my brother's."

"Sister-in-law, why are you and Fei looking for the Poison Hand Medicine King?" Song Qingshu asked, wiping the water from his head.

"When Hu Daxia was poisoned to death, I later found out that the poison was the Black Frost Cold Ice, a secret medicine of the Poison Hand Medicine King. However, we had no grudges with him, and there was no reason for him to harm us. I suspect someone else took his medicine. I want to find him and ask who else has this deadly poison." Recalling her husband, Hu Fei's mother's delicate face couldn't hide her sorrow.

Chapter 14: Crystal Clear

Song Qingshu knew that Tian Gui'ao was the one causing trouble, but seeing this delicate sister-in-law, his heart moved, and he subconsciously wanted to stay with her longer, deciding not to tell her the truth for now.

The three arrived near White Horse Temple and encountered a thin scholar sleeping by the roadside. Hu Fei's mother approached and asked, "Hello, could you tell me how to get to Medicine King Manor?"

The scholar looked up and his eyes lit up, praising, "What a beautiful young lady!"

Angry, Hu Fei's mother retorted, "You scholar are too frivolous!"

The scholar looked at Hu Fei and clicked his tongue, "What a unique bone structure, a rare talent for martial arts. Using him for experiments would surely yield excellent results." He then reached out to grab Hu Fei, who already had a solid foundation in martial arts and used the Spring Silkworm Palm to block. However, the scholar's grab was so powerful that Hu Fei was immediately restrained.

"Fei'er!" Hu Fei's mother was shocked, and a white silk ribbon flew rapidly toward the scholar.

"Ah?" The scholar saw the silk ribbon coming fast and at a tricky angle, and quickly extended his finger to tap the front end of the ribbon.

Seeing this, Hu Fei's mother's expression changed, and she flicked her wrist, making the silk ribbon wrap around in a large circle and strike the scholar's back acupoint.

The scholar grabbed Hu Fei's shoulder, sealed his acupoints, and moved with a feint step. Song Qingshu's eyes blurred, and he saw the scholar jump out of Hu Fei's mother's silk ribbon attack range.

"Who are you, and why do you know my martial arts techniques?" Hu Fei's mother looked at the scholar with a stern face.

"The Silver Bell and Golden Lock of the Ancient Tomb School, which strike all the acupoints of the enemy, are indeed well-deserved. But it's a pity you met me." The scholar stroked his small mustache and smiled smugly.

"Is Sister-in-law from the Ancient Tomb School?" Song Qingshu was startled and looked at Hu Fei's mother, who was as clear and pure as crystal. He thought, "From her appearance and demeanor, she indeed meets the Ancient Tomb School's standards, but apart from Xiaolongnü and Limochou, I haven't heard of any other disciples."

Hu Fei's mother's expression became even more serious, "There are very few people in the world who know about the Ancient Tomb School, and you even know the weaknesses of its martial arts."

But the scholar shook his head, "I only know a little, the Jade Maiden Heart Sword Technique is not so easy to break."

"Seeing your demeanor, you must be a great master. Why do you torment a child?" Song Qingshu stepped forward and said.

The scholar looked at Song Qingshu and said, "Wonderful, a beautiful widow and a handsome young man traveling together, truly wonderful..."

"Rascal!" Hu Fei's mother's face turned red with anger, and she attacked, "Be careful!" Song Qingshu immediately saw through the scholar's intention, which was to make Hu Fei's mother lose her composure and reveal a weakness.

Sure enough, Chapter 14: Crystal Clear

Song Qingshu knew that Tian Gui'ao was the one causing trouble, but seeing this delicate sister-in-law, his heart moved, and he subconsciously wanted to stay with her longer, deciding not to tell her the truth for now.

The three arrived near White Horse Temple and encountered a thin scholar sleeping by the roadside. Hu Fei's mother approached and asked, "Hello, could you tell me how to get to Medicine King Manor?"

The scholar looked up and his eyes lit up, praising, "What a beautiful young lady!"

Angry, Hu Fei's mother retorted, "You scholar are too frivolous!"

The scholar looked at Hu Fei and clicked his tongue, "What a unique bone structure, a rare talent for martial arts. Using him for experiments would surely yield excellent results." He then reached out to grab Hu Fei, who already had a solid foundation in martial arts and used the Spring Silkworm Palm to block. However, the scholar's grab was so powerful that Hu Fei was immediately restrained.

"Fei'er!" Hu Fei's mother was shocked, and a white silk ribbon flew rapidly toward the scholar.

"Ah?" The scholar saw the silk ribbon coming fast and at a tricky angle, and quickly extended his finger to tap the front end of the ribbon.

Seeing this, Hu Fei's mother's expression changed, and she flicked her wrist, making the silk ribbon wrap around in a large circle and strike the scholar's back acupoint.

The scholar grabbed Hu Fei's shoulder, sealed his acupoints, and moved with a feint step. Song Qingshu's eyes blurred, and he saw the scholar jump out of Hu Fei's mother's silk ribbon attack range.

"Who are you, and why do you know my martial arts techniques?" Hu Fei's mother looked at the scholar with a stern face.

"The Silver Bell and Golden Lock of the Ancient Tomb School, which strike all the acupoints of the enemy, are indeed well-deserved. But it's a pity you met me." The scholar stroked his small mustache and smiled smugly.

"Is Sister-in-law from the Ancient Tomb School?" Song Qingshu was startled and looked at Hu Fei's mother, who was as clear and pure as crystal. He thought, "From her appearance and demeanor, she indeed meets the Ancient Tomb School's standards, but apart from Xiaolongnü and Limochou, I haven't heard of any other disciples."

Hu Fei's mother's expression became even more serious, "There are very few people in the world who know about the Ancient Tomb School, and you even know the weaknesses of its martial arts."

But the scholar shook his head, "I only know a little, the Jade Maiden Heart Sword Technique is not so easy to break."

"Seeing your demeanor, you must be a great master. Why do you torment a child?" Song Qingshu stepped forward and said.

The scholar looked at Song Qingshu and said, "Wonderful, a beautiful widow and a handsome young man traveling together, truly wonderful..."

"Rascal!" Hu Fei's mother's face turned red with anger, and she attacked, "Be careful!" Song Qingshu immediately saw through the scholar's intention, which was to make Hu Fei's mother lose her composure and reveal a weakness.

Sure enough, Chapter 14: Crystal Clear

Song Qingshu knew that Tian Gui'ao was the one causing trouble, but seeing this delicate sister-in-law, his heart moved, and he subconsciously wanted to stay with her longer, deciding not to tell her the truth for now.

The three arrived near White Horse Temple and encountered a thin scholar sleeping by the roadside. Hu Fei's mother approached and asked, "Hello, could you tell me how to get to Medicine King Manor?"

The scholar looked up and his eyes lit up, praising, "What a beautiful young lady!"

Angry, Hu Fei's mother retorted, "You scholar are too frivolous!"

The scholar looked at Hu Fei and clicked his tongue, "What a unique bone structure, a rare talent for martial arts. Using him for experiments would surely yield excellent results." He then reached out to grab Hu Fei, who already had a solid foundation in martial arts and used the Spring Silkworm Palm to block. However, the scholar's grab was so powerful that Hu Fei was immediately restrained.

"Fei'er!" Hu Fei's mother was shocked, and a white silk ribbon flew rapidly toward the scholar.

"Ah?" The scholar saw the silk ribbon coming fast and at a tricky angle, and quickly extended his finger to tap the front end of the ribbon.

Seeing this, Hu Fei's mother's expression changed, and she flicked her wrist, making the silk ribbon wrap around in a large circle and strike the scholar's back acupoint.

The scholar grabbed Hu Fei's shoulder, sealed his acupoints, and moved with a feint step. Song Qingshu's eyes blurred, and he saw the scholar jump out of Hu Fei's mother's silk ribbon attack range.

"Who are you, and why do you know my martial arts techniques?" Hu Fei's mother looked at the scholar with a stern face.

"The Silver Bell and Golden Lock of the Ancient Tomb School, which strike all the acupoints of the enemy, are indeed well-deserved. But it's a pity you met me." The scholar stroked his small mustache and smiled smugly.

"Is Sister-in-law from the Ancient Tomb School?" Song Qingshu was startled and looked at Hu Fei's mother, who was as clear and pure as crystal. He thought, "From her appearance and demeanor, she indeed meets the Ancient Tomb School's standards, but apart from Xiaolongnü and Limochou, I haven't heard of any other disciples."

Hu Fei's mother's expression became even more serious, "There are very few people in the world who know about the Ancient Tomb School, and you even know the weaknesses of its martial arts."

But the scholar shook his head, "I only know a little, the Jade Maiden Heart Sword Technique is not so easy to break."

"Seeing your demeanor, you must be a great master. Why do you torment a child?" Song Qingshu stepped forward and said.

The scholar looked at Song Qingshu and said, "Wonderful, a beautiful widow and a handsome young man traveling together, truly wonderful..."

"Rascal!" Hu Fei's mother's face turned red with anger, and she attacked, "Be careful!" Song Qingshu immediately saw through the scholar's intention, which was to make Hu Fei's mother lose her com