Fated Destiny

The Rui Qīnwáng Residence was especially unusual today.

Servants roaming the courtyard bore sombre expressions as if the world were crumbling. The wind was so frigid that it raised cold sweat on their skin.

Tie Yi followed behind the young man and said lowly, "Zhǔzi, no traces are found."

E/N: 主人 Zhǔrén - Master of the house (主子 Zhǔzi)

Xie Jing Xing glanced at him. The calmer he looked, the darker his eyes looked, as if a storm was brewing inside them that could engulf others the next moment. In reply, he asked, "None?"

Tie Yi shuddered. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Gao Yang walking over. Gao Yang still carried the scent of alcohol and apparently had rushed over from the banquet; however, fortunately, his eyes were clear, and he was not drunk. He walked directly over to speak, "Sǎozǐ is alright, as the knife wounds are not serious. One has already instructed people to bandage her accordingly. It is most likely that she is suffering from shock and has fainted. The medication to soothe one's nerves was given, and she should wake up tomorrow morning."

Xie Jing Xing's gaze became assured, and Tie Yi sighed in relief. However, Gao Yang said, "Pei Lang's injuries are severe. The knife wounds are too deep, and there is too much blood lost. It would depend on oneself if one could get past it." The meaning of those words was that it would depend on whether his life was strong enough to wake up.

"It looks like Péi Xiānshēng took the knife for Fūrén." Tie Yi said carefully. Even though Pei Lang's position in the Rui Qīnwáng Residence was somewhat delicate, at this moment, one could not help but be grateful to him.

"But this is not a good thing." Gao Yang looked at Xie Jing Xing, "If he does not wake up… with Sǎozǐ's temperament, she will feel guilty for the rest of her life."

Shen Miao was very distinct in one's feelings and did not like to owe another favour. If one owed anything to others, she would return it. If Pei Lang had used his life to save her, in the future when Shen Miao knew of it when she woke in the future, or if Pei Lang could not live, no one would have dared to think what Shen Miao would be like.

"Are the city gates of Long Ye sealed?" Xie Jing Xing asked.

"Sealed." Tie Yi said, "The entire Mo Yun Army is activated, but since the people around did not discover anything and Fūrén did not have time to call for help, either the person does not have any martial arts skills, or they are at a very high level." 

Xie Jing Xing said, "No need to think much. If caught alive, directly kill them."

"Then the mastermind…"

"Investigate again."

Tie Yi left as ordered, and Xie Jing Xing looked at Gao Yang again. "Stay here tonight. If the condition worsens, there will be no need to move around."

Gao Yang said, "I understand." He looked at Xie Jing Xing again and said, "You should also rest." His expression was grave.

The other party's guts were too big to attack Rui Qīnwángfēi at a location near Bi Xiao Luo. Also, one feared they did not even put the Rui Qīnwáng Residence in their eyes. Probably only the Lu family had this kind of guts in Long Ye. However, the Lu family does not require Shen Miao to be attacked here; thus, it has a deeper meaning.

In any case, this was a message that the hidden forces were finally unable to restrain themselves and started to move, and Shen Miao was the first choice in the Rui Qīnwáng Residence.

However, at this moment, Xie Jing Xing did not care much about it and walked into the room. Shen Miao lay on the bed, her complexion pale. Her eyes were closed, and her eyelashes fell, showing a fragile appearance.

He sighed and sat by Shen Miao's bed.

There was a food basket on the table in the room, and in it was the bowl of longevity noodles that Shen Miao instructed Bi Xiao Luo to prepare specially. Ba Jiao said that fearing it would spoil, they had specially filtered it with cold water, but it had been for so long that even though it was filtered, it was already one ball of sticky mess.

Xie Jingxing thought momentarily, then stretched his hand to open the food basket and retrieve the bowl.

The noodles in the bowl had turned into a bowl of dough, through which one could faintly see the white noodles, green vegetables, and yellow egg. It was most likely freshly cooked and fragrant. However, eating when it is cold would not be palatable.

Xie Jing Xing took a pair of chopsticks and ate them in big mouthfuls.

Ba Jiao and Hui Xiang said that Shen Miao had instructed her to buy a lot of fireworks and drinks so that they could see the fireworks from the pavilion near Bi Xiao Luo. She had also instructed me to prepare the longevity noodles at a specific time, probably to apologise.

They had been in a cold war for a while, and Shen Miao lowered her head first. Bajiao also said that Shen Miao had not been doing well lately, and Xie Jingxing felt relieved. He was a man who should have been more generous and not cared about the past. Who knew that before he could say the words of apology, he saw Pei Lang and Shen Miao lying in a pool of blood?

It wasn't easy to describe the feelings at that moment. It was summer, but one felt a chill from head to toe, and he dared not even go up to confirm their condition.

It was fortunate that everything was alright.

The noodles Xie Jing Xing ate tasted like chewing on wax, but he finished the entire bowl. He placed the empty bowl on the table before holding Shen Miao's hands.

He had regretted it.

If he had not been enraged with Shen Miao, there was no need for Shen Miao to think about apologising to him, and she would not have gone to the pavilion by Bi Xiao Luo, and there would not have been such an incident.

Luo Tan had gotten the information outside and was rushing over. Upon seeing Gao Yang, she asked Gao Yang first, "What had happened to my Xiǎo Biǎomèi?"

"She is fine." Gao Yang said, "Pei Lang took a knife for her."

"Péi Xiānshēng?" Luo Tan was stunned, "Then how is Péi Xiānshēng?"

"Not very good." Gao Yang shook his head.

"Even you can't save him?" Luo Tan asked.

Gao Yang smiled bitterly. "I am a doctor, not Buddha. If everyone could be saved, then there would be no one in the halls of the Underworld."

Luo Tan said, "It is only today that I know that Xiǎo Biǎomèi had quarrelled with Mèifū, and it is said that it was due to Xiǎo Biǎomèi not visiting Mèifū when he is sick. Those Fūréns in Bi Xiao Luo said it was Xiǎo Biǎomèi's fault and said that Xiǎo Biǎomèi was cold and unfeeling. What do all of them know? When Xiǎo Biǎomèi was begging for herbs from that strange Taoist Priest, which one of them saw it? What nonsense."

"Strange Taoist Priest?" Gao Yang heard the crux of her words and asked, "What strange Taoist Priest? What do you mean by begging for herbs?"

Luo Tan was stunned and upset for saying the wrong thing with a slip of her tongue. Recalling that Shen Miao did not want to let her speak about it, she said, "Nothing. I spoke nonsense. I will go take a look at Xiǎo Biǎomèi first." Finishing, she turned and headed to Shen Miao's room.

Gao Yang grabbed her to stop her, "Don't go. Xie Jing Xing is inside."

"Oh?" Luo Tan lowered her head and suddenly remembered something. "Are you staying here tonight?"

"I will stay here to watch over Pei Lang's condition." Gao Yang said, "You should go back first."

Luo Tan shook her head. "I will not return; I will stay here to wait for Xiǎo Biǎomèi to wake up."

Gao Yang knew of Luo Tan's stubborn temperament and did not persuade her.

On this night, it was extremely long in everyone's heart.

The assassination of Shen Miao and Pei Lang was concealed, and no one in Bi Xiao Luo knew about it. They just thought that Xie Jing Xing had left the banquet early and did not know it had been a sleepless night in the Rui Qīnwáng Residence. On this night, the servants waited with unease for the result.

During summer, the days were long, and the nights were short. When the sun shone, the birds in the courtyard started to chirp, but there was no sound from the two rooms.

Xie Jing Xing looked at Gao Yang and asked, "What is going on?"

Gao Yang's brows were tight as he took Shen Miao's and Pei Lang's pulse. However, he shook his head in front of everyone.

"This is strange. Though Pei Lang's injuries are serious, and he hasn't made any movement until now, there should have been some reaction, but it looked like he was sleeping. Wángfēi only suffered from superficial injuries, and medication for soothing one's nerves was taken. She should have woken up but had not woken up till now."

"So?" Xie Jing Xing's expression was as deep as water as he looked at Gao Yang forcefully.

"This is… Somewhat strange."

Tang Shu said cautiously, "Could it be that there is some other poison? Is it just that Doctor Gao has not discovered it before?"

"Not possible." Gao Yang firmly denied it. "There are no signs of poisoning in both of their pulses, but nothing is wrong with them. They do not seem to have problems; they just cannot wake up."

"How can it be?" Luo Tan became anxious, "My Xiǎo Biǎomèi cannot keep sleeping like this. There must be a reason."

Gao Yang looked at Xie Jing Xing and could not bear Xie Jing Xing's gaze, "Let's wait for another half a day."

In this half a day, Xie Jing Xing could only stay by Shen Miao's bedside without leaving but not mention half a day, even after waiting till night, Shen Miao did not wake up. It was also the same for Pei Lang.

Tang Shu asked Gao Yang, "Doctor Gao, what's happening? Even if Fūrén and Péi Xiānshēng don't wake up, there must be a reason. Can it be that you can't find it?"

Gao Yang found it challenging to discuss the pain in his heart. Shen Miao and Pei Lang appeared fine, yet they remained unresponsive. Even for a doctor, diagnosing requires evident signs and symptoms, but their pulse and expressions suggested they were merely asleep, leaving him without any means to diagnose.

It was just that facing Xie Jing Xing's increasingly cold and sharp eyes, Gao Yang felt immensely pressured.

Later, Ji Yu Shu also rushed over upon hearing the news, and everyone became worried.

Luo Tan could not bear it anymore, and she became angry. Tears almost fell from her eyes. "Could it be that one conflicts with some mysterious force? First, it was Mèifū, and now it is Xiǎo Biǎomèi. If anything happens to Xiǎo Biǎomèi, how could I explain it to Xiǎo Gūgū and Gūfū?" She then wiped her nose, "I promised when I followed here that I would protect Xiǎo Biǎomèi, but who knew that Xiǎo Biǎomèi is protected to such a state? One is ashamed!"

Gao Yang patted her shoulders, "You are not to blame."

"If I am by her side, at least one would be unable to take advantage." After finishing, she seemed to have thought about something and growled, "Mèifū is too much. If he were not angry with Xiǎo Biǎomèi, then there would not be anyone that would follow and target Xiǎo Biǎomèi."

Gao Yang was helpless. He could not intervene in matters between Xie Jing Xing and Shen Miao. Moreover, Luo Tan was indignant that Shen Miao was not waking up.

"If Xiǎo Biǎomèi does not wake up, he will regret it." Luo Tan retorted, "Those Fūréns are biased, but he is the person by Xiǎo Biǎomèi's pillow but did not believe Xiǎo Biǎomèi. It is him that has no feelings." After some thought, she clenched her fists, "There is no need to conceal this matter from Mèifū. Xiǎo Biǎomèi had already given so much for him, but in the end, someone cut it. If Xiǎo Biǎomèi does not end well, one must speak clearly for her. Xiǎo Biǎomèi does not want to discuss it, but I will speak."

"What are you saying?" Ji Yu Shu asked curiously.

Luo Tan glared at him, "Of course, a contribution greater than that pair of Ye siblings."

Luo Tan went to look for Xie Jing Xing in anger. Gao Yang feared that she would cause trouble and quickly followed. Reaching the door, Xie Jing Xing emerged with a serious expression. Since this happened to Shen Miao, Xie Jing Xing's expression has not changed.

Luo Tan said, "Rui Qīnwáng Diànxià." She did not call the familiar term 'Mèifū'.

Xie Jing Xing swept a look at her. He felt his heart stuffy with Shen Miao being unconscious and was even more impatient with others.

However, Luo Tan had a temperament that did not care about anything when she got angry and did not even fear the Heavens. She said, "Previously, Xiǎo Biǎomèi refused to let me say, but now she is lying on the sick bed. Since she does not speak of it, then I will speak. I have no scruples and would not think as much as she does. It is just that it is too disadvantageous for one to do so much but hide it from others without any explanation."

Tang Shu and Tie Yi came over in a rush and stood by the side, looking at Luo Tan with surprise.

"Those Fūrén all said that when you are bedridden, Xiǎo Biǎomèi did not come to see you much. You felt being treated coldly and that Xiǎo Biǎomèi was unfeeling, so your heart was not happy with her and is angry with her, right?" Luo Tan stared at him, "But you did not know that those days that she did not visit you were not because she did not want to do so but because she went out of town to beg for medication."

Went out of town to beg for medication? Xie Jing Xing's gaze landed on Tie Yi, and Tie Yi kept his head lowered, not daring to meet his eyes directly.

Previously, it was because Shen Miao instructed the servants to conceal, and afterwards, when Shen Miao returned, she had an unfathomable cold war with Xie Jing Xing. Once Xie Jing Xing became cold, the surrounding people would not dare approach him at such a juncture. One had thought to speak about it after a few days but did not expect this to happen.

"Speak clearly." Xie Jing Xing took a step forward.

Luo Tan said, "You do not know about it, right? One heard that there was a Superior One in Feng Tuo Zhuang that could go against Heavens, change lives, and help people change one's fate." She looked at Gao Yang, "That time, Gao Yang was refining the medication to detoxify your poison, and Xiǎo Biǎomèi had given you all three Gui Yuan Pills, but they could only hold you on for some time. If one is unable to find a way to detoxify you within ten days, your life will be in danger. However, during the fourth day, your condition worsened. The Imperial Physician said you cannot withstand over seven days, so when Young Biao Sister heard about the rumour of that Superior One in Feng Tuo Zhuang, she brought a few guards and me over."

There was an electrified shock in Xie Jing Xing's gaze.

What kind of person was Shen Miao? She was rational and would analyse the pros and cons of any matter and would not believe in words of superstitions. She believed in what goes against Heaven and changes lives. That was because there was no way out!

"Feng Tuo Zhuang was not far from Long Ye, but finding where the Superior One resided was difficult. That day, we rushed over throughout the night and were almost lost in that forest, which even had wolves. Xiǎo Biǎomèi was not even a little afraid and insisted on lighting the torches and searching for the route for the entire night, fearing that there would not be enough to return to save you."

"On the second day, we found that Superior One, but because of his strange regulations, he only brought Xiǎo Biǎomèi and the no-martial-arts me into the mountain valley. One said there is a herb that could detoxify hundreds of poisons, but Xiǎo Biǎomèi had to pay the price. The price was not difficult as it did not require gold or life. However, it was to let one pick out each worm from the entire mountain valley of Hong Xiu Cao and fertilise each plant."

Gao Yang and Ji Yu Shu had shocked expressions, and even Tang Shu and Tie Yi were amazed.

They had never heard of these matters from others and did not know all the details. Tang Shu's heart came to a sudden realisation. No wonder Shen Miao was in such a poor condition when she returned to the residence and had lost some propriety of a Wángfēi compared to Ye Mei. One did not know the reason then, but now he understood. So it was that Shen Miao had not slept that night to get the medication for Xie Jing Xing and was busy being a farmer to others. For a moment, he sighed. For a noble person to condescend into doing such a thing, but other than being flexible and adaptive, one's intention was much more valuable.

However, the more Luo Tan spoke, the more she could not calm down, "It sounds like nothing, right? But she was raised delicately since she was young. It was an entire mountain valley that even those farmers could not finish alone. She had not slept before and immediately started to do it, working the entire night. You all wear brocade and eat fine food, most likely having never touched fertiliser. For her to do such a thing, how could she be inferior to that pair of siblings?" Luo Tan looked at Xie Jing Xing, "It is not false that the Ye siblings saved you and one has a life gratitude with them, but my Xiǎo Biǎomèi is not inferior!"

"It is said that she is not by your side, but you can ask the servants in this Qīnwáng Residence before she left the residence, how many days had she stayed by your bedside? Did she even take a step away? Did she take care of you without even closing her eyes? Could it be that it is incomparable to that Ye siblings who only had an encounter?"

"I can only feel wronged for my Xiǎo Biǎomèi to end up like this. When Qīnwáng Diànxià married her from Ming Qi, what was your promise? You cannot even trust her! Although she has many shortcomings, there is no doubt about one thing: her sincerity!"

When Luo Tan finished speaking, her face was red, but it seemed to wipe off the anger in her heart. She looked at Xie Jing Xing's expression. There was no sorrow or joy, and his facial expression was calm. However, the calmer it was, the chilly it made others feel as if there was a boundless storm under the calmness.

"Finished speaking?" He asked slowly.

His tone was so cold that Luo Tan could not help but shrink her neck.

Gao Yang quickly stood up, "It is not the time to pursue these matters now. The most urgent task is to think of how to wake them up."

Xie Jing Xing smiled coldly, "Isn't this easy? Just capture the Ye siblings."

Ji Yu Shu was startled, "Sān Gē, what do you want to do?"

"Since she behaved abnormally towards the Ye siblings, there is something wrong with the Ye siblings. No matter if it was them behind the matter, there is no reason to spare them." Xie Jing Xing turned around and was about to leave when Gao Yang pulled him, "You cannot! They are no longer the powerless Li family but the Ye family. What would be the consequences of alarming the Ye family?"

"Let go." Xie Jing Xing said coldly.

"You need to calm down!" Gao Yang said, "If Wángfēi hated the Ye siblings and tolerated it for so long, then she must not want to use a method that would harm oneself. Are you not hindering her?"

"That is correct, Sān Gē." Ji Yu Shu also said, "The Ye family is not a small household in Long Ye, so for you to take such actions, one fears that it would bring trouble to Rui Qīnwáng Residence."

"She can tolerate, but I cannot." Xie Jing Xing said, "The Ye family had reached the bottom line."

"Sān Gē…" Ji Yu Shu still wanted to persuade, but Ba Jiao's voice suddenly sounded outside. The usually smiling girl now seemed to have a trace of panic, "Zhǔzi, someone has arrived."

Tie Yi slightly frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with Ba Jiao's disposure, "Who?"

"It's… The Taoist Priest that Fūrén and us meet at Feng Tuo Zhuang." Ba Jiao said hesitantly.

"What?" Luo Tan's eyes widen.

Holding onto Xie Jing Xing's sleeves, Ji Yu Shu could not help but let go of his hand and look at Ba Jiao. "Taoist priest?"

Ba Jiao nodded her head.

In the hall, the strange Taoist priest, clad in tattered clothes, touched and looked at everything as though it were his first time entering a residence, his eyes full of curiosity. Hui Xiang and Cong Yang stood at the side awkwardly, as they knew Taoist Chi Yan. But this Taoist Chi Yan behaved so familiarly upon entering, making them somewhat uncomfortable.

When Xie Jing Xing and his entourage reached the hall, Taoist Chi Yan tried to pick the gemstone from a vase and asked Hui Xiang, "Can this poor priest take this away?"

"Taoist Chi Yan." Luo Tan called him when she saw him.

When Chi Yan saw it was her, he smiled and said, "Luó Gūniáng, it's been a long time since we last saw each other."

Luo Tan's heart was silent, thinking it was not too long. Still, she could not care for anything else at this moment, "Is it that you came over here because you know something had happened to Xiǎo Biǎomèi and specially come to change my Xiǎo Biǎomèi's fate?" Even though Luo Tan felt that this Taoist priest was difficult, he had some abilities. Otherwise, Shen Miao would not believe in him that much.

Taoist Chi Yan looked at Xie Jing Xing, standing silently behind Luo Tan, and smiled, "This poor priest cannot change one's fate and can only do divination. This Xiǎo Gē, what do you think?"

"I do not believe in the ways of Heaven." Xie Jing Xing said.

"There is no faith in the way of Heavens, then why do people insist on seeking answers from Heavens?" Taoist Chi Yan shook his head, "This Fūrén's life is special, and others would not be able to fathom, and it is chosen by herself. You and I will not be able to help her."

Luo Tan did not understand Taoist Chi Yan's words and asked hurriedly, "Taoist Priest, what should be done with my Xiǎo Biǎomèi now?"

"Is the herb that I initially gave her still here?" Taoist Chi Yan asked.

"Eh?" Luo Tan wondered, "When we returned, Qīnwáng's poison was cured, and naturally the herb is useless. One does not know where Xiǎo Biǎomèi placed it."

"Núbì seems to know where." Jing Zhi said, quickly bringing everyone to Shen Miao's room, and found a dusty grey box under the dressing table. When it was opened, there was an herb that looked nothing unique.

Luo Tan's eyes were sharp, "This is it! "

"Go and boil it." Chi Yan caressed his beard.

"Wait." Xie Jing Xing looked at that strange Taoist Priest, "Why should I believe in you?"

"You can not believe in this poor priest but have no other choice." Taoist Chi Yan sighed, "This Fūrén finds this herb, and at the beginning, this poor priest had said that it would be futile. Even without this herb, you will be safe and sound. There was no such disaster in your life, and what she did was unwarranted."

Everyone was startled upon hearing it.

"However, it was not exactly useless." The strange Taoist Priest had some delight in his expression, "A loved one will be loved, and a person saved will be saved. If, at that time, in the mountain valley, she was half-hearted or insincere, she would not be able to gain this herb, and there would not be today. This herb is in the name of saving you, but it is meant to save her. Her contribution to you is saving her."

At this moment, Luo Tan was faintly able to discern some things and asked, "The meaning is that you already knew that this herb would not be used on Qīnwáng but will be used on my Xiǎo Biǎomèi. You have calculated that Xiǎo Biǎomèi would have such a life and death situation, so letting her get the herb was actually for herself."

The strange Taoist Priest looked at Luo Tan and said with all smiles, "Worthy of teaching."

Xie Jing Xing stared at him, "You instructed her to be a farmer?"

That pair of eyes had some killing intent; that the Taoist Priest took a step backwards and hid behind Gao Yang. He coughed twice lightly, "There would be such a hurdle in her life, and this poor priest had already turned the catastrophe to the bare minimum. Compared to one's life, isn't being a farmer much easier?"

"But why is she not awake?" Gao Yang wondered, "I am also a medical practitioner, but after looking through her illness, one is unable to find the cause of it at all. It seems that there is nothing to do with her injuries. She should wake up today but does not at all. What is the reason for this?"

The Taoist Priest said, "This poor priest had said that this is her destined calamity in her life."

"What calamity here and there. One doesn't understand it at all." Luo Tan said, "Just tell us directly when will my Xiǎo Biǎomèi wake up after taking that herb."

Chi Yan smiled, "That herb is not for her to eat but for the other injured person."

The other injured person? Could it be Pei Lang?

Xie Jing Xing said lowly, "If you are to scam one, I will take your life now."

"The vicious air is too strong." Chi Yan shook his head, "That person had given one's life for Fūrén, but because there are some entanglements in one's past life, the herb that Fūrén requested could be this debt."

"Then what about my Sǎozǐ?" Ji Yu Shu asked.

The strange Taoist Priest looked at Shen Miao, lying silently on the bed. Her expression was calm, as if asleep, but her face was so pale that it evoked a sense of unreality.

"She could pick up worms in my entire valley of Hong Sui Cao but could not pick out the bugs in her heart."

"This calamity is considered fortunate for her and also misfortune."

"This poor priest has had three fated encounters with her, and two times had passed. This last encounter is fated."

"If the affairs in the mortal world are not resolved in full circle, there will be regrets. She wanted to request an answer, but no one could tell her." The strange Taoist Priest's eyes squinted.

"Now, she has found a way and is currently pursuing the answer in front of her. No one can help her. You can't, she can't, and even this poor priest can't."

"So one should wait patiently." The Taoist Priest looked towards Xie Jing Xing.

"That is your fate."