Chapter Fifty: Departure

Before they reached the palace, a sudden tightness around her waist startled her; Zirlin wrapped his arm around Feng Xiaoli’s slender waist. This time, Feng Xiaoli did not resist. She understood that Zirlin was bringing her into the palace, and at such a critical moment, causing trouble would implicate not only Zirlin, but herself as well.

Zirlin cared little for such concerns, but she had to be vigilant.

Zirlin’s martial arts were truly extraordinary. Even while carrying Feng Xiaoli, who was utterly inept in martial arts, he managed to evade the royal shadow guards' notice. Amidst the layers of protection surrounding Luo Wensheng, they slipped in undetected. In the blink of an eye, the two appeared before Luo Wensheng.

Luo Wensheng slept with an expression of utter serenity. If she hadn’t known he was poisoned, she might have believed him no different from any ordinary person.

Without hesitation, Feng Xiaoli stepped forward to take his pulse. She needed to determine what kind of poison had been used. She placed little faith in the imperial physicians; she trusted herself far more.

Her eyes darted restlessly, glancing at the sky, then at the ground. She released Luo Wensheng’s hand and took his pulse again, repeating this process several times. Each time she let go and tried anew, but the answer remained unchanged.

Feng Xiaoli rose, silent.

Seeing this, Zirlin reached out to take her pulse as well.

As expected—

“This time, I truly don’t know what poison this is,” Feng Xiaoli shook her head. Her martial arts might be lacking, but her medical skills were not. Moments ago, she had been full of confidence. Yet, to her surprise, Luo Wensheng’s pulse was merely a bit weak, but otherwise steady and calm. In short—there was nothing wrong.

To think that even the pulse revealed nothing—what kind of poison was this?

“This is indeed strange. The pulse is so calm; people with such a pulse are usually in excellent health. Yet looking at Luo Wensheng’s condition, that hardly seems to be the case. So—”

“I don’t know either. This is truly the first time I’ve encountered such a thing,” Feng Xiaoli replied softly.

“However—” Zirlin paused. “I’ve heard that Old Man Xuewu of Xuewu Mountain spent his life studying poisons. If we seek him out, perhaps he can tell us what this poison is!”

“Oh!” Feng Xiaoli slapped her forehead. How could she have forgotten her own master? Old Man Xuewu was a master of poisons. Since she was old enough to understand, she had studied medicine in his cottage. The walls displayed his lifetime of research—perhaps among them was insight into the poison affecting Luo Wensheng.

Zirlin quickly grasped what was on Feng Xiaoli’s mind. This was not a place to linger. Without delay, he tightened his hold around Feng Xiaoli’s waist and departed. Time was precious; they had to hurry to Xuewu Mountain and seek out Old Man Xuewu, hoping he could truly help.

Outside the city, a figure in purple and another in red rode together, their garments fluttering as they spurred their horses onward.

Xuewu Mountain lay at the intersection of the five kingdoms. The monarchs of those lands had long coveted it, but it was a place easy to defend and nearly impossible to attack. Moreover, its entrance was peculiar; only those native to the mountain knew where it was. Old Man Xuewu alone had outwitted them all.

Years ago, the state of Jinjing, overestimating its strength, attempted to seize Xuewu Mountain. Their armies reached its gates, causing a great stir. Yet Old Man Xuewu had laid a mysterious formation at the mountain’s border. The Jinjing soldiers who stepped into it were met with near-certain death.

Those who had not entered watched their comrades struggle in agony, ultimately succumbing, and could not help but shudder, fleeing in terror. It became the laughingstock of the other four kingdoms, but from that day forward, no one dared to underestimate Xuewu Mountain or Old Man Xuewu.

———Author’s Note———

A heartfelt apology! Normal updates will resume tomorrow or the next day!