Chapter 115: When the boy rode a bamboo horse, he played with the plums around the bed

Inside the Xu Residence, the burning of the large tree sent countless sparks and ashes drifting through the air.

Before long, the sparks successively ignited other houses within the residence, threatening to spread into a massive blaze.

Li Fengrao quickly ordered men to retrieve the manifested demon corpse—these were all evidence!

Squire Xu, clad only in his undergarments, seemed not to have grasped what was happening. While frantically directing his servants to salvage valuables, he stopped Vice Prefect Hou, demanding to know why his residence was suddenly surrounded and why the Immortal Master’s procession had been disturbed—who could bear the consequences of such an offense?

Immediately afterward, he was arrested by Vice Prefect Hou on the charge of ‘colluding with demons.’

“Senior Sister, that Phoenix Nod sword stance you just used was truly exquisite! You already possess some of Master’s grace!”

“Haha, Junior Sister, your Lightning Drawing Technique just now hit three times out of three, severing the Wolf Demon’s arm! That was equally spectacular!”

The Disciples of Xuanji Palace, who had withdrawn outside the residence, gathered together, excitedly chattering about their recent combat experiences.

Despite being up all night, they showed no signs of fatigue.

Daoist Master, who was usually strict with her Disciples, stood quietly off to the side, watching without going over to scold or stop the Disciples from praising each other.

She had been that age once, too.

Back then, when she traveled the world with her companions, eliminating evildoers, wasn’t it the same after every battle? Praising others for being powerful and hoping they would return the favor.

Ruan Ruan did not participate in the discussion, perhaps because she had been too absorbed in the fighting just now.

Now, she felt waves of dizziness.

Senior Sister Miao Qing noticed this and stepped forward, “Ruan Ruan, are you feeling unwell?”

“A little, but it’s nothing.”

“Go back and get a good sleep later.”

“Okay.”

“By the way, your Young Master made quite a splash tonight!” Miao Qing teased her deliberately, “Be careful someone doesn’t take a fancy to him and recruit him as a son-in-law.”

Ruan Ruan pouted, “No way!”

“That’s hard to say.”

“…”

Just as Ruan Ruan was about to retort, she suddenly felt the world spin, and her body went limp, causing her to collapse.

Senior Sister Miao Qing was startled, thinking her Junior Sister had too much temper—could she have fainted just from a joke?

She quickly stepped forward to help her up. The moment they touched, Miao Qing could feel Ruan Ruan’s body was burning hot, even through her clothes.

“Master! Master!”

Miao Qing quickly shouted, drawing a crowd of fellow Disciples.

“Ruan Ruan, she…”

A bad premonition rose in Miao Qing’s heart, but she dared not speak the truth.

Daoist Master spotted the anomaly immediately and checked Ruan Ruan’s forehead with the back of her hand. Burning hot!

“Let’s go, return now!”

Daoist Master scooped up Ruan Ruan, cradling her in her arms, and immediately headed toward Prince Lanyangs Estate.

But after only a few steps, she involuntarily stopped and finally said, “Miao Qing, go to the Estate immediately and report the truth to the Princess Consort. Tell her Ruan Ruan might have contracted a plague, and ask if the Estate can still accommodate us. If not, bring our luggage out!”

The moment the word ‘Plague’ left her mouth.

The surrounding people instantly retreated several steps.

“Tie them up! Secure the Wolf Demon’s corpse!”

“And the Rat Demon, tie that up too. Tsk! Head Constable Jiao, what kind of knot are you using! This Rat Demon needs the Turtle Shell Knot to look good when tied! Use the Diamond Knot for the Wolf Demon, the Robe Knot for that one, and the Back Thigh Knot for the one over there…”

Outside the Xu Residence, Hou Dexian, striving for perfection for the upcoming parade display, directed the yamen runners to tie the demon corpses onto horizontal poles.

When a yamen runner didn’t understand a tying method, he would personally demonstrate it.

Turtle Shell Knot, Diamond Knot, Robe Knot, Back Thigh Knot—even the ropes used to bind the demons had to be specially colored red, claiming it was for ritualistic reasons.

It was unclear where this fellow had learned so much obscure knowledge.

After supervising the major task of tying the corpses, Hou Dexian turned to where Li Baicheng, Li Fengrao, and Ding Suian were talking nearby.

Li Fengrao was especially gentle, even patting Young Master Ding’s shoulder to show amiability.

“My Lords, everything is ready.”

Hou Dexian reported. Li Fengrao heard this and said warmly to Ding Suian, “Then we must trouble Head Ding again! The commotion last night was quite large, and the common people are inevitably alarmed. The Prefectural Yamen will parade the demon corpses along the streets shortly to reassure the public. Since Head Ding personally killed the Rat Demon, accompanying the parade will allow the people of Lanyang to witness the demeanor of a young hero!”

“Yes!”

Ding Suian replied with a cupped fist salute.

Li Fengrao waved his hand, and Head Constable Jiao, holding a large red silk flower, smilingly moved to pin it onto Ding Suian.

“Please spare me that!”

“My Lord, should we ask Head Ding to change his clothes?” Head Constable Jiao asked.

Li Fengrao scrutinized Ding Suian and then said, “Eh! No need. Head Ding wearing bloody armor better demonstrates the difficulty of the fierce battle tonight!”

Hou Dexian said, “The Lord speaks absolute truth!”

Hearing both Lords speak thus, Head Constable Jiao tied the large red flower onto Ding Suian’s chest without question.

Ding Suian’s attention, however, was drawn to Granny Xu in the distance.

She seemed to have something urgent, but hesitated to approach because Ding Suian was deep in conversation with a group of important officials.

“Lord Li, please wait a moment.”

Ding Suian cupped his hands in salute and quickly walked over.

“Granny Xu, is something wrong at the Estate?”

Ding Suian asked in a low voice. Granny Xu opened her mouth and finally said, “Head Ding, once you finish up here, please rush back to the Estate.”

“What happened?”

“Young Lady Ruan… has contracted the plague, and her condition is not good.”

“…”

Ding Suian turned, ran to Hu Jiangjiu’s side, snatched the reins from his hand, and vaulted onto the horse.

‘Clip-clop-clop~’

The sound of hooves clattering on the bluestone pavement drew the attention of both Li Fengrao and Hou Dexian.

“Hey! Head Ding, where are you going! The parade is about to start!”

Prince Lanyangs Estate.

In the guest rooms of the second compound’s east wing, the Xuanji Palace Disciples guarding outside looked sorrowful. When Ding Suian, clad in bloody clothes but conspicuously sporting a large red flower on his chest, strode inside, everyone was stunned.

There was a sense of the grotesque.

But no one could laugh; they just silently cleared a path.

From the courtyard gate to the room entrance, a distance of just over ten steps, Ding Suian’s legs felt like they were filled with lead.

He pushed the door open and entered the room.

Inside the room, Lin Hansu and Daoist Master were both present.

Ruan Ruan was lying on the bed.

Since there were many people around, Lin Hansu couldn’t say anything, only gazing at him worriedly with her slightly reddened Phoenix eyes.

Daoist Master, guarding the bedside, whispered, “Ruan Ruan~ Ruan Ruan, he’s here.”

“Uh…”

Hearing that familiar response, Ding Suian instantly felt relieved and slowly walked closer.

Ruan Ruan seemed to have just been roused from unconsciousness. Her face was red like burning charcoal, her cheeks had begun to swell slightly, and those large eyes, usually filled with innocent naivety and constant smiles, could now only be forced open into a slit.

Her gaze was scattered and hazy, having lost its former brilliance.

Vaguely conscious, she seemed to spot the red flower on Ding Suian’s chest and whispered softly, “Brother Yuanxi… are you here to marry me?”

“…”

Ding Suian nearly broke down.

The two of them had grown up together since childhood, sharing a bed and sharing meals.

Ruan Ruan had been convinced they would be together forever since she was a few years old.

But honestly, he had never seriously considered it.

He suddenly felt terribly guilty toward this girl.

“Are you sure it’s the plague?”

“Yes.”

Daoist Master nodded.

Ding Suian stopped asking questions, turned, ripped off a bedsheet, returned to the bedside, picked up Ruan Ruan, and placed her on the sheet.

“What are you doing?” Lin Hansu asked in astonishment.

Ding Suian wrapped Ruan Ruan in the sheet, lifted her onto his back, and said while tying the knot, “I’m taking her back to Central Heaven to beg the State Religion for treatment.”

“…”

Lin Hansu had known him for a moderate amount of time, but this was the first time she had heard the word ‘beg’ from his mouth.

But that word also indicated that he himself was not confident the State Religion would help.

“I just sent someone to deliver a letter, inviting my Esteemed Teacher to Lanyang.”

“The plague is incurable, and the Director can’t treat it.”

Hearing Ding Suian say this, Lin Hansu grew anxious. In fact, her Esteemed Teacher had revealed to her that he knew the Spring Return Edict!

But this matter seemed to involve too much, and she couldn’t reveal it.

Beside them, Daoist Master, seeing that Ding Suian was truly going to take Ruan Ruan away, advised, “Head Ding, in Ruan Ruan’s current state, she absolutely cannot withstand the journey and will certainly not make it to Central Heaven!”

“…”

These words had an effect, and Ding Suian stood still in confusion.

That look of helplessness made Lin Hansu’s heart ache bitterly.

But with Daoist Master still present, Lin Hansu was extremely cautious even with a word of comfort. “Ruan Ruan is blessed by heaven. My Esteemed Teacher, the Lord, will arrive tomorrow at the earliest. Young Master Ding, don’t worry.”

After speaking, she turned to Immortal Master and said, “Immortal Master, let’s go outside. Young Master Ding of the Ding Family and Young Lady Ruan grew up together; let them talk.”

“Mhm.”

The two walked out of the guest room one after the other. As she closed the door, Lin Hansu shot Ding Suian a look filled with worry.

Her Esteemed Teacher might arrive tomorrow, and he had the means to save people.

But… Ruan Ruan might not last until then.

Inside the room, Ding Suian gently placed Ruan Ruan back on the bed.

He sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, forcing himself to calm down.

Was there any other way?

The Single Thought Pill!

Back then, Xu Jiuxi had given him a Single Thought Pill, promising that if he was pursued by Sect Master Hao, crushing the pill would summon her to save him.

She was also a member of the State Religion; surely she knew the Spring Return Edict, right?

Ding Suian swiftly untied the pouch he carried, dumping out everything inside. A small, rhomboid, brown pill fell onto the bed.

‘Pfft~’

Without any hesitation, he crushed it directly.

With a soft sound, some viscous liquid flowed out of the pill.

On the bed, Ruan Ruan, who was drifting in and out of consciousness, murmured vaguely, “Brother Yuanxi, are you still here?”

“I’m here.” Ding Suian held Ruan Ruan’s hand.

“Brother Yuanxi… is Ruan Ruan very ugly now?”

“Not ugly. You look much better than Chunying.”

Chunying was a neighbor from Chilao Alley, the girl who fought with Ruan Ruan the most when they were little.

“Cough, cough~”

Ruan Ruan wanted to smile but coughed twice. After pausing a few breaths to gather strength, she said, “Brother Yuanxi, tell me the storybook of ‘Tai Tai Ni Ke Hao’ again.”

“That’s called ‘Titanic’.”

“Oh,” Ruan Ruan’s breath was weak and her voice faint. “Brother Yuanxi… Jack died, but Rose managed to live well. If Ruan Ruan dies… Brother Yuanxi, you must also live well.”

“You won’t die.”

“Cough, cough. Brother Yuanxi, Ruan Ruan actually knew since childhood that when you coaxed me, said you liked me, and said you’d marry me when we grew up, it was all just to trick me into giving you snacks. But still, I was very happy. Ruan Ruan later saved up lots and lots of snacks…”

Ruan Ruan seemed to be talking to herself, yet there was a timid sense of grievance and regret. “But, you grew up later, and I was stupid, I couldn’t guess what you liked anymore… and you stopped liking snacks. I waited until the snacks Ruan Ruan saved up for you to trick me into giving you all went bad, and you never said you liked me or that you would marry me again.”

“Brother Yuanxi… will you trick Ruan Ruan one more time? Please.”

Ding Suian rested his forehead against the cool wood of the bed frame, finally unable to hold back his emotions.