Jun Wu Xie stared at the stove for a long while and did not say a word. The stifling silence in the room made Ye Mei not dare to move an inch.
“I know now.” After long moments later, Jun Wu Xie finally said.
Ye Mei breathed out slightly in relief. “Young Master Wu Yao said, after a period, he will come see Young Miss again.”
“You’re dismissed.” Jun Wu Xie said coldly.
Ye Mei retreated out of the room silently.
In the room, only Jun Wu Xie was left. The little black cat jumped onto the table, and walked round the intricately made stove in scrutiny, its furry black tail, brushing against the stove a few times.
“It’s not made from gold. I can’t tell what material it is.” The little black cat said honestly.
Jun Wu Xie suddenly reached out and swept the stove off the table.
A loud clatter sounded loudly, as the stove fell onto the floor.
The little black cat froze, as it stared at the frosty cold face on Jun Wu Xie.
Jun Wu Xie was staring at the elixir stove, an unfamiliar sense of frustration gripping at her heart. If not for the damned elixir stove, if she had not made Jun Wu Yao go find her another elixir stove, would that mean he might not have left?
These feelings of frustration were foreign to her and she did not understand them. She only knew that the illogical feelings greatly unsettled her usually calm and rational mind.
It was unnaturally quiet in the room. Not only the little black cat had felt it, even Lord Meh Meh who had been lying quietly on Jun Wu Xie’s bed could sense the strange change that had come over Jun Wu Xie. It continued to lie unmoving on the bed, its sparkly innocent eyes fixed on Jun Wu Xie’s cold and unyielding back.
Jun Wu Xie suddenly stood up, and she picked up the elixir stove that had fallen onto the ground. Without a word, she turned and walked to another room beside hers. The other room was filled with all kinds of herbs, all of them were brought here by people under Fan Qi’s orders. Fan Zhuo’s health had shown great improvements recently and Fan Qi greatly admired Jun Wu Xie’s skills in medicine, so whatever Jun Wu Xie asked for, he would order people to get it for her.
And this room, had been converted into a temporary pharmacy for Jun Wu Xie’s exclusive use.
Jun Wu Xie placed the elixir stove on the table without a word, and began to pick out herbs from the fully stocked rack placed the side, carrying out her motions just as she had done everyday in the recent past. Her calm and collected demeanor made all that had just happened earlier, seem like an illusion.
Lord Meh Meh jumped off from the bed, and its hooves tapped on the ground as it made its way to the door leading into the pharmacy. It stretched out its little head and peeked in together with the little black cat at Jun Wu Xie as she made herself busy inside.
“Meh.”
[Why is my “feedstress” angry?]
“Meow.”
[Our Mistress is just progressing towards becoming a normal person, but tell “meow”. Should I actually cry, or should I be laughing in joy?]
Volume 7
Chapter 631: “Coming to Chan Lin Town Again (1)”
Time slipped by peacefully, and two weeks quickly passed. Besides going to the Spirit Healer faculty to explain to Gu Li Sheng further on the improvements made to the Spirit Healing Technique, most of her time was spent cultivating elixirs in the little bamboo grove. Although the elixir stove Ye Mei had brought had looked very small in size, it was only after it was fully opened up that one could see its extraordinarily hidden features. From the outside, the elixir stove looked intricately small and would not be suitable for the production of big batches of elixirs. But its interior actually held space very similar to a cosmos sack.
Its capacity handled elixirs numbering not just in tens, but was even capable of handling batches of elixirs in the hundreds at one time. That elixir stove did not even require a fire, it would heat up on its own once you placed the elixirs inside.
With Jun Wu Yao’s departure, Fan Qi had to resume the delivery of food to the little bamboo grove from his kitchen. And in those two weeks, Jun Wu Xie had not detected anything suspicious added into the food brought in.
The fact that the culprit had suddenly stopped trying to poison Fan Zhuo greatly piqued Jun Wu Xie’s curiosity.
Although they did not hold any concrete evidence in their hands, both Jun Wu Xie and Fan Zhuo were nevertheless completely certain that the culprit behind the poisoning of Fan Zhuo was Ning Rui, and no one else.
“Could it be that Ning Xin’s death had dealt too big a blow on him?” Fan Zhuo tried to reason, as he sat at the table. Ning Rui had been keeping an extremely low profile in the Zephyr Academy recently, seldom seen to even step out of his office. In the past, Ning Rui had always insisted on eating his meals with Fan Qi, but after Ning Xin’s death, even that long time habit had been broken.
“A man who was even willing to abandon his own daughter would not be so weak willed.” Jun Wu Xie had not eased up on her vigilance. Ning Xin’s death that day had been extremely tragic and tormenting, but throughout the whole ordeal, Ning Rui had completely restrained himself, and had not even pleaded once for Ning Xin’s life.
It had been obvious, that Ning Rui had been ready to give up on Ning Xin at that moment.
Instead of assuming that Ning Rui was so badly shaken by Ning Xin’s death that he did not dare to carry out any retaliation, she would rather want to think that he was deliberately trying to hide or diminish his own presence.
Afterall, his own daughter had committed such heinous deeds. After it was exposed for all the disciples of the entire academy to see, even if he could explain that he played no part in any of it and was not to be blamed, he could not dictate the way other people saw him.
“We make a trip to Chan Lin Town in a few days.” Jun Wu Xie said suddenly.
Fan Zhuo paused a moment and asked: “You intend to go to the Heaven’s End Cliff?”
Jun Wu Xie nodded slightly.
“That’s fine. My things at the smelter should be ready by now. When we reach Chan Lin Town, give me a few days to forge you your new spirit rings before you leave for the Heaven’s End Cliff. The place is afterall known to be extremely dangerous and every bit of additional power would give all of your extra protection.” Fan Zhuo said with a smile.
Only by inheriting the Dark Emperor’s rare treasures, would they gain enough power to resist the Twelve Palaces!
A few days later, Jun Wu Xie gathered Qiao Chu and the others and moved out together towards Chan Lin Town. As it was not a rest day for the Zephyr Academy, the Chan Lin Town was a lot more quiet than the last time they were there. The main street only had a smattering of stalls, the endless bustling scene from before completely absent.
Jun Wu Xie and her group were dressed in civilian clothes to not draw so much attention to themselves.
After they confirmed their lodgings and settled down, Rong Ruo went with Fan Zhuo to the smithy to retrieve the Black Silver.
On the other hand, Jun Wu Xie and the others made their way towards Mu Qian Fan’s residence.
Mu Qian Fan stayed in a far corner of the Chan Lin Town. The houses there were all simple and crude, and according to the address Mu Qian Fan gave them, the group came before a old and tattered little house, and Qiao Chu went up to knock on the door.
Moments later, the badly battered wooden door opened.
Mu Qian Fan was fully covered in bandages, as he appeared behind the door. The moment his eyes saw Jun Wu Xie, they brightened up visibly.
Volume 7
Chapter 632: “Coming to Chan Lin Town Again (2)”
“Young Master Jun, you’re here.” Mu Qian Fan’s voice was filled with joy.
Jun Wu Xie acknowledged with a slight nod.
Mu Qian Fan hurriedly stepped back to allow them in as he said enthusiastically: “Come in and take a seat please.”
Jun Wu Xie and her companions went into the house and found the interior of the house
even more dilapidated than its exterior. Besides only having a old and tattered wooden bed and a worn wooden table and chair, the whole house could be said to be empty with the four walls.
“Sigh, why does all of this feel so familiar?” Qiao Chu surveyed his eyes over the incredibly bare interior of the room and could not help but remember the dire straits they were all in, before they met Jun Wu Xie.
In all those years, they had not been in a situation much better than Mu Qian Fan.
“You got so much money for that piece of black rock previously, why are you still…..” Qiao Chu asked, as he stared puzzledly at Mu Qian Fan.
The black piece of rock had been sold for several hundreds of thousand tales and it was no small sum. Just taking a few hundreds taels out from there would have made Mu Qian Fan’s days a whole lot easier.
Mu Qian Fan was a little conscious of himself as he looked at the youths before him, slightly embarrassed by his state of poverty as he said: “I gave all that money to the families of my brothers in arms. Many of my brothers were the main breadwinners of their families and most of them have elderly and young ones sorely dependant on their income. Now that they are no longer in this world, leaving behind their orphaned children and widowed wives with no one to care for them, how could I allow myself to prey on that money? At least I am still alive and active enough to keep myself alive. Their families need the money more than I do.”
Mu Qian Fan had not only given all the money he had received at the auction away, he had even dug out all his savings he had painstakingly accumulated all these years and had not kept a single cent for himself.
Qiao Chu and Fei Yan exchanged a glance and their eyes were filled with pity, together with an underlying tinge of respect.
Mu Qian Fan was already living in such poverty himself but he had not allowed himself to take a single copper from the sum of money. He had felt so deeply ashamed towards his brothers in arms who had departed from this world that he would rather allow himself to suffer than to touch the money that had taken his brothers’ lives in exchange.
Maybe it was due to Qiao Chu and Fei Yan being too obvious with their pity filled eyes, and it made Mu Qian Fan even more embarrassed.
“My place is rather tiny, please forgive me. Do you want….. to have a seat on the bed?” Mu Qian Fan quickly walked over to the bed and pulled off the blanket that had already turned dark from a lack of being washed. He attempted to smooth out the badly crumpled bedsheet with his hands and then stepped aside with a sheepish grin, inviting Qiao Chu and the others to sit down.
Seeing Mu Qian Fan in such a state, Qiao Chu felt himself feeling all choked up.
To Qiao Chu, it was not important how much riches a man possessed, nor how capable he really was, but how sincere that man’s heart really was.
On Mu Qian Fan, he saw the stalwart sense of responsibility of a matured man, himself living in such abject poverty, but not lusting after any of the money placed in his hands in the slightest. Irregardless of Mu Qian Fan’s powers or abilities, his act of selflessness towards his deceased brothers’ families had already gained Qiao Chu’s and his companions’ deep respect.
Jun Wu Xie scanned her eyes around the interior of the house before she simply said.
“All come out.” And she turned to go out.
Mu Qian Fan was looking even more embarrassed. He knew deep in his heart, with his house in such a state, he really shouldn’t have guests come. Although the youths before him were all still young, judging from the way they were dressed, they did not seem to come common backgrounds.
Qiao Chu and the others obediently went out of the house and Mu Qian Fan hurried after them. After he stepped out, Mu Qian Fan even carefully closed his door.
He had not recovered from his injuries yet and he was not able to find work to earn money yet. The tiny little house was at least his last sanctuary against the wind and rain.
However, Mu Qian Fan had just barely walked away from the house when Jun Wu Xie suddenly pulled out a stick of glowing ember and lit it up. She next took that small glowing flame and threw it onto the roof of Mu Qian Fan’s house!
Volume 7
Chapter 633: “Coming to Chan Lin Town Again (3)”
The small flame caught and quickly burned into a raging inferno. In moments, the dilapidated and tattered house was engulfed in roaring flames.
Mu Qian Fan stared with his eyes wide in utter disbelief, looking in shock at his only abode of sanctuary gradually being destroyed, burning up in flames.
“Young Master Jun! What are you doing?” Mu Qian Fan turned to look anxiously at Jun Wu Xie, his voice agitated but there was no reproach behind it.
Jun Wu Xie had saved his life and he had already deemed his own life to be Jun Wu Xie’s to take. He would be most willing to even give up his life for Jun Wu Xie, so he was not disgruntled that Jun Wu Xie had burnt down his house, but just puzzled why Jun Wu Xie would want to do that.
How had his tiny tattered house offended Young Master Jun?
Not just Mu Qian Fan was baffled. Even Qiao Chu and the others were shocked to see the house suddenly go up in flames.
Why had Little Xie with just a single statement suddenly burnt down somebody’s home?
But none of them dared say a single word in reproach of Jun Wu Xie and all of them could only look at Mu Qian Fan, their hearts filled with silent grief for his loss. None of them knew how Mu Qian Fan’s house had earned the wrath of the Young Miss of the Jun Family that had made her set a torch on it.
Jun Wu Xie stared quietly at the flames razing the little house completely to the ground. Only after she was satisfied that the dwelling had been completely destroyed, did Jun Wu Xie finally turn around.
Mu Qian Fan was still grieving over the loss of his only humble abode when he suddenly saw the shadow of something being thrown into his arms. He reached out instinctively to hold it up and found that it was actually a hefty money bag. On the mouth of the bag, a silver emblem was tied onto it, a motif of a mystical kirin soaring among clouds carved out of it!
Mu Qian Fan lifted his head up in bafflement, staring at Jun Wu Xie with astonished eyes.
“After this, go to the Imperial City of the Qi Kingdom, and present yourself at the Lin Palace.” Jun Wu Xie said simply, without any expression.
“Qi Kingdom….. Lin Palace?” Mu Qian Fan was shocked. Although he had only resided in Chan Lin Town all his life, but making their living as adventurers had enabled him and his brothers in arms the opportunities to meet people from many other countries and the various powers.
They had naturally heard of the Qi Kingdom’s Lin Palace. Although the Qi Kingdom was a small nation, but no one dared look down upon the Qi Kingdom’s Lin Palace, as the Master of the Lin Palace, Jun Xian, commanded the most ferocious strike force across the lands, the Rui Lin Army!
The name of the Rui Lin Army thundered far and wide and although Mu Qian Fan had heard of them, he had always begrudged the fact that he had not had the fortune to meet them.
[But Young Master Jun was now asking him to report to the Lin Palace…..]
[What does that mean?]
At the side, it finally dawned upon Qiao Chu what was actually happening and he immediately broke into a wide smile and patted Mu Qian Fan reassuringly on the shoulder and said: “My man, you’ve run into luck this time! Do you like the Rui Lin Army?”
Mu Qian Fan was still largely overwhelmed and upon hearing Qiao Chu’s words, he could only nod blankly.
[The notorious most ferocious strike force, which man does not revere them?]
“Listen to our Little Xie. After we are all done with our tasks here, you just bring this bag of money, together with that emblem and go to the Qi Kingdom’s Imperial City, and find the Lin Palace. I guarantee it that you will not regret it.” Qiao Chu said, laughing good naturedly, and even throwing Jun Wu Xie a wink as he said those words.
He had initially wondered what had happened to their little lass, and now it seems that she had felt e
xactly just like they had, unwilling to see such an upright and righteous man like Mu Qian Fan, being confined to such a tiny and dilapidated house and living in such compromised state. She had decidedly just burned down his abode, to force Mu Qian Fan to have no other choice but to move accordingly to Jun Wu Xie’s arrangements.
But…..
Couldn’t the little lass be a tad bit more gentle in her methods? She was obviously doing a good deed, but they way it was carried out was through methods employed more by nefarious bandits!
Volume 7
Chapter 634: “Coming to Chan Lin Town Again (4)”
Witnessing Jun Wu Xie’s strong arm methods, Qiao Chu almost fell onto his knees.
When it came to Jun Wu Xie, no matter whether she was saving someone, or helping someone out, her methods were always overly domineering. If the recipient of her help was someone practical and straight laced, they might just very well misunderstand her kind intentions, and come to hate her for it instead.
“Young….. Young Master Jun….. What….. What do you….. mean…..?” Mu Qian Fan’s hands, which were holding the sack of money, were trembling visibly, his mind a complete blank.
“My surname is Jun.” Jun Wu Xie said simply as she stared at Mu Qian Fan.
Mu Qian Fan’s mind exploded in realisation at that moment!
Everyone knew that the command of the Rui Lin Army was in the hands of the Jun Family of the Lin Palace!
[Jun Xie’s surname was Jun, and he was asking him to report to the Lin Palace…..]
[Did that not mean…..]
“Young Master Jun, do you really mean it?” Mu Qian Fan trembling spread throughout his entire body, as an unbelievable joy filled his heart.
Jun Wu Xie nodded.
Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss Volume 7 Page 9