Gao Zhou was only angry because his son forgot about him after getting married, and he wouldn’t actually cut off a piece of Yuan Licheng’s flesh. Seeing Yuan beg for rcy, he let it go.
After everyone had been busy for most of the night, they each returned to rest. Bai Ruozhu seized this opportunity to have Jiang Yichun guard Master Puru while she quietly entered the Space to examine what Master Puru had given her.
It was a small gold pendant, resembling a small Ruyi, with intricate patterns carved on it.
It had a small hole, seemingly for threading a string.
Bai Ruozhu compared its size; it was a bit small for a Waist Pendant and seed to be ant as a necklace pendant.
This item’s design appeared unrelated to Buddhism. Monks usually don’t fancy gold and silver, so why did Master Puru specially hide a gold pendant?
Clearly, this item is crucial. Master Puru feared he couldn’t hold onto a certain secret, so he entrusted it to Bai Ruozhu.
Bai Ruozhu examined it repeatedly but couldn’t figure anything out. For safety, she placed the item in the Space.
When she exited the Space, Jiang Yichun was still in the room, studying symbols drawn by the Shadow Ninja.
"You have it upside down," Bai Ruozhu walked over to correct him.
Jiang Yichun looked up with a hint of amusent in his eyes, "I intended to look at it upside down; I just discovered so mystery."
Bai Ruozhu quickly took the paper, looked at it upside down for a while, and suddenly noticed it resembled Japanese writing she’d seen in a past life. Unfortunately, her Japanese was poor, so she couldn’t understand it fully.
"Look at these two symbols; they’re mirrored by these other two when viewed upside down. It’s ant to be read backward," Jiang Yichun pointed out.
Bai Ruozhu realized it made sense, and thought this clue could be shared with Sa Tian for a significant discovery.
"Enough thinking, go rest for a while; you’ve exhausted yourself today," Jiang Yichun said, affectionately tousling her hair.
Bai Ruozhu was indeed tired, considering she still had to treat Master Puru and others the next day. She decided to set the gold pendant matter aside for now, planning to discuss it with him tomorrow.
She lay down fully clothed on the Soft lounge beside him and soon fell asleep.
Watching her serene sleeping face, Jiang Yichun couldn’t help recalling the scene during the day when the Scripture Pavilion caught fire. It collapsed abruptly, and he rushed to pull her out, barely avoiding debris; if delayed, she might have been hard by the fire.
Even a small injury, he couldn’t bear for her to endure.
If it weren’t for her, she should be happily with her children, living joyful days, right?
The next day, at dawn, Bai Ruozhu woke up. Seeing the dark circles under Jiang Yichun’s eyes, she felt deeply sympathetic.
"Go get so sleep, I’ll wake you by noon," Bai Ruozhu suggested.
"No, I’m not tired." Unclear of the situation, Jiang Yichun wasn’t at ease resting.
Bai Ruozhu frowned, "Go rest, or if you’re in poor spirits and sothing happens, what then? It’s dayti, everyone is awake, what could happen now?"
Seeing her truly angry, Jiang Yichun complied and went to rest.
Not long after, Master Puru finally awoke.
Bai Ruozhu poured a small cup of warm water, and with Gao Zhou’s help, assisted him in drinking so.
"I..." Puru looked at Bai Ruozhu apologetically, knowing he shouldn’t burden her but had no options left.
"We can discuss this after you recover; without us, you’ll be fine," Bai Ruozhu said reassuringly.
Puru understood she ant she’d safeguard the item without pressing him, waiting for him to recuperate.
"Th...thank you." Puru’s throat was hurt, speaking was difficult, and his eyes filled with tears. Without them, he would’ve perished in the fire, not fulfilling his master’s dying wish...
"Please, Master, focus on recuperating. We’re here for you—you are Master Pudeng’s fellow disciple, and we’ll certainly help," Gao Zhou assured.
Puru had heard Master Pudeng’s na several tis. Never eting his peer and only now hearing his na, but seeing Bai Ruozhu and others respected Pudeng and aided Zhaoti Temple because of Pudeng.
"When...you have ti...tell ...about Pudeng," Puru croaked.
"Once these wounded are attended to, I’ll take ti to tell you," Gao Zhou, grateful for Master Pudeng’s kindness, imdiately agreed.
...
"You ntioned Shadow Ninja?" General Chisong reacted surprised upon hearing news from Xinye.
Luzhi also stood by in shock, "You weren’t mistaken?"
Xinye bowed respectfully, "My lord, I wasn’t mistaken. The person was dug out from underground, their visage long destroyed, tongue cut."
"Shadow Ninja are notoriously elusive; how could they be captured?" Luzhi doubted, "Perhaps it’s not a real Shadow Ninja."
Xinye, having witnessed the skill of an alive Shadow Ninja, internally disagreed with his lord’s view but didn’t protest, always submissive to Luzhi.
"What thods did they use to capture them?" General Chisong inquired.
"Among them was an Array Master; they used a mysterious Array to slow the Earth-burrowing ones, though so escaped," Xinye answered truthfully.
General Chisong was silent for a while, then remarked, "Zhongyuan’s martial arts are indeed profound; I’ve never heard of such Array."
Luzhi coldly snorted in disagreent, and Xinye couldn’t resist sharing Bai Ruozhu’s rescue technique.
"Did she use nurous silver needles to save Master Puru?" General Chisong asked in amazent, "Is it Huan Tuo’s needlework?"
"A doctor asked similarly at the ti; she said she doesn’t know its na," Xinye replied.
General Chisong’s eyes filled with more curiosity, and he turned to Luzhi, "Investigate the Emperor’s side, find out why he sent Shadow Ninjas."
Saying so, he sneered lightly, "The Emperor dispatches Shadow Ninjas for assassinations, yet so were slain by the Danliang Country envoy—utterly humiliating."
"Yes sir, I will check." Luzhi stood, saluted, and left, followed by Xinye saluting similarly.
Upon leaving the General’s Study room, Luzhi, with a stern expression, instructed Xinye, "Go to Zhaoti Temple, watch for anything undermining the General."
"Yes, my lord," Xinye complied.
"Also..." Luzhi elongated his tone, "Next ti, refrain from praising those envoys before the General."
Xinye froze montarily before sensing Luzhi’s chilling aura, involuntarily shivering, "Yes, my lord, I understand."
Watching Luzhi walk away, Xinye’s heart sank gradually; he felt it wise to keep distance from those Danliang people.
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