The things Xiao Xi had spoken, in truth, Xie Lin Lang had thought of it herself too.
Originally, her goal coming here was because she wanted to help Qin Jue return to the capital and then assist him in becoming a prosperous emperor.
But from the moment she saw him, this notion completely went out the window.
Qin Jue didn’t want to become the emperor. The thing that terrified him the most right now was to end up by himself again.
That’s why she promised to stay by his side. This type of companionship was her way of repaying the favor. And as for until how long… She patted Xiao Xi’s shoulder.
“Let’s first wait until he grows up. Once he’s grown up, I’ll just try to satisfy whatever it is he wants.”
Hearing her, Xiao Xi glared while speaking, “But the only thing he wants is revenge!”
“Umm, then let’s just wait until after he grows up!”
Seeing that she did not take the matter seriously, Xiao Xi sighed then walked away with a heavy heart.
Xie Lin Lang couldn’t help but laugh seeing Xiao Xi’s thoroughly concerned appearance.
In actuality, as long as she took care of what mattered at the moment, then when the boat reached the pier, it would naturally straighten itself. If this was the case, then what more did she have to worry about?
*
In the dark, Qin Jue could only feel a surge of warmth flowing repeatedly, nourishing his body.
At this moment, both his hands and feet were warm. This type of warmth was something that he had never experienced since the day he was born.
When he opened his eyes, he discovered that he was laying inside the horse carriage, with Xie Lin Lang sitting by his side reading a book.
“Oh, you’re awake?” Hearing sounds of movement, Xie Lin Lang looked in his direction with an amused expression.
Qin Jue nodded, not knowing why, but he felt that judging by her smile, it seemed like Xie Lin Lang was up to no good.
She leaned in closer and noticed Qin Jue’s complexion looking healthier and nodded in satisfaction. Then, she spoke while sticking out three fingers.
“You woke up at a good time. Right now, I have three good news to tell you!”
“First, the remaining poison in your body has been completely cleared away; the invisible wounds on your body have pretty much healed, and as for those outer wounds, it’ll take some time for them to heal, but they will not affect you anymore.”
“Second, maybe the nature of the medicine was too potent: other than completely removing the poison from your body, all of the Meridian* channels in your body have been opened temporarily. In other words, learning martial arts right now is twice as effective as usual for you!
*The channels in someone’s body in which Chi flows.
If you can develop an inner flower of energy and circulate it for a few days before the Meridian is blocked up again, then your Meridian will be opened permanently, and you will be able to become an extraordinary martial arts genius!”
Qin Jue was indistinctly touched after hearing her speech.
How many years has it been? All his life, he had been sickly. The imperial physician said he couldn’t live past thirty, the imperial educator said he will never be able to practice martial arts, and now, not only does he have a normal body, but he’s even able to become an advanced martial artist?
Thinking thus, he paused, “Then, what’s third?”
Xie Lin Lang grinned then reached over and pulled the carriage curtains open.
Outside the carriage, extremely steep and towering mountains were interconnected, forming a mountainous region. Qin Jue didn’t think that during the time he was in deep slumber, they already made it to the QiLian Mountain area. Looking at the fogginess surrounding the peak of the mountain, Xie Lin Lang held up three fingers!
“Since you’re going to learn martial arts, you’ll have to start from the fundamentals! Later, you will be going up the mountain, and you will climb through the entire mountain by yourself. I will ride my carriage around the mountain and wait for you on the other side!”
Qin Jue was slightly surprised; he didn’t think that his training would begin so fast. However, he could see why Xie Lin Lang was in such a rush. As she had mentioned before, his Meridian opening was only temporary. If he couldn’t develop his Chi before the Meridian closes, then his body will be like ordinary people which means no matter how much he trains in the future, he will inevitably spend a huge amount of time just opening his Meridian again.
Thinking this, he nodded his head, his eyes filled with nothing but determination.
“Alright, I will do it.”
Xie Lin Lang was very satisfied with his answer! As expected of the future disciple that she handpicked herself!
Then she passed over a package to him, then she put her hand over a clenched fist, encouraging, “You can do it, I believe in you! Inside this package are food and medicine. I will circle the mountain and meet you at the road ahead. And you will safely make it back to me, won’t you?”
Qin Jue reached out and received the package, smiling lightly, and nodded.
“Yes, I will.”
Finished speaking, he exited the carriage. It could’ve been that the medicine effects haven’t worn off yet, but he felt his body filled with energy, and he didn’t feel hungry at all. Although not all of his external injuries were healed, he should be fine if he is careful.
Seeing that he headed into the mountains without looking back, Xiao Xi held onto the lead while speaking worriedly.
“GongZi, is starting with such a high difficulty really a good idea? QiLian Mountain is filled with miasma, the roads are extremely steep, not only are there poisonous snakes and bugs, but there are also large-sized beasts roaming around. His Highness is only an ordinary person who has never practiced martial arts, what if he gets into trouble?”
Xie Lin Lang took out her fan and shook her head, “It’s not just that! There are so many unhealed wounds on his body; he can’t even run! It would be fine if he doesn’t run into any beasts, because if he does, then his life would be in danger!”
Xiao Xi looked at her in astonishment, “Then why are you still letting him go?”
Xie Lin Lang stretched her hands and moved her limbs around a little, “Don’t worry, because I will be going too.”
“What?” Xiao Xi was startled, but his expression immediately turned sour, mumbling to her, “Is there such a need to be so careful… that I’m not even the one to go…”
His words put Xie Lin Lang in an awkward spot, “What? Where? The reason I’m not sending you is because there’s an even more important mission for you to take care of!”
“What mission?”
Xie Lin Lang leaned in whispering, “After we cross the QiLian Mountain, Xiang City is going to be very close. From what I’ve heard before, Xiang City’s County Magistrate hasn’t changed for decades, not because the capital never sent anyone over, but because the people sent all end up dead.”
Xie Lin Lang continued, “Even though the books all say they either died on the way to Xiang City or they died soon after arriving in Xiang City and caught an illness on the way. But I don’t think it’s as simple as it seems; possibly, they were all caused by the County Magistrate.
For me not to be in the dark when the time comes, I need you to go on ahead and have a secret visit first. This mission will be a little dangerous, so you definitely need to be careful, and don’t get yourself hurt.”
Xiao Xi replied in a serious voice, “GongZi, don’t worry. If the opponent quietly steps down, nothing will happen to them, but if they want to be dishonest and play tricks in the dark, then I won’t let them off easy!”
Xie Lin Lang smiled and patted his head, “You only need to observe, don’t take any action. I will take care of everything once I’m here.”
Xiao Xi nodded, and warned Xie Lin Lang of a few things, an unusual reverse of roles, and then headed off with the carriage.
Xie Lin Lang lifted the bag on her back and casually strolled her way into the mountain as well.
There won’t be any sort of traps in the mountain; the biggest threats will be the miasma and the beasts.
Since Qin Jue was fluent with poison, the miasma won’t be a big deal for him, and because it’s wintertime, the majority of the beasts will be hibernating, so it will generally be safe.
The only challenge for him right now should be stamina. Stamina is both the fundamental of developing one’s Chi as well as Qin Jue’s weakest point.
In order for Qin Jue to develop his Chi and improve his stamina in the quickest time possible while his Meridian was opened, she will not be helping him in any sort unless it was absolutely necessary.
So Qin Jue should expect to suffer a lot of hardships during this trip…