“What? You’re saying you didn’t kill that snake? This…”
Bai Yu’s words left Wan Qing puzzled and murmuring in suspicion. Just then, she saw her uncle, Feng Moli, arriving and rushed over joyfully. “Uncle, why are you here too?”
“You silly girl, can’t your uncle worry about you? You came alone to this deep forest looking for poisonous herbs—how could I not be concerned? Unlike some people who pretend not to care when they clearly do. Just a passing thought—the snake earlier wasn’t shot by Bai Yu and the others, but it wasn’t me either.”
Wan Qing’s face was full of surprise and delight, recalling the scene she had just witnessed. At least the man walking ahead of her had acted swiftly. Thinking of how childish that man had been to let her niece take such risks, Feng Moli chuckled lightly and looked at her, whispering about Bai Yu’s earlier words.
“This…”
She had assumed that if Bai Yu denied it, then her uncle must have been the one to kill the snake. But now that he said otherwise, Wan Qing’s delicate brows furrowed deeply as she wondered who had intervened.
“However, before I came out, I crossed paths with Leng Mingye. His movements showed no signs of injury, and he even told me not to stop him…” Seeing Wan Qing lost in thought, Feng Moli smiled faintly and added quietly.
Noticing her confusion, he turned to Qing Feng and the others with a light laugh, tossing them a bottle of medicinal powder before vanishing as swiftly as he had arrived.
“You two go catch some snakes too. Just remember, the ones lured by this medicine are all seven-step vipers. I’ll head back first to prepare for the antidote.”
After her uncle left, Wan Qing pondered his words. She recalled the man’s pulse, the helplessness in his expression, and how he had clung to her. Though his affection warmed her heart, his act of treating her like a fool ignited her anger.
*If I don’t teach this guy a lesson, he’ll never learn his limits.*
Watching her uncle’s meaningful smile as he departed, she instructed Qing Feng and Bai Yu, who nodded despite their confusion before leaving. She then made her way back to the inn.
Exhausted from the day’s journey and now dealing with this nonsense, Wan Qing maintained a calm exterior but inwardly seethed. *Leng Mingye, you’re done for.* The moment she entered the inn, she headed straight for their shared room.
There, she found him still lying in bed, pretending to be ill.
“Leng Mingye, my hand is hurt—something pricked me. It really hurts.” She lightly blew on her wrist, watching as he opened his eyes, feigning pain at her arrival.
“Let me see…” Sure enough, the moment he heard she was injured, the esteemed Young Master Leng abandoned his act, scrambling up in alarm to examine her hand.
“Look, just a tiny scratch, but it hurts so much. Leng Mingye, weren’t you poisoned? How are you moving so fast?” She pointed at the faint mark on her fingertip from earlier, feigning surprise as he frowned and carefully tended to it.
“I… I forced myself up because I was worried about your injury. I… Ugh, my chest hurts too…” Realizing he’d nearly exposed himself, Leng Mingye awkwardly released her hand, clutching his chest with a pained groan.
“Seems the poison is severe if it’s reached your heart. Hong Lian, go find my uncle immediately—use the signal flare. Tell him to return at once. I need to detoxify the Young Master now, or the consequences will be dire. And you—how reckless to move around while poisoned! Here, let me help you…”
Though inwardly scoffing at his act, Wan Qing played along, instructing Hong Lian before tenderly guiding him back to bed.
“Qing’er, I just keep thinking… if this poison kills me, what will you do? You’re the one I can’t bear to leave…” Watching her fret over him, Leng Mingye’s heart swelled with joy. *She finally realizes how much I mean to her.* Yet, he maintained a weak facade, reaching out to caress her face with feigned struggle.
“What are you doing? Even like this, you’re still shameless! If you can’t bear to leave me, then hold on. Stay strong! First, I’ll use acupuncture to detoxify you. Hong Lian, hurry and see if they’re back!”
As he leaned closer, Wan Qing suppressed a scoff at his childishness, feigning concern instead. She abruptly stood to fetch her silver needles.
“Qing’er, no… I’m in so much pain. My chest… it really hurts. Rub it for me, please… Yes, just like that… And here… Ugh…”
Panicking at the thought of her needles, Leng Mingye grabbed her hand, guiding it over his chest before slyly sliding it lower under the covers.
“Your heartbeat is so fast, your breathing erratic—you must be seriously ill. Leng Mingye, stop moving! Are they back yet? Good, they’re here! Uncle, help me prepare these. I’ll use poison to counter poison.”
As his hand wandered further down, Wan Qing’s patience snapped. With a swift motion, she sealed his acupoints, freeing herself. She then turned to Qing Feng, taking the hissing snake, toad, and centipede they’d caught and handed them to her uncle before preparing herbs.
Moments later, she returned with a tray bearing the venomous creatures—the snake flicking its tongue, the centipede writhing, the toad pulsing.
“Qing’er, what are you doing? These are deadly! You’re not actually going to let them bite me, are you?”
Wearing peculiar gloves, Wan Qing calmly arranged the creatures. As she placed the snake on him, then the centipede, Leng Mingye’s blood ran cold. When she reached for the toad, his voice trembled. “What are you—?”
The snake slithered near his chest, the centipede crawled, and the toad… headed under the covers.
*I’m doomed.*
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