Chapter 43: The Mysterious Woman in the Foggy Forest

  The sword fight has ended, but the sword intent still lingers in his mind. Liang Xiao watched as Chu Xianliu disappeared into the distance before turning to the crowd and saying, "One win, two draws, what else is there to say?" Lei Xingkong and He Shengyang were both injured, and the crowd was leaderless, having lost their will. Lei Zhen felt a sense of discontent, but he knew that even if they all rushed forward together, it would be hard to gain an advantage, and for now, he could only feel stifled.

  Liang Xiao's words stunned everyone, and he turned to Liu Xiangxiang and said, "Let's go." Liu Xiangxiang coldly replied, "I won't go!" Liang Xiao knew that she was unpredictable and felt a headache coming on, so he coaxed her in a soft voice, "Don't make a fuss, I've been thinking about you all these years." When Liu Xiangxiang heard this, her heart softened instantly, and she turned away without another word. Hua Sheng saw Liang Xiao leaving with Liu Xiangxiang and hastily said, "Xiaoshuang, let's go too!" Hua Xiaoshuang was bewildered and nodded silently, following far behind Liang Xiao and Liu Xiangxiang with Hua Sheng.

  After a while, the sound of horseshoes echoed, and when they turned their heads, Chu Wan rode up on a spirited white horse. Liu Xiangxiang's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in surprise: " Zhu Er!" Chu Wan arrived in front of them, dismounted, and said coldly: "This horse is too difficult to care for, so San Shu Gong asked me to return it to you." Liu Xiangxiang hugged the horse's neck, overjoyed, and Zhu Er also jumped up and down excitedly when she saw her master. Chu Wan continued: "Liang Xiao, I'm sure you want to ask about those two children?" Liang Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out: "That's right."

  Chu Wan fell silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "They were taken away by Yun Gongzi." Liang Xiao was shocked and asked, "How did they run into him?" Chu Wan replied, "That day I took them to the Tianji Palace. Who knew that Yun Gongzi was also there? It's said that after he broke out of the siege in Changzhou, he was rescued by the master and mistress of the Tianji Palace and brought back to the palace to recover from his injuries. He found out about the Second King's identity, so he took them away. I heard they went to Wenzhou."

  Liang Xiao sighed inwardly: "These two children will ultimately not be able to escape this fate." His spirit was wounded, and after a long time, he said: "Chu Niang, didn't you travel with Yun Shu?" Chu Wan sighed faintly: "His heart is only set on fighting and restoring the country, where else can he accommodate others? The Tianji Palace is wealthy and powerful, willing to help him restore the Great Song, so he has become engaged to that Miss Hua Mucun."

  Hua Xiao Shuang was both shocked and delighted, blurting out: "You said Aunt has agreed to marry someone?" Chu Wan looked at her for a moment, calmly saying: "Is Hua Mu Rong your aunt?" Then she furrowed her brow and added, "Liang Xiao, I also want to ask you something." After a pause, she hesitated before asking, "Where is Ah Xue?"

  Liang Xiao's chest was in severe pain, and he said in a hoarse voice: "She... died in the chaos of war that day!" Chu Wan's face turned pale, and she looked dazed for a moment before saying softly: "I'm sorry, I... I only took care of Qian Shuai and didn't stop her." Liang Xiao smiled miserably: "It's not your fault, it's all my retribution. Miss Chu, what are your plans for the future?" Chu Wan said: "I just want to accompany San Shu Gong in practicing swordsmanship and spend the rest of my life." Liang Xiao said: "Yun Shu is a hero, but he may not be a good match for you, in the future..." Before he finished speaking, Chu Wan's eyebrows and eyes turned red, and she lightly shook her head, silently turning around and leaving, her lonely figure revealing an unending coldness.

  After parting with Chu Wan, Liang Xiao walked a few steps, feeling depressed and unhappy. Suddenly, he heard Liu Yingying's cold laughter: "Liang Xiao, you've known quite a few people in the past two years, haven't you?" Liang Xiao replied, "Yes, just a few." Liu Yingying said, "I'm afraid it's not just a few. What about Hua Guniang, Cao Guniang, Xue Guniang, Shuang Guniang, and what about Wan and Ping? You're really having the time of your life!" Liang Xiao stopped in his tracks, furrowing his brow: "What are you talking nonsense about again?" Liu Yingying's eyes reddened as she shouted: "I'm talking nonsense? I've been thinking about you day and night, but you've been secretly flirting with other women behind my back!" She took a step forward, glaring at Liang Xiao. Hua Xiaoxue wanted to retreat, but was stopped by Liu Yingying's shout: "You're not allowed to leave either!" Hua Xiaoxue felt a surge of fear and had no choice but to stand still.

  Liang Xiao learned about the news of the two kings, his heart was in a state of turmoil. Liu Yingying was being unreasonable and quarrelsome again, and for a moment he was annoyed, shouting: "You don't know anything about the whole situation, you just heard a few words and came to make trouble?" Liu Yingying saw that he was furious, her tone slightly softened: "Fine, you tell me yourself, I'm the only one in your heart." Liang Xiao hesitated. Liu Yingying saw his hesitant expression, she was extremely angry, shouting: "Are you going to say it or not?"

  Liang Xiao hesitated and said, "Originally... in my heart, there was only you..." Liu Yingying didn't wait for him to finish and shouted, "Great! Now how many are there?" Liang Xiao was speechless. The more he hesitated, the more hurt Liu Yingying became, thinking that she had suffered so much for him, but ended up like this. She trembled with rage and said, "Han Ningzi was right, all men in the world are not good things. Forget it, since your heart belongs to someone else, I don't need to stay..." Covering her face with one hand, she jumped onto the horse. Liang Xiao grabbed the reins, Liu Yingying slapped him, and he caught her palm, pulling her down from the horse. Liu Yingying fell into his arms, feeling wronged and helpless, punching and kicking, wailing loudly.

  Hua Xiao Shuang looked on with a bitter heart, stunned for a moment before speaking: "Liu sister, don't make things difficult for Xiao Gege, I...I'll leave..." She mounted the fast horse, whipped it and left. Liang Xiao hastily pushed aside Liu Xiangxiang, rushed to block her path, and blurted out: "I promised you, I would go practice medicine." Hua Xiao Shuang saw his anxious expression, and her heart skipped a beat, all the accumulated grievances and sadness bursting forth as she wept on the back of the donkey.

  Liu Yingying saw Hua Xiaoxue about to leave, and was secretly delighted. Unexpectedly, Liang Xiao intercepted her again. Seeing Hua Xiaoxue in tears, Liu's heart sank, and her eyes dimmed. After a moment's thought, she sighed: "Never mind, little seductress, I won't make things difficult for you. Hua family's daughter, you can stay too!" Hua Xiaoxue turned from sorrow to joy, wiping away tears: "Thank you, sister... if it weren't for Brother Xiao, I really don't know what would have happened to me!"

  Liu Yingying gave her a cold glance and said, "Little seductress, what are you staring at? Don't you give me the reins?" Liang Xiao felt a sense of unease, only to see Liu Yingying's actions were suspicious. She looked at her and hesitated before taking the reins and walking ahead.

  Liu Yingying walked up to Hua Xiaoxue and stroked Kuai Xue saying, "This donkey is yours?" Hua Xiaoxue said, "It was given to me by my sister Ah Mu." Liu Yingying asked, "Your sister has a lot of things to give you?" Hua Xiaoxue smiled and said, "Yes, I'm still young!" Liu Yingying coldly said, "Yes, you're young, but I'm much older!" Hua Xiaoxue was stunned, lowered her head and had nothing to say.

  While speaking, the two of them fell behind Rouge Horse, and Liang Xiao pulled away three feet. Suddenly, Liu Xiang's eyes shot out cold light, her left hand grasped Huaxiao Shuang's wrist, her right palm lifted, and she slapped down towards her head.

  The change was sudden, and Hua Xiao Shuang was so frightened that she forgot to move. Hua Sheng walked behind her, saw it at a glance, and threw away the rules of not hitting people. He shouted loudly, and his fists flew out together, with a force that exceeded one zhang (about 3 meters). He hit Liu Yueyue's back. Before Liu Yueyue's palm fell, she felt a huge force coming, her throat was sweet, and she dragged Hua Xiao Shuang into the air. Hua Sheng didn't wait for the two to land, he floated up and gently held Hua Xiao Shuang.

  Liang Xiao's eyes widened in shock and horror as he swiftly turned around, embracing Liu Xiangxiang in mid-air. He saw her face pale as white paper, with fresh blood gushing out of her mouth. He couldn't help but shout loudly: "Little monk, what have you done?" Hua Sheng nodded blankly, suddenly seeing Liang Xiao's face turn iron-green, his eyes blazing like fire. He felt a chill run down his spine and involuntarily took a step back. Before he knew it, Liang Xiao's bamboo sword flashed out, stabbing towards his throat. Hua Sheng quickly used the "No Man's Move" to gently turn around with Hua Xiaoxiao in his arms, avoiding the sword's edge. However, Liang Xiao's bamboo sword shook out nine different directions in an instant. Although Hua Sheng's martial arts skills were high, he rarely fought with others and couldn't keep up with Liang Xiao, who had been through a hundred battles. He stared at the sword tip, feeling dizzy and disoriented, when suddenly his throat felt a sharp pain, and the sword tip was pressed against it. Before he could react, his "Great Golden Strength" automatically activated, making his throat as hard as steel, impenetrable to knives and swords. But to his surprise, the bamboo sword didn't stab in; instead, Liang Xiao's hoarse voice asked: "You... why did you hurt her?"

  Huasheng had never hit anyone before, and afterwards he felt regretful, his lips trembling, unable to speak. At this time, Huaxiao Shuang caught her breath, only to feel a severe pain in her right wrist, the bone already broken by Liu Yingying's sudden twist. She heard Liang Xiao speaking, opened her eyes to look at him, and saw that he was pointing his sword at Huasheng, so she hastily said: "Huasheng, put me down!" Huasheng put her down, and Liang Xiao hesitated for a moment before also putting away his bamboo sword.

  Hua Xiao Shuang endured the excruciating pain, took out a needle box with her hand, and stabbed several needles into Liu Yingying's chest. She then felt weak again, leaned against the donkey's back to catch her breath, and said: "Xiao Gege... you take 'Huipanlu'... give... give her five drops." Liang Xiao followed her instructions, but Hua Xiao Shuang was holding onto her broken bone, her face pale and lips white from pain. She quietly turned her body around, grasped her left hand with her right, trying to reset the bone. However, the cold toxin took effect, her whole body went limp, and before she could even reset the bone properly, she let out a soft moan and slowly fell to the ground.

  Peanut looked up and exclaimed, "Xiaoxue, your hand is broken!" Liang Xiao was shocked, supported Xiaoxue, saw her wrist purple and black, couldn't help but frown, stretched out his hand to set the broken bone. Xiaoxue was in so much pain that she was drenched in sweat, but the pain in her heart was ten times worse, tears welled up but she didn't dare let them fall.

  Huā Shēng's face was filled with resentment, and he pointed at Liǔ Yuàn Yuàn, saying: "Liáng Xiāo, she broke Huā Xiǎo Shuāng's hand, and...and slapped her with her palm!" Huā Xiǎo Shuāng hastily said: "Huā Shēng..." Huā Shēng asked: "What?" Huā Xiǎo Shuāng sighed: "Don't say anything else!" Liáng Xiāo observed the two of them, and his heart was crystal clear. He looked at Liǔ Yuàn Yuàn again, her pretty face pale, her breathing weak, and she seemed both sorrowful and distressed.

  Hua Xiao Shuang saw his intention and said softly, "I used the 'Seven Star Soul Needle' to protect her for a breath, and gave her 'Living Ginseng Dew', so her life should be safe. Unfortunately, Hua Sheng's fist was too fierce, without two or three months of recuperation, I'm afraid she won't be able to get out of bed." Liang Xiao fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "Xiao Shuang, she treated you like that, but you...you still treat her like this......Alas, I...I would die a hundred times for you and still be willing." Hua Xiao Shuang heard these words, and the warmth in his chest surged forth, all grievances disappearing into thin air. He forced a smile, but tears fell silently down his face.

  Liu Yingying lay in Liang Xiao's arms, her internal strength not weak. After taking the "Living Ginseng Dew", she gradually came to and happened to hear half a sentence from Liang Xiao below, her heart like a knife twist, almost fainting again. Taking aim at Hua Xiaoxue's position, she secretly pulled out her dagger, but unexpectedly had no strength after being injured, unable to grasp the dagger tightly, it clattered to the ground.

  Hua Sheng quickly picked it up and said, "Liang Xiao, your dagger has fallen!" Liang Xiao saw the dagger and looked down, her eyebrows twitching anxiously as tears fell from the corners of her eyes. She couldn't help but sigh. He told Hua Sheng to gather some branches, bind Hua Xiaoshuang's wrists, and make a stretcher. Together with Hua Sheng, they lifted Liu Yanyan and searched for a place to rest.

  After the stability, Hua Xiao-feng wrote two prescriptions. Liang Xiao let Hua Sheng take care of the two, and he rode a vermilion horse to collect medicine everywhere. In the evening, he came back, first applied wound medicine to Hua Xiao-feng, then lit the stove, brewed a bowl of medicinal liquid, and took it to Liu Yue-yue's room.

  Liu Yingying lay flat on her back, tears streaming down her face like a steady trickle, dripping onto the pillow. Liang Xiao's emotions were in turmoil as he stood at the door, unable to move forward or backward. When Liu Yingying saw him, she became enraged and wanted to turn away, but the movement exacerbated her injury, so she got up instead. Liang Xiao quickly put down the medicine bowl and came over to help her up, but Liu Yingying struggled weakly and closed her eyes, ignoring him. Liang Xiao held the medicine bowl to her lips, but Liu Yingying clenched her teeth tightly. Liang Xiao sighed, "Yingying, you're making it hard for people to bear." Liu Yingying's heart ached, and she spoke in a hoarse voice, "What I do has nothing to do with you. You can go die a hundred times, a thousand times for someone else, for all I care." Liang Xiao said, "If I were to die for you, I wouldn't even frown." Liu Yingying heard this and suddenly remembered past events, bursting into tears as she exclaimed, "You're always speaking sweet words to deceive people, but you never keep your promises!"

  Liang Xiao thought that what you said to me doesn't count, if it weren't for Yun Shu and you having a falling out, I'm afraid you wouldn't have come to reason with me again. Thinking about this, his heart was stirred up, and he bitterly smiled: "Don't be stubborn, drink the medicine." Liu Yueying gritted her teeth and said: "Drinking medicine is fine, but first kill that stinky monk, then drive away that stinky girl." Liang Xiao said: "This won't do." Liu Yueying's tears welled up again, and she said in a hoarse voice: "See, you're still just good at coaxing people. What are you really thinking? Today we must make things clear."

  Liang Xiao said, "Xiao Feng is a very good person, you'll understand when you spend more time with her." He picked up the medicine bowl and said, "Let's talk about everything later, first drink this medicine." Liu Xiang was about to throw another tantrum, but suddenly saw Hua Xiao Feng standing outside the door, seemingly wanting to come in. She had a thought and leaned her face into Liang Xiao's chest, softly saying, "This medicine is too bitter, I don't want to drink it." Liang Xiao frowned and said, "Stop talking like a child, be good and drink it while it's hot." Liu Xiang glanced at Xiao Feng and calmly said, "Anyway, I won't drink alone, you have to drink with me."

  Liang Xiao was helpless, and he raised the bowl to drink first. Liu Yingying blocked him and said, "It's not like that." She bit her lip, blushed, and said, "I... I want you to take a sip first, then feed me mouthful by mouthful." Liang Xiao was shocked and said, "How can this be?" Liu Yingying angrily said, "If you don't do it my way, I won't drink either. I'd rather die."

  Liang Xiao initially thought she was joking, but when he heard her resolute tone, he realized she was serious. Knowing that this woman was extremely stubborn and would do as she said, he had no choice but to put the medicine in his mouth and feed it to her mouthful by mouthful. Hua Xiao Xue originally wanted to check on Liu Yueyue's injuries, but seeing this scene, a sour feeling rose up in her chest that couldn't be waved away. She stared blankly for a while before silently turning around and leaving. Liang Xiao had keen hearing and understood clearly. After feeding the medicine, he suddenly slammed the bowl down heavily and scolded, "Yueyue, don't always provoke her! Her body is not well..."

  Liu Yingying was being held by him to take medicine, her body soft and her heart hot, greatly moved. But unexpectedly, Liang Xiao suddenly turned his face, momentarily shocked and angry, and cried out: "If she's not good, then I'm good?" In a fit of rage, he vomited up a mouthful of blood mixed with the medicine water. Liang Xiao was greatly shocked and hastily patted her back. Suddenly, Hua Sheng stuck his round head in and said foolishly: "Liang Xiao, Xiaoying is crying." As soon as Liu Yingying saw him, she couldn't help but feel angry, shouting: "Dead bald donkey, stinky duck egg, get out, get out!" But then Liang Xiao stood up, grabbed her, and gritted his teeth, saying: "If you leave, I...I'll die for you to see." Liang Xiao furrowed his brow, finally pried open her hand, turned around and left. Liu Yingying was so angry that she couldn't bear it, and buried her face in the pillow, crying loudly.

  Liang Xiao steeled himself and entered the room where Hua Xiao Xue was. The young girl sat on the edge of the bed, and when she saw him come in, she hastily turned around to wipe away her tears. Liang Xiao sat down beside her, not knowing how to comfort her, and after a long while said: "She's just like that, gets angry for a moment, but it will pass soon. You're a prime minister in the medical field, you can save lives, be magnanimous, don't mind her!" Hua Xiao Xue lowered her head and said: "I... I'm not any prime minister..." Liang Xiao smiled and said: "You are a prime minister who controls life and death." Hua Xiao Xue was pleased by his words and sighed: "You're just good at teasing people." With this smile, the resentment in her heart dissipated.

  Liang Xiao saw that her arm was tightly wrapped and asked, "Does it still hurt?" Hua Xiao Xue's face turned red and she shook her head. Suddenly, footsteps were heard, and when they looked up, Liu Yingying was leaning against the door frame, swaying back and forth, with blood seeping from the corner of her mouth and a pale face like death. Liang Xiao was shocked, let go of Hua Xiao Xue, and supported Liu Yingying, saying, "How can you get out of bed? Don't you go back!" Liu Yingying tried to slap him but had no strength after being injured, only touching him lightly before dropping her hand, crying and scolding, "You little rascal, I was devoted to you with all my heart, but...but you treated me like this! I hate you to death, hate you to death..." Her internal organs were churning, and more blood came out of her mouth. Hua Xiao Xue quickly handed over the "living ginseng dew" and had Liang Xiao give it to her to take.

  Liu Yingying took a deep breath and continued to scold incessantly. Liang Xiao was at his wit's end, forcibly carrying her back into the room, speaking many gentle words before she calmed down slightly, then sobbed quietly for a while before falling asleep soundly, her hands still grasping Liang Xiao's clothes, not letting go even in her dreams.

  Liang Xiao couldn't help but sit by the bed, waiting for her to fall asleep before getting up to prepare food. The dishes were all set out, and he hadn't even sat down yet when he heard Liu Xiangxiang calling out: "Liang Xiao, Liang Xiao..." Her voice was urgent and trembling with tears. Liang Xiao reluctantly went back inside, and suddenly saw Liu Xiangxiang's face covered in tears. When she saw him come in, she threw herself into his arms and cried: "Where did you go? I...I thought you'd left!"

  Liang Xiao knew she was always strong-willed, but today she repeatedly showed a weak side, and his heart rose with boundless sympathy. He sighed and said, "Where is it? You must have had a nightmare!" Liu Xiangxiang sobbed: "I'm trapped in the Tianxiang Mountain Villa, every night I dream of you."

  Liang Xiao's chest felt hot, and she thought to herself: "This year must have been very difficult for her." She couldn't help but ask: "Yingying, why did you listen to Han Ningzi's provocation and go looking for trouble with Chu Xianliu?" Liu Yingying cried for a while, then wiped away her tears and said: "That day I came back from fetching water, but didn't see you anywhere. My heart was racing with anxiety as I searched everywhere for you. As it happened, I ran into people from the Lei and Chu families, as well as the Tianying Gate. I thought they had captured you, so I went to ask them to release you, but was beaten by Lei Xingkong. Just when I was at my wit's end, Yun Shu came to my rescue. Who knew he had ulterior motives? Afterward, he said many things that made no sense to me. At the time, I was injured and feared he might have evil intentions, so I placated him with empty words, hoping to trick him into helping me find you. Little did I know that you had actually fallen into Han Ningzi's hands. That stinky fox used you as leverage against me and snatched away the pure yang iron box. In my despair, I scolded Yun Shu severely, but he didn't say a word and let me leave instead. Unaware of where you were, I rode Zhizhi through the wilderness, crying several times. Later, after recovering from my injuries, I went through many twists and turns before finding the remains of the Hongxiao Pavilion, only to see that it had been reduced to ashes. It was said that the Lei Gong Fortress and Tianxiang Mountain Villa had joined forces to burn it down. I then secretly captured a disciple from the Lei Gong Fortress and interrogated him, but he didn't know anything about your whereabouts either. Fearing for my safety, I searched everywhere, spending half a year doing so. Unfortunately, not only did I fail to find you, but I also ran into that stinky fox Han Ningzi again. She deceived me by saying that you had been burned to death by the Tianxiang Mountain Villa, and at the time, I was heartbroken and didn't think twice about it. I went to seek revenge against the Chu family on your behalf... Initially, I had the upper hand, but later, I provoked Chu Xianliu, and since I couldn't defeat him, I was captured by Old Man Chu..."

  She finished speaking, feeling a wave of fatigue and slight panting. Liang Xiao was stunned, thinking to himself that he had been foolishly misled, suspecting her of having feelings for someone else. Overwhelmed with regret, he slapped himself twice, his cheeks swelling up instantly. Liu Xiangxiang exclaimed, "You... what are you doing?" Liang Xiao composed himself and sighed, "Xiangxiang, I'm a fool, extremely sorry to you!" Liu Xiangxiang didn't know he had other intentions, thinking he was feeling guilty about the Hua Xiaoshuang incident. Seeing his swollen cheeks, her heart softened, and she stretched out her slender white hand to gently stroke his red cheeks, saying softly, "You know that's good... if you get close to that sickly girl again, humph, I'll make you regret it!" She had a mouthful of venomous words to threaten him, but they turned into: "Does your face hurt? From now on, without my permission, don't hit yourself again."

  Liang Xiao's mind was in a mess, with no head or tail, and after a long time, he said: "What if you fell into Chu Xianliu's hands? He didn't even put handcuffs on you." Liu Yanyan coldly smiled: "I am the ancestor of all thieves under heaven, what kind of handcuffs can trap me? Chu Xianliu that old fox, relying on his stinky skills, neither locked nor bound me, but allowed me to use a thousand methods to escape, yet I couldn't get out of a ten-mile radius. You arrived just as he caught me again."

  Liang Xiao smiled wryly and said, "Chu Xianliang must be so bored living in the mountains that he's come to play this kind of cat-and-mouse game." Liu Yuan heard this and got angry, pointing at his nose: "You little scoundrel, I'm being bullied and you can still smile?" Liang Xiao gazed at her for a moment before suddenly saying, "Yuan!" Liu Yuan asked, "What?" Liang Xiao sighed and said in a low voice, "From now on, I will never let anyone bully you again."

  Liu Yingying coldly smiled and said, "I'm not afraid of others bullying me, but I'm afraid of being bullied by you." Suddenly she raised her eyes and glared at Liang Xiao, "In short, as long as Hua Xiaoshuang is around for a day, I will hate you for a day!" Liang Xiao bitterly smiled without speaking. Liu Yingying suddenly became happy then sad, after saying so many words, she felt tired again and leaned against Liang Xiao's chest to sleep.

  Soon, Hua Xiao Shuang's injuries healed, and she began treating the villagers' illnesses and helping with childbirth. Liu Yingying insisted on not receiving treatment from Hua Xiao Shuang, so Liang Xiao had to ask Xiao Shuang first before taking matters into his own hands. However, as soon as Liu Yingying's injuries improved slightly, she started causing more trouble, openly or secretly plotting against Hua Xiao Shuang at every turn. Liang Xiao was cautious and took precautions, foiling her plans time and again. Frustrated, Liu Yingying became resentful and hysterical, crying and threatening to take her own life, stopping at nothing. Meanwhile, Liang Xiao had to balance defending himself against Liu Yingying's schemes while comforting Hua Xiao Shuang and figuring out how to make a living, all the while trying to fill Hua Xiao Shuang's bottomless stomach. Even with his quick thinking and resourcefulness, he found himself in a difficult spot, feeling overwhelmed.

  Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and Liu Yingying's injury had healed ninety percent. She couldn't help it anymore, so she used a soft approach, rubbing shoulders with Liang Xiao in front of everyone, intentionally trying to annoy Xiaoxiao. Liang Xiao was naturally embarrassed. Hua Xiaoxiao didn't feel good either, but her gentle nature made it hard for her to bear, so she went inside the house to read medical books and relieve her boredom.

  On this day, she fell asleep while reading a book and was suddenly awakened by the noise. She went out to see many strangers gathered at the threshing ground in the distance, speaking with unfamiliar accents, wearing tattered clothes, and making a commotion. Hua Xiao Shuang felt puzzled and walked closer to take a look. Many people in the crowd were sick, some had wounds that were festering, with flesh and skin rolled back, pus and maggots oozing out, lying on the ground. Seeing this scene, she went home to fetch medicine and came to the edge of the field to treat the wounded. At this time, Liu Xiangxiang pulled Liang Xiao over, and as soon as she saw her, she immediately put on a warm and intimate appearance. Hua Xiao Shuang's heart felt a pang, turned around and called out to the crowd, treating each person one by one.

  Liu Yingying took a glance and sneered, "Pretending to be a good person again!" Liang Xiao said, "She was originally a good person." Liu Yingying said, "Good, she's a good person, so I'm a bad person then!" Liang Xiao smiled and said, "You're naturally a bad person then." Liu Yingying's eyebrows were upside down, just about to get angry, when she heard Liang Xiao smile and say, "Fortunately, I'm also a bad person. We're a matching pair of crooked pot and flat stove."

  Liu Yingying's expression changed from anger to joy, and she laughed: "Yes, we're all bad people, let her be the only good person." Liang Xiao saw Hua Xiaoshuang working hard and went forward to help. Liu Yingying was furious and stomped her foot, scolding: "What a perfect match! It's clear that you have one set of words for your mouth and another for your heart!" Liang Xiao laughed: "Don't be so angry, go fetch two buckets of water!" Liu Yingying angrily said: "I won't go!" Her face was red with anger, and she stood there for a while. But seeing the refugees crying and feeling a bit sorry for them, she turned around and went to fetch water with a huff.

  Liang Xiao was born in Jiangxi, and the refugees' dialect is indeed their local accent. After detailed inquiry, it was learned that during the Song-Yuan war, the Song army suffered a great defeat at Xingguo, and Jiangxi had been plagued by wars for many years, making life unbearable for its people, so they fled to the north in droves, only to encounter bandits and soldiers along the way, resulting in heavy casualties.

  Treatment is over, the moon is already in the middle of the sky, and the refugees are saying goodbye and leaving one after another. The four people are hungry, so they enter the house and eat a few steamed buns with clear water. Hua Xiao Shuang's heart is not there, and she says hesitantly: "Xiao Gege, Liu Jie's injury has almost healed, I...I want to go to Jiangxi to practice medicine." Liang Xiao says: "Okay, I'll accompany you." Liu Yuan Yuan is both angry and anxious, and she pinches him hard, saying angrily: "Liang Xiao, didn't we just agree that you would accompany me to Tian Shan?" Liang Xiao says: "I said that if Xiao Shuang was willing to go, then I would be willing to go too." Liu Yuan Yuan is stunned, and she says loudly: "What's so good about her? You only listen to her, but not to me..." Tears well up in her eyes, and she buries her face in her arms and cries.

  Liang Xiao bitterly smiled and said, "I promised to accompany her on her medical rounds. A man of his word must keep his promises." Liu Xiangxiang's shoulders trembled slightly as she lifted her head, wiping away tears, glaring fiercely at Hua Xiaoshuang, gritting her teeth and saying, "Fine, I'll also keep my promise: either you die or I perish!"

  These words were said decisively, and Hua Xiaoxue listened with a dizzy mind, not knowing how to turn back into the room. When she came to her senses, she found herself leaning against the edge of the bed. The quarrel between Liang Xiao and Liu Yanyan was coming from the main house, clearly very close, yet it sounded so far away, a familiar voice that sounded so strange. A wave of unspeakable sadness surged up from the bottom of her heart, and tears had unknowingly seeped into the coarse cotton quilt.

  The next day, they set off southward. Liang Xiao and Liu Xiangxiang had a big quarrel, carrying their luggage and walking with their heads down. Liu Xiangxiang saw that he didn't care about her, so she became even more heartbroken and distressed, unable to vent her anger anywhere, and mistakenly beat up Hua Sheng. However, the little monk was tough and resilient, enduring three punches and two kicks, only smiling foolishly. Liu Xiangxiang, on the other hand, felt pain in her hands and feet, and for a moment couldn't think of anything to do, so she shifted all her resentment onto Hua Xiaoxiao, thinking: "Even if Liang Xiao hates me my whole life, I must get rid of you!"

  Walking and stopping, after twenty days of traveling, they entered the borders of Jiangxi. As the refugees had said, thousands of villages were desolate, with no chickens crowing, thorns and brambles growing everywhere, and white bones scattered about. The Yuan army was indeed like wolves and tigers, but the defeated Song soldiers had also turned into bandits, rising up in broad daylight to plunder and pillage everywhere. Liang Xiao had the bravery of a crown prince, but after driving off one batch, another would come, and he too felt overwhelmed by the endless fighting. Sometimes they would travel for a hundred miles without seeing any signs of human life, and when night fell, all they could hear was the mournful sighing of the wind, like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts.

  On this day, after passing through Mei Ridge into the two Guang provinces, they encountered a large number of refugees again, with many wounded and sick. After finishing their rescue and treatment, the medicine they had prepared was also exhausted. Hua Xiao Shuang slung her medical basket and said: "Xiao Gege, I'll go take a look in the mountains to see if there are any medicinal herbs." Liang Xiao said: "I'll accompany you!" Hua Xiao Shuang nodded, but before she could move, Liu Yueyue suddenly spoke up coldly: "You're just going like that?" Liang Xiao knew her intentions and had no choice but to say: "You come too!" Liu Yueyue followed behind the two of them with a cold demeanor. Hua Sheng was left alone to watch over their luggage.

  The three of them walked for a while, and Hua Xiao Shuang suddenly looked around and saw a clump of herbs on the mountain cliff in front of her. She exclaimed with joy: "Let's pick this one first!" Liang Xiao immediately climbed up and used his medicine spade to dig it out. Liu Yingying looked at it curiously and asked, "What is this?" Liang Xiao shook his head and said, "I don't recognize it either, Xiaoshuang, you tell us." Liu Yingying pouted and smiled coldly. Hua Xiao Shuang glanced at her and hesitated before saying, "This herb is called 'Wang Bu Liu Xing'." Liang Xiao exclaimed in surprise: "What a strange name!" Hua Xiao Shuang explained, "This herb has the effect of promoting blood circulation, and when taken with other medicines, it can make the blood flow smoothly. Even if the emperor were to issue an order to stop it, it would be impossible to block its effects, hence its beautiful name."

  Liang Xiao thought to himself, being a person is just like this, once you've made up your mind about something, you should do it with all your might, and no one can stop you. As he walked, the mountain path grew narrower, and there were more and more herbs, of all shapes and sizes, growing together in profusion. Hua Xiao Shuang was overjoyed, picking some as she went along, following the trail of herbs for a mile or so, but instead of decreasing, they seemed to be even more luxuriant.

  Hua Xiao Shuang stopped in her tracks, hesitating as she said: "Xiao Gege, this is really strange. How can so many herbs grow together like this? Among the seasonal herbs, except for a few rare ones, almost all of them are here. Could it be that these herbs were planted by someone?" Liang Xiao said: "It's just a coincidence." Hua Xiao Shuang sighed and said: "No, some of these herbs shouldn't be growing in this area. This 'Chuan Bei' herb, for example, must have been transplanted here by human hands."

  Liang Xiao knew that she was a doctor by nature, and her words were not lightly spoken, nor did she harbor any doubts in her heart. Liu Xueying coldly smiled and said: "It's useless to talk about it, let's just move forward, everything will become clear." They started walking, with Liang Xiao closely following behind. As they entered the depths of the mountain, the fog ahead grew thicker. Liang Xiao was afraid of getting separated from them, so he held hands with both women. His left hand held Liu Xueying's, which felt warm and soft like silk, making his heart flutter; his right hand held Hua Xiaoshuang's, whose small hand was slender and slightly cool, like spring water. Liang Xiao couldn't help but think: "If I could hold onto both of their hands for a lifetime, it would be the greatest fortune." But then he suddenly felt ashamed, thinking: "They are both extraordinary women in this world, my previous thought was truly an insult to them."

  Liu Yingying walked in the front, she was a brave girl, but at this time when all sounds were hushed and the fog grew thicker, like a mass of cow's milk falling from the sky. The road widened, with sweet fragrance floating in the air. Liu Yingying groped her way forward for a few steps, when suddenly Hua Xiaoshuang said: "Xiao Gege, this fog is strange, let's go back?" Liang Xiao said: "You're right. Yingying, what do you think?"

  Lingering in her heart, a subtle movement stirred, as thick fog obscured her vision. It was the perfect opportunity to kill that despicable person. Her killing intent stirred once more, and she could no longer hold back. She softly hummed a note and said, "The mountains often have fog, what's so strange about it?"

  She said, holding the dagger in her palm. Hua Xiaoxue heard her move and asked, not answering well, "I can't say it either, I just feel that this fog is sticky and makes people very uncomfortable..."

  Liu Yingying listened to the sound and judged the position, without waiting for Hua Xiaoxue to finish speaking, the dagger suddenly stabbed out and hit Hua Xiaoxue's arm. Hua Xiaoxue was caught off guard and cried out in pain. Liang Xiao exclaimed: "Xiaoxue, what's wrong?"

  Liu Yingying didn't give up, she rushed to Hua Xiaoxue's side and grabbed her sleeve with one hand. She twisted her wrist and stabbed towards her heart. However, her foot slipped on something sticky, causing her ankle to twist tightly, and a sharp pain shot up from her heel.

  Liu Yingying let out a mournful cry and fell to her knees, pulling Hua Xiaoshuang down with her. Liang Xiao was shocked and only heard Liu Yingying say "foot... foot..." He stretched out his hand to touch, when suddenly a gust of wind came, Liang Xiao's movements were extremely fast, the thing didn't have time to open its mouth before he grabbed it by the head. He only felt that his hands were slippery, unable to hold on, and involuntarily let out a surprised cry: "It's a snake!" His hand tightened, the snake's head split open, instantly killing it.

  Hua Xiao Shuang heard the cry and gritted her teeth, saying: "Xiao Gege, seal her blood vessels." Liang Xiao responded by taking action, continuously pressing more than a dozen key points on Liu Yueyue's legs from thigh to waist, sealing off the blood vessels in her legs. He asked anxiously: "What else should we do?" Hua Xiao Shuang was stunned for a moment before asking: "What kind of snake is it?" Liang Xiao took out a lighter, but the fog was too thick and it went out as soon as he lit it, extinguished by the misty water.

  Liu Yingying only felt her legs and feet aching, **said:** "Liang Xiao... I... I'm going to die... If I die, you can be with the sick girl, right?" Liang Xiao held back his calmness, hugged her tightly and said: "Don't talk nonsense! Xiaoshuang, think of a way quickly!"

  "Venomous snakes are everywhere, each with different venom, and only the right medicine can cure it. I don't have any snake medicine here... what to do? What to do?" The more she spoke, the more anxious she became. Liu Yingying's body was filled with snake poison, her mind was confused, and when she heard these words, she scolded loudly: "You just want me to die, so you can be with Liang Xiao, you little slut... your heart is even more venomous than a snake..." Although her scolding was fierce, her voice grew weaker.

  Liu Yingying's sinister plot was all too clear to Hua Xiaoxue, but she was by nature weak-willed and not only unwilling to hold grudges, but also racked her brains to find a way to save the life of this enemy. Unfortunately, the misty veil obscured everything, and she had no antidote on hand, making it impossible for her to act. Who would have thought that as Liu Yingying lay dying, her venomous resentment only intensified, and she hurled abuse without end? Hua Xiaoxue was overcome with emotion, covering her face with both hands, and burst into tears.

  Liang Xiao was taken aback, then suddenly tore open Liu Xiangxiang's pant leg and began to suck on the wound. Hua Xiaoxue heard the sound of tearing fabric and immediately understood, shouting: "Xiao Gege, you...you'll die!" Liang Xiao remained silent, continuously sucking out the toxic blood and spitting it onto the ground. As Liu Xiangxiang's toxic blood was drained, her consciousness slightly cleared, and she suddenly felt that Liang Xiao was sucking poison for her, startling her heart, and she cried out: "No...don't..." She wanted to struggle, but Liang Xiao's arm was like iron, immovable, and in her anxiety, she fainted again.

  The sweet fragrance in the fog grew thicker, and Liang Xiao took a moment to absorb it, but felt the fishy smell in his blood gradually receding, and the scent becoming lighter. Just as he was about to sit down, he suddenly felt a numbness in his body, and a dizziness arose in his head. His heart secretly panicked: "This poison is acting so quickly!" He flipped over and sat down, just as he was about to use his internal energy to resist it, when he reached out to touch the ground, he suddenly came into contact with a slippery object. His heart jumped in fright: "Is there another snake?" Before the venomous snake could turn its head, he slapped out with his palm, sending it flying and shattering it.

  At this time, the rustling sounds around them were like waves surging towards them. Suddenly, Hua Xiao Shuang let out a cry of surprise, and Liang Xiao's thoughts turned rapidly as he hastily called out: "Quickly come over!" However, Hua Xiao Shuang didn't move at all. Liang Xiao held onto Liu Yueyue with one hand and stretched out the other to investigate, only to feel a large snake descending from above and wrapping itself around his arm. Liang Xiao shook off the snake with his sleeve, drew out his bamboo sword, and cut the snake into three segments in mid-air. With a quick reversal of his hand, he managed to grab hold of Hua Xiao Shuang, but felt that her entire body was stiff and rigid. He couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?" Hua Xiao Shuang trembled as she spoke: "The...the snake...is on me...my body..." She stuttered and was unable to speak further.

  The fog was thick and heavy, Liang Xiao couldn't see anything, relying only on her sense of touch. Her bamboo sword trembled as it slid down her body. The sword had the "Reversing Yin and Yang" technique on it, and all that could be heard were the sounds of hissing and spitting, as four snakes were cut into ten pieces and fell from Hua Xiao Shuang's body. Liang Xiao pulled her over, when suddenly there was a rustling sound beneath their feet, and a group of snakes came slithering in from all directions. Liang Xiao swung her left palm in a circle, creating a whirlwind that swept away the poisonous snakes at her feet.

  Listening to the wind and identifying the direction, Liang Xiao continuously waved his palms and drew his sword, forcing open the snake group. However, being distracted and looking around, the snake venom in his body gradually became uncontrollable, attacking his heart and making him feel drowsy. He swung his palms a few more times, but soon found himself unable to stand steadily, so he sat down cross-legged, placing the two women on his knees. On one hand, he used internal energy to suppress the venom, while on the other hand, he wielded his sword to drive away the snakes. Suddenly, two poisonous snakes fell from above onto his head. Liang Xiao's bamboo sword spun in the air and cut them into four segments. He suddenly had an epiphany: "I'm confused - where would there be snakes in the sky? There must be trees nearby!" With a sweep of his palm and a dance of his sword, he cleared away over ten poisonous snakes and loudly called out: "Xiao Shuang, come onto my back."

  Hua Xiao Shuang had already been frightened stiff by the hissing of thousands of venomous snakes, and was trembling with fear as she clung to Liang Xiao's back. Liang Xiao waited for her to hold on tight, then wrapped his left arm around Liu Yueyue, summoned up his spiritual energy, and suddenly sprang upwards more than ten feet into the air, stretching out a hand to grab onto a branch. The branch was slender and couldn't support the weight of three people, so it snapped off with a cracking sound.

  Liang Xiao grasped the branch, and had already examined its thickness. The thicker one was on the left, and he knew that the left side must be the trunk of the tree, which is why the branch broke off. He swung his left leg in mid-air, and indeed hooked onto the trunk. His right hand stretched out again, and landed on another small branch, using the momentum to struggle free, and flipped over a few feet, landing in the middle of the tree branches. The poison was not light, and these few flips and jumps, although not elegant, seemed to have exhausted all his energy. The snake venom inside him surged, Liang Xiao's whole body felt numb, his chest felt tight and he wanted to vomit, his body tilted to one side, almost falling off, hastily stabilizing his figure, using his internal energy to fight against the snake venom.

  Hua Xiao Shuang held onto Liang Xiao with one hand and leaned against the tree trunk with the other, her heart racing wildly. As she heard the hissing sound of snakes approaching, a group of snakes clearly crawling up the tree, she cried out in distress: "Xiao Gege! Xiao Gege!" She called out twice but didn't hear any movement, and her heart was greatly shocked. She reached out to touch his cheek, only to feel an intense heat like fire, and when she checked his pulse, she couldn't help but scream - it turned out that the snake venom was extremely potent and had already penetrated Liang Xiao's five organs.

  At that time, the hissing of snakes grew louder, as if ten thousand snakes were frantically moving about and gathering under the tree. Hua Xiao Shuang was on the verge of tears, her mind a complete blank. Suddenly, she heard Liu Yingying softly whispering, and couldn't help but burst into tears: "Liu sister, Liang Shao is finished...finished..." Liu Yingying had sucked out the poisonous blood from Liang Shao's wound, leaving only a tiny amount of venom that wouldn't cause any harm. After a while, he slowly regained consciousness, hearing the hissing of snakes and feeling around him were tree trunks. His mind was quick-witted, far surpassing Hua Xiao Shuang's, and immediately understood Liang Shao's intentions. He wanted to get up but felt weak all over, so he gasped: "You...you hold onto the bamboo sword and guard this place, don't let the poisonous snakes...come...come up. If they don't come up, it won't be a problem." Hua Xiao Shuang was at a loss for what to do, but responded by feeling around for the bamboo sword. Just as she hadn't yet grasped it firmly, she felt a chill on the back of her hand, and a snake slithered over, wrapping itself around her arm. Hua Xiao Shuang let out a silent scream, just thinking about shaking off the snake with her sleeve, when suddenly her wrist was in severe pain - she had been bitten by the poisonous snake! She groaned in agony, her heart filled with despair: "This is terrible!" But unexpectedly, the snake on her arm convulsed and suddenly loosened its grip, falling to the ground with a thud.

  Hua Xiao Shuang didn't have time to think much, took out the silver needle, sealed off the blood vessels, and was about to cut open the vein to let out the toxic blood. Suddenly, she felt a chill on her knee, and a hissing sound grew loud, as if countless venomous snakes were rushing up. Hua Xiao Shuang thought of Liang Xiao, her hot blood boiling over, and a desperate idea emerged. She gritted her teeth, raised her sword, and chopped off one of the venomous snakes. Who knew that at this moment, the snakes beside her would let out strange noises, struggle and twist, and convulse before falling to the ground? The hissing sound from under the tree also changed its tone, filled with frantic alarm, growing fainter as it spread in all directions.

  Hua Xiao Shuang was greatly astonished, and after a moment's thought, she suddenly realized: "I have the 'Nine Yin Poison Pulse', I am a poisonous person myself. The Nine Yin poison in my blood is far more potent than snake venom, if a snake bites me, it will die immediately, and if its venom comes into contact with my blood, it will also be fatal." As soon as she thought of this, she touched the wound that Liu Yingying had inflicted on her with a short dagger, and after feeling relieved, she felt desolate again. She stretched out her hand to press down on the wound, and blood flowed out like water, splashing onto Liang Xiao and Liu Yingying's bodies. Hua Xiao Shuang sprinkled her blood, and the snakes avoided it in time, scattering with a rustling sound. But after a flurry of activity, she lost a lot of blood, and only felt her spirit and energy exhausted. After sitting for a while, she suddenly thought: "I was bitten by a snake, but nothing happened to me, I suppose the 'Nine Yin Poison Pulse' has a counteracting effect on the snake venom. Brother Xiao's poison has entered his five organs, if we don't rescue him, he will surely not survive. Using poison to fight poison is indeed perilous, but it is much better than waiting for death."

  She reached out to touch him, but felt that Liang Xiao's fiery heat had receded, his body cold as ice. Knowing he was on the verge of death, she placed her wounded arm near his mouth and let fresh blood drip into it. In a short while, Liang Xiao's body began to warm up from the cold. Hua Xiao Shuang felt his pulse and knew that the snake venom had been countered, and couldn't help but feel overjoyed. But unexpectedly, due to excessive blood loss, as soon as she relaxed her guard, the cold toxin took effect, causing a wave of dizziness and blurred vision, and she fainted.

  In a daze, she suddenly heard a strange "croaking" sound, and felt a hand on her back, with warmth flowing into her body. She became clear-headed and exclaimed: "Xiao Gege, you're okay?" Liang Xiao lightly responded with an "en". Hua Xiaoxue opened her eyes to find the surroundings still foggy, but the croaking sound grew louder. She asked: "Where did the frog come from?" Liang Xiao said: "It's not a frog, it's a toad calling out." Hua Xiaoxue listened carefully and realized that the snake's hissing sound was still there, and she exclaimed in alarm: "Oh no, the snake is going to eat the toad!" Liang Xiao said: "That's not necessarily so. From the sounds, neither the snake nor the toad has won."

  Hua Xiao Shuang was shocked and suspicious, but then she heard Liang Xiao say, "Are you okay?" Hua Xiao Shuang nodded and said, "I'm fine!" But then Liu Yingying coldly laughed and said, "It would be more interesting if you were dead!" Liang Xiao was angry in his heart and let out a cold hum. Liu Yingying also angrily said, "How can she wish me dead, but I couldn't wish her dead?" Hua Xiao Shuang was shocked and stuttered, saying, "I... how could I wish you dead?" Liu Yingying said, "You're still trying to deny it? When I was bitten by a snake, you pretended not to know; when Liang Xiao was poisoned, you couldn't save him in time. Hmph, these past few days I've seen you treating illnesses and saving people, and I thought you were really a good person. Now I realize that deep down, you're no different from me, Liu Yingying - you're even more sinister." She had secretly plotted against Hua Xiao Shuang but failed, so she tried to make Hua Xiao Shuang appear to be a sinister person in front of Liang Xiao, thinking that if she exposed her own plot, Liang Xiao might not believe it.

  Hua Xiaoxue's whole body trembled with fear, but she didn't know how to refute. Suddenly, she heard Liang Xiao say: "Xiaoxue, what medicine did you give me?" Hua Xiaoxue heard his tone and couldn't help but shed tears, her face pale as snow, the words "my blood" unable to escape her lips. Liu Yuanyuan saw that she had nothing to say and thought she had won, secretly rejoicing in her heart.

  Although Liang Xiao felt that this matter did not match Hua Xiao's character, the fact was there, and Hua Xiao did not argue or show any signs of doubt. Thinking about the two people openly fighting and secretly scheming, it had come to this point, and he couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart: "If I had known it would be like this, I should have died in the Qiantang River." He sighed deeply as he thought about it.

  Hua Xiao Shuang heard his sigh and thought he was blaming himself, but she couldn't hold back her emotions and leaned against the tree trunk, crying out loud. Liang Xiao was startled and quickly said: "Xiao Shuang, this is not your fault, it's all my mistake!" The more he spoke, the more Hua Xiao Shuang cried. Liu Yingying coldly said: "What's done is done, regretting now won't help." Liang Xiao angrily retorted: "Liu Yingying, your actions those days weren't exactly glorious either!" Liu Yingying was taken aback and loudly exclaimed: "Yes, I'm not glorious, I...I did this for who?" The more she spoke, the more sorrowful she became, and also started crying. Liang Xiao felt stuck in the middle, feeling very uninterested.

  As they spoke, the hissing of snakes and geckos grew louder, interspersed with countless strange noises, "crackling crackling", as if iron armor was vibrating, sometimes rustling, like small animals crawling. A foul smell wafted over, causing the three people's hair to stand on end, and Hua Xiao Feng and Liu Yingying simultaneously stopped crying. Liang Xiao only felt that the two women's bodies were trembling, stretched out their arms, and hugged each other from either side. Suddenly, a loud humming noise erupted, as if countless flying insects were approaching, just like a gust of wild wind sweeping past the three people.

  The stench grew thicker, making people want to vomit. Hua Xiao Shuang's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly trembled and said, "What just passed by was a poisonous insect!" Liang Xiao was startled, only to feel that Liu Yueyue's arms were tightly wrapped around her body, which shook even more violently. Then he heard Hua Xiao Shuang say, "Xiao Gege, this fog is too strange." Liang Xiao asked, "What's strange about it?" Hua Xiao Shuang said, "I've taken the pulse, and from the pulse condition, the energy is weak and the blood is slow, it should be noon by now, why is there still such thick fog here?"

  Li Shuo said, "This is not strange, deep mountains and valleys, clouds and fog all year round." Hua Xiao Shuang said, "But when the sun rises, the fog disperses, it's a natural principle. Brother Li, look up..." Li Shuo raised his head, faintly seeing the sunlight flashing, but unable to penetrate the fog, and was surprised: "This is strange! Could there be a monster spitting clouds and blowing fog?" Liu Yan shivered with cold, scolding: "You're still trying to scare people at this time?" Li Shuo said, "Well, what's your reason?" Liu Yan couldn't answer, Hua Xiao Shuang thought for a moment, saying: "I heard that in the south there is a miasma, transformed from poisonous residue, those who touch it will definitely get sick, could it be this?"

  Three people suspected gods and ghosts, forgetting the quarrel just now. Suddenly a strange fragrance came, and the three people's minds were clear. They saw a yellow light group appearing in the fog, flashing and changing, extremely strange. Liu Xiang thought of the monster's words, his scalp numb, and said miserably: "It's over, the monster is coming..." Liang Xiao frowned and asked: "What monster?" Liu Xiang replied: "Isn't that ball of light the monster's eyes?" Hua Xiao Shuang heard this and shook all over, her teeth chattering.

  Liang Xiao Jue noticed the two were frightened, so he shook off his sluggishness and laughed loudly: "It seems to be a one-eyed monster, I wonder where its eyeball is located, on its head or on its buttocks?" Hua Xiao Xue heard this and felt relieved, bursting into laughter. Liu Yan Yan saw that he still had the mood to joke around, and she couldn't help but scold him: "Big fool, what if the monster hears you..."

  Suddenly, a loud voice shouted: "Who's up there?" The sound was like the sawing of wood, low and hoarse. The three of them were stunned for a moment, then Liang Xiao softly sighed: "There are no ghosts or gods in this world, it's all just people making trouble." Liu Yingying let out a breath and also found it amusing, pressing her face tightly against Liang Xiao's chest.

  The yellow light grew brighter, and Liang Xiao's eyesight was the strongest. He saw that it was a white lantern with a yellow flame burning inside. The man said coldly, "You can survive in the midst of a thousand poisons, you're quite capable. Hmph, report to Wan'er!" As he spoke, the thick fog gradually dissipated, and when they looked around, they saw a forest. The trees were shaped strangely, with some as tall as several dozen feet, and others as short as seven feet. Their leaves were like goose eggs, and their branches were covered in white flowers the size of bowls, emitting threads of mist from their purple stamens. Looking at the base of the trees, even Liang Xiao, who was known for his bravery, couldn't help but stare blankly, taking a deep breath.

  Under the tree, a group of snakes raised their heads, spitting out red letters. Among the snakes, a brown wave rolled over, but it was actually a large group of toads, squeezed together so tightly that they couldn't breathe, croaking and shouting non-stop. In the midst of strange flowers and grasses, spotted geckos formed groups and teams, fleeing east and west. Five-poisonous creatures flew about, dancing with their claws and tails, engaged in a fierce battle with countless centipedes. Apart from the five poisonous creatures, there were many other poisonous insects whose names couldn't be called out, which mutually entwined within their own kind but slaughtered each other between different kinds. Except for the large tree where the three people stood, all the other areas, whether on the trees or under them, were a scene of carnage and bloodshed, with toxic liquids flowing everywhere. Liu Xiangxiang looked at it twice and couldn't help but cover her chest and dry retch. Hua Xiaoxue's small hand grasped Liang Xiao's arm, her fingernails almost digging into his flesh.

  The white flowers seemed to have a spiritual quality, gradually closing their petals. The misty air around them seemed to be fleeing for its life, and in an instant, the sky was clear and unobstructed. All kinds of poisonous insects lost their will to fight, flying and crawling away in all directions. Amidst this sea of poison, an old crone stood tall, her white hair disheveled, her face ugly and strange, with protruding teeth and a hawk-like nose, not a single eyebrow on her forehead, and two sunken eyes that shone brightly, inspiring fear. Around her body, within a radius of ten feet, there seemed to be an invisible barrier, as the poisonous insects avoided her, flowing around her like rivers parting ways. The old crone looked left and right, her expression stern and majestic, as if she were a monarch reviewing her troops.

  The old woman suddenly turned her head, scrutinized the three of them, and said in a shrill voice: "Are you living people?" Liang Xiao responded with a start, but felt cold sweat all over his body. The two women beside him had already been frightened into a faint, and if not for relying on Liang Xiao, they would have fainted long ago. Liang Xiao took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, and smiled: "Have you ever seen dead people who can talk?" The old woman looked at him with one eye, coldly saying: "Ordinary people entering this forest always die, never live! Hmph, come down!"

  Liang Xiao saw her words and actions were strange, and was just hesitating when the old woman impatiently said: "Are you deaf? I told you to come down!" Liang Xiao, who had always been proud of his dominance over the world, how could he be afraid of an old woman? He immediately held the two girls in his arms and floated down, but fearing the old woman would launch a sneak attack, he thought of seven or eight counter-moves as he landed. As long as the old woman made any unusual move, he would strike her dead with lightning speed.

  She didn't move, just gazing at the three of them with a cold eye and said faintly: "How did you avoid the dispute over the ten thousand poisons?" Liang Xiao heard her ask this repeatedly and didn't find it strange in his heart: "Just now the poisonous insects were rampant, everywhere under heaven and earth, why were we on the tree, yet able to be safe and sound..."

  The old woman snorted in anger, her eyes flashing with a fierce light that settled on Hua Xiao Shuang's face. Her eyes widened suddenly, and a hint of surprise flashed across her face before she nodded and said, "So that's how it is!" Her tone softened, seeming to relax slightly.

  Liang Xiao saw that she was acting strangely and didn't dare to stay for long. He cupped his hands and smiled, saying: "The three of us were picking herbs and accidentally entered your territory. We've seen your divine powers and our eyes have been opened. The matter is settled, so we'll take our leave!" The old woman nodded her head and pointed at Hua Xiao Xue, saying: "You two can go, but this girl will stay behind!" The three of them were taken aback, and Liang Xiao furrowed his brow, saying: "Senior, you're joking, right?" The old woman snorted coldly and said: "Who's joking with you? This girl has a Nine Yin body, which is extremely rare. Even if she appears, it's difficult for her to live to this age. Hmph, if it weren't for her, would you all still be standing here talking to me?" Hua Xiao Xue was shocked that the old woman had seen through her hidden condition. She suddenly saw the old woman beckon her over and say in a low voice: "Girl, come here!" Hua Xiao Xue was extremely nervous and looked back at Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao smiled slightly and swept his sleeve, laughing loudly. The crowd was shocked and confused, but he suddenly leapt into the air and pounced on the old woman.

  In a flash of lightning, he reached out and grabbed the old woman's face. Liu Yingying shouted, "Good..." As soon as the words left her mouth, Liang Xiao's claw-like hand froze, stopping just short of the old woman's throat, as if it had hit a copper wall or an iron wall, unable to advance even a fraction of an inch further. The old woman gazed at him coldly and hummed softly. Liang Xiao trembled in response and suddenly lost his support, collapsing limply to the ground.

  Liu Yingying was greatly shocked, and she beckoned "Snow-filled Swallow Mountain". Her palms wrapped in heavy cold energy, but before she could swing them out, a faint scent of fragrance floated over, subtly entering her nostrils. Liu Yingying's entire body suddenly lost its strength, and she collapsed instantly. A severe pain surged up from her lungs, initially as small as a needle point, but quickly growing to the size of a bowl, burning fiercely, making it unbearable for her.

  Liu Yingying's breath was blocked, and her heart and mouth suddenly felt severe pain. She hastily focused on her pulse. But as soon as she had a thought, her liver started to ache again. The severe pain hadn't stopped when her spleen was invaded once more. She endured the suffering, but the pain suddenly shifted to her lower back and kidney area. This time, strange itching mixed with the strange pain, Liu Yingying couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, it was truly unbearable.

  Hua Xiao Shuang saw the two fall to the ground one after another, and her heart was shocked. She rushed up to feel for Liu Yueyue's pulse, and her face changed greatly as she turned back to look at the old woman, exclaiming in surprise: "You used poison?" Before she had even finished speaking, Liu Yueyue struggled to get up, feeling unwell.

  Hua Xiao Shuang pulled out the silver needle and gave her three consecutive injections, hitting three major acupoints. Liu Yuan Yuan's pain slightly alleviated, she gritted her teeth and endured. The old woman saw her acupuncture technique, her eyes changed slightly, and coldly said: "'Three Yuan Comfort Pulse Needle'! Girl, who is your master?"

  Hua Xiao Shuang felt the pulse of Liu Yue Yue, but she found that the poison was unusual and spreading extremely fast. She became anxious in her heart and thought hard about a solution, but the old woman's words were like nothing to her ears. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly untied the bandage on her wrist, revealing the wound, intending to use the Nine Yin Poison Blood to counteract the poison with poison. The old woman sneered: "You want her to die quickly, just use this method!" Hua Xiao Shuang was taken aback, and only heard the old woman say: "The Nine Yin poison is similar in toxicity to the 'Five Elements Scatter' poison, and they have a catalytic effect on each other. If she takes one drop of your blood, the toxicity of the 'Five Elements Scatter' will increase by a factor of two..."

  Liu Yingying was furious, and before the old woman could finish speaking, she shouted: "Good! You're plotting against me again..." As she spoke, her mind wandered and the poison took hold once more. Hua Xiaoxue was already at a loss for what to do, but hearing these words only added to her boundless grievances, and tears burst forth from her eyes. Suddenly, she fell to one knee and began kowtowing repeatedly to the old woman.

  The old woman saw her kowtowing, and a smile appeared on her ugly face. She said with satisfaction: "Girl, have you admitted defeat?" Hua Xiao Xue trembled and said: "Madam, please spare Shao Gege and Liu Jiejie." The old woman said: "I can spare them, but you must answer my questions." Hua Xiao Xue said: "Please ask, Madam!" The old woman nodded and said: "Who is your medical master?" Hua Xiao Xue replied: "My master's name is Wu Changqing." The old woman narrowed her eyes and sneered coldly: "Is it him? That fat boy has a stubborn temper and a rigid mind. How could he go against his teachings and take in a female disciple? If it were that sly little rascal Chang Ning, it would be more believable."

  Hua Xiao Shuang heard her call Master "Fatty Little Boy" and felt strange, asking: "Does the old lady know my master?" The old woman rolled her eyes and sneered: "How could I not know him? In those years, I didn't spare his butt, but he refused to admit his mistakes. If he didn't admit his mistakes, I would beat him again. Hmph, that little scoundrel Chang Ning is cunning, when I glare at him, he kneels down and begs for mercy, but he's a smooth talker, not trustworthy. Fatty Little Boy has a stubborn temper, but he's actually quite genuine!" At this point, her eyes showed a hint of nostalgia, "Girl, I ask you, how is that Fatty Little Boy... ah, doing well?"

  Hua Xiao Shuang fell silent for a moment, then said in a gloomy tone: "Master has passed away!" The old woman's expression changed slightly, and after a long sigh, she said: "Trees do not remain green forever, people do not remain peaceful forever. Alas, he studied medicine diligently, but in the end, it was still the same as his old master - able to save others, but unable to save himself." Suddenly, she let out an angry hum and glared at Hua Xiao Shuang, saying: "I'll ask you a few questions, you're his legitimate disciple, so you must be able to answer them. If you can't answer, we'll settle the score later."

  "Please say it, grandma," said Hua Xiao Shuang. The old woman said: "I'll give you a couplet, and you respond with another one. The first line is: 'When the returnee comes to the square inch of land'!" Hua Xiao Shuang didn't think twice and responded immediately: "The only living person in the world." The old woman's face relaxed slightly, and she nodded: "Good! Here's another couplet: Carrying the elderly, joyful boxes on their backs, crossing Lian Bridge with their mothers." Hua Xiao Shuang said: "Supporting the young, white-haired elders picking up children at Changshan Mountain." The old woman's face became even more relaxed, and a hint of joy appeared in her eyes. She spoke warmly: "So, familiar land welcomes the white-haired one, and the red matchmaker benefits the mother with joy." Hua Xiao Shuang blurted out: "Huai Mountain sends the cowherd, and the national elder sends the gentleman to be healthy for a thousand years."

  These three couplets are all composed of medicinal names. Angelica, Aconitum, Bupleurum, Cimicifuga, Coptis, Rehmannia, Leonurus, Rubus, Polygonatum, Astragalus, and so on are all medicinal names. Bei Mu, Lian Qiao, Shi Zi are homophones of the three medicines of Fritillaria, Forsythia, and Platycodon. These three couplets are the oral secrets of Wu Changqing's school, and the responses to the three couplets are accurate, which must be someone from our school.

  The old woman listened to Xiao Xue's words, and for the first time, a smile appeared on her ugly face. She nodded and said: "You are indeed the successor of Pangzi!" However, Hua Xiao Xue asked strangely: "Auntie, how did you know these three couplets?" The old woman was furious: "How could it be that Wu Changqing didn't mention me, this Shu Shu?" As soon as Hua Xiao Xue heard this, she suddenly remembered a person and took two steps back, exclaiming: "You...you are 'Du Luo Cha'!"

  The old woman smiled coldly and said, "That's right, I am 'Poisonous Raksha' Luo Mingkui!" She saw Xiaoxue's frightened expression and asked displeased, "What are you afraid of?" Hua Xiaoxue's body trembled, and she said in a low voice, "Master... he... he always says you're not good..." Luo Mingkui asked, "How am I not good?" Hua Xiaoxue said, "He says that you go against the ancestral teachings and often use poison." Luo Mingkui's eyes suddenly widened, and she shouted sternly, "Using poison, what's wrong with using poison?"

  Liang Xiao endured the suffering of "Wu Xing San" without making a sound, and when he saw her, he exclaimed: "Dang Xin..." Hua Xiao Shuang saw that his whole body was trembling, his facial muscles were twitching, but his eyes were full of concern. She suddenly felt a pang in her heart and her eyes grew hot with tears, wishing she could rush into his arms and cry. Suddenly, Luo Minggui shouted again: "What's wrong with using poison?" Taking advantage of Hua Xiao Shuang's distraction, five fingers suddenly protruded, grasping her pulse.

  "The poison is used properly, it's also good. Aconitum has a great toxin, but can cure children's convulsions, phlegm and heart disease; Aconitum has toxicity, but in the treatment of stroke paralysis has a remarkable effect; Datura flower is highly toxic, but can cure children's slow shock, and can be used as an anesthetic for opening the chest and brain; Arsenic can cure malaria, wolf poison can cure insect infestations, croton can induce abortion, and blister beetles can remove abscesses. Other poisonous medicines, with the help of assistant medicines, in moderation, can also use poison to attack poison, treat diseases and save people."

  Hong Ming Qi's expression gradually changed to a smile as she listened, and she let go of Hua Xiao Xue, saying: "Your words are not bad, I'm pleased to hear them. Indeed, poison can be used for good, it's also the elixir of life for some people. Those wonderful medicines can become deadly poisons in the hands of incompetent doctors!" Hua Xiao Xue said: "But... but Master Hong..." Hong Ming Qi waved her hand and said: "Don't call me Master Hong, just call me Granny and I'll be happy. What were you saying?" Hua Xiao Xue said: "Granny, using poison to kill people is not right. Master has always said that killing with poison is the most shameful and despicable thing in the world!" Hong Ming Qi stomped her foot in anger and shouted: "Nonsense! I use poison to kill people, but they're all great villains. Ha! Scholars use their pens to kill, heroes use swords to kill, I use poison to kill, what's the difference? Is one way more noble than the other?"

  Hua Xiao Shuang sighed, "Grandma, we are doctors, doctors save people, not kill them." Luo Ming Qi let out a cold hum, her eyebrows revealing a hint of ferocity: "You're a doctor, but I'm a Raksha! Your master said 'Bodhisattva's methods, Yan Wang's heart'. Hmph, I have the methods of a Raksha and the heart of Yan Wang. Seeing good people, I'll save them; seeing bad people, I'll poison them to death in an instant!" Hua Xiao Shuang heard her tone was resolute, and thought it would be useless to persuade her, so she said: "Xiao Gege and Liu Jie aren't bad people, Grandma, can you give them the antidote?" Luo Ming Qi coldly laughed: "They laid hands on me, none of them are good people!"

  Hua Xiao Shuang suddenly realized, thinking that this person's good or bad, all depends on one's own heart. No wonder Master always spoke of this uncle with great anger. She couldn't help but think, biting her lip, tears bursting out.

  Luo Ming had lived in solitude for decades, when he suddenly met Xiao Xuefeng. They talked about medicine and Luo felt a great comfort in his heart. Seeing her cry, his heart softened, and he took out two shiny black pills, saying: "Take them, give them to the two of them." Xiao Xuefeng was overjoyed, hastily accepted them, and gave them to the two people.

  The two of them took the medicine, and their pain eased a bit. Liang Xiao struggled to sit up, regulating his breath, but felt a sharp stinging sensation in his heart and lungs, and couldn't help but let out a stifled groan. Large beads of sweat rolled down from his forehead. Luo Minggui gave him a cold glance and said indifferently: "Do you think the medicine I gave you was an antidote? Dream on! This is just a painkiller, if you use your internal energy again, it will act up again. If you don't believe me, try it out!" Liang Xiao angrily said: "If you want to kill me, then kill me, why must you torture me like this?" Luo Minggui replied calmly: "What's it to you that I'm torturing you?"

  Liang Xiao was furious, just about to scold loudly, when Hua Xiao Xue hastily said: "Xiao Gege, consider sister's face and give in a bit to your mother-in-law!" Liang Xiao hesitated for a moment, then hung his head and stretched out his hand to help up Liu Yueyue. Liu Yueyue grasped his hand and said with hatred: "Liang Xiao, let's go! At worst we'll die together. In any case, there's no need to lower our heads to this wicked old woman."

  Liang Xiao hesitated, and suddenly heard Lü Minggui say in a cold voice: "You want to leave, I won't stop you, but this 'Five Elements Powder' except for me, no one in the world can solve it. Once it takes effect, it will take ten days or half a month, until the five internal organs and skin are gradually transformed into black pus. At that time, seeking life is impossible, seeking death is also powerless, only having the suffering of whole body rotting, clear and distinct...". Hua Xiaoxue listened to her face pale, and hurriedly said: "Xiao Gege, listen carefully to what Bao Bao says, she will calm down and dispel the poison for you." Lü Minggui coldly said: "That's not necessarily true, once I get angry, it may take ten or eight years to calm down!" As she spoke, she held a lantern and turned around. Hua Xiaoxue didn't dare disobey, took two steps forward, then turned back, her eyes full of pleading. Liang Xiao had no choice but to follow behind Lü Minggui with Liu Yuying.

  Four people walked for a while, and Hua Xiaoshuang asked: "Auntie, the trees in this forest are so strange, swallowing clouds and spitting out fog?" Luo Minggui said: "This is a rare species that I brought back from a deserted island in the South Sea. I call it 'Chiyou Tree'." Hua Xiaoshuang was surprised: "Chiyou Tree?" Luo Minggui said: "Legend has it that Xuanyuan Huangdi and Chiyou fought at Zhuolu, and Chiyou used his magic to create a thick fog, which gave Huangdi a hard time. When the Chiyou Tree blooms, its stamens can spit out extremely dense fog, but unlike ordinary clouds and fog, there is a strange fragrance in the fog that is almost imperceptible to humans and animals, but all poisonous creatures will be attracted to it like crazy, and they will go wild and fight each other to death in the fog. After the poisonous insects have killed each other, they leave behind highly toxic blood, which seeps into the soil under the tree and becomes nutrients for the Chiyou Tree. This forest will produce Chiyou Fruit in just over a month!"

  Hua Xiao Shuang listened intently and asked, "Is there really such a strange tree in the world? But what's the use of this tree?" Luo Ming Qi said, "The Chi You tree absorbs the essence of all poisons to grow, its body contains a rare poison, which can be used to make the most wonderful poisonous medicine." Hua Xiao Shuang followed her teacher's teachings and did not use poisonous medicine to harm people. However, as a doctor, she was naturally curious about the way of medicine. When she heard this, she couldn't help but ask again, "What kind of wonderful method is it?" Luo Ming Qi glanced at her with a slight smile, Hua Xiao Shuang's cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

  "What's wrong with that? The way of medicine, along with pulse diagnosis, is the foundation of a doctor. You little girl want to be a good doctor, you should know all about the properties of medicines in the world. As for the subtlety of pulse diagnosis, I may not be as skilled as your old master, but when it comes to identifying medicinal herbs, humph, he can't even compare to me!

  The old woman's face had a proud expression, and she pointed at the Antelope Tree, "You ask what's so special about this? Let me tell you, in this tree, the roots, trunk, leaves, flowers, and fruit all have different toxic properties. I use secret methods to refine them carefully, and they become the Five Elements Toxic Powder!

  Ruo Minggui said this much, then glanced at Liang Xiao and Liu Yanyan with a cold smile, "Just because one tree has five poisons, these five strange poisons have different origins but are interconnected. When the 'Five Elements Powder' enters the human body, it mixes into the fourteen meridians. The root's poison specifically attacks the kidneys, the trunk's poison specifically attacks the liver, the leaf's poison overcomes the spleen, the flower's poison invades the lungs, and the Antelope Fruit specifically attacks the heart. These five great poisons circulate in the blood, rising and falling between the five organs, constantly overcoming each other. Therefore, those who are poisoned have non-stop bleeding, and their pain never ceases. That's why it's said that the 'Five Elements Powder' is unlike ordinary poison. Ordinary poison is dead, but the Five Elements Powder fuses with the human body, and it's alive."

  Hua Xiao Shuang's face turned pale as she trembled and asked, "How can we undo it?" Luo Ming Qi glanced at her and said calmly, "You want to know the antidote? I'll tell you, but it's not that simple. The Five Elements Dispersal poison can only be countered by the Five Elements Dispersal itself!" Hua Xiao Shuang's eyes lit up as she nodded, "I see, the Five Elements are interdependent and also restrain each other." Luo Ming Qi continued, "It's easy to say, but hard to do. When the five strange poisons were mixed together, their proportions were different. If there was more root poison, then the antidote would need more flower poison to counteract it; if there was more leaf poison, then the antidote would need more fruit poison. Ha! As long as you understand the proportions of the Five Poisons, you can kill or save at will!" At this point, she felt pleased with herself and burst out laughing, "Little girl, you may know the method, but if you don't know the proportions, it's all in vain. If the antidote is mixed incorrectly, it'll add to the poison, and those two will die even faster."

  As they talked, the forest came to an end and in front of them was a mountain valley, where all kinds of medicinal herbs were planted. Compared to what they saw on the mountain path, there were more than ten times as many. Among these herbs, many were ones that Hua Xiao Shuang had never seen before, and she asked curiously. Lu Ming Qi rarely met someone who shared her interests, and she was delighted by Hua's humility and politeness, so she told her everything without reservation.

  Unconsciously, the four of them arrived in front of a small cottage. Hua Xiao Shuang turned her head to look back, and the distant Chi You Forest was again shrouded in thick fog, and she couldn't help but wonder: "This fog had clearly dispersed, how did it rise up again?"

  Luo Minggui picked up the lantern and pointed to the yellow candle inside: "This candle is mixed with 'Drought Goblin Fragrance', which is the nemesis of the Chiyou tree. Wherever the fragrance reaches, there will be no fog within a mile, but once the Drought Goblin Fragrance is gone, the Chiyou flower will start causing trouble again." Hua Xiaoxue sighed: "Those poisonous insects are really pitiful." Luo Minggui was taken aback and coldly laughed: "Some beasts, what's there to pity?"

  The old woman thought for a moment, then went into the house and took out a crystal box. She held a small silver knife in her hand and said to Hua Xiao Xue: "Roll up your sleeves!" Hua Xiao Xue asked strangely: "What are you doing?" Luo Ming Gui said: "Your 'Nine Yin Poison Pulse' is rare in ancient and modern times, I want to use your poisonous blood to mix a wonderful poison!" Hua Xiao Xue was shocked and took a step back. Luo Ming Gui's face twisted, her nose and mouth almost squeezed together, but then she smiled again: "Don't be afraid, grandma will cut lightly, I promise you won't feel any pain!" As she spoke, she stepped forward, Hua Xiao Xue's face turned pale as ash, and she whispered: "How can this be used?"

  Luo Minggui's eyes widened in anger, but before she could erupt, Liang Xiao couldn't bear it anymore. Ignoring the strange pain in his internal organs, he raised a gust of wind with both palms and slapped her with it. This move contained the "Reversing Yin and Yang Technique", which Luo Minggui would have been unable to withstand under normal circumstances. However, Liang Xiao's body was poisoned, slowing down his movements by several times. Luo Minggui easily dodged his attack. Just as Liang Xiao was about to change moves, he didn't expect that the circulation of his blood and energy would stir up the toxins in his body, causing his strength to suddenly drain away. He fell to the ground with a thud, his lips and teeth crashing against the earth, and fresh blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth.

  The two women cried out in unison. Hua Xiao Shuang was about to step forward to help, but suddenly saw Liu Yueying take a step ahead and lift up Liang Xiao. Seeing that his face was covered in blood, she felt a pang of sadness and tears began to fall. Hua Xiao Shuang's heart turned sour as she watched the scene unfold, her body frozen in place. Luo Minggui sneered, "You little brat, you think it's easy to die? I'll be kind and send you on your way to the afterlife!" Just as she was about to make a move, Hua Xiao Shuang suddenly spoke up, "Mother-in-law, don't trouble Brother Xiao, I'll give you my blood instead..." As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeve and extended her pale, thin wrist in front of Luo Minggui.

  Liang Xiao was both shocked and angry, but he was also powerless to do anything. His heart felt like it was being fried in hot oil, and his voice was hoarse as he said: "Xiao Shuang, her martial arts skills are not high, you quickly escape..." His words were incoherent, and his body suddenly struggled, wanting to risk his life to block Rong Minghui. Liu Xiangxian knew his intentions and refused to let him go to his death, tightening her arm around him and holding him tightly. Liang Xiao was furious and shouted: "Let me go!" Liu Xiangxian shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face like a fountain. Liang Xiao's neck felt hot and wet, his body went limp, and he lost all courage, staring at Hua Xiaoshuang with tears filling his eyes.

  Hua Xiao Shuang saw him shed tears, and her heart felt like it was being pierced by thousands of steel needles. She wanted to say a few comforting words, but looking at Liu Yingying's back, she couldn't bring herself to speak. She sighed and said softly, "Mother-in-law, I have one request." Luo Minggui said, "Speak!" Hua Xiao Shuang said, "I only ask that you spare their lives, and I will help Brother Xiao and Sister Liu detoxify." Luo Minggui laughed and said, "Life and death are in my hands, why should I listen to you?" Her hand was like a chicken claw, grasping Hua Xiao Shuang's wrist, and she said harshly, "I'll agree to your request, but only if you obey me, I won't take their lives!"

  Hua Xiao Shuang couldn't help but bitterly smile and say, "Thank you, Granny!" She was well-versed in medicine and knew that losing too much blood would lead to a weak yang energy, making her susceptible to the cold toxin's attack. Just now, she had lost a lot of blood while fighting off the Thousand Poisons, and if she were to lose another box of fresh blood, it would be certain death. The thought of being separated from Liang Xiao by the boundaries of life and death in just a moment made her heart feel desolate. Her gaze shifted slightly, falling on Liang Xiao, who had his eyes wide open with tears shining in them. Hua Xiao Shuang felt as though her heart was shattered into pieces, and she closed her eyes lightly, the emotions in her heart surging like a massive wave, making it hard for her to stand upright. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her wrist, and a loud shout reached her ears: "Xiao Shuang..." The sound of his voice made her body tremble, and two lines of silent tears slid down her face.