Chapter 994: Ripples

“I don’t know either.” Upon hearing Song Qingshu’s question, Xiao Longnu looked bewildered. In such a vast world, where could she possibly go?

Song Qingshu thought to himself that if Xiao Longnu were placed in his previous world, she would definitely be a seasoned homebody, and it was likely she would return to the Ancient Tomb. As he pondered this, he casually spoke it out loud.

“Ancient Tomb?” A flicker of emotion appeared on Xiao Longnu’s face, but she quickly recalled the scene of Yang Guo entangled with other women in the Ancient Tomb, and her heart twisted in pain. She hurriedly shook her head, “No, I won’t go back to the Ancient Tomb.”

“If you’re not going back to the Ancient Tomb, are you planning to find Yang Guo?” Song Qingshu asked tentatively. He had to admit he was being a bit manipulative, worried that Xiao Longnu would be troubled by her feelings and ultimately seek out Yang Guo, so he intentionally asked this way.

“Guo’er?” Xiao Longnu shook her head, her expression revealing a hint of sorrow. “He’s happily living with that woman, why would I want to get involved?”

Seeing Song Qingshu’s lips move slightly, Xiao Longnu interrupted, “Brother-in-law, don’t ask me anymore. I don’t know where I’ll go. I just want to wander around, see the scenery everywhere, and maybe my heart will feel a bit lighter.”

After saying this, she turned and left. Song Qingshu swayed slightly but ultimately did not step forward. Xiao Longnu had faced repeated blows, and it was good for her to wander around to clear her mind. After all, her internal injuries had healed, and she wouldn’t faint on the roadside like before. With her exceptional martial arts skills, even if she encountered a master like Monk Jinlun, she could easily protect herself.

Suddenly feeling a surge of determination, Song Qingshu stepped in front of Xiao Longnu.

“Brother-in-law!” Xiao Longnu frowned slightly, her face showing displeasure.

“I’m not here to pester you; I just want to give you something,” Song Qingshu said, handing her a yellow round pill the size of a pigeon egg. “Junior Sister, although your martial arts are high, your experience in the wulin is lacking. If you encounter some bad people who use underhanded tactics, that would be troublesome. Take this Rhino Horn Earth Dragon Circulation Pill with you. Don’t be fooled by its dull color; it’s made from the body of a rare beast from the Western Regions, refined by the poison master Ouyang Feng with various precious materials. Wearing it will make you immune to poisons, and venomous snakes and insects will keep their distance. Carry it with you to avoid being harmed by treacherous people like Zhao Zhijing.”

In the original story, Xiao Longnu was violated by Yin Zhiping after being incapacitated by Ouyang Feng. This had become a childhood nightmare for many men. In this world, due to the butterfly effect, such tragedies did not occur to Xiao Longnu, and Song Qingshu was immensely relieved. Naturally, he did not want her to repeat that fate.

After all, in those chaotic novels from his past life, Xiao Longnu was either drngged in a black shop or given aphr0disiacs. Song Qingshu did not want anything unexpected to happen to her.

The materials needed for the Rhino Horn Earth Dragon Circulation Pill were extremely precious. Even with Ouyang Feng’s abilities, he had only managed to refine one to give to Huang Rong as a betrothal gift. Later, when he was a guest at the residence of the Jin Dynasty’s Prince Hailing, the Jin Dynasty plundered the Northern Song and Liao, and their storerooms were piled high with various treasures. Wanyan Liang, in order to win Ouyang Feng over, almost granted all his requests, so Ouyang Feng refined another one.

Ouyang Feng was a master of poison, and the Rhino Horn Earth Dragon Circulation Pill was of little use to him. Originally, he intended to give it to Wanyan Liang, but when Wanyan Liang fell, he simply took the opportunity to give it to Song Qingshu.

Now that Song Qingshu had reached a level of internal power that made him immune to almost all poisons, he found the pill of little use to himself. It was better to give it to Xiao Longnu, after all, she was naive and made him a bit uneasy.

Xiao Longnu was momentarily stunned and hadn’t reacted when Song Qingshu had already pressed the pill into her hand.

“Thank… you.” Xiao Longnu managed to utter the two words with some difficulty. The Ancient Tomb Sect was isolated from the world, and she had never understood polite phrases like ‘thank you’ until her recent travels in the wulin.

Even so, Xiao Longnu had hardly said thank you to anyone until now. However, Song Qingshu was different; he had saved her life several times and had thought of her so thoroughly, even considering details she had overlooked. In this world, aside from her master Grandma Sun and Yang Guo, no one had ever treated her this well.

Even if Xiao Longnu’s demeanor was cold, she couldn’t help but feel ripples of emotion in her heart. Unfortunately, the incident that had occurred between them in the Ancient Tomb had turned her deep gratitude into merely a faint thank you.

Song Qingshu laughed heartily, “Just hearing you say thank you makes me feel satisfied.”

Xiao Longnu was amused by him, but when she recalled what he had done beside her last night, her smile faded. “Alright, I really have to go now.”

This time, Song Qingshu did not stop her, smiling slightly. “We’ll meet again.”

“We’ll… meet again.” As Xiao Longnu left, she found herself in a rare moment of hesitation. Deep down, she wanted to say ‘we may never meet again,’ but thinking of all that he had done for her, saying that felt too heartless. However, saying ‘we’ll meet again’ was not what she truly wished. By the time she disappeared from Song Qingshu’s sight, she still hadn’t figured this out. Fortunately, her nature was calm, and after a while, she set the matter aside.

When Song Qingshu returned to the tent wearing Tang Kuo Bian’s mask, Daiqisi instinctively pulled up the blanket to cover her chest. Once she saw his face clearly, she sighed in relief. “Did you send your little lover away?”

Song Qingshu chuckled awkwardly, “What little lover? She’s my Junior Sister.”

“Hmph~” Daiqisi scoffed, “Look at how nervous you are around her; anyone can tell what you’re thinking.”

“A graceful lady is a gentleman’s ideal match; there’s nothing to deny about that.” Song Qingshu admitted calmly, showing no signs of defensiveness.

Daiqisi couldn’t help but say with a hint of jealousy, “When you were bullying me, you used all sorts of dazzling tricks, like a devil. Why are you acting like a gentleman in front of her? You had such a great opportunity last night; she was lying defenseless on the bed, and you didn’t even touch her.”

Song Qingshu was amused by her teasing and walked over while taking off his clothes, grinning, “Who told you to be someone else’s wife? It’s not worth the trouble.”

“You’re terrible!” Daiqisi was both shy and angry, but her anger quickly vanished under Song Qingshu’s playful touch.

“Why are you wearing that big-bearded face again? It looks awful.”

“I have no choice; there are too many people in the camp, and I have to be careful.”

“Take it off quickly. It makes me feel like I’m being intimate with another man…”

“Don’t you find it exciting?”

“You’re such a meenie!”

*****

Time passed, and suddenly, from under the blanket, Daiqisi’s voice came out, half-complaining, half-teasing, “You kept me up all night last night, and now you’re back for more? Are you a hungry wolf that can never be satisfied?”

“Who told you to be this delicious?” Song Qingshu said, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning into her ear.

“You’re such a rogue.” Daiqisi wanted to scold him a couple of times, but being held in his arms made her feel weak all over. The words she intended to scold him with sounded more like playful banter between lovers.

After a few playful exchanges, Song Qingshu’s expression turned serious. “Good sister, I have something important to discuss with you.”

Upon hearing the words ‘good sister,’ Daiqisi’s heart skipped a beat. “Just speak; don’t call me that.”

Song Qingshu was taken aback, then realized that the first time she had been completely conquered, she had inadvertently called him that. Therefore, every time he said ‘good brother’ or ‘good sister,’ she felt shy.

Song Qingshu chuckled and continued, “You are one of the few who knows the current situation in the Jin Dynasty court. You know that Wanyan and Tang Kuo Bian are both me in disguise.”

Daiqisi nodded, her expression turning serious. “Your disguise skills are excellent, but while it works for a short time, over the long run, people will likely see through it.”

“Exactly,” Song Qingshu nodded. “If I could stay in Daxing Prefecture, that would be fine. In that case, I could control any problems that arise. However, my identity is special, and I can’t stay in the Jin Dynasty forever. Therefore, I need someone I can trust to manage Daxing Prefecture for me.”

Daiqisi, quick-witted, instantly understood his meaning. “You want me to go?”

Song Qingshu smiled, “Sister, you truly are intelligent. You understood so quickly; it seems my choice was correct. In the past, you were the leader of the Four Great Kings of the Ming Cult and the Persian Ming Cult’s saintess. Even in hiding in the Jin Dynasty, you could become a princess. In the wulin, you are also well-known as Golden Flower Granny. Few women in the world can match your experience and insight.”

“Stop flattering me.” Daiqisi said with a stern face, but her heart was blooming with joy. Originally, during this time, Song Qingshu’s devilish methods had shattered her past pride, and she had felt a bit self-destructive. Now, hearing that she held such a high place in his heart, her expression instantly regained the brilliance of the Purple-robed Dragon King. “Is that why you used all sorts of means to… to conquer me?”

“I appreciate your choice of words,” Song Qingshu laughed heartily. “Indeed, you are mature, wise, and have the demeanor of a great general. Coincidentally, you are also skilled in disguise, making you the best candidate to impersonate the emperor!”

Daiqisi suppressed her smile and huffed, “Do you really trust me that much? You know that the means you used to get me are not exactly honorable. Can’t I feel jealous and betray you?”

“If it were another girl, I wouldn’t dare to make such a bold decision. But you are different; you are a mature and wise woman. Before making any decision, you know how to weigh the pros and cons. What’s encouraging is that so far, our interests are actually aligned.” Song Qingshu’s fingers traced her beautiful curves, causing Daiqisi to shiver.

“Have you forgotten that women are never that rational?” Daiqisi pouted.

“Physical reactions are the most honest. Even if you don’t admit it, your responses during our intimate moments have already told me that you’ve regarded me as your man.” Thinking of their previous encounters, Song Qingshu couldn’t help but show a hint of pride on his face.