Chapter 21-Part 3

He Mingsheng asked in a trembling voice, “Did you catch the demon?”

Both Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi shook their heads dejectedly.

“It got away.”

“Got away?”

“Our senior brother chased it all the way from Caifeng Tower, nearly half the way across Pingkang Ward. He almost caught it, but it still managed to escape. Dawn is approaching, and it won’t come out again unless we dig up all of Chang’an, which is impossible.”

At that moment, footsteps echoed from outside.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi went to check and called out, “Senior brother!”

Lin Chengyou walked in, carrying the golden net from Qingyun Temple.

From head to toe, he was soaked, leaving a trail of water on the floor as he entered.

His face revealed no emotion as he looked straight at Teng Yuyi.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were shocked.

“Senior brother, didn’t you come in through the window? How did you end up in the water?”

Teng Yuyi quietly whispered to Huo Qiu, “Prepare the carriage. We’ll leave as soon as we get a chance.”

Huo Qiu nodded and slipped away to make arrangements.

Lin Chengyou glanced at Teng Yuyi before walking further into the room.

“Ridiculous. Do you think I fell into the water? I guessed that the demon might have dropped something in the water, so I went back to confirm.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi believed him without question.

“Oh, I see! Did you find anything in the water, senior brother?”

Lin Chengyou shook the water off his sleeves.

“Ge Jin is in critical condition from the demon’s poison. If you keep dawdling, we won’t be able to save her.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi snapped out of their daze and hurriedly lifted Ge Jin onto a daybed.

“Senior brother, Lady Ge Jin’s pupils are narrowed into thin lines, which suggests she’s been poisoned by a viper. But her tongue is red, as if she’s also been poisoned by fire. What should we do? Fire poison is manageable, but if it’s viper poison, it’ll be much harder to treat.”

Lin Chengyou asked, “Are there any marks on her neck?”

“No.”

He thought for a moment.

“Check her chest.”

“This—”

“It’s not like I’m asking you to check. Isn’t Madam E here?”

However, E Ji, after everything that had just happened, was already scared out of her wits.

Clutching Teng Yuyi’s shoulder, she trembled and said, “I want to move, but my arms and legs have turned to jelly. I can’t move at all.”

Everyone turned their eyes to Teng Yuyi.

Ge Jin’s situation was critical, and there was no time to find anyone else.

Since she was dressed as a man, it was only proper for her to handle it.

“Young Master Wang,” Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi looked at Teng Yuyi expectantly.

Teng Yuyi sighed inwardly.

She had tried to leave countless times tonight, only to be trapped at Caifeng Tower again and again.

“Alright, I’ll take a look.”

As they all left the room, Lin Chengyou paused before closing the door.

“I forgot to mention, Young Master Wang. The poison Lady Ge Jin is afflicted with is not like the others; it attacks the heart’s meridians. There’s a chance she might suddenly change. If she opens her eyes later, be very careful. This poison can take control of one’s mind, and those infected often find pleasure in biting and tearing at flesh. If you can’t run, just shout loudly, and I’ll come in right away.”

Teng Yuyi was startled.

“Wait—”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right outside. Just call out, and I’ll come in immediately,” Lin Chengyou said with a smile, closing the door behind him.

He then took out a few strings of coins and handed them to Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi.

“There’s a clothing shop nearby. Go change out of your wet clothes and get me something dry as well.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi exchanged glances.

In reality, viper poison wasn’t as mysterious as their senior brother made it sound.

While those affected did look as ferocious as ghosts during an outbreak, they mostly just made a lot of noise and didn’t actually bite anyone.

But hearing their senior brother say that, it was clear Teng Yuyi wouldn’t escape a good scare.

After all, anyone would be terrified at the thought of being bitten.

Sharing a room with Ge Jin would be pure torment.

It was obvious their senior brother wanted to send them away.

Although they didn’t want to go, Lin Chengyou’s expression was grim, and even his hair was dripping wet.

The two wounds on his arm, pierced by Lady Teng, began to bleed again once soaked in water.

Ever since they had arrived at Qingyun Temple, they had never seen their senior brother in such a sorry state.

If they disobeyed him now, they would undoubtedly face a harsh reprimand.

The two decided to hurry and return as quickly as possible, so they dashed off in a flash.