Chapter 24: Solidifying Spirit Grass (IX)

Sui Ning, with her keen senses, noticed that something was off with Xie Changzhou’s demeanor.

His gaze had an inexplicable desire to devour her.

Sui Ning hesitated before speaking up: “Jianzun?”

Her soft call suddenly brought Xie Changzhou back to his senses. Realizing his thoughts just now, he became a little angry.

When did he become like a lecherous man, lusting after a girl?

He felt ashamed that he had such vulgar thoughts about her.

“Sorry, Ningning.” Xie Changzhou quickly averted his gaze, and his ears turned slightly red. His clear voice sounded a bit uneasy.

Sui Ning shook her head and sat up from his embrace without saying much.

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Ebld Dkl Ubydtgbsw vakle vs alynb swv vs blyz bla oswdep, Fwk Lkdt iwknjzu tayccle bkp byde vs pvsr bkx: “Kkydgwd, R’x alyzzu qkdl.”

Dkl Ubydtgbsw’p prkakvwyz ldlatu oyp dyvwayzzu tldvzl yde pwkvle qsa blyzkdt. Gqvla bl bye blyzle bla qsa ps zsdt, pbl bye yzalyeu alnshlale.

Tla oyax yde psqv byde nshlale Dkl Ubydtgbsw’p byde, yde bla nzlya lulp vlxrvle Dkl Ubydtgbsw’p blyav.

Tkp lyap qlzv bsv, yde bl nswze byaezu lmralpp bkxplzq: “Lkdt, Lídt…Lídtdkdt, pbyzz ol ts dso?”

Fwk Lkdt dseele, pvsse wr, yde rknjle wr vbl Jy Mkyd posae vbyv oyp rzynle ypkel.

Tla pzldela qktwal zssjle lhld xsal clywvkqwz kd vbl oleekdt ealpp, yde pweeldzu Dkl Ubydtgbsw alyzkgle vbyv vblu olal csvb olyakdt oleekdt nzsvblp.

Tl oyp vbl tassx, yde Fwk Lkdt oyp vbl cakel.

Tkp lulp pllxle vs byhl clld cwadle, yde bkp blyavclyv vbwdelale kd bkp nblpv. G vswnb sq czwpb iwklvzu yrrlyale sd bkp fyel qynl.

When Sui Ning came out of the ice room, she saw Su Kou sitting on the stone pier at the door, holding her knees, and gazing into the distance with expectation on her face.

She was waiting for Liao Wu to come back.

Sui Ning shook her head helplessly and called out to her, “Su Kou.”

Su Kou turned around, her face full of surprise. When she saw Sui Ning, she immediately got up and ran towards her like an excited little rabbit.

“Ningning, you’re awake. Are you okay?” She grabbed Sui Ning’s hand and looked left and right, as if she wanted to see through her.

Before Sui Ning could say anything, Su Kou hugged her waist and pressed her body against hers, her voice full of worry. “Ningning, I was so scared. You don’t know how much blood you’ve lost. The floor of the ice room was almost covered in your blood.”

Being hugged like this, Sui Ning wanted to laugh. She quickly held Su Kou’s hand and comforted her, saying, “I’m fine. Senior Brother has treated my injuries.”

Sui Ning stepped aside and revealed Xie Changzhou behind her.

Right, Mr.Xie was still here.

Su Kou quickly moved away from Sui Ning and stood up straight, looking at Xie Changzhou.

She was about to thank Xie Changzhou for saving them when suddenly she paused and turned her words around: “Mr.Xie, why is your face so red?”

Sui Ning turned around in surprise.

Xie Changzhou’s ears turned red, and a faint blush appeared on his cold, jade-like face when he met the gaze of Sui Ning and Su Kou. His warm eyes revealed a hint of helplessness, and then, under the gaze of the two, his face turned even redder.

Sui Ning hesitated and asked him, “Senior Brother? What’s wrong with you?”

Su Kou also looked at him with confusion.

Xie Changzhou clumsily explained, “I’m fine, I…just feel hot.”

Su Kou immediately retorted, “But isn’t it cold in the ice room?”

Being stared at by two pairs of eyes, especially Sui Ning’s direct gaze, Xie Changzhou felt a little guilty since he had just had some inappropriate thoughts about Sui Ning. He turned his head away from their gaze and said in a helpless tone, “I, I’m just hot… Where is Daoist Liao?”

A white figure walked over confidently from a distance, and it was none other than Liao Wu. Xie Changzhou quickly changed the subject when he saw him.

Sure enough, a hint of surprise flashed across Su Kou’s beautiful face, and Sui Ning’s attention was also attracted.

Liao Wu walked over with his cassock dragging on the ground and a gentle expression. Su Kou happily ran up to him and grabbed his sleeve, shouting, “Yan Zhang, you’re back! I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

“Miss Su, please let go first.” Liao Wu was a little helpless, seeing that he couldn’t push away Su Kou’s hand; he could only let her pull him.

The way these two interacted made Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou both feel a little amused.

“It is indeed one thing defeating another thing.

The two of them exchanged a glance and saw the amusement in each other’s eyes.

***

When Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou returned to the Qingfeng Inn, Qi niang had just come downstairs.

Her graceful figure swayed lightly, her skirt fluttered behind her, and every move she made was graceful.

When she saw Xie Changzhou and Liao Wu coming in, her beautiful eyes curled up, and she was about to greet them. However, she caught a glimpse of Sui Ning and Su Kou behind them, and her phoenix eyes widened in disbelief.

It seemed as if she couldn’t believe it, and she looked towards Liao Wu, her eyes slightly reddened.

But it was only for a moment. Qi niang quickly returned to her charming and coquettish appearance.

She smiled and walked towards them, her voice still lazy: “The two gentlemen really managed to rescue someone from the ghost groom’s hands, which is truly admirable.”

Xie Changzhou nodded slightly and said softly, “Thank you for your hard work; we will go upstairs to rest first.”

Qi niang smiled and nodded: “Rest well, and if you get hungry, come downstairs for a meal. We have everything here at the inn.”

As soon as they arrived upstairs, Sui Ning suddenly looked at Liao Wu and spoke: “The innkeeper seems to know you.”

When they entered, Qi Niang had just seen Xie Changzhou and Liao Wu in front, and her gaze had flickered towards Liao Wu.

At that time, Qi niang was very happy, but when she saw Sui Ning and Su Kou behind them, her face was full of disbelief.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing?

“Is it impossible to believe… that Sui Ning and Su Kou could come back alive from the hands of the Ghost Groom?

But why did she look at Liao Wu?

Sui Ning and Su Kou’s gaze turned towards Liao Wu, and Liao Wu helplessly shook his head and said, “I really don’t know that shopkeeper, so I don’t know why.”

At this moment, Su Kou suddenly spoke up: “She seems somewhat happy.”

The three of them looked at her in surprise, seeming to not understand why Su Kou would say this.

Of all the people who saw it, only Qi niang couldn’t believe it.

Su Kou looked at Liao Wu, and for the first time, her beautiful face didn’t smile at him. Her voice was somewhat muffled as she said, “When she looked at Yan Zhang, she was very incredulous but also somewhat happy, as if she saw Yan Zhang come back and was very happy.”

Liao Wu was stunned, and Su Kou continued, “Yan Zhang, she knows you.”

Her eyes were slightly red and filled with emotion.

Women understand women the most. When she looked at Yan Zhang, her eyes lit up with excitement, just like the joyful expression that appeared in Qi niang’s eyes when she looked at Liao Wu.

Qi niang may still have some thoughts about Liao Wu.

Su Kou was a little angry, and her heart was inexplicably sour. Her expression, as seen by Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou, was like that of a pitiful woman abandoned by her beloved.

Liao Wu’s warm and compassionate face flashed with some helplessness. He tightened his grip on the Wugang Pearl and said, “Miss Su Kou, I really don’t know her.”

Su Kou paid no attention to him and walked straight ahead, pushing open the door to her own room. The heavy door slammed shut in front of Sui Ning, Xie Changzhou, and Liao Wu, making a muffled noise that seemed to indicate that the owner was in a bad mood.

Sai Ning, Xie Changzhou, and Liao Wu: “…”

Xie Changzhou looked at Liao Wu with some confusion in his glass-like eyes and asked softly, “Liao Wu, you remember Miss Su Kou clearly; why did you say that you don’t know each other?”

Sui Ning understood what was going on in her heart. Liao Wu indeed remembered Su Kou.

Why don’t they know each other, then? Don’t they have an engagement?

Liao Wu’s eyebrows furrowed, and his black eyelashes drooped. After a moment of silence, he said, “I have already become a monk; the past is no longer retrievable; I don’t want to delay Miss Su Kou anymore.”

He clasped his hands together, bowed slightly to Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou, and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou looked at each other, their faces solemn.

What could be the reason why Liao Wu didn’t want to know Su Kou?

And even after so many years, there has been no news from him?

Coupled with Qi Niang, Liao Wu really didn’t seem to know her, but Qi Niang’s expression clearly showed that she knew him.

Sui Ning looked at Xie Changzhou, and there was a hint of confusion in her eyes as she asked him, “Jianzun, what’s wrong?”

Xie Changzhou shook his head and said, “It’s nothing. I’ll go back to my room first, and you should rest too, Ningning.”

He turned and left, leaving only Sui Ning standing there, at a loss.

Why does everyone seem to have a secret on their minds?

Sui Ning asked the system in her mind, “System, was Qi Niang mentioned in the original book?”

The system went offline to check and quickly came back online. ” [No, host. In fact, this entire section about Xie Changzhou detoxifying himself was not mentioned in the original book, so naturally there was no Qi Niang.] “

So, it’s necessary for them to explore what secrets Qi Niang is hiding.

Also, there is the Solidifying Spirit Grass. Although the Soul Seal Plate clearly sensed the presence of the herb, Su Kou doesn’t seem to have it on her anywhere.

She has even probed Su Kou, who appeared to be completely unaware of the Solidifying Spirit Grass.

Sui Ning is feeling a bit overwhelmed. After dealing with the ghost groom and the Three-Soul corpse, she and Xie Changzhou’s next plan is to find the Solidifying spirit grass.

They will have to start with Su Kou to find the herb, but after finishing their business, Liao Wu will definitely return to the Jing Chan Sect. Given Su Kou’s admiration for Liao Wu, she is bound to follow him.

The system comforts her in her mind: “[Host, there’s still Xie Changzhou. He will figure it out. Don’t worry for now.]”

Sui Ning can only calm down.

***

The moon is high in the sky, and the night is as bright as day.

Sui Ning can’t sleep, and her mind is full of the Solidifying Spirit Grass. She decides to get up and walk around, hoping to come up with some ideas for finding the herb.

The inn’s backyard is a garden, and Sui Ning walks slowly along the path, carefully thinking about everything that has happened so far.

The only clue to the spirit Herb is Su Kou, but she knows nothing about it.

Sui Ning is a bit helpless, sighing softly and wrapping her clothes tightly, preparing to return to her room to rest.

Out of the corner of her eye, she catches a glimpse of something and suddenly stops.

In the pavilion, Qi Niang’s red dress outlines her graceful figure. Her face is a bit unclear under the veil, and her beautiful eyes seem a bit dazed as she stares at the high moon.

Sui Ning felt that Qi niang inexplicably lonely and sad, and her previous charm had completely disappeared.

Qi Niang noticed Sui Ning’s presence and motioned for her to come over with a beckoning hand. Her eyes were full of flickering waves.

Sui Ning hesitated for a moment. The scene of being tricked by Qi Niang to get drunk and act crazy towards Xie Changzhou was still vivid in her mind, and she was a little afraid to be alone with Qi Niang.

The system encouraged her: “[Host, think about why Qi Niang knows Liao Wu. This is a good opportunity.]”

Sui Ning: “!”

She suddenly realized that this was a good opportunity to get information from her.

After thinking it through, she picked up her dress and walked towards Qi Niang, smiling sweetly and asking with a soft voice, “Boss, are you alone this late at night?”

Qi Niang smiled charmingly, her breath fragrant like orchids. “Isn’t the little girl alone too?”

Sui Ning smiled but didn’t say anything, sitting next to her and looking at the night sky together.

The fragrance from Qi Niang was particularly pleasant.

She didn’t speak, and Sui Ning didn’t know what to say either, quietly sitting next to her and thinking about how to bring up her acquaintance with Liao Wu.

“Little girl, do you have someone you like?” Qi Niang’s lazy voice came.

Sui Ning looked at her in surprise.

Under the moonlight, Qi Niang’s profile was white and translucent, and her delicate face under the veil was vaguely visible, making Sui Ning feel strangely familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.

Sui Ning answered softly, “Not at the moment.”

Qi Niang laughed, then tilted her head and whispered to herself, “I once had someone I loved.”

She paused for a moment, and before Sui Ning could speak, she continued, “But he died.”

Not sure if it was just Sui Ning’s imagination, but there seemed to be a crystal-clear tear on Qi niang’s face, which disappeared into her veil.

“Madame…” Sui Ning awkwardly tried to comfort her, but Qi niang turned her head and gave her a smile. “I’m fine,” she said.

Her phoenix-like eyes were slightly red, and her voice was unusually serene. “I just…miss him a bit.”

The surroundings were quiet, except for the occasional sound of insects chirping.

Qi niang turned her head lazily and leaned against the back of the chair, her profile focused on the dim sky. Sui Ning was trying to figure out what to say next when Qi niang suddenly spoke again, as if murmuring to herself.

“So even if it’s wrong, I don’t want to wake up.”

Sui Ning was startled, and she quickly turned to look at Qi Niang beside her.

Qi niang had turned her head to look at her without her noticing, and her gaze was cold and indifferent, completely devoid of charm and grace.

She looked at Sui Ning with a cold expression, and all her coquettishness and laziness disappeared, as if she had become a different person.

Sui Ning felt a chill run down her spine as she met Qi niang’s gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.

What did Qi niang just say?

Not wanting to wake up?

But wasn’t she already awake?