After a moment, there came from inside the door the sound of fine footsteps, the wooden bolt was pulled, the crack of the door lit up, and with a "creak," the door opened, "Who is it? This shop has rested, it's closed!"
Lin Dalu hurriedly cupped his hands, his tone apologetic but steady, "Little brother, sorry to disturb you. I am Lin Dalu. I had an appointment with Shopkeeper Tian and Old Master Fu during the day to come and pick up medicine."
The Shop Assistant came out with a lantern, his expression had already changed, and he said repeatedly, "So it is Young Master Lin. Shopkeeper Tian did give instructions before leaving. Please come in, both of you. It's dark in the house, walk slowly."
Inside the shop, the lamp light was dim yellow, a few oil lamps swayed, illuminating rows of jars, each being a Celadon Medicine Jar, with ink characters clearly written on the white paper seals.
Lin Dalu went inside, his gaze turned, and he saw a Wooden Casket on the table, with the three characters "Nine-Return Decoction" pasted on it. The Shop Assistant said, "Shopkeeper Tian and Old Master Fu were invited by Master Wang to discuss the construction of the ancestral hall. Before leaving, they instructed that if Young Master Lin came for the medicine, this Wooden Casket could be delivered. Old Master Fu also added some warming and tonifying medicine, fearing the lady's body is weak."
Liu Hai smiled from the side, "The shopkeeper treats guests thoroughly." After hearing this, Lin Dalu's eyes softened, he clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, two shopkeepers, for your high righteousness. This medicine concerns life, Lin cannot thank you enough!" Then he took out a silver ingot, his voice sincere, "This is five taels, take it as the payment for the medicine to give to the shopkeepers. It's not enough to say thanks, I hope you will accept it."
The Shop Assistant passed over the Wooden Casket, took the silver, and said with a smile, "Customer, you are so polite! I will definitely pass it on." Aside, Liu Hai took the Wooden Casket.
The two did not stay any longer, thanked them again, and turned to leave. The Shop Assistant stood at the door, watching their figures merge into the night, before closing the main door and turning back to the room.
The streets and alleys were silent, with only the wind passing the eave bells, the clear sound being lonely. Lin Dalu was carrying Xiang'er on his back, and Liu Hai was holding the Wooden Casket, walking quickly, leaving only the gradually distancing footsteps and the medicinal fragrance in the night wind.
The night was as black as ink, splashed across heaven and earth, with a few wisps of moonlight wandering through the gaps of the floating clouds. The evening wind traveled through the forest, mountain insects groaned low, and rustling sounds arose, like low-voiced speech. The two of them walked slowly along the mountain road, the bluestones under their feet making crisp sounds, and occasionally night birds were startled into flight, leaving the sound of flapping wings.
Lin Dalu was uneasy. Although his steps were steady, he had already been disturbed by what he saw during the day. Fat Liu turning from arrogant to respectful, that hunchbacked Daoist Zhuo Huan's sinister expression, and the words "Yin Spirit Pavilion" and "Pavilion Master" he repeatedly mentioned, all seemed like fragments, entangled in his heart. What made him even more worried and afraid was the moment of shock and fear Xiang'er had when she saw that Daoist, as if she had been startled by a nightmare. "Yin Spirit Pavilion, Zhuo Huan, Pavilion Master," he muttered softly in his heart, his thoughts in a mess. Those words like curses seemed to drift in the dark night and not dissipate. He faintly felt that this might be the key to unlocking Xiang'er's identity, but he was still without a clue.
The night wind rose slightly, blowing the shadows of the trees. They walked on the mountain road, for who knows how long. At the mountain hollow ahead, a few spots of dim light lit up, as if a line of hope ignited in the endless darkness. Lin Dalu let out a long sigh, his heart relaxing slightly, only hoping to return home quickly, so that Xiang'er could take the decoction medicine to stabilize her injury, and then plan for the future.
Stepped over the small bridge and went down along the stream. Lin Family Dyehouse was visible near the water, the fence was low, and the wooden door was half-closed. The old tree outside had swaying branches, the night wind brushed past, and the leaves rustled. Liu Hai took a step first, pushed the door and entered, took out a fire striker, and with a "pffft" sound, the old lamp lit up. The dim yellow halo cast on the wall, reflecting the shadows of cloth, floating like ghosts. Lin Dalu gently placed Xiang'er on the bed and tucked the corners of the quilt for her. His fingertips touched her slightly cool wrist, and his heart tightened again.
Liu Hai said softly from the side, "Dalu-ge, it's Miss Xiang'er's blessing to have you looking after her. The night is deep, I will come to visit again tomorrow." Lin Dalu cupped his hands in reply, "If not for your help today in obtaining the Autumn Poria Mushroom, I'm afraid she would be hard to save at this moment. Lin will remember it." Liu Hai waved his hand and smiled, with a flash of cynicism in his eyes, "Heh, I've already said, between us brothers, what thanks. See you tomorrow." After saying that, he stepped out of the door, the sound of his footsteps fading away with the night wind.
Silence returned to the room. Lin Dalu picked up the lamp and went to the hearth room to start a fire and brew the medicine. In the Stove, the flames licked the bottom of the pot, making a "crackle" sound. The medicinal fragrance gradually arose, mixed with the herbal aura and hot smoke, filling the whole house. That smell carried a bit of bitterness, but it was also reassuring. He stood guard in front of the furnace with concentration, occasionally using a Cattail-Leaf Fan to stoke the fire, and his thoughts gradually became calm. Half a cup of tea's time passed, the medicinal juice was already thick, and the fragrance was even stronger. He scooped up a spoonful, tested the temperature, and thought to himself that it was just right, so he got up to take the medicine to the inner room.
[Illustration ↓]
https://i.postimg.cc/tJLzZFK4/Q0006B.jpg
Suddenly he heard a slight groan from the inner room, like breathing in a dream. Lin Dalu's heart tightened, and he hurried into the room.
He saw Xiang'er on the bed with her brows tightly furrowed and her lips slightly pale. Before he could get close, a faint white light emanated from her body, like mist and smoke, ethereal and uncertain. That light was only about an inch at first, but in an instant, the aura surged!
"Hoo!"
A gust of inexplicable wind rose in the room, the bed curtains fluttered, and the lamp light flickered violently. White Qi Threads spiraled up, with Xiang'er as the center, instantly turning into a Qi current, the air moved abruptly, and the window frames vibrated. The medicine bowl and porridge cup were both overturned, "crash," they shattered, the hot soup splashed, and the fragrance dissipated instantly. Lin Dalu was pushed back several steps by the air wave, his back hitting the earthen wall, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
"Xiang'er!" he called out loudly, his voice swallowed by the howling wind.
Her long hair was all loose, her sleeves were billowing, and her figure was looming in the white light. During the impact of that spiritual energy, the whole room was as if it had become the eye of a storm. Suddenly, a low moan escaped from her lips, as if lightly tapping the air, causing the surrounding aura to vibrate slightly.
The wind stopped abruptly.
The surroundings were so quiet that only the firewood could be heard "sizzling" in the distance. The dust slowly fell, and the light and shadow stabilized again. Xiang'er's body trembled slightly, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
At that moment, Lin Dalu only felt that although the person in front of him still had that familiar face, she was no longer the ordinary mortal girl of the past. Her eyes were as cold as frost and as deep as a pool, as if they contained endless memories.
Lin Dalu held his breath and asked in a low voice, "Xiang'er, are you alright?"
Xiang'er turned her head, stared at him for a moment, a flash of confusion appeared in her eyes, and then they gradually became clear. She slightly opened her vermilion lips, her voice like a breeze, with a kind of distant echo, " Young Master Lin, there is no need to worry. The injury of my body is no longer a problem, and, I have also remembered."
Lin Dalu's heart shook, and he asked hurriedly, "Xiang'er, you, what did you remember?"
She lowered her eyes, her fingertips lightly stroking the corner of her clothes, as if brushing away a dust dream. After a moment of pondering, her voice became more and more stable, "As you see, I, am indeed not an ordinary girl. I am a maid of the 'Yin Spirit Pavilion,' my name is, Fang Yun."
[Illustration ↓]
https://i.postimg.cc/C5W4Bb3K/Q0006C.jpg
After saying that, she slowly raised her eyes. At that moment, the lamp light was reflected in her eyes, like the slight movement of a galaxy, and like the endless cold night spreading from the bottom of her eyes.
Lin Dalu stood frozen on the spot, his mind buzzing. The lamp light in the room swayed slightly, the light and shadow floating, cast on her face, half light and half dark. At that moment, her expression was both familiar and strange, as if that gentle Xiang'er had transformed into another person in an instant. "Young Master Lin, I received your life-saving grace, and Yun shall not forget it." Her voice was soft and slow, with a smile and her head lowered, but her eyes held a few bits of hard-to-describe loneliness.
Lin Dalu wanted to speak but stopped, only feeling that there seemed to be a thousand words in that smile, but all were hidden between the light, shadow, and the quiet night.
The night was deep outside, the breeze swept past, the lamp light swayed again, and a waning moon was peeking out from behind the clouds in the sky, its faint light spilling between the two of them. Lin Dalu looked at her and unexpectedly did not know who the person in front of him was. "Is she, still that, familiar Xiang'er? Or is she this girl named, Fang Yun?"
Lin Dalu slowly let out a breath and said in a low voice, "I, have seen, Miss Fang Yun, maid of the Yin Spirit Pavilion," At this moment, Lin Dalu knew that this night was destined to be sleepless...
——(End of Chapter)