Chapter 639: Chapter 552: Adding Medicine

The entire valley was quite large. Its houses and buildings covered an area about the size of a small town, with the rest being farmland and fruit orchards. Green mountains and steep cliffs surrounded it on all four sides, protecting the valley like an iron fortress. Even if the Gongsun Clan hadn’t set up a concealment Array, outsiders would probably have a hard time discovering a place like this.

The Gongsun Family of Chai Mountain County was the main branch, and those who could live in this paradise-like place were likely the close relatives of important figures in the clan.

The Gongsun Clan had quite a few night owls. In the dead of night, many courtyards and pavilions were still brightly lit, and the faint sound of voices carried on the night wind. This was probably related to Gongsun Li and Gongsun Xiang’s late-night departure. However, Xiao Man couldn’t help but admire the beautiful scenery created by these lights in the darkness.

The scenery was beautiful, but they didn’t have time to leisurely admire it. Gu Shaojun led Xiao Man by the hand for a quick tour of the quaint little town before preparing to head up the mountains. The Cultivation and seclusion caves of the Gongsun Clan Members, as well as their herb gardens, were all located on the surrounding mountainsides. It would take a significant amount of time to check all those places. Not to mention, he had to hurry back to the military district, and the Hidden Breath Technique was about to expire. Even for someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage, the technique only lasted for four hours. After it wore off, it couldn’t be immediately reapplied; there was a mandatory two-hour interval. Only cultivators at the Golden Core Stage and above could use it continuously and for much longer durations.

If it really came down to it, they could only use an Invisibility Talisman. But the talisman only concealed one’s body, not their aura. Someone with a similar cultivation level would be able to detect them with their Divine Sense.

But now that Gongsun Li, Gongsun Xiang, and Gongsun Hanshan were no longer in the valley, Gu Shaojun and Xiao Man had nothing to worry about.

Xiao Man was about to follow Gu Shaojun up the mountain when she spotted Gongsun Ruxue in a small, elegant courtyard. Compared to six months ago, Gongsun Ruxue had lost weight. Her face was only the size of a palm, with a sharp chin. She wore a loose, snow-white Han-style robe with wide sleeves. Standing there in the deep night, she would have certainly been mistaken for a ghost if she were outside the valley. But in this place, with her elegant and graceful bearing, she actually looked a bit like an otherworldly fairy who didn’t partake of mortal food.

Gongsun Ruxue stood under the Golden Osmanthus Tree in the courtyard with her palms pressed together, murmuring something under her breath. Xiao Man’s curiosity was piqued. Besides, she wasn’t very interested in the caves Gu Shaojun wanted to explore, so she suggested they split up: he could go up the mountain by himself, while she stayed here to "play for a bit."

Gu Shaojun looked at the girl, speechless. ’What happened to visiting the herb gardens and the Gongsun Family’s cultivation grounds? This is my second time here, and it was all to accompany you, you know? And now you’re just backing out!’

They couldn’t afford to delay, and he certainly had no interest in tagging along to tour Gongsun Ruxue’s boudoir. After a moment’s thought, he decided he would go up the mountain first. He and Xiao Man each took a messaging talisman. If one of them were to light their talisman, the one in the other’s hand would also disappear, signaling that they had to rush to the other’s location without delay.

After Gu Shaojun left, Xiao Man walked into Gongsun Ruxue’s small courtyard. That’s right, she walked right through the main gate. Gongsun Ruxue hadn’t closed it. In fact, many houses here left their courtyard gates open. There were probably no security issues, so leaving doors unlocked at night had likely become a habit.

Gongsun Ruxue had finished her prayer and was slowly turning to go back inside. She sighed softly and murmured, "For him I waste away in sorrow; my robes grow loose, but I shall never regret it!"

Following behind, Xiao Man couldn’t help but add a teasing retort in her mind: ’You really have lost a lot of weight. I wonder which gentleman has made our Gongsun Beauty so devastatingly lovesick?’

It was bizarre, as if Gongsun Ruxue knew Xiao Man was there and was doing this just to provoke her. She let out another series of long sighs, then turned back to gaze at the dark night sky. Her face was full of infatuation, her voice soft and melodious. "Brother Shaojun, if I had only known that you existed in this world, I never would have been so greedy! I would have done anything to get close to you. If you had just gotten to know me, you would have fallen in love with me, just as I fell for you at first sight, my heart unwavering! How could I sacrifice a lifetime of happiness for a family alliance? It’s not worth it, Brother Shaojun! Tang Manman grew up a commoner, after all. She’s coarse, vulgar, and ignorant. She’s not worthy of you... Alas! Chang’e must regret stealing the spiritual medicine, facing the vast blue sea and sky, lonely night after night! I don’t care that my cultivation was erased. But never being able to see you again... that is the cruelest and most severe punishment for me, do you know that, Brother Shaojun? Don’t worry. I will endure this loneliness for you through the long years, praying for you every moment of every day and night. May the man I love have all his wishes come true and be forever safe and sound! I only ask that one day, when you wake from a midnight dream, Brother Shaojun, you might spare a thought for poor Ruxue. That would be enough!"

By the end of her speech, Gongsun Ruxue was sobbing uncontrollably. Covering her face with her hands, she ran into the house.

Down by the steps, Xiao Man felt utterly disgusted. Goosebumps broke out all over her skin, making her feel itchy and uncomfortable. In her heart, along with her hatred for Gongsun Ruxue, she was filled with immense regret. ’Why couldn’t I have just gone with Gu Shaojun? Why did I have to come in here? I’m just asking for torture at this point!’

’That bitch Gongsun Ruxue... The Gu family and the Gongsun Family may not say it openly, but they’re secret rivals. And she still hasn’t given up on Gu Shaojun, going on about how she’ll endure years of loneliness for him, praying for him day and night... My man doesn’t need his love rival praying for him! And hoping Brother Shaojun will wake up in the middle of the night and think of her? How shameless can you get? It’s so infuriating and disgusting, I can’t stand it!’

Just as Xiao Man was contemplating the potential consequences of rushing into the room and slapping Gongsun Ruxue a couple of times, a young girl who looked about fourteen or fifteen emerged from the lit eastern wing. She appeared to be at the first level of Qi Refinement and had a clean, delicate look. She was also wearing Han-style clothing, but hers was a narrow-sleeved short jacket and plain silk trousers that reached her ankles. In contrast, Gongsun Ruxue wore a wide-sleeved, loose-fitting robe of high-grade silk. Clearly, their statuses were different.

The young girl trotted over to Gongsun Ruxue’s door and called out "Sister" twice. When Gongsun Ruxue asked what she wanted, the girl replied, "It’s twenty minutes until the time Great-Grandfather set for adding the herbs. We can go over now."

Gongsun Ruxue came out and sneered at the young girl. "Look how eager you are. Feeling pretty proud of yourself, are you? Great-Grandfather may have chosen you to come here, but if you think you can replace me, you’ve got a long wait ahead of you. I may have lost my cultivation, but I’m not useless. I started tasting and identifying herbs when I was two, and by five or six, I could create formulas. Do you have that kind of talent?"

The young girl quickly lowered her head. "Shi Jiu came here only to learn from Sister Sixteen. I would never dare to have any other ideas!"

"You’d better not have any. Just be humble and do your part. Don’t act on your own authority like you’re so impressive. How shallow!"

Just then, another young girl, dressed similarly to the first, came out of the eastern wing. She walked quickly to the bottom of the stone steps, stopping just a few paces from Xiao Man, and bowed to Gongsun Ruxue. "Sister Sixteen, it’s the perfect time to go now."

"Mm, let’s go, Seventeen," Gongsun Ruxue said, gracefully descending the steps. Seventeen, who was waiting at the bottom, immediately moved to support her by the arm. The two of them didn’t even glance at Shi Jiu, nor did they call out to her. They walked together down the paved path for about twenty paces, then turned left, passed through a moon gate, and disappeared from sight.

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