Mi Xingzhe ran all the way out of Mirror Cloud Residence and came to Peach Blossom Grove to look for Hua Ruoying and Qingping.
"Miss Ruoying!" Mi Xingzhe stood at the door, panting as he called out.
"How come you have time to come here today?"
"I... just came to take a look." Mi Xingzhe could not think of a good reason for the moment, so he awkwardly shook his hand.
Looking at his expression, Hua Ruoying thought for a moment and knew that he had probably gotten into trouble and run here to hide.But that was fine too. She had been wondering what excuse she could use to lure Mi Xingzhe out, yet this boy had come on his own.
"You did not get into trouble again, did you?" Qingping was actually sharp for once.
"I... who says that? I did not." Mi Xingzhe felt embarrassed after being exposed.
"You totally did. It is written all over your face." Qingping shot back.
"I... mind your own business!" Mi Xingzhe said stubbornly.
"Enough, you two." Hua Ruoying felt a little helpless. These two were like children who never grew up. They started bickering the moment they met.
"Qingping, go fetch some water."
Back in Mirror Cloud Residence, Li Luoning went straight to Mi Xingzhe's room.
As he passed Yun Qingyi's doorway, he happened to see him inside.
With a serious face and a low voice, Li Luoning asked, "Qingyi, where is Nian?"
"I... do not know."
Li Luoning said nothing. He just stood there looking at Yun Qingyi, his face plainly saying: I already know.
Li Luoning naturally knew that Yun Qingyi was the one who most likely knew where Mi Xingzhe would run off to. The fact that he would not say it now meant he was trying to protect this little junior brother again.
"Master, I really do not know."
"You were the one who brought him back from the Medicine King. How could you not know where he is?"
"I did bring Nian'nian back. Later I was putting medicine on him, and the moment I was not paying attention, he ran off."
"He ran off?"
"He probably knew himself that he had caused trouble and was afraid you would scold him, so he ran off to hide."
Li Luoning raised his hand and cast a spell, wanting to call out Gui Ning.
"Master... um... I take off Nian nian's Gui Ning before he left..." Yun Qingyi said quietly.
Li Luoning stopped his spell, and his face darkened.
What was going on today? One after another, they were all going against him. Mi Xingzhe alone was already enough to give him a headache, and now even Yun Qingyi, who was always obedient, had joined in the trouble.
"Qingyi Go find him,now!"
Only then did Yun Qingyi react. He nodded quickly and ran out the door.
At the same time in Peach Blossom Grove, Mi Xingzhe and Hua Ruoying sat in the courtyard, both a little bored and not knowing what to say.
"How long do you plan to hide here?" Hua Ruoying asked first.
"At least until my master's anger cools down before I go back." Mi Xingzhe said.
"You are not afraid that he will come here himself to drag you back?"
"No. I don't think so."
"Young master, your senior brother came to look for you." Just then Qingping suddenly came back from outside.
"I knew you would definitely be here, How are you?Miss Ruoying." Yun Qingyi came to the door.
"Borther Qingyi. Did Master send you to find me?" Mi Xingzhe asked.
"Who else would it be? Hurry and come back with me. " As Yun Qingyi spoke, he reached out to pull Mi Xingzhe away.
Mi Xingzhe quickly dodged to the side. "I am not going. If I go back now, I am definitely dead."
"You can dodge the first day, but not the fifteenth. Before Master comes personally to drag you back, you had better come with me now." Yun Qingyi did not give him any choice and began pulling Mi Xingzhe outside.
"Hey, Borther Qingyi, do not pull me. Let me go. Miss Ruoying, I will come see you again tomorrow." As Yun Qingyi dragged him away, Mi Xingzhe still remembered to turn back and say goodbye to Hua Ruoying.
Watching the two of them walk farther away, the smile on Hua Ruoying's face slowly faded.
A stick of incense later, inside the study of Mirror Cloud Residence.
Yun Qingyi stood at the side and hardly dared to breathe, while Mi Xingzhe knelt on the floor.
Li Luoning was so angry that his head hurt. At this moment he sat to one side with his eyes closed, one hand pinching the bridge of his nose and his brows tightly knitted.
"Brother Qingyi, how long do I have to kneel? My legs are already sore." Mi Xingzhe muttered softly.
"You should think first about how you are going to explain this to Master." Yun Qingyi knew Li Luoning's temper very well. And with him saying nothing at all right now, it looked like later it would not be easy to plead for this little junior brother.
Hearing the two of them whispering at the side, Li Luoning slowly opened his eyes and gradually sat up straight.
Seeing that, Yun Qingyi immediately straightened his own posture even more and quickly signaled Mi Xingzhe with his eyes.
"Master, the matter with the pill room was really just a misunderstanding. Niannian, he..." Yun Qingyi started again, smiling ingratiatingly as he poured Li Luoning tea and once more tried his usual way of protecting his junior brother.
Smack. Li Luoning's hand slammed hard onto the table, startling both disciples badly.
Yun Qingyi very sensibly shut his mouth and went back to stand quietly at the side.
"Drinking and causing trouble, even daring to overturn the Medicine King's pill furnace. Have I been too indulgent with you?" Li Luoning demanded.
"Master, I... I was not doing it on purpose. I only remember that I was drunk, and somehow I came to the front of the pill room. After that, my hands and feet just stopped listening to me and I walked in. When I woke up, I only saw the overturned pill furnace and pills all over the floor." Mi Xingzhe said in a wronged tone.
That night, he really had been rather drunk, but on the way back he had still been aware of things. It was strange. When he passed the pill room, it was as if some force had taken control of him, and his hands and feet stopped listening to him as he walked inside.
"Master, Niannian had caught a chill that day. He was probably just not clear-headed for a moment..." Yun Qingyi tried to excuse him from the side.
"Qingyi, go make a full count of the ruined herbs and take the same amount from the storeroom to repay them." Li Luoning ordered calmly.
Yun Qingyi glanced at Mi Xingzhe and hesitated.
"Why are you still standing there? Go!" Li Luoning raised his voice.
"But Master, Niannian, he..." Yun Qingyi still wanted to speak up for Mi Xingzhe.
"Out!" Li Luoning shouted sharply.
Left with no choice, Yun Qingyi unwillingly walked out. Before leaving, he still did not forget to give Mi Xingzhe a meaningful look.
Mi Xingzhe, meanwhile, stared unwillingly as this life-saving charm of an elder brother was driven away just like that. Once the study door closed, Mi Xingzhe, kneeling on the floor, finally wilted completely.
Knowing he was in the wrong, Mi Xingzhe did not struggle much this time. He obediently held out both hands.
"Master, this time it was my fault. I should not have gotten drunk, and I should not have run to the pill room and made a mess. Punish me if you want. But I really did not mean to ruin those herbs in the pill room."
Li Luoning let out a deep breath, picked up the ruler on the table, and stood up from beside the desk.
Hearing footsteps come closer and closer, Mi Xingzhe obediently shut his eyes and lowered his head between his arms.
"Where did the wine come from?" Li Luoning asked sharply.
"Sto... storeroom. I stole it." Mi Xingzhe stammered.
"Stealing." Whish, smack. The ruler in Li Luoning's hand came down mercilessly, striking hard across Mi Xingzhe's open palm.
Kneeling there with his head lowered and both hands raised, Mi Xingzhe could clearly feel the burning pain surge up across his palm at once.
"Why did you go the pills room?"
"I... do not know..."
"Lying." Whish, smack. The ruler came down again without hesitation.
"Tsk... ah, I really do not know." Mi Xingzhe repeated excitedly.
Whish, smack smack.
"Mm... why will Master not believe me? I really do not know. I only remember passing by the pill room that night. After that, I do not remember anything." Mi Xingzhe explained in a hurt tone.
"If you were not so fond of drinking and greedy for wine, how could you cause trouble while drunk?" Li Luoning asked sternly.
Mi Xingzhe fell silent guiltily.
Whish, smack smack.
"Ah... it hurts." Mi Xingzhe shook his hand. The swelling and redness in his palm had already become so painful that it felt hot.
"Kneel properly." Li Luoning said as he slowly moved to Mi Xingzhe's side.
Hearing Li Luoning's warning, Mi Xingzhe quickly straightened his body and knelt up straighter.
Before he had fully steadied himself, the ruler in Li Luoning's hand came down from behind him with a rush of wind.
Whish, smack smack. Even through the clothes, the dull sound could be heard clearly.
"Ah, Master, what are you doing?" Mi Xingzhe had not expected Li Luoning to punish him like this. He almost lost balance and fell flat on his face.
"Kneel properly." Li Luoning said calmly.
"No..." Mi Xingzhe felt embarrassed from being hit there, so he twisted aside and refused.
"Since you do not know, then I, your master, will teach these disobedient legs and feet a lesson. Kneel properly." Li Luoning waved the ruler in his hand.
"Master, I know I was wrong I am sorry." Mi Xingzhe said in a soft, pleading voice.
Those two strikes just now had really hurt. Even through the thin robe, he could still clearly feel the burning ache left by the ruler.
"What, should I tie you up and spank you?" Li Luoning raised a brow and asked sternly.
Although a hundred times unwilling in his heart, Mi Xingzhe knew he was in the wrong. He pouted and unwillingly knelt back again. His hands moved on their own to cover his ears, and he nervously shut his eyes.
He waited a long time, but the ruler behind him did not fall the way he had expected. So he cracked one eye open to peek. At some point, Li Luoning had already gone back to sit by the desk.
"Master, I know I was wrong. Please do not be angry anymore." Mi Xingzhe knew this beating really had not been undeserved at all.
"Come here." Li Luoning did not even look up, only said lightly.
"Ah? Oh." Mi Xingzhe did not quite understand, but he still shuffled forward on his knees until he reached the desk.
"Pick them up." Li Luoning glanced at the books beside him.
Mi Xingzhe, confused, picked up one of the books at the side.
"All of them." Li Luoning added.
Mi Xingzhe gathered the whole stack of books from the desk into his arms. There were about ten or so.
"Lift them."
Mi Xingzhe raised the books forward a little.
"Higher."
Mi Xingzhe raised them higher.
"Higher."
Mi Xingzhe lifted the books above his head.
"Without my permission, you are not allowed to lower them."
" Yes, Master..."
Li Luoning ignored him, sat at the side, and began reading.
After spending the whole day cleaning up the pill room, it had finally been restored to order.
"Hm? Why is there still a box of dragon nightshade on the top shelf?" one young attendant muttered while holding a box.
"Dragon nightshade is a commonly used medicinal guide. I always keep it on the lower three shelves. How could it possibly be put on the top?" another young attendant said.
"What is going on?" The Medicine King, hearing the two of them arguing, walked over.
"Master, junior brother forgot a box of dragon nightshade on top of the cabinet. I just said one thing to him, and he would not admit it." The young attendant standing on the ladder said.
"I clearly did not put it there. I always keep dragon nightshade on the lower three shelves so it is easy to get." The other young attendant argued back, feeling wronged.
"If it was not you, then who else could it be? The things in this medicine room are usually arranged by you. The herbs on the top five shelves are rarely used, and aside from you and senior brother, no one is allowed to move the herbs around. If it was not you, then was it senior brother instead?" The senior brother he meant was O Shinan.
"Enough, enough, stop arguing. Since you found it in the wrong place, just put it back." As the Medicine King spoke, he took the box from the young attendant's hand and meant to pass it to the other attendant, but the moment the box came into his hand, he gave it a small sniff and at once sensed something was wrong.
The Medicine King opened the box, took out what was inside, looked at it, and then held it under his nose again.
"Master, what is it?" one of the attendants asked in confusion.
Looking at the herb in his hand, the Medicine King's face changed slightly. The box was labeled dragon nightshade, but what was inside was clearly belladonna. The herbs in the pill room were mainly common, harmless medicinal herbs. Any herbs with poison were stored separately in another room, and almost every kind was locked up on its own. There was no way this belladonna should have appeared in the pill room for no reason.
"Fuling, have you seen Nan'er today?" The Medicine King looked at the box in his hand and asked the young attendant beside him.
"Senior brother? I saw him go out early this morning. He said he was going to gather herbs." Fuling replied.
The Medicine King nodded and left the pill room without saying more. The two young attendants who had just been arguing looked at each other, shrugged, and continued sorting the herbs.
After leaving the pill room, the Medicine King went straight to O Shinan's room. He had planned to push the door open and go in, but found that there was a barrier set outside the room. With a wave of his hand, he broke the barrier and stepped into O Shinan's room.
Inside, the decorations were simple and elegant. White and purple gauze curtains moved gently with the breeze blowing in. The furnishings were also very simple. In the center room there was a desk directly facing the door, and in the side room there was a whole wall of shelves filled with all kinds of books and different rare medicinal materials.
On the desk lay a book opened to one page, and beside it were half-finished copied notes. Next to a white jade incense burner on the left sat a golden tripod, and against the colors of the room it looked especially out of place.
Standing at the doorway, the Medicine King looked around, and soon his eyes fell on that jarring golden tripod. He stepped forward and lifted the lid covering it.
"Ah, this is..." The moment he opened the golden tripod, the Medicine King could not help letting out a startled cry. His eyes then drifted to a corner of a letter sticking out from under the book nearby.
The Medicine King reached out and pulled out the letter hidden beneath the book. It was a letter that had already been opened. He drew the paper out and slowly unfolded it.
"Qian Mo has begun, the puppet is ready for use." Those words were written clearly across the letter.
Seeing those few words on the page, the Medicine King's hands shook uncontrollably, and even his breathing became uneven. At the lower right corner of the letter, two words had been left in dark red ink: Lord.