Cui Hu fixed his gaze and suddenly exclaimed, "Ji Feng? What happened to you? Huh? Is this the Madam? Is Madam alright?"
Ji Feng knew his appearance was rather disheveled, but he didn’t wish to talk about his duel to the death with his master: "Madam suffered internal injuries and fell asleep."
Cui Hu checked Liu Qingyun’s breathing: "Still breathing."
"Have you seen Young Madam?"
Ji Feng asked curiously, "Young Madam?"
Cui Hu’s face beamed with pride: "Yes, Young Madam, Miss Yan from Thousand Mechanism Pavilion! Let me tell you, from now on, I recognize only her as Young Madam; no one can change that!"
Ji Feng said, "I’m also looking for her."
Cui Hu exclaimed excitedly, "You’re admitting that she’s our Young Madam too?"
Ji Feng opened his mouth but didn’t want to argue over a mere title: "Finding people is more urgent."
A familiar voice called out from the dense fog ahead.
Cui Hu’s eyes lit up, more excited than seeing his wife: "Young Madam! It’s us! Me! Cui Hu! Huzi!"
The fog was so thick that one could only see clearly when it was right up close.
Ji Feng clasped his hands in salute.
Cui Hu nudged him with his shoulder: "Weren’t you just calling her Young Madam earlier?"
Meng Qianqian walked toward the white horse, stroking its head, and began checking Liu Qingyun’s pulse.
At the same time, Cui Hu and Ji Feng’s gazes fell upon Lu Yuan and the Miao King following behind Meng Qianqian.
The two saluted Lu Yuan.
Ji Feng looked warily at the Miao King.
"Stop staring, it’s me."
The Miao King admitted freely, "You fought your master, I passed by, and I didn’t expect you to notice, kid—you’ve got some talent."
Lu Yuan explained to the two, "My grandfather."
The Miao King said, "The surname is Liu. Just call me Mr. Liu."
Cui Hu clasped his fists: "Mr. Liu!"
Suspicion flashed in Ji Feng’s eyes, but he said nothing.
The Miao King didn’t care whether Ji Feng doubted his identity or not.
Anyway, if he didn’t admit it, then he wasn’t the Miao King.
He walked over to Meng Qianqian and whispered, "Granddaughter-in-law, how’s your mother doing?"
Meng Qianqian frowned: "Mother was struck by the Cold Ice Palm. My medicine isn’t working, her injuries are more severe, and I need to perform acupuncture on her."
The playful expression on the Miao King’s face vanished. His concentration deepened as he guarded against any movement in the surroundings: "Find a safe place first."
The group found a cave.
Cui Hu and Ji Feng guarded the entrance.
Lu Yuan stepped outside and said to Ji Feng, "Go inside."
Ji Feng replied, "Young Master, I can stand guard."
"I told you to go in. Just go in. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"
Cui Hu pushed Ji Feng into the cave and turned to Lu Yuan, saying, "Young Master, I can guard alone. You should go in and rest as well."
Lu Yuan shot him a glance.
Cui Hu added, "Or stay and accompany your subordinate, that works too."
Meng Qianqian performed acupuncture on Liu Qingyun, guiding the cold energy from her internal organs into her meridians, allowing the Miao King to expel it from her body using internal energy.
The cold energy had to be extracted slowly and meticulously; haste was not an option.
The treatment lasted a whole day and night.
Ji Feng’s injuries had almost healed.
He stepped out of the cave and quietly said to Lu Yuan, "Young Master, let Cui Hu escort you out of the mountains."
"Not yet," Ji Feng replied, "but by sunrise it’ll be time for the Qilin’s conferral ceremony. If the Young Master doesn’t show up, something might go wrong."
Cui Hu slapped his forehead: "Oh no! Such an important event, I completely forgot! I understand... I understand everything! They lured us here, intending to use the thick fog to trap the Young Master and keep him from attending the ceremony!"
Ji Feng said, "Please return to the manor for the conferral ceremony, Young Master!"
Cui Hu added, "Young Master, go back to the manor! If we hurry, we should—make—it—on—time..."
Oh no, dawn is breaking... dawn is breaking!
It was pitch-black just moments ago!
Lu Yuan calmly looked at Ji Feng: "Let me ask you—if those masked men return, can you stop them?"
Ji Feng knelt on one knee: "Ji Feng will fight to the death!"
Lu Yuan replied coolly, "They went to so much trouble to trap me here. If I just leave, wouldn’t that be too boring? Right, old man?"
The Miao King maintained a straight face: "Why are you looking at me? I don’t know anything! I didn’t plan this!"
Meng Qianqian exhaled deeply, "Finally done!"
Lu Yuan’s expression relaxed slightly.
Meng Qianqian smiled faintly and quipped, although she wouldn’t admit it outright: "Prince Changsun, you were worried about your mother after all, weren’t you?"
Lu Yuan replied coldly, "Return to the city. Attend the conferral ceremony!"