"Internal strife? What's there to fight over for a mere Stronghold Master?" Before I could speak, Zhang Zidao, who kept his head down to hide his face, said in a deep voice, "Could it be... the stronghold has been infiltrated by the Ten Thousand Poison Hall?"
Granny Long looked Zhang Zidao up and down, then sheathed her Demon-Subduing Pestle at her waist, "Your insight is profound. The infiltrated person's identity is not simple; it's from Chief Yan's direct lineage."
"Oh, a son rebelling against the stronghold?" Zhang Zidao's tone was indifferent, as if he had understood it all along.
From the sudden flash of clarity in Granny Long's eyes, one could tell that the old man had definitely guessed correctly.
To conceal one's identity and yet seek to stand out.
Isn't that just trying to have one's cake and eat it, too? Things aren't that easy.
Granny Long's expression gradually turned chilly and sharp, "Who exactly are you? How do you know so much about a stronghold that is isolated from the outside world?"
"You misunderstand, Granny. My master is acquainted with my maternal grandmother, so I know a few... trivial matters... about Tianying Village." I hurriedly tried to smooth things over, embarrassed, to prevent Granny Long from becoming suspicious and possibly aggressive again, "Actually... I went to Tianying Village to treat Blood-weeping Syndrome, a disease that can be fatal if not cured."
"How could I forget, you child... this child's fate has been too full of hardship." Upon mentioning this, Granny Long became sad, her softened gaze resting on me, her eyes even moist with tears, "Then you must be careful when you go to Tianying Village, leave right after soaking in the Cold Moon Spring."
Why did it feel like Granny Long was too concerned about me?
The affection in her eyes when she looked at me was more like that of my maternal grandmother than Yan Hua.
And yet we had met only twice.
"What is Cold Moon Spring?" I asked, puzzled.
Granny Long's rough palm brushed the top of my head, "Didn't your grandfather tell you? Soaking in the stronghold's Medicinal Spring can slowly heal Blood-weeping Syndrome. It's just that you... this... face... I'm afraid..."
"Afraid it won't recover? It's fine, I'm mentally prepared," I said with an outward appearance of nonchalance, while inside, the tips of my nails were nearly piercing through the flesh of my palms.
Hell no, am I doomed to bear this ugly face for life?
That's too miserable!!
While others beautify themselves for the one who pleases them, I'm doomed to uglify myself for the same reason.
Granny Long sighed, "What a positive child you are. If it were not for pressing matters, this old woman would definitely accompany you to Tianying Village."
"I'll be enough!" Zhang Zidao interjected again.
I grasped Granny Long's hand, giving her a warm smile, "It's the thought that counts, Granny Long. Go attend to your own business, and I must hurry and head to the stronghold with my master."
"We'll meet again, Wanwan. Be sure to stay safe inside the stronghold," Granny Long said, placing a brilliantly pure red and gold bead in my palm before her black-clad figure disappeared into the night mist.
Zhang Zidao scratched his white-haired head, "This girl... Ah, pah! Long Xiangkui... What did she give you a Wind-Setting Pearl for?"
This Old Taoist Priest must have lusted after Granny Long when he was young—I heard it loud and clear!
He just misspoke, calling Granny Long a young girl.
"I have a Centipede Gu that's been badly wounded and is unconscious; I didn't expect..." I took out the Matchbox and placed the fiery red bead Granny Long gave me inside, "I didn't expect Granny Long to actually sense it, this Wind-Setting Pearl, taken from a thousand-year-old centipede, is more than enough to heal my Xiao Honghong."
"Are you making a joke? She is the top Gu Witch of the Miao Border, with the eyes of Vajra!" Zhang Zidao grabbed my wrist, and with one step we covered a distance of a hundred meters, "What gu can she not see through?" For original chapters go to novel★fire.net