Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 398 - 349 Green Hut

Qiu Feng’s fingers twisted the Mind Threads, gently and slowly advancing them.

Spiritual Power conducted along the Mind Threads, returning the roughly detected outlines to Qiu Feng’s Spiritual Sense.

Hmm?

Qiu Feng frowned uncertainly as she saw Yan Xuan’s intestines twisted and spiraled, forming an obstruction.

"How is it?" Li Hui, seeing her hesitate, asked anxiously. "What illness is this?"

"It should be intestinal volvulus." Qiu Feng tried to recall the content from Li Ang’s textbooks, speaking with uncertainty, "The symptoms of this sudden illness include abdominal pain and bloating, which all match up. It’s quite serious. An immediate operation is needed to reposition the twisted intestines."

Li Hui said, "Then start quickly?"

"This..." Qiu Feng hesitated. "I have only seen tutorials in books and have never practiced before."

Yan Xuan was a friend she had known for many years; if possible, Qiu Feng wanted to provide emergency care as quickly as she could. But precisely because she understood emergency care, Qiu Feng knew that inadequate experience and insufficient assistance could lead to more severe consequences.

If only Li Ang were here.

No sooner had the thought formed in her mind than Li Ang appeared in her line of sight. Using hooks, Mind Threads, and Wind Talismans in a triple acceleration, he swung by, gliding down to land on the mat.

"Risheng?" "Mr. Li?"

The crowd was somewhat startled to see Li Ang, fully armed and rushing over urgently, especially after noticing the group of garrison soldiers chasing him.

"I’ll do it."

Li Ang did not have time to explain much. Using Telekinesis, he lifted Yan Xuan from Li Hui’s arms and rushed with her straight to the green hut. At the same time, he flicked out talismans from the talisman plate in his hand, like the Dust Removal Talisman and Clear Wind Talisman, to purify the air, earnestly as if transforming the green hut into a makeshift operating room.

Of course, Li Ang had the ability to cure Yan Xuan. Not only was he proficient in various Healing Techniques, but this illness was also one he had fabricated.

Li Ang picked up the Mind Threads that Qiu Feng had not yet retracted, easily returning Yan Xuan’s intestinal volvulus to its original position while using the Mind Threads to spot the Mo Si inside Yan Xuan—

When he first returned to Golden City Square, Li Ang had sent an insect he could control, which was closest to Furong Garden, carrying Mo Si to the wedding scene. After hurrying over, it crawled under the mat. When Yan Xuan stepped over it, the Mo Si pierced through the mat and into her skin. It manipulated her organs, causing Yan Xuan to exhibit sickness. This prevented her from entering the Purple Cloud Pavilion and delayed her meeting with the Faith Cultivation Cardinal.

Before time rewound, the Mo Si Clone that went to the Banzheng Square garrison headquarters met Yuan Sou and Ghost Shovel. Two Candle Cloud Cultivators with notorious reputations, hunted by various forces, looked too much like Situ Zhi, exuding the characteristic style of the Zhao Ming Organization.

Li Ang was unsure of just how capable the so-called "Dark Filth Worm" was, nor could he be certain if there were any Ya Jiu clones or spies from the Zhao Ming Organization lurking at the wedding. His only option was to use an "emergency situation" as a delay.

The crowd, watching Li Ang deeply focused on controlling the Mind Threads, felt it was not appropriate to question him. Persuaded by Li Leqing and Qiu Feng, they gradually left the green hut to maintain quietness inside.

Li Ang controlled the Mo Si insects, directing them toward the second floor of the Purple Cloud Pavilion in search of the Mountain Master. Simultaneously, he stretched out Mo Si from his fingertips, threading it through the Mind Threads to probe within Yan Xuan’s body.

Dark Filth Worm... Found it.

Li Ang’s gaze sharpened as he noticed an enormous amount of extremely tiny particles, invisible to the naked eye, within Qiu Feng’s connective tissues—no wonder conventional methods couldn’t detect them.

HUM—

The Zhao Ming Iron Plate in the brocade bag at Li Ang’s waist began to vibrate slightly. He took out the plate, which displayed a message from Ya Jiu.

"Immediately heal Yan Xuan and ensure the wedding takes place as scheduled."

Indeed, it was you.

A thought stirred in Li Ang’s heart. Ya Jiu must have informants and even puppets at the wedding site to be able to detect the situation and send a message so promptly.

Before Li Ang could respond, a new message came through on the iron plate.

"If you cannot heal her immediately, claim that the procedure is unique and requires the assistance of Haotian Divine Technique. Please invite the Faith Cultivation Cardinal into the green hut."

Haotian Divine Technique assisting?

Li Ang inwardly sneered. Ya Jiu was truly adept at the Puppetry Technique, possessing a mind far livelier and superior to ordinary people. He instantly realized that even if Li Ang could urgently treat Yan Xuan, the Emperor, the Empress, and Li Hui herself—concerned for the bride—might actively halt the wedding. By then, if the timing wasn’t right, the Chang’an Fireworks, which were supposed to coordinate with the Dark Insect, would lose their intended effect.

And if Li Ang really followed Ya Jiu’s instructions and invited the Faith Cultivation Cardinal into the green hut, then the people of Purple Cloud Pavilion who were blasted away or killed before time reversed would serve as a dire warning for Li Ang himself.

「At the same time, on the second floor of the Purple Cloud Pavilion」

The Mountain Master, leisurely lifting his cup, slightly raised his eyebrows, noticing a fly lying on the short table in front of him. Everywhere in Purple Cloud Pavilion had been treated with insect repellent fragrance, and with talismans generating winds and curtains for shielding, ordinary flies could not enter at all.

Unless...

The fly on the short table extended minute Mo Si from its body. Using the cover of bowls and plates, at an angle invisible to others, it assembled two lines of text on the table with the Mo Si.

"Come to the green hut below."

"Soaring cliffs, towering skies."

The Mountain Master’s gaze suddenly focused. He set down his wine cup and stood up. Many eyes turned towards him, and the Emperor asked in confusion, "Mountain Master?"

"I shall go downstairs to see what the matter is."

The Mountain Master nodded slightly, stepped out of the Purple Cloud Pavilion, and landed in front of the green hut. He raised his hand to stop the startled people, who were about to pay their respects, and lifted the curtain to step into the green hut.

Then, he saw Li Ang, and Yan Xuan, who was wrapped in spherical Mo Si and had fallen into a coma.

"..."

The Mountain Master flicked his fingers, swiftly drawing talismans in mid-air to block Spiritual Sense probing and sound. He took a deep breath and asked, "What has happened?"

"An organization known as Zhao Ming has implanted Dark Filth Worms inside Yan Xuan’s body." Li Ang spoke swiftly, "They plan to use the Dark Filth Worms to control the Faith Cultivation Cardinal at midnight, precisely when the twenty-four strokes of the Haotian Bell ring. This will cause him to self-destruct, destroying the Purple Cloud Pavilion and killing the high officials of Yu Country and the wedding guests. Simultaneously, they will release the Chaotic Wind somewhere to seal the prohibitions of Chang’an. Furthermore, by using pre-booked fireworks from one hundred and eight workshop squares, they aim to ignite the entire city and distract the cultivators from the Academic Palace and the garrison. Then, with two cultivators, Yuan Sou and Ghost Shovel, they will raid the Banzheng Square garrison headquarters. I’ve already used the Sumeru Hourglass and witnessed it once with my own eyes. The four words ’Soaring cliffs, towering skies’ are the code words you gave me for verification of trust."