CH 95

Back to the Countryside

Chapter 95:令牌

[The Token]

Both of them settled down in Qi Yue’s former residence for the time being. He refused Han Yang’s suggestion to send some disciples to serve him. He did everything by himself as he had done in Gu Shui Village.

He would go to the Valley Master’s place every day. When he came out, his expression usually did not look so good, as if he was really clueless about the cause of his sudden illness.

It had been more than a month since he had fainted. It was also unknown whether he would ever wake up again or not. The disciples of the valley were divided into two groups, one of the party insisted on waiting for him to wake up and take charge again while the other group felt that it was time to choose a new head of the valley.

But even if they chose the new Master of the Valley right away, there was still a difference of opinion among the disciples. The three Shi Xiong were now acting as the head of the valley and were managing things in perfect order. From among them, one of them would be the right choice (proved to be competent). However, the main disciple of the Valley Master, Qi Yue had returned to the valley. The Master of the Valley had always been very fond of him. He was also the most outstanding disciple. It seemed only right that he should be the head of the valley.

Because of these matters, the disciples of the valley would keep on arguing. Each of them held on to their own ideas and refused to back down. This made the atmosphere in the valley different from before and it was very confusing and chaotic.

At such time, there were new rumours in the valley about Qi Yue, saying that in the past, when he was still in the valley, his method in testing medicines was very ruthless. He was a man who left no room for error, even when he punished the disciples, he did so without mercy (lack of sensitivity to other people’s feelings). Moreover, he also acted in an absolutely lawless way in handling a matter relying on the favours of the head of the valley. This time when he had just returned to the valley, he had caused two more incidents.

They had quietly asked the two new disciples at the entrance of the valley. If they hadn’t begged for mercy so quickly, the other party would have killed them! Even the Shi Xiong who was guarding the door for the Valley Master’s residence was scolded for stopping him.

If such a person ended up as the head of the valley, would they still be able to live a good life? For a moment, those who supported Qi Yue began to waver in their hearts.

“They dare to say such things? They are really so thoughtless (not sensible)!”

Han Yang informed him of these circumstances. He was very furious, “We are basically only done the jobs on behalf of the Valley Master. The position of the Valley Master is naturally yours, Qi Shi Di!”

Qi Yue’s expression did not change as he poured a cup of tea and handed it to him, “Shi Xiong, don’t be upset! Originally it’s just complete nonsense. Why bother and let it spoil your mood just because of this?”

“I can’t stand myself from being angry that they are slandering you!” Han Yang took his cup of tea and drank it. He breathed a long sigh, “Shi Di, don’t worry! We definitely will not compete with you for the position of the valley master.”

“I naturally trust the integrity (personal characters) of all of the Shi Xiong here.” Qi Yue smiled and nodded his head, indicating that he did not care, “In fact, I’m not going to hide it from Shi Xiong, Shi Fu sobered up for a while yesterday and he had already handed over the Valley Master’s token to me.”

Han Yang’s hand paused as he sipped his tea, after that he looked up in surprise, “The valley Master has actually sobered up? As expected of Shi Di, we have tried many ways to wake him up but we have not been able to do so.”

“It was just a fluke.” Qi Yue smiled bitterly while lowering his head, “I have no idea what kind of poison is inside his body. If this goes on, I’m afraid there is no way to reverse this desperate situation.”

“I don’t know which bastard has done this!”

Seeing him sad, Han Yang’s mood also dropped, “Shi Di also do not be sad anymore! Now since you have the Valley Master’s token in your hand, at least we won’t be a host of dragons without a head

[群龙无首: a group without a leader]. How about you take over this position earlier?”

“For now, let’s wait for a few more days ba! The token is already here anyway, so there’s no need to hurry.” Qi Yue said, taking out a jade tablet from his pocket, engraved on one side with the word “Qi Du” [岐毒], these two words and on the other side carved with many flowers and plant-like patterns. Those were all precious herbs, and the engraving was very nice.

This was the token that the Valley Master often used to wear around his waist. Han Yang naturally recognised it. It was indeed Shi Fu’s token, no mistake! “Shi Di must take good care of it. Since the Valley Master remains unconscious for the time being, this is the only keepsake he has.”

“Shi Xiong, don’t need to worry! Such an important thing, I always carry it close to me, even when I sleep I don’t put it away.” Qi Yue tucked the object back into his arms and took a sip of tea from his cup.

Han Yang looked up at the sky, then put the cup down and stood up before he said, “There are still trivial matters that I need to attend to in the valley, so I won’t bother Shi Di here any longer, so we’ll talk again the other time.”

“Then I won’t keep Shi Xiong here any longer. Just don’t pay attention to those nonsense words, it will only cause distress!” Qi Yue also got up and arched his hand in greeting at him, “The matter of the token, please Shi Xiong keep it as a secret! ”

“Naturally, I know the importance of it, since Shi Di trusts me so much, I certainly will not talk about it with others.” Han Yang assured him with a serious expression, then he turned back and left the courtyard.

Just after his figure disappeared, the door behind him was pulled open with a creak and He Ling came out of it while holding his own back, “Han Yang Shi Xiong has already left?”

When Qi Yue heard his movement, he turned around and walked to his side, helping him to sit down at the stone chair before he said, “After hearing such great news, naturally he will rush back to prepare.”

“He doesn’t look like a bad guy ah, could it be that you guys have got it wrong?” If it was as Xiang Gong had said, this person was really scary, his heart full of calculations and schemes.

“Bad people are unlikely to have the word bad written on their faces!” Qi Yue pinched his nose and sat down beside him, “He has been longing for the Valley Master’s token. Now that he knows that I have it, he’ll be so desperate that he will risk anything. He absolutely will not just stand by the side and watch me use it to take over the Valley Master’s position!”

So what if he took that position? Would he be happier than he was now? He Ling didn’t really understand, as far as he was concerned, as long as he could be with the one he loved, even a lifetime of plain tea and simple food would also be good.

On that same night, a “guest” arrived in Qi Yue’s courtyard. He opened his eyes at the sound of movement and looked at the doorway, through the gap there was a wisp of smoke faintly wafting in.

He smelled the smoke, then smiled, took out a porcelain bottle from the side of his pillow, turned around and put it under He Ling’s nose, after that he withdrew his hand and let him sleep peacefully.

Because when he was a child, he had often tested the poison on himself, Qi Yue had long been invulnerable to all kinds of poisons. This was something that only the Valley Master knew about, so it gave him a hidden card.

The ingredients in the mist used by the other party, he knew it as soon as he smelled it. The effect was so strong that

If the one lying here today was not him, the person would certainly become unconscious.It was a pity ah, that man still didn’t know him very well.

The “guest” who came to visit was very cautious and waited for a long time after putting in the knock-out drug before he started to carefully pry open the bolt of the door. Even when he was sure that the person inside was “unconscious”, he made very little noise.

The moment the door bolt fell to the floor,

Qi Yue gently closed his smiling eyes. There was no sound of footsteps in the room but he could feel the other party’s breath approaching a little towards the bed.

He laid in there motionless, even his breathing was so light and almost inaudible, as if he had really fallen unconscious from his opponent’s tricks, making his breath seem less tense.

The other party stood at the bedside and stopped for a moment before he reached out and touched Qi Yue’s body lightly a few times, then took away the token he had hidden inside his chest. That moment, Qi Yue noticed that his breathing was a little heavier so he was obviously excited.

“From tomorrow onwards, the Qi Du Valley will have a new master, it’s just a pity it’s not you!” Having gotten the thing that he had been yearning for day and night, the man relaxed a lot and even opened his mouth as he stood at the bedside.

Afterward Qi Yue felt the attack of a burst strong wind coming towards him but it stopped just before his neck, “You can’t die yet, or I’ll be too suspicious. Let it be then! I’ll let you watch me get that position, ba! The main disciple, Qi Yue!”

After he finished his words, the other party turned his head and left, restoring the door to its original state, as if no one had ever come here before, leaving no trace of his presence.

Qi Yue opened his eyes and slowly curled his lips. Now the attacker must have gone to Shi Fu’s place ba! He turned over and took his little Fu Lang into his embrace. Fortunately, the other party did not take action to kill them just now, otherwise, he would have made him die even more miserably. For now, just wait for tomorrow’s show!

The disciple who had been in charge of changing the Valley Master’s clothes and wiping his body was shockingly terrified today. Yesterday the Valley Master who was still fine, unexpectedly had lost his breath! No matter how many times he confirmed it with his trembling hand, the outcome did not change at all!

His face immediately turned pale as he rolled and crawled out of the Valley Master’s residence and reported this matter to the Shi Xiongs in charge; the incident came so suddenly that no one was even prepared for it.

The three Shi Xiong hurriedly come over to him. The valley master who had been in a coma and previously still looked normal as ever, now his face was ashen and he was not breathing at all. When they reached out to touch him, his body was cold and hard. He had obviously been dead for quite a long time.

They fell on their knees in front of the bed with a sorrowful look on their faces. As for who was real and who was not, therefore only they themselves knew and understood it clearly in their heart.

The death of the Valley Master was an important event, so it was only natural that the disciples should be informed so they could begin to deal with the aftermath of his death. The moment the news broke, there was an uproar throughout the entire valley!

Most of the disciples still had great expectations that he would wake up. His existence had been the backbone (pillar) of their lives for so many years. How could they accept him just leaving like this?

Qi Yue, who had received the news, came in with an ugly look on his face. He Ling followed beside him with a very worried expression, one of his hands tugging on his arm as if to comfort him.

“Shi Di, I know you are sad in your heart at this moment, I absolutely hope that you restrain your grief [节哀: this is said when someone offering condolences]” The Big Senior Martial Brother (Da Shi Xiong) Ye Xin patted his shoulder, not knowing what to say to him other than this, and with a sigh he gave away his place beside the bed.

Qi Yue came forward and stood there, bowing his head and looking at the person lying on the bed without saying a word, not knowing what he was thinking, suddenly the atmosphere in the entire room was so depressing that it seemed to make one couldn’t even breathe.

“Can some of Shi Xiong go out first and let me and Ah Ling, both of us, stay here to accompany him?” It was only after a long time that Qi Yue opened his mouth, his voice sounded very calm but in such a state of him, one could not help but worry when looking at him.

Several people looked at each other for a moment. They then all sighed gloomily and silently withdrew from the room; since they had been master and disciple for a long time, they really had to say goodbye properly.

He Ling tightly tugged his arm. His mouth opened and opened, yet he did not know what to say. At last, he could only say, “Xiang Gong, if you want to cry, just cry ba …!”

The hang down hair on the side of his face covered his look, Qi Yue whose expression he couldn’t see clearly, turned his head over. Unexpectedly, he smiled very cheerfully, “A Ling, what are you talking about? Why should I (your husband: Wei Fu) cry?”

One more chapter and two more extra