Return to Before the Villain’s Corruption

Did she sense something?

Once this thought popped into his mind, it was like a bomb had been planted. For a moment, all the blood in Cheng Yi's body seemed to stop flowing.

After a long while, his body suddenly trembled violently. Hunching his back, he coughed repeatedly. Such intense movements tugged at his wounds. Before long, Cheng Yi's already pale face turned as white as paper, and he looked so weak that he seemed about to faint again at any moment.

The attendants in the corridor outside were from the Celestial Clan. Hearing the commotion, they stood at the door and asked, "Has Young Master Cheng Yi woken up?"

Not daring to pat Cheng Yi on the back, Qing Feng could only use a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth. Seeing that he soon coughed up blood, her voice became a bit shrill. "Young master just woke up and now he's coughing. Please, Immortal Elder, go and call a medical officer."

The sound of footsteps at the door quickly faded away. Before long, several sets of footsteps, light and heavy, stopped at the door. The celestial maid guarding the door lifted the curtain. The white - bearded and white - haired medical officer carrying a medicine chest stepped in first, and Mo Ruanruan, holding up her flowery and starry skirt, followed several steps behind.

Soon, two beautiful female celestial beings carried in a wide chair covered with velvet and quietly placed it behind Mo Ruanruan. Seeing this, Qing Feng stepped aside and respectfully bowed.

"Medical Officer," Mo Ruanruan said. Contrary to her lofty status, her voice was extremely soft, without the aggressive edge of a superior. "Take Young Master Cheng Yi's pulse."

This medical officer was the most skilled one among the medical officers in the Celestial Clan's entourage. Since Cheng Yi had fallen into a coma, his body had been taken care of by this medical officer. As soon as he placed his hand on Cheng Yi's wrist, he had an idea of the situation.

Half an hour later, he stood up, bowed to Mo Ruanruan, and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. Young Master Cheng Yi just coughed and tugged at his wounds. It's nothing serious. Now that the young master is awake, if he takes good care of himself and takes the Nine - Revolving Pills, and with my treatment, he will recover soon."

Normally, with such serious injuries, it would take at least two or three years to fully recover.

However, it must be mentioned that when Cheng Yi was recuperating in the main city mansion, Qiu Shi had given him some natural treasures of heaven and earth, each of which was a rare and precious item worth a fortune. The medicinal effects of those things were slowly released in Cheng Yi's body, which allowed him to survive this incident. Later, the Celestial Clan had also given him all kinds of spiritual items, pouring them into him as if they were free.

If he took those two Nine - Revolving Pills, his injuries would improve at a speed that would astonish everyone.

Thinking of those two nearly flawless Nine - Revolving Pills and the stream of celestial herbs and medicines that had been sent over in the past two days, even the medical officer couldn't help but envy this young master of the Black Dragon Clan.

Although his background was not prominent, he had saved the little princesses of both the Celestial and Demon Realms. There would surely be many benefits in the future.

As long as he worked hard, at that time, what difference would his background make? After all, the Celestial Clan was different from the Demon Clan. The Celestial Clan did not value bloodlines.

Thinking back to the beginning, when Luo Ying was brought back by the little princess, it was also he who took over. He was as thin as a monkey, as skinny as a bean sprout, and nearly a head shorter than children of the same age. Looking at him now, he had grown into an unparalleled prodigy who could compete with the direct descendants of the Celestial Clan.

Who said that the young man before him wouldn't become the second Luo Ying?

Thinking of this, the medical officer's look at Cheng Yi changed several times.

Hearing his words, Mo Ruanruan nodded gently. Her ear - pendants swayed slightly and touched the fair skin of her neck. Her eyes fell on Cheng Yi's extremely handsome and delicate face, and her lips moved slightly. "The Nine - Revolving Pills sent by Qiu Shi are of good quality. Taking them will greatly help your recovery from the injury."

Cheng Yi's face was pale, and he looked extremely weak. "Thank you, miss."

As a celestial maiden, Mo Ruanruan had been surrounded by admiration since childhood. Although her mind was not fully mature, sitting there upright, the imperial dignity in her bones was still clearly visible.

"Do you know my identity?"

This was the first question Mo Ruanruan asked, undoubtedly full of inquiry.

Cheng Yi's long eyelashes fluttered for a moment and then quickly returned to normal.

Due to several days of unconsciousness, his voice was hoarse, but when he spoke slowly, every word was still pleasant to hear. "When the Celestial Clan checked into the post - station, I was listening to an opera at the Chengan Tavern. I heard some people in the next compartment talking about it. It was like joining in the fun, and that's how I learned about your identity, miss."

A person like him would carefully deliberate every step and every detail before taking action, making sure there were no omissions or mistakes.

The answer he gave to Mo Ruanruan just now had been rehearsed in his mind countless times, and it came out as smoothly as reciting a text.

Mo Ruanruan knew what he meant by "joining in the fun".

The Celestial Clan was extremely powerful. Every time Mo Ruanruan checked into the post - stations of other clans or traveled, she would attract a lot of attention. This time, with the arrival of three young celestial kings of the Celestial Clan, it would be strange if it didn't draw people's notice.

"That day, the incident at the post - station happened suddenly. You risked your life to save me. This is a great kindness. Our Celestial Clan is not ungrateful."

Mo Ruanruan looked directly into his eyes with her clear, water - like eyes and said, "If you have any requests, as long as they are within my power, I will not shirk."

Exchanging a favor for a thing is the usual way of dealing with things for those in high positions. However, Mo Ruanruan and Qiu Shi were not of such a disposition. This could be seen from the fact that Qiu Shi brought Cheng Yi back to the main city and took good care of him last time.

Moreover, Mo Ruanruan was more gentle - natured than Qiu Shi, and this was not her usual way of speaking.

Most likely, Qiu Shi and Mo Ruanruan had a conversation when they met.

For those born in the center of power, a small doubt was enough to change their attitude.

Cheng Yi lowered his eyes as if he was seriously thinking. After a while, he leaned against the headboard of the bed, gave a bitter smile, and his voice was still gentle. "To be honest with you, miss, I do have something to ask of you."

It was good that he had a request. Mo Ruanruan disliked owing people favors, and those who claimed to have no desires were the most troublesome.

She relaxed her straight back a little and then said, "Tell me. What do you want?"

Cheng Yi fixed his gaze, showing an almost stubborn look in front of others for the first time. Even his voice became much deeper: "I want to follow the Celestial Clan into the Luyuan Secret Realm."

After sharing the dream hidden in her heart, Qiu Shi seemed to have shrugged off a thousand - jin burden on her shoulders, and her mood visibly improved.

With her good mood, her chatterbox also opened up.

Qin Donglin listened as she rambled on from the sky to the earth, from the Heavenly Palace to Ye Capital. She just wouldn't stop talking, not even when she was eating. He pressed his fingertips against his temples several times.

So, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍when Chang Ting, his personal attendant, rushed over in a hurry to find him, he slowly wiped his slender fingers with a clean handkerchief, relaxed his cold and condensed eyebrows, and prepared to leave first.

"What's the matter?"

Qiu Shi was also an old acquaintance of Chang Ting. Seeing him in a hurry to find someone, she casually asked.

Seeing her, Chang Ting bowed with a smile and saluted. Then he glanced at Qin Donglin and truthfully replied, "My lady, the Lord has arrived at the main city and wants to see the young master."

By Qin Donglin's side, Qiu Shi almost had special privileges. Whether it was the internal affairs of Liugi Mountain or some private matters he ordered people to handle, as long as she was interested and wanted to know, she could always find out.

Although most of the time, she just asked casually. When she was in a bad mood, she wouldn't even bother to ask.

"Huh?"

Qiu Shi didn't expect Qin Yue to arrive at the main city so soon. She calculated the days and was a bit confused: "It's still seven or eight days away. Why did Uncle Qin come so early?"

Although she was a bit puzzled, Qiu Shi never delved into the reasons for the elders' affairs.

She thought for a moment, looked at Qin Donglin who had already stood up, and said, "You should go back quickly. Don't keep Uncle Qin waiting."

"I won't go out in the next few days. I'll stay in the mansion to prepare some things needed for entering the Luyuan Secret Realm and that map."

Qiu Shi subconsciously lowered her voice a bit: "See if you have a chance to let the Spirit of the Whirling Sword take a look at it."

Since they and the map were from different eras, it was extremely difficult to identify it. However, both the Whirling Sword and the Demonic Moon Zither were ancient relics that had survived since the Prehistoric Era. Having them identify it would surely be more reliable and give them a better direction than them groping around blindly.

Seeing the meaningful look in Qin Donglin's eyes for a moment, Qiu Shi stroked the bridge of her nose and whispered in her own defense: "You don't know. The Demonic Moon is a bit greedy for money. Buying a piece of information from her is simply sky - high price."

"Besides, if we find the location marked on the relic map earlier, we can also retrieve the spiritual treasure earlier to heal the Whirling Sword. It's a win - win situation. The Whirling Sword won't refuse, right?"

Qin Donglin understood.

It seemed that the young lady's family fortune was not very abundant, and she was starting to think about saving money.

"I've asked."

Qin Donglin pointed his long finger on the table and said concisely: "It's impossible to make out even half a word. The Whirling Sword only said it was the divine language from the Prehistoric Era and nothing more."

Qiu Shi's wishful thinking went awry. She replied with a slow "oh", leaned back against the chair again, looking listless as if her bones had been pulled out.

Qin Donglin looked up at her and reminded her, "Let's go."

Qiu Shi waved at him. After a soft "um", she said, "Go ahead. The opera troupe invited by this tavern has arrived. I'll go back after watching the opera."

It meant she wouldn't return to the main city mansion for the time being.

The main city was her territory, so Qin Donglin wasn't worried.

He turned around and was about to step out when he bumped into a woman with a black veil covering her face, only showing a pair of cold eyes.

"Chong Ying pays respects to the young lady."

As soon as the woman entered the private room, she took off the black veil on her face, revealing a heroic countenance. Then she bowed to Qin Donglin and said in a flat, monotonous voice, "I pay respects to Young Master Qin."

Qin Donglin knew she was the leader of Qiu Shi's secret guards. Her sudden appearance in public must be to report something to Qiu Shi. He had very little curiosity. Some things, if Qiu Shi didn't tell him, he never bothered to ask. One question would lead to a heap of troubles.

Small troubles Qiu Shi could handle on her own. Big troubles would come to him even if he didn't ask.

Qin Donglin nodded and stepped out of the private room. Chang Ting followed behind him.

Before he had walked ten steps, there came Qiu Shi's faint and somewhat surprised voice from the private room behind: "...Awake?"

"So it's this condition... Interesting."

Immediately after, there was the sound of tables and chairs moving. It seemed that the people inside didn't want to listen to the opera anymore and were about to leave directly: "Let's go and have a look."

Qin Donglin stopped in his tracks.

Chang Ting also stopped and asked him in confusion, "Young Master?"

Chong Ying and Ming Yue pushed the door open and came out. Qiu Shi's gaze immediately met that of the man who was half - leaning on the railing, looking lazy.

Outside the private room, at the winding staircase, waiters delivering dishes shuttled back and forth from time to time, and there were also guests being led upstairs, their conversations quite loud.

In such an environment, Qin Donglin rarely pulled the corner of his mouth into a smile. His eyes were so cold that it seemed there was a layer of broken ice floating in them, and that thin smile didn't reach his eyes at all.

He glanced at Qiu Shi. After a while, he asked casually, "Not going to eat the pastries?"

"Not going to listen to the opera either?"