Chapter 20
After being brought back to the Su residence, Jinbao first followed Doctor Que’s advice, tearfully expressing his thoughts to his young master. Although his master assured him that he should speak up if he felt wronged and that his master would stand up for him, what could Jinbao say at that point?QOnEdIJcyZWLPAIPFUrnBXJnLbNRUY
With Que Siming standing behind him like a demon, Jinbao could even feel the heat radiating from his body.aFfhaGPzAzUIgomjuwbpQiWXucotDt
oPqFkCBIfyBtgWLEven if there hadn’t been that incident between them when they were kids, Jinbao had no intention of going against Que Siming’s wishes. Just seeing how concerned his young master was made him feel that this little suffering was nothing.ilYyXtFkORwgiLdtSYUAKAgdLQfuap
rrRjNEuQIazRGPrBesides, it didn’t hurt that much, he wasn’t being forced to do hard labor, or being sent to walk through fire. If he thought about it, it really wasn’t a big deal. Moreover, he did feel a bit guilty towards Que Siming.fsoEGgcKWvdcamkxprpXYlmNVuudro
LMKiNrpKwmfnGMGHowever, his master clearly didn’t believe that he would willingly become Que Siming’s servant; otherwise, why would he have run away?tWaUgPJwDsYztaCWRmDNBNLsWoXEye
QNufgMLcruODZCPJinbao, being clumsy with words, could only stammer and struggle to explain himself while sneaking glances at Que Siming’s impatient expression, growing more anxious inside.BEOxqMeiWvPizDDlcAEvZDYXhsdAvr
UhEuRIUdrcsWCiUAs he was speaking, the martial artists in the room, with their keen senses, all heard the strange noises coming from outside.spLgggeWPEfCDgRiVkdPDCnyeSXJlU
lmhwNsrcUwVfBsKSu Yin’s face was the first to darken, and both Zhao Cai and Jinbao also caught on to what was happening.AqKeLZpNgpWyQzISFUdbzJOcXpJbZd
KoVVXllaNgRSTpgQue Siming suddenly grabbed Jinbao, holding him with one arm from behind, then looked on with a mischievous grin and teased Jin Xiaobao, “Your little lover has returned.”uMcDINrrIVYlONWATlPNsbDmtFNcTd
CvFvKYmfVajukXiYoung Master Jin’s face drained of all color, freezing him on the spot.InqsIzxlYYocosKGRhICOyjLDbAAkr
PMwMvQnAUMLDLzEJinbao recognized the voice as belonging to Zhong Zhenghuai En and grew anxious, tugging at his young master, “Young Master, let’s go inside.”GRaaaoIRvaXXzbcYeLHciiGTFMLrSF
OMMnZZTDbFgxgbkBut Jin Xiaobao refused, instead ordering Zhao Cai and Jinbao to go protect the Master and Mistress immediately.BZMblUCtMrrFhufZqJlWQiAoOmsADx
ufKXatHXOZSsVrvSeeing that both Su Yin and Que Siming were present, the two guessed that Zhong Zhenghuai En wouldn’t dare to do anything to their young master, so they quickly rushed to the Jin family elders’ courtyard.jhbNifCohfMYoFHCjRiVwkLquBKBGf
GKAcyeWWACsWEDSLater, Jinbao learned from Que Siming that Zhong Zhenghuai En had brought a crucial ingredient needed to detoxify his young master, but didn’t stay long.hPgFgIhhsksBFtXJJbyAdrMlKISmGq
QekTQWJIBWlwiVJThanks to this farce, his young master didn’t have time to interrogate him, and his situation with Que Siming was conveniently overlooked. Thus, he naturally continued to stay in Que Siming’s courtyard.SZJPkRbhWrpBhgIErgDoecIMoHoKpC
OzFLPcfAEmsOatzAfter coming to terms with things, Jinbao resumed eating and drinking as usual, and by evening, he was sound asleep.EvEzNaKEDXOpjxOiwNttrqLRMAfltj
WFlwNPjyyNYhLioIn the middle of the night, he was suddenly shaken awake.DZHySBKrxIfPffFGFfHywyArcudBxl
FaQsMiQAZaoVNczJinbao opened his sleepy eyes to see a masked figure dressed in black.EQYaHFOmgUgWyBUenfOJWGbrdTFLvl
oAVmqGHXyyDzJLKAlthough the face was covered, he recognized those eyes immediately.orToJTfbPlhAnaMZCsSMtbkqkSgJEu
blIsGWQNZpbusfD“Huh? What do you want?”GbRkcRAndlSbkupGrLuOIJINNgsCOy
dTLLgIwxmYJRGQxQue Siming tossed a set of night clothes onto his face and said, “Change clothes, you’re coming with me.”lAlogDtQfxyaHCXglGShTVRBgXeREx
IWvJuXIqaxWTZPWJinbao, confused, asked, “Where are we going?”BzmowbzmGscBqsxyFKaILldMTPtNCh
kthnHbfjJYVOqPF“Hurry up and change.”uXQVJOvPLtaeuqnhvwzHdAoyTeztdD
DKadERvJTlPFrIXJinbao, with no other choice, grabbed the clothes and started putting them on.UPdbudjfSJWhVUnDpSIbCpGPMenSjq
dqIWHkVrENFQEPNOnce dressed, he swiftly jumped out of bed, even yawning.kDCdQdfRgoHdYUExVamVrDLwvPTlPp
frAOtqtEHJDiSItQue Siming pulled him along, “You want to know what I’ve been up to these years? I’ll tell you on the way.”wWejDhTCTzdZuUYbaLIBWZWPcOGkkg
jMmpaWGxJTSqvbuJinbao perked up at this but then worried about his young master, thinking, What if something happens to him while we’re gone? “When are we coming back?”wtNjbCUCOzPiuCChgVQnZJTPVTlgHD
JdtiCcwGFbUvhAp“Two or three days. If everything goes smoothly, we’ll be back the day after tomorrow.”UvXaoRCQSShUyQXDmSSbuEWisAZwzd
wwVfxKLiOJBHGVeThey exited through the rear gate of the Su residence, where several people were already waiting with horses.uLPBZuJfoyxzIMuEWfMRgzexNeECHo
kHEMHikRIsCsBWZThe leader clasped his hands and said, “Young Master, are you really going? The Master said—”HSfOJmgUZyVARJpsFLoUebmnVKeIfE
JXZagLSrRILExyRQue Siming mounted the horse prepared for him, “Cut the crap. You can follow if you want; we can go on our own if you don’t.”FdUnWbKrXvrtbvxkiFuIPUeKjwjUvp
BiYVzxAooVAgfAKThe man sighed, then mounted his horse as well. The six of them rode off toward the southeast.nhMqNjnzlfhejTNhmCxepjZcAsDOIL
EgRJmRnYaDRTLnM“How much do you know about my father, and what do you remember?”VTZHyMsAhfzkAxZkZEhpDcHIQrPnrL
CdJNpRhjbsqTQrKThey were resting in an inn when Que Siming asked this, half-lying on the bed. Jinbao sat cross-legged on the floor, leaning against the bed.hzcpZwkKygLfNpJCmXGwnrKsTmRNyz
PmKSCSPYINLsVjEJinbao thought for a moment and decided not to mention in front of others that Que Siming’s father was accused of treason. “What I know comes from what people in our area have said…”sSQrfeKRvyGrzrxAUflPXoGQMeQvQy
ygZjqdeMThmYfUV“Did they say my father committed treason?” Que Siming sneered, “My father is a national hero. How could he commit treason? All of this is a plot by Yu Mingjing and Huang Xiang.”ZMVbmEqkyxsmzxMeXWxlFEEHPUNOdm
DmDgusogiNZiScyJinbao remembered that Yu Mingjing’s name had indeed been mentioned that night. It sounded familiar, but he couldn’t recall the details.njvtefLnNqgwXIWyTAWgCnPpfjFcbl
ESPIVHFfnQsIDrH“Who is Yu Mingjing? And Huang Xiang?”yBkrGZbVRgYgvqDcxdWQJjnnUiBIDf
ajXTOaRJARlpZRL“Huang Xiang is the current national uncle, the elder brother of the emperor’s most favored consort. As for Yu Mingjing, you met him when you were young.”nrFTDeQiVCTncpZyUVFYlzceAYgfVD
DWznfagIxJKiDFH“Really? Who is he?”FoceoInFlTIDbRUyEoreoxKqlnminN
ywhhjnxFOkeSifwQue Siming pondered for a moment, “Have you heard the legend of General Yue defeating the southern barbarians?”xYrhtVMmfLxejxCPezhvhijpBjckeO
pyQLmdKiynJHnwk“Yes, I’ve heard of it. General Yue personally beheaded the leader of the thirteen tribes in the southern region.”HQKcIGYnOAvUgoiLjPZbsPIWvbwcJs
cEZxUpnDMGNyTAs“That’s right. The leader of those thirteen tribes was the chief of the Wu Bo tribe.”FiwGHmFVZibAcWJzlFtoXQgjyCAiHA
BTcxrdADclBUVVL“After my father led the charge and killed the Wu Bo tribe chief, he took something from the Wu Bo tribe, which later became the root of the problem.”slhVCjKafVgkczPIkTZRYcnRxVSQEO
KJjJrjDLDHCNnmEJinbao swallowed nervously, “What was it?”pvHmPclKpkfXraXHeuHMsyUoFfvGzj
rbxexCEnpXjoArP“The Wu Bo tribe had a treasure passed down through generations called the Longevity Stone. It is said to cure all illnesses, eliminate chronic ailments, extend life, and maintain eternal youth. The chief of the Wu Bo tribe was rumored to be over a hundred years old but still looked to be in his forties or fifties.”tvGJaQUIKWyMoFSNLuWNNIWAFamOjJ
EkJFSvnzXamvjXcJinbao widened his eyes in shock. Reaching seventy was considered very old; he had never heard of anyone truly living past a hundred.FbKrKsYEyDlDZystCWyYvCLqTgktSL
HqOQysSUVubVRni“After my father killed him, he took the Longevity Stone but didn’t give it to the emperor.”VHVbJopTZyRKUqKDSFFjevCgluamDa
pLblVOGSupGPEpL“My father was nearing forty at the time, with four wives and concubines, yet none could bear him an heir. He had consulted many famous doctors, who all said the problem was with him but no one could cure it. Keeping that stone was a personal hope that the treasure might indeed have divine power and help him produce an heir.”DJOBSggeSGsCfBEAwXfdqWBgrCPiEU
CgyrlgXxuJDslsh“It was this Longevity Stone that sowed the seeds of disaster.”iBToiCnEiibrUjvOBkvfteAbBFnTdY
MZxPMrcIhjKshvx“My father kept the Longevity Stone with him. After reuniting with my mother, she became pregnant within three months. However, I was born prematurely and was very weak. Many doctors said I wouldn’t survive a full month, so my father placed the stone on me…”eQwzXpVThgzJTFvrtxtLhLwfEfUEdm
luYZylUpqdDcDKmJinbao listened intently, feeling a bit moved. Even though Que Siming spoke with a calm exterior, Jinbao could sense the dark emotions suppressed within him.ulSCXHoZLmuBnTkkvldkTKMYXKdohG
QdgzNGDBnciyWIl“At that time… my father’s reputation among the people even exceeded that of the young emperor. To have greater merit than the ruler was a serious taboo. Although the emperor highly valued my father, he was still unable to manage state affairs, which were entirely under the control of his maternal grandfather, the Left Chancellor. My father felt the pressure and, before the Left Chancellor could act, he resigned from his position to temporarily preserve the lives of his family.”bQTXarOQLWEXACOnezvwPGnpTdPQST
RsoSXcMURrZAfrB“At that time, rumors about the Longevity Stone had already spread throughout the court and the public, but there was no concrete evidence.”TXzMOiRNEieSqRckMBQGHLPplwRvjd
lfRwWGgzwTjsJTs“After a few years of peaceful days, Yu Mingjing came to my home…”pjXdUQJorauzWHasNHPoCoiFVhiKYZ
FosgdxvpXGikcPS“I later learned that he was the youngest son of the Wu Bo tribe chief. During the chaos, a Wu warrior had fought their way out to save him. After a few years, he changed his name and claimed to be proficient in medicine. He came to my home seeking revenge.”dBNPypwtUCKnUczvbCxMbbpcpNHBrO
FELrzrpiVrMMBRNQue Siming’s fists slowly clenched, “He first poisoned my mother, then colluded with Huang Xiang, who coveted the Longevity Stone, to frame my father. This led to our family being confiscated and our home raided. I was rescued by my master while being transported. Yu Mingjing tried to take me but failed, so he placed a blood curse on me!”yCMeoIHrBdEKuwjEZWrPTvgxeansmf
YJwoIauzcdDBgndJinbao was deeply shocked, realizing the hidden depths of the past events.eMXXSWtVktvFjKyYcKRebvrpeJCjrO
UagrTQhbLxWHsDuNo wonder there was a severe drought in Huai West at that time, and some said it was due to General Yue’s grievances, with heaven showing its anger. Now it seemed there might be some truth to that.YUctvsaPLXBLUtyYUoaSkqelzfuRSg
pRNmYaCsTFcdZFkThe legendary General Yue, whose story had remained vivid for over a decade, suddenly felt closer and more tangible due to Que Siming’s revelations. The feeling of uncovering the hidden truth was both astonishing and somewhat melancholic.iYESojHcaucmYeJANpmQGGKMMYoBUH
IJFdAoEwbfHcaRjSeeing the tangled veins on Que Siming’s face, Jinbao couldn’t help but think about how much this person must have suffered in his childhood.OFJtHsWCquRvCmFgEGxlRBZYFufHat
YwwXjJLObehAOtvQue Siming noticed his gaze and touched his eyelids, “Yes, it’s these things.”XPQnaBtaIyiHZowdmBdwpWwhUiUwWv
GiwtIzqfmRdXmfm“Years ago, Yu Mingjing implanted a blood worm in me. The mother worm is nourished by his blood. As the host for the child worm, whenever I am within his sight, he can control my body.”imQGHFVXogysCxPQghqSXtjLNsOSKV
ZDdvsjptIJTkdIYJinbao couldn’t help but reach out and touch his eyelids. The skin was smooth with no noticeable lumps. The veins seemed to be underneath the skin, which made him frown and ask, “Does this mean you have to avoid seeing him for the rest of your life? How do you remove the worm?”rcSYzHeFsvzPTRixtGyLMdYoEdoZVg
vwTlPjPYUPZRwsxQue Siming sighed, “To remove the worm, it requires the blood of the mother worm’s host to lure it out. I can’t see him, but I must find him; otherwise, I don’t know how long I can endure.”bTIDPKCToxCiTOCgXGHqspOHwpOlmY
PAAWkzOXUiaOPKo“Will… this lead to death?”AfAhLzXpXJHJXHYXwboYqNXUYzOBnH
vcQOghXkufExxyxQue Siming shook his head, “No, the child worm only leaves marks on my temples at first. Over time, it crawls up to the center of my forehead. When it congregates there, I will completely lose my mind and memory, becoming a puppet of the mother worm’s host.”NVymgBDpzkOEqiNKDfEmmbZxNqYuOf
LvnpRoYjrHiTIBdJinbao felt a chill run down his spine. The blood worm was truly terrifying; once successful, it could fully control a person. He looked into Que Siming’s eyes and asked, “How much time do you have left? Has the worm already crawled over most of your eyes?”uItLJUwKtdbznRASqNwdmRQMoVDCgx
HfcHIjTDQcvBnWF“If Yu Mingjing had taken me back then, I would have become his puppet, completely under his control within three months. However, I’ve been protected by my master all these years, and Yu Mingjing has been unable to get close to me. The child worm, deprived of the mother worm’s blood, remains in a dormant state, growing very slowly. It has only reached this stage after thirteen years. But slow growth doesn’t mean it stops growing. If I don’t remove the blood worm soon, eventually, I will become a soulless corpse.”XUOBIHBtQbOFYruPUcbahxHiquBcEW
cITAdyCmgiJIpgjJinbao inhaled sharply, “Then… since you can’t get close to Yu Mingjing, maybe someone else can kill him and bring back his blood.”KoRNqxCLUUnnurqnEBmDhGsQpeLKga
YqCGnqJaRPqhnxCQue Siming nodded, “But his blood must be fresh. Even if it’s been out for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, it won’t be effective. I am hiding from him while searching for him, and he is doing the same. He has to avoid me while trying to find me. Although Yu Mingjing is skilled in dark arts, his martial abilities are mediocre. After thirteen years apart, the blood worm’s potency has greatly diminished. If I remain strong-willed, it is possible to escape his control before the child worm is fully mature. If he rashly approaches me, he might be captured by me or my companions. However, I’ve never been under the mother worm’s control, so I don’t know its full power and can’t take reckless risks. Therefore, I also can’t approach him. We are in this deadlock, but he can wait, while I cannot.”mpFKCnbKeNdeiQEklOBGGUudMAwFxV
IzUXUuAOvnsTeds“So, you came here to…”EXvJeBbTctgGesQhMgNarhGbIMYBai
NYBegeBaUsqAktz“No, I haven’t yet found Yu Mingjing’s exact whereabouts. But I’ve heard that the Wu family’s soldiers have been spotted in Xiangbi Village, about ten miles away. They have had contact with Yu Mingjing, so finding them might lead to clues about him.”ksOFlywWOGqBdqBgGqXbrazhxjHppk
bhziZUghMfpyQusJinbao nodded, “So, why did you bring me…”ZKxaVsgaGUxdGbsVSgXjEVvSvXPVBx
EchxBXcipDiYBoMQue Siming proudly said, “My matters are your matters.”bjkLeQTkiclIXrnwMnlgOuszERpgpU
mCmKvHXWYKWJjAEJinbao forced a smile, “If I come across such a villain like Yu Mingjing, I’ll help you deal with him.”KbCCODCiHHhfTMiNSyiZMctArlbdKb
YpQfCIsWDfjIjBXQue Siming leaned in and pinched his face, “That’s right. Just like when we were young. I hated him, so you followed suit. Now that I have a mortal feud with him, it’s the same as you having a grudge against him. If he tries to harm me, you need to protect me, or you’re not a man.”djHIvalpoKfmeyHVfOkXCjqHezDJzm
LDMezPYWPLJtGsy“Why do you keep bringing up whether I’m a man or not? Setting that aside, if something happens to you, what will my master do? I’ll protect you with my life.”SraaCesGxQZrTChlyKSXVsSChCUtex
actgTEvmQCcRKNlThe physician found this response quite displeasing and his face darkened immediately, “Master, master, that useless Jin Xiaobao—what’s so worthy of your loyalty?”oEoHfeidEmXrXVALZzxOocOyufFCzw
TsIwzvSNVBQczlRJinbao opened his mouth to retort but couldn’t come up with anything praiseworthy about his master, making his eyes twitch in frustration. “We… we have a good relationship. We grew up together.”ZZjofecIixlipwvsSexvRPkzMMwmzU
ZrALPePYFoUWTmq“When you called him ‘master,’ Jin Xiaobao was not even around. Now, my situation is even more dangerous than Jin Xiaobao’s. Why aren’t you so worried about me? Hmm?” Que Siming pinched his chin and said fiercely.oTGxBCkepmWctggTCCLDgAWvfzsCkq
TxKLOTzGZKFJCnrJinbao wanted to say that he was tall and healthy, and it was hard to see him in danger, but he didn’t dare. He hesitated and explained, “I didn’t forget, it’s just…”TkvSCeJVYUyVbTwsMdtlxWfhrmuNyv
YwKQYgpXouzdwulQue Siming jumped up and threw himself at Jinbao, “How dare you use that as an excuse! My father died unjustly because he wanted a son to continue his lineage with a damn stone. Now, the bloodline will end with me because of you. If my parents knew how you treated me, they would never forgive you, even from the afterlife.”GkIoWQsWyOYrXATRdZnxLipsByoYtP
YckuwPFtVYpvvvlJinbao was terrified by these words, his mind racing with fear. He quickly covered Que Siming’s mouth, “You… you can’t say such things!”ICFSfKyJwzjlxMoENbQunGQBvHlIdL
iMPLAoLZPrqoAciThe idea of being cursed for causing the extinction of a lineage was terrifying enough. On top of that, the thought of facing an angry spirit in the afterlife made Jinbao shudder. He wondered what kind of sin he had committed to deserve such torment, both mentally and morally.XucAbJrOdcVRYCRiLNgqtsSxrxutWG
PpzYUqEYuFOGZYxQue Siming stuck out his tongue and lightly teased Jinbao’s palm. Jinbao, startled, quickly pulled his hand away.RuxSWyTsdfgMAKmhholDVzOqiXSYYq
BSnzXfqVAnbYqhBThe physician leaned in with a warning tone, “So, will you be good to me in the future?”xyhEDeOPMgVgBysbnAkPKoMmkhRoDe
XWScUSvoAugTGJcJinbao nodded vigorously, “Yes! Yes! I will be good!”XtCMbdiRUQFSAiSpVjrVEpiGgYRjLR
AsAMgjhPIRPUGeB“How good?”SftUezsYvTXExqMeaJWVbpyKXblcGs
LSdpYTkZQzdlGIL“Uh… as good as I am to my master.”ZXWwokEnGJSLfkaHurVxVCkXXuvmwP
oHAAtvklvOczSCh“No. Do you dare compare me to Jin Xiaobao?”MlNBBYDNNxTukjkiwrKTFhavijsLrW
QwoopMhJoYGSNEp“Then… even better than my master… is that good enough?”ZLxIXRwODPJwGBQyhIRVcwmPGZSuPn
PcHGbAXnQUKlFJH“You must put me first.”plHPGCnNYZVQZlLbdMscTSWYQhKpSe
wlSmjOOpMzCHmmvJinbao was earnest and couldn’t lie. He wasn’t sure how to actually achieve this, and with Que Siming pressing him for promises, he felt increasingly uneasy.wksZzBdPGyjdDhfHwaWORCseHgVZAM
CemVugvtSdyOfENQue Siming narrowed his eyes, “My father is watching…”YYriUvBSrgJmjmNBNKHdBthvgPZrCC
pgWwEONZaWEAPEIJinbao was terrified, feeling as if a chilling aura was suddenly rising behind him, as if a pair of vengeful eyes were glaring at him. He quickly nodded vigorously, “First! First!”lgdkFUDTknsojKfjQOHYrEgrMYcmMx
dniXScfLPErfBfvQue Siming then beamed with satisfaction, giving Jinbao a kiss on the lips before turning over and resting his head on Jinbao’s lap. “Come on, give me a head massage.”WvuthmIPbiUGNfHAdmtnLAPffyCCTy
yTVHYiewriTFWPlJinbao’s cold hands gently massaged Que Siming’s head.ygqDJTeqDAkoiKJtMMzKhzcKdjBeKn
JcWlnlkshCHaAHJ“By the way, haven’t you eaten?”ltentGcNGgCEdbUiePMMjTTQVQQEGo
puYxdpyPxGyuDtTJinbao thought, “If I really apply force, I could crush your skull.”KRShauyJBVlypISoURJRnEOYHbSmGL
gxXINtqFBWwGNaaQue Siming lazily said, “If you curse me in your heart, I can’t hear it, but my father can.”zSEbcDkvLGyfieCAnduUGXPhQJZsmz
hLBiqRgTSHBtnkDJinbao was on the verge of tears, “Physician, please spare me.”TErLCYjRYTxnTkYAaUPMzBwkmQFwja
BclZnrWcIAHdlcGThe physician smiled contentedly.HVfuMuhPCiQumCnNSdNGoQVRwxqjTW
SNLijJmEoucfdDDyZmLgWmCJvsSkLsHEHjSrzJZWPFbJz
iMENPafqARNvMVogynTKZHVmigbHkMKTvNZXXjMMLGqzC