But Mu Chen was dead drunk, unresponsive no matter how they called. He lay like a puddle of mud on the bed, impossible to pull off. Normally so talkative, now silent in his stupor— the more they looked, the more they disliked him.
Xun Changqing kicked him a couple of times, then led Zi Jin up to the mountaintop herself. Unfamiliar with the area, she followed Zi Jin’s lead. She remembered the Sect Leader’s Study wasn’t far—maybe Wei Lingci and Wang Pingjun were there. If not, they could burn the study to draw them out. It was the simplest plan.
They couldn’t go together—it was too conspicuous. She sent Zi Jin to start the fire while she searched room by room. Luckily, most rooms were dark. Looking around, only one room to the north had lights on.
Xun Changqing moved lightly, using the surrounding trees for cover, and soon reached the window. It was latched from inside and couldn’t be opened from outside.
She pulled a dagger from her bosom and spent a while working the blade from outside to slowly shift the latch. She gently pried open a gap.
Inside, Wang Pingjun sat by the bed, his expression unclear. Xun Changqing widened the gap and stuck her head in. To her shock, Wei Lingci lay on the bed, peacefully allowing Wang Pingjun to undo her outer robe.
No resistance. Xun Changqing felt annoyed. She’d worried if Wei Lingci had been drugged and climbed the mountain in the dead of night to check, only to see this. Later, Wei Lingci might even blame her for ruining her fun.
Damn it, Wei Lingci was a total bastard.
She pulled her head back and turned to leave, but something felt off. Wei Lingci hadn’t said a word, and the hand on the outer side hadn’t moved. Wrong. She reopened the window, stood on tiptoe, and peered again. Still no movement.
So the drug did this kind of dirty deed. Xun Changqing wanted to jump in, but realized she might not beat Wang Pingjun alone. If she went in, she might fail to save Wei Lingci and lose her own life instead.
Stomping outside, she noticed lights flaring from the west, illuminating the area. As Xun Changqing paced, Zi Jin ran up, pointing west. “It’s lit. All books inside—caught fire instantly.”
With Zi Jin here, it was easier. Gazing at the red glow to the west, Xun Changqing pushed her inside and shouted from the doorway, “Fire! The Sect Leader’s Study is on fire!”
The implication was obvious. Once Zi Jin rushed in, she yelled about the fire outside, urging Wang Pingjun to help extinguish it.
Xun Changqing climbed a tree to hide temporarily. His good deed interrupted, Wang Pingjun was displeased, but the Sect Leader’s Study held Lingyun Sect’s precious ancient books—he couldn’t be careless. He quickly threw on his clothes and ran out, dragging Zi Jin along.
Probably afraid Zi Jin would spot the person on the bed.
After they left, Xun Changqing jumped down from the tree. Seeing no one around, she gently pushed open the door and swiftly closed it behind her. She tiptoed to the bed and checked the person on it, pushing her—no response.
Indeed unconscious. Xun Changqing frowned in distress. Wang Pingjun would be back in at most half an hour. If she couldn’t wake her, trouble.
She couldn’t carry her away either. First, she had to redress her outer robe. Fortunately, aside from the outer garment, everything else was intact. Zi Jin had arrived just in time. It took her a while to find the robe in the corner by the bed.
As she puzzled over how to dress her, Zi Jin returned. Seeing the robe in her hands, she exclaimed in shock, “Young Master, what are you doing? Men and women shouldn’t be so intimate.”
It was just putting on a robe—why bring up men and women now? Xun Changqing gripped the robe tightly, bit her lip, and glared at the fussing Zi Jin. After a pause, she handed over the robe unwillingly. “Hurry and get her dressed before anyone comes back. I’ll watch outside for you.”
Zi Jin took the robe, noting Xun Changqing’s angry face, unsure what she’d said wrong. But time was short—no time to dwell. She helped Wei Lingci into the robe, picked her up, and took a secluded path back to Purple Ying Pavilion, avoiding everyone.
Together, they got her into the room. Carrying her had been the hardest part for Zi Jin; now she sighed in relief but felt exhausted, sitting on the footstool by the bed. “Young Master, when Miss Wei wakes up, how will you explain this?”
After entering, Xun Changqing had sealed the doors and windows tight. Hearing Zi Jin’s words, the anger she’d just quelled surged again. She huffed, “Explain what? She got drugged herself—why should I explain to her? Should I tell her I ruined her fun or something?”
Her words stunned Zi Jin. After catching her breath, she stood, looking at Xun Changqing’s puffed cheeks with a puzzled gaze. “Young Master, it feels like you’re angry… angry at Miss Wei. But why?”
Caught off guard, Xun Changqing’s face flushed red. She stammered for a while before managing, “Angry… Of course I’m angry… Look at her like this. She told me to protect myself and stay alert when she left, but she ends up like this. What right does she have to lecture me next time?”
Xun Changqing’s lips twitched, but her eyes lingered on the woman on the bed nearby, a hint of concern gradually showing.
Rested, Zi Jin hopped up, thinking it was a joke and ignoring the details. She straightened her clothes and said, “Young Master, the Sect Leader’s Study burning will involve a lot of people. I’ll go check the situation outside. You stay with Miss Wei.”
