Chen Qing’s warm breath disturbed the strands of hair at Su Mu’s temples. Although she had heard the “Venerable Master” she wanted to hear, Su Mu wasn’t happy at all.
Chen Qing’s restless hand at her waist made her body go soft while nearly panicking her heart.
Chen Qing gazed at Su Mu’s bare, fair, and tender little feet stepping on the floor.
She was just about to scoop her up and toss her onto the bed, to make her understand the price of forcing her to call out “Venerable Master.”
But then a buzzkill voice came from outside.
“Guest from beyond the mountains, I heard your companion has caught a cold. I have some medicine here that’s very effective for treating colds.”
The voice at the door belonged to the Ancient Miao Clan Chief who had brought Chen Qing to this house.
She knew that Chen Qing had come from outside the mountains to the village for some purpose.
She had originally thought Chen Qing would come looking for her yesterday to probe for information, but there had been no movement at all.
Yesterday, the only news she received was that Xiao Meng had run home crying and still refused to eat.
If Chen Qing made a move, she could still handle it.
But Chen Qing’s unusual quietness made the Clan Leader uneasy.
For a top expert like this to be scheming some unknown little tricks in secret, she had no confidence in defending against it.
In order to figure out Chen Qing’s purpose, she had come to pay a visit early in the morning.
Upon hearing that her companion had caught a cold, she had even specially brought two packs of good medicine.
However, seeing the several sets of bedding drying in the yard, she felt a bit puzzled.
Hadn’t this expert only been staying here for a little over a day? Why were there so many sets of bedding, and they seemed to be borrowed from the villagers.
But she knew that some experts, when their cultivation reached an extreme, always had quirks that set them apart from ordinary people.
Perhaps this expert just had a particular interest in washing bedding. She didn’t plan to pry too much into such trivial matters.
Having her good moment ruined unintentionally, Chen Qing could only release Su Mu from her embrace helplessly.
Ever since arriving in the village, she had been circling around this Traitorous Shizun and hadn’t properly attended to business.
Since the Ancient Miao Clan’s Clan Leader had come knocking personally, it was time to put learning Gu Technique on the agenda.
“Go back and put your shoes on.”
Seeing Su Mu’s bare feet exposed outside, Chen Qing’s inexplicable possessiveness flared up again.
“Oh.”
Seeing that Chen Qing had let her off the hook this time, Su Mu was thrilled to death.
As long as this Villain didn’t retaliate against her, she would say whatever and do whatever. If the Villain told her to go east, she absolutely wouldn’t go west.
After Su Mu ran back into the room to put on her shoes and outer garment, Chen Qing opened the door and stepped out of the room.
“Much trouble for you. My companion’s cold has already improved. The village physician’s medical skills are quite impressive.”
Chen Qing praised the village doctors.
First, it was indeed not bad. Second, it was to make it easier to bring up her request later.
The Clan Leader had no idea that Chen Qing was already setting a trap for her. Hearing her praise the village physicians’ skills, a flash of pride appeared in her eyes.
Chen Qing had unwittingly hit the nail on the head. The Ancient Miao Village might not excel in other areas, but when it came to medicine, they had some confidence.
After all, they dealt with the medicinal herbs from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains every day. Sitting atop such a treasure trove, the Ancient Miao People learned to identify herbs and study medicine from a young age.
“Haha, you’re too kind, guest. These two packs of mine can not only treat colds but also prevent them. The mountain chills are heavy—if you feel unwell, you can brew and take them in advance.”
The Clan Leader handed the two packs of medicine to Chen Qing. Though her eyes were full of pride, she still modestly said it was an overpraise.
Su Mu, who had finished dressing in the room, overheard the conversation between Chen Qing and the Clan Leader. She desperately wanted to rush out and refuse on Chen Qing’s behalf.
Who in their right mind brought bitter, hard-to-swallow herbal medicine when visiting? The medicine she had drunk before—could it have been given by this Clan Leader to the Villain?
At that thought, the gratitude Su Mu had felt toward the Clan Leader for saving her life instantly faded.
Chen Qing didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted the two packs of medicine she offered.
She might not need them herself, but the Shizun eavesdropping behind the door just might.
“The wind is strong outside. Please come in and sit.”
Chen Qing still had basic respect for an elder.
Hearing Chen Qing invite her in, Su Mu, who had been eavesdropping at the door, quickly stepped away from it and retreated a few steps, pretending she was just walking outward.
Chen Qing pushed open the door and saw her Shizun’s clumsy acting. She really wanted to flick her on the forehead a couple of times.
“Good day, Grandma!”
Su Mu’s “Grandma” instantly lifted the Ancient Miao Clan Chief’s mood.
What a pretty child—this was no wonder Xiao Meng was so smitten she wouldn’t eat.
The Ancient Miao Clan Chief responded to Su Mu amiably as well.
Only after inviting her in did Chen Qing awkwardly realize there were no tables or chairs in the room. In the end, the three of them went to the stone table and chairs in the yard.
Once Chen Qing and the Clan Leader sat down, the previously harmonious atmosphere instantly shifted.
Because they both knew it was time to discuss proper business.
The solemn atmosphere made Su Mu quietly scoot a bit closer to Chen Qing.
This old grandma looked a bit intimidating when she got serious.
“You’re a guest from beyond the mountains. Although there was a misunderstanding that led to conflict with our village before, I still hope you can get along peacefully with our village.”
“Of course.”
Chen Qing still held the initiative in the conversation for now, so she wasn’t in a hurry. She waited for the Clan Leader to ask the question she wanted to hear.
Seeing Chen Qing’s demeanor, the Ancient Miao Clan Chief sighed and continued.
“You went to such great lengths from beyond the mountains to find our village. I wonder what exactly you want. If it’s some rare medicinal herb, I will do my utmost to help.”
“The Clan Leader should know that I didn’t come this time for medicine.”
Hearing Chen Qing’s words, the already serious Clan Leader grew even more solemn and completely quashed the faint hope in her heart.
“Guest, you’ve come this time for our Ancient Miao Clan’s closely guarded secret, haven’t you?”
Chen Qing smiled and nodded.
“Please leave, guest. Even if you hold a knife to my neck, I won’t teach you Gu Technique.”
The Clan Leader stood up directly from the stone bench, glaring at Chen Qing in fury.
“Gu Technique is just a skill to begin with. What’s the harm in teaching it to me? I won’t learn it for free—Miao Village can have me act unconditionally three times in the future.”
It wasn’t boasting on Chen Qing’s part. For anyone, the chance of a Grandmaster acting unconditionally would be tempting.
After all, unless they pierced the heavens, it was equivalent to a life-saving measure.
However, in the face of this condition that seemed extremely enticing to ordinary people, the Clan Leader refused without a second thought.
“Please leave, guest. Though Miao Village isn’t invincible under the heavens, we still have the strength to protect ourselves. Gu Technique is our clan’s closely guarded secret. No matter what conditions you offer, I won’t teach it to you.”
The Clan Leader’s resolute attitude was within Chen Qing’s expectations.
After all, if the Miao Clan’s Gu Technique were so easily learned, it wouldn’t be shrouded in such mystery.
