After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

The two embraced.

Their posture was ambiguous and tender.

The people imprisoned in the cave were stunned. They never imagined that the adult's sister would be chosen by the Miao holy maiden and become her "sparrow in the palm of her hand".

"Huaixi, didn't you have something to say to them?"

"Then tell me."

"I... am listening here."

Sang Che had no intention of letting go of Yin Huaixi. She placed her fingers on Yin Huaixi's slender wrist, listening to the rustling sounds coming from deep within the cave.

Those empty, deep eyes made everyone swallow hard in fear; the burly man who had been howling just moments before had long since turned into a pool of blood.

The exposed bones weren't white... they were black, like ink stains, sending a chill down your spine!

"Ah Che, why don't you rest for a while? Just now...didn't that person want to talk to you?"

With Sang Che by her side, Yin Huaixi didn't dare to utter a single word.

She could only try to get Sang Che away from her.

Otherwise, there are some things she won't be able to convey.

Hearing her concern for him, Sang Che smiled even more broadly, like a rhododendron blooming on a cliff in a valley.

"It's alright. Ah Shui probably came here to see if there are any medicine people who suit her taste."

"Her talent in Gu refining is no less than mine, but she is too fond of relying on medicine people."

"That would be a waste of energy."

Jia Wan, who had followed slowly, was immediately displeased when she heard Sang Che teasing her.

The few braids tied behind her swayed and jingled like silver bells.

"Ah Che!"

Jiawan retorted confidently, "Ache, how could you make up stories about me like that? It's all because these Han people are so blind, coming to our Fengming Mountain village every day to arrest you. If we don't arrest them and punish them properly, how will they know they're wrong!"

"Besides, it's an honor for them to be eaten by my Gu worms!"

Jiawan is right about that.

These Han people are quite ungrateful, trying one after another to sneak into her house to steal the "Gu King," so she shouldn't blame her for taking action.

Sang Che remained clinging to Yin Huaixi's side as if she had no bones. She lazily said to Jia Wan, "If you want to choose a medicine person, just pick one yourself."

"I didn't say you couldn't use it."

Jiawan had no interest in the group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people that the other Miao people had captured.

Some were either as fat as a pig, covered in grease, or as thin as a bamboo pole, with not an ounce of flesh on them.

It bends over when the wind blows.

She knew that the people imprisoned in Sang Che's cave were all carefully selected medicine people, specifically for Sang Che to refine and raise Gu.

And to cultivate the "Gu King".

So she likes to come to Sang Che's place for a stroll, but if she wants to take people out, she still needs Sang Che's permission.

After all, the group of people outside the cave didn't even listen to the Miao King's orders, they only listened to Sang Che's words.

"That...that's fine too."

"Ah Che, you said it yourself!"

"No taking it back!"

Jiawan's expression changed instantly. In a good mood, she picked up the key from the side and opened the iron gate.

With her feet on the wet ground, Jiawan's gaze first fell on the captured imperial spies. She bent over, her silver ornaments dangling.

Before I could even speak.

Then Sang Che stopped him, saying, "I'm afraid these few won't do."

"Ah Shui, go inside and pick something out."

Jiawan: "???"

She was puzzled, thinking about Sang Che's earlier move to remove all the guards from the cave.

Curious, he asked, "Why doesn't it work?"

Sang Che: "No means no. No matter how much you complain, you won't be able to choose the last one."

Jia Wan, having been firmly rejected by Sang Che, had no choice but to give up on the medicine man she had just chosen. She clapped her hands and said regretfully, "What a pity."

"This body is strong and powerful, enough for me to toss and turn for a long time, but someone won't let me!"

Yin Huaixi, who had been worried about her second sister's subordinates, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Sang Che kept his word in front of her and didn't actually abandon this group of people to Jia Wan as medicine people.

Feeling Yin Huaixi's body lighten, Sang Che released her.

Her eyes still held a faint smile, like the bright light of spring, showing no trace of gloom or eeriness.

"Huaixi, did you see that?"

"I'm not lying to you. I said I wouldn't touch the people you're protecting, so I won't throw them to feed the Gu worms."

...

Jiawan stretched and yawned.

He looked at these "outsiders" who were being held captive with great interest.

She has been refining the "Forget-Me-Not Gu" recently. Planting this Gu can relieve all worries in the world.

However, compared to Sang Che, who had already mastered the Gu, Jia Wan could only refine the ordinary "Forget-Me-Not Gu". Each time she used it to test the Gu, the medicine person did forget the worries in their mind, but they also lost their seven emotions and six desires.

Like a mannequin, it knows neither crying nor laughing, neither happiness nor sadness.

Hua He once joked with her, saying that she had created a puppet.

Jiawan had no choice but to accept her fate.

"Is there...water...?"

As she walked, Jiawan heard a woman's weak voice. She turned her head and saw a woman in a light blue dress lying on the stone wall. Her face was pale and haggard, and her hair was disheveled.

But it's not hard to tell that she's a natural beauty.

Reaching out to touch the water bottle tucked at her waist, Jia Wan thought to herself, "This is the dew I collected to feed the Gu worms. It would be such a waste to give it to this woman like this."

Let's not give it to them!

Besides, this woman is so sickly, even if we save her, she won't become a medicine patient!

...

Perhaps to make Yin Huaixi feel more at ease, Sang Che finally walked to the table and chairs in the cave.

The windows carved into the stone wall offer a view of countless green bamboos swaying in the wind on Phoenix Singing Mountain, surrounded by green hills, white clouds, and a thin mist.

Sang Che touched the teacup with her fingers, repeatedly checking it with her palm. Her slow movements showed that Yin Huaixi was genuinely afraid she would burn herself with the tea.

Forget it, let's finish this quickly.

Yin Huaixi walked in, and looking at these unfamiliar faces, she didn't know where to begin.

This face, so similar to the adult's, only lacking the adult's imposing aura, reassured everyone.

At least... being locked up here isn't entirely useless.

At least we know where the adult's sister is!

If we can escape and bring this news to the master, he will surely be delighted!

Are you hungry?

"Would you like me to...find you something to eat?"

Everyone nodded, and one of them spoke up: "Excuse me... miss, do you have any Jade Crabapple Pastries here?"

Hearing this, Yin Huaixi was slightly taken aback.

"Yutangsu" is a specialty of the imperial city, and these people are not yamen runners that Second Sister randomly transferred from Lingshui City.

They were indeed from the Five Cities Garrison, and their question... was asking her if there were any more people captured from the capital.

Yin Huaixi shook her head, her eyes dimming.

"I don't know if there is any here..."

In the distance, Sang Che's clear, bell-like voice interrupted Yin Huaixi's speech.

She still had one leg raised, her indigo dress swaying slightly.

"have."

"Of course I have such a good thing as Jade Tang Pastry here."

With her hands supporting her on the stone table, Sang Che slowly stood up, her unseen eyes somehow filled with tender affection.

It's so unforgettable that you can't forget it after just one glance.

Even in my dreams, it clings to me tightly.

"Huaixi, if you want to eat food from the imperial city, I can find it for you."

"It was just a small favor."

The group of people who were tied up were quite surprised that Sang Che actually knew what "Yu Tang Su" was.

How could she possibly know about the local snacks in the capital city!

"Huaixi, are you not going to ask any more questions?"

"You've gone to so much trouble to ask me, I can't just... ask them what they're eating?"

Turning her head, Yin Huaixi saw Sang Che slowly approaching, and it took her a long time to recover.

Sang Che...does she know everything?

I've done so much myself...

Was it all in vain?

Do not…

There's still a chance...