Under the torture of the system, Ye Qingyun managed to extract it with great difficulty.
"Though I don't know what kind of poisonous bug this is, antibiotics should come in handy."
Clutching this thought, Ye Qingyun pushed a white pill into Bai Suyin's mouth and made her swallow it.
Next came the waiting game.
If her body temperature gradually returned to normal, it meant the antibiotic was working.
If there was no improvement, he would have to think of another way.
Before long, Bai Suyin's breathing grew steady.
He immediately reached out and touched Bai Suyin's forehead.
A faint warmth was beginning to appear.
Ye Qingyun's heart settled completely.
"It looks like the medicine is working."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
That heater running at maximum power had roasted him thoroughly.
By now, Ye Qingyun was stripped to the waist, covered in sweat.
A moment later, Bai Suyin slowly opened her eyes.
She looked blankly upward, seemingly still unaware of what had just happened to her.
"You're awake?"
Not until Ye Qingyun appeared in her field of vision did Bai Suyin snap back to reality.
But when she saw that Ye Qingyun was actually stripped to the waist, she was instantly startled.
Then she looked at herself.
Though her clothes were still on, she was lying in Ye Qingyun's bed, covered in sweat, and feeling thoroughly exhausted.
Bai Suyin wore a look of utter helplessness.
Could it be that she had been... violated?
"Young Master Ye, you..."
Her face flushed crimson, a mix of anger and mortification.
Ye Qingyun wiped the sweat from his brow.
"That was a close one. You almost lost your life."
Bai Suyin started.
Almost lost her life?
Right then, Ye Qingyun recounted everything that had just happened.
Only after listening did Bai Suyin realize she had wronged Ye Qingyun.
He hadn't done anything wicked at all; on the contrary, he had saved her life.
At this thought, Bai Suyin couldn't help feeling a pang of shame.
How could an otherworldly expert possess such vulgar and sordid intentions like an ordinary man?
She really shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.
"Thank you, Young Master Ye, for saving my life!"
Bai Suyin offered her sincere gratitude.
Ye Qingyun waved his hand dismissively.
"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. How could I just stand by and watch you die?"
Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda?
This remark left Bai Suyin momentarily stunned.
Vaguely, she seemed to perceive a profound and ineffable Zen philosophy within these words.
"Young Master Ye..."
"Don't talk. Your body is too weak, you should lie down and get some rest first."
Bai Suyin said nothing more and lay back down to rest.
By the time dusk began to fall, Bai Suyin got up and walked out.
"Young Master Ye, I should be heading back."
Ye Qingyun looked her up and down.
"Are you alright now?"
Bai Suyin nodded, gratitude written across her face.
"I feel completely recovered."
Ye Qingyun thought to himself.
Could it be that his antibiotics really possessed such miraculous efficacy?
"It's already dark. You might as well wait until tomorrow to go down the mountain."
Ye Qingyun suggested.
Bai Suyin shook her head. "I cannot stay here for the night. My sect gave me a task, and if I delay by a night, I'm afraid I won't make it back in time to report to them."
"What could be so urgent?"
Ye Qingyun asked curiously.
Bai Suyin made no secret of it. "Recently, some evil cultivators have appeared within the Tianwu Dynasty. They specialize in abducting children and have already claimed many young lives."
"Now, the three major sects and the Tianwu Dynasty have all begun hunting down these evil practitioners. I'm heading out right now to rendezvous with several fellow sect members and investigate their whereabouts together."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyun realized it was indeed no small matter.
"Then be careful."
Ye Qingyun exhorted.
Bai Suyin nodded, then descended the mountain amidst the gathering night.
That very night, in the market at the foot of Fuyun Mountain, a bizarre, shadowy figure emerged in the dark.
"Hehehe, to think there is still such a market here. It will make it all the convenient for me to make my move."
Chapter 30: The Song Family Abducts Someone
Several days later, Ye Qingyun went down the mountain to walk the dog.
Damao walked leisurely in front.
Ye Qingyun followed at a leisurely pace behind.
The rabbit lay nestled in Ye Qingyun's arms, looking lazy and drowsy.
Ever since this rabbit started following Ye Qingyun, it did nothing all day except eat and sleep, practically ignoring everything else.
In just this short time, it had already grown a layer of fat, transforming into a round, roly-poly rabbit.
Its fur had also grown back completely.
Only, for some reason, even though it used to be a white-furred rabbit, its coat had now turned gray, leaving Ye Qingyun somewhat baffled.
Walking all the way to the market at the foot of the mountain, he discovered faint sounds of weeping and commotion drifting from within.
Ye Qingyun immediately strode closer.
He saw quite a few people gathered together with anxious expressions, some women weeping softly.
Ye Qingyun frowned and asked a bystander, "What happened?"
The man sighed. "The children from these three families have all gone missing. After searching for days without a trace, I'm afraid they've already met a foul end."
Hearing this, Ye Qingyun immediately recalled what Bai Suyin had mentioned a few days prior.
A group of evil cultivators had appeared within the Tianwu Dynasty, targeting children specifically, and multiple cases had already occurred.
For this reason, the three major sects had even dispatched disciples to assist the Tianwu Dynasty in capturing these malefactors.
"Could it be the work of those evil cultivators?"
Ye Qingyun muttered to himself.
Looking at the weeping parents, he felt a deep pang of heartache.
Which parents wouldn't be frantic if their child went missing?
Children were truly the apple of their parents' eye.
It was just a pity that Ye Qingyun couldn't do anything to help them; he could only silently pray that those children would return safely.
Witnessing these events, Ye Qingyun lost all mood to continue walking the dog.
He intended to head back up the mountain.
Suddenly, Ye Qingyun noticed a young beggar standing not far away, disheveled and filthy, staring straight at him.
Ye Qingyun paused.
He recognized him.
This little beggar was none other than the little fellow who had tried to sneak into his courtyard to steal pears not long ago.
Ye Qingyun immediately walked toward him.
The latter seemed to have something he wanted to say to Ye Qingyun as well, and walked toward him too.
"This is for you."
The young beggar spoke first, holding something out with both hands.
Ye Qingyun looked closely and couldn't help breaking into a smile.
It turned out to be a steaming-hot steamed bun.
The young beggar's hands were washed very clean, without a single stain, as if he was terribly afraid Ye Qingyun would find him repulsive.
"Did you steal this?"
Ye Qingyun asked sideways.
The young beggar snorted with dissatisfaction. "I bought this."
With that, he even pointed toward a nearby mantou stall.
Ye Qingyun was rather curious.
"Where did you get the money?"
"I gathered a bundle of herbs in the mountains, sold them to the pharmacy, and got the money in exchange."
The young beggar said with a hint of pride.
Ye Qingyun nodded.
"That's more like it. Living by your own labor is much better than stealing food like you used to."
Ye Qingyun took the bun from the young beggar's hands and took a bite.
"Not bad, delicious."
Ye Qingyun smiled.
Seeing that Ye Qingyun didn't disdain him in the slightest, the young beggar felt a surge of excitement, and a smile broke across his face.
"I took twenty of your pears, and I'll pay you back with twenty buns. Today is the first one."
The young beggar said with a serious expression.
Ye Qingyun was amused.
This fellow actually knew how to repay a kindness.
"You don't have to pay me back. Keep your money to buy food for yourself."
Stubbornly, the young beggar shook his head.
"I see you live on the mountain and have to farm your own land, so you probably don't have it easy either. I can't be in your debt."
Ye Qingyun: "..."
Fine.
I suppose I've just been pitied by a beggar.
Who made me, Ye Qingyun, genuinely just a farmer anyway?
"Alright then, I'll wait for you to buy me buns."
"Mhm!"
After finishing the bun, Ye Qingyun turned to leave.
Suddenly, the young beggar trotted up behind him again.
"What's your name?"
He asked with innocent curiosity.
"Ye Qingyun."
The young beggar started. "Your name sounds so nice."
Then he lowered his head again.
"Unlike me, I don't even have a name."
Ye Qingyun stopped in his tracks.
"Do you want to have a name?"
The young beggar froze, then nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with a yearning light.
"I don't want people calling me a little brat all the time."
Ye Qingyun patted his head.
Although the boy's hair was messy, Ye Qingyun showed no trace of disgust.
On the contrary, he genuinely liked this little beggar.
At the very least, this little fellow had some backbone.
That was the quality Ye Qingyun appreciated most.
"How about I give you a name?"
The young beggar looked eager, yet somewhat timid.
"Really?"
"Would I lie to you? I remember you saying your father's surname was Guo, right?"
The young beggar nodded.
As for memories of his parents, he only remembered that his father seemed to be surnamed Guo, though he wasn't even very sure of that.
"Well then, how about you be called—Guo Xiaobao?"
The young beggar pouted.
"Sounds like a little kid."
Ye Qingyun didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Aren't you just a kid?
"Then let's change it. How about Guo Xiaoyun?"
The young beggar tilted his head and thought about it.
"This name isn't bad."
"Thank you for giving me a name."
"From now on, my name is Guo Xiaoyun!"
Little beggar Guo Xiaoyun waved his hand and ran happily toward the distance.
Over there, several other young beggars of similar age were waving at Guo Xiaoyun.
Suddenly, Ye Qingyun remembered something.
"You guys be careful, it's not safe around here lately."
"Got it!"
......
Ye Qingyun left the market, intending to head back up the mountain.
Suddenly, a troop of men and horses came straight toward them.
"Right here!"
A man in black armor at the head pointed at Ye Qingyun and shouted loudly.
Ye Qingyun was completely bewildered.
What's going on?
The troop rushed over and quickly surrounded Ye Qingyun in a tight circle.
Ye Qingyun grew somewhat vigilant.
"What do you want? I don't have any money."
The man in black armor stared at Ye Qingyun for a moment, then let out a scornful laugh.
"So he's just an ordinary mortal with no cultivation at all. And here I thought this so-called expert was something formidable?"
"Take him away directly."
Several burly men leaped out from behind the man in black armor, tied Ye Qingyun up on the spot, tossed him onto a horse, and galloped away.
Only Damao remained standing in place, letting out a yawn as it watched Ye Qingyun being carried off.
"Little rabbit, your master is yours to look after now."
It shook its head, ambled leisurely back up the mountain, and showed not the slightest concern for Ye Qingyun's safety.
Ye Qingyun rode on horseback, his hands bound so tightly he could barely move.
The rabbit was still tucked inside his robe.
"Who are you people? Why are you tying me up?"
Ye Qingyun asked, puzzled.
The man in black armor sneered. "We are people from the Song family. We heard there is some sort of otherworldly expert on Fuyun Mountain, so we came to capture you and bring you back."
"The Song family?"
Ye Qingyun was startled.
Could it be the Xiling Song family that Chi Yanyu had mentioned before?
Chapter 31: You Grabbed the Wrong Person
Ye Qingyun clearly remembered that Chi Yanyu's Prince Pingxi's Estate had been bullied terribly by the Xiling Song family, and had even been hunted down by experts sent by them.
However, later on, through Ye Qingyun's mediation, Chi Yanyu had obtained the assistance of the Martial Emperor Dongfang Su and the Profound Sword Sect Master Xu Changfeng.
Logically speaking, the Song family shouldn't have been able to make any waves anymore.
Why were they trying to kidnap him now?
Could it be that the Song family knew it was he who had been advising Chi Yanyu?
And so they were coming to take revenge on him?
What was he supposed to do now?
Ye Qingyun felt a little panicked inside.
He was just an ordinary person without a shred of cultivation!
If he fell into the hands of the Song family, who knew what inhuman torture he might suffer.
In case the Song family decided to harm him, there wasn't even anyone around to save him.
"Uhm, why don't you guys let me go?"
Ye Qingyun pleaded in a very humble tone.
The man in black armor gave a cold smile and ignored him.
Ye Qingyun felt like crying without tears.
After being jolted around on horseback for a long time, Ye Qingyun felt like he was about to throw up.
Fortunately, they finally came to a halt.
With a pale face, Ye Qingyun raised his head to look.
A magnificent mansion appeared before his eyes.
Hanging above the main gate was a plaque inscribed with the two characters "Song Residence."
Ye Qingyun was rather surprised.
So he had been dragged straight to the Song family estate.
Just as Ye Qingyun's heart was beating erratically, the man in black armor hoisted him up by the collar and hauled him straight into the Song residence.
"Patriarch, Young Master, we've brought the person back."
The man in black armor dumped Ye Qingyun onto the floor of the main hall and reported to the two figures seated within.
Two figures sat inside the hall.
One looked to be in his fifties, with a dignified expression and sunken cheeks.
The other was in his twenties, quite handsome, though his cheeks were similarly somewhat sunken.
The two shared an eight-tenths resemblance in features, marking them immediately as father and son.
These two were none other than Song Xiaotian, the head of the Song family, and his son, Song Chenglong.
The Xiling Song family enjoyed a resounding reputation.
Naturally, the father and son were also famous far and wide.
Yet their fame was not for good deeds, but for notoriety.
In his youth, Song Xiaotian had relied on despicable methods to usurp the cultivation of a martial arts master, vastly increasing his own power.
Afterward, he led the Song family to annihilate several minor clans, propelling the Song family to a position of immense strength.
Song Chenglong was a chip off the old block, following entirely in his father's footsteps.
Not only did he bully the weak and commit every imaginable evil, but he had even set his sights on Princess Chi Yanyu of Pingxi.
The Song family's continuous suppression of the Prince Pingxi Estate was done not only to seize the estate's foundations, but also because Song Chenglong desired to possess Chi Yanyu.
Yet recently, the Song family had fallen upon hard times.
First, the Taihao Sect, which had long maintained close ties with the Song, abruptly severed all contact with them.
Moreover, Chen Gongwang, the master of the Taihao Sect, had even issued a direct warning to Song Xiaotian, telling the Song family to rein it in, or disaster would surely follow.
Almost simultaneously, the Prime Minister's Estate in the capital sent people to the Song family.
The messengers informed the Song family that from then on, the Prime Minister's Estate would no longer provide them with any protection; whatever happened to the Song family would have nothing to do with Prime Minister Cao Huayuan.
Having said their piece, the people from the Prime Minister's Estate departed without a moment's delay.
Such an attitude clearly aimed to cut ties with the Song family completely.
The Song father and son were dumbfounded.
The Taihao Sect and Prime Minister Cao Huayuan were considered the Song family's greatest backers.
The only reason their family could act so arrogantly and even bully the Prince Pingxi Estate was because they had these two pillars supporting them.
Yet now, both of these pillars were cutting ties with them.
What did this signify?
The Song family was in mortal peril!
After making extensive inquiries, Song Xiaotian finally uncovered the inside story.
It turned out that all of this was because a so-called otherworldly expert had appeared on Fuyun Mountain.
It was precisely this otherworldly expert who had saved Chi Yanyu's life, and who had given her counsel that forced both the Taihao Sect and the Prime Minister's Estate to distance themselves from the Song family.
Naturally, the Song family was unwilling to sit idly by and await their doom.
After putting their heads together, the father and son decided to take drastic action.
They would simply kidnap that so-called expert directly, just to see what kind of sacred figure he really was.
Initially, the father and son hadn't held out much hope.
Yet unexpectedly, they had actually managed to bring the person back.
At this moment, the Song father and son stared fixedly at Ye Qingyun.
They looked him up and down so thoroughly they practically wanted to strip him bare.
Ye Qingyun felt his skin crawl under their gaze, highly uncomfortable.
"Uh, how should I address the two of you?"
Ye Qingyun asked awkwardly.
Song Xiaotian's expression sank.
"Song Tao, you idiot!"
The black-armored man startled.
"Patriarch, I..."
Song Xiaotian pointed straight at Ye Qingyun.
"Isn't this just an ordinary mortal? How could he possibly be the otherworldly expert of Fuyun Mountain? You lot are truly foolish!"
The black-armored man looked aggrieved as he pulled out a portrait.
"But Patriarch, this fellow is clearly the person in the portrait."
The Song father and son stepped closer, looked at the portrait, and then looked at Ye Qingyun.
It really did look like him.
Yet no matter how one looked at it, this fellow was just an ordinary person—so utterly mediocre that he could only be described as plain.
A guy like this would struggle even to qualify as a servant in their Song residence.
How could he possibly be the high expert of Fuyun Mountain?
"Are you Ye Qingyun?"
Song Chenglong asked with a frown.
Ye Qingyun thought to himself:
If I admit to it, I probably won't survive today.
No way.
I must absolutely not admit that I am Ye Qingyun.
"Ye Qingyun? I'm not Ye Qingyun."
Ye Qingyun said with a blank expression.
All three members of the Song family showed expressions of doubt.
Especially the black-armored man, who began to doubt his own existence.
"Could I have really grabbed the wrong person?"
Refusing to believe it, the black-armored man immediately asked, "What is your name? Why were you heading toward Fuyun Mountain earlier?"
"My name is Ouyang Feng, not any Ye Qingyun."
"The reason I was going to Fuyun Mountain was to gather herbs in the mountains."
With an expressionless face and a steady heartbeat, Ye Qingyun spun falsehoods effortlessly.
The black-armored man was left speechless.
It seemed he really had grabbed the wrong person.
Song Xiaotian glared at the black-armored man.
"You bring nothing to success and ruin everything you touch. Get out of my sight!"
With his tail between his legs, the black-armored man retreated.
Seeing this, Ye Qingyun let out a quiet sigh of relief.
It looked like he would escape disaster today.
"Uh, well, the person you want to capture is Ye Qingyun, and it has nothing to do with me, Ouyang Feng. I'll be taking my leave."