met free Chapter 52 Why are you looking at me?
Chapter 52 Why are you looking at me?
"How come you're all alright?"
An incredulous voice came from the side, as the old man looked over in surprise.
Over the years, no one who has been arrested has ever seemed as unscathed as these two.
Shouldn't everyone be drugged, given their Hundred Herbs Valley's secret formula of dispersing energy powder and muscle-softening powder?
Even if it wakes up, it should be limp and weak, and it should be difficult for it to even turn over.
"Are you alright too?"
Looking at the old man over there, Shen Che had just witnessed the man outside trying to recruit him for a long time. After failing to recruit him, the old man had someone feed him medicine, and even increased the dosage.
While everyone else was trapped in their delusions, he alone remained clear-headed.
This old man's got some skills.
"That's because I gave myself a few acupuncture needles!"
He loosened his grip, and in his hand was the jade hairpin he used to tie his hair, except that the tip of the hairpin was ground very fine.
"There are many acupoints on the human body. Some of them can amplify pain several times over, while others can cause great suffering."
"Only under the influence of extreme pain can one barely remain conscious."
"So, you first amplified the pain by needling acupoints, and then you needled several painful acupoints on the body..."
Looking closely at the old man, although he appeared calm on the surface, a closer look revealed that the muscles on his face were twitching slightly.
He's a tough guy; not many people would do something as self-harming as that.
Moreover, others are losing their lives in a blissful dream, completely unaware of it. The most ruthless thing about this person is that he made himself consciously watch his life slip away at a rapid pace.
This extreme psychological torment far surpasses physical pain.
"Uncle Feng!" Bai Xiyu, who was standing to the side, finally showed a look of heartache, which made Shen Che stunned.
It turns out this little girl isn't all ice-cold; she can still show some emotions.
The familiar voice rang in his ears, causing the old man to shudder. He hadn't heard that voice in a long time.
"You are... the young master of the valley?"
He suddenly stood up, enduring mental and physical torment, and peered intently through a passageway from the cell door.
By the light of the candles inside the cell, the old man could see clearly.
The woman opposite me still vaguely resembled her former self; her appearance had changed, but her voice remained the same.
Moreover, the tone of voice, the familiar feeling—this is the young master's voice.
"Young Valley Master? You are the Young Valley Master of Hundred Herbs Valley?" He raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Bai Xiyu, the bronze-level constable of the Arrest Bureau, with some disbelief.
In an instant, many questions became clear in my mind.
"So, you deliberately fell into the trap and intentionally got caught?"
No wonder a dignified bronze-level constable of the Criminal Investigation Department could be so easily fooled. He lacked experience in the ways of the world, so it's understandable that he was deceived.
But a bronze-level constable is definitely a key member of the Criminal Investigation Department. He must have handled countless cases and seen countless situations. There's no reason why he wouldn't have noticed anything.
Back then, people laughed at him for his poor professional skills, saying that he probably became a bronze-level constable by working hard in other areas.
Looking back now, I realize I was being narrow-minded; they jumped into the pit themselves. They even twisted their ankle trying to make it seem more real.
This world is really hard to navigate. First, I was fooled by a group of mountain folk, and now I've been fooled by a little girl.
"Yes, I'm sorry. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days; it was thanks to you that I was able to come back safely."
"Wait a minute, you didn't bring any food with you when you fell into the pit. Aren't you afraid of starving to death?"
"I've practiced the Turtle Breathing Technique, which will allow me to hold out for a while longer. Besides, I don't know any cold-attribute techniques, so even if I bring food, it will spoil in this heat within two days."
"The smell of spoiled food would raise suspicions, so it's better not to bring anything at all."
"Understood!" Shen Che nodded, his mind already conjuring up dozens of episodes of a melodramatic soap opera.
The rightful heir was replaced and forced to live a life of wandering.
This time, they infiltrated the area with the intention of reclaiming their family business.
I was just being unnecessary in helping before; even without me, they wouldn't have been drugged. Do you think the young master of Hundred Herbs Valley wouldn't know the antidote for their medicine?
"Young Valley Master, where have you been all these years? And who is that person in the valley?"
"Uncle Feng, three years ago I was traveling around when something happened to me. I was saved by that person. She looks almost exactly like me."
"During that time, we were like sisters, sharing all sorts of things at home. But I never imagined that she would not only throw me off a cliff, but also impersonate me."
"I fell off a cliff and injured my face. Even though I was treated by a miracle doctor, my appearance changed a little."
Touching her face, Bai Xiyu said softly, "I once wanted to come back, but I never imagined that she had already taken complete control of Baicao Valley."
"I can never go home. That's why I joined the Criminal Investigation Department, hoping to use the imperial court to conduct secret investigations."
"The reason we're taking this risk is because too many people in the martial arts world have disappeared in recent years, and the Criminal Investigation Department has already become aware of it."
"Furthermore, Baicaogu suddenly announced that they had developed a medicine that could enhance one's power and were going to hold a pill-tasting event. That's when I realized that things might be a bit bad."
"I was afraid of being recognized, so I didn't dare come in with those gangsters. That's why I had to sneak in this way, hoping to get in touch with you."
As Shen Che listened from the side, he felt that the melodrama was getting stronger and stronger, and the plot of this story was becoming more and more familiar.
The old man opposite him, looking at the young girl, was filled with heartache. "Young Valley Master, you've suffered so much these past years!"
"I'm not suffering; you are the ones who are suffering!"
After hesitating for a while, Bai Xiyu whispered, "Uncle Feng, how many of the old folks who are still loyal to the valley are left?"
Upon hearing Bai Xiyu's words, the old man opposite him fell silent, and silence itself was an answer.
It wasn't until quite a while later that the old man spoke.
"Young Valley Master, in recent years, everyone in the valley has been tempted. Those people have forgotten the kindness of the old Valley Master and are willing to be dogs."
"Those who refused to cooperate were imprisoned in this dungeon and used to cultivate red cicadas. Most of the loyal old men in the valley are already dead."
"Now I can only truly trust fewer than ten people, and they are all like me."
With a bitter sigh, the old man dragged his ailing body, trying hard to calm himself down, but he couldn't.
"Although I hate to admit it, I have only survived this long because of my younger brother's protection. The others who are still alive are probably the same."
"Young Valley Master, although we are still alive, we are actually useless. Not only can we not help you much, but we may even become a burden."
At this point, the old man's eyes suddenly lit up. "That's right, young master, you've joined the Arrest Bureau and are now a bronze-level constable. You need to find a way out and seek help quickly, otherwise Hundred Herbs Valley will be destroyed."
"Baicao Valley can pay a price, but it absolutely cannot be completely destroyed like this!"
"It's too late, Uncle Feng!" Shaking her head, Bai Xiyu said in a low voice, "Didn't he just say that after today, Hundred Herbs Valley will be destroyed? This means that their operation may be taking place today."
"If I go to ask for help, it will take at least three days to go back and forth, and there simply isn't enough time."
As she spoke, Bai Xiyu looked to the side, and the old man followed her gaze.
Noticing the gazes directed at him from the side, Shen Che managed a weak smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that? This is your family business!"
Finally, he added, "Is there any benefit?"