So even these things existed! Li Huairou felt that the door to a new world had been opened.
“Can I see what the treasure map looks like? I’ve always heard about it, but I haven’t seen the real thing!” Li Huairou said in a direct manner.
Fang Tianluo did not hesitate to pass the treasure map to Li Huairou. In his opinion, the treasure map was hidden in the jade pendant, and the jade pendant had been given to Li Huairou by mistake; therefore, Li Huairou also owned this treasure map.
“This jade pendant was given to you, and the things in it are naturally yours. You can see if you want!”
“Really? This is the wealth of a nation!” Li Huairou opened the treasure map with a grin. The treasure map was only palm-sized, so she looked confused. That’s it? A few lines, a few symbols, what is this!
She quickly returned the treasure map to Fang Tianluo. “You should keep your family things for yourself!”
Fang Tianluo didn’t even look at the treasure map, and he smiled. “I already said that it’s yours. It’s yours.”
“I don’t want it! I have no worries about food and clothing, and I don’t lack money.” Li Huairou waved her hand. She understood the principle of an innocent man getting into trouble because of his wealth. She didn’t have the skills to hold this wealth, so she wouldn’t even think about it.
Then Li Huairou remembered something. “You said that the Xiao siblings came for the treasure map—aren’t we in danger?”
“Don’t worry. I will solve this problem.” Fang Tianluo’s eyes were firm. He absolutely wouldn’t be soft-hearted anymore, and he wouldn’t sit back and watch the Xiao siblings continue to do evil.
“Alright. Just solve it quickly.” Li Huairou didn’t care about the treasure map or anything. Compared to those things, she cared more about their personal safety.
“You really don’t want this treasure map?” Fang Tianluo once again held the treasure map out to Li Huairou.
Li Huairou stepped back a few steps. “I really don’t want it!”
Fang Tianluo suddenly smiled—everyone was different! For this treasure map, Xiao Lingling would do anything, but Huairou felt disdain for it.
Fang Tianluo exerted his internal force, and a flame burst in his palm, directly burning the treasure map. He was not interested in the restoration of the country, nor was he interested in this wealth. Just let it stay underground and wait for its destined person!
“Amazing! Fire can come out from the palms? Then, could I boil poached eggs with my hands in the future?” Li Huairou’s eyes widened. She always thought that these kinds of magical martial arts only existed in TV dramas, but it turned out to be true.
Fang Tianluo couldn’t help laughing when he saw that she didn’t care about the treasure map, but only cared about the fire in his palm.
Li Huairou looked disdainful. “What are you laughing at?! I don’t want to talk with you anymore. I’m tired—I’ll go back to sleep.”
“Huairou, I’m leaving now; do you want anything? When I come back, I shall bring it to you!” Fang Tianluo said.
“Just bring something yummy and some interesting things,” Li Huairou replied without looking back.
Fang Tianluo smiled as he watched Li Huairou’s back disappear from his sight. He stayed for a while, then left at dawn.
Li Huairou slept until the evening. When she woke up, she was in a daze, throwing Fang Tianluo’s matter at the back of her mind. Li Huaike was immersed in the joy of being a father. While he was overjoyed, he disliked the name that he’d originally given, and he was worried about what name should be given to his precious son. He couldn’t think of other things at the moment.
Uncle and Auntie Zhang only thought about the newborn child and could not take care of others.
Until the full moon, Li Huaike smiled from ear to ear while holding his baby son—Liu Xiuze, who had the nickname Little Tiger—and suddenly recalled something. “Uncle Zhang, have you been sending food to Brother Tianluo these days?”
Uncle Zhang blankly raised his head. Sending food? It seemed that he hadn’t sent food in a long time!
Li Huairou then remembered something else. “He already left! I remember that he told me that he was going to leave. It was the day that Little Tiger was born.”
“What? He left? Why didn’t you say so earlier?!” Li Huaike said in surprise.
“I just forgot, ok? I saw that his martial arts had improved a lot, and his hand could make fire! By the way, I remember his telling me many things. It seemed there was a treasure map in the jade pendant that he gave me. He also said that he wanted to give me the treasure map, but I said I couldn’t afford it, so he burned it,” Li Huairou slowly recollected.
“Why are we talking about the treasure map?” Liu Sike asked curiously.
“It’s said that it was passed down from his mother’s ancestors, and I don’t know whether it’s true. He said that, as for the reasons why Xiao Lingling and the Baiyue Sect pestered him, one is the secret book, and the other is probably the treasure,” Li Huairou said.
Li Huaike nodded. “You’re doing the right thing. We have enough money; there’s no point in having more. The best thing is to be sound and safe.”
Liu Sike nodded. She used to live in the palace—although it was on the border—but working for the princess had the best accommodations, and even the maids who waited on her also followed after the glory. But those days were far less comfortable than now. Every day I open my eyes and see my husband and children, I live a peaceful and comfortable life.
“However, Xiao Lingling has a deep mind and is used to sweet talk. Young Master Fang is not a strong-willed person, and I’m afraid that he’ll be bewitched by her again,” Liu Sike said after thinking about it.
“He probably knew this too, so he didn’t look at the treasure map at all and immediately burned it,” Li Huairou said. Then she had a different reaction. “That’s not right—then I’m the only person in the world who has seen the treasure map. If Fang Tianluo told Xiao Lingling, wouldn’t I be in danger? Fang Tianluo is too cunning!” Li Huairou stood up angrily.
Li Huaike didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Brother Tianluo is not that kind of person. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”
Liu Sike looked cautious. “Huairou’s concerns are not unreasonable. I’m not sure what Young Master Fang will say. We can’t let a fifth person know about today’s matter.”
Uncle and Auntie Zhang immediately pointed to the sky and the earth, then pointed to their own hearts, indicating that they would never say anything.
Naturally, Li Huaike and Liu Sike would never reveal it.
Li Huairou pointed to the child in Li Huaike’s arms. To tease him, she picked up the little tiger doll that Auntie Zhang had made. “What about Little Tiger? Isn’t he a person? Even though he’s a baby, we have to treat him like others. Don’t we? Little Tiger?”
Liu Sike couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, we must never let a sixth person learn of today’s matters.”
The little tiger yawned, licked his lips, then howled.
Auntie Zhang hurried to the stove to bring some warm goat’s milk, feeding him mouthful by mouthful with a small spoon.
Liu Sike looked distressed. She felt useless because her milk was insufficient. She could only resort to having Little Tiger drink goat’s milk.
The little tiger drank the milk, hiccupped, and fell asleep.
Li Huaike took his son back to the room, put him on the bed, and covered him with a quilt. Liu Sike sat on the side of the bed and watched.
Li Huaike put his hands on Liu Sike’s shoulders. “You’re just out of seclusion, and it’s not good to sit for a long time. Why don’t you sleep with your son for a while? Little Tiger woke up several times last night, and you didn’t get enough sleep.”
Liu Sike looked at Li Huaike and smiled. Little Tiger was a bit noisy at night, but the one who soothed him most of the time was Li Huaike. Huairou and Auntie Zhang would also help, which did not affect her at all. They took good care of her and were very considerate of her.
“Good,” Liu Sike said softly. “When mealtime comes, remember to call me.”
“Mm.” Li Huaike covered Liu Sike with a quilt before he came out, gently closing the door.
Seeing Li Huairou looking at the ledger in a daze, he asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Brother, I have a little regret that I didn’t take the treasure map,” Li Huairou said.
“Is the money not enough?” Li Huaike tapped Li Huairou’s head lightly, causing Li Huairou to roll her eyes with dissatisfaction.
“Mhm.”
“The silver sent by King Yan has been used up? Let’s put aside the medicinal materials; they can save lives. I remember that there were a few antiques, right? Let’s pawn them. It’s a pity to leave them in vain and not use them. Little Tiger is too young, so I was worried about leaving him and your sister-in-law to go out to run the clinic. It’s also impossible for people to come up here. Let’s discuss it after he’s older! Tomorrow, I’ll go to the back of the mountain to collect herbs, concoct them, and sell them at a drugstore.” Li Huaike had been thinking about these issues.
Li Huairou nodded. “Okay, I’ll go down the mountain tomorrow.” Then she put the ledger away. “Auntie Zhang, is there anything missing at home? Tomorrow, I’ll go down the mountain to buy it. Uncle Zhang can accompany me.”
Li Huairou pawned those antiques, then purchased daily necessities with Uncle Zhang. She made Uncle Zhang go back first with the goods, then wandered to the drugstore by herself.
Yesterday, Li Huaike’s words had reminded her that, although she was not good at practicing medicine, she could make drugs. She wondered if the pharmacy would accept poison?
The result: she was driven out. They called her a lunatic! They said that pharmacies treated diseases and saved people, so how could they collect poison?
Li Huairou was very upset—what was wrong about poison? This was employment discrimination! As soon as she was about to leave, she saw a few people angrily approaching the pharmacy. After a while, she saw the doctor in the office’s being taken away.
“Brother, what’s going on?” Li Huairou asked the beggar on the side of the road. The disciples of the beggar gang were all over the world, and their information was the best.
The beggar glanced at her and said nothing.
Li Huairou bought two sesame buns on the side of the road and put them in a bowl. The beggar picked the buns up and ate them. After eating, he slowly said, “Those people are from the Baiyue Sect. I also don’t know what happened to the Baiyue Sect recently—they’ve been searching around for doctors and healers, but fortunately, they’ve only been taking them away for treatment and saving lives. They’ll be released after a few days.”
“So that’s the case! Thank you, brother!” Li Huairou smiled, cupped her hands, and went back.
Fang Tianluo hid in the dark, looking at an unrecognizable, violent Xiao Lingling. A trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes—maybe this was her true face! Yes, how could the saintess of the Baiyue Sect be so naive?
After watching the doctors go in and be beaten out again. Fang Tianluo suddenly felt that there was no need to make a move by himself; Xiao Lingling was already dead.
He knew, better than anyone, how much Xiao Lingling cared about her appearance. And now it was like this. Haha, the so-called life that was worse than death—that was probably just like this! Sure enough, it was women who knew women the best.
Fang Tianluo smiled and shook his head. He went to the dungeon where he had been imprisoned, set a fire, and left.
He had many things to do, and one Baiyue Sect was not worth his staying for too long.
