Fu Zhao and the others released Fu Huaiyan. Ouyang Yuyuan quickly backed away, picked up his phone from the floor, and pouted aggrievedly.
But the Fu family paid him no mind; their attention was all on Fu Huaiyan.
Fu Huaiyan had just vomited blood, leaving his face pale. Under Chu Yi’s guidance, Fu Zhao fed him some water. Fu Huaiyan choked a bit, coughing violently while blinking. “…Dad?”
“Huaiyan, you’re clear-headed?” Fu Zhao immediately said, gripping his son’s shoulders tight.
He was a man who brooked no defiance in the military, yet now his eyes reddened, overcome with agitation and at a loss. It had been a year—a whole year—and his son was finally better!
“Dad, hurry and send rescue to Liang Province! We encountered a ton of man-eating flowers there. They seem to have the ability to bewilder the mind…”
“Huaiyan, don’t rush. Listen to me first…” Fu Zhao held his son down and, with mixed emotions, explained that the Liang Province mission had ended a year ago, and all the missing or rescue-bound soldiers had perished.
“All… all dead?” Fu Huaiyan slumped back into the chair, utterly stricken. To him, the Liang Province mission felt like yesterday… How had a year passed?
Once his son had calmed a bit, Fu Zhao continued, “This is Master Chu, who wiped out the man-eating flowers and found your antidote. You must thank him properly.”
Fu Huaiyan had vaguely heard Chu Yi’s voice in his haze earlier. Seeing him now, he was surprised by how young he looked.
Considering the man-eating flowers’ ferocity, Fu Huaiyan found it hard to believe, but for some reason, a voice in his heart urged him to trust.
“Uh, Master Chu…”
“Young Master Fu can just call me Chu Yi.”
Fu Huaiyan hesitated. “Can you tell me what the scene was like back then? And how you eliminated those man-eating flowers?”
He desperately wanted to know if his soldiers had died in pain.
Chu Yi saw right through what he meant and briefly described the process of dealing with the man-eating flowers. He added, “Young Master Fu, rest assured. Once ensnared by the man-eating flowers’ seductive fragrance, they’d already lost their wits. The digestive fluid contained nerve-paralyzing toxins too—they felt no pain at all.”
Fu Huaiyan nodded bitterly. His men had followed him to many places—battlefields evacuating diplomats, third-world hotspots rife with drug lords—but he never imagined their end would be as fodder for those disgusting flowers, nourishing their growth.
Fucking hell!
Fu Huaiyan slammed his fist in fury. Caught up in his emotions, he didn’t notice the cut on his hand swelling red and oozing blood.
Ouyang Yuyuan, seeing this violent outburst, instinctively shrank back. Holy crap, Fu Huaiyan had the same face, but when senseless, he’d seemed cute and harmless—now he looked cold and terrifying?
Fu Huaiyan had better not remember anything, or he’d be beaten to death… Yi Ge, save me!
Ouyang Yuyuan cautiously edged toward the corner, shooting Chu Yi meaningful glances, his eyes flicking to the door—his desire to leave was obvious.
Chu Yi might have noticed. Feeling the moment was right, he stood. “Young Master Fu just regained clarity and needs proper rest. Some things can’t be rushed…”
Chu Yi meant it as comfort, but he knew Fu Huaiyan might not heed it.
Sure enough, Fu Huaiyan nodded silently, but his eyes showed he already had plans—likely to fly off to Liang Province the moment Chu Yi left.
Whatever. Fu Huaiyan was young and robust, and he’d even taken a Qi-Supplementing Pill before. Going to Liang Province to retrieve his comrades’ remains wouldn’t be an issue…
Chu Yi bid farewell straightforwardly. Old Master Fu and the others thanked him profusely, gave generous payment, and had Second Uncle Fu see them out.
Before Second Uncle Fu left, he eyed Ouyang Yuyuan several times. Clearly, he’d heard how this guy lorded it over the Fu family by clinging to the eldest young master.
Chu Yi: “You’re not taking your luggage from the Fu family?”
He knew Ouyang Yuyuan had been staying at the Fu Family Mansion—they’d even given him a guest room, though Fu Huaiyan snuck in to sleep with him every night.
Ouyang Yuyuan grinned sheepishly. “I packed it ages ago. Uncle Wen put it in the car for me.”
Mentioning driver Uncle Wen reminded Chu Yi of President Yu. He hesitated. “Is President Yu doing okay?”
It had been several days since he’d left that day. Had Big Brother Yu found someone to check on Yu Qingxian?
“Cousin Xian was fine ages ago. Big Cousin discharged him that same day. With Great-Grandpa’s birthday coming up, Big Cousin decided to have him move back home.” Ouyang Yuyuan’s eyes darted. “I heard for Great-Grandpa’s big birthday bash, Big Cousin prepared invitations for all the notable masters in the Xuan Arts World—Master Wuzhen, Master Chen, and several from Dragon Tiger Mountain. Sounds like he’s got plans.”
Chu Yi nodded. Big Brother Yu inviting these masters under the pretext of the birthday banquet wasn’t presumptuous. With them gathered to discuss, they’d pool their expertise without anyone feeling slighted, maximizing the chances of finding help. Big Brother Yu had gone all out this time.
“Yi Ge, you’ll go, right?” Ouyang Yuyuan probed.
Chu Yi thought it over. “…We’ll see when the time comes.”
He wasn’t sure if he should. Not going left him uneasy; going might drag him deeper in. It was a real dilemma.
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