Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Pei Ji’an!
A strong smell of blood.
In that instant when Qu Fulan’s neck was grabbed, she smelled that the person had been injured.
"I... I’m a doctor... I can treat injuries..." Qu Fulan struggled to articulate, desperately striving for a chance to save her life.
The grip loosened slightly as expected, and then quickly pressed a point on her shoulder, paralyzing her completely.
Then she was whisked away by someone leaping across the rooftops.
Everywhere was pitch-black, and she didn’t know how long they flew with rises and falls until she was dumped onto a clearing, almost eating a mouthful of dirt.
Then a voice came from not far behind.
"This is someone I captured from the quarters of the distinguished guests in the temple. I specifically investigated; Pei Ji’an’s family members came to the temple today to burn incense and are staying in that courtyard. Occupying a private room, it must be a lady from the mansion. We can use this woman to negotiate with Pei Ji’an to exchange for our master."
Qu Fulan picked up on the hint, realizing that the task Heir Pei undertook captured some important figure, and now the underlings of this figure wanted to capture Pei’s family to exchange for their master?
Judging her to be a lady of the mansion based on occupying a private room—otherwise, servants and maids all share dormitories—and choosing to strike the most secluded room, it is indeed easier to avoid patrolling guards.
Still, Qu Fulan was puzzled about the whereabouts of the four bodyguards.
Usually, when she traveled, they would protect her from all sides.
Before she could think of more, those people spoke again.
"Pei Ji’an caused our brothers death and injuries. Now even our master is captured. Since you have captured a relative of his, and she’s a woman, let’s not be polite; let’s enjoy ourselves first!"
"Once we exchange out the master, you can have as many women as you want. Moreover, that woman claimed she knows medicine; we’re all injured, why not let her treat us first?"
"You believe whatever she says?"
"We found this medical box in her room."
The person in black pointed to the small box previously placed on the ground, indicating he knew everyone needed this thing.
That was indeed Qu Fulan’s medical box. The old lady brought her this time due to her medical skills to some extent.
"What if she drugs us?"
Vigilant ones were still aplenty.
"With so many of us, she wouldn’t dare fake it. Besides, we can’t find another doctor right now, so why not let her try?"
After discussing among themselves, they were still hesitant and unwilling to let an unfamiliar person treat them easily, especially the relative of Pei Ji’an.
But everyone bore injuries of varying degrees, and if they weren’t treated promptly, it might affect the plan severely by tomorrow.
Torn multiple ways, the leader stepped up to Qu Fulan and unlocked her acupoint.
"If you want to live, obediently answer my questions."
Terrified, Qu Fulan nodded.
"What’s your relationship with Pei Ji’an?"
Since she was already misunderstood, Qu Fulan wasn’t stupid enough to state she was a maid, so she said, "I... I’m the heir’s second sister."
"How can a lady from a noble family know how to treat illnesses?"
"I... I’ve liked learning these things since I was young..."
"Where would Pei Ji’an usually detain the captured?"
"I truly don’t know, he didn’t tell me."
"Then what did he tell you?"
Before Qu Fulan could answer, another man in black said, "Why ask these pointless questions? Pei Ji’an wouldn’t tell such things to a woman."
That black-clothed man didn’t waste more words, reverting to the main topic, "You examine me first; if after an incense stick I’m fine, you’ll live, otherwise, your head won’t be safe."
Qu Fulan nodded repeatedly, adding, "My medical box contains life-saving medicines, all of you don’t need to worry."
Then she took advantage of opening the med box and grabbing medicine to reach into space to take something.
She then faked choking, covering her mouth with her hand, coughing a few times, and secretly stuffed a pill into her mouth. After doing all this, she prepared to act.
But back in the space, the jade pendant flashed again, and Qu Fulan felt something, so she swapped for another kind of medicine, and then threw it toward those people, bolting away.
"Damn woman!"
The people in black only got choked for a moment; some weren’t hit by the powder at all, and they instantly launched into the air, knives aiming at Qu Fulan.
At a critical moment, Qu Fulan stumbled and fell, watching the knife getting closer to her.
At that urgent moment, a slender figure flashed by, deftly using a sword to block the knife, the only sound was the ’clang’ in the air as the knife in the black-clad man’s hand flew out.
Then the long sword was placed on the man’s throat.
After recognizing the newcomer, the black-clad men behind all held their knives, tensely standing by, gritting their teeth.
"Pei Ji’an!"
Pei Ji’an sneered, "Who gave you the guts to lay a hand on my people?!"
Just as he finished speaking, he kicked the person flying to the ground, instantly spouting blood and fainting.
Pei Ji’an put away his sword, glancing toward the bushes: "Are you all stunned? Get moving, catch them alive!"
In the bushes, a dozen hidden guards surged forward, and a melee battle erupted.
Pei Ji’an, however, turned to look at Qu Fulan.
At that moment, under the bright moonlight, it was hard to clearly see a person’s expression, yet Qu Fulan felt that in this instant, Heir Pei’s gaze on her was somewhat strange.
Why was it strange?
Just now, she suddenly had a feeling of his arrival for some unknown reason. Knowing he would rescue her, she had switched out the poison from space for the knockout drugs in the med box, deliberately faking escape to wait for rescue.
If she hadn’t switched the drug, it would’ve been hard to explain the poison’s source later, so everything was quite reasonable.
Why was it strange?
Lost in thought, Pei Ji’an already crouched down, looking at her: "Are you alright?"
Seeing him so close, that weird feeling immediately disappeared. Qu Fulan swallowed, nodded, not speaking, as if shocked silly.
Pei Ji’an reached out, helping her up.
Having just steadied herself, on the other side, the hidden guards had already subdued those men in black.
At the same time, more sounds came from within the bushes.
Qu Fulan’s heart skipped a beat, thinking more enemies had arrived, but indeed a dozen figures emerged from the bushes, merely speaking without taking action.
"Heir Pei, this area falls under our jurisdiction, please hand over the people for us to handle."
The leading figure clasped his hand toward Pei Ji’an.
Pei Ji’an sneered, "Is this the team Xiao Shiqing brought? Waited till we finished fighting to come out seeking credit."
The person choked on his words, logically responsible for this region, needing to be the first to discover those rogues, so, why did Heir Pei’s people arrive first?
Reacting, he was about to speak to remedy it, but another voice interrupted.
"Enough, since they caught them, they should handle it."
"Heir, but..."
Xiao Shiqing emerged from the shrubs, raising a hand to his people signaling them not to speak, and then turned his gaze towards Heir Pei’s direction.
In this instant, Qu Fulan’s heart beat violently.