At this moment, Chang Jingyun was utterly frail. Seeing Song Yuanmo flee in panic, he couldn't help but worry about Xia Zhaoyun's safety. As long as Xia Zhaoyun remained in his hands, Chang Jingyun could not find peace. The thought weighed heavily on his chest, intensifying his earlier agony, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Duan Qinyu, understanding the situation, quickly said, "Let me help you back to the inn. No matter what, I will save Zhaoyun."
Once they returned to the inn and saw Chang Jingyun's ashen face, Duan Qinyu hurried out into the streets in search of a doctor. The sky had already darkened, and the rain was falling steadily, making it no easy task to find a physician willing to make a house call. After scouring almost all of Huizhou City, he finally found a doctor willing to come. Duan Qinyu, pulling the doctor along, rushed back to the inn at a jog. Glancing back, he saw the doctor panting heavily, clearly exhausted.
The doctor said, "Young warrior, you may be skilled in martial arts, but we ordinary folks can't keep up with you. That run just now nearly killed me!"
Duan Qinyu immediately felt a pang of guilt and hurriedly apologized. The doctor followed Duan Qinyu to Chang Jingyun's room and examined him. After a short while, he gave his diagnosis, "The poison isn't deep and hasn't affected his heart, but it will take some time to recover. He must avoid using any martial force for at least half a month."
Though Chang Jingyun had his eyes closed, he heard every word the doctor said. Duan Qinyu sighed, feeling sorry for him, thinking it unjust.
Seeing Duan Qinyu's dejected expression, the doctor stroked his beard and said, "Why the long face, young man? As long as there's life, there's hope. I don't know what you two are planning, but opportunities will always present themselves."
After seeing the doctor off, Duan Qinyu noticed Chang Jingyun's vacant gaze, knowing he had heard everything. He tried his best to comfort him, hoping he wouldn't be too disheartened.
Unexpectedly, Chang Jingyun let out a few laughs and said, "Why would I be sad? I never wanted to participate in this duel in the first place. This outcome might not be a bad thing for me. Right now, my only concern is Zhaoyun. Brother Duan, I beg you, please save my disciple. That child has had such a turbulent life. I thought joining Yufeng Manor would bring him some peace, but in the end, I've only dragged him into this mess."
"You mustn't blame yourself. This is not your fault. It's the people of Mijian Manor who are to blame for going too far. Don't worry, I'll go gather information right away. Besides, being your disciple, Zhaoyun must have his own destiny."
Chang Jingyun coughed a few times and added, "I'll have to trouble you with rescuing Zhaoyun."
The night was deep, and after a full day of rain, the skies finally cleared, revealing a sprinkle of stars. The streets, illuminated by the glow of lanterns, were alive with light. Duan Qinyu asked the innkeeper about the whereabouts of the Mijian Manor group, only to be told that they had checked out an hour earlier and their whereabouts were unknown. Left with no choice, Duan Qinyu headed to Baofu Inn to gather more information.
As soon as he entered Baofu Inn, Duan Qinyu wasted no time, approaching the counter and tossing out a tael of silver. "I'm looking for someone."
The innkeeper glanced at him and coldly asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Song Yuanmo of Mijian Manor."
The innkeeper nodded, scribbling four characters—"Linglong Inn"—and handed the note to Duan Qinyu. Now that he knew Song Yuanmo's hiding place, finding him would be easier.
Late into the night, Duan Qinyu scaled the walls and began searching the rooftops of Linglong Inn for Song Yuanmo's resting quarters. Given the ongoing Yishan Sword Conference, the inn was already packed with people, so finding Mijian Manor's lodgings took some effort.
About half an hour later, he made some progress. Lifting a roof tile, Duan Qinyu spotted Song Yuanmo talking with his disciple.
One disciple said, "Master, that move you used to defeat Chang Jingyun today was truly formidable! Was it from the Mu Cang Sword Technique?"
Song Yuanmo replied, "I've always told you to practice diligently, but you lot are always slacking off. Now you see the power of our Mu Cang Sword Technique!"
"You're right, Master. When we return, we'll train hard and never disappoint your expectations."
Song Yuanmo laughed heartily but then suddenly stopped, as if recalling something important. He quickly asked, "How's the boy in the woodshed?"
The disciple replied, "Master, he hasn't eaten all day. The little brat is incredibly stubborn—he spits at me every time I try to feed him. I got so mad, I kicked him a few times."
Song Yuanmo said, "Discipline him appropriately, but don't kill the boy. He's our trump card, essential for keeping Yufeng Manor in check later on."
Upon hearing this, Duan Qinyu gained some clarity and gently replaced the roof tile, hurrying toward the woodshed. The air inside was damp and musty, a place unfit for even an adult, let alone a child. As he quietly pushed open the door, he found Xia Zhaoyun curled up in a heap of straw. Approaching him, Duan noticed the bruises on his face, and his body bore even worse signs of abuse. The sight tore at Duan Qinyu's heart, and he softly called out Xia Zhaoyun's name.
Xia Zhaoyun slowly opened his eyes, a glimmer of joy crossing his face when he saw Duan. Duan gestured for him to stay quiet and quickly carried him out of Linglong Inn.
Back at Qingluo Inn, upon seeing the poisoned Chang Jingyun, Xia Zhaoyun rushed to his side, tears brimming in his eyes as he guiltily whispered, "It's my fault, Master. I've caused you so much trouble."
Chang Jingyun smiled, gently patting his head. Seeing the wounds on his face, his heart ached even more. "Silly child, it's I who have burdened you. If not for me, you wouldn't have been captured by the people of Mijian Manor."
Wiping his tears, Xia Zhaoyun responded, "It wasn't the people of Mijian Manor who took me."
Chang Jingyun was incredulous. "How are you so sure it wasn't them?"
Duan Qinyu, who had just entered with medicinal wine, was intrigued by their conversation. "If not them, then who?" he asked, curious.
Xia Zhaoyun explained, "I've seen the people of Mijian Manor before, during Master's wedding. I remember their faces clearly. The ones who captured me today weren't the same. I didn't recognize them. I only managed a glance at their attire before being knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I found myself in that dark, damp woodshed."
Chang Jingyun probed further, "Who else did you encounter today?"
Xia Zhaoyun thought for a moment. "Two disciples from Mijian Manor came. At first, I thought they were with the ones who took me, but when they saw me, they said something strange."
"What did they say?" Duan Qinyu asked, intrigued.
"They said, 'The boy's really here.'"
Chang Jingyun pondered for a while, analyzing the situation. "That statement was clearly one of confirmation. It suggests they didn't know you were there before entering the woodshed. Someone must have told them you were there, and they came to verify it."
Duan Qinyu nodded in agreement. "I think you're right." He then turned back to Xia Zhaoyun, asking, "Was there anything else unusual?"
Xia Zhaoyun shook his head. "No, except I noticed a piece of my clothing had been torn off."
"That explains it!" Chang Jingyun exclaimed. "The ones who captured you weren't from Mijian Manor, but they were working with them. They intended to use you as a hostage to threaten me during the Yishan Sword Conference. In the end, their plan succeeded."
Hearing this, Xia Zhaoyun felt even more remorseful, lowering his head in silence. Realizing his words were too harsh, Chang Jingyun quickly comforted him, "This isn't your fault. The real culprits are the villains. We just need to grow stronger so no one can push us around."
"Mm!" Xia Zhaoyun nodded firmly, determination shining in his eyes.
Early the next morning, Chang Jingyun, Duan Qinyu, and their group hired a carriage and swiftly left Huizhou. Their haste stemmed from the fear that circumstances might change, prompting them to leave this troublesome place as quickly as possible. With so many disciples from Xuanjian Manor, Duan Qinyu instructed them to split into two groups to avoid attracting too much attention. One group had already departed the previous night, while the other would leave a day later.
After traveling for most of the day, Chang Jingyun began to feel a tightness in his chest and suggested they stop for a short rest. The carriage halted beneath a withered tree, and while Duan Qinyu went to fetch water, Chang Jingyun stepped out of the carriage, sitting on the front to rest.
Suddenly, a bone-chilling cold swept over him, a frost seemingly surging through his body. Yet it was midday, with the sun blazing in the sky—such cold made no sense. He hurried back inside the carriage, pulling a heavy blanket over himself. Seeing him shiver, Xia Zhaoyun knew the poison was acting up and helped him tuck the blanket more securely around him. Chang Jingyun soon drifted into sleep, only to awaken with a start to find Duan Qinyu staring intently at him.
Startled, Chang Jingyun shouted, "What are you doing? You scared me to death!"
Duan Qinyu retorted, "I should be asking you that! Why are you bundled up in this thick blanket in such scorching weather?"
Glancing at the heavy blanket, Chang Jingyun realized it was indeed excessive. Tossing it aside, he replied, "I was feeling cold earlier, but not anymore. Let's get going."
Without asking further, Duan Qinyu handed him the water he had fetched. "Here, have some water." Then, stepping out of the carriage, he resumed their journey.
Five days later, the carriage rolled into Hangzhou as dusk began to fall. Chang Jingyun, Xia Zhaoyun, and Duan Qinyu sought lodging at an inn. In the middle of the night, Chang Jingyun suddenly felt a burning heat surging through his body, a fierce warmth raging uncontrollably within him. The intensity of the sensation brought back memories of the bitter cold he had experienced five days earlier. Confusion clouded his mind: "Why does my body alternate between such extremes of heat and cold? Could this be some sort of sinister affliction? But the physician said my poisoning wasn't severe. What could this be?"
Unable to endure the pain any longer, he dashed out of the inn and ran toward the outskirts of the city. Seeing a stream ahead, he plunged headlong into its cool waters. Only then did the scorching heat within him gradually subside, leaving him far more at ease than before. Once he had regained his composure, he climbed out of the stream and made his way back.
The next day, Chang Jingyun, Xia Zhaoyun, and Duan Qinyu parted ways. Duan returned to Suzhou's Xuanjian Manor, while Chang Jingyun and Xia Zhaoyun headed toward Yufeng Valley. A day later, the two arrived at Yufeng Manor, where Huacaiyi was overjoyed to see them return safely. But her happiness quickly gave way to concern when she noticed how weary Chang Jingyun appeared. Worried, she asked, "Did something happen? Why do you look so pale?"
"It's nothing," Chang Jingyun replied. "Perhaps I'm just tired from the journey. A good night's rest will set me right."
Though he tried to reassure her, Huacaiyi remained uneasy. Taking advantage of a moment when Chang Jingyun wasn't paying attention, she discreetly checked his pulse. Immediately, a realization struck her, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
Noticing the odd look on her face, Chang Jingyun asked curiously, "What's the matter?"
Huacaiyi hesitated briefly before replying, "It's nothing! By the way, how did the Yishan Sword Conference go?"
Chang Jingyun spread his hands in indifference. "I have no idea."
This answer surprised Huacaiyi. "But you were there yourself. How could you not know the outcome?"
"The sword contest hadn't concluded when the Manor Master and I left. As for the result, well... we'll find out eventually."
"It seems you really have no interest in this famous sword battle at all! So many in the martial world are fighting tooth and nail for that blade, but perhaps it's for the best—fewer disputes mean less trouble."
That evening, Chang Jingyun was practicing calligraphy in the study when Huacaiyi stood at the doorway, quietly observing him for a while. Seeing that he appeared well, she returned to her room and began to write: "Master, how have you been lately? I am well here at Yufeng Manor. However, I've recently discovered something peculiar. Ever since Brother Chang returned from Yishan, he has been afflicted with the Fire and Cold Poison. I recall that this particular poison is unique to Uncle Meng's Hanzhen Sect. While I do not yet understand the full reason behind this, I humbly request you to share the method for curing such poison. I eagerly await your reply." After signing the letter, Huacaiyi tied it to a carrier pigeon and released it through the window.
In the days that followed, Huacaiyi's anxiety deepened. On one hand, she feared the Fire and Cold Poison in Chang Jingyun's body might flare up at any moment. On the other, she worried that Gu Yuntian would not respond to her letter. This unease led to restless nights and a diminished appetite. Finally, on the seventh day, she received a reply from Gu Yuntian, detailing the method for curing the poison. With this news, she felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders.
For the next few days, Huacaiyi was preoccupied with concocting the antidote in the medicine hut. Her unusual behavior soon aroused Chang Jingyun's suspicions. Though he knew Huacaiyi was a physician, he had never seen her so consumed with making medicine. One day, he slipped into the medicine hut while she was absent and glanced at the ingredients. Apart from recognizing ephedra and angelica, most of the herbs were unfamiliar to him. Just then, Huacaiyi entered, and Chang Jingyun casually asked, "What medicine have you been preparing lately?"
Huacaiyi's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly replied, "Oh, it's nothing serious. I've just been feeling a bit fatigued, so I'm making something to refresh my mind."
"You can easily buy such medicine in the town. Why go to the trouble of making it yourself?"
"I'm a physician. I don't take medicine carelessly. I always prepare my own remedies."
"I see. Well, don't overwork yourself. You've lost quite a bit of weight lately."
"I'll be fine, don't worry!"
Seeing that he could get no further information, Chang Jingyun left the medicine hut.
Unbeknownst to him, over a month had passed since his return to Yufeng Manor, and the poison he once feared had shown no further signs of resurgence. Naturally, he assumed the episode had been a brief bout of illness. In truth, Huacaiyi had been secretly detoxifying him all along, mixing the antidote into his food and drink each day to avoid arousing suspicion. By the end of the month, the remnants of the poison had been completely eradicated from his body, and Huacaiyi stopped her efforts in the medicine hut.
Around this time, word spread throughout the martial world that Meng Haitan had won the Yishan Sword Conference. The result did not surprise Chang Jingyun in the least, as it was precisely what he had expected.