Rouge Anxi Grass, arrived a step too late?

"Xiao Ya, is the person you want me to treat here?"

At this moment, accompanied by a gentle and soft voice, a tall figure in a simple, wide-belted plain shirt walked into the dilapidated brick house.

Her voice was like a clear spring, soft and pleasant. She wore a plain white veil hat, obscuring her face, so her true appearance could not be seen.

Her black hair was smooth and fell to her waist, tied with a plain ribbon around her waist. She stood gracefully, her steps light yet full of grandeur and elegance.

"Yiyi a'a..."

The mute girl gestured excitedly, leading the woman forward and pointing to the bedroom ahead.

The woman before them was a renowned physician in their nearby village.

During this time, anyone who fell ill, regardless of the ailment, would be completely cured and revitalized within three days of taking her medicine.

The villagers of Qingshui Village called this woman the Medicine Immortal.

Lin Fan heard the commotion outside, his expression changed, and he tensed up. He struggled to stand up, but due to his injuries, he almost fell.

He knew that Jiang Lan would not let him go and would definitely send people everywhere to track him down.

Fortunately, the mute girl could not speak and had not revealed his whereabouts.

He was currently not too far from Yuyi City, still within the borders of Jiangling Commandery.

Once his location was exposed, Jiang Lan's men would arrive immediately.

In his current state, he would not be able to escape even if he had wings.

"En?"

The woman in the plain, wide-belted shirt, hearing the movement inside the room, walked over in a few steps.

Her autumn-water-like pupils reflected Lin Fan's pale face. She was startled at first, then her eyes showed a hint of contemplation, but she remained composed.

Lin Fan stared at the woman, his entire body tensed. He noticed the subtle change in the woman's expression, realizing she had likely recognized his identity.

"Your injuries are not light, and you've also contracted a cold..."

The woman seemed to notice Lin Fan's tension, smiled slightly, and then sat down on a nearby stool without further ado.

Lin Fan's face was wary. He tried to mobilize the spiritual energy in his body. Although he felt weak and empty, he did not want to wait for death.

The woman's demeanor did not seem like that of an ordinary person.

Although he could not sense any aura fluctuations from her, at this moment, anyone with even a little power could easily kill him.

"Xiao Ya is an obedient and kind child with a pure heart, like an innocent babe. Although she saved you, at this time, you will only bring harm to her."

The woman spoke leisurely. Beneath her plain white veil hat, her face was delicate and beautiful, with unparalleled grace. Her slender white hands were clasped neatly on her lap, exuding elegance.

Lin Fan's body tensed again, his expression extremely vigilant.

"These past few days, Yuyi City has dispatched many cultivators to apprehend the assassin who attacked the Prime Minister's son. Even this small Qingshui Village has posted many wanted posters. You don't need to be nervous about how I know. At this point, basically everyone has seen those posters."

"If I hand you over to the Prime Minister's Manor now, I believe I will receive a very generous reward," the woman said to Lin Fan with a slight smile.

Lin Fan remained silent, only looking at her coldly. The little spiritual energy remaining in his body was gathered and converged in his palm.

"However, you can rest assured. I am not interested in the reward from the Prime Minister's Manor, nor do I wish to get involved in the power struggles of the Great Xia Dynasty. I have no interest in knowing your background at all," the woman's voice was soft and pleasant, very gentle.

She did not know why Lin Fan had assassinated the Prime Minister's son, nor did she want to know.

However, being able to retreat so openly under the siege of many experts was enough to show his extraordinary capabilities.

"What do you mean, miss?" Lin Fan asked, his voice deep with confusion.

"Ya'er has the Medicine Spirit Physique, and I will accept her as my disciple later, personally teaching her pharmacology and medical classics. For the sake of her saving you, I will not hand you over, but I will not help you either."

"Offending a behemoth like the Prime Minister's Manor would bring me no benefit, so today I will pretend I didn't see anything," the woman replied with a slight smile.

Lin Fan looked at her deeply, his mind filled with speculation about the woman's origins.

It was indeed beyond his expectations that she did not hand him over after recognizing his identity.

But it was not impossible that it was a delaying tactic, to pacify him first and then secretly contact the Prime Minister's Manor.

However, he quickly came up with a countermeasure.

"Miss, your skin is like jade, your eyes hold divine brilliance, and your aura is as clear and pure as the moon. Your cultivation must have been extraordinary, but now it is mixed with a trace of the strong scent of Rouge Restharrow Grass..."

"It seems you accidentally ingested a stalk of Rouge Restharrow Grass."

At this moment, Lin Fan calmed down. His pale, bloodless face showed a composed and indifferent expression as he spoke fluently.

Rouge Restharrow Grass, he had encountered it before his previous life's demise.

It was the main ingredient used by a force called the Primordial Demonic Cult to refine Soft Soul Immortal Dissolving Powder.

After that force was destroyed, various sects and traditions, in order to eradicate the refining formula for Soft Soul Immortal Dissolving Powder, They even eradicated all Rouge Restharrow Grass, leaving no seeds behind.

He never expected to smell the scent of Rouge Restharrow Grass again in this current era, after his soul had dispersed and reincarnated...

"En?"

A look of astonishment appeared on the woman's face. Then, her beautiful eyes under the veil hat stared intently at Lin Fan, and she asked, "What is Rouge Restharrow Grass?"

For countless years of cultivation, this was the first time she had encountered a situation where swallowing a rare herb caused all her strength to be sealed, and she couldn't even open her Sumire Ring.

One must know that she was a genuine Seventh Realm Dharma Aspect Realm existence. In the eyes of ordinary people, she was no different from an immortal with eternal life.

There were basically no poisons in this world that could make her sick, let alone a mere ordinary rare herb growing in the deep mountains and wild fields.

Yet, Lin Fan, standing before her, knew her current situation just by looking at her.

"Miss, you don't need to know what it is. You only need to know that your current physical condition is caused by mistakenly consuming it..."

Lin Fan said calmly, "After my injuries heal a bit, I can help you neutralize the medicinal effects of this item."

"The premise is that you treat me and help me recover from my injuries. During this time, please help me conceal my presence to prevent the Prime Minister's Manor's lackeys and hounds from finding me."

The woman's delicate eyebrows furrowed as she began to ponder the pros and cons of Lin Fan's words.

If it wasn't necessary, she actually didn't want to offend the Prime Minister's Manor. She might be mistaken for this person's accomplice.

"If you are worried about the consequences, then I can guarantee, by my Dao heart, that even if I am exposed and captured by the Prime Minister's Manor later, I will not reveal anything related to you."

Lin Fan, as if knowing the woman's concerns, said solemnly.

"Your current injuries require Yang Flame-attribute herbs to suppress. Clear Water Village is too small to gather enough medicinal ingredients in a short period. We can only purchase them in the city, but the Prime Minister's Manor is not foolish; they will definitely send people to patrol all shops and pharmacies."

"I will prescribe a few medicinal agents for you later. Take them on time, and they will help you speed up your recovery. As for the cold ailment, you will have to find a way to suppress it yourself. I will try my best to help you, but that's all I can do." The woman did not ponder for long before agreeing to Lin Fan's request.

For her, the allure of an unknown rare herb was simply too great.

To compile the Compendium of Hundred Herbs, she had traveled to almost every corner of the Nine Provinces Continent and tasted all sorts of rare herbs and exotic flowers.

With that said, her figure left the dilapidated house.

"It's a deal. I will always remember your life-saving grace."

Lin Fan let out a long sigh of relief. The tension in his heart gradually eased.

With such a mysterious woman concealing his presence, he should not have to worry about the Prime Minister's Manor's hounds finding him in the short term.

Once he recovered some cultivation, he would leave this place immediately and would not stay for another moment.

Although the mute girl didn't quite understand the conversation between Lin Fan and the Medicine Immortal sister, she knew that she would help treat Lin Fan, and a happy smile immediately appeared on her face.

Lin Fan looked at her small, thin figure, feeling some gratitude, but more guilt. If the Prime Minister's Manor's hounds found out she saved him, what would happen to her?

However, with his current strength, he couldn't take her with him to escape. To him, this mute girl was just a burden...

"I hope that moment never comes," he thought to himself.

That night, after Lin Fan took the medicinal soup that the mysterious woman had the mute girl Xiao Ya deliver, he felt that his cultivation had recovered significantly.

Although his meridians were still unbearably painful, it was much better than during the day. He could already get out of bed, walk, sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and recover faster.

He immediately sat cross-legged and began to circulate his cultivation technique. Wisps of spiritual energy from heaven and earth surged towards him, and his eyes shone with divine light.

However, it wasn't long before Lin Fan heard the sound of knocking on the door outside the house, followed by it being forcefully pushed open.

Several people barged in, cursing. The little mute girl rushed to stop them anxiously.

"Little Ya, did you see anyone by the river?"

"Brother Er, why are you being polite to this little mute? Just go in and search. This girl has been acting mysteriously these past few days. You'd think she found some treasure..."

"I've already heard that Wang Ermazi has secretly gone to the County Lieutenant to claim credit. All over the place has been in an uproar these past few days. Even important figures from the commandery have personally come down to issue wanted posters in the major cities, preferring to catch the wrong person rather than let the right one go."

"If we happen to meet him, we won't have to worry about the rest of our lives."

Hearing the conversation from outside, Lin Fan, who was meditating inside the house, his face changed drastically, his expression extremely grim.

He hadn't expected to be exposed so quickly. It seemed that the mute girl Xiao Ya's unusual behavior these past few days had been noticed.

At that moment, he hurriedly got up. Although his whole body was in unbearable pain, he could only endure it, pushed open the window beside him, and turned into an afterimage, quickly disappearing into the distance.

The sound of bricks and tiles falling to the ground was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Someone in the backyard..."

The few people who had broken into the house quickly understood and immediately rushed over, but they could only see a blurry figure. With a few leaps, it vanished into the vast night.

"Too late..."

"Who knew this guy could still move? Didn't the wanted poster say he was seriously injured and unable to move?"

The few people were instantly filled with regret and annoyance.

Behind them, the mute girl Xiao Ya also stared blankly at the scene, not understanding what had happened.

However, soon, these few people turned their attention to the mute girl Xiao Ya.

One of them said with ill intentions, "It doesn't matter. Didn't we catch an accomplice? This little girl has quite the nerve to harbor an assassin wanted by the Prime Minister's Manor."

"What does this little girl know? She's been mentally unsound since childhood. Perhaps she was deceived by that assassin."

"Forget it, let's wait for the people from the Prime Minister's Manor to handle it. This little girl is also pitiful. She kindly saved the assassin, only to be implicated innocently. Daring to offend the Prime Minister's Manor never ends well."

The next morning, outside Clear Water Village.

A flying boat, carved and painted with golden splendor, resembling a magnificent pavilion, descended amidst swirling clouds and shimmering sunlight, landing with a rumble that kicked up dust.

A group of black-clad guards, swords in hand, with fierce expressions and overbearing auras, surrounded a young man in white robes with wide sleeves, his demeanor refined and noble, as they slowly walked forward.

Behind the flying boat, clouds churned, and many knights clad in armor, their Blood Essence astonishing, rode ferocious beasts, following closely. Their ferocity was terrifying, as if they had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The County Lieutenant of Qingshui Village, along with a large contingent of guards, had already been waiting there.

Behind them was a vast crowd of Qingshui Village villagers, all looking terrified and uneasy.

"Who tore down the wanted poster?"

A tall knight, riding a ferocious beast resembling a Heavenly Wolf, rode forward. Beneath his fully armored face, his eyes were chillingly cold.

He swept his gaze over the County Lieutenant of Qingshui Village. His powerful aura pressed down on everyone, making their Blood Essence churn and compelling them to bow down.

"Reporting, sir, it was this person..."

The County Lieutenant's face was pale. He quickly explained the entire sequence of events.

Beside him, a middle-aged man with a pockmarked face looked terrified, unable to even speak clearly at this moment.

The mute girl, Xiao Ya, her face pale and filled with fear, was held down by a group of guards. She couldn't even lift her head, trembling uncontrollably.

"You're saying the assassin escaped at a critical moment..."

"And this young girl saved him?"

The knight's gaze was icy as he demanded, "If you dare to conceal even a single word, do you understand the consequences?"

"Every word is true, I wouldn't dare to conceal anything," the middle-aged man with the pockmarked face stammered.

"Young Master, it seems we've arrived too late. That assassin, Lin Fan, has likely already fled into the depths of the mountains..."

The knight, riding his ferocious beast, quickly approached Jiang Lan and respectfully reported.

Jiang Lan nodded slightly, not particularly surprised. Yesterday, when he heard someone report that they knew Lin Fan's whereabouts, he was a little surprised.

Logically, why would Lin Fan's whereabouts be so easily revealed to him?

However, adhering to the principle of better safe than sorry, he had made the trip himself, as the two locations were not far apart.

From the current situation, Lin Fan was indeed cunning, having escaped before they arrived.

"Young Master, how should we deal with the mute girl? She knowingly saved Lin Fan, the assassin. Without her care, Lin Fan likely wouldn't have recovered so quickly..." the knight beside him respectfully inquired.

Jiang Lan waved his hand slightly and walked over, stopping before the trembling girl.