Huang Rong's heart skipped a beat. "Could Lord Ling have fallen under the soul-bewitching art from the Nine Yin Manual?" She had been about to step forward to investigate, but seeing the happiness on Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua's faces, she hesitated.
With another thought, Huang Rong recalled how Ling Shuanghua's marriage to the Lü Family's young master had caused a rift between the two families. Rather than drag things out, it was better to settle the matter this way and make both sides give up their hopes. Jing Gege devoted himself wholeheartedly to affairs of the nation and never considered matters at home, but she could not afford not to make more plans for the family. Fu'er was gradually growing up. That Young Master Lü came from a distinguished family and was accomplished in both literature and martial arts. If they could become related to Lü Wenhuan by marriage, Lü Wenhuan presumably would no longer keep placing so many restrictions on Jing Gege or guarding against him...
Having made up her mind, Huang Rong smiled faintly and let them leave. When Song Qingshu passed by her side, she lowered her voice and said with a half-smile, "Young Master Song, you practice the Nine Yin Manual quite well."
Madam Hu had long been waiting outside the manor to receive them. The group of four left Jingzhou City overnight. Only when they reached a ruined temple on the outskirts did Song Qingshu finally let out a breath. His back was already soaked in cold sweat. After calculating everything so carefully, he had forgotten that Huang Rong had also practiced the Nine Yin Manual. He had no idea why she had not exposed him, and inwardly he cried out in relief.
With a light cough, Song Qingshu walked toward Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua. "Great Hero Ding, I told you I could help lovers finally unite, didn't I? Let me first wish you both many children and a long life together... But I hope you will keep your promise and tell me the latter half of the Divine Light Scripture."
Ding Dian chuckled. "All right. Listen carefully."
Song Qingshu focused intently and leaned closer, but Ding Dian suddenly threw a punch at him.
Madam Hu had felt that something was wrong the moment Ding Dian smiled, so she had kept her attention on them. Unfortunately, Ding Dian struck too quickly. She only had time to leap in front of Song Qingshu.
Ding Dian's fist struck Madam Hu in the back. She gave a muffled groan and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Song Qingshu's eyes nearly split with rage. He grabbed Madam Hu and held her in his arms, feeling how limp her body was, as if she had no bones. He had no idea how badly she was hurt. Turning back, he roared at Ding Dian, "Are you insane?"
Ding Dian stared blankly at his fist, secretly regretting his actions as well. But upon hearing Song Qingshu's accusation, he could not help sneering. "Hmph. Your scheme with Ling... may have fooled others, but don't think you can fool me."
Song Qingshu was nearly furious enough to faint. "Are you an idiot? I got Ling Tuis to personally betroth Miss Ling to you. What more do you want?"
"That's right, Brother Ding. Could there be some misunderstanding?" Ling Shuanghua, standing to the side, was also dumbfounded by this sudden turn of events.
"Shuang Hua, you do not know how sinister people's hearts can be. That day, when he said he had a way to help the two of us, I became suspicious. I secretly followed him and discovered that all of this was indeed a scheme he had devised with your father. I played along only so I could successfully take you out of Jingzhou City. This time, I'll make them lose more than they gain!" Ding Dian then told Ling Shuanghua in detail how he had followed Song Qingshu that day and personally overheard the two of them discussing their plot.
Song Qingshu laughed in extreme anger. "Are you stupid? I infiltrated the Ling manor alone. If I hadn't made up some lies, how could I have fooled that old fox Ling Tuis? Besides, Ling Tuis covets your Liancheng Jue, but I don't. Do you think I had any reason to conspire with him?"
Ding Dian was startled. Only then did he remember that Song Qingshu clearly knew the secret of the Liancheng Jue. In that case, he truly had no motive to cooperate with Ling Tuis. As he calmly reconsidered the entire matter, realization dawned on him. He bitterly hated himself for having been tricked by Ling Tuis. Having seen too many of people's treacherous schemes, he had come to regard everyone in the world as evil. The moment he saw Song Qingshu, he instinctively classified him as someone with ulterior motives, and after finding the slightest evidence, he selectively chose to believe his original judgment.
Seeing the expression on her lover's face, Ling Shuanghua knew he had wronged a good man. She crouched down to examine Madam Hu's injuries. Madam Hu's face was deathly pale, and her breathing was already faint as a thread. Ling Shuanghua's face drained of color. "Brother Ding, Sister is about to die! Quickly, think of a way to save her!"
Song Qingshu's teeth were already grinding audibly. He stared at the two of them with hatred in his eyes, thinking, If it were not for me, Sister-in-law would not have lost her life...
His eyes bloodshot, Song Qingshu looked at Ling Shuanghua's snowy white neck. His mind was completely blank, and a crazed smile appeared at the corner of his lips. He quietly drew a dagger from his robes, preparing to slash her delicate neck and make her accompany his sister-in-law in death, making Ding Dian regret it for the rest of his life! As for Ding Dian's mad retaliation afterward, that no longer mattered.
"She can be saved!" Ding Dian said, jolted awake by Ling Shuanghua's voice.
Song Qingshu's heart jolted. He raised his head to look at Ding Dian, and a trace of life slowly returned to his eyes.
"Then why aren't you saving her already?" Ling Shuanghua demanded in distress, wondering why Brother Ding had suddenly become so slow-witted.
Ding Dian looked hesitant. At last, he stammered out, "I can save her with the Divine Light Scripture, but Madam Hu's injuries are too severe. I fear she will need to remove her clothes, and then I must circulate my inner power through the acupoints across her entire body. This... men and women should not touch intimately. I... I..."
Seeing his face redden with urgency, Ling Shuanghua knew her lover was an upright gentleman and certainly was not trying to take advantage of Madam Hu. But a young woman's chastity... She looked at Song Qingshu awkwardly.
The moment Song Qingshu heard that Madam Hu's life could be saved, he was overjoyed and no longer cared about anything else. He quietly put away the dagger and shouted, "Stop hesitating and save her!" As someone who had crossed over from another world, Song Qingshu did not care much about such matters. At worst, he could treat it as Madam Hu receiving a full-body spa.
Just then, Song Qingshu felt someone gently tug at his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Madam Hu's eyes slightly open. Her voice was weak but resolute. "Qingshu, forget it. I will never let another man see my body. Promise me that you will not let another man touch me!" Seeing Song Qingshu nod hesitantly, Madam Hu smiled radiantly. Her gaze began to lose focus as she murmured, "Help me take care of Fei'er in the future. He had no father from the moment he was born, and now he has lost his mother too. He is truly too pitiful..."
As her voice grew weaker and weaker, Song Qingshu's vision gradually blurred. Thinking that she was the person who had treated him best since he came to this world, grief surged from his heart. Holding her tightly, he began to weep.
Ding Dian stood to one side, watching the sobbing Song Qingshu helplessly, filled with remorse. Ling Shuanghua's heart was also being torn apart. She even began to think wildly. She had finally endured until the clouds parted and the moon shone upon her and Brother Ding, yet this happened immediately afterward. Could it be that she had broken her oath from that day, and Heaven was punishing them both?
The two suddenly noticed that the crying had stopped. Coming back to themselves, they saw Song Qingshu slowly raise his head and say in a voice as cold as ice, "Recite the latter half of the Divine Light Scripture to me. Now!"
Before you continue