Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1573: Chapter 1573 The Inevitable Has Finally Arrived_1

”Why didn’t you send me a message? I could have helped you earlier,” Bai Ruozhu said anxiously.

”Foolish girl, do you think I didn’t send you a message? There are his people in the Commerce Association. Because of this, I almost got caught by him again!” Elder Shougu said helplessly.

Bai Ruozhu rubbed her forehead. She had too much confidence in the Commerce Association, but after all, it was open, and so many elders governed independently. It wasn’t too difficult to infiltrate a few spies. Moreover, when Saihan was Li Yi, he was a right deputy in the Censorate with high power, so it wouldn’t be impossible to bribe one or two elders.

”He can sense the Poisonous Insects on you and will definitely come for you. Even if you can’t help him with his troubles, he will find a way to devour your Poisonous Insects to suppress the Evil Poisonous Insects in him,” Elder Shougu said with a sigh, ”Oh, it’s my fault for being careless that day.”

”Elder, what exactly is this Evil Poisonous Insect? Isn’t there a way to control it?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”Us people from Miaojiang have many methods for crafting Poisonous Insects. Some powerful ones are even made by placing poisonous creatures together, letting them devour each other over forty-nine days, with the survivor becoming the Poisonous Insect. But Evil Poisonous Insects are more malevolent. They require not only the slaughter of poisonous creatures but also the devouring of lingering spirits, and being fed with the fresh blood of a living person for eighty-one days. Poisonous Insect Masters who raise Evil Poisonous Insects are treated like rats in Miaojiang, everyone wants to eliminate them. Before I came to Zhongyuan, I killed an Evil Poisonous Insect Master. I should have killed that Evil Poisonous Insect directly, but it was not afraid of fire or water, and my Poisonous Insects refused to devour it. I had no choice but to carry it with me, suppressing it with Poisonous Insect Techniques, hoping to eliminate it one day. Later, when Li Yi captured me, in desperation, I thought of letting the Evil Poisonous Insect come back to haunt him, but then...”

”Li Yi is already suffering from his own actions; he’s not having an easy time now,” Bai Ruozhu could only comfort the old man this way.

”I used a Secret Method to summon your Poisonous Insects and call you out of the City to tell you that I can’t be of much help, but you must be careful of Li Yi. If you need to make contact with him, be sure to hide your Poisonous Insects well. They are still not a match for the Evil Poisonous Insect and will be devoured,” Elder Shougu added.

”Is there really no way to deal with him?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

Elder Shougu extended his hand, in the palm of which lay Furball, calm and still. In his other hand was a half-dead Poisonous Insect, which he placed next to Furball, saying softly, ”Child, eat.”

Suddenly alarmed, Bai Ruozhu asked, ”Elder, is that one of your Poisonous Insects? Why let Furball eat it?”

”It’s fine. It was already wounded by the Evil Poisonous Insect and wouldn’t have lived much longer. It’s good if it can help Furball before dying.” Elder Shougu said this, but his eyes betrayed a reluctance, looking at his own Poisonous Insect as if he were looking at his child.

Furball, oblivious to everyone’s feelings, excitedly devoured the Poisonous Insect and then burrowed back into Bai Ruozhu to sleep deeply, seemingly set to advance to the next level upon waking.

But Elder Shougu’s words struck her again, ”Your Poisonous Insect will advance, but it still can’t contend with the Evil Poisonous Insect, only manage to resist once or twice at best. Fortunately, that Li Yi still doesn’t know how to use the Evil Poisonous Insect; you have time. You already know the way—for Furball to seek out and devour poisonous creatures in the mountain forest on its own can work as well, but only by devouring more formidable Poisonous Insects will it improve quickly.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”Elder, I have taken note. You also need to be more careful to avoid being found by Li Yi’s people.”

Elder Shougu smiled and nodded, ”I’m going back to Miaojiang. For an old man like me, the outside world is still too dangerous. With the Evil Poisonous Insect in Li Yi, you can’t kill him. Don’t act rashly unless Furball can advance twice more after this one; then, you’ll have a chance against him.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”I will remember, elder.”

”Well, let me send you back so that your subordinates don’t get anxious,” Elder Shougu said, waving his hand with a smile. Suddenly, a Poisonous Insect burrowed up from the ground and whisked Bai Ruozhu away. Her vision blurred, she was lifted swiftly; then, as it cleared, she found herself back where she had fallen.

She looked around in amazement at the ground below her feet. Although she stood in a big pit, there was no sign of any hole beneath her. How had she come up, and how had the ground closed up?

She found it to be so magical and held even greater admiration for Elder Shougu’s Poisonous Insect Techniques, feeling that it was like an existence out of mythology.

However, Elder Shougu placed more emphasis on cultivating life-sustaining Poisonous Insects, or those that could save one’s life. Compared to murder, they were naturally not as formidable as the Evil Poisonous Insects.

Jianqi hurried forward, pulling Bai Ruozhu out of the large pit, ”Master, are you alright?”

”I’m fine, it was just an encounter with an acquaintance, let’s hurry back,” Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to elaborate, although she trusted her subordinates, she still worried it might affect Elder Shougu’s safety.

Upon returning, they found Jiang Yichun and his son, with Little Dengdeng and Xiaohei frolicking in the forest, having the time of their lives.

Jiang Yichun took her hand and asked, ”How did it go?”

Bai Ruozhu leaned in and whispered about Elder Shougu. Jiang Yichun’s expression turned grave as he said, ”I’ve been searching for him and haven’t detected Li Yi’s actions; this Li Yi is not as simple as he appears on the surface.”

”Has your backing faction also been infiltrated by him?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

Upstairs Upstairs isn’t supposed to dominate the situation in Zhongyuan, is it? How could they fail to detect Li Yi’s movements, unless they deliberately concealed them for Li Yi.

Jiang Yichun’s expression darkened slightly as he said in a low voice, ”A few halls have split off there, and I’m just one of the hall masters. There are also some differing opinions within the Association; it wouldn’t be surprising if a portion chose to support another monarch.”

”But how could they choose someone like Li Yi? Ultimately, isn’t it all about making choices for their own interests? Upstairs Upstairs is no different,” Bai Ruozhu said, a bit angrily.

Jiang Yichun quickly pulled on her, signaling her to drop the subject.

”Mommy, Xiaohei wants to carry you and play together,” Little Dengdeng’s voice came from afar. Bai Ruozhu strode forward and sat on Xiaohei’s back with her son.

Xiaohei galloped through the woods, Little Dengdeng’s laughter like the tinkling of silver bells, crisp and continuous, lightening Bai Ruozhu’s mood as well.

The family played until evening before returning to the Capital City. Little Dengdeng, tired from playing, ate dinner and went to bed early.

The night passed without incident, and early the next morning, the Empress had a decree sent, summoning Bai Ruozhu to the Palace, claiming that Consort Lv had contracted a strange illness, accusing Bai Ruozhu of poisoning her.

Bai Ruozhu scoffed inwardly, knowing that what was bound to come had finally arrived, albeit a little later, and thought that she had at least avenged Lady Xu.

On the surface, however, she feigned surprise and said to the eunuch delivering the edict, ”I haven’t seen Consort Lv for a long time, how could there be any talk of me poisoning her?”