"Since Xue Xianzi is most likely infected by parasites, I'll find another way." After a brief pause, Tang Lici pointed at the door, "I'll arrange for someone to escort you down the mountain. No need to worry." Qiyang breathed a sigh of relief—after encountering that ghostly figure, he could finally leave. He'd been regretting his decision to come here out of curiosity about the so-called "Medicine person" for quite some time. "I want to leave right away." Tang Lici nodded, "Very well." Qiyang studied him for a moment before blurting out, "Why won't you go back?" Tang Lici remained motionless, as if he hadn't heard. After a while, he smiled faintly, "Once you return, don't tell anyone you saw me."
"Of course I won't. If I did, thousands would immediately demand I bring you back—how could I handle that?" Qiyang rolled his eyes at him. Suddenly, Tang Lici asked, "Has the Tang family... been looking for me too?" Qiyang scratched his head, "The Tang family? I don't know. Seems like it's mostly entertainment reporters, your fans, and your women searching for you. Haven't heard about the Tang family publicly seeking you out." Tang Lici smiled again, "Go back. You have your own affairs to attend to." Qiyang was taken aback. This person had always struck him as insincere, putting on airs and never speaking from the heart. But this phrase—"Go back, you have your own affairs"—somehow felt... Whether it was the weariness softening his tone or simply the gentleness in his voice, it sounded... tender.
As if it were genuine care, and therefore tender.
For a moment, Qiyang felt a strange confusion, unable to articulate the sensation.
Tang Lici stood up and clapped his hands toward the window. Two Sword Association disciples swiftly approached. After giving them brief instructions to escort Qiyang away, Tang Lici suddenly paused, waved his hand, and dismissed them back outside. He lifted his gaze, staring blankly out the window.
The two disciples exchanged puzzled glances before withdrawing. Qiyang's eyes widened in disbelief—was this man actually spacing out? This was truly bizarre.
After a while, Tang Lici sighed softly, "Does your hospital perform cosmetic surgery well?" Qiyang cursed inwardly—"your hospital"? That was undeniably "your family's hospital." This man had zero awareness or sense of responsibility as acting director. "Our cosmetic surgery is decent, at least no worse than others." Tang Lici continued gazing out the window, "Then... after you finish those scheduled operations, could I ask you to come back here?"
Qiyang blurted out, "You want plastic surgery? No way..." A subtle shift passed through Tang Lici's eyes as they remained fixed on the window, "Can you?" Qiyang took a step back, "Well..." Tang Lici murmured, "I'm begging you." At these words, Qiyang broke out in goosebumps, stammering, "Of course I can, but... but you absolutely don't need cosmetic surgery..."Tang Lici wasn't listening to him. "After you return, help me bring someone back." Qiyang scratched his head, "I can do that, but it'd be best if they're not from the Song Dynasty. Without an ID or anything, everything becomes very difficult." Tang Lici said softly, "He's not from the Song Dynasty." After a pause, he continued, "I... don't want to know where the passage is, nor do I want any news about it. When you come again, wait for me at the Imperial Father-in-law's residence. I'll arrange for someone to go back with you." Qiyang looked at him strangely, "Who do you want to send back?"
"Vered."
Qiyang was overjoyed, "So he's not dead either, that's wonderful! I love his guitar—his skills are truly unmatched." Tang Lici still wasn't listening to him. "His face is injured, and his leg has a comminuted fracture. I hope the hospital can treat him, but please don't spread news of his injuries." He shook his head slightly and murmured, "He's emotionally unstable and very proud. Don't discourage him."
Qiyang observed his expression. "You two... have been through a lot?"
Tang Lici smiled faintly. "Yes, we've been through a lot."
Qiyang asked cautiously, "A lot of bad things?"
"I don't know." Tang Lici slowly raised his eyes to look at him. "I can't tell... what's good and what's bad..."
Qiyang couldn't discern whether the emotion in his eyes was joy or anger, sorrow or pain—it was like a near-blank chaos that made him gasp.
"Go on." Tang Lici said nothing more and clapped his hands again. The two Sword Association disciples drifted in and led Qiyang away.
As he left, Qiyang sighed inwardly. He didn't understand Tang Lici at all, but this man seemed far more complex than he had imagined—so complex it was almost beyond what a "person" could bear...
That nearly blank, chaotic gaze was as if he was teetering on the edge of hysteria and collapse at any moment. One careless misstep, and "Tang Lici"—both his facade and his true self—would be utterly annihilated.
His entire... soul seemed on the verge of burning out...
Cheng Yunpao emerged from Tang Lici's room, clutching the crumpled paper ball he had been given, and hurried back to his own quarters to unfold it. The paper was densely covered in writing—Tang Lici had meticulously detailed the various strategies Yu Konghou might employ recently. He also explained that he didn't want the newly unified morale of Good Cloud Mountain to collapse, giving Dissolute Shop an advantage. Thus, he hoped Cheng Yunpao, Meng Qinglei, and others would cooperate with Hong Guniang to execute his counter-strategy.
In other words, when Yu Konghou framed him, no one was to defend him. They needed to create a situation where everyone pointed fingers at him. Because if anyone showed support for Tang Lici, the nearly thousand people on the mountain would split into factions, leading to infighting and the failure of their campaign against Dissolute Shop before it even began. Since they couldn't obtain irrefutable evidence to expose Yu Konghou at this moment, he would frame himself to ensure the unity of these thousand people, sharing both hardships and triumphs.
The collective hatred of a thousand people was also a form of power—perhaps even stronger than the pursuit of righteousness.
After reading it, Cheng Yunpao clenched his fist and destroyed the letter.A sudden wave of inexplicable doubt surged within him. He had always been unwavering in the path he walked—punishing the wicked, eliminating evil, and sacrificing for righteousness. No matter the cost, it was all martyrdom, nothing to regret. For Tang Lici to act this way was not something he found unacceptable given his character. Had he been in Tang Lici’s position, had he conceived such a strategy, he too would have acted without hesitation.
Yet, the moment he read that letter, why had his heart wavered so deeply? A sense of dread enveloped him, leaving him restless.
Was it because the one being sacrificed was Tang Lici?
Because he was the least likely person to be sacrificed, the one who should never have been sacrificed? How could someone who orchestrated the grand scheme suddenly be cast aside midway? What would become of someone who had always stood so high above others?
He nearly opposed the decision outright, only to realize with a start just how much he relied on Tang Lici—not just him, but perhaps Meng Qinglei, Yu Furen, even Dong Hubi, and the others. They had all long regarded Tang Lici as a pillar, a dependable force, a solution to their doubts, a key to victory—something as indispensable as the very air he breathed.
Good Cloud Mountain housed nearly a thousand souls, and morale could not falter. But had Tang Lici not considered the unease and confusion that would grip their hearts after his departure? How were they to find solace? Worse still, the mere thought of Tang Lici facing the entire martial world’s misunderstanding and relentless pursuit, the possibility of him being wounded or dying under false accusations—it was enough to suffocate him.
Tang Lici believed him to be the most steadfast, which was why he had confided in him first. Yet here he was, his mind in turmoil, unable to utter a single word for the longest time.
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