bestfiction Chapter 263: The Eccentric Gatekeeper
Chapter 263: The Eccentric Gatekeeper
Chapter 263: The Eccentric Gatekeeper
All I heard was, "Shh, don't shout, it's me."
The familiar voice calmed Ji Meiqing down after several days of panic. She nodded to show that she understood, and only then did Lu Yu lower his hand.
Ji Meiqing threw herself into his arms and said, "I knew you would come to save me, but we can't go back now."
Lu Yu reached out and hugged her back, then asked, confused, "Why?"
Ji Meiqing stood up and said helplessly, "I don't know what Qingyuan gave me to eat. No matter how I try to adjust my body these past few days, I feel weak and listless. Sigh, I asked you to report to the authorities, so why did you come here so late at night?"
Lu Yu sighed and said, "Don't mention it. The soldiers here have long been bribed by Qing Yuan. It seems he was prepared and determined to succeed. Don't worry, no matter what he gave you to eat, there will definitely be a way to break the curse. Let me take you out first."
Ji Meiqing nodded, then looked outside and said worriedly, "But what about the people outside? You can come and go easily by yourself, but I don't know martial arts, how am I supposed to get out?"
Lu Yu gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, since they're blocking our way out, we'll take care of them."
Upon hearing this, Ji Meiqing reminded him, "No one is allowed to take lives."
Lu Yu nodded and said, "Of course not, we just saw how tired they were and let them rest for a while. It's not good to make a move outside. Here's what we'll do: you find a way to lure them in later, take care of this group, and then we can leave. There's still some time before the shift change."
After Lu Yu finished speaking, he hid in an unseen corner. Ji Meiqing scratched her head, wondering how to let them in so late at night, as she walked towards the door.
She looked up and saw the mouse hole next to her, and happily said, "I've got it!"
She called out from inside the room in a weak and timid voice, not too loudly, lest she wake the others. "Gatekeeper, could you come in for a moment? There's... there's a bunch of rats, I... I'm scared!"
The gatekeepers weren't new to Ji Meiqing; they were usually quite carefree, but now they seemed like completely different people. Perhaps there really were rats. So one of them said to the other, "I'll go in and take a look; you stay here and keep watch." The other replied unhappily, "Why should you go in? You stay here and I'll go in."
Listening to their argument, Ji Meiqing wondered when they would come in. She then said, "Brothers, stop arguing! These rats are going to gnaw on my things. It's terrible! If you don't come in and catch them, I...I...I'll cry for you."
Upon hearing Ji Meiqing's words, the two of them went in together without saying a word. Ji Meiqing smiled at them and then naturally closed the door. To her dismay, the two started arguing again.
"Who let you in? Weren't you supposed to stay outside and keep watch?" one of them said, expressing his dissatisfaction.
“You should be the one guarding outside,” the other retorted, not to be outdone.
"Why should I? Let me tell you, if you want to fight, just say so."
"I'm not going to fight you, I'm here to catch mice, Miss Ji, old..." Before the two could remember what they had come in for, Lu Yu knocked them unconscious.
Lu Yu rubbed his temples. "I didn't expect the Qingyuan Sect to have such two eccentric people guarding the gate."
Ji Meiqing smiled and said, "Let's go." Then she walked out, but suddenly her legs gave way and she knelt down. Lu Yu quickly went to help her up, and Ji Meiqing said with a pained expression, "The medicine seems to be working harder. I don't even have the strength to walk anymore."
Lu Yu picked her up and said, "It's okay, I'll carry you out."
Suddenly, the lights outside the door came on, and Lu Yu exclaimed, "Oh no, Qing Yuan is awake!"
Their plan was flawless, but unexpectedly, the two people's argument woke everyone up. Qing Yuan, watching Ji Meiqing and Lu Yu from upstairs, said, "Hmph, they've come after all. Fire the arrows." Lu Yu, carrying Ji Meiqing on his back, used his light-footed skill to leap onto the roof and leave.
Upon arriving home, Lu Yu suddenly collapsed. Ji Meiqing, already weak, had to rely on her doorman to help her and Lu Yu into the house. Yan Jin was at the restaurant and didn't see him. Granny Liu, however, was awake and, seeing Lu Yu unconscious on the bed, asked Ji Meiqing, who also looked unwell, "What happened to you two?"
Ji Meiqing replied absentmindedly, "Brother Lu was shot in the waist with an arrow. Because he carried me back, I didn't notice anything unusual. Granny Liu, I've already sent someone to fetch a doctor. Go and prepare some food and tea."
Grandma Liu said okay.
After the doctor arrived and examined Lu Yu's injuries, Ji Meiqing asked, "Doctor, how is Brother Lu?" The doctor replied, "Please rest assured, Madam Lu, although the wound is deep and has bled a lot, fortunately it did not hit any vital organs, so Young Master Lu is fine. He should be able to recover in about ten to fifteen days."
Ji Meiqing was relieved, then remembered what she had said, "Doctor, can you help me see why I feel so weak?" The doctor took her pulse and said, "Madam Lu, you have been poisoned. However, it is not a deadly poison. I will prescribe a medicine for you. Take it for a few days. If it does not work, come back to me."
It seems that Qing Yuan didn't really want to harm her, but why would he go to such lengths? Ji Meiqing couldn't figure it out, so she decided to wait until Brother Lu woke up before making a decision.
I thanked the doctor and gave him some extra money, since I felt bad for disturbing him so late at night. Then I had someone take him home.
Perhaps Lu Yu was in better physical condition, because he woke up the next day. Ji Meiqing felt better after taking the medicine the night before and had been taking care of Lu Yu ever since, eventually falling asleep right next to the bed. Lu Yu got up to drink some water, but unexpectedly aggravated his wound, and Ji Meiqing woke up when she heard Lu Yu's cries of pain.
Ji Meiqing got him some water and said, "You're awake. The doctor said you're fine and will recover in a few days. I also have good news for you: I'm feeling much better too."
Lu Yu smiled genuinely upon hearing this. Then Ji Meiqing said, "However, there's some bad news. It's time for you to take your medicine. I asked Granny Liu to prepare some food last night, but you haven't woken up yet. I'll heat up the food now, and you can take your medicine after you eat."