CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73: ABSURD! SHE’S SERIOUSLY ILL, AND THE VILLAIN IS HER CURE

Early the next morning, everyone got up and left the mountain stronghold.

Lu Qing asked the Second Master to lead the way, and at the beginning, the routes he indicated were all correct.

Even the unclear routes on the map were pointed out.

Pei Shu’er also managed to perfect the map in her mind once more.

However, when they reached a certain place, the Second Master pointed forward.

"Go this way."

As Lu Qing and the others were about to proceed, Pei Shu’er hurriedly said, "Hold on."

Lu Qing turned his head and looked at Pei Shu’er with confusion.

Pei Shu’er said, "No, this isn’t the right path."

Tang Zan raised his hand and indicated another more hidden path.

"Go that way."

Pei Shu’er also nodded, "We’ve looked at the map before."

The Second Master frowned, "The map you saw may not be accurate. Haven’t you noticed that the paths I’ve shown so far have all been correct?"

Pei Shu’er curled her lips into a smile, "Of course they were correct because those routes were not dangerous at all."

"But the route you’re pointing to now, there’s a swamp ahead, making it impassable."

As soon as Pei Shu’er said these words, the Second Master’s face changed for an instant, then he forcibly composed himself.

"Don’t suspect those you use, and don’t use those you suspect."

Pei Shu’er sneered, "And you call yourself trustworthy? You’ve committed countless evils, and now that everyone has given you a chance to redeem yourself, you can’t wait to lead everyone to their deaths!"

The Second Master was furious, but no one listened to his argument.

Lu Qing looked at Tang Zan and Pei Shu’er and noticed their firm expressions.

He immediately pointed to the path the two had just mentioned.

"You two lead the way."

The two of them took the lead ahead.

The path here was extremely narrow, with branches growing all around.

Only one person could pass through at a time.

With such a large group, it was quite difficult to traverse.

Lu Qing handed two large knives to the two of them, and they cleared the branches on the path as they walked.

After a while, the path ahead opened up, expanding to more than twice the original width.

Only then did the Second Master’s expression change.

Upon exiting the narrow path, Lu Qing kicked the Second Master unceremoniously.

The Second Master clutched his leg in pain and then said, "I must have remembered wrongly. The route is so complex; how could I remember it so clearly? If it weren’t so complex, we wouldn’t have needed to draw a map after all."

Pei Shu’er looked at him coldly.

"This route is so dangerous, yet you pointed to the most dangerous path. I don’t believe you wouldn’t remember it clearly!"

Lu Qing, still furious, kicked the Second Master again, but the Second Master had no choice but to continue leading the way.

Because of the scene stirred up by Pei Shu’er and Tang Zan earlier, he dared not mislead them again.

Soon, they emerged from the mountain range and stood on the original path of exile.

Ignoring the Second Master’s tearful pleas for mercy, Lu Qing raised his sword and beheaded him with a single strike.

Afterward, they said goodbye to the constables they had rescued from the mountain stronghold. Those constables intended to head to the nearest government office to recuperate, before returning to the capital to report on duty.

The exiled criminals who had been imprisoned long ago were also escorted back onto the road. After all, they were all headed to Gulan Mountain, and adding a few more people didn’t make much difference.

As it was time to hit the road again, Pei Shu’er began to feel dizzy once more.

She forced herself to take a sip of the Spiritual Spring Water and suddenly felt warmth in her nasal cavity. When she raised her hand to wipe it, it was covered with blood.

In such cold weather, with such a frail body, she was having a nosebleed.

This body was truly incredible.

Mrs. Li sneered, "What’s the matter, niece-in-law? Have you done too many bad things, and now you’re feeling unwell?"

Pei Shu’er felt vexed inside, wishing Mrs. Li would just die instead of nagging all day long.

Then she shook her dizzy head.

Right, the Power of Plot wouldn’t let Mrs. Li die.

Suddenly, Pei Shu’er paused, her pupils dilating.

She looked at the blood on her hand and her constant dizziness.

She suddenly realized that while others could avoid death because of the Power of Plot,

someone destined to die like her would naturally fall victim to the Power of Plot.

Thinking of this, a chill ran down her spine.

She had experienced how terrifying the Power of Plot could be.

Tang Peilin’s blood seemed to have almost drained, yet he was still alive.

Even at death’s door, he just couldn’t pass away.

Mrs. Li and Tang Peilin were the same since these two hadn’t yet shone brilliantly in exile and later committed a colossal blunder.

They landed everyone in an even worse predicament, leading to their beheading by the Commander.

In the original story, the entire family had their heads cut off by a Commander, as it was directly written in the plot.

Then what about her?

Even after transferring into the book, would she still suffer the same fate as in the original — humiliated by officials and dragged to her death by enemies in an exile camp?

Thinking about this, Pei Shu’er felt cold all over.

At this point, the team moved forward again, yet she remained rooted to the spot.

The government officer named Xu Jia was already approaching her, and Pei Shu’er felt her vision blur even more.

She could hardly stand and felt utterly drained.

As her vision went black, she fell heavily,

but instead of hitting the ground, she landed against someone with the scent of sandalwood.

Pei Shu’er looked up and saw Tang Zan’s impossibly handsome face.

Instantly, she felt her dizziness vanish.

Pei Shu’er: "..."

This was quite bewildering.

Then she recalled previous incidents.

It seemed to be the same: no matter how dizzy she felt, as long as she stayed with Tang Zan, she appeared to be illness-free.

Pei Shu’er quickly moved away from Tang Zan’s embrace, and Tang Zan was irked by her eagerness to detach.

He must have been out of his mind to hug Pei Shu’er just now.

In vain...

In vain did he have a moment of compassion as he embraced her.

Meanwhile, Pei Shu’er tentatively experimented.

She stepped away from Tang Zan until she was a meter away, and beyond that distance, she would feel dizzy again.

The farther away, the more severe the dizziness became.

Pei Shu’er increasingly realized she was sick, and Tang Zan was the cure!

Utterly ridiculous!

As a government officer was about to remind her, she quickly pulled Tang Zan along.

She walked briskly, showing no trace of the sickly beauty from earlier.

Meanwhile, the corners of Tang Zan’s mouth curled slightly, unnoticed even by himself.

After walking a long way, Pei Shu’er didn’t feel unwell.

She immediately confirmed her suspicion.

As someone destined to die, if she stayed by the fortune-blessed antagonist, she wouldn’t be affected by her original fatal storyline.

After all, the Power of Plot on the ultimate villain clearly outweighs that on a mere side character.

Pei Shu’er now was afraid to leave Tang Zan at all.

She decided privately, Tang Zan was her lifeline!

Anyone after Tang Zan’s life is an enemy of Pei Shu’er!

Thus, she’ll stick within a meter of Tang Zan.

If anyone tries to drive her away, she’ll fight them fiercely!

After all, such an act would be a threat to her life!