strictlysupreme Chapter 104, 9th Lifetime: After Amassing a Fortune, the Madman Manor Undertakes Big Events
Chapter 104, 9th Lifetime: After Amassing a Fortune, the Madman Manor Undertakes Big Events
Chapter 104 After making a fortune, Crazy Manor is up to something big.
Clutching a heavy wad of silver, Luo Qingci was incredibly smug. Humming a little tune, she skipped along faster than a rocket, the whole world seeming to be her own backyard. The path beneath her feet seemed to automatically pave a starlit avenue to the pinnacle of wealth for her; each step stirred up a gust of wind, her aura proclaiming to the world: "I, Luo Qingci, am the master of this world!"
Just as she was enjoying herself, a magnificent manor that could dazzle the eye suddenly came into view. The vermilion gate, as red as freshly cooked spicy crayfish, was extremely eye-catching; the high walls exuded an air of mystery, as if shouting at the top of their lungs: "Come on, it's full of treasures inside, just waiting for you, the 'God of Wealth,' to come and take them all!"
"Good heavens, this place is clearly a treasure trove, definitely hiding mountains of gold and silver, and maybe even a secret manual that can make someone instantly dominate the martial arts world!" Luo Qingci's eyes widened like copper bells, the light in her eyes was brighter than the sun, and she had already begun to imagine herself counting money in the manor until her hands cramped, and incidentally taking all the treasures into her pocket.
She swaggered toward the manor gate as if she were going home, and as she walked, she was thinking to herself: "When I get inside, I'll pick out the most valuable treasures first, and then slowly deal with these gatekeepers."
Before she could even step through the gate, two fierce-looking guards stood in her way like two towering mountains, their faces full of impatience. With a wave of their hands, as if shooing away flies, they shouted at the top of their lungs, "Where did this wild girl come from? Get out of here right now! If you don't leave, believe me, we'll throw you into the ravine to feed the wolves!"
Luo Qingci's eyes darted around as if they had a super little motor, and she instantly put on a pitiful look. Her eyes reddened in an instant, and tears welled up in them, almost rolling down like a burst dam.
She cried out in a hoarse voice, "Brothers, please have pity on this poor, lonely woman! I'm being chased by a group of ruthless killers. They say they're going to chop me into pieces and feed me to the dogs! I'm trapped with nowhere to go, so I just want to find a place to hide. Please let me in."
While speaking, she pretended to wipe away tears. Her acting skills were so good that even an Oscar-winning actress would be ashamed and want to crawl into a hole.
The two guards exchanged hesitant glances, like two lost lambs, unsure of what to do. Just then, a man who appeared to be a steward emerged from the manor. He wore a long robe, his chin slightly raised, his nostrils almost pointing to the sky, and his eyes, like searchlights, scrutinized Luo Qingci from head to toe before coldly saying, "Our Murong Manor isn't a place where just anyone can enter. You should go back to where you came from and not waste our time."
Luo Qingci sneered inwardly, "Oh, you're quite the show-off. I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget. You'll see how powerful I am!" But her face still wore a pitiful expression, making her look so endearing that anyone who saw her couldn't help but want to cherish her.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. With the speed and dexterity of a magician, she slipped her hand into her medicine pouch, her movements as light as a stealthy kitten. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, she flicked her finger, like flicking cigarette ash, and sent a few drops of "sleeping powder" towards the steward and guards. This "sleeping powder" was her masterpiece; colorless and odorless, just a tiny bit inhaled would instantly render even the strongest man into a deep, unconscious sleep, perhaps even dreaming of flying before crashing to the ground with a "thud."
In the blink of an eye, the butler and guards' eyelids began to droop incessantly, their heads bobbing up and down like chicks pecking at rice, muttering, "So sleepy, so sleepy..." A few moments later, with a few "thumps," they all collapsed straight to the ground, sleeping soundly, drool still hanging from the corners of their mouths, looking exactly like a few fat pigs that had fallen asleep, their snores rising and falling as if playing a "snoring symphony."
Luo Qingci clapped her hands, a smug smile spreading across her face, a smile more satisfied than a cat that had stolen fish and drunk milk: "Hmph, you're eight hundred years too early to fight me! With your meager abilities, you think you can stop me? You're dreaming!"
Having said that, she swaggered into the manor, her steps arrogant and dismissive, as if the entire manor was already hers for the taking. She hummed a little tune as she walked: "I laugh triumphantly, laugh triumphantly, watch me take over this whole manor..."
Upon entering the villa, Luo Qingci was so astonished by the sight before her that her jaw nearly dropped to the ground, her mouth agape enough to fit an egg. The courtyard was filled with all sorts of rare treasures, and piles of gold and silver jewelry were like small mountains, dazzling in the sunlight and almost blinding her.
There were also many precious medicinal herbs and antique paintings and calligraphy. Any one of them could provide her with enough to live comfortably for the rest of her life, and she could even throw a super luxurious party. She rubbed her hands together excitedly, muttering, "I'm going to be rich! I'm really going to be rich! I'm going to pack all these treasures up and take them with me, then find a big castle, pile them all up inside, and watch them sleep every day. Just thinking about it makes me happy!" Just as she was about to reach for them, she heard a series of footsteps. The sound was like drumming, striking her heart with each beat, startling her so much that she almost jumped up.
"Oh no, someone's coming!" Luo Qingci shuddered in fright, like a startled rabbit, and sprinted to hide behind a nearby rockery. She thought to herself, "How could I have been so careless? How could I have forgotten that there are other people in this manor? This is a big problem! But it's okay, I, Luo Qingci, am not so easily caught. Watch how I get away."
A tall, middle-aged man with a face as gloomy as the sky before a storm strode over, followed by a group of servants, each one like a thug, exuding a menacing aura as if they wanted to devour him.
Upon seeing the butler and guards lying on the ground, the middle-aged man's face instantly turned ashen, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. He roared, "Who dares to trespass on my Murong Manor! Do they have a death wish? Today I'll tear them to pieces and feed them to my wolfhounds!"
Hiding behind the artificial hill, Luo Qingci's heart pounded like a drum, almost leaping out of her throat. Her mind raced, calculating: "The master of Murong Manor seems difficult to deal with, but I, Luo Qingci, am no pushover. I absolutely cannot give up so easily. I need to think of a way to escape and take the treasure with me. Hehe, I've got it!" Her eyes darted around like a super-powerful engine, and a plan formed in her mind.
Suddenly, she rushed out from behind the artificial hill, raised her hands high, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Don't do it! Don't do it! I surrender! I surrender, okay? I have an eighty-year-old father and a centenarian ancestor. I'm the pillar of the family, and the whole family depends on me to support them. They're crying for food. If I die, what will happen to them?"
The middle-aged man was slightly taken aback when he saw her, a look of confusion on his face as if he were looking at a monster: "Who are you? Why are you trespassing on my manor? If you don't explain yourself, you won't be leaving here alive today! My Murong Manor is not a place you can come and go as you please!"
Luo Qingci feigned fear, trembling like a leaf, and stammered, "I...I'm Luo Qingci, an orphan with no one to rely on. I've been bullied since I was little and suffered terribly. I heard that Murong Manor is known for its benevolence and is famous in the martial arts world, so I came here hoping to beg for food and survive. I didn't expect...I didn't expect to disturb you all. I really didn't mean to. Please forgive me. I promise to serve you like a slave and repay your kindness." Her pitiful appearance practically screamed, "I'm innocent, please forgive me."
The middle-aged man stared at her for a long time, his eyes filled with suspicion. He sneered, "Hmph, you think you can fool me with just a few words? I think you're here to steal! Don't think you can get away with playing the victim! I've been around for so many years, I've seen all kinds of people. You think you can fool me with your little tricks?"
Luo Qingci's heart tightened, like a rabbit's heart pounding wildly, but her face maintained a pitiful expression, and she squeezed out a few tears, which flowed like water from a faucet: "Master, you've misunderstood, I'm really not a thief. How about this, I'll perform a little trick for you, and if you're satisfied, you can forgive me this time, okay? I promise I'll never dare to do it again. If you're not satisfied, you can do whatever you want with me, even throw me into the river to feed the fish, I won't complain."
The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows curiously, his eyebrows arching like two small mountains, as if to say, "What tricks do you have up your sleeve? I'd like to see." "Oh? What little tricks? If you can't come up with anything, don't blame me for being impolite today! I'll show you the consequences of offending Murong Manor!"
Luo Qingci smiled and took out a small bottle from her medicine pouch. Inside was a multicolored liquid, like a rainbow inside a bottle, shimmering with a dreamlike light.
She lightly sprayed a pebble onto a rock not far away, her movement as graceful as a magician's, and she even struck a cool pose. A magical thing happened: the rock instantly became multicolored and emitted a captivating fragrance, so sweet it made one's mouth water, as if transported to a giant candy world.
"This is my specially made 'Colorful Perfume.' Not only is it beautiful, it can also refresh the mind and eliminate fatigue. If you smell it, I guarantee you'll feel invigorated, more effective than taking a super tonic. Moreover, this perfume has a magical effect: it can make people feel happy, making everything seem beautiful. Maybe after you smell it, you'll find me especially cute and then forgive me!"
Luo Qingci explained with a smile, a hint of pride on her face, as if to say that this was the most powerful treasure in the world, but in her heart she was thinking: "Let's see if you still won't take the bait. I don't believe you won't be tempted."
The middle-aged man looked at the colorful stone, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but he quickly regained his indifference, thinking to himself, "This girl is quite capable, but she thinks she can make me let her go with this? Not so easy."
"That's interesting, but that's not enough for me to let you off the hook. If you don't have something even more impressive, don't even think about leaving here today! The rules of Murong Manor can't be broken."
Luo Qingci was secretly anxious, like an ant on a hot pan, and shouted in her heart: "This manor lord is really hard to deal with. It seems I have to use my ultimate move."
He maintained a smile on his face, a smile more painful than a grimace, thinking to himself, "Hmph, once I get away, I'll take all the treasures from this manor and make you regret not letting me go today."
“Master, I have even more amazing skills. I am proficient in both medicine and poison. Whether it’s healing the sick and saving lives or punishing bad guys, I can handle it all. How about this, you can find anyone and I’ll treat their illness. If I cure them, you can let me go, okay? I guarantee I’ll cure them completely. If I don’t, you can do whatever you want with me. I can sign a life-or-death contract and never go back on my word.”
The middle-aged man pondered for a moment, then suddenly sneered, "Fine, since you're so confident, I'll see how capable you really are. I happen to have a troublesome patient here. If you can cure him, I'll not only let you go, but also reward you handsomely; if you can't, hmph, don't blame me for being ruthless!" With that, he waved his hand, signaling his servants to bring the patient over.
Several servants rushed over carrying a stretcher, on which lay a pale-faced, weak-breathing young man. Luo Qingci stepped forward, examined him carefully, and began to have a good idea of what was going on.
She calmly took out several herbs from her medicine bag, then took out a small jade bottle, poured out a few drops of a medicinal liquid that emitted a strange light, mixed them together, and quickly prepared a decoction.
"Come on, help him up and feed him this." Luo Qingci directed the servants to slowly feed the medicine into the patient's mouth. Everyone held their breath, watching this scene with tension.
Not long after, another miraculous thing happened. The patient, who had been unconscious, twitched his fingers slightly, and then slowly opened his eyes. His complexion gradually regained its color, and his breathing became much more stable.
"This...how is this possible?" The middle-aged man was utterly shocked, his eyes wide, unable to believe what he was seeing. The servants around him were also speechless with astonishment, casting incredulous glances at him.
Luo Qingci's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smug smile: "How about it, Master, I wasn't bragging, was I? Now you can let me go, right?"
The middle-aged man frowned, seemingly still unwilling, but he had to admit the facts before him. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, Murong Manor always keeps its word. You can leave now."
Upon hearing this, Luo Qingci was overjoyed and immediately prepared to retrieve the treasures. But before she could even make a move, the middle-aged man spoke up again: "Wait! Although you healed the person, you still made a mistake by trespassing on my estate. How about this, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. As long as you can help me complete one task, you can choose any of these treasures you like, and I won't stop you."
Luo Qingci's heart skipped a beat, and she knew something was wrong, but she really couldn't bear to part with those treasures. Her eyes darted around, and she asked, "What is it? Tell me first. If it's too difficult, I won't do it."
The middle-aged man smiled slightly and said, "It's not a difficult matter. Recently, a mysterious organization has appeared in the martial arts world, committing evil deeds and robbing treasures everywhere. I would like to ask you to help me investigate the whereabouts of this organization. As long as you can find their lair, all these treasures will be yours."
Upon hearing this, Luo Qingci weighed the options in her mind. She thought to herself, "This way I can get the treasure, establish my reputation in the martial arts world, and maybe even find more fun. It's a good deal." So, she readily agreed, "Okay, it's a deal! But you have to give me some time. I need to prepare properly."
The middle-aged man nodded: "No problem, I'll give you three days. Come back here to see me in three days. If I can't get it done, don't blame me for turning my back on you!"
"Don't worry, Master, I've got it covered!" Luo Qingci patted her chest, speaking confidently. With that, she swaggered out of Murong Manor, already plotting how to investigate this mysterious organization…