Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 272 Immortal Cave
Accompanied by thunder, Master Chen slowly recounted the past, and his sadness did not seem fake.

What a Liang Zhu-style love tragedy, everyone at the table thought so.

Xiaocai was even more doubtful. He was only a casual acquaintance of Monk Guangheng, but everyone could see that Monk Guangheng was knowledgeable and indifferent. He didn't expect that he was also a fool when he was young.

Is it just a coincidence? Master Chen's narration is reasonable, but there are no clues. Wang Heng is full of thoughts, and he deduces various possibilities in his mind one by one.

The older Xu in white in the Niu Shou Mountain Hunting Picture is the concubine of Lord Changping, and the younger Xu in red should be the second Miss Xu.

"The second Miss Xu from Jiangning County later married into the Liu family who lived in Cuihua Village?" Wang Heng asked.

Master Chen said, "I have never had any contact with the Xu family in Jiangning. Besides, she is a female relative, so I really don't know her whereabouts."

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. The door opened and a person was pushed into the west hall, and the double door slammed shut again.

The passage was brightly lit by candles, which illuminated the face of the visitor the moment the door opened. It turned out to be Ruan Youhai.

"Mr. Ruan." Xiaocai couldn't help but exclaim.

Wang Heng gently covered Xiaocai's mouth, and Ruan Youhai nodded as a greeting. He saw that Wang Heng and Xiaocai were also in the room, and they seemed to be relieved. He probably felt that now was not the time to chat, so he sat in a corner alone.

Judging from the way Ruan Youhai walked, his injuries had mostly healed.

Ruan Youhai was originally recuperating in the guest house in Mr. Zhao's courtyard, but he was now searched in the front yard by the masked men from Qingfeng Village. I wonder if Old Chen, who served him, escaped or was imprisoned somewhere else?
Wang Heng then thought of Li Shanmin’s study, which was right next to Mr. Zhao’s yard. Shanmin had a fever and would most likely be taken to the east hall if he was found by the masked men. It would be very dangerous if he was unable to recover from the illness, so he couldn’t help but worry.

There was thunder and lightning and strong wind. Everyone was silent in anxiety.

Jinyang Jun Li Wei, who had been like an invisible man since he was locked up in the west hall, spoke up: "Everyone, do you think the night sky above the Li Mansion is very strange, with purple air flying over it? Could it be that there is a fairyland in Cuihua Village?"

Wang Heng had already noticed the faint purple light, and felt confused. Hearing that Li Fu had also noticed this, he wanted to hear other people's opinions.

"It's ridiculous. It's just a little flash in a thunderstorm." Master Chen looked out the south window and said disapprovingly.

A voice came from the corner, it was Ruan Youhai speaking Nanjing Mandarin with an accent: "Ge Xianweng said in Baopuzi that when you get to heaven, you will first pass through the Purple Palace, where the golden bed and jade table are shining and bright, it is a truly precious place."

I have always been addicted to reading stories: "In the Complete Biography of Immortals compiled by Wang Fengzhou from my hometown, Yin Xi looked up at the sky and saw purple air moving westward from the east, so he asked to be the commander of Hangu Pass. Later, Laojun rode a white chariot and drove a green ox to pass through the pass."

Li Fu said quietly, "One day in the cave is equivalent to a thousand years in the real world. What I am worried about is whether we can get out today."

"You are full of superstitions. You are also scholars." Master Chen remembered that Li Fu was a student of the Southern Prison. He could not help but scold him when he heard his weird and absurd mumbling.

It was dark in the room and I couldn't see everyone's faces clearly, but I guess they all had different expressions. Ruan Youhai moved from the corner to the window, sat cross-legged, with his five heads facing the sky, and began to mutter in an incomprehensible language.

Wang Heng gradually felt as if he was bewitched by the voice and controlled the ups and downs of his heartbeat.

Suddenly, there were bursts of screams coming from outside, which were completely different from the sound of wind, rain and thunder. Everyone was frightened and thought something must have happened.

Soon the door to the west hall was opened again, and the masked man guarding them shouted at the door with a lamp in his hand: "Who's inside? Are Doctor Zhao and his apprentice here?"

Mr. Zhao and his apprentice were not found together with Ruan Youhai, so they must have gone into hiding.

Wang Heng stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, brave man, what happened?" The masked man who was guarding said, "Master Li suddenly fell ill and vomited blood. He is probably dying. The silver has not been received yet, so Master Li cannot die. The people in the room said there is a Mr. Zhao who is a doctor. Scar brother asked me to find him."

Master Li Wan was fine just now, how could she suddenly fall ill? Vomiting blood is not a symptom of being frightened.

In this situation, Mr. Zhao and his disciples could not show up, and they did not know that Lord Li was in danger. After thinking it over again and again, Wang Heng said, "Mr. Zhao and his disciples are not in there. I am a student of the South Prison. I have learned first aid from the country boy. Why don't you let me try?"

The guard looked at Wang Heng for a few times and gestured for him to go out. Although Xiaocai didn't understand what he meant, he immediately stood up and followed him, saying, "Brave man, I am the assistant of Master Wang Qi, and I must go with you."

The guard was a sturdy warrior. Seeing that he was just a young scholar with very white skin, a little baby fat on his cheeks, and a weak physique, he looked down on him and said, "Just follow me honestly and don't play any tricks."

It was only a few steps from the west hall to the east hall, and the lights outside were as bright as incandescent lights, even more brilliant than when the birthday banquet just started.

Wang Heng was confused. What on earth were these masked men trying to do? What treasure were they looking for?

As soon as I entered the east hall, a turbid smell hit me in the face. There was an oil lamp inside, and the room was slightly brighter than the west hall.

Wang Heng covered his nose and said to the guard, "There are too many people in this room. It's not good for the patient. Move the others out."

The guard didn't dare to act on his own and went to ask Scar Brother for advice. Scar Brother told him to listen to the doctor.

When the elders of the Li clan heard that they could move next door, they thought it was a godsend. On the one hand, they were afraid that Li Wan's disease was contagious, and on the other hand, they were afraid that the heroes of Qingfeng Village would detain them and extort money, so they left immediately.

Lady Li Wan was lying on the terrazzo floor, while Mr. Meng was squatting in front of a bonsai in the hall, looking at something at a loss. Meng Dalang was standing behind him, and when he saw Wang Heng and Xiaocai come in, his eyes flashed with eagerness.

Lord Li's face was flushed, his breathing was rapid, and his nails were blue-gray. What the guard had just said was right, but it was obviously useless.

Wang Heng frowned and said, "I suspect it's poisoning. Let's give it a try." He asked Xiaocai to ask the guard for a jar of clean water.

It seemed that the people in Qingfeng Village did not want to kill Li Wan, and soon they brought in water.

Wang Heng asked Xiaocai to lift up Li Wan's back, pried open Li Wan's teeth, and poured some clean water into him.

Xiaocai was so scared that he was shaking, and said in a trembling voice: "Seventh Brother, human life is at stake, please wait for Mr. Zhao."

Mr. Wei had taught them some wilderness survival and first aid methods before, but these were clearly not enough to save critically ill patients.

Wang Heng made up his mind and said, "We can't wait any longer. Mr. Zhao and the others don't know about Lord Li's situation, so how can they fall into his trap?"

Wang Heng unbuttoned his pocket, revealing a small blue and white porcelain bottle, and poured out a black pill: "I'll take this with me."

Xiao Cai recognized that it was the antidote to the Shenxian Chenzui Powder that Fei Yue'er had given them that day. It was a pill for clearing away heat and detoxifying. Even if the medicine was not suitable, it would not kill people.

Xiaocai said to Li Wan, "We have antidote pills with us. If you are willing to take the risk and give it a try, just nod your head."

Li Wan seemed to still be conscious and nodded slightly.

Wang Heng pried open his teeth and swallowed the pill with water.

The rest depends on fate.