Chen Baoxiang gave a dry laugh. “I’ll… wait a moment longer.”
“Best not to keep the Physician God waiting too long,” the maid said, gesturing politely toward the exit.
The two maids beside her stepped in and took hold of her arms. Their grip was firm. Chen Baoxiang put on a brave face: “I am a guest here — dragging me about like this is hardly appropriate. Let go.”
“Guests of your particular sort — we’ve seen a fair number of them,” the maid said, unmoved. “Those bold enough to come and deceive us should be bold enough to face what follows.”
Her heart sank. Chen Baoxiang tried to keep up a front. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“No matter. When the rod comes down, everything will become very clear.”
The maids marched her toward the front hall.
In the distance, voices had already erupted in a heated quarrel:
“I am drowning in troubles of my own right now — and rather than offering help, you have the nerve to show up at my door to poach from me?”
“Senior and junior martial brother this and that — I wasn’t even there when our master took you in!”
“I should have run you through twice and thrown you to the wolves on the back mountain all those years ago!”
The string of curses was punctuated by the shattering of at least one vase, and the whole of it made the listener’s heart seize in their chest.
“Senior martial brother is absolutely right, please don’t be angry, please don’t be angry… ah, look — Baoxiang is here.”
Physician Wang’s eyes lit up. He pointed toward the doorway and said: “I saved your most beloved disciple just recently — surely that earns me at least a little goodwill?”
All heads in the room turned at once.
Chen Baoxiang tried to shrink back, but the maid gave her an unceremonious shove from behind.
She stumbled two steps forward into the hall, and there she saw Sun Sihuai standing ahead of her — an old man whose gaze was sharp and penetrating. He looked her up and down, and his brow furrowed deeply. He clearly did not recognize her at all.
Chen Baoxiang squeezed out a smile that looked more like a grimace. She’d already mentally planned what variety of grass she’d like growing on her grave —
Great Immortal — where have you gone?!
She wailed inwardly.
Still no reply.
In despair, she closed her eyes and prepared to fall to her knees and beg for mercy.
Sun Sihuai opened his mouth from across the room:
“You useless student — always causing me grief. What are you standing there staring for? Get behind me.”
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