Ch 32: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

He asked again, “Has anything big happened in the Marquis’s household recently?”

“Big?” The leader thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”

“Really nothing?” Mu Xing didn’t believe it.

There was no way the old madam wanted to see him for no reason.
That excuse of “missing him” was something only a fool would believe.

The men racked their brains for a long while before one finally said, “The young master of the household has been sick for over half a year. The Marquis’s family has been seeking doctors and medicines all this time. The old madam even offered a heavy reward for a good physician.”

He glanced carefully at Mu Xing. “I don’t know… does that count as something big?”

Lu Jiaming is sick?

Could it be that because Lu Jiaming fell ill, the Marquis’s household suddenly thought of their true young master?

Even if Mu Xing racked his imagination, he could never have guessed their real intention—because it was simply too absurd.

After questioning them again and again until the guards were nearly in tears, Mu Xing finally stopped.

“Well then, may we ask, Young Master Mu, about the antidote?” they asked timidly.

Mu Xing gave a cold laugh, voice merciless: “Antidote? Of course there isn’t one. The poison only acts up once a year. You are not allowed to speak of what happened tonight. A year from now, come find me for the antidote.”

He had already wasted too much time here. Ah Yue was surely still worrying. Mu Xing stopped talking nonsense with them, turned, and vanished into the darkness.

The guards exchanged glances, unable to tell if Mu Xing’s words were true or false.

But none of them dared gamble with their lives.
They weren’t bonded servants of the Marquis’s household—since their lives weren’t tied to it, they gritted their teeth, hurried back, gathered up their families, and fled the capital altogether.

Mu Xing slipped quietly back in through the window. Ah Yue immediately sat up. “Brother Xiaobao, are you alright?”

Mu Xing patted his head. “I’m fine.”

His tone was still full of excitement. “I just realized how strong I am—I beat those guys until they were crawling on the ground!”

He wanted to brag about how dashing and imposing he had been, but it was late, and Ah Yue had been waiting for him without sleeping.

So Mu Xing just patted the blanket. “Sleep first. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Ah Yue obediently curled back into bed and quickly fell asleep.

But the next day, Mu Xing didn’t get the chance to boast of his might.

He fell sick.

Out in the middle of the night dressed thinly, then using his inner force to fight—his frail body couldn’t take it.

Before dawn, he was burning up. Ah Yue, half-asleep, felt the heat beside him, touched Mu Xing, realized he was feverish, and leapt up to pound on Zhang shi and Mu Dazhuang’s door.

The entire Mu family was roused.

It had been so long since Xiaobao had last fallen ill—Zhang shi was weeping in heartache.

Fortunately, Xie Wang knew medicine. When he heard the news, he came by during the day, took Mu Xing’s pulse, carefully examined his condition, and called Ah Yue aside.

“Xing’er fought someone, didn’t he?”

Bound by Mu Xing’s instruction, Ah Yue hadn’t told the Mu family about the previous night. But with Xie Wang, there was no need to hide.

He explained how people had sneaked in to take Mu Xing away, how Mu Xing had gone out with them, and how he had fought.

Xie Wang’s face darkened like still water. He looked at the anxious, worried child but said nothing.

He personally wrote a prescription, fetched the medicine, and stayed by his disciple’s side.

Mu Xing sank into unconsciousness—and stayed that way for three days.

In his dreams, the light orb that had been gone for a long while appeared again.

“Lu Jiaming is sick, very sick. Now’s your chance to return to the Marquis’s household. One is a sickly invalid, the other a healthy and clever child—anyone would know which to choose,” it urged.

Mu Xing only asked, “Do you know why the Marquis’s household wants me back?”

The orb said slyly, “Of course. They think you’re the one suppressing Lu Jiaming’s illness, so they want to use you to find a cure for him.”

Its voice grew coaxing: “That whole family is rotten. Don’t you want revenge? Take Lu Jiaming, for instance—his very existence has been an insult and persecution to you. Now’s your chance. Return to the Marquis’s household. With your talent and wit, win your grandmother’s and parents’ favor, then deal with that stumbling block Lu Jiaming and reclaim what’s yours. Once you control the Marquisate, wiping out that filthy family will be nothing.”

Mu Xing was silent for a while, then affirmed, “That family is indeed sick.”

The orb perked up, but Mu Xing had already said his next line:

“But why would I fight over a rotting Marquisate with a bunch of lunatics?”

With that, he woke from the dream.

His body felt weak and heavy, but dry—clearly someone had been wiping him down.

“Xiaobao’s awake!” Zhang shi’s eyes were red; she hadn’t rested well in days.

She fussed over him: “Are you thirsty? Hungry? Still uncomfortable?”

Mu Xing shook his head and smiled at her. “I’m fine, Mother.”

Just then, Xie Wang pushed the door open.

Zhang shi said quickly, “I’ll bring you some porridge—let Master Xie take a look at you.”

Mu Xing looked up at his teacher’s stormy expression.

He offered an obedient smile. “Xiaobao being sick these days has troubled Master.”

Xie Wang glanced at him. “Don’t you know the state of your own body? I taught you martial arts so you could cultivate your health and defend yourself when necessary, not so you could show off your courage.”

Mu Xing felt aggrieved. “It wasn’t on purpose—someone came for me first.”

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