bookbashuk Chapter 325 Undercurrents
Chapter 325 Undercurrents
Chen Anran left Baicao Pavilion and walked back to the mountain, but her mood was not as light as her steps.
Mo Han's appearance is like an undercurrent suddenly surging beneath a calm lake, foreshadowing a deeper and more complex whirlpool that is about to appear.
As he was pondering how to discuss this matter with Su Wan, a familiar voice rang out from ahead.
"safely."
Chen Anran looked up and saw Wei Qingyi standing beside an ancient pine tree at the corner of the mountain path, with Feng Xiaolu, Zhao Mengmeng, and Lin Xiaoman following behind her. The group seemed to be waiting for him.
"Second Senior Sister and Third Senior Sister? Aren't you supposed to be patrolling down the mountain?" Chen Anran stopped in her tracks.
"Yes, but we saw you take a phone call and leave in a hurry, so we were a little worried and followed you. We saw you go into the back door of Baicao Pavilion." Feng Xiaolu spoke quickly, leaning forward, "Junior Brother, what happened? Was it that phone call just now...?"
Chen Anran looked at their concerned eyes, especially Wei Qingyi's calm yet all-seeing eyes. The usual "It's nothing" swirled on her lips, but she swallowed it back.
Wei Qingyi took half a step forward, her gaze calmly landing on Chen Anran's face. "What happened?"
Chen Anran was silent for two seconds, and habitually tried to brush it off with "It's a small matter, I'll handle it."
Wei Qingyi seemed to see through his thoughts, "Anran, you shouldn't take on everything yourself."
Feng Xiaolu chimed in, "That's right, junior brother, we're family. Don't always shoulder everything alone!"
Chen Anran looked at them, her gaze shifting from Wei Qingyi's aloof face to Feng Xiaolu's anxious eyes, and then to Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Xiaoman's concerned faces.
The mountain breeze blew by, stirring up the pine trees and dispelling the last vestiges of hesitation in his heart.
"Fellow Daoist Mo Han of Longhu Mountain is seriously injured and unconscious. He was hidden in the Feng family's cart transporting medicinal herbs. He was just discovered by Senior Wen Yuan and has now been secretly placed in Baicao Pavilion."
The short sentence contained a wealth of information that caused several people to change color simultaneously.
"Fellow Daoist Mo Han?!" Feng Xiaolu gasped, "How could she..."
"Seriously injured?" Wei Qingyi frowned slightly. "Was it caused by someone or something else?"
"The external injuries are obvious, but the internal injuries are even more severe. His meridians are damaged, and his consciousness is blocked," Chen Anran said briefly. "Senior Brother Feng Changyuan has received initial treatment and is not in immediate danger of losing his life, but it's hard to say when he will wake up."
Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Xiaoman exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. For Zhang Tianshi's last disciple of Longhu Mountain to appear in this way at this critical juncture—anyone could sense the unusual danger emanating from him.
Wei Qingyi said solemnly, "Let's go back to the mountain first and tell Senior Sister about this."
Chen Anran and the others said no more and quickened their pace as they walked up the mountain.
Upon returning to the Cloud Hidden Sect, the main hall was quiet. Su Wan sat alone in the hall, a yellowed ancient book open before her, and steaming tea beside her. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, her gaze sweeping over everyone, lingering briefly on Chen Anran's face, and said gently, "You're back."
"Senior Sister." Chen Anran stepped forward and briefly explained the matter of Mo Han.
Su Wan remained calm after listening, though her fingers tightened slightly as she held the book. She put down the book, got up, walked to the window, and gazed at the verdant mountains outside the hall, pondering for a moment.
"Mo Han is a direct disciple of Zhang Tianshi, her identity is special. For her to be so severely injured and hiding, she must know something she shouldn't know, or... see someone she shouldn't have seen." Su Wan turned around, her eyes clear. "An Ran, what are your plans?"
"It's not advisable to publicize Mo Han's matter for now," Chen Anran said in a deep voice. "She's unconscious and unable to explain what happened. If we hand her over to Longhu Mountain now, who knows where she'll end up? But if we keep her hidden in Baicao Pavilion, the truth will eventually come out."
Wei Qingyi's cool voice rang out: "Save her first. Once she wakes up, find out what happened before making a decision."
Su Wan nodded: "Qingyi is right. Anran, go to Baicao Pavilion again later and take a closer look at Mo Han's injuries."
"Yes," Chen Anran replied.
Feng Xiaolu couldn't help but interject, "Senior Sister, could Fellow Daoist Mo Han's appearance here be related to that Crimson Spirit Sect Holy Maiden? Or... is it related to Zhang Tianshi's death?"
Su Wan looked at her, her gaze deep: "Anything is possible. That's why we need to be even more cautious about this matter."
The atmosphere inside the main hall was somewhat heavy. The aroma of tea and ink mingled, but it could not dispel the doubts in everyone's hearts.
Su Wan walked back to the desk, her fingertips lightly tracing the yellowed edges of the ancient book, and pondered, "Anran, when you go to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion later, be sure to be careful. There are many eyes and ears down the mountain right now. Although the various sects outwardly abide by the 'undercover investigation' rules, they probably also have eyes watching every move in the shadows."
"I understand." Chen Anran nodded. "I will take the path around the back mountain."
Wei Qingyi suddenly spoke up: "I'll go with you." Seeing that Chen Anran seemed about to say something, she added, "The more people there are, the more help we can provide. Besides, Fellow Daoist Mo Han's injuries are complicated, and there are some injuries that it's inconvenient for you men to treat."
Upon hearing this, Chen Anran felt that Wei Qingyi made sense. Instead of mentioning the injury, they should just say that they were cleaning and changing Mo Han's clothes, which would be inconvenient for the men.
"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you, Second Senior Sister."
Seeing this, Feng Xiaolu wanted to speak as well, but Su Wan stopped her gently: "Xiaolu, you stay on the mountain with Mengmeng and Xiaoman."
"...What can I do if I stay on the mountain?" Feng Xiaolu muttered softly, somewhat unwilling. "I want to help too..."
Su Wan walked up to her, gently smoothing Feng Xiaolu's slightly messy bangs. "Xiaolu, you, Mengmeng, and Xiaoman aren't staying on the mountain without anything to do. There are too many people and eyes around down here, and the sect needs someone to look after things. Xiaoling'er is young, and although Master Huiming is here, as her senior sister, you should also keep an eye on her. Besides—" She glanced at Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Xiaoman, "If people from other sects come up the mountain under the pretext of visiting to inquire, having you all here will ensure proper etiquette and prevent people from thinking our mountain is deserted."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaolu knew that her senior sister had considered everything carefully. Although she still wanted to go, she could only pout and agree, "Oh... I understand."
Zhao Mengmeng tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Third Martial Aunt, let's listen to the Sect Leader. It's just as important for Master and Second Martial Aunt to take care of important matters while we guard our home."
Lin Xiaoman nodded and said softly, "Mengmeng is right. Besides, if someone really comes, we can help deal with them."
Seeing that the arrangements were settled, Chen Anran said to Wei Qingyi, "Second Senior Sister, we'll set off after making some preparations. Eldest Senior Sister," he turned to Su Wan, "we'll have to trouble you to take care of things on the mountain."
Su Wan nodded slightly: "Go ahead, be careful."
Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi went back to their rooms to make simple preparations, and a moment later, the two met in the courtyard.
Wei Qingyi's long hair was neatly tied into a high ponytail, revealing her beautifully shaped neck. "Shall we take the herb-gathering path behind the mountain?"
"Yes, that road is well-hidden. Right now, all the factions are focused on the main area of the resort and a few main roads. Going down from there won't make you easy to be discovered."
Without another word, the two moved and quickly disappeared on the path leading to the back mountain.
Feng Xiaolu clung to the window of the main hall, staring longingly in the direction they disappeared, until Zhao Mengmeng came over and pulled her away.
"Third Uncle, stop looking. Master and Second Uncle will definitely handle it. Let's think about what to do if someone really comes up the mountain later."
Inside the hall, Su Wan sat back down at the table, her fingertips lightly tapping the open pages of the book, murmuring to herself, "It seems this day will come sooner than I imagined..."