Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1819 Water Dragon's Chant 22

Jiang Xinxin could also see that this exquisite little courtyard was full of traps and mechanisms, and there wasn't even a single mosquito.

But she was currently so fond of the beautiful and intricate array of poisonous flowers and plants in the yard that she couldn't help but say to Tang Lizhi, "You go and save people. Leaving so many poisonous flowers and plants unattended could easily hurt people. Why don't I stay and deal with them? They might even be used to save lives."

Tang Lizhi rarely saw Jiang Xinxin show such obvious interest and desire for anything, so she could only shake her head, carefully avoid the traps along the way, and enter the room.

Jiang Xinxin had been secretly observing what was happening inside the house with her divine sense. She knew about Zhong Chunji being poisoned and controlled, and Tang Lizhi entering an illusion. However, seeing that Tang Lizhi was handling things quite well, she focused on collecting the rare poisonous flowers and plants in front of her.

Among these poisonous flowers, the most precious is the Midnight Star Orchid, which can only grow in humid, warm, and fertile soil. This plant only blooms on summer nights, and if the days when it should bloom are not sunny, the flower buds that have already grown will even wither away.

After the buds are removed, the Midnight Star Orchid transforms from an ordinary plant with a pleasant fragrance into a highly poisonous plant with a strong aroma, whose roots, leaves, and sap are all extremely toxic.

This poison is extremely potent; a single drop of its sap can kill an elephant because it causes all bodily fluids to coagulate rapidly. Once the venom lands on the ground, it evaporates into the air with the water vapor, causing surrounding plants to suffocate and die. It is truly formidable.

The name "Midnight Star Orchid" was something Jiang Xinxin came up with on a whim; it was one of the unique things she encountered in this world.

There is another type of poison that can produce "green tea poison" from a single plant. This thing smells just like the hyssop that can be found everywhere in the fields, and even its flower spikes are very similar.

The flower spikes of this plant are a beautiful pink when they first emerge, but after they mature, they turn into a delicate green with a pale yellow tinge, resembling spring grass. The seeds inside are like fine pre-Qingming tea, with a slightly yellowish-green tinge. They can even release a light tea fragrance when brewed with hot water, making it a very real "poisonous green tea".

It just so happens that its poison also belongs to the category of yin and evil, which specifically damages the internal organs and vitality. When it takes effect on the night of the full moon, it can even freeze a person's entire body.

This is a species unique to this world, and Jiang Xinxin couldn't bear to miss it.

After dealing with the poisonous creatures all over the yard, Jiang Xinxin hadn't even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief when she realized something was wrong inside the house. A mechanism suddenly activated, and a surge of water rapidly flooded the room from the ground. The doors and windows were also sealed shut, and Tang Lizhi and Zhong Chunji fell into the secret chamber inside the house.

Jiang Xinxin was also puzzled. How could the situation have become so unfavorable to Tang Lizhi and Zhong Chunji in the blink of an eye?

However, the current situation did not allow her to think too much. She directly struck out with her palm, leaving only the foundation of the three-bay main house in the courtyard. The building on the foundation had been completely blown away, which made it easier for Tang Lizhi to rescue people.

Tang Lizhi emerged from the water carrying the unconscious Zhong Chunji. Jiang Xinxin quickly took Zhong Chunji from her, and Tang Lizhi immediately said solemnly, "Princess, I see a small butterfly tattoo on Miss Zhong's shoulder near the back of her neck..."

Jiang Xinxin immediately understood Tang Lizhi's concerns. "You mean, the owner behind this brothel has probably already planned to use Miss Zhong to plot against me?"

Tang Lizhi believed that her concerns were not unfounded, after all, it was rumored that Princess Jiang Xinxin of Langya was recognized by the royal family because of the tattoo on her shoulder.

"As far as I know, Miss Zhong has suffered greatly since childhood and had endured much hardship before meeting Sword Master Shao. If someone were to suddenly tell her that her true identity is actually quite illustrious, but has now been taken over by someone with ulterior motives, she would certainly not stand idly by."

As long as Zhong Chunji is unwilling to accept this, she can do a lot of things as a top student of the Central Plains Sword Association, at least she can hold Jiang Xinxin back.

Jiang Xinxin, however, did not take it seriously. "First of all, I was granted the title of Princess Anle when I was a month old. Even though I later fell into exile, the golden seal bestowed upon me by the late emperor was not lost. Secondly, I do not actually have any marks or tattoos on my body. Such obvious markings are recorded in detail in the imperial genealogy, and even if outsiders know them, they would find it difficult to forge. Finally, even if Miss Zhong is indeed 'recognized' again, it will only be because she can bring greater benefits to the royal family."

"The biggest reason I am willing to accept my identity again is that my birth mother desperately wants me to return to her side."

Tang Lizhi understood that the identity of Princess Langya was of no concern to Jiang Xinxin. The only thing she cared about was the Empress's genuine affection and love for her.

After rescuing Zhong Chunji, Tang Lizhi and Jiang Xinxin led their men to meet up with Shao Yanping.

At this moment, Shao Yanping's situation was far from good. At first, he was able to maintain the upper hand against the combined forces of Red Fox and Bai Suche, but later, Red Fox and Bai Suche fought and retreated, and took advantage of their familiarity with the environment to launch a large-scale attack. Although Shao Yanping could still handle it, more and more disciples died under various traps, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

In his haste, the red fox seized upon a loophole and lured him into an illusion.

If it weren't for Shao Yanping's eagerness to save his disciple and his constant focus on saving him, although it took some time and he was injured, he would have managed to escape the illusion and not die in it.

However, he expended a lot of energy in the illusion. Even though he saw his disciples fall one after another, his last move failed to create a way out for the remaining disciples. Instead, he himself was frozen.

When Jiang Xinxin and Tang Lizhi arrived, they only saw the departing figures of the red fox and the white carriage, as well as Shao Yanping, who was frozen in ice, and the three disciples he was protecting behind him, who were also frozen in ice.

Tang Lizhi was about to use her internal energy to rescue Shao Yanping and his disciple when Jiang Xinxin quickly pushed Zhong Chunji, whom she was holding, towards her, saying, "Alright, Tang Lizhi, you're quite injured. Leave this to me."

Tang Lizhi hesitated for a moment but caught Zhong Chunji in the end, and did not stop Jiang Xinxin from going to save people.

Upon returning to the Central Plains Sword Gathering, Zhong Chunji felt unable to face his teachers and fellow disciples after waking up, so he locked himself in his room.

Shao Yanping was a meticulous person. He first went to Tang Lizhi's place. After Tang Lizhi refused his offer to heal her, he turned around and sent her a lot of holy medicine for healing before worrying about the affairs of his disciples.

He knew that Zhong Chunji must be blaming himself and feeling ashamed to face his fellow disciples who died at the Peony Pavilion. But the Central Plains Sword Society would eventually clash with the Romantic Shop. It wasn't that the sacrifices would disappear just because someone else had taken their place.