Wear A Book And Hug Your Apprentice’S Thigh Tightly Chapter 12
byChapter 12
She Has Her Sense of Responsibility and Professionalism
Evening. Prefect Chen indeed invited several important officials from Twilight City to host a welcoming banquet for Chun Yu and Li Yuan.
However, Chun Yu and Li Yuan were distracted after learning Night Granny’s whereabouts. After drinking for a while, they began to feign intoxication.
Li Yuan, looking dazed, smashed wine cups and bottles onto the banquet floor, shouting, “Kill the demons! Kill the demons!”
The other officials were startled, and Prefect Chen and Madam Chen also looked at Li Yuan with confusion.
Chun Yu quickly said, “My apologies, everyone, my apologies. My disciple truly cannot hold her liquor. To avoid spoiling your enjoyment, I will take her back to the room first. Please continue, please continue.”
An official said, “Wait, Immortal Master, I haven’t had a chance to ask you for the secret method for conceiving a son yet…”
Chun Yu, while helping Li Yuan walk out, waved her hand and said, “We’ll talk another day, another day.” Asking her for a secret method for conceiving a son—did they think she was the Goddess of Fertility?
Prefect Chen told Madam Chen, “Quickly, escort the two Immortal Masters.”
Madam Chen immediately understood and rose to follow Chun Yu and Li Yuan.
Madam Chen instructed her maids, “Why are you standing there? Go quickly and help the Immortal Master.”
“Yes.” Two maids were about to take Li Yuan, but Li Yuan became stubborn, refusing to let them hold her. She clung tightly to Chun Yu, wrapping her arms around Chun Yu’s soft, slender waist and refusing to let go.
Chun Yu said to Madam Chen, “It’s fine, Madam Chen. Please go back to the meal. We can return to the rear courtyard ourselves.”
Madam Chen said, “How can we let the Immortal Masters leave the banquet alone? Immortal Masters, please don’t worry. I don’t eat much in the evening anyway. The paths in the Prefect’s Residence are complicated; I don’t want the two Immortal Masters to get lost. And this Immortal Master is so drunk, we must quickly help her back to her room to rest.”
“Oh, right,” Madam Chen added, instructing an old woman, “Hurry and brew some hangover soup. Bring it over to the Immortal Master when it’s ready.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Since Madam Chen insisted, Chun Yu found it difficult to refuse, allowing Madam Chen to escort her and Li Yuan back to their room in the rear courtyard.
Finally, in the room, after Chun Yu settled Li Yuan on the bed, she said to Madam Chen, “Madam Chen, you are truly dedicated.”
Madam Chen replied, “The two Immortal Masters are too kind. This is merely my duty. Then, I wish the two Immortal Masters a good night’s rest.”
Chun Yu nodded.
A short while later, the old woman brought the hangover soup for Li Yuan.
Chun Yu gave the hangover soup to Li Yuan, then told the old woman who delivered it, “That’s enough. You don’t need to wait on us here. We are going to rest now.”
The old woman nodded and withdrew.
Chun Yu immediately blew out the candle.
In the darkness, Li Yuan sat up, her expression clear in the moonlight, showing no trace of sleepiness.
The two nodded to each other, and Chun Yu cast an invisibility spell on Li Yuan’s hair ornament.
Prefect Chen clearly hadn’t trusted them, as he had arranged for people to watch outside their courtyard.
Chun Yu cautiously pushed the door open just a tiny crack, squeezing herself out. Following her, Li Yuan also carefully slipped through the gap.
A servant watching not far from the door whispered, “What’s going on? Why is the door open?”
Another servant said, “Perhaps the wind blew it open.”
“Should we go close it?”
“Close what? The Prefect told us to watch carefully here. What does ‘watch carefully’ mean?”
“What does ‘watch carefully’ mean?”
“It means don’t give away our position!”
“Oh, then we won’t close it.”
Chun Yu covered her mouth as she passed them, barely suppressing a laugh.
They only revealed themselves once they reached a safe area.
Chun Yu said, “The Prefect’s Residence is so large. Where do you think Prefect Chen is hiding Night Granny?”
Li Yuan said, “We can only split up and search.”
Chun Yu nodded. The two agreed to use the communication jade pendant of the Vast Brilliance Immortal Sect as a signal and split up to search.
Chun Yu thought that there was no need to check the courtyards of Prefect Chen, Madam Chen, or their sons and daughters. However, since Night Granny was old, Prefect Chen certainly wouldn’t arrange for her to stay in an unsuitable place.
Chun Yu was unfamiliar with the residence, but she followed her intuition and started searching from the south side.
The south courtyard seemed to consist of several maids’ and servants’ quarters. Since their duty hours varied, some maids’ rooms were still lit at this hour.
As Chun Yu approached, she keenly smelled a faint scent of traditional medicine. However, it was common for maids to be sick and brew medicine.
Chun Yu walked up to the medicine pots, where a young maid was still brewing something.
Just then, another maid walked over. She asked, “Little Tao, is the medicine brewing?”
Little Tao replied, “Sister Xi’er, it’s already brewing. It will be ready by tomorrow morning.”
Chun Yu recognized the maid named Xi’er; she was the personal maid who had been by Madam Chen’s side all day, likely the head maid of the residence.
Xi’er said, “Then you should go rest early. I will come to fetch it tomorrow morning.”
Little Tao said, “Alright, thank you, Sister Xi’er.”
Chun Yu thought, if Xi’er is fetching the medicine, is Madam Chen sick? But Madam Chen looked rosy-cheeked and didn’t seem ill.
Chun Yu was suspicious but didn’t delay her search. She searched the entire south courtyard. Seeing that the sky was starting to lighten, her jade pendant emitted a signal, and she went to meet Li Yuan.
The two met and shook their heads; they had found no trace of Night Granny in the residence.
Chun Yu told Li Yuan about seeing Xi’er fetching medicine the previous night.
Li Yuan pondered, “Perhaps the medicine isn’t for Madam Chen, but for someone else?”
Chun Yu asked, “Do you think it’s Night Granny?”
Li Yuan said, “It’s not impossible.”
Chun Yu said, “Then we should follow Xi’er to find out, but the sky is almost bright now. Madam Chen will probably send someone to call for us.”
Li Yuan suggested, “How about this: you say I’m still unwell and need to stay in bed, and I’ll go follow Xi’er.”
Chun Yu objected, “No, although you don’t fear the demon blade, you don’t have any magical abilities. What if you run into danger?”
Li Yuan smiled faintly and said, “Teacher Chun, thank you for caring about me so much.”
Chun Yu said, “Of course. This is my professional duty.”
Hearing the words “professional duty,” the curve of Li Yuan’s lips dropped. Did Chun Yu care for her and protect her only because she was her teacher, driven solely by her sense of responsibility and professionalism?
Chun Yu said, “Here’s the plan: I’ll transform you into my appearance. You stay in the room and take care of yourself. I will follow Xi’er. Once we find Night Granny, we will confront Prefect Chen.”
Li Yuan nodded coolly. However, Chun Yu was focused on finding the person and completely missed Li Yuan’s shift in mood.
The two returned to the room. Chun Yu transformed a pillow on the bed into Li Yuan’s likeness, appearing to be sleeping quietly. Then, she transformed Li Yuan into her own appearance.
She instructed, “Hold firm, don’t let our cover be blown. I’ll be back soon.”
Li Yuan said, “The sooner you return, the later my cover will be blown.”
Chun Yu said, “I understand.” With that, she left.
Li Yuan, disguised as Chun Yu, sat alone by the bedside. Before long, a maid knocked on the door and said, “Immortal Masters, breakfast is ready. We servants are here to assist the two Immortal Masters with washing up.”
Li Yuan opened the door, her expression cold and severe. Although she had the same appearance as Chun Yu, she lacked the genuine Chun Yu’s usual warmth. Li Yuan’s gaze was too cold and sharp.
The maid glanced up, startled, and quickly lowered her head, saying, “I apologize for disturbing the Immortal Master.”
Li Yuan said, “It’s fine. Bring the food in. My master… my disciple is feeling a bit unwell and needs more rest.”
The maid said, “Understood. We will withdraw then.” She placed the food box down and turned to leave. As the maid turned to exit, she seemed to glance toward the bed, but seeing the transformed Chun Yu (Li Yuan) staring coldly at her, she quickly hurried out.
After leaving the room, the maid informed Madam Chen that Li Yuan was feeling unwell.
Madam Chen thought for a moment and asked, “Did they ask for a doctor?”
The maid shook her head.
Being sick but not calling a doctor—Madam Chen grew suspicious.
The maid asked, “Madam, should I go ask again?”
Madam Chen shook her head and said, “No need. I will go ask myself.”
Li Yuan had only been sitting for a short while when the door was knocked again. Knowing it wasn’t Chun Yu, she opened the door with considerable impatience.
As expected, standing outside were Madam Chen and her maid.
Li Yuan suppressed her annoyance and asked, “Madam Chen, what is the matter?”
Madam Chen said, “I heard from the maid that the other Immortal Master is ill. I was worried, so I came to ask if you need a doctor.”
Li Yuan said, “No need. I just drank too much wine yesterday and have a slight headache. I’ll be fine after half a day’s rest. Madam Chen doesn’t need to worry.”
Madam Chen said, “The Prefect instructed me to take good care of the two Immortal Masters. How can I not worry?”
Li Yuan asked, “Then what does Madam Chen intend to do?”
Madam Chen said, “I wonder if it would be convenient for me to step inside and take a look? If everything is truly fine, I can report back to the Prefect.”
Li Yuan coldly extended her hand, gesturing inward, and said, “Be my guest.”
Madam Chen was genuinely unnerved by her cold attitude today. She hadn’t been like this yesterday; it was truly strange.
Madam Chen entered the room. Chun Yu, transformed into Li Yuan, was just getting out of bed. She feigned surprise and said, “Madam Chen? Why have you come?”
Madam Chen said, “I heard from the maid that the Immortal Master was feeling unwell, so I came to see if you needed a doctor.” Madam Chen observed ‘Li Yuan’ getting out of bed with a rosy complexion; she didn’t look sick at all.
Chun Yu said, “Oh, no need. We cultivators have immortal energy protecting us. Even small ailments heal quickly. Madam Chen doesn’t need to worry. See? I’m perfectly fine now.”
Madam Chen smiled and said, “It’s good that the Immortal Master is well. Oh, right, do the two Immortal Masters have any plans for today?”
Chun Yu said, “We stayed at the Golden Jade Tower for a few days previously and left some things there. We plan to go retrieve them first.”
Madam Chen nodded and said, “Very well. Do the two Immortal Masters require a carriage?”
“No need, Madam Chen. Please stop worrying about us,” Chun Yu said. “We are cultivators, not sheltered young ladies. Slaying demons and flying through the skies are nothing to us. Madam Chen truly does not need to fuss over us so much.”
Chun Yu’s refusal was quite explicit. If Madam Chen insisted further, it would seem intentional. Madam Chen said, “Very well. I won’t disturb the two of you then. If you need anything, please come find me.”
After Madam Chen left.
Li Yuan asked, “Did you find Night Granny’s location?”
Chun Yu nodded. “This Prefect Chen is truly cunning. He had a tunnel dug in a room in the Prefect’s Residence. This tunnel leads directly to an adjacent courtyard. That courtyard was originally used to store some torture implements, and many things had been piled up there for years, so no one went near it. Prefect Chen cleaned that area out and arranged for Night Granny to live there.”
Li Yuan said, “Then let’s go find Night Granny now and quickly ask her how to activate the Myriad Artifact Sword Array.”
Chun Yu said, “Let’s go.”