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Before the New Year, Bai Tang returned to the Red Mansion World once again. This time, Sheng Qingxi had ordered a batch of goods to be used as New Year gifts. Bai Tang thought he would just go for a couple of items and come back quickly, so he agreed without hesitation. Having gotten used to traveling between worlds, Bai Tang appeared in the Yangzhou forest without any discomfort. He sniffed the air and detected a metallic scent of blood. Why do I always encounter something when I travel to the forest? Is the feng shui here bad?
Following the direction of the blood scent, Bai Tang found an injured man.
"Just give me a quick end!" The man assumed Bai Tang was one of his pursuers.
"I think you’ve got it wrong; I don’t know you and have no intention of killing you." Bai Tang’s eyes scanned the man's body like light, noting his severe injuries. If it weren't for his willpower, he would have already died.
"Who are you?" The man asked warily.
"A passerby!"
The man spat out a mouthful of blood. Is this how you respond?
Bai Tang took out a pill and waved it in front of the man: "I can save you, but what will you give me in return?"
The man's gaze fixed on the pill; he was still young and had many things he wanted to do. He didn't want to die, but he was even less willing to give up his dignity for his life.
"Aside from my life, I have nothing to offer you." The man turned his eyes away. "I don’t need your help."
Bai Tang smiled: "No wonder you're Liu Xianglian; you have spirit!"
Liu Xianglian suddenly glared at Bai Tang, his eyes shining with sharpness, not at all resembling a dying man: "You know me? Who exactly are you?"
I don’t know you, but the system panel has displayed information.
"I am Xue Pan's Master; he mentioned you."
In this world, Xue Pan had no designs on Liu Xianglian, nor did Liu Xianglian save Xue Pan. However, they still crossed paths and became sworn brothers. Xue Pan had once told Bai Tang about this and wanted to introduce Liu Xianglian to him, but at that time, Liu Xianglian was traveling and not in the capital.
"You... you are Bai Senior?" Liu Xianglian's eyes widened like light bulbs. In his mind, Xue Pan's Master was a mysterious High Master with an image of an elder with a white beard. Who is this young and handsome nobleman? Is he playing with me?
Bai Tang nodded, "I am. For Xue Pan's sake, I'll give you this pill."
With a flick of his finger, the pill flew towards Liu Xianglian's mouth. "Open wide!"
Liu Xianglian unconsciously obeyed Bai Tang's command and opened his mouth. The pill flew into Liu Xianglian's mouth, sliding down his esophagus into his stomach. As he realized he was following a stranger's orders, a warm current rose from his belly, quickly circulating throughout his body. His wounds began to heal at a visible rate, and the internal organs were nourished by this force, gradually returning to health.
Liu Xianglian gaped in disbelief; he fully believed that the person before him was Xue Pan's Master, as only that white Senior could possess such miraculous abilities.
Although his injuries were not completely healed, they no longer hindered his movement. Liu Xianglian got up and knelt at Bai Tang's feet. "Thank you, Senior, for saving my life."
"Get up!" Bai Tang raised his left hand slightly, and a gust of wind lifted Liu Xianglian. This display only deepened Liu Xianglian's admiration.
"How did you end up in this situation? Were you being hunted?" Bai Tang asked curiously. Liu Xianglian was known for being straightforward and making friends; aside from the known Xue Pan, he shouldn't have any enemies. Who could he have offended?
Liu Xianglian nodded, his expression complex. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to reveal the truth: "I was pursued by people from Consort Bei Jing."
Bai Tang was even more surprised. "How did you offend that old lady?"
"This is a long story," Liu Xianglian sighed. "I wonder if Senior has ever met Northern Tranquility King Water Flow?"
"No." Could this matter be related to Northern Tranquility King? Did Liu Xianglian offend him, or had they developed feelings beyond friendship, leading to Consort Bei Jing intervening? Bai Tang leaned towards the second guess; it seemed that Northern Tranquility King had an affinity for handsome men. In the original work, didn't he have a subtle connection with Jia Baoyu?
"If you had seen Northern Tranquility King, you'd understand why Consort Bei Jing is after me."
"Just tell me directly!" Bai Tang wasn't interested in playing guessing games.
"I look very much like Northern Tranquility King Water Flow." Liu Xianglian gritted his teeth— in the 1987 version of **Dream of the Red Chamber**, both characters were played by the same actor.
"What does that matter? Aren't Zhen Baoyu and Jia Baoyu identical?" Bai Tang scoffed; when it came to matters involving Jia Baoyu, there were too many unreasonable things. She felt it was best to face them calmly.
"Not the same." Liu Xianglian forced a bitter smile, "I don't know why Zhen Baoyu and Jia Baoyu look so alike, but Water Flow and I, we are brothers."
"You and Northern Tranquility King are brothers? What’s going on? Hurry up and tell me." Bai Tang's curiosity was completely ignited, her eyes sparkling as she pressed for answers.
Liu Xianglian choked a bit; where's your Senior demeanor? Why are you acting like a nosy neighbor?
Feeling disheartened, Liu Xianglian shook his head, constantly reassuring himself: I'm seeing things, I'm seeing things...
"Water Flow is not born of Consort Bei Jing. After Consort Bei Jing married into Northern Tranquility Prince's Residence, she never gave birth. To secure her position, she pretended to be pregnant. At that time, my mother happened to be pregnant as well, and she set her sights on my mother. When my mother gave birth to Water Flow, she had someone take Water Flow away. She thought her secret was safe, but little did she know my mother was already awake at that time; she just pretended to be unconscious. My mother kept this secret buried in her heart, fearing that Consort Bei Jing would harm my father or me. She passed away last year and revealed this secret to me before leaving."
"So you went to find Northern Tranquility King for the truth and then got hunted down by Consort Bei Jing?"
"No, I didn't go looking for Water Flow. That incident happened over twenty years ago; he is now the esteemed Northern Tranquility King. If his origins were revealed, he could lose his throne or even his life. As his brother, why would I put him in danger? This way is fine; he can be Northern Tranquility King while I live my life as a wanderer."
"Then why is Consort Bei Jing trying to kill you?"
"It's a woman named You Sanjie who instigated Consort Bei Jing. She is Jia Zhen's sister-in-law and once wanted Jia Zhen to propose to me, but I refused. Later, You Sanjie entered Northern Tranquility Prince's Residence and became suspicious when she saw Water Flow, who looks like me. Her methods are quite good; she really uncovered the truth from over twenty years ago. Perhaps she resented me for rejecting her proposal and told Consort Bei Jing that I knew the truth from back then. To cover up the secret, Consort Bei Jing sent people to hunt me down." Anger flashed across Liu Xianglian's face; he found You Sanjie utterly unreasonable.
It must be love turned to hate! Bai Tang disliked You Sanjie immensely; if this woman were truly virtuous, why would she have been involved with Jia Zhen and his son initially? Wasn't it because of the Jia family's power? A woman like that could hardly live a life of poverty with one person! Choosing to marry Liu Xianglian was simply because of his good looks; if he had been less attractive, she would definitely have chosen power over a simple life.
"You Sanjie will definitely not live long." Bai Tang scoffed; if Consort Bei Jing wanted Liu Xianglian dead, how could she let You Sanjie, who knows her secret, go free?
Liu Xianglian replied with an "mm": "Before I escaped the capital, I heard that Northern Tranquility King's most favored concubine passed away."
"Serves her right!" Bai Tang felt no sympathy for You Sanjie. "What are your plans now?"
Liu Xianglian remained silent for a while: "I plan to leave Great Shun Dynasty and head to Qianxiang Kingdom."
"Just running away like that? Are you satisfied?" Bai Tang's gaze held a hint of temptation, drawing out Liu Xianglian's deepest thoughts.
"Of course I'm not willing! It was Consort Bei Jing who did something wrong. Why has she not faced any punishment, while I, an innocent person, am treated this way?" Liu Xianglian said bitterly. "I won't go to Qianxiang Kingdom; I want to go to the capital and expose Consort Bei Jing."
"I will tell Water Flow that he and I are brothers, and Consort Bei Jing is our enemy."
"I'm afraid Water Flow already knows the truth," Bai Tang said calmly.
"How is that possible?" Liu Xianglian did not believe it.
"If even You Sanjie can uncover the truth from back then, as the head of Northern Tranquility Prince's Residence, how could Water Flow not find out? Moreover, with such a big move from Consort Bei Jing, do you think Water Flow would be unaware? It's possible that You Sanjie's death was not caused by Consort Bei Jing but was actually orchestrated by Water Flow." Bai Tang was merely speculating, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Water Flow likely knew the truth. It was even possible that those sent to hunt down Liu Xianglian included people from Water Flow. Only if Liu Xianglian died would his background remain undisclosed, allowing him to secure the throne of Northern Tranquility King.
"Could he really be so ruthless?!" Liu Xianglian was filled with grief and indignation.
"For the sake of power, what does brotherhood matter? Besides, you have been separated since birth; where is the brotherly bond?" Bai Tang smiled like a demon tempting mortals to fall into an abyss. "If he is willing to kill you without regard for brotherhood, have you thought about how to retaliate?"
"What should I do?" Liu Xianglian was confused. Kill Water Flow? Not to mention the strength of the guards around Water Flow, after all, Water Flow was his own brother. While Water Flow could harm him, he could not bring himself to kill his own brother.
Bai Tang took out two bottles and handed them to Liu Xianglian. "This is the Twin Life Cup. The black bottle contains the mother cup, and the white bottle contains the child cup. The person who drinks from the child cup will have their life linked with the one who drinks from the mother cup. If the one who drinks from the mother cup dies, the one who drank from the child cup cannot live either. Conversely, if the one who drinks from the child cup dies, it has no effect on the one who drank from the mother cup. This is a gift for you!"
Liu Xianglian held the two bottles with shining eyes. If he made Water Flow drink from the child cup, then Water Flow would no longer be able to harm him. As for Consort Bei Jing, he could let Water Flow deal with her!
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