Seeing Bai Xin was about to erupt again, Liou Yuan hurriedly threw frantic glances at Kong Yi by Bai Xin's side, whose face still wore a look of confusion.
Kong Yi usually looks a bit slow, but grew up with Liou Yuan, and their teamwork is basically seamless.
Liou Yuan's eyelid twitched—she instantly understood what he was thinking. Her seemingly silly eyes blinked, and she quickly hugged Bai Xin's arm, speaking in a sweet voice: "Teacher, Liou Yuan is just worried about your safety, you know."
"For the sake of his filial piety, just let him off this time."
"Besides, he's already grown up, and so many people are watching..."
Listening to Kong Yi, Bai Xin shot Liou Yuan a sideways glance. He was now half a head taller than her—he really had grown up.
Bai Xin finally forced herself to hold back her anger, the words at her throat swallowed down again.
The crisis was thus averted.
Liou Yuan was genuinely quite frightened.
Don't be fooled by Bai Xin's usual gentle demeanor—even Liou Zhen is afraid of her at home.
"My mother really has a tiger's might," Liou Yuan thought bitterly.
Mr. Ge picked an excuse and slipped away immediately.
Once Bai Xin was soothed, Kong Yi belatedly noticed her old man was still unconscious, lying on the ground.
She let out an "ah" and hurried over to check on him.
Liou Yuan followed right behind her.
"Why isn't my dad awake yet?" Kong Yi pushed Kong Dasheng a few times, worry written all over her little face.
Liou Yuan glanced at Kong Dasheng's face—the shadowy evil qi had faded; clearly, it had been eradicated.
He comforted, "It's nothing serious, probably just weakened from being sick so long. Let your mom prescribe some tonics, nurse him for a few days and he'll be fine."
"Right." Bai Xin softly chimed in, agreeing with Liou Yuan.
Everyone who needed to wake up, was awake.
Liou Yuan carefully helped Bai Xin back home.
Bai Xin was also depleted; her walk was unsteady. There's no way she'd be able to go to the Xuanhu Clinic in the next few days.
Only Kong Yi was still lively, full of energy, carrying her father and heading straight back to the Xuanhu Clinic.
"Can you carry him? Want me to help?" Liou Yuan called after her.
"Hmph, I'm plenty strong!" Kong Yi's face flushed red, gave a snort, and sped off carrying Kong Dasheng, leaving the magistrate office behind without batting an eye.
Liou Yuan could only shake his head and laugh at the scene.
"That girl—like a man!"
In the west city, at Liou Yuan's newly acquired estate, he helped Bai Xin inside to rest.
Bai Xin didn't ask a single word about how Liou Yuan managed to afford property—she just lay on the bed and fell fast asleep.
Liou Yuan tiptoed quietly out of the room, muttering, "I'll ask Kong Yi for some tonics later."
Forget about today, the Xuanhu Clinic was a mess after the killing of Star Evil.
Kong Yi would be busy for a while.
As for himself, Liou Yuan enjoyed a hot bath, changed his bloodstained clothes, but didn't go to bed.
Instead, after gazing up at the night sky from the courtyard for a while, he leapt, using the wall as leverage to climb onto the roof.
Tonight was a time when fortunes shifted—a time when Star Evil appeared most easily, especially at night.
He had to keep his guard at the max.
And he wasn't the only one thinking this way.
On the rooftop, he could clearly see the entire street was lit up—hardly anyone could sleep soundly.
This had basically become a custom among the city's residents.
Liou Yuan swept a glance over the surrounding streets; confirming there was no danger, he thought to himself, "Tonight's bound to be a sleepless one."
Luckily, he now had some power to protect himself.
Not like when he first arrived in this world, helpless and clueless.
He had just withdrawn his gaze.
"Woooo!" Outside Yanhe City's walls came a piercing, mournful scream.
Something seemed to be drawing close to brightly lit Yanhe City.
That cry made Liou Yuan's limbs instantly stiffen, as if plunged into an icy pit—the cold biting to the bone.
"Again!" Liou Yuan cursed to himself; he remembered this howl.
His first month in this world, this howl kept him awake many nights.
This creature prowled outside Yanhe City for an entire month.
Stopped by the water soldiers and marshals jumping out of the moat, unable to advance.
Liou Yuan thought it had given up, but after the Auspicious Star passed, it appeared again.
After the wail came the roaring sound of Yanhe City's moat's waters surging.
The sound wasn't loud, but it spread clearly throughout the city, dispersing the fear rising in people's hearts.
If not for the city walls, Liou Yuan would've been able to see the monster—but he just glanced toward the sound, then looked away, analyzing, "If this thing dares attack the city, its strength is way beyond those little Star Evil bugs I've faced."
"Wonder what rating the Fixed Star Compass would give when it assesses it."
"If someone kills it, the reward must be huge."
Liou Yuan was a bit greedy, though he was only just thinking about it.
He wouldn't dare take the Fixed Star Compass out there.
The Fixed Star Compass—if it really asked him to kill this monster, ten lives wouldn't be enough.
Liou Yuan shook his head, tossing out such impractical thoughts.
Speaking of rewards, Liou Yuan remembered something.
After killing the well-water Star Evil, the Fixed Star Compass had already delivered the Cyan Wood Talisman.
With nothing else to do tonight, he decided to check what kind of talisman this Cyan Wood Talisman was, and what effects it had.
"Most importantly, I want to see what benefits it brings me," Liou Yuan added.
Talismans like these were precious rarities in Yanhe City.
According to Mr. Ge, no matter what kind, he'd guarantee at least five hundred silver for any talisman Liou Yuan possessed.
From the way he spoke, it sounded like he believed Liou Yuan held some talismans left by Liou Zhen.
The old man wanted a bargain.
Which goes to show how rare talismans are.
Before taking out the talisman, Liou Yuan naturally checked his surroundings for any spies. Confirming he was alone, he reached into his chest as if rummaging in his pockets.
In fact, under cover of his clothes, he used the Fixed Star Compass and pulled out the Cyan Wood Talisman, holding it in his hand.
Looking down, the talisman was half a palm in size.
Just like its name, its whole body was emerald green. No idea what material it was—looked like paper, but didn't feel rough at all, rather soft as silk.
Twisting symbols were drawn on it, ones Liou Yuan couldn't recognize.
First time holding a talisman, Liou Yuan was curious—he even held it up to his nose to sniff. It gave off a fresh fragrance, like mint leaves.
"Just looking at it won't reveal its effects." Liou Yuan didn't waste any more time.
To figure out what the Cyan Wood Talisman could do, he jumped down from the roof, returned to his room, and used the Fixed Star Compass's remaining power to activate its appraisal function, beginning to identify the talisman.
[Name] Cyan Wood Talisman
[Category] Talisman
[Quality] First-class, lower grade
[Effect]
Contains star power capable of healing injuries. Can instantly heal all external wounds except internal injuries and can mend broken bones.
Minimal effect on internal organ injuries.
(Can be activated twice; after two uses, the energy is depleted. Remaining uses: 2.)