Finest Servant

Chapter 557 Who Is Your Fairy Sister?

A silver needle? Lin Wanrong felt his hand against his rear, gritted his teeth, and pulled out the icy object. A chill emanated from the needle, passing through his palm and into his body. In the dimming twilight, the needle glinted with a cold light.

How he had missed this silver needle! Though its tip was cold, it warmed his heart. Elated, Lin Wanrong leaped up and glanced around, shouting with unrestrained joy, "Fairy Ning, Fairy Sister, where are you?"

All around him was silence, broken only by the ragged breaths of the soldiers. Everyone stared at him, puzzled. Why was he so overjoyed after being pricked by a needle? And what was all this talk of a 'fairy sister'? Had General Lin lost his mind?

Ignoring the bewildered gazes of his troops, Lin Wanrong could not contain himself. The thought that Ning Yuxi might be accompanying him overwhelmed him with joy and emotion. Waving his hands frantically, he hollered, "I knew you were here, ever since I left Xingqing. Fairy Sister, I've missed you so much. Come out and see me, please!"

He paced incessantly around the tent, seeking Ning Yuxi's figure, his demeanor both sincere and frenzied. The soldiers watched their commander, awestruck yet puzzled. The general's candid expression of yearning for his 'Fairy Sister' was indeed extraordinary.

After searching every tent, even combing through the packs of warhorses, Lin Wanrong still found no trace of Ning Yuxi. Clutching the cold silver needle, he couldn't help but feel puzzled. What did this all mean? While it was understandable that she didn't appear back in Xingqing, they were now in the vast grasslands, away from prying eyes. Why hadn’t she shown herself? If she didn't want to see him, why shoot him with a needle? Wasn't this just taunting him?

His questions remained unanswered, festering in his stomach. After aimlessly wandering the camp without finding Ning Yuxi, his disappointment was palpable. He listlessly nibbled on some dry rations before dejectedly returning to his tent.

As soon as he entered the felted tent, he spotted a figure on the ground, bound from head to toe like a tightly-wrapped dumpling. A piece of cloth was stuffed in her mouth, rendering her mute despite her desperate struggles. Her heaving chest alone revealed that she was a woman.

"Who are you?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, startled, as he instinctively stepped back.

Hearing his voice, the bound woman struggled even more fiercely, making muffled sounds. Lin Wanrong pondered for a moment, then asked softly, "Are you Yueya'er?"

The bound "dumpling" on the floor wriggled her body, creating a strange ripple as if nodding her head.

Lin Wanrong sighed, slapping his forehead. ‘I've been foolish. Who else but Yujia could enter my tent? Which one of my men did this? They tied her up so tightly that, at first glance, I thought a wooden dummy had snuck in.’

"Don't panic, don't panic. Let me give you some breathing room." Lin Wanrong suppressed a smile as he walked over and slowly squatted down to untie the ropes around her body. The knots on her were intricately made, some loose, some tight, woven in a complex series of loops. It took him a considerable effort to finally untie the ropes around her head. Cold sweat dripped incessantly from his forehead.

Her face, as pure and translucent as fresh milk, bore faint red marks. Her complexion was turning purple, and her blue eyes shimmered with tears of humiliation.

As soon as he removed the gag from her mouth, she let out a soft moan. Her shoulders trembled lightly, and tears streamed down her cheeks. This woman from the Turkic lands was incredibly stubborn. She turned away to hide her face from Lin Wanrong, but her trembling shoulders revealed her emotional state—a mix of deep humiliation and insult.

‘The one who tied these ropes must be an expert,’ Lin Wanrong chuckled. ‘Clearly, someone in our ranks knows how to tie a mean knot—quite the surprise.’ “Miss, being captured involves some inevitable suffering. My men might have been a bit too ruthless, but you're otherwise unharmed. Don't be too heartbroken.”

She turned her face back toward him, her eyes still filled with tears of humiliation. "You treacherous rogue, don't act compassionate in front of me. If you hadn't sent a woman in here, how would I have faced such humiliation?"

"A woman?" Lin Wanrong looked bewildered, shaking his head like a rattle drum. "Miss, you must be joking. I've ventured deep into the grasslands with an army of men. Why would I bring a woman? In this troop of five thousand, there isn't even a single female, not even a cockroach. How could I possibly send a woman to tie you up? If anyone were to do it, it would be me personally!"

Seeing his genuine expression, she recalled his past behavior. Although Lin Wanrong was shameless and unscrupulous, one thing was certain: he always owned up to his actions. Besides, his methods of tormenting people were already bizarre enough; there was no need for him to send a woman.

"Really, it wasn't you?" She lowered her head, her tears flowing freely as she asked softly.

From her earlier coquettishness to her current vulnerability, she changed in the blink of an eye. Lin Wanrong himself couldn't tell which was the real her. "Truly, it wasn't me," he said, opening his hands innocently. "If I were to torment someone, I wouldn't need to go through a third party. Did you see the face of the person who did this to you?"

The Turkic young woman shook her head, her eyes misty with tears, appearing utterly pitiful. "That woman moved like the wind. I was already tightly bound by you and couldn't struggle. She had me subdued before I could even see her face. She tied me up tightly and sneered in my ear. I couldn't muster any strength to resist. The only thing I did see was that she was wearing a white dress."

"A white dress?" Lin Wanrong's heart skipped a beat, suddenly thrilled. ‘Could it be Fairy Sister? Only she would have such skill. But why would she shoot me with a silver needle, tie her up, and then not meet me? What on earth does all this mean?’

He was deeply troubled. Hastily, he began to untie the ropes binding Yueya’er. However, when he reached her chest, he froze in shock. On the prominent peaks of her chest, two bright silver needles were embedded. The tips of the needles had only penetrated slightly, and they quivered with each of Yueya’er's breaths, creating a captivating sight. Another similar needle was embedded in her abdomen, forming a triangular pattern with the two on her chest. The silver gleamed brilliantly.

Yueya’er noticed his gaze had fixed on something. Following his line of sight, she saw the shimmering silver needles. At first, she was stunned, but then she let out a piercing scream that echoed far and wide, nearly rupturing Lin Wanrong's eardrums.

"I'll kill her! I'll kill her!" Yueya’er cried out, her small fists clenched tightly, and tears rolled down like raindrops. In this moment of humiliation, she was no longer the enchanting seductress but an ordinary Turkic girl. Her tear-streaked face exuded an aura of vulnerability that was heart-wrenching.

The trembling silver needles sent chills down Lin Wanrong's spine. He thought, ‘This is one of the most advanced techniques from Dongxuanzi's thirty-six scattered hands. When did Fairy Sister learn this? Wouldn't our communication be smoother in the future?’

"Miss Yueya’er," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "The medical arts of our Great Hua are profound. These silver needles have many uses, not all of which are as demeaning as you might think. The triangular needle technique used on you is actually a sophisticated art. Once you delve deeper into our culture, you'll understand."

"You're no better," Yueya’er retorted, her eyes glistening with tears. "You and she are in this together, deceiving me. I hate you, Yujia hates you!"

Just moments ago, she had praised him as a true warrior, but now she despised him. ‘Turkic women are indeed fickle,’ Lin Wanrong thought, unfazed. He shook his head and said, "Hate me if you must. It won't cost me a piece of flesh. As I've always said, I never expected you to fall for me."

Yueya’er spat in disdain. Faced with such a thick-skinned man, she didn't know how to respond. She simply stared at the needles in her body, turned her head away, and silently wept.

Lin Wanrong stood up, his face stern. "In our culture, there are boundaries between men and women. I, being a man, shouldn't remove the needles from your body. It's best to find someone else."

As he was about to leave, Yueya’er called out weakly, "Wait..."

Lin Wanrong looked at her curiously, "Miss Yueya’er, what is it? I'm in a hurry to find someone to help you. Remember, there are boundaries between us."

"In this camp, all are men. The only woman who could remove the needles would be the one who placed them. Now you remember these boundaries? When you pressured me earlier, where were these principles?" Yueya’er was seething with anger. She didn't want to see the woman who had tormented her again. With determination in her eyes, she said, "No need. I'm not from your land. We, the daughters of the plains, don't have so many taboos. Can you please remove the needles for me?"

When it came to removing the needle, she looked at Lin Wanrong with pitiable eyes. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a faint blush tinged her beautiful face. Her voice was almost inaudible.

Lin Wanrong swallowed hard. "I don't think this is a good idea," he hedged. "My wife would kill me if she found out. Besides, I'm really not that kind of guy."

"You hypocrite," the girl named Yujia glared at him, turning her head away in disdain. "That line might fool you, but it won't fool me."

‘This girl knows me too well,’ Lin Wanrong thought, sighing. "Alright, since you've asked so sincerely, I'll try. But let's get one thing straight: the process of removing the needle is intricate and your physique is, well, rather attractive. If something unintended happens between my hands and your body—say some accidental touching or grasping—you can't blame me. I'm really not—"

Yujia flushed and shot him a furious glance, cutting him off. Lin Wanrong chuckled awkwardly, swallowing the rest of his words.

When it came to the art of needle removal, Lin Wanrong had ample experience, having performed the procedure on Vixen and Ning Yuxi before. However, removing a needle from Yujia's chest posed a unique challenge, even for a man as scrupulous as him.

Yujia watched as he flexed his hands and gestured near her chest, his eyes glowing with avarice but not making a move. Growing impatient, she closed her eyes and blushed deeply. "What are you waiting for? Please remove the needle. I will be forever grateful."

"I was just measuring. Uh, no, I mean, finding the right position," he corrected hastily, almost letting the wrong words slip out. "Could you please stop moving? It's making me dizzy. If I make a mistake, maybe you Turkic women don't care about reputation, but it would tarnish mine."

‘As if I can control that,’ Yujia thought. Even as a bold and charming Turkic woman, she felt utterly embarrassed under his scorching gaze. Finally, she clenched her teeth and closed her eyes, remaining silent.

‘Ah, this is a real test of my composure,’ Lin Wanrong thought. He took a deep breath and swiftly located a needle. In a flash, he plucked it out so smoothly that Yujia didn't even notice.

The cold sensation from the delicate needle felt as if Ning Yuxi's gentle hand was brushing against Lin Wanrong's heart. His mind drifted to thoughts of her, and he found himself lost in reverie.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Yujia sensed no further activity. The initial urgency in Lin Wanrong's breath had settled, and the piercing heat from his gaze had faded.

"Why haven't you removed—" Opening her eyes, she stopped mid-sentence as she looked down at her chest. The needles had already been removed. Lin Wanrong held them in his hand, staring at them, utterly lost in thought.

After the silver needle was removed, the Turkic young woman felt a surge of strength returning to her body. She cast a complicated glance at the dazed man from Great Hua. This outlaw seemed fierce in speech and appeared to be debauched, yet he never laid a hand on her. Despite having the perfect opportunity earlier to take advantage, he let it pass. It made her wonder—did he really not harbor any feelings for her?

The Turkic girl's eyes flickered, a whirlpool of emotions in her heart. She quickly lowered her gaze, not wanting anyone to read her eyes.

"Alright, mission accomplished," Lin Wanrong said as he clapped his hands and stood up, quietly pocketing the silver needle. He turned and began to walk away.

"Bandit—" The girl called out, quickly correcting herself, "Wo Lao Gong—"

"What is it?" Wo Lao Gong asked cheerfully.

The girl, named Yujia, hummed softly, her eyebrows downcast, her cheeks flushed like they were painted with rouge. "Could you temporarily return my golden blade to me?"

Lin Wanrong paused. ‘Temporarily? I've sent Old Hu with the golden blade to find you a suitable groom. Wait patiently for a couple of days,’ he thought. Instead, he laughed and said, "That blade is being used to skin rabbits by my men. Why do you need it?"

"You—" Yujia's face changed drastically, her chest quivering with rage, her eyes almost spitting fire.

Lin Wanrong chuckled and was about to step out when he heard Yujia softly say, "Wo Lao Gong, thank you. If you temporarily return the blade to me, I might personally give it to you as a gift."

Her face was flushed, her eyes showing a faint trace of coquettishness as she lowered her head shyly.

Lin Wanrong waved dismissively, smiling, "Miss Yujia, do you think I should believe you?"

Seeing the disdain on his face, Yujia's eyes blinked, her chest heaving. She suddenly laughed charmingly, "Even I wouldn't believe myself. Wo Lao Gong, you're a clever man. Yujia is growing more and more fond of you."

With a resigned shake of his head, Lin Wanrong stepped out. The night was dark and filled with stars, yet a certain unease filled his heart. Although he was so close to Fairy Ning, she seemed as unattainable as the winds on the plains, an unreachable closeness that was hard to bear.

"Who's there?!" Deep in thought, Lin Wanrong suddenly sensed a quick movement beside him. He looked up to see a graceful figure in white darting away like a shooting star toward the edge of the camp.

"Fairy Sister!" Lin Wanrong blinked, elated. A surge of immense strength erupted from within him. He took off, chasing after the white figure.

Though the graceful figure moved swiftly, Lin Wanrong pursued relentlessly. After covering several hundred yards, the white figure flickered and disappeared.

The moon hung high in the sky and the stars were silent. The vast grassland seemed to blend into the night, and Lin Wanrong felt as if he were enveloped by it all.

"Fairy Ning, Fairy Sister, where are you? Come out!" He wandered through the grass, the dew wetting his clothing, yet he remained oblivious. Moving swiftly, he looked around, shouting with all his might.

The grasslands were as silent as a starry sky devoid of excitement, devoid of any human presence or sound. It was as if that white figure had vanished into thin air.

Disappointed, Lin Wanrong sat down on the ground with a thud and loudly declared, "If you don't wish to see me, then I'll just sit here all night. Don't you dare interfere—because if you do, you're officially the mother of my son!"

He sat there sulking like a child, his face stern and silent. The sight was rather comical.

Silence. Endless silence. All things were quiet, as if one could hear the breaths of the grasslands and the sky. A cold night wind blew by, followed by a distant and mournful howl of a wolf that sent shivers down the spine.

Lin Wanrong sat there in a daze for a long time, hearing no sound and seeing no sign of the lady in white who he had imagined would come skipping over the water. All was silent, so silent that one could hear the Earth breathe.

Gently caressing the silver needle in his hand, he felt as though he were touching a smooth arm and delicate skin, as if that beautiful person was standing before him, smiling. Lost in his thoughts, Lin Wanrong slowly reached out toward the void, mumbling to himself, "Fairy Sister, is that you? Why don't you want to see me?"

In his moment of contemplation, he suddenly heard a faint rustling from behind. "Who's there?" Lin Wanrong quickly turned around and shouted.

The grass returned to its original stillness as if nothing had happened, but the ripples that had been stirred couldn't be easily smoothed over. Lin Wanrong cautiously walked toward the shallow grass, his voice tinged with a trembling undertone. "Fairy Sister, is that you? Come out, I wish to see you. I swear on my honor, I will never harm you. Please, come and see me."

His words were both a threat and a temptation as he stepped into the bushes. On the expansive grassland, which one could easily scan with a glance, there was no trace of Ning Yuxi.

He sighed in disappointment and slowly shook his head, preparing to sit back down.

Just then, a bewitching giggle broke the silence, carrying a hint of familiarity—both charming and coquettish—as if rain were nourishing the earth and a spring breeze was sweeping over one's heart. The air was instantly filled with a captivating scent.

That familiar, beguiling voice, accompanied by a giddy laugh as gentle as a spring breeze caressing the earth, softly sounded behind him: "Little brother, who is your 'Fairy Sister'?"

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