Chapter 413: Chapter 379: The Stronghold
With Lin Miao’s identity, his affairs in Li Hen City are already concluded, and he should go back, but he can’t leave yet.
He promised Baili Bingyun to help with the matter, so he must go to the Valley of Secrets.
However, entering the Valley of Secrets doesn’t require Lin Miao’s identity; he has to use Lin Shan’s identity. After much consideration, he decides to let Si Miaoxue disguise as him, leave the city first, then return the same way, taking a small path to Yingfeng Valley to meet up.
As for him, he’ll go alone to Yingfeng Valley to meet Mu Yun first.
Going to the Valley of Secrets doesn’t need too many people; he and Mu Yun will be enough. Too many people would actually make it difficult to operate.
Once he and Mu Yun have picked the Celestial Essence Fruit from the Valley of Secrets, Si Miaoxue, Sun Youwei, and the others will likely be waiting in Yingfeng Valley.
Then they’ll return to Dongshan together.
However, this will delay the timeline, but they should be able to make it home before the New Year.
About the Crown Prince’s illness, his issues can be treated with continued medication and herbal baths, supplemented by acupuncture. It’s not a disease that can be cured in just a day or two.
It will take at least three months before preliminary effects can be seen.
Going back a bit earlier or later doesn’t much affect the matter; he hasn’t revealed his identity, so he doesn’t need to consider his feelings.
The necessary medical advice has been given, and the rest depends on him.
He’s not responsible for the Crown Prince’s "lack of heirs."
Meditation, sitting in contemplation... By dawn, Lin Miao is hardly affected by not having slept all night. At his level of cultivation, not just one or two nights would barely have an impact, even three to five days without sleep would pose no issue.
He told Sun Youwei about his plan.
Sun Youwei naturally had no objections; she’s no longer the delicate girl who fears storms and traveling hardships.
Furthermore, she can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Longchuan Canyon along the way.
Taking the small path into the canyon, especially in winter, offers a unique landscape.
It’s not easy to arrange for Helian Wanwan, so Lin Miao simply lets her wait at Dongshan City, so it won’t affect her taking her medication.
But Helian Wanwan doesn’t feel rushed to take her medication; she can join Lianxin and Liansuo in their actions.
This request, Lin Miao truly cannot refuse.
But the secret of Yingfeng Valley can’t be kept from Helian Wanwan. However, considering she lent him money, saying it’s for Lianxin and Liansuo as part of their dowry, even knowing Yingfeng Valley’s secret, she shouldn’t spread it.
After finishing the instructions.
Lin Miao also doesn’t care about the recently bought little girl and directly transformed into "Lin Bei" and left.
But he never expected Baili Bingyun to arrange for Baili Yuyao to accompany him on this mission, of course, secretly.
The person has come; they can’t possibly be sent away, can they?
However, seeing Lin Miao dressed as "Lin Bei," Baili Yuyao couldn’t help but feel a bit strange. She knows that the previous Lin Bei was Si Miaoxue, but now it’s Lin Miao, and in the future, the embroidery house’s public claims will be that her husband is named Lin Bei—a nameless Loose Cultivator, or rather, a lay disciple from Shanglin Temple.
There are many lay disciples from Shanglin Temple, not eight hundred but a thousand; he’s just one acknowledged in their records.
But among a thousand lay disciples, no one probably remembers someone like this.
Of course, with Fahai covering for him, these things aren’t a problem.
The lay disciples of Shanglin Temple are just a way for Shanglin Temple to collect incense money; as long as you donate enough incense money, you can buy a spot.
This identity isn’t worth much, even though Shanglin Temple recognizes it, but once a disciple commits a wrong, Shanglin Temple immediately expels them.
Hence, this identity is merely a cover, with no real value, but with this identity, things are different.
At least there’s a background.
Having a background and not having one are two different things.
After all, once the embroidery house chooses him as their husband, they will certainly check his background and lineage. If this investigation doesn’t pass, someone will undoubtedly drag this issue into the spotlight.
The horse was still prepared by the embroidery house, along with the luggage, which included change of clothes, some dry food, and clean water—a detailed preparation.
Lin Miao prepared some pills to avoid obstacles, along with purification items, and a set of silver needles, which can be used for emergencies.
Regarding weapons, Si Miaoxue thoughtfully prepared a saber for him, certainly not Shen Hao’s Life-taking Saber or Shen An’s sword.
These two weapons are now sealed away by her, with Shen Hao and Shen An, uncle and nephew, both missing, not even appearing at the Heaven-Dominating Tower’s most significant auction.
It has already attracted quite some attention.
But there are some coincidences.
Their disappearance was noticed by Liang Song from Heaven-Dominating Tower, who promptly reported it to Liang Yuan and Mr. Liang.
This association unintentionally led them astray, but this will be set aside for now.
...
Riding swiftly, after about half a day, Lin Miao and Baili Yuyao arrived at Yingfeng Valley.
Returning two months later, Yingfeng Valley has already transformed dramatically and is on the path to becoming a small town now during its development phase.
Many people live here; with workers and guards like Yue Wu and Yue Shisan stationed here, it must be a scale of over a thousand people.
Longchuan Canyon is sheltered from the wind; although it’s icy and snowy outside, the temperature here is much higher, so construction has not stopped.
They have all received Si Miaoxue’s message, knowing that Lin Miao will come to Yingfeng Valley under the identity of "Lin Bei."
"Greetings, Lin Bei Gongzi!" In front of outsiders, it’s necessary to distinguish a bit, and being cautious is never a drawback.
"No need for formalities."
Lin Miao and Baili Yuyao dismounted and followed Yue Shisan and Yue Wu into Yingfeng Valley, where the outer fortress walls had already begun to rise.
Each day the progress is noticeable. Lin Miao originally thought ten meters would be sufficient, but Si Miaoxue insisted it should be at least thirty meters.
She wants to create her own "lair."
Of course, it can’t be just makeshift at the start; otherwise, it would be troublesome to add on later, so might as well get it done all at once.
This fortress is being built according to city construction standards.
Whether it’s used to establish a sect here in the future or any other purpose, it will save a lot of trouble.
"This small building was instructed by Miss Si for us to build. She said that each time you come, there’s nowhere for you to stay, so over the past two months, we’ve built this three-story building for you. The first floor is for your office and meetings, the second for rest, and the third for your cultivation..."
Two months ago, this was a flat piece of land. Two months later, a building stood here, quite impressive, rustic yet with the gentle beauty of Jiangnan.
"The conditions are still a bit basic, please bear with it, Lin Bei Gongzi."
"No worries, this is already very good." Lin Miao waved his hand; under such conditions, it’s better than many wealthy households.
After all, this is in Longchuan Canyon, not outside.
"Lin Shan Gongzi, we’ve also found some hot springs. If you’re tired from the journey, you and Miss Yuyao can have a soak."
"Alright, I understand. You all carry on with your work; we’ll take a look around ourselves first." Lin Miao instructed.
"Currently, only Miss Yurou is living in this building. If you need anything, just ask her," Yue Wu said with a bow.
"Alright."
"Who is Yurou?" Baili Yuyao asked. Although she knew Lin Miao had many women around him, she hadn’t heard of this Yurou before, so naturally, she couldn’t help but speak up.
"She’s a student of one of my mentors, hiding here to avoid an arranged marriage," Lin Miao explained.
"Is she very beautiful?"
"Sort of, but not as beautiful as you..." Lin Miao chuckled. Lien Yurou had stayed here persistently, and he couldn’t force her to leave. Moreover, her presence would likely lead the Lien Family to pressure her into becoming a concubine for the Fifth Prince.
Isn’t that forcing someone into a pit of fire?
Such things aren’t something Lin Miao would do, especially considering the face of her mentor, who resigned after returning to the capital and might choose to retire in Dongshan or help build a new gynecology clinic for him. Her disciple should be protected.
"She probably doesn’t know my identity, so don’t let it slip." Lin Miao was now using the face of "Lin Bei."
Based on Lien Yurou’s perception, she might not recognize him, and Yue Wu wouldn’t tell her these things.
With the mentor absent, the only "physician" in Yingfeng Valley is Lien Yurou. She’s not officially sanctioned by the court, so she’s practicing medicine here illegally.
However, Longchuan Canyon is already beyond the court’s reach. Besides, having a "physician" to treat you is already a privilege, so why complain?
If not, you could return to Li Hen City to see a physician, but even there, the physician might not have court approval.
Besides, being treated by a beautiful physician improves one’s mood, even without illness.
Lien Yurou may not have exceptional talent, but having been exposed to Lin Miao’s Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point for a year, her medical skills have significantly improved. She might not handle complex illnesses, but common headaches and fevers are no problem.
Among those working here, besides a few seasoned craftsmen, the rest are young people.
Generally, they don’t fall sick often, usually just catching colds or fevers, maybe an occasional bout of diarrhea. One common ailment here is snake bites.
Although the snake dens have been cleared, a few escaped. Every so often, someone unlucky would encounter one and get bitten.
In this world, there are effective methods and some verified prescriptions for treating snake bites. Unless it’s a particularly rare snake, in most cases, as long as the bite isn’t in a critical area, timely treatment can save the victim.
Moreover, to solve this problem, Lin Miao invited "Poison Four" to stay for a while, essentially figuring out the venomous snake species here and the corresponding treatment methods.
Since then, incidents of deaths or disabilities from snake bites have virtually ceased.
And Lien Yurou, surprisingly, mastered a whole set of methods for treating snake bites, which can be seen as an accidental success.
If this girl were to dedicate herself to this field in the future, she might achieve significant accomplishments.
"This place is vast; are you planning to build a city here?"
"Yes, when I’m tired of staying outside, I’ll come here; whether it’s for retirement or temporary residence, this place completely belongs to me." Lin Miao said as he stood with Baili Yuyao on the third floor, looking toward Yingfeng Valley.
"With such a large area, how many people could live here?"
"Whether it’s just me or some good friends who want to come, there should be rooms for them, shouldn’t there?"
"What about me, can I live here too?"
"Of course, everyone can choose a part of this place to build their own building or courtyard, designed and arranged as they like," Lin Miao said.
"Then I want to choose a good spot." Baili Yuyao’s interest was piqued instantly.
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