Chapter 1321 — Xiaoxiao's Birthday

"Brother Yutian, I asked you here to talk about the operation in a few days, but actually I have some good news for you." Qiu Lingshan tossed her head, flinging Yufeng's troubles behind her, and regained the brisk efficiency she wore at work.

"Oh? What good news?" Chen Yutian blinked, then said, "Don't tell me Wei Zhao has agreed to join this operation?"

"You guessed it exactly right." Qiu Lingshan nodded. "With Wei Zhao on board, this operation of ours may go a great deal more smoothly!"

"That's true. You and I are both experts of the Yellow Rank, and you're at the very peak of the late stage, yet when it comes to facing those utterly vicious tomb robbers, I can't help worrying that something might go wrong." Chen Yutian nodded.

"Still, in that case, while Wei Zhao and I play the husband-and-wife thieves, you'll have to play their lackey." Qiu Lingshan said, a little embarrassed.

"That goes without saying. Don't worry, I won't read anything into it—I've already made my peace with it." Chen Yutian smiled. "I support you and Wei Zhao being together. There are still a few thoughts in my heart, but I've let them go."

"Good, then this operation is settled: the three of us, Wei Zhao, you and I, will carry it out. As for anyone else, we won't bring them along." Qiu Lingshan said. "According to the files, the husband-and-wife thieves prefer to work alone and don't like to bring too many underlings—sometimes just the one lackey. And in truth, tomb raiding isn't a matter of the more the better. The burial chamber is riddled with traps, and one careless move can cost a life. So if the ones you bring are all skilled hands, fine; if they're ordinary lackeys, they're nothing but dead weight."

"That's true!" Chen Yutian said. "When do we leave?"

"I've already been in contact with the other tomb-raiding groups. You'd better follow up on Liu Bojia's end—I've exhausted everything I can do. He says he's told everything he knows, yet I keep feeling there's still something he hasn't said." Qiu Lingshan shrugged, with some regret. "That man keeps his mouth sealed tight. Beyond what he's already told us, no matter how I circle round the subject, he never lets anything slip. But he's too precise, his train of thought too clear. Even an ordinary person telling the truth—the same truth told that many times would still produce a slip or an omission. He has none. It's as if he's reading from a script he'd drafted in advance!"

"The man's mind is too meticulous. But he was a scholar by trade, so it's only natural his IQ should outrun the common criminal," Chen Yutian said. "Still, you needn't dwell on it. I think whatever he's held back he must have told Wei Zhao—probably something about the medical texts in Zhang Liju's tomb, and that doesn't concern us much either."

"That's possible." Qiu Lingshan recalled what Liu Bojia had said about giving Wei Zhao a benefit. For Wei Zhao, the only things that counted as benefits were money and the medical texts; and Liu Bojia didn't know Wei Zhao, only that he was a formidable doctor, so the most he could offer were those two things.

After that, Qiu Lingshan and Chen Yutian set about working out the specific details of the mission. Most of it, though, was mere paper talk, for no one knew what the tomb chamber really looked like or how dangerous it would be; designing these things now was nothing more than an effort to keep their composure when the moment came.

Today was Feng Xiaoxiao's birthday. Early that morning, Gu Mengyao went with Xiao Shu to the supermarket, bought a great deal of fresh fruit, and set about making a fruit cake!

At home, Tang Yun kneaded the dough and let it rise, turning out the cake base, while Wei Zhao sent Kang Xiaobo out to buy the cream.

The eldest miss's house had every kitchen utensil one could wish for, and Wei Zhao meant to make Feng Xiaoxiao's birthday cake with his own hands! This was no difficulty for him. There was no cake shop at all in Xixing Mountain Village; whenever he or Old Man Wei had a birthday, it was Wei Zhao who baked the cake himself.

Wei Zhao stayed at Feng Xiaoxiao's side, watching her bundled in a thick down jacket and looking so listless that he could not help but sigh. "Xiaoxiao, you don't need to worry so much. Haven't I told you? Uncle Feng will have an ice coffin prepared for you and seal you away like your mother. I will definitely find the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit!"

"Mm, I believe you. I'm not worried—I'm just sleepy and cold," Feng Xiaoxiao said weakly. "Actually, I'm very happy today..."

Wei Zhao nodded. Ever since she had come to the day before yesterday, Feng Xiaoxiao had been in this very state. Presumably it was because she had been a person destined to die; Wei Zhao had forcibly extended her life and bought her two extra days, so naturally she had no energy to spare.

"Alright, on your birthday put down the knitting—take a day off." Seeing Feng Xiaoxiao pick up the bamboo needles and start on a scarf again, Wei Zhao tried to dissuade her.

"Let me knit. I'm afraid there won't be time—who knows whether I'll live past tomorrow?" Feng Xiaoxiao shook her head and went on knitting the scarf.

"Didn't I tell you? You definitely won't die," Wei Zhao said. "There'll be time enough to knit when you're alive again."

"That won't do—I want to give it to you now," Feng Xiaoxiao said. "As for being alive again, who knows how long that will be..."

Hearing her say this, Wei Zhao did not stop her again, but rose and went to the kitchen to help Tang Yun with the cake.

The doorbell rang. Tang Yun went over and opened the door—and to her surprise, it was Xu Shilan!

Earlier, Wei Zhao had called Xu Shilan and invited her to Feng Xiaoxiao's birthday party. Xu Shilan had already booked a ticket to leave today, but for Xiaoxiao's sake she simply changed it to tomorrow.

"Xiao Han, you came!" Tang Yun hadn't expected Xu Shilan to actually turn up, and was a little surprised.

"Mm. Where's Xiaoxiao? I've brought her a gift!" So saying, Xu Shilan produced a wrapped present.

"In the living room. Xiao Han, keep Xiaoxiao company for a while—Wei Zhao and I are making the cake in the kitchen and can't sit with you for the moment." Tang Yun held up her flour-covered hands for Xu Shilan to see.

"Alright, go on with your work then. Oh, do you need any help?" Xu Shilan asked.

"No need—just keep Xiaoxiao company." Tang Yun shook her head.

"Xiao Han, you're here." Feng Xiaoxiao greeted Xu Shilan weakly...

"Xiaoxiao, what's wrong? Why are you so weak? And wearing a down jacket indoors?" Seeing Feng Xiaoxiao, Xu Shilan could not help but stare in astonishment.

"I'm fine, heh heh—probably about to die?" Feng Xiaoxiao smiled.

"What? About to die?" Xu Shilan could not help crying out in alarm. "You—"

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