"Are you in this state because of that organization?" Ren Baqian finally exposed the truth. There must be a reason why Ning Caichen mentioned the organization now. Ning Caichen became so miserable within these few months. Was it related to some secret activity in the organization?
Was this organization plotting to take over the world? This was often the case in novels and movies.
Who were they plotting to overthrow? Was it Great Xia?
Regarding this matter, Ren Baqian was delighted to hear about it.
Did the organization lack advisors? Ren Baqian felt he should be able to be one of those inept advisors.
He felt gratification from being the unseen manipulator behind the group of sword masters plotting to subvert Great Xia.
"It doesn't matter…"
"Close the door and send off the guests!" Ren Baqian was eagerly waiting to hear the secret, but Ning Caichen's words made him feel like he was eating chocolates that were off in flavor.
"I cannot say it doesn't totally matter. In actual fact, I accepted a task, encountered some problems, and was poisoned…" Ning Caichen quickly said.
"Then why did you go on and on about the organization?" Ren Baqian flared up.
"Wasn't that clearly explained…" Ning Caichen felt that he was innocent. He asked for help and explained clearly. What did he do wrong?
"Isn't there any secrecy agreement within the organization? It sounds like a covert organization…" Ren Baqian continued to widen his eyes.
"No such thing. It's an organization for people to cooperate, to exchange goods, and to find what they need…" Ning Caichen pointed his finger gracefully.
Ren Baqian felt that his plan to become an inept advisor was coming to a premature end.
"Actually, I feel that you are doing fine. According to an ancient saying, it's quite good to be a woman. You see, they wear nicer clothing than men and can wear male or female outfits when they like. Women dressed like men is called fashion, while men dressed like women is called lady boss," Ren Baqian said sincerely.
Ning Caichen had nothing to say.
"Furthermore, women can be willful or unreasonable and no one would find it strange. There is a saying that you should never try to reason with a woman. You see, women are allowed to be willful, but it's not an acceptable behavior for men."
"Hey, is that so? This sounds interesting." The chilling voice of the empress came from behind Ren Baqian.
"However, the empress is different because she is a treasure of the world. How can she be the same as those ordinary women?" Ren Baqian's expression didn't change. He continued his speech before turning to the empress and asking, "Your Majesty, why have you come here?"
"Oh!" The empress gave him a cool smile, then said casually, "I heard that an old friend was looking for you. I wanted to see who it was."
Others didn't know Ren Baqian's background, but nobody knew more than her.
"My respects to Your Majesty, the empress of Dayao." Ning Caichen saluted with clasped fists and said, "My movements are restricted, so please do not be offended."
He shot a coquettish glance at the empress as he spoke.
Have you ever witnessed someone clasping their fists with both their left and right pinky fingers protruding? Ning Caichen saluted like this. Those who didn't know him would wonder what he was trying to convey.
"Put him on the chopping block," the empress said coolly.
He had the gall to look at her coquettishly? Courageous.
Since you have so much courage, I might as well chop off your head.
When Ning Caichen heard this, he was frightened and apologized, "Your Majesty, please pardon me. I really met with some predicaments. I am here to seek help and brought a generous gift as well."
"Your Majesty, he is Ning Caichen," Ren Baqian softly told the empress who was beside him since he felt it wasn't right to see the empress chop off Ning Caichen's head.
The empress found this name somewhat familiar.
"He was the one who told the empress about the Lian family and also attended your birthday celebration," Ren Baqian added.
The empress remembered who he was, but looking at Ning Caichen, she was bewildered.
If she remembered correctly, he was a man.
A man who had changed so much and made her feel awkward.
After all, a cross-dressing man wasn't the trend in Dayao.
"It's a long story…" Ning Caichen kept on sighing.
"Cut the story short." Ren Baqian was distressed. Was this guy really oblivious toward his life and death situation?
"An organization was formed recently with sword masters as their core members as well as someone inside who assigned tasks…"
"His changed appearance isn't related to this organization," Ren Baqian interrupted.
Ning Caichen rolled his eyes resentfully at Ren Baqian.
"Then, I was poisoned…"
"Was it your enemy who poisoned you and changed you so drastically? Why didn't the other party kill you?" Ren Baqian finally got to ask this question.
"He said that he was a good person and that all sentient beings come into this world with certain merits. Killing people was harmful to his karma. That's why he never kills, and I have never heard of him killing anyone…"
Ren Baqian was wondering why they didn't just kill him.
"I seem to have some impression… Zhu Cisheng?" the empress asked.
This matter was very strange, and the people using this unusual method were very rare. Although the empress seldom bothered with external matters, she had heard of this before.
Ning Caichen whispered, "It was him."
"In that case, why are you here?" Ren Baqian asked.
"I have heard of an herb called Luoyin Root that can solve my problem. It can be found in the Sixty Thousand Mountains, but it's too difficult for me to find it alone. Thus, this is why I want to trade something else for it." Ning Caichen was finally talking business. "I have a xueke which I originally wanted to exchange for a few materials. This item has no other functions besides vastly increasing one's qi and blood. It's of great benefit toward martial arts cultivation as it can easily save decades of painstaking effort. In short, it's a fantastic treasure."
The empress's attention was aroused when the xueke was mentioned. This thing was deemed to be one of the treasures that could only be found serendipitously.
It wasn't of much use to her, but it was very beneficial for Ren Baqian.
Ren Baqian's cultivation required various kinds of herbs, and the speed of this cultivation was much faster than an average person'.
Although this herb couldn't save years of hard work for Ren Baqian, he could certainly gain twice the result with half the effort.
Previously, Ren Baqian took Lu Qi's Spirit Yuan Pill, which replenished primordial qi and improved what was inherent in him.
If Ren Baqian was doing ordinary cultivation, that Spirit Yuan Pill would have a miraculous effect.
However, with regards to Ren Baqian's cultivation of [Ruyi Visualization], the result wasn't up to expectation.
This xueke happened to be just right for Ren Baqian to use.
"The Luoyin Root can also only be found serendipitously, and according to legend, it has only been seen by very few people," the empress said. She naturally wanted the xueke, but it wasn't easy to find the Luoyin Root.
"It's best to act as quickly as possible. I feel I am getting more emotional these days…" Ning Caichen looked charming, and although he was a man, his face and mannerisms were more enchanting than a woman. Many guards were secretly thinking about taking him back as their wife.
The empress glanced to the side for a moment. Based on his behavior, shouldn't he be executed?
Ren Baqian was anxious and said, "You may need this…"
"What is it?" The empress turned to look at him.
Ning Caichen was fluttering his eyes flirtatiously.
"Electroshock therapy… use a weak, short, and moderate current to stimulate the brain in order to control the mental symptoms." Ren Baqian felt there was a great need to apply electroshock therapy in this situation. A shock might just work.
Anyway, it shouldn't get worse.
"Wait, let me find it." Ren Baqian quickly rushed outside to the horse carriage to find the box where most of his things were kept.
If he remembered correctly, the stun baton should be there.
Just after the amount of time it took to burn through a joss stick, Ren Baqian excitedly ran back with a short, thick electrode that had not seen the light of day for quite some time.
"Sir Ren, what are you going to do?" Ning Caichen exclaimed flirtatiously, "Aiya, it's so thick, I…"
Zap…!
Ren Baqian placed the stun baton directly on the arm of Ning Caichen.
"Ah, ah, ah…" Ning Caichen began flopping around.