Little Pink Starfish

Hua Rongyue didn’t take the initiative to seek out Wu Ci—after all, she knew perfectly well that wasn’t her mission from Six Doors.

Others might need to be proactive, but for her, the most important thing was to dutifully play the role of “Yi Linglong.”

Yan Sheng had once told her that if she confirmed someone on the target list had truly gone astray, she should hand them over to Six Doors. If not, she could hint at her identity and let them leave safely.

If there wasn’t some hidden agenda, why would Six Doors even issue this kind of order? In the eyes of Six Doors, Yi Linglong was already dead. But if certain people quietly and secretly left Baicaotang and started leaking word that Yi Linglong was alive and well here… then in time, Hua Rongyue might truly become the next Yi Linglong.

So lately, she had been content sitting tight in Baicaotang, like a fisherman waiting for a bite. But the rumors outside were growing louder—likely because Yan Sheng was increasing the pressure to lure Wu Ci out. The news that Yi Linglong had arrived here was now so widespread even the neighborhood kids knew about it.

That day, while the group was eating together, Hua Rongyue was sipping red bean porridge cooked by Wan Fulian, listening to the others chat.

“Why does it feel like everyone’s saying Yi Linglong’s come here lately?” Dr. Qi said. “At first I thought it was nonsense, but the more people talk, the more convincing it sounds.”

“Who knows?” Wan Fulian replied. “I keep hearing creaks on the roof at night. Luckily Rongyue-ge lives in the main hall or I wouldn’t be able to sleep. But now he’s moving back into his own room.”

“If you’re scared, I can stay in the main hall,” Hua Rongyue offered with a smile. “I’m used to it anyway, and moving’s a hassle.”

“I’ve been thinking about something these past few days,” said Xiao Han, who had been unusually quiet until now.

He’d been behaving oddly since two days ago—far more subdued than usual. For a normal person, that wouldn’t be strange. But for someone like Xiao Han—essentially a walking husky—it was a sign he was about to do something big.

Hua Rongyue had been watching him closely to see what he was up to. Just now, when Wan Fulian called her “Rongyue-ge” and Xiao Han didn’t even respond, she found it strangely ominous.

Did this husky… get brain damage or something?

“Don’t bring that up again, I finally managed to forget it and I’m trying to eat here,” Dr. Qi waved his hand dismissively.

“I’m trying to say something serious and you’re worried about your appetite?” Xiao Han barked. Then, noticing Hua Rongyue looking at him, he snapped, “What are you looking at? This has nothing to do with you—you weren’t even there that day.”

Oddly enough, this direct response comforted Hua Rongyue a little. Am I… used to being verbally abused?

Not wanting to provoke him further—since he was a real handful when agitated—she just lowered her head and quietly sipped her porridge.

“Remember the day we ran into that masked man in blue in the alley?” Xiao Han asked. “I’ve been wondering who he was. He had great martial arts and suddenly showed up in this poor, rundown place—it makes no sense.”

Dr. Qi paused mid-bite. Though Hua Rongyue couldn’t see his face, she imagined him mentally sighing, Sorry, I’m just a humble doctor living in this poor, rundown place.

“Then the rumors about Yi Linglong started spreading. And when I line that up with what happened that day…”

Xiao Han rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“What if… that masked man we saw—was Yi Linglong?”

“Hsssss—” Hua Rongyue suddenly let out a sharp breath as she scalded herself with porridge.

Everyone at the table turned to look at her in surprise.

She noticed their gazes, wiped her mouth, and waved a hand. “It’s nothing. I just drank too fast and burned myself.”

She took a couple of sips of warm tea to cover it up. Just then, a patient arrived at the door, giving her a perfect excuse to get up. “Is there something bothering you? The doctor’s still eating, please wait a moment.”

“Rongyue-ge burned himself?” Wan Fulian stared at her like she was an alien. “He’s usually so careful.”

“No idea,” Dr. Qi added. “Was it bad? Should we put some ointment on it later?”

Hua Rongyue kept walking while still hissing from the pain. She hadn’t actually burned herself—she’d bit her tongue out of shock when Xiao Han mentioned Yi Linglong.

In order not to blow her cover, she had forced herself to stay silent. Now her mouth tasted salty—she’d nearly given everyone a live demonstration of “biting your tongue to commit suicide.”

How could he be so accurate? she wondered. No—technically, he’s wrong. It wasn’t Yi Linglong—it was me pretending to be Yi Linglong.

Still, the fact that Xiao Han’s wild hunch had hit that close made her uneasy. His sixth sense was terrifying.

And he’d said it so casually, as if blurting it out on a whim.

He probably never imagined he was right…

When Hua Rongyue opened the door, a stranger she’d never seen before stepped in. She let him inside and asked what he needed.

“Do you have Baiyao?”

“Yes, yes, one moment.” Baiyao was a common item—they had plenty of it.

At the counter, she scooped the powdered medicine into a small bottle, sealed it, and handed it over. The stranger’s gaze lingered briefly on her hand.

“Here you go.” She instantly realized he was looking at the calluses on her palm—hard, old ones formed from gripping a blade. Seasoned martial artists often had these, though they weren’t something the average person would recognize.

The stranger said nothing more and left.

Something about him felt off, like a bone stuck in your throat—impossible to ignore. But outwardly, he appeared perfectly normal.

Hua Rongyue didn’t dwell on it. She went back, finished her porridge, and thankfully, the others didn’t bring up Yi Linglong again. She was relieved.

After dinner, Dr. Qi suddenly said, “Do you know Young Master Jiang? He bought a house nearby and plans to stay for a while. He said he’d stop by later today.”

“He bought a house here?” Hua Rongyue asked.

“Rich young masters buy homes wherever they like—we can’t control that,” Dr. Qi chuckled.

—

Half an hour later, Jiang Lianhuan arrived.

He greeted Dr. Qi warmly and chatted for a long while.

Ah, the backup has arrived, Hua Rongyue thought. And he’s filthy rich, too—just shows up like it’s nothing.

She stayed busy organizing patient records and didn’t go greet him—there’d be plenty of time for that later.

After some time, Jiang Lianhuan strolled over to her.

“So, you’re the new apprentice here?” he asked.

“That’s me,” Hua Rongyue replied softly, pretending not to know him.

“Why does an apprentice have so much paperwork?” He glanced at the mess on her desk. “Dr. Qi said your store has good ginseng. Get me some.”

“It’s stored in the back.” Hua Rongyue stood up. “Come with me—I’ll fetch it.”

They walked to the backyard together.

Now that Blood Gourd was gone, the backyard was empty.

Jiang Lianhuan’s expression didn’t change even slightly as they entered. Hua Rongyue observed him covertly—still the same twisted but very professional man.

Well, it made sense. You don’t deceive someone like Yi Linglong unless you’re good at your job.

“Has Wu Ci been here?” Jiang Lianhuan asked, his lips barely moving, using voice transmission.

“No,” Hua Rongyue replied.

“What about anyone else?”

“No one. Are you going to stay here?”

“For now,” Jiang Lianhuan said. “Publicly, my story is that I moved here because of the Yi Linglong rumors. Memorize that—don’t slip up.”

“I won’t,” Hua Rongyue said.

They exchanged just a few words before returning, Jiang Lianhuan holding the ginseng. He bid farewell to Dr. Qi and left.

Dr. Qi stood at the door watching him disappear, then sighed, “He really does carry himself like a nobleman.”

Hua Rongyue chuckled inexplicably. No one knew why.

Dr. Qi turned to her and asked, “Is the burn from earlier serious? Need any ointment?”

“No need,” Hua Rongyue shook her head. “It’s almost better already.”

“Good,” Dr. Qi said. “The medicine cabinet has Baiyao and badger oil. Use some if it gets worse.”

Hua Rongyue opened the cabinet, then suddenly froze as if struck by a realization.

Just now, Dr. Qi had mentioned Baiyao, and something clicked in her mind. She finally realized what was wrong with that stranger earlier.

He was wearing a disguise.

A realistic mask had covered his true features. That subtle off-ness she’d felt had come from someone just like herself—someone skilled in disguise.

Earlier, she’d told Jiang Lianhuan that no strange visitors had come, but just an hour before his arrival, someone had.

Her back instantly turned cold.

So much in the martial world happens without warning. Hua Rongyue had always been cautious because she knew she lacked enough experience—but she’d nearly stumbled today.

That night, now aware that the visitor had been suspicious, Hua Rongyue still stayed in the main hall to keep watch. Wan Fulian asked if she wanted to move back to her room—she said no.

In the dead of night, she lay awake, ears straining.

In the silence… she heard faint footsteps outside.

Someone was out there.