57: Huang Rong's stockings are a gift to me too? Are they planning to open a boutique?

The campfire in the forest crackled. Xie Hui was lying on a bluestone, flipping through the Incomplete Scroll of the Nine Yin Manual. Just as his fingertip brushed over the formulas of the 'Tendon-Changing and Bone-Forging Chapter,' Huang Rong kicked his knee. The girl held a plain cloth bundle, her earlobes as red as if they had been toasted by the fire. She even stuttered slightly as she spoke, 'You... stop staring at that broken book all the time. Here, something for you.'

When Xie Hui looked up, the bundle had already landed in his arms. It felt soft to the touch and carried a faint scent of soap. He opened it and was instantly stunned—inside was actually a pair of flesh-colored silk stockings. The cuffs were embroidered with a delicate ring of silver thread, and the toes had small anti-slip patterns. It was clearly the style Huang Rong wore.

'This is...' Xie Hui was about to speak when Huang Rong reached out to cover his mouth. The girl glared at him, though her voice grew smaller and smaller, 'Don't you dare laugh! Yesterday you said riding a horse rubbed your ankles raw. These stockings are smoother than cotton ones, so you'll suffer less... If you dare say they look bad, I'll throw them into the fire!'

'Don't, don't, don't!' Xie Hui quickly grabbed her hand, suppressing a laugh as he held up the silk stockings. 'These stockings look great, even more exquisite than Hua Zheng's riding boots. It's just... are you sure I can fit into them? My ankles are a circle thicker than yours; I don't want to snap the silver threads.'

'You're the one who'll snap them!' Huang Rong pinched his arm in frustration and turned to walk to the other side of the campfire. However, she didn't notice that her hair ribbon had loosened, letting a strand of dark hair fall over her shoulder, hiding a smile she couldn't suppress. Hua Zheng leaned over, staring at the silk stockings for a long time before suddenly clapping her hands. 'I know! These are the "modern stockings" you mentioned last time, right? They're much thinner than the wool socks on the grasslands. Are they really not cold?'

Mu Nianci also nodded with a smile. 'Sister Huang Rong is truly skillful to be able to make stockings of this style. The stitching is even finer than the handkerchiefs I embroider.'

Just as Xie Hui was about to store the silk stockings into his inner universe, Seventh Master Hong suddenly leaned in, his eyes wider and brighter than the campfire. 'Kid, are these stockings edible? They smell quite fragrant. Were they scented with osmanthus?'

These words made everyone laugh. Huang Rong laughed so hard she couldn't straighten her back, pointing at Seventh Master Hong as she said, 'Seventh Master! These are for wearing, not eating! No matter how hungry you are, you can't be eyeing stockings!'

Seventh Master Hong stroked his beard and laughed awkwardly. 'This Old Beggar just hasn't seen them before... Right, I went to scout nearby just now and saw a Ruined Temple to the east. There seemed to be movement inside; maybe we can find something to eat.'

The group packed their things and followed Seventh Master Hong to the east. Just as they reached the entrance of the Ruined Temple, they heard a 'clanging' sound coming from inside, mixed with Ouyang Ke's complaints: 'Why isn't this broken copper furnace fixed yet? If my uncle's great plan is delayed, you'll all die!'

Xie Hui quickly had the others hide behind the temple door while he peeked through the crack. He saw Ouyang Ke directing several Jin Soldiers to set up a massive copper furnace in the temple. The furnace was boiling a black liquid that emitted a pungent black smoke, making one feel dizzy just from the smell.

'What are they doing? Refining poison?' Hua Zheng gripped her Scimitar, her voice kept extremely low. Mu Nianci frowned. 'That black smoke looks wrong. It might be a new poisonous smoke developed by Ouyang Feng to use against us.'

Huang Rong's eyes darted around. She pulled Xie Hui and whispered, 'I have an idea. You come with me to steal their poison while the others lie in ambush here. Later, we'll swap the poison for the powdered sugar I prepared and let them refine a pot of "sweet water"!'

Xie Hui nodded and followed Huang Rong around to the back of the temple, climbing in through a broken window. The Jin Soldiers were all busy around the copper furnace, and no one noticed them. Huang Rong quietly crept to the medicine jars in the corner. Just as she was about to swap the black powder for the sugar, she suddenly heard Ouyang Ke's voice: 'Who's there?'

Xie Hui quickly pulled Huang Rong under an altar table. Ouyang Ke held his folding fan, looking around. 'I clearly heard movement just now. Could it be a rat?' He walked to the altar table and accidentally kicked Xie Hui's shoe. His expression instantly changed. 'Someone is here!'

Xie Hui took the opportunity to jump out from under the table and struck a palm toward Ouyang Ke's chest. Huang Rong grabbed the medicine jar, dumped all the powder onto the ground, and poured the sugar in. Ouyang Ke was knocked back several steps by Xie Hui's strike. Just as he was about to call for help, Seventh Master Hong suddenly burst through the temple door. With a swing of his dog beating staff, he knocked two Jin Soldiers to the ground. 'This Old Beggar is here! You little brats, you still dare to refine poison to harm people!'

Hua Zheng and Mu Nianci also rushed in. Hua Zheng's Scimitar slashed at the Jin Soldiers, while Mu Nianci picked up a wooden stick from the ground to help Huang Rong block a sneak attack. The temple instantly fell into chaos. The copper furnace was bumped and wobbled, spilling black liquid that hissed and produced white smoke upon hitting the ground.

'Retreat, quickly! This liquid is poisonous!' Xie Hui shouted, pulling Huang Rong toward the exit. Seventh Master Hong, Hua Zheng, and Mu Nianci followed. Just as they reached the door, they saw Ouyang Feng riding a horse, leading a group of subordinates. He held an iron staff, his expression gloomier than ever.

'Trying to run? No way!' Ouyang Feng swung his iron staff toward Xie Hui. Xie Hui quickly dodged to the side while simultaneously pushing out a palm—it was the 'Arrogant Dragon Regrets' from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. The palm wind collided with the iron staff with a loud 'thud.' Xie Hui was shaken back three steps, and Ouyang Feng's wrist also went numb from the impact.

'Kid, I didn't expect you to know Moves from the Nine Yin Manual!' Ouyang Feng's gaze grew even more malicious. 'Hand over the Incomplete Manual and I might spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!'

'You want the manual? Not happening. You want my life? Come and take it!' Xie Hui sneered and charged forward again. Huang Rong pulled a handful of chili powder from her robe and threw it at Ouyang Feng's face. Ouyang Feng cried out in pain and quickly closed his eyes to avoid it. Hua Zheng took the chance to slash at the horse's legs. The horse reared up in pain, throwing Ouyang Feng to the ground.

'Let's go!' Xie Hui pulled the others and turned to run. Ouyang Ke and the Jin Soldiers tried to give chase, but Seventh Master Hong stayed behind to cover their retreat. His dog beating staff danced like a whirlwind, knocking down a dozen Jin Soldiers in no time. By the time Seventh Master Hong caught up with the group, he was carrying an oil-paper bundle. When he opened it, there were actually several freshly roasted sweet potatoes inside.

'This Old Beggar grabbed these on the way. Eat something to fill your stomachs.' Seventh Master Hong handed a sweet potato to Xie Hui and took a large bite himself, huffing from the heat.

The group ran to a safe forest and sat on the ground to eat the sweet potatoes. Remembering the silk stockings Huang Rong had given him, Xie Hui took them out of his inner universe and said with a smile, 'I was too busy running just now and didn't have time to thank you for the stockings. I'll try them on now to see if they really don't chafe.'

He took off his shoes and slipped the silk stockings onto his feet. Truth be told, they fit quite well—soft and smooth, much more comfortable than cotton socks. Looking at the stockings on his feet, the corners of Huang Rong's mouth couldn't help but curl up, though she intentionally said, 'Don't get cocky. If you wear a hole in them, I'm not mending them.'

Hua Zheng also leaned in and said curiously, 'These stockings look really comfortable. Could you make a pair for me next time? I want red ones, as red as the Sarilang flowers on the grasslands!'

Mu Nianci also said with a smile, 'I would like a light blue pair to match my cloth skirt.'

Huang Rong's face reddened as she quickly nodded. 'Alright, when we reach the next town and buy some fabric, I'll make a pair for both of you.'

Xie Hui laughed and said, 'Then I should stock up on a few more pairs. Maybe I can open a specialty stocking shop in the future and call it "Huang Rong Brand silk stockings." I bet it'll sell like wildfire!'

'Who wants to open a specialty shop with you!' Huang Rong swatted him in annoyance, and the forest was suddenly filled with laughter.

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats came from the distance. Xie Hui's expression changed, and he said to the group, 'Not good, it might be Ouyang Feng's men catching up! Let's Move quickly and hide in the valley ahead!'

The group immediately packed their things and ran toward the valley. After running for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they finally hid inside. The valley was covered in wildflowers and had a stream with crystal-clear water. Xie Hui found a hidden cave and said to them, 'We'll hide here for a few days and wait for Ouyang Feng's people to leave before going out.'

Huang Rong nodded, pulled out needle, thread, and fabric from her robe, and began making silk stockings for Hua Zheng and Mu Nianci. Hua Zheng and Mu Nianci washed clothes by the stream, while Seventh Master Hong looked for wild fruit near the cave. Xie Hui sat in the cave, flipping through the Incomplete Scroll of the Nine Yin Manual, thinking to himself: With Huang Rong's wit, Hua Zheng's boldness, Mu Nianci's gentleness, and Seventh Master Hong's help, they could handle it even if Ouyang Feng was formidable.

But he didn't know that Ouyang Feng had not given up. He was leading his subordinates, searching everywhere nearby, determined to find them and reclaim the Incomplete Scroll of the Nine Yin Manual. Furthermore, Yang Kang had also arrived with Jin Soldiers, intending to join forces with Ouyang Feng to deal with Xie Hui and the others. A greater crisis was quietly approaching them.

At dusk, Huang Rong handed the finished red silk stockings to Hua Zheng. Hua Zheng was so happy she put them on immediately and walked back and forth by the stream like a child. Mu Nianci's light blue silk stockings were also finished; wearing them, she appeared exceptionally gentle. Xie Hui looked at them, his heart full of happiness—although he had transmigrated to this world and encountered many dangers, he had also gained so many people who truly cared for him. Even if it was hard and tiring, it was worth it.

Seventh Master Hong returned with wild fruit. Seeing the silk stockings on Hua Zheng and Mu Nianci's feet, he laughed and said, 'Those stockings are really nice. If this Old Beggar were a few decades younger, I'd want to wear a pair too!'

Everyone laughed, and the laughter in the valley seemed exceptionally warm under the setting sun. But they didn't know that danger had already quietly descended. Ouyang Feng and Yang Kang's men had already found the entrance to the valley and were preparing to launch a sneak attack on them.