Luo, the Poison Doctor, was past seventy years old and emaciated. Being of a foreign tribe, his irises were deep blue. Years of working with poisons had left his skin with an unhealthy yellowish hue tinged with a dark glow. His hair, half-black and half-white, hung loose around his head, and when he laughed, it sounded like a dry, strange cawing, as if something was stuck in his throat.
When he looked at people, his deep blue eyes seemed to have a wisp of smoke within them, masking their sharpness.
Gu Jianli had long heard of Luo, the Poison Doctor. He knew of his marvelous use of poisons and had heard that his entire body was filled with toxins. If one offended him, they might be poisoned and die without even realizing it. Gu Jianli also knew that Luo never worked on antidotes, never saved anyone, and would even stand by with a dry laugh if his own disciples were endangered by poisons they were working with.
Finding Luo, Gu Jianli was both happy and anxious, worried that even if he found Luo, he wouldn’t be able to get the antidote. Not just Gu Jianli, but even Ji Jingyi and Luo Muge had their brows tightly knit, as if facing a formidable enemy.
However, Gu Jianli never expected that Ji Wujing actually knew Luo.
Ji Wujing, of course, knew Luo. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have so easily obtained the Heart-Devouring Powder.
Luo’s gaze swept over the people in the room, finally landing on Ji Wujing. He laughed dryly, making everyone’s scalp tingle, and rasped out, “How did the demon-faced Ji Zhao become so ugly? Ga-ga.”
His voice was terribly hoarse from years of exposure to poisons.
Ji Wujing lifted his eyelids to look at him, a hint of menace in his eyes, and asked, “Should I praise your poison for its effectiveness?”
Luo stroked his goatee, making a gurgling sound from his throat, and said, “I never save people, but I owe you a life, so I’ll repay you with the antidote! Tsk, just this once. If the poison is too deep and the medicine doesn’t work, don’t come to me again! Remember, I’m giving this to you secretly, don’t ruin my evil reputation by telling others!”
The mist in his deep blue eyes cleared, and he swept his eagle-like gaze over Gu Jianli, Ji Jingyi, and Luo Muge, ominously warning, “Anyone who spreads this, tsk tsk…”
Gu Jianli’s eyes lit up instantly. On the way here, she had thought of many ways to persuade Luo to give them the antidote. She never imagined it would be this easy! She quickly agreed, promising not to tell anyone. Ji Jingyi and Luo Muge also agreed.
“The process of making the Heart-Eating Powder is extremely complex, and so is the antidote. It involves drying, simmering, and refining, taking ten years to make a single dose. This bottle of antidote is the last one I have. If it’s lost, it will take another ten years to make more.”
Gu Jianli listened intently, her brows furrowed.
Ji Wujing’s expression remained calm, showing little joy. He turned his face, his gaze falling on Gu Jianli’s serious expression.
“This antidote is extremely potent and cannot be taken directly. I’ll prescribe an auxiliary medicine, which is simple. Just simmer it overnight and mix the antidote in it tomorrow before drinking.”
Luo Muge hurriedly handed over paper and pen.
Luo wrote the prescription in a flamboyant style. Ji Jingyi glanced over it; it was full of tonic herbs, all common and readily available.
Gu Jianli watched as Ji Jingyi tossed an herb into the pot to boil. She felt a bit more at ease but was still anxious, wishing for night to fall and morning to come quickly so Ji Wujing could take the antidote.
“Madam, rest assured. This is just a tonic and won’t go wrong. I’ll keep this stone pot by my bedside tonight and watch over it. Once it’s ready, I’ll bring it to you immediately,” Ji Jingyi said with a broad smile. Having the antidote lifted his spirits.
“Thank you, Mr. Ji,” Gu Jianli said, her eyes showing gratitude.
“Gu Jianli,” Ji Wujing called from where he leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, “let’s go home for dinner.”
Gu Jianli was stunned, both surprised and annoyed by Ji Wujing’s indifference. However, it was indeed time for dinner, and Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan were already waiting. Since Ji Jingyi was watching over the auxiliary medicine, there shouldn’t be any issues. Finally relieved, Gu Jianli walked over to Ji Wujing, habitually placing her hand on his forearm as they left together.
Luo Muge stood quietly in the corner, silently watching the backs of Ji Wujing and Gu Jianli as they left. Her gaze fell on Gu Jianli’s hand on Ji Wujing’s forearm, then slowly moved down to their legs. Gu Jianli’s steps were small, while Ji Wujing’s long legs took large strides, though he walked slowly. Luo Muge’s eyes flickered; it turned out that her senior brother could slow down his pace.
As expected, Ji Xinglan and Ji Xinglou were already seated at the table, waiting for Gu Jianli and Ji Wujing to return for dinner. The main dishes weren’t served yet, but desserts and fruits were already laid out.
Ji Xinglan sat up straight, eagerly eyeing the grapes. She glanced stealthily at Ji Xinglou and then at Nanny Lin. Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she quickly licked her lips. When Nanny Lin looked her way, she was already sitting properly, pretending not to be tempted by the grapes.
“Why aren’t they back yet?” Ji Xinglou grumbled, swinging his short legs and tapping his chopsticks on the bowl.
Soon, tapping the bowl no longer entertained him. He moved the plate of grapes in front of him and used a chopstick to poke at them, mashing them into a pulp.
Ji Xinglan, with her little mouth open and teary eyes, looked at the plate of grapes, feeling very wronged. She hadn’t eaten any yet, not even one!
“Brother, stop poking them. They’re all ruined…”
Ji Xinglou ignored her.
“What is Xinglou doing now?” Gu Jianli asked cheerfully as she returned.
Seeing Gu Jianli, Ji Xinglan suddenly cried out “Mother” and started to sob, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong, Lanlan?” Gu Jianli hurried over, picked her up, and gently wiped her tears.
Ji Wujing slowly pulled out a chair and sat down, giving Ji Xinglou a glance. “Did you bully her again?”
Again? When had he ever bullied his sister? Ji Xinglou was already confused by his sister’s sudden crying, and now he felt wronged by Ji Wujing’s question. He huffed and turned his head away.
Ji Xinglan obediently lay in Gu Jianli’s arms, her eyes fixed on the plate of mashed grapes. Following her gaze, Gu Jianli understood immediately. She smiled and called for Yanzhi and Luchai to bring up the dinner, and also some more grapes.
Ji Xinglan abruptly stopped crying and looked at Yanzhi walking out. So there were more grapes? She smiled sweetly, her lips curving up.
As soon as the grapes were brought up, Ji Xinglan stared at them eagerly.
“You need to eat dinner before having the fruit,” Gu Jianli said, placing a spoon in Ji Xinglan’s hand.
Ji Xinglan nodded vigorously and began spooning rice into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like little snowballs. After finishing her meal, Gu Jianli personally peeled a grape and handed the juicy fruit to Ji Xinglan.
“Gu Jianli.”
Gu Jianli turned to look at Ji Wujing, preemptively saying, “Peel your own.”
She turned back with a smile and happily peeled another grape. Ji Xinglan, with her tiny mouth still full from the previous grape, popped the newly peeled one into her own mouth.
So sweet.
Ji Xinglou ate his meal in a foul mood, casting a sideways glance at Gu Jianli and saying sarcastically, “You’re in a good mood, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m in a great mood,” Gu Jianli replied, her eyes crinkling with a smile, the corners of her lips slightly curved.
Ji Wujing glanced at her, then reached for a grape himself. As he peeled it halfway, the grape slipped from his fingers, staining his snowy white robe.
Ji Wujing’s face darkened immediately.
Gu Jianli laughed out loud.
“Is it funny?” Ji Wujing shot her a cold look.
Gu Jianli nodded and stuffed the freshly peeled grape into Ji Wujing’s mouth, using its sweetness to block any unpleasant words he might say next.
Gu Jianli was genuinely in a good mood, but it didn’t last long. After she had coaxed Ji Xinglan and Ji Xinglou to sleep and returned to her room, she found Ji Wujing fiddling with long silver needles, and her smile vanished.
“Are you sure you’ve figured out all the acupoints? What if…”
“Take off your clothes and lie on the bed.”
Gu Jianli hesitated for a moment, then lay down on the bed wearing only her dudou. Her face and limbs were covered with tiny prick marks, though her upper body was mostly unmarked. The dark blue bedspread contrasted with her smooth, jade-like back.
Ji Wujing placed the cloth strap studded with silver needles casually beside the bed.
Gu Jianli glanced at it, her body trembling involuntarily, a layer of cold sweat breaking out almost instantly on her back.
Ji Wujing paused in his preparation to use the needles, wrung out a cloth, and wiped her back. The warm water on the cloth spread a soothing heat from her back to her limbs, slightly easing Gu Jianli’s tense fear.
However, as soon as the first needle was inserted, tears instantly welled up in Gu Jianli’s eyes.
Her body tensed, tears falling onto the pillow as she bit down on her hand resting on the pillow.
“Gu Jianli,” Ji Wujing said sternly, “how can I insert the second needle if you’re like this?”
“Do it, just do it…” Gu Jianli choked out softly.
Ji Wujing’s hand passed over the prick marks on Gu Jianli’s leg, speaking indifferently, “Maybe we shouldn’t treat it. The spots and dots look quite pretty, don’t they?”
Gu Jianli cried softly, “Not pretty… I want them gone. Keep going.”
With a grim expression, Ji Wujing inserted another silver needle into an acupoint on Gu Jianli’s back. As the needle pierced her skin, the surrounding flesh twitched in pain. Ji Wujing emotionlessly twisted the needle deeper.
By the time the last needle was in place, cold sweat had soaked Gu Jianli’s back again, and her pillow was wet with her tears.
Lying motionless on the bed, she endured the passage of time, tears occasionally dripping from her eyes.
Standing by the bed, Ji Wujing tucked her sweat-dampened hair behind her ear and said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”
“Don’t talk to me, even moving a bit hurts. Talking is moving too…” Gu Jianli spoke slowly, not even wanting to open her mouth, her words slightly slurred.
Ji Wujing gazed thoughtfully at her.
After the ordeal with the needles, Gu Jianli soon fell asleep. Ji Wujing went to Xuanjing Sect, kicking open Luo, the Poison Doctor’s, door. He said, “Cure the smallpox scars for me.”
Luo sat cross-legged on the floor, using a strange little knife to dissect a poisonous snake’s innards. He didn’t look up, letting out two dry, cawing laughs, “Ga-ga,” and said hoarsely, “I’ve repaid my debt to you. Luo doesn’t save people.”
Ji Wujing walked slowly to stand before him.
Only then did Luo glance up, his deep blue eyes showing no trace of fear. “I said back then I owed you one favor and I’d repay it once. Tsk tsk, you want to help your woman? Fine, return the antidote for the Heart-Devouring Powder!”
Ji Wujing took out the antidote for the Heart-Eating Powder. Luo was momentarily stunned, hesitantly reaching out to take it. But just as Luo’s fingers closed around it, Ji Wujing suddenly let go. The red porcelain bottle fell to the ground, spilling the liquid.
