Chapter 133

The sky outside the window turned from deep blue to white, and the faint morning light filtered through the window curtains, casting hazy shadows inside the room.

When Su Zhelan opened his eyes again, the first thing he felt was the warmth and heaviness of being trapped between the two of them. He blinked blankly for a moment before realizing that he had once again been sandwiched between the two of them and slept all night.

Su Zhelan immediately held his breath. He moved his body carefully.

He dared not look at the two people, much less wake them. He barely managed to prop himself up, enduring the slight soreness in his waist and legs, and slid off the low couch barefoot without making a sound.

The cold floor made him shiver. He quickly grabbed his clean casual clothes from the side, put them on haphazardly, and without even having time to tie the belt properly, he tiptoed out of the inner room like a wisp of smoke and gently closed the door.

The cool morning air, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, invigorated his groggy mind. Without pausing, he headed straight for Master Su Yan's medicine courtyard. The morning light was just beginning to break, and the servants of the General's mansion were only just rising; the courtyard was serene.

As soon as they reached the entrance of the pharmacy, they saw Master Gu Linzhao rolling up his sleeves and pounding medicine in the stone mortar in the courtyard. His movements were steady and powerful, and fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. Hearing footsteps, Gu Linzhao looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping over them. When he saw that it was Su Zhelan, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

"So early?" Gu Linzhao put down the pestle, straightened up, wiped his hands with the cloth hanging around his neck, his gaze lingered on Su Zhelan's slightly pale face for a moment, then stepped aside to let her in. "Come in and sit down."

His tone was casual, yet it carried an undeniable concern.

Su Zhelan followed Gu Linzhao into the pharmacy, the familiar scent of herbs calming his tense mind. He sat down on a small bamboo stool and watched Gu Linzhao pour him a cup of warm herbal tea.

"Thank you..." Su Zhelan held the warm ceramic cup, her fingertips slightly white. She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice, "And... thank you for the ointment you gave me last time."

Gu Linzhao raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that Su Zhelan would bring this up. He waved his hand dismissively, "Little thing, why are you being so polite with me? It was just a small favor."

He sat down opposite Su Zhelan, resting his thick arms on the table, his eyes fixed intently on her. "Speak, why did you come here at the crack of dawn?"

Su Zhelan took a deep breath, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm cup, her gaze falling on the few medicinal leaves floating in the cup: "Master, the day to send troops to conquer the evil cult... is probably not far off."

Gu Linzhao's expression turned serious. He didn't reply, but his gaze became even more focused.

“Their methods are insidious, and their poisonous insects are impossible to guard against,” Su Zhelan raised her head, her gaze meeting Gu Linzhao’s, her eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity and determination. “We need something that can save lives. Like…like the medicine I gave Sheng Xuan last time, which can attract insects in critical moments and give us a chance to survive.”

Gu Linzhao's eyes sharpened instantly: "You want to make medicine again? With your blood?"

Su Zhelan nodded immediately, her speech quickening, tinged with urgency: "Yes! I've thought it through carefully! This time, I won't use my heart's blood! I'll use blood from my fingertips, taking a little bit every day, accumulating it little by little, without harming my foundation!"

He held out his finger, eagerly showing it to Gu Linzhao, "Look, taking blood from the fingertip is quick and easy, much safer than last time. I will never do it like last time!" He tried to make his tone sound relaxed and confident, attempting to persuade the other party.

However, Gu Linzhao's expression darkened completely before he even finished speaking. His eyes, which usually held a hearty smile, were now as cold as ice, his thick eyebrows furrowed into a knot, and an invisible sense of oppression instantly spread out.

"Bang!" Gu Linzhao slammed his large hand on the table, causing the herbal tea in the cup to shake and spill a few drops. He stood up abruptly, his tall figure almost completely enveloping Su Zhelan in shadow.

"Bullshit!" Gu Linzhao's voice was deep and rumbling like thunder, filled with undisguised rage and incredulous disappointment. "Blood from your fingertip? Little by little? Su Zhelan! You brat, do you think I'm a newbie in the martial world? Or do you think I'm blind and can't see what you're plotting?!"

He leaned closer, his eyes like knives: "Don't you know your own body's condition? Haven't you learned your lesson from the blood-taking incident at Hanshui Academy last time? Whether it's heart blood or fingertip blood, as long as it's your 'Holy Son's' blood, taking it once will deplete your vital energy! What do you think you are? An endless supply of leeks to be harvested in a medicinal herb field?!"

Gu Linzhao's voice grew louder and louder, making the windowpanes vibrate. Every word felt like a heavy stone hitting Su Zhelan's heart.

He stared intently at Su Zhelan's face, which had instantly lost all color, his eyes burning with anger, but deep down, a heartache that was too intense to bear welled up inside him.

"Shut up! What's all the noise about?! Is the sky falling down?!" The curtain to the inner bedroom was suddenly flung open, and Su Yan, with his messy hair from sleeping and wearing cloth shoes, walked out looking irritable.

He was clearly awakened by Gu Linzhao's roar. His brows were furrowed tightly, and his sleepy eyes still carried the lingering grumpiness of being woken up. He glared at the two people in the outer room with annoyance.

"Howling like a banshee so early in the morning, can't a person have a moment's peace!" He rubbed his temples, his voice hoarse and angry, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the furious Gu Linzhao and Su Zhelan. "What's wrong? What trouble has this kid gotten into this time?"

When Gu Linzhao saw Su Yan come out, he became even angrier. Pointing at Su Zhelan, his voice was filled with barely suppressed anger: "Ask him! Ask your good disciple yourself! What nonsense did he spout to me this early in the morning! He wants to draw blood again! He even said that using blood from the fingertip would be fine!"

Su Yan's sleepiness was completely dispelled. His brows furrowed, his sharp gaze instantly fixed on Su Zhelan, and his voice deepened: "Draw blood? What kind of medicine are you making? Explain clearly!"

Su Zhelan felt a tightness in his chest under Su Yan's gaze, but he took a deep breath, met Su Yan's scrutinizing eyes, and tried to make his voice sound clearer and stronger: "Master, I want to... I want to make some medicine that can attract Gu worms. Like... like the one I used for Sheng Xuan last time."

Su Yan's eyes suddenly turned extremely sharp: "With your blood?"

Su Zhelan nodded and explained eagerly, "Yes! But this time it's really different! Master, please listen to me, instead of using your heart's blood, use your fingertip blood, take a little bit every day, and it will add up little by little, causing very little damage to your body! You know I have a steady hand, I won't hurt myself!"

He paused, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly, filled with pleading, "Master, you know how ruthless their methods are... Last time... last time at Eagle Falling Gorge, if we had had a few more bottles of this medicine... perhaps more than just Sheng Xuan and that guard would have survived..."

These words were like a thorn, piercing precisely into Su Yan's heart. Of course, he remembered the brutal ambush, and the soldiers who had been tormented by the Gu poison and died in agony.

“You…” Su Yan’s voice was filled with suppressed emotion. He stared intently at Su Zhelan, his fingers unconsciously clenching. “Why do you care so much?! People always die in wars! If the sky falls, Sheng Chi will hold it up! Do you need to risk your life to fill it?!” His voice was filled with anger and an almost helpless protectiveness.

Upon hearing the words "Come back with me," Su Zhelan's eyes dimmed for a moment, but he shook his head even more firmly. He straightened his back, looked directly into Su Yan's eyes, and spoke in a low but exceptionally clear voice, carrying an undeniable stubbornness:

“But Master, they didn’t have to worry about any of this! General Sheng Chi’s original mission was just to patrol the border and then return to the capital to report! The Crown Prince was just ordered to gain experience… It was me! It was because of me that they were dragged into this deadly battle with the Burning Heart Sect! If it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have needed to face those insidious and treacherous Gu worms!”

His voice trembled slightly, yet grew stronger: "Now, clearly... clearly I know my blood can save lives! It can prevent many deaths! Why don't I use it? Just because I'm afraid of potentially damaging my own strength, I'm just watching more people suffer like last time... right in front of me..."

He couldn't continue, his eyes slightly reddening, but his determination was clearly written on his face.

Su Yan looked at the apprentice before him, whom he had practically raised himself. He saw his pale yet stubborn face, the heavy sense of responsibility in his eyes, and the almost obstinate persistence. Su Yan knew Su Zhelan's stubbornness well, and understood even more the profound guilt and compassion of a healer in his words.

A deathly silence fell over the pharmacy. Gu Linzhao also remained silent, his face grim, though his chest heaved, clearly still angry, though he too had been moved by Su Zhelan's words.

Su Yan gazed at Su Zhelan for a long time, his eyes shifting with complex emotions—heartache, anger, and worry—which ultimately turned into a heavy and long sigh.

He raised his hand and tapped Su Zhelan's forehead heavily, with a hint of helplessness and barely perceptible compromise.

"You little brat... you've grown wings and can't be controlled anymore, huh?" Su Yan's voice was tired and hoarse, filled with deep helplessness. "Do you have to squeeze every last drop of blood out of me before you're satisfied?"

Su Zhelan rubbed her forehead, which had been throbbing from the tap, but she sensed a softening in Su Yan's tone. Her eyes lit up instantly, filled with hope: "Master..."

"Alright, alright!" Su Yan waved his hand impatiently, as if the light in his disciple's eyes had irritated him. "Consider it a debt I owe you! If you want it... it's not impossible!"

His tone suddenly turned stern, "But! You must do as I say! How much to take each day, when to take it, and for how long—all of it is up to me! If you dare take even a single extra drop, I'll break your legs!"

He turned to Gu Linzhao and ordered without room for argument, "Gu Linzhao, go and get my specially made needles, and prepare that bottle of Nourishing Essence Pills!" He then glared at Su Zhelan and scolded her impatiently, "What are you standing there for? Go back and eat breakfast! Conserve your energy! You'll regret this later!"

Although he was scolded, Su Zhelan knew that his master had agreed. Overwhelmed by exhaustion and a sense of relief, his eyes welled up with tears. He bowed deeply to Su Yan and Gu Linzhao, saying, "Thank you, Master!" Then he turned and left the pharmacy, his steps unsteady yet with a touch of ease.

Watching Su Zhelan's departing figure, Su Yan sighed heavily again, rubbing his temples, and said helplessly to Gu Linzhao, "That stubborn little brat... really... sigh!" His tone was full of heartache and helpless compromise.

Gu Linzhao also sighed, shook his head, and turned to prepare things. Although his expression was still calm, his strong opposition seemed to have been temporarily suppressed with Su Yan's decision.