Chapter 171
Bathed in candlelight, Man Jiangxue's face was still somewhat pale. The wound on her neck had not healed, and the bandage was still wrapped around it. The smell of medicinal powder masked her usual delicate fragrance, making her appear even more aloof than usual.
Yin Qiu felt a mix of emotions and looked at her apologetically, saying, "I...I didn't mean to upset you."
"Then what brings him to you today?" Man Jiangxue asked.
After entering the bedchamber and staying there for a while, Yin Qiu finally smelled a trace of blood mixed in with the incense. She thought about how Gongzi Fan had cut his own wrist without blinking, and felt very uncomfortable: "After returning from Weicheng, he came to the palace to see me. I told him everything that happened this winter, and he knew that I had Gu poison in my body. So he asked the people of Fanxin Valley to find a way to cure the poison. He came to see me earlier to cure me."
Hearing this, Man Jiangxue noticed that Yin Qiu's complexion had improved considerably, and she looked quite well. After a moment's thought, Man Jiangxue asked, "Is the poison gone?"
Yin Qiu shook her head: "I don't know if the poison has been cured, but all my injuries have healed. I tried it before and I can use my lightness skill again."
Man Jiangxue was somewhat sullen. She sighed softly, took out the medicine bottle Meng Jing had given her from her sleeve, and said to Yin Qiu, "Smell it."
In the days since Yin Qiu woke up, she had smelled the medicine many times. She knew that this stuff would affect the Gu poison, so she obediently pointed the bottle at her nose. However, this time, she had no reaction at all when she smelled the aroma.
My body felt calm and peaceful, without the familiar pain or any minor discomfort.
Holding the bottle, Yin Qiu said blankly, "Judging from this... it should be cured?"
She wasn't just muttering to herself; she was asking Man Jiangxue a question. But Man Jiangxue, sitting on the wooden chair, remained silent.
Yin Qiu sealed the medicine bottle and placed it on the corner of the table. Seeing that Man Jiangxue remained silent and looked at her with a complicated expression, she called out, "Uncle-Master?"
The room was cold and dimly lit. The flame in Manjiang Xue's eyes flickered in the wind. She moved her lips as if to say something, but no sound came out.
Yin Qiu was still in a dream, unable to fully accept the fact that the poison had been cured. She couldn't be sure herself, so she could only get a positive answer from Man Jiangxue. But she called Man Jiangxue several times, and Man Jiangxue did not respond.
The small table was covered with soft satin, which wasn't very thick. Yin Qiu felt a little uncomfortable sitting there for a while. Seeing that Man Jiangxue seemed to be in a daze, she got up, leaned on Man Jiangxue's lap, waved her hand in front of Man Jiangxue's eyes, and said, "Uncle-Master, why aren't you saying anything?"
Although Man Jiangxue didn't speak, her gaze remained fixed on Yin Qiu, following wherever Yin Qiu moved.
Yin Qiu felt uneasy and looked at Man Jiangxue, asking, "Is Martial Uncle angry?"
Man Jiangxue remained silent, looking at Yin Qiu for a long time before raising her hand to wrap around Yin Qiu's waist and pulling her closer. Then she leaned over and reached for the medicine bottle on the corner of the table.
Yin Qiu didn't understand why Man Jiangxue was acting strangely all of a sudden, but she remained quiet and still. Man Jiangxue unsealed the bottle with one hand, poured the pill into her palm, and then held the pill to Yin Qiu's nose.
The smell of this stuff was absolutely awful. If it weren't for the fact that it was to help Elder Xu and Meng Jing develop the antidote, Yin Qiu wouldn't have wanted to even look at it. The pungent smell made her eyes water, but Man Jiangxue showed no intention of moving it away. Yin Qiu asked in surprise, "Didn't I already smell it?"
As she spoke, Man Jiangxue's hand, which was across her waist, was already on her wrist. Yin Qiu looked Man Jiangxue up and down before realizing that she wanted to personally confirm whether the Gu poison was still there.
The window was still open, and a cool breeze blew in, carrying the smell further away. Yin Qiu really didn't want to smell it anymore, so she subconsciously stepped back. Seeing this, Man Jiangxue put the pill back in. Just as Yin Qiu was about to ask her a question, the light suddenly dimmed, and a strand of hair from Man Jiangxue's cheek fell onto her face.
At the same time, a gentle kiss landed on her lips.
The questioning was blocked, replaced by a soft, cool touch. Yin Qiu was still sitting on the ground with her legs curled up, her face upturned, when Man Jiangxue kissed her deeply.
The kiss was so sudden and unexpected that Yin Qiu's heart skipped a beat, and she unconsciously gripped the hem of Man Jiangxue's skirt.
The shadows of the two embracing and kissing were projected onto the wall, like a casually sketched ink painting. Man Jiangxue wrapped her arms around Yin Qiu's waist again, sat down on the chair, leaned forward, and kissed Yin Qiu with her head bowed.
Her long, black hair cascaded down her shoulders, blocking out the light on either side. In that thin darkness, Yin Qiu seemed to be shrouded in snow. The tears that had just welled up in her eyes were still wet, hanging precariously on her eyelashes. When Man Jiangxue lifted her from the ground, those two teardrops fell as she swayed, seeping into Man Jiangxue's sleeve.
With her robes overlapping and her hair intertwined, Yin Qiu felt a lightness in her body and instinctively hooked her arms around Man Jiangxue's neck. Amidst the incessant kisses, she was unwittingly lifted up and placed on Man Jiangxue's lap.
The two switched positions, with Yin Qiu now the one burying her head in her arms, while Man Jiangxue leaned back in her chair. She tightened her grip on Yin Qiu, and the force of her kisses increased significantly compared to the previous times. Yin Qiu was held so tightly, and with her lips sealed, she gasped for breath, feeling as if Man Jiangxue was about to snap her waist and chafe her lips.
What's wrong with my uncle today?
Yin Qiu was in a daze; the thought had just arisen and then quickly disappeared. She was like a piece of driftwood floating on the surface of a lake, and Man Jiangxue was the water drowning her. She couldn't breathe in this water, and the intense feeling of suffocation was mixed with pleasure, making one unable to help but become immersed in it.
The candlelight cast long shadows of the two, making the kiss even longer. With her eyes closed, Yin Qiu responded to Man Jiangxue with all her might, panting.
Her body began to heat up, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead. Yin Qiu felt a sharp pain in the corner of her lips; Man Jiangxue was holding her so tightly that she couldn't move. Fortunately, it didn't take long before Man Jiangxue released her, and the two were immediately separated by some distance. Yin Qiu regained fresh air, and her breathing became unusually rapid. Her eyes were still wet, and when she looked at Man Jiangxue, her eyes seemed to be filled with a layer of mist.
She was both innocent and alluring, yet possessed a charm that even she herself was unaware of.
The night breeze dispelled the seemingly superficial warmth between them. Man Jiangxue looked at Yin Qiu, her deep eyes filled with indescribable emotions. She gently stroked Yin Qiu's cheek, then buried her head in Yin Qiu's shoulder, her voice slightly hoarse as she said, "Do you know what the consequences will be if this poison isn't cured?"
Yin Qiuping, her breathing erratic and her head spinning, asked softly, "What will be the consequences?"
Man Jiangxue paused for a moment, then said, "You have at most a year to live."
Yin Qiu was slightly taken aback.
No one had told her about this before.
She had initially thought that with Ye Zhilan dead, the Gu worm would lose its effect, and even if it remained in her body, it wouldn't matter, at least it wouldn't harm her anymore. However, no normal person would tolerate having a poisonous creature inside their body, so researching the detoxification method was still necessary.
She really didn't expect it to turn out this way.
Feeling Man Jiangxue's arms tighten around her, Yin Qiu lowered her eyelashes and looked at Man Jiangxue's black hair and white clothes. In an instant, she understood why Man Jiangxue had been reluctant to speak earlier.
Her heart churned instantly, the surging waves seeming to be heated, scalding Yin Qiu's chest. She raised her arms and embraced Man Jiangxue, asking, "Since Martial Uncle has already personally confirmed it, is my poison cured?"
Man Jiangxue raised her head, looked at Yin Qiu, and said, "It's done."
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Yin Qiu showed no joy whatsoever. She remained silent for a moment, then asked, "If there's no antidote, how can I detoxify myself?"
Man Jiangxue frowned, but instead of answering, she asked, "You and Gongzi Fan have known each other for so long, how is your relationship?"
Hearing her suddenly ask this, Yin Qiu's heart sank, but she still answered truthfully, "I call him godfather." After saying this, she continued, "Actually, after the new disciple conference, we hadn't seen each other for several years, but when I saw him last time, I didn't feel any awkwardness at all, as if we had never been apart for so long... And a long time ago, I actually already regarded him as my father."
Her words put Man Jiangxue in an awkward position.
Seeing the expression on Man Jiangxue's face, Yin Qiu guessed that the solution must be extremely dangerous. She was lost in thought for a moment before asking again, "So, what exactly is the solution?"
Man Jiangxue did not answer.
Yin Qiu's heart sank completely. She recalled the scenes of her time with Gongzi Fan over and over again, and suddenly she didn't have the courage to ask any further questions. She just said in a hoarse voice, "Will he die?"
Man Jiangxue sighed, patted Yin Qiu's back, and said, "Try to look on the bright side. Maybe he had already taken care of everything for himself before he saved you."
Yin Qiu's eyes reddened, and she said sadly, "In other words, he really might die."
The combined effort required to cure the poison and heal her internal injuries must have been immense, perhaps even overwhelming for Man Jiangxue.
But Gongzi Fan did it.
How did someone who had been suffering from a chronic illness and recuperating in the Brahma Valley for several years manage to do that?
And why was he willing to risk his life to save her?
The candlelight flickered, and the room was chilly. Yin Qiu shivered for no reason, and tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it.
“My uncle-master also knows how to cure the poison,” Yin Qiu said sorrowfully, “but you didn’t tell me that if it weren’t for Gongzi Fan, would my uncle-master also…”
Man Jiangxue fell silent once again.
The questions Yin Qiu asked tonight were basically ones that she couldn't answer directly.
"Tell me," Yin Qiu asked again, "what exactly is needed to cure the poison?"
After hesitating for a moment, Man Jiangxue finally repeated the solution that Meng Jing had told her to Yin Qiu. Although she deliberately kept her tone calm and did not elaborate on the dangers that the rescuer might face, Yin Qiu was still stunned after hearing her words.
"So, the Gu worm is now inside Gongzi Fan's body..." Yin Qiu said in shock, "But Senior Sister Ye is already dead. Without her blood, the antidote can't be made at all. Doesn't that mean Gongzi Fan is doomed?"
Man Jiangxue said, "That's probably true. Even if he can save his life now, he probably won't live much longer. Your situation is different from his; he might not even have a year left."
"What should we do?" Yin Qiu couldn't help but shed tears, saying anxiously, "I don't even know who he is, or why he was willing to risk his life to save me. If he dies like this, and I don't even get to see him one last time, then I..."
"So, in all these years of your interactions with him, have you noticed any clues that could trace his identity?" Man Jiangxue asked.
Yin Qiu thought for a moment and said, "He didn't reveal much. I only know that he used to be a member of the Ruyi Sect and that he was particularly fond of my mother, which is why he's so good to me. But I don't understand why, even if he loves my mother deeply, he doesn't need to go to this extent, since I'm not his biological daughter."
“There are quite a few people in the Ruyi Sect who admire Senior Sister,” Man Jiangxue said. “It’s hard to guess based on that alone.”
Yin Qiu said, "Although he saved my life, there's something I can't pretend not to see. When we met before, I told him everything that had happened these past few days, but he didn't react at all when he heard about my mother's death, as if he already knew. So I became suspicious of him. Is it possible that he's the one who killed Senior Sister Ye? Otherwise, how would he know that my mother was dead?"
Man Jiangxue pondered, "His ability to move freely in and out of the palace without being discovered indicates that he is very familiar with Yunhua Palace. If he is indeed the mastermind behind the Dark Guard disciples, then many things can be explained. Yet he is willing to risk his life to save you, which doesn't seem like something that person would do... In short, this person is very contradictory, and I cannot determine whether he is related to the Dark Guard disciples."
Yin Qiu sighed deeply, then collapsed into Man Jiangxue's arms as if all her strength had left, and asked, "Does Martial Uncle know where Fanxin Valley is?"
Man Jiangxue thought for a moment and said, "I don't know. Fanxin Valley has always been very low-key and even more mysterious than Jiuxian Hall. Few people in the martial arts world know where they are based."
Although Gongzi Fan himself mentioned that he would go to Weicheng to find Meng Wugui, he has now lost all his power and is also suffering from Gu poison, so his condition is extremely bad and he is naturally unable to go.
“Then how can I find him?” Yin Qiu said. “No matter who he is, I can never repay this kindness. If he really dies because of me, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life.”
Man Jiangxue asked, "So how did you contact each other before?"
Yin Qiu paused, then suddenly left Man Jiangxue's body and jumped to the ground, saying, "If I hang the bamboo branch outside the window, and he is still alive, he will definitely come to see me when he sees it!"
After she finished speaking, she immediately pulled Man Jiangxue out of Chenxing Palace and broke off a bamboo branch in the courtyard.
Upon seeing the bamboo branch, Man Jiangxue recalled how Yin Qiu used to always hide it in his sleeve, saying he used it as a sword. She couldn't help but sigh, "What else are you hiding from me? Tell me everything."
With red eyes, Yin Qiu squatted by the window, gazing at the distant maple forest, and said, "There shouldn't be any left..."
Seeing that she looked dazed and lost in thought, Man Jiangxue knelt down next to Yin Qiu and asked, "Are you going to wait for him here?"
Yin Qiu nodded, then shook her head.
"It's cold outside," Man Jiangxue said. "Let's go back inside."
The eaves blocked out the night sky, but they also gathered all the light under the eaves. The two sat side by side under the dim light cast by the lanterns.
“I don’t know how Fu Xiang is doing,” Yin Qiu said. “I’ve had a very unhappy New Year.”
Man Jiangxue wrapped her in his outer robe, pulled her into his arms, and said, "Aren't you happy with me by your side?"
Yin Qiu nestled in her arms, looking up at Man Jiangxue. She smiled, but tears welled up in her eyes again, and she couldn't help but ask a question she had asked before: "If it weren't for Gongzi Fan, would Martial Aunt have done the same?"
Man Jiangxue buried his head in her lips and kissed her, saying, "I can't just watch you die."
Yin Qiu started sobbing again: "But I don't want my uncle to die either. If you really do that, I won't live either when you die."
“Then we can only die together,” Man Jiangxue said. “That’s fine too. I always thought I would be alone until I died, with no one by my side.”
Yin Qiu said, "I'll go with you, I'll go with you..."
"Will you stay with me until we grow old?" Man Jiangxue wiped away Yin Qiu's tears and said with a smile, "Then it's a deal."
Yin Qiu wept uncontrollably, tightly embracing Man Jiangxue, unable to utter a word.
“Midnight is almost here,” Man Jiangxue said. “You can’t let this year’s tears go to next year. You’re counting down the time to cry. It’ll be New Year’s Day soon, so you can’t cry until next year.”
Yin Qiu sobbed, "Who cries while keeping track of time? I'm in too much pain right now, I can't count the time."
Man Jiangxue gently shook her and said softly, "Then I'll calculate it for you. When I say stop, you're not allowed to cry anymore, okay?"
Yin Qiu said, "Okay..." Then she added, "What if I can't help myself?"
Man Jiangxue said, "If you really can't resist..." She pretended to think, but her hand holding Yin Qiu slowly moved upwards. Taking advantage of Yin Qiu's inattention, she quickly touched her sleeping acupoint.
Yin Qiu's head lolled to the side, and he immediately lost consciousness, his body going limp.
“Then get some sleep,” Man Jiangxue murmured to herself, wiping away Yin Qiu’s tears. “A good night’s sleep will make you feel better.”
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