Jiehai Mountain
However, what happened next deviated slightly from Bu Jiu's expectations.
It's unclear how Ji Wang, in that atmosphere, managed to recall his injuries not yet healed and that Bu Jiu hadn't taken his medicine, and then hurriedly pulled him away from the secret chamber.
When Ji Wang steadily carried that bowl of dark, mushy medicine to Bu Jiu's side, Bu Jiu experienced for the first time what it meant to "wink at a blind man."
But in the end, he still accepted the bowl of medicine.
The bitter smell filled his nostrils. Bu Jiu frowned, tilted his head back, and swallowed the bowl of liquid that could only be described as "torture".
The next moment, an indescribable strange taste filled the air from the tip of my tongue to my throat.
He then put down the empty bowl, looked up, and stared at Ji Wang.
He thought that his almost declarative words and stubborn intentions in the secret room should finally receive a formal response, right? So, his eyes unconsciously filled with a hint of anticipation.
However, Ji Wang, who was sitting opposite him, looked at the empty medicine bowl and, after confirming that not a drop was left, immediately smiled and very naturally reached out to wipe away a trace of medicine residue from the corner of Bu Jiu's lips.
"Good girl." Ji Wang's tone was just like praising Jiu Jiu. He stuffed a candied fruit that he had prepared earlier into Bu Jiu's slightly open mouth. "My exclusive recipe, try it. I added a little bit of acacia honey and licorice juice. I tried it several times. This recipe is the best at suppressing bitterness and does not affect the medicinal properties."
With the perfectly sweet candied fruit in his mouth, Bu Jiu looked at Ji Wang's smug face, resignedly nodded under Ji Wang's expectant gaze, and mumbled, "Sweet."
That slight disappointment made him unconsciously purse his lips, and even his fox ears drooped slightly in sympathy.
This change did not escape Ji Wang's notice.
“Actually,” Ji Wang said after careful consideration, “I was just thinking, if you really want it… what should I do?”
Bu Jiu paused, his mouth still holding the candied fruit: "...Hmm?"
Ji Wang guided Bu Jiu's hand, slowly raising it across the small gap between them, and placed Bu Jiu's fingertips on the side of his unsuspecting neck.
The skin there was warm, and the pulse beat steadily and strongly.
“You can take it,” Ji Wang said softly, “my Dao Source, my life, everything I have… if you really want it.”
His gaze followed Bu Jiu, not allowing the person in front of him to look away even slightly: "I will give it to you, simply because you want it."
The pulse throbbing beneath his fingertips seemed to amplify countless times in an instant, rushing into Bu Jiu's heart and causing him to tremble all over.
The sweetness of the candied fruit still lingered in his mouth, but what filled his senses at this moment was the warmth of Ji Wang's neck skin and the unreserved surrender in those eyes.
What "flirting with a blind man"... This "blind man" clearly sees things more clearly than anyone else, and dares to flirt with anyone else.
“But now,” Ji Wang changed the subject, his tone regaining its previous lightness, “we should focus on recovering from our injuries. As for the rest… we can discuss it further later.”
Bu Jiu nodded, then used his tongue to move the candied fruit from left to right and back to left, trying to hide his shyness.
Ji Wang smiled and stopped teasing him. He simply picked up the medicine bowl and walked towards the water basin.
Just then, a young disciple's respectful but slightly tense voice came from outside the door: "Lord Bujiu, someone requests an audience."
Ji Wang raised an eyebrow and, on behalf of Bu Jiu, who was still not fully recovered from his shock, asked, "Who is it?"
The disciple clearly recognized Ji Wang's voice, and after a pause, reported, "Reporting to the sect leader, the person said he came from Jiehai Mountain."
Inside, Bu Jiu's eyelashes suddenly lifted, and when he spoke, his voice had already lost its usual calm: "...They are my people."
Ji Wang's expression changed instantly.
At this moment, in this place, the visitor from Jiehai Mountain is no ordinary greeting or visit for trivial matters. Especially now, with the young fox tragically killed, the valley on high alert, and a great battle imminent.
"Please wait a moment," Ji said. "Please invite our guests to the main hall for tea. We will be there shortly."
The disciple received the order and left in haste.
“Coming at this time…” Ji Wang began, with a hint of worry in his voice, “I’m afraid it’s not a good thing.”
Bu Jiu stood up and straightened his slightly disheveled clothes and hair: "After the incident with the young fox, I immediately sent a message back to the clan, strictly ordering them to strengthen the defenses of the barrier and not to leave the mountain without permission. If it is not an event in the clan that I must decide personally, then it can only be that they risked coming here and brought some news that we do not yet know."
Either way, it means that the peace of Jiehai Mountain has been broken, and the insidious scheme against his own kind is probably far more than just the tragic deaths of a few innocent young foxes.
The shadows are devouring everything he is trying to protect at an unprecedented speed.
Just as that heavy pressure was about to crush Bu Jiu's shoulders—"Don't be afraid."
Ji Wang's voice was right beside my ear, like a ray of light breaking through the shadows: "I'll go see them first. You stay here, calm down, and think about what they've brought and how we should deal with it."
Bu Jiu nodded; he did not refuse this protection. At this moment, he did need a moment to catch his breath and sort out his chaotic thoughts.
When Ji Wang stepped outside the hall, his expression had already composed himself. He pushed open the door and entered, his gaze first falling on the figure standing in the hall.
It was a woman, dressed in a simple, light gray dress, without many fancy accessories.
She looked young, with a hint of youthful naiveté in her features, but her calm and clear eyes revealed a life experience far beyond her appearance.
Upon seeing Ji Wang enter, the woman raised her eyes to meet his gaze, then bowed slightly in greeting: "Sect Leader Ji, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Elder Jiehai Mountain, Mi Quan."
"Elder Mi." Ji Wang returned the greeting with a cupped hand, walked to the main seat, and gestured with his hand, "Please sit. This is a remote mountain place, so please forgive the simple hospitality."
Mi Quan sat down as instructed, her posture upright.
She did not rush to explain her purpose. Her gaze lingered on Ji Wang's face for a moment before she slowly spoke: "Although the spiritual charm has also changed, this glimmer of light deep within the soul... is undoubtedly the Dao Venerable."
When she mentioned the words "Daozun," her tone was calm, without any deliberate attempt to cling to old friendships or any sense of alienation arising from reincarnation.
Ji Wang remained unmoved, neither denying nor deliberately acknowledging his past life identity, only saying, "The past is gone. However, Elder Mi's insight is indeed extraordinary."
"It was just a little trick of sensing, I hope you won't laugh at me." Mi Juan shook her head slightly, then her tone became more genuinely concerned. "The first thing I wanted to ask was, is Lord Bu Jiu... well?"
She used careful wording, and the phrase "all well" clearly meant more than just being physically unharmed.
“The external injuries are mostly healed,” Ji Wang answered clearly and calmly. “It’s just that his emotional trauma is beyond medical help. He needs time.”
A hint of understanding and pain flashed in Mi Quan's eyes as she nodded gently: "That's good then. Thank you for your trouble, Sect Leader Ji."
She unconsciously rubbed her sleeve with her fingers: "I wonder where those three children are buried? If it's convenient, I'd like to go and see them."
Ji Wang's gaze softened for a moment: "Bury him on a quiet, sunny hillside, a site personally chosen by Bu Jiu. In the future... perhaps he can be moved back to the clan's burial ground. If Elder Mi wishes to go, you can have your disciple lead the way later."
He did not mention Bu Jiu's circumstances at the time, nor did he elaborate on the scene of the burial, but his words naturally revealed his respect for Bu Jiu's wishes and his proper handling of the deceased.
After listening, Mi Quan remained silent for a moment, seemingly imagining what the slope would look like. Finally, she nodded again: "Thank you for making the arrangements. That's fine."
A brief silence fell over the hall. Ji Wang didn't urge them, waiting patiently.
He knew that the greetings and inquiries about the burial site were just the beginning; Elder Mi had come from afar and must have something more important to say.
He sat upright in the main seat, his expression calm. Although he did not exude any oppressive aura, he possessed a calm demeanor befitting someone in charge, which made any person he spoke with feel respectful and not belittled.
Just as Mi Quan seemed to be preparing to delve deeper into her intentions, Bu Jiu walked in. He walked steadily and went straight to the main seat next to Ji Wang.
However, just as he was about to regain his balance, his gaze swept across the direction of the guest seats and landed on Mi Quan.
Just one glance.
Bu Jiu hesitated slightly as he was about to sit down. His eyelashes, which had been steadily lowered, suddenly lifted, and a hint of surprise flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Clearly, he hadn't expected it to be her.
The moment Bu Jiu pushed open the door and entered, Mi Quan's gaze was fixed on him. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat for a moment, and her eyes trembled violently.
Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to greet him as usual, calling him "Sir".
However, the words failed to be spoken.
Two lines of clear tears rolled down Mi Juan's cheeks without warning, tracing the contours of her taut face. She raised her hand and hastily covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve, trying to suppress the sudden outburst of emotion.
"Thank you, sir..." A broken voice escaped through her fingers and sleeves, each word laced with grief, "For...for my child...Wanlai..."
The words "Wan Lai" seemed to have exhausted all her strength when she uttered them, completely shattering her forced composure, and she could no longer continue speaking.
Bu Jiu's knuckles were so clenched they turned white, almost embedding themselves into the hard wood.
Mi Quan.
This name and this face represent not only an ordinary elder of Jiehai Mountain, but also Wanlai's biological mother.
When he returned to Jiehai Mountain for a temporary stay, Mi Quan stood quietly under the corridor, her gaze gently following the lively little fox that could already run and jump, as lively as a snowball.
When the little creature excitedly pounced on him and tugged at his clothes with its mouth, a faint, satisfied smile would appear in Mi Juan's eyes, and she would softly remind him, "Wan Lai, do not disturb the master."
Ji Wang felt Bu Jiu's hand trembling uncontrollably, his fingers gripping his hand tightly with such force that it hurt.
Bu Jiu's breathing became extremely suppressed, and only his trembling eyelashes betrayed how his heart was being slowly torn apart by the mother's weeping.
Mi Juan's sobs gradually subsided, turning into intermittent sobs. She frantically wiped her face with the back of her hand, but she couldn't wipe away the tears that kept flowing.
She tried to straighten her back, lift her tear-streaked face, and look in the direction of Bu Jiu, as if she wanted to say something and fulfill her duty as an elder, but in her swollen eyes, there was only boundless grief and emptiness.
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