hope
Doudou and Lantu hurried over, their gazes sweeping over the shattered stone table, their hearts suddenly tightening. They exchanged a glance and headed straight for Su Baiwei's bedroom. Lantu suppressed her worry and raised her hand to knock three times on the door.
The door opened, and Mu Jin poked her head out. Seeing that it was the two of them, she quickly stepped aside and said, "Miss, Palace Master Lantu and the Miraculous Doctor are here."
"Please come in." Su Baiwei's weak voice came from inside the room, faintly mixed with the slight sound of clothes rustling.
Lan Tu rushed into the room and noticed the faint red mark on Su Baiwei's cheek. She reached out and gently pressed her hand on Su Baiwei's shoulder, then sat down on the edge of the bed. "Hurry up and lie down. Your health is very important." Her eyes lingered briefly on the red mark, and a suspicion welled up in her heart, but she suppressed it and asked softly, "Is this injury...?"
Mu Jin, who was about to serve tea, had her eyes reddened. A surge of indignation rose in her throat, and she blurted out, "Just now, Zi..."
"It's a small matter." Su Baiwei interrupted the conversation lightly, and gave a dissuading look with a glance.
Mu Jin was pierced by the look, and her chest suddenly felt tight. Looking at the young lady's frail face, she felt distressed and wronged, but she couldn't vent her anger. She could only vent her anger on the teacup. With a dull "thud", the teacup was slammed heavily on the table. She puffed out her cheeks and snorted.
Lan Tu took in the entire scene, her suspicions growing even more certain. She took the tea from Mu Jin and asked gently, "Miss Su, how are you feeling now? Let the miracle doctor take your pulse again."
Su Baiwei stretched out her right wrist, revealing a piece of pale skin where her sleeve had slipped down. "Thank you for your trouble. It's indeed more comfortable than before."
Doudou placed three fingers lightly on her wrist, concentrating on checking her pulse for a moment. His brows relaxed at first, "The pulse is indeed a bit steadier than this morning..." Suddenly, his expression became serious, and his eyes fell on the red mark on her cheek. "Strange, why is the liver qi stagnation getting worse?"
"It's still that Purple Cloud Sword Master!" Mu Jin finally couldn't hold it back any longer, her voice filled with tears, "She just now..."
"Hibiscus!" Su Baiwei suddenly raised her voice, and as soon as she finished speaking, she gasped lightly, with a hint of severity in her tone.
Mu Jin's tears burst out and she shouted regardless, "She has put a sword to your neck, and every word she says hurts your heart. Why should you protect her?" Her voice became more and more trembling. "She is so unreasonable. She bullies people by relying on her martial arts skills. She almost..." Before she finished speaking, she turned into sobs.
"What!"
Lan Tu and Dou Dou cried out in surprise at the same time. Dou Dou's fingers, taking her pulse, trembled violently, and she almost lost her composure. Lan Tu's heart sank. If Tiao Tiao knew about this...
"She's just worried and frustrated, looking for a way to vent." Su Baiwei's breathing was unsteady, with a hint of self-mockery. "Besides... what she said was not wrong..."
"Miss!" Mu Jin felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife, but she still wanted to argue.
"Okay!" Su Baiwei's voice was cold and stern.
Mu Jin shuddered. She had never heard her speak so coldly before. Shock, grievance, confusion—all sorts of emotions surged through her like a tide, making even her breathing slow.
Su Baiwei saw the pain in her eyes, and her heart felt like it was pierced by a needle. Her throat choked, and her tone softened a little: "It's getting late, Tiaotiao should take medicine. Go and see..."
"Uncle Li is already frying it," Doudou quickly interrupted, "Miss Mujin, there's no need..."
"Go help Uncle Li." Su Baiwei interrupted, "Go now."
Tears welled up in Mu Jin's eyes as she gave Su Baiwei a deep look filled with grievance and disappointment.
"Mujin..." Doudou quickly stood up and tried to comfort her, but before she could finish her words, she stomped her feet heavily, snorted, and slammed the door and left.
Bang!
The loud noise echoed in the house, shaking even the window frames.
Su Baiwei stared at the still-swaying doorframe, a flicker of pain in her eyes. Her throat moved unconsciously, as if a thousand words were choking her heart. But in an instant, she regained her usual composure, her fingertips clenching the corner of the quilt. "Mu Jin was a little impatient. If I was disrespectful, please forgive me."
Lan Tu's expression was complex as she slowly withdrew her gaze from the door. She sighed softly and said, "Sally has always had a strong temper. We all know that. She certainly lost her composure today."
Lan Tu's fingertips gently stroked the edge of the teacup. "Miss Su has been wronged. Seven Swords will definitely give you an explanation." Seeing Su Baiwei's expression change slightly, she continued softly, "When Uncle Li explained the ins and outs of the Mind Control Gu that day, Miss Su was innocently implicated. There's no need to blame yourself too much." Her eyes were filled with concern. "Miss Mu Jin is devoted to protecting her master. Were you too harsh on her just now?"
Su Baiwei curled her fingers slightly, and when she looked up, her eyes were calm. "You two have come all the way here, so I guess you have something important to discuss?"
Lan Tu's expression straightened. "Miss Su, I shouldn't have disturbed you from recuperating at this time. It's just that Tiao Tiao... has so far refused to let Dou Dou get close to him to check his pulse. We have no idea how serious his injuries are. Tiao Tiao treats you differently. If you're willing to try to persuade him, perhaps he'll listen." Her voice was filled with earnestness. "Even if he still refuses to see a doctor, at least let us know how he's doing now."
"It's not a big deal." Su Baiwei said in a low voice, "All his injuries are caused by me. It's my job to heal him."
Seeing her agree, Lan Tu and Dou Dou felt a little relieved, but the words "it's all because of me" still weighed heavily on their hearts. A trace of pain flashed in their eyes, and they both let out a heavy sigh.
Doudou's Adam's apple rolled a few times before he spoke with difficulty, "Miss Su, have you ever taken his pulse?" His voice suddenly choked, and his fingertips trembled unconsciously. "How much time... does Tiao Tiao have left?"
Su Baiwei's fingers suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white. After a moment, she slowly loosened them. "Since he doesn't want you to worry, I can't tell you."
Suddenly, the wind blew outside the window, making the window lattice rustle slightly.
Su Baiwei turned her gaze out the window, watching the branches of the locust tree sway gently in the wind. "But you two don't have to worry too much. There's a method recorded in the Qing Nang Book that my father left behind."
Lan Tu's breathing suddenly stopped, and a glimmer appeared in her eyes.
"The main ingredient should be Lihuocao..." Su Baiwei said softly, twirling the corner of the quilt with her fingertips. "Additionally..." Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and sweat oozed from her palms. "Additionally, use my heart essence and blood as a guide, and combine it with the Su family's secret method of golden needle acupuncture. This method requires three days and three nights of seclusion, and there is no room for error. If successful, it may be able to recover 70% to 80% of your lost lifespan."
"Really?" Lan Tu's eyes suddenly shone brightly, but the light dimmed in an instant. His gaze swept across her pale face. "But essence and blood are the foundation of human life. If you use it again... how can your body withstand it?"
Su Baiwei lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her face. "Just one drop." She rolled up her left sleeve, revealing the old wounds on her wrist. The newly formed blood scabs were particularly glaring on the pale skin. "For years, I had to take three drops of blood every month to feed the Gu. Now it's just one drop, it's nothing."
Lan Tu's gaze fell on the mottled scars, and her throat suddenly choked. Tears welled in her eyes as she murmured, "Tiaotiao can be saved..." She couldn't help but hold Su Baiwei's hand, her fingertips trembling slightly. "Miss Su, you are so kind. The Seven Swords will never forget you!"
Before she could finish her words, she felt her palm go empty. Su Baiwei abruptly pulled her hand back, her sleeves fluttering in the breeze. Lan Tu, startled by her loss of composure, hastily withdrew her hand. The light in her eyes dimmed, a stinging pain piercing her heart before her eyes softened again. "I'm sorry, I was reckless..."
"It's okay." Su Baiwei gently put her hands back into her sleeves, her voice returning to its usual distant tone. "It's just... I'm not used to interacting with people."
Doudou's pupils suddenly contracted, a look of shock frozen on his face. After a long moment, he finally found his voice: "This... this secret technique that reverses life and death, the price is probably..." His Adam's apple rolled with difficulty. "How confident are you, young lady? If anything unexpected happens..."
Su Baiwei lowered her eyes and was silent for a moment before she said, "About 70 to 80 percent." Her throat suddenly tightened, and she coughed lightly. "Even if it fails, it's only a slight damage to the meridians. I have my own way to heal it."
The wind outside the window suddenly blew up a fallen leaf, which hit the window frame with a clatter.
"But... a drop of heart blood can have such miraculous effects?" Doudou's eyes were full of disbelief.
"Essence and blood are merely the guiding force of the medicine." Su Baiwei panted slightly and lowered her head. She quickly pulled down her sleeve to cover her wrist, and her speech speed unconsciously quickened. "The real key lies in the stimulation of potential through the golden needle."
Doudou pondered for a moment, his brows slightly relaxed. "Since Hall Master Su was able to develop such a rare item as the Heart Control Gu, it's not surprising that he has this secret technique." As soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed, "Wait!"
Su Baiwei's fingertips trembled slightly.
"That's not right!" Doudou scratched his head. "If the Heart Control Gu was created to prolong life, how could it backfire on the host? Since there is such a life-saving remedy, why did Master Su..."
Su Baiwei's gaze passed over Doudou's shoulder, as if gazing into the distant past. A bitter smile curled her lips. "The son Gu and the secondary Gu are originally twins. The secondary Gu prolongs life, while the son Gu reduces the host's lifespan to heal injuries. The son Gu was originally useless, but unexpectedly fell into the hands of the demonic cult and became a powerful tool for controlling people." Her gaze slowly descended, resting on the cracks in the bluestone floor. "This method can only save those injured by the son Gu."
Doudou's brows were furrowed, and worry was still in her eyes. "If the young lady insists on performing the spell, could you let me know the key to it? Firstly, it can help protect you, and secondly, if anything happens, I can come to your rescue in time."
Su Baiwei shook her head slightly: "It's a family secret technique, I'm sorry I can't tell you."
Doudou was stunned when he heard this, and smiled awkwardly: "I'm sorry for being rude." There was still worry between his brows, but when he saw Su Baiwei's determined expression, and thought that this was Tiaotiao's only hope, he could only suppress the doubts in his heart.
Lantu came back to her senses from her joy and asked softly, "Does Tiaotiao know about this?"
Su Baiwei shook her head slightly, twisting the corner of the quilt tightly with her fingertips. "The most crucial aspect of this method is that the patient must have a clear mind. If they knew the truth, I'm afraid their emotions would be agitated, which would damage their foundation." She paused, her voice becoming softer. "As for Mu Jin..." Her eyelashes drooped. "That girl can't keep secrets, so it's best not to let her know."
Lan Tu's eyes flickered slightly, and she immediately understood: "No wonder just now..." She nodded solemnly, "This method will also cause great damage to you, and you must be extra careful. We will make thorough preparations for the medicinal herbs and supplements you will need for the next three days." After a moment's thought, "Do you need to make special arrangements for the retreat?"
"There's a secret room inside the hall," Su Baiwei said, looking up. "The spell will be performed there. After the Mother Gu formation is broken, please have one or two from the Seven Sword Sect guard outside."
"Okay," Lantu and Doudou said in unison. They exchanged a glance, their eyes finally lighting up, the heavy burden that had weighed on their hearts for days finally lightening a bit.
After the two of them gently closed the door, silence returned to the room. Su Baiwei stared blankly at the closed door, her fingertips slowly stroking the scar on her cheek. A tear fell silently, leaving a dark stain on the thin blanket.
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