Make a plan
After breakfast, the clinic was filled with a faint aroma of medicine, and sunlight filtered through the window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
The six swordsmen sat around the table, the atmosphere solemn. A map of Mount Beimang was spread out on the table, like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Footsteps sounded. Mu Jin supported Su Baiwei and walked slowly in. Everyone stood up to greet them.
Su Baiwei's gaze swept across the crowd, lingering briefly on Sally's lowered profile. She was staring intently at the wood grain of the tabletop, as if she could discern something from it. Su Baiwei retracted her gaze and said calmly, "Please take a seat, everyone. No need to be so polite."
Doudou frowned, her face full of worry: "Miss Su, your pulse is weak and rapid, your vitality is severely damaged, you should avoid overexerting yourself, you should have a good rest."
Lan Tu also nodded and said softly: "We will need your help to break the formation. You must take care of your health at this moment."
Su Baiwei shook her head slightly. "I'm more familiar with the Mother Gu Formation and Chi Lian's methods than any of you. Perhaps I can offer some insights. I'm feeling better today, so it won't be a problem."
Just as Hongmao was about to explain the progress, a lazy, laughing voice came from the doorway: "Good fellow, you didn't even call me to discuss something important?"
Everyone looked over to see Uncle Li carefully supporting Tiao Tiao and slowly moving in. He put his weight on his right leg and eased his left, each step coming with great difficulty. Only then did everyone notice that his left leg was also injured.
"If Uncle Li hadn't mentioned it when he delivered the meal, I'm afraid I would have missed it." Tiao Tiao wore his usual faint smile, his eyes seemingly scanning the room. His gaze met Su Baiwei's briefly in mid-air, then quickly separated. Only a momentary pause in his breathing betrayed that he wasn't as calm as he appeared. His gaze then lingered briefly on Sally's tense profile.
The nearest Rainbow Cat had already strode forward and held his left arm. Tiaotiao's body stiffened slightly, then slowly relaxed, transferring some of his weight to the other.
Hongmao's subordinates sensed the instant tense and slight trembling of his muscles and moved more gently. With a pang in their hearts, they whispered, "Is your left arm injured too?"
"As a man of the martial arts world, it would be inappropriate if he didn't have a few wounds on his body." Tiao Tiao's smile deepened, as if he didn't care at all. Only the fine cold sweat oozing from his forehead revealed that he was enduring the pain.
After he sat down, the discussion continued.
Hongmao pointed his finger at the map of the mineral veins with flame patterns, his expression solemn. "The most difficult problem right now is that no one knows the exact location of the Mother Gu Formation. The mine tunnels in Beimang Mountain are intricate and complex. If we can't lock on to the target, all tactics are useless. Miss Su, do you have any clues?"
Su Baiwei stared at the map and slowly shook her head: "The Mother Gu formation was set up by Chi Lian herself. I have never seen the whole picture."
Hearing this, Dada's expression deepened with worry: "Since you've never seen it before...how can you be sure of cracking it?"
"No matter how things change, they still remain essentially the same. This formation is an extension of the Su family's medical skills. Once I see the core of the formation, I have my own way to deal with it." Su Baiwei's voice was weak but steady. "I will counter its moves when the time comes."
Lan Tu sighed softly, her brows etched with worry. "The formation's position is unclear, the method of breaking it is still undetermined, and Miss Su is so weak. This journey is truly extremely risky."
Mu Jin, who was standing quietly nearby, studied the map intently and said hesitantly, "This map... looks so familiar."
Tiao Tiao's mind raced as he continued, "It's exactly like the flame tattoo from that day. Mu Jin, think carefully. When the Gu insect was drawing on my body that day, was there a single spot that shone brightest, like stars surrounding the moon?"
Mu Jin frowned and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she pointed a finger at a certain spot on the map. "It's here! I remember it clearly. The sub-Gu gathered here and circled for a while before leaving."
Everyone's eyes immediately focused on that point.
Tiao Tiao suddenly raised his eyes, looked across the table, and looked straight at Su Baiwei opposite him.
Almost at the same time, Su Baiwei was also looking up at him.
Their eyes met, Tiao Tiao nodded slightly, and Su Baiwei tapped her fingertips lightly on the table. Without needing words, they both understood.
"It's right here." Tiao Tiao raised his eyebrows slightly, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.
The noisy chirping of cicadas outside the window makes people feel uneasy.
The discussion in the room intensified, with several proposals being proposed and rejected one by one. Tiaotiao couldn't help but lean back in his chair to ease the pain in his ribs.
Hongmao saw the fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead, and hesitated to speak. In the end, he just silently pushed the teacup to his hand.
Tiao Tiao raised a faint smile and whispered, "Thank you."
Elsewhere, Su Baiwei swayed slightly, steadying herself on the edge of the table, using the aroma of medicine that filled the clinic room to calm her mind. Lan Tu watched, instinctively wanting to reach out for her, but remembering how she had suddenly withdrawn her hand yesterday, she suppressed the urge.
Daben scratched his head in annoyance. "All this twists and turns is so annoying! If it were me, why not just go in and protect Miss Su? No matter what formation it is, we can just break it in one fell swoop! Why bother with all this brainpower!"
He was just complaining casually, but Tiao Tiao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said with a smile, "Daben, what you said makes a lot of sense!"
The cicada's chirping suddenly stopped, and everyone's eyes were immediately focused on him.
"Last time, Miss Su used a strategy of combining truth and falsehood. She openly broke into the Holy Fire Hall and feigned an attack on Beimang Mountain, leaving Chi Lian caught off guard and making inaccurate judgments. This time, we might as well do the opposite." He glanced at the crowd, a faint smile playing on his lips. "We will attack the Mother Gu Formation with great fanfare. It may seem reckless, but in fact, it is precisely to make him suspicious and think that this is still a feint, so that he can disperse his forces and set up defenses everywhere. As for us, we will make the fake play real, concentrate all our strength, and attack Huanglong directly. We will catch him off guard and give him no chance to react!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Hongmao's eyes, and he couldn't help but exclaim: "Great idea!"
Su Baiwei nodded in agreement. "This is a very good plan. Chi Lian is naturally suspicious. Having just suffered a setback from the false and true strategy, she will be even more suspicious of a seemingly reckless attack."
"I agree too." Lan Tu responded immediately.
"I just said it casually, and it really works?" Daben showed a look of surprise and slapped his palm on the table, shaking the teacup.
Dada quickly grabbed the teacup and shook his head helplessly, "Reckless! But... it's a good plan." He pondered for a moment, worry still lingering between his brows. "But it's a risky plan. If Chi Lian sees through our true intentions, our main force will be trapped."
"Chi Lian doesn't know, but we've already grasped the exact location of the Mother Gu formation," Su Baiwei spoke slowly, her breath slightly short. "For us, dispersing our forces and sneaking in quietly is the best strategy. He'll undoubtedly think this is just a feint." She paused, as if gathering strength. "Then, he'll only scrutinize the situation more rigorously, focusing on... guarding against his self-righteous 'disguise'."
Lan Tu's eyes were bright. "Even if they see through us, we can still use the six swords to force our way through. As long as we can escort Miss Su to the Mother Gu Formation, once the formation is broken, all the medicine men will fall without a fight."
Dada lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."
Sally had kept her eyes slightly lowered, but only now did she raise them. Her gaze quickly swept across Tiao Tiao's pale face and Su Baiwei's frail figure. Her lips moved slightly as she whispered, "I agree."
Doudou nodded, but her brow furrowed even more. "It's a good plan, but Miss Su's body probably won't recover that quickly, so we shouldn't take any risks lightly. Didn't you practice the 'Tongxi Guiyuan Jue' with Tiaotiao yesterday? Why do you look so bad today?"
Su Baiwei rubbed her swollen Taiyang acupoint and said slowly, "This exercise requires a clear mind and a harmonious balance of Qi and blood. Yesterday, my emotions fluctuated, and my internal energy conflicted." She paused briefly before continuing, "Today, I've adjusted myself properly. I'm sure there will be no problem practicing again. I should be able to recover soon."
When Sally heard the words "emotional fluctuations", her shoulders tensed slightly, and she lowered her head again, clenching and unclenching the teacup in her hand.
The cicadas outside the window were chirping louder and louder, making the air in the house seem a little hotter.
Finally, Hongmao said in a deep voice, "Today is the third day, and we still have four days. We will set out in three days, and launch a surprise attack on the night of the sixth day to break the formation in one fell swoop! During these three days, everyone must rest well and prepare for a fierce battle!"
"Okay!" everyone responded in unison.
Hongmao turned his gaze to Tiaotiao. "Tiaotiao, your injuries haven't healed yet, so it's difficult for you to wield a sword. You'll need to stay in Huichun Hall and wait for us to return."
Su Baiwei's eyes were as calm as water. "Prepare some dry food and water in the secret room in advance. You can hide in it when the time comes. Mu Jin and Uncle Li will take care of you from inside."
Tiao Tiao lowered his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and replied with one word: "Okay."
Seeing that he responded so straightforwardly, Su Baiwei felt a little strange in her heart.
After the discussion, Hongmao leaned over and lifted Tiaotiao onto his back. Tiaotiao lay on Hongmao's back, his eyes scanning everyone present. Finally, his gaze paused for a moment on Doudou, who was frowning in thought.
A trace of doubt filled his heart. Today... no one had asked about his injuries. This strange silence was unusual.
He suddenly raised his eyes and cast his gaze on Su Baiwei. Their eyes met for a moment before Su Baiwei nodded slightly.
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