On the eve of the decisive battle
Hongmao's eyes fell on the sheepskin map and he asked, "What do you think of the news Chen Jin brought?"
Doudou couldn't help but sigh, "We were hoping to storm the Mother Gu formation and catch Chi Lian off guard. But now, they've already set up their net, waiting for us to jump in."
"Looking at the map, the direction of the mineral veins and the distribution of the branches are completely consistent with Tiaotiao's map." Dada tapped the map with his fingertips. "Based on the information itself, the credibility is at least 70%."
"But the timing and motive are too coincidental," Lan Tu continued, a trace of worry between her brows. "They delivered crucial information just when we needed it most. If this is a trap set by Chi Lian, the consequences will be disastrous." She paused, her tone slowing down. "However, when Tiao Tiao tried to test him just now, Chen Jin's reaction didn't seem fake."
"Who cares if it's real or not!" Daben tugged at his ears in annoyance, his voice muffled, "Knowing there's a fake array waiting to trap us is better than just foolishly running into it! As far as I'm concerned, this bastard at least did something good!"
Sally snorted coldly, her eyes as cold as ice. "If he wasn't desperate and felt extremely guilty, how could such a despicable person take such a risk? His feelings are sympathetic, but his heart may not be fully trusted."
Hongmao looked at Su Baiwei, who had been silent the entire time: "Baiwei, what do you think?"
All eyes were focused on Su Baiwei.
She was silent for a moment, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the back of Tiao Tiao's hand. Then she spoke slowly, her voice cold and distant. "He and I have long been strangers. I dare not make any rash judgments about his character." She cast her gaze upon the map. "But Chi Lian's strategies always combine the real and the fake, the real within the fake, the real within the fake. The 'Dragon Trapping Formation' and this strategy of combining the real and the fake are indeed in line with his character."
Her tone deepened, adding a touch of solemnity. "However, even if this information truly came from Chen Jin's inner circle, there's no guarantee that Chi Lian didn't intentionally leak it. That so-called 'true' path to the array's core is likely filled with danger, perhaps even another, more subtle trap. If we believe it, we'll be walking into a trap."
Hearing this, Tiao Tiao's lips curled up in a cold arc. "Indeed. Chi Lian is a shrewd and calculating person, and is extremely skilled at manipulating people's hearts. If he's exploiting Chen Jin's desire for 'atonement' and his insider information, passing on this seemingly reliable intelligence, making us think we've succeeded, he's actually leading us to another dead end. That's truly brilliant."
The room fell silent again. The clues that were difficult to distinguish true from false and the layers of calculations seemed to turn into a thick fog, weighing heavily on everyone's heads.
Daben was completely confused and couldn't help but yell, "What's real or fake? Why are you making this so complicated? Are you guys overthinking it?"
Dada pondered and said, "That's possible. But when facing Chi Lian, the more you worry, the more chance you have of survival."
Hongmao pondered for a moment, his gaze growing sharper. "That being the case, we can't just follow their tactics." He placed his finger firmly on the false formation's center. "We must attack the false formation's center, and create a loud enough noise to attract Chi Lian's main force, making them think we've fallen for a trick." He moved his fingertips to the true formation's center. "We must also attack the true formation's center, but we must be doubly cautious and be ready for the worst at any time."
"Make a feint to the east and attack in the west, and proceed cautiously?" Lan Tu said in a gentle voice.
"Exactly." Hongmao looked at Tiaotiao. "Tiaotiao, you're seriously injured. Tomorrow is the final battle. You, Mu Jin, and Li Bo will stay in the Huichun Hall secret room to watch over Chen Jin." His gaze fell on Su Baiwei. "Baiwei, you're indispensable to breaking the formation, but this mission of sneaking through Chencang is extremely dangerous. You..."
Su Baiwei said calmly: "I am the only one who can break the Mother Gu formation. Even if it is a dangerous place, I must go."
Tiaotiao clenched his right fist and clenched his teeth. He felt a dull pain in the wound on his right arm and a dull ache under his ribs. He knew that in his current physical condition, forcing himself to go would only be a burden. What's more, he had already promised her that they would stay together for thirty years. If he died, she would not be able to live either. He had to live for their common future. But when he thought of her stepping into the murderous center of the formation alone, his heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, and the pain was so severe that he could hardly breathe. Thousands of worries and powerlessness finally turned into a heavy sigh. He closed his eyes and uttered a word with great difficulty:
"good."
Although he agreed to stay, a sense of uneasiness still lingered in his heart.
Seeing him reluctantly agree, Su Baiwei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking back to the last time he agreed so readily, it made her feel uneasy.
"Okay!" Hongmao ordered decisively, "Then let's do this! Lantu, Daben, and Sally, the three of you will attack the fake formation's center. The louder the better. Make sure to tie up Chilian's main force! Dada, Doudou, coordinate from the outside, eliminate the sentries, block the reinforcements, and be ready to support Bai Wei and me at any time!"
"Understood!" Everyone responded in unison, their eyes burning with fighting spirit, but also covered with a heavy shadow.
The plan was initially finalized, and the tense atmosphere eased slightly. Mu Jin looked at Su Baiwei's profile, hesitated for a moment, and asked softly, "Miss, then... what will happen to Chen Jin next?"
Su Baiwei turned her head and looked towards the consulting room, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "Keep him locked up and under strict guard for now. We'll discuss his merits and demerits after the dust settles."
Doudou's gaze flickered back and forth between Tiaotiao and Su Baiwei, her brow furrowed, her voice filled with anxiety: "Tomorrow is the decisive battle. Is your internal energy stable? We absolutely cannot let anything go wrong again."
Su Baiwei turned her head and exchanged glances with Tiao Tiao before saying, "Don't worry. The backlash from the Tongxi Guiyuan Jue comes from agitated thoughts and feelings. It's fine for normal practice. We'll carefully regulate our breathing and maintain a stable state of mind."
Lan Tu gently warned, "Safety is paramount. If you're not absolutely sure, it's better to put it aside for now than to take any more risks."
Su Baiwei met her concerned gaze and nodded solemnly. Turning her head, she saw Tiao Tiao whispering something to Mu Jin. Mu Jin nodded seriously, then turned and walked away quickly.
Su Baiwei carefully supported Tiao Tiao as they walked back. A breeze blew through the corridor, gently brushing the corners of their clothes.
Tiaotiao suddenly spoke, his voice tense. "That day in the secret room... you didn't mention him." A complex expression crossed his eyes. "If Uncle Li hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known about this past."
"He really said that." Su Baiwei smiled bitterly, "I don't want to mention him." Her tone was as light as smoke, but it was filled with indescribable weariness.
Tiao Tiao was silent for a moment, then whispered a single word: "Okay."
Once inside, Su Baiwei helped him sit down on the edge of the bed, carefully placing a soft pillow behind him and gently adjusting him into a comfortable position. Tiaotiao suddenly grasped her wrist, cupping her hand in his palm. His fingertips had warmed, but the grip was a bit heavy, leaving her slightly startled.
"Tomorrow's extremely dangerous, I'm really worried." He lowered his eyes, his voice a little low, "I really want to go with you."
Su Baiwei gently placed her other hand on the back of his hand: "Trust us."
Tiaotiao was lost in thought. After a moment's silence, he suddenly raised his head and asked, "Can that forbidden technique really add thirty years to my life?" A look of doubt crossed his brows. "The forbidden technique recorded in the Qing Nang Book is clearly a life-for-life method."
Su Baiwei met his gaze and whispered, "What's written in the book is indeed a unique method. But when I was young, I heard my father mention that there is another method. Using a lifetime of cultivation as a bridge, and the essence and blood of the heart as a guide, it can be used to peel off and transform the essence of life."
Tiaotiao's breathing hitched, and the hand holding her suddenly tightened, his fingertips trembling slightly. "A lifetime of cultivation to build a bridge? Then your internal energy..."
"Yes, it will dissipate." Su Baiwei nodded calmly, as if discussing a trivial matter. "But martial arts are meant for self-defense. Losing internal energy will only return me to normal. It won't affect my medical skills." Her voice remained steady, but with a hint of solemnity. "This method is dangerous, but if successful, a pact of symbiosis will be established. From now on, our lives will be linked, sharing the same lifespan. We will truly live and die together. If I survive, you survive; if you are safe, I am safe. This pact, once established, will remain eternal and unchanging until the end."
She paused briefly, then added softly, "This technique can only make up for the loss of innate lifespan, such as that lost by a poisonous insect. If the vitality is lost due to injury or illness, there is no way to recover."
Tiao Tiao closed her eyes deeply. When she opened them again, her voice was hoarse due to the huge shock: "So when you first..."
Su Baiwei was silent for a long time before she slowly raised her eyes, with a hint of trance in her eyes.
"At first, I only wanted to atone for my sins... I wanted to give you my entire life." She let out a bitter smile. "But ever since that training backfired, I've realized that trading one life for another, while seemingly selfless, is actually the most selfish. If I had done that, I would have been free, but I would have left all the pain to you." The hand covering his tightened, "So I changed my mind. Tiaotiao, I want to live well with you."
Tiao Tiao pulled her into his embrace. The pain from the wounds tearing through her body was not even a ten-thousandth of the pain in her heart. Su Baiwei leaned obediently against his shoulder, but she carefully restrained her strength, resting her forehead lightly on the side of his neck. She was mindful of his injuries, and even her breathing was gentle, as if even a little heavier pressure would hurt him.
The two were silent for a moment, the shadow of tomorrow's battle spreading silently.
Su Baiwei turned her head to look at Tiao Tiao, and saw that his brows were furrowed and his eyes were gloomy. She felt a pang in her heart and looked away.
Almost immediately, Tiao Tiao lowered his gaze to look at her, catching the lingering solemnity between her brows. He remained silent, tightening his arm around her slightly and patting her shoulder gently with his other hand.
Boom boom boom!
There was a sudden knock on the door, and Mu Jin's voice came from outside the door: "Miss."
"Come in." Su Baiwei gently pulled herself out of his arms and stood up.
Mu Jin pushed the door open and walked in, carefully holding an oil-paper package in her arms. She walked closer, unfolded the package, and handed it to Su Baiwei: "Miss, this is the locust flower cake that the young master asked me to buy."
Su Baiwei looked at Tiao Tiao in surprise, but saw that his worry had long since faded, leaving only a gentle smile. "Just now at the dinner table, you were so busy taking care of me that you barely ate a bite yourself. I heard Mu Jin say that this was your favorite, so I asked her to buy some. No matter what tomorrow brings, you can't go hungry today."
A warm feeling suddenly surged into her heart. Su Baiwei took the locust flower cake and said softly, "Mujin, you should have some too."
Mu Jin quickly waved her hand: "I'm not hungry, Miss, you and Mr. can eat. We still have to fight the enemy with all our strength tomorrow, so we need to eat enough to have strength." After she said that, she considerately retreated and closed the door gently.
Su Baiwei picked up a piece of fragrant and soft locust flower cake and naturally passed it to Tiao Tiao's mouth. However, he endured the pain and took it, then put it to her lips: "You eat it, I'm not hungry."
Su Baiwei was slightly startled, then realized he was worried about her, so she stopped refusing and lowered her head to take a bite of his hand. The familiar sweetness spread across her tongue, but it seemed to be wrapped in a layer of bitterness that was difficult to dissolve, slowly seeping into her heart.
"Is it tasty?"
She nodded, but her nose felt sore and tears flowed out without warning, falling drop by drop on her clothes, leaving a dark wet mark.
Tiao Tiao endured the pain and raised her other hand. She gently wiped away her tears with her fingertips and asked in a low voice, "Why are you crying?"
Su Baiwei bit her slightly trembling lower lip and leaned into his arms, still subconsciously holding back her strength as she said, "I'm so scared... Tiao Tiao, I'm afraid we have no future." Her voice choked with sobs, "Chi Lian is so cunning... She had already set a trap for us. I always wonder... what if... what if..."
Tiao Tiao said nothing, simply hugging her deeper into his arms, his chin resting gently on the crown of her head, his eyes closed. He took in her fear, tucked it away in his chest. Deep down, he felt the same panic, the same "what if?"
The cicadas chirped noisily, tearing at the sultry air one after another.
Chen Jin collapsed on the cold examination bed, staring blankly at the roof beams, like an empty shell with his soul sucked out.
With a "click", the door lock opened.
A dim light shone obliquely into the room. Uncle Li walked in, carrying a bowl of porridge and a small dish. He placed the bowl and dish on the examination table beside him. The bottom of the bowl hit the wooden table with a dull sound.
"Child, get up and eat something."
Upon hearing this, tears once again streamed down Chen Jin's face. His voice was broken and trembling, "Uncle Li, am I... a coward? Do I... really deserve to die?"
Li Bo stood there. In the dim light, I couldn't see the expression on his face. I could only hear a heavy sigh from his throat. He didn't answer, but turned around silently and prepared to leave.
"Thank you." Chen Jin, behind him, squeezed out two words with all his strength.
Uncle Li paused. His back remained frozen in the light from the doorway for a long time. Finally, he spoke in an extremely complex tone, "Miss, I asked you to bring it to me."
Chen Jin suddenly sat up, the stagnant water in his eyes rippled violently, and a flash of light flashed in an instant. But that light only flashed for a moment before it was completely swallowed up by the even more turbulent regret and pain.
More tears poured out, but he didn't even have the strength to hum. He could only bury his face deep in his arms, his thin shoulders shaking violently.
Uncle Li didn't look back and stepped out of the door. The heavy sound of the lock closing rang out again, isolating the two worlds.
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