"I want one person!"
Outside, a drizzle began to fall. The raindrops hit the eaves and then splashed onto the ground, the pitter-patter sounding like constantly flowing time. After a long silence, Nan Shiying finally spoke. She didn't want Xuanxiao's life; she only wanted one person.
"Who?"
"The former楼主 (louzhu)!"
"Good, I understand!"
Feng Luan said he wanted a person, and when he wanted someone, it wasn't about taking their life. Although he wished he could cut the other party into a thousand pieces, at this moment, he could only bury the desire for revenge deep in the darkest corner of his heart.
Nan Shiying threw him a bottle of hemostatic powder, telling him to tend to his own wounds first. Xuanxiao untied his sash, revealing the injury. Nan Shiying hadn't expected him to change his dressing on the spot, but she didn't shy away coyly. His skin was pale and bloodless, just like Jin Mo's.
Xuanxiao removed his bandaged wound, opened the stopper, and poured the hemostatic powder onto it.
Nan Shiying tossed him new gauze, but made no move to help him bandage it. Xuanxiao bit one end of the gauze, wound it around his wound, and then tied a knot.
He lowered his gaze slightly, his long lashes obscuring the redness in his eyes. A few strands of hair fell onto his forehead, showing no trace of arrogance or madness.
After bandaging his wound, Xuanxiao put his clothes back on and then looked directly at Nan Shiying without averting his gaze.
Nan Shiying tapped the table and slowly said, "Come again tomorrow at midnight!"
"Alright!"
Xuanxiao stood up and, once again, climbed out through the window, disappearing into the rain.
Nan Shiying blew out the candle, took off her outer garment, lifted the covers, and lay down. The dim room was illuminated only by sparse light falling into the corners. The rain outside pattered relentlessly, and the air was filled with a bone-chilling cold. The charcoal fire in the room was still strong, so she didn't actually feel cold, yet she still felt as if she did.
She wasn't cold, but the patients encamped at Bantian Yuan were shivering. It hadn't been that cold initially, but then it started to rain. Bantian Yuan was already damp and cold, and the rain made it even colder.
People from Medicine King Valley had previously advised them earnestly, but no one was willing to listen. Over time, Medicine King Valley stopped trying. They simply prepared more charcoal and medicine for colds during winter and sent them over before the rain. Although it was still cold, they wouldn't freeze to death.
Old Poison grumbled, finding the night exceptionally cold. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It felt as if a block of ice had been placed inside his body; no amount of warming by the fire could help.
"Creak~"
The door was pushed open from the outside, and the cold wind swirled in. Old Poison, wrapped up like a mummy, turned to scold, but as soon as he saw who it was, he swallowed his words.
"Why are you back again!"
Nan Shiying closed the door and stood by the entrance for a moment, dispersing the chill from her body before walking into the room. She picked up a teacup and poured herself some tea. The tea was a little cool, and there was no hot water in the room. Nan Shiying frowned slightly.
"Tsk, I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me? And who told you to come to my room so late at night? It's utterly improper!" Although this person was dressed as a man, she was still a woman. Fortunately, tonight was quite cool, and he hadn't taken off his outer clothes, otherwise, his old face would have been completely disgraced by her.
Nan Shiying clicked her tongue, her expression one of impatience.
The night was chilly, and Bantian Yuan was close to the water. Single-story wooden houses were never as effective at warding off the cold. She didn't want to come, but if she didn't, she feared that when she saw the old man again, she would see his corpse.
Nan Shiying stood up and walked towards Old Poison, pulling the blanket off him. Before Old Poison could curse, she channeled her internal energy into his body. The lingering cold that had been difficult to dispel gradually receded under the effect of her internal energy, followed by a warm current.
Old Poison felt a pleasant warmth, as if his body had been immersed in a hot spring, an indescribable comfort and warmth.
"You came all this way back just for this?"
Old Poison's heart felt warm, but his mouth was sarcastic, as if he were complaining about Nan Shiying being troublesome. But it was just one night of cold; how could he be so fussy?
"No!"
Nan Shiying said with a cold expression.
This old man was stubborn, even with his dying breath.
"Do you remember the楼主 (louzhu) of Wan Ku Lou that I killed?"
Nan Shiying returned to the table and glanced disdainfully at the cooled tea in the cup. Old Poison wanted to get out of bed, but Nan Shiying raised her eyes and stared at him fixedly, making Old Poison's skin crawl. He paused his movement to get out of bed, then adjusted his posture, leaning against the foot of the bed with his face towards her.
Hearing her mention that Wan Ku Lou, his brows furrowed. "Why are you thinking of him? Could it be that you can't sleep at night, plagued by regret?"
Nan Shiying's face was blank. Whether it was the intense chill of the night or something else, ice shards seemed to emanate from her entire being. Her slightly downturned eyes made her appear even more cold and ruthless than Ji Jinmo.
Old Poison gritted his teeth. How could a young woman possess such a commanding presence? At times, she even exuded the majesty and aura of someone seated in a high position, surveying the world.
Truly!
He clicked his tongue, not in submission, but simply because he desperately wanted to know why she was bringing this up. "So?" he pressed.
As Nan Shiying spoke of Xuanxiao and the蛊虫 (gu worm) within him, the casualness in Old Poison's eyes slowly gave way to solemnity. According to Nan Shiying's account, that Wan Ku Lou was indeed another branch of Miao Jiang. Wan Ku Lou had not risen to prominence for long, and judging by the timeline, their previous assumptions might indeed be correct – Yin Si Lan was the mother of that "Young Master."
At the time of Yin Si Lan's death, the reason why the蛊毒 (gu poison) within Ji Jinmo was not removed indicated that the host of the mother worm controlling the蛊虫 (gu worm) in Ji Jinmo's body was not dead. Then, could it be that former楼主 (louzhu)?
"You want me to heal Xuanxiao?"
Old Poison asked.
Nan Shiying shook her head. "No, just control him!"
"You want to hold him in your grasp?"
Nan Shiying's hand gently stroked the cup, her eyelids lowered. "If he's cured, how can we ensure he'll keep his promise?"
Old Poison nodded upon hearing this.
A gentleman understands righteousness; a petty person understands profit.
As for Xuanxiao, who knew if he was a gentleman or a petty person. When his character was unknown, it was indeed necessary to guard against him.
"Then why come looking for me."
If it was just about control, she could handle it. Why would she brave the rainy night to come to this damp and cold place?
Nan Shiying poured the tea back into the teapot, then picked up the teapot and emptied all the water. She turned to find a kettle, filled it with water, and placed it on the charcoal stove. Once the water boiled, she sealed the stove, ensuring the water in the kettle remained warm without boiling again and extinguishing the charcoal fire.
"I said you..."
Seeing her standing by the door and ignoring him, Old Poison opened his mouth to speak, but Nan Shiying stood up again. "I'm leaving!"
She called out to Old Poison and left without looking back.
Old Poison looked at the closed door, then at the kettle on the stove, and suddenly smiled.
This child!
As he smiled, he fell silent again.
Like a withered tree.
Full of deathly stillness!