Bai You'an stared blankly at the frail figure of Song Qingchao in the distance.
The ribbon concealed the darkness in his eyes.
This woman was as thin and weak as in his past life, yet he felt something was different.
Never mind, he hadn't come here for this insincere woman.
He turned and walked towards Song Qingmu, who was leaning against a tree trunk.
His messy hair couldn't hide his purplish lips, but he sat there, as beautiful as a proud, upright pine tree.
"You did it on purpose."
Bai You'an raised an eyebrow. He had expected Song Qingmu to say this.
"Young Master, you mustn't speak carelessly."
He completely ignored Song Qingmu's uncooperativeness, took out the bag from his embrace, and began to insert silver needles into him.
As he inserted them, he threatened, "Don't move. If I miss a point, even if your elder sister brings back a divine medicine, it will be beyond saving."
Song Qingmu snorted coldly. His body didn't move, but the daggers in his eyes were undiminished.
"Staring at me is useless."
"You know me very well."
"Oh?" Bai You'an's hand holding the silver needle paused, then, as if nothing had happened, he inserted it into Song Qingmu's acupoint with a hint of vengeance.
Hearing him gasp, Bai You'an suppressed the urge to curl his lips.
He did know him very well.
How could he forget the past life's wine-making in the bamboo forest, the plum blossoms falling in the snow?
Such a young man had ultimately died because of him.
He could not forget those resentful eyes.
Reborn into this life, he would no longer be rash. He wanted to reclaim everything, bit by bit.
However, not being able to save his master's wife made him very worried about Song Qingmu's state.
In his past life, his master's wife's death and Miss Song's disappearance had become his greatest lingering concerns, otherwise he wouldn't have...
Bai You'an clenched the silver needle bag in his hand, his fair hands revealing bulging veins.
"It seems I've hit the mark," Song Qingmu's voice was always low, hoarse, and cold. "You're feeling guilty."
Bai You'an shook his head and smiled. After finishing the acupuncture, he lifted the hem of his robe and sat beside Song Qingmu. "Young Master should focus on yourself for now."
"Hmph."
Bai You'an stopped bickering with Song Qingmu.
He hastily set up a makeshift frame for boiling medicine and watched the medicine while observing Song Qingmu's condition.
The night was already past midnight. He had performed acupuncture twice. Once Song Qingmu regained consciousness, one more session would stabilize him.
"Second Master."
Bai You'an responded and looked up.
A head suddenly popped out from the waist-high grass.
The person who emerged was the young servant who had delivered the medicine box in front of the pharmacy.
"Where is it?"
He cautiously glanced around before darting out and crouching beside Bai You'an, taking out a pill wrapped in white cloth from his embrace.
Bai You'an took it, not even frowning, and directly got up, pinched Song Qingmu's mouth, and stuffed the pill in.
"Second Master!"
The young servant, heartbroken, was about to jump up, but after being glared at by Bai You'an, he covered his mouth and crouched down again, his tone full of complaint.
"This medicine, it took three years just to gather the ingredients! Three years was only enough to make this one pill!"
"Ying Zhong." Bai You'an took out a handkerchief and carefully dabbed the fine sweat on Song Qingmu's forehead. "Medicine is for saving lives."
He lowered his head, carefully folding the handkerchief with the plum blossom pattern and putting it in his embrace. "I've told you several times, why don't you ever remember?"
"But this one is different, this isn't what you prepared for yourself..." Ying Zhong mumbled aggrievedly. "Your illness can't be delayed either."
"You don't need to worry about me." Bai You'an patted Ying Zhong's head. "As long as there is one, there will be a second."
"Really!"
Ying Zhong jumped up excitedly, bumping into Bai You'an's waist. The white jade fan "dinged" as it fell to the ground.
He quickly bent down to pick it up and respectfully handed it to him. "With such a small amount, I can rest assured."
Bai You'an smiled, shook his head, took the fan, and tapped Ying Zhong on the head. "Be steady."
Ying Zhong was the first person he met after parting ways with his master in winter.
At that time, he was leading his men through the snow. They were already lacking clothes and food, and everyone disagreed with him saving Ying Zhong.
But he saved him nonetheless.
If Ying Zhong had lived a little longer in his past life, he wouldn't have...
He had trusted the wrong person; he deserved to be betrayed.
Bai You'an put away his fan, tucked it into his waist, and continued to apply the third round of acupuncture to Song Qingmu. "Ying Zhong, go call the leader."
"Got it!"
In the blink of an eye, the person was gone.
He couldn't help but smile, "Such a mischievous child."
In this life, I will protect you all, and I will no longer doubt you...
As soon as he finished the acupuncture, he carefully sterilized the silver needles and put them into the bag one by one.
After everything was organized, Ying Zhong also returned.
"Mr. Bai, he's here."
After Ying Zhong led the person over, he respectfully withdrew.
Bai You'an glanced at the dirty prison uniform he was wearing, then approached with a worried expression and bowed. "Sir."
Shou Hou, flicking his whip, impatiently asked, "At this late hour, why are you looking for me, Mister?"
Bai You'an kept his head down, his eyes fixed on the hem of his clothes as the whip swung. A smile played on his lips. "Sir, we need to wait here for three days. If you insist on leaving, I cannot guarantee that there will be any survivors in the team."
The whip at the hem of his clothes stopped moving.
He didn't say any more, waiting for Shou Hou to digest it.
"What did you say?"
Bai You'an's lips curled down, then he raised his head with a look of distress.
The fish had taken the bait.
"The Song siblings have both been poisoned by the Mother-Child Gu. If the eldest miss returns with the medicine within three days, we will all be safe."
"Who allowed her to leave the team?" Shou Hou's brow furrowed. "Their poisoning, how does it concern my team?"
"In urgent situations, discretion is necessary. If Young Master Song dies, we won't escape either. If you don't believe me, Sir, you can go and see for yourself."
Bai You'an tidied his collar, drew out the white jade fan from his waist, and pointed at the broken bowl pieces on the ground. "This weed, contaminated with water, the original grassy scent should now be sweet, and its color greener than the surrounding weeds."
He crossed his arms, holding the fan and tapping his chin, coaxing Shou Hou. "In a few days, this land will be swarming with white, black, and all sorts of insects."
"Slap."
The fan hit his shoulder.
Shou Hou was startled, and his gaze instantly shifted from the fragments to Bai You'an.
"And then?"
"And then?" Bai You'an looked up and smiled. "As long as they take a bite, these insects will go mad and start attacking everything around them."
Shou Hou raised an eyebrow. "Then we can just abandon him."
"Impossible." Bai You'an stared at her intently. "Because we have all been marked."
"You're lying to me."
Bai You'an took a step back, smiling so gently it gave Shou Hou goosebumps.
"Medicine and poison are inseparable, Sir might as well try."
He leaned down and whispered seductively in Shou Hou's ear. "Either way, it's death. Sir might as well trust me."
"Is it really only three days?"
"Truly."
After Shou Hou left, Ying Zhong, carrying the medicine box, approached Bai You'an, who was changing his clothes. "Second Master, one should be honest."
"Can honesty buy food?"
Bai You'an smiled as he watched Shou Hou leave in anger.
"The next part depends on you, Miss Song."