"I'm asking for the method to cure the poison."
"Little girl, one must have patience," the old man continued. "The Saintess's body has been planted with the Gu poison since childhood. As long as she remains a virgin, the Gu poison will not harm them. But once her purity is broken, the Gu poison will transfer, transferring to the one she loves."
"Then why would the Gu poison transfer to the child?" Xiao Man was confused.
"It means that the person she had intercourse with was not the one she loved, and thus the Gu poison transferred to the child in her womb." The old man looked at Xiao Man and squinted with a smile. "To cure the Gu poison he has contracted, it's very simple: have him consummate with the one he loves."
"It's that simple?" Xiao Man didn't believe it.
"It's that simple."
"What's the price?"
"This Gu is called the Life and Death Gu, so naturally, it's one life, one death."
Xiao Man's brow furrowed. "What if she has intercourse with someone she doesn't love?"
"It will trigger the Gu poison. Within a year, if the Life and Death Gu cannot be resolved, he will surely die." The old man chuckled. "I observe that the young man's primordial yang has been broken, yet the Gu poison remains. It seems he doesn't have long to live."
Xiao Man subconsciously clenched her fist. She had inadvertently stumbled into Nangong Yu's private courtyard and had a brief encounter with him. She never imagined it would harm him. A year's time, and now half a year has passed. Doesn't Nangong Yu only have half a year to live?
"Is there any other method to cure the poison?" Xiao Man asked urgently.
"Is this your second question?" the old man asked slowly.
"Yes."
"As far as I know, this is the only method. However, the Saintess tribe might have other ways to cure the poison."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Xiao Man felt a surge of anger well up in her throat, wishing she could rush forward and beat the old man. Didn't he cheat me out of a question? Shameless!
"Little girl, you have one last question. Think carefully before you ask."
Xiao Man fell silent. She was very concerned about Nangong Yu's Gu poison, but another matter weighed on her even more: "Senior, do you know of the 'Qi Du Fa Sui' (Miraculous Poison Bone Marrow Washing)?"
The old man's expression changed slightly. His persimmon-like face seemed to wrinkle even more, and his sharp eyes stared at Xiao Man for a long time. "I want the Zi Yi Xian in your hand."
"No, I promised a friend I would give the Zi Yi Xian to him, so I cannot agree."
"Then, I cannot answer your last question." The old man stood up and left. "Little girl, if you change your mind, you can come here to find me. I will wait for you for ten days. After ten days, no matter where you go, you will never know the secret of 'Fa Sui'."
Xiao Man watched the old man leave with wide eyes but was powerless to stop him. She had promised Ye Qing to give him the Zi Yi Xian. Since she had made a promise, she couldn't go back on it. Yet, she desperately wanted to know the secret of 'Fa Sui'.
Xiao Man pondered for a moment, then turned towards the direction of the royal capital. She needed to discuss it with Ye Qing. If Ye Qing was willing to give up the Zi Yi Xian, then she would come here to find the old man. If Ye Qing was unwilling, she would have to find another way.
The old man watched Xiao Man's figure disappear, a sinister smile curling on his lips. "Fa Sui, hahaha! You destroyed my foundation, killed my senior brother, and ruined my reputation. Did you ever think that heaven's retribution is inevitable? Your karma is coming!"
As soon as Xiao Man reached the city gate, she saw Nangong Yi leaning against it. Seeing her return, he immediately stepped forward.
"You're back."
Xiao Man's gaze was somewhat unfocused. If it weren't for her, Nangong Yu might have lived a few more years. Because of her rash actions, Nangong Yu now only had half a year left to live, and she felt deeply ashamed of Nangong Yu.
"What's wrong?" Nangong Yu noticed Xiao Man's不对 (inappropriate/unusual) mood and asked cautiously. "Did that old man trouble you?"
Xiao Man shook her head and walked into the city with her head lowered. Nangong Yu followed behind her. Seeing her about to collide with someone, he quickly pulled her aside. "Be careful."
Xiao Man stopped, standing on the bustling street, momentarily at a loss. Nangong Yu only had half a year left to live. A cure for the poison existed, but she didn't know whether to tell Nangong Yu. After all, faced with life and death, no one knew what Nangong Yu would choose.
If Nangong Yu chose to sacrifice himself, all her plans would be overturned. If Nangong Yu sacrificed the one he loved, she felt she would be letting that person down, causing them to lose their life inexplicably. Nangong Yu might even blame her. No matter how she thought about it, it wasn't worth it. Sudan Novel Network
"Your Highness." Xiao Man tugged at Nangong Yu's sleeve, her gaze fixed on him as if trying to see into his soul. "I want to ask you a question."
"What question?" Nangong Yu asked patiently.
"If Your Highness and the woman you love were both in mortal danger, and only one of you could survive, whom would you choose to live?"
"What exactly is wrong with you?" Nangong Yu felt a growing sense of unease. Xiao Man's expression was truly troubled. He had never seen Xiao Man so hesitant and conflicted.
"Your Highness, if you and the woman you love could only have one survivor, how would you choose?" Xiao Man asked again.
"What happened?"
"Just answer me, how would you choose."
"A true man, with a clear conscience, stands tall before heaven and earth. If I were to sacrifice the one I love just to survive, wouldn't I be worse than a beast? I want her to live!"
Xiao Man released Nangong Yu's sleeve. Nangong Yu hadn't disappointed her, but... if Nangong Yu died, what would she do?
"I won't let you die," Xiao Man said decisively. She wanted Nangong Yu to live. She wanted to see the Yù Shèng cavalry break through the palaces of Yún Qǐ, and see Murong Shèng Ruì's blood splatter three feet, to comfort the souls of the Dú Gū family who had died in vain.
Nangong Yu felt that Xiao Man was hiding something from him and couldn't help but feel suspicious. Had that old man told her something? Or had she failed to find a cure for the Gu poison?
Upon returning to the inn where they were staying, Ye Qing was sorting the herbs he had obtained that day. Seeing Xiao Man return, he immediately said, "Third Brother, you are truly amazing. How did you recognize these herbs? Any one of these herbs is worth a fortune."
"Big Brother, there's something I want to discuss with you." Xiao Man hesitated.
"What is it?"
"It concerns the Zi Yi Xian. I want to know a secret, and that old senior asked me to exchange the Zi Yi Xian for it," Xiao Man said truthfully.
Ye Qing heard this and looked up at Xiao Man. "A very important secret?"
Xiao Man nodded. It was very important. She felt that the old man knew many things, and perhaps she could obtain unexpected answers from him.
"Go ahead and trade it. The Zi Yi Xian was yours to begin with. However, these few herbs will be mine," Ye Qing said immediately.
"No problem, thank you, Big Brother."
Nangong Yu walked in from behind, his gaze fixed on Xiao Man. Xiao Man, for some reason, felt a bit guilty. "I'm going back to my room to rest."