"You're afflicted with ač (gu)? No, you wouldn't have the Life-and-Death Gu. The Life-and-Death Gu is a secret of the Saintess lineage, never to be revealed. It must be someone close to you who has contracted it. Those who defected from the Saintess tribe all perished. If someone outside has it, it would likely be the posthumous child of a past Saintess."
Xiao Man had to admit that Saintess Bai Ling was exceptionally intelligent. With just a few words, she had deduced that Xiao Man was here for the posthumous child of a Saintess.
"I heard there were three of you in your party, and neither you nor he were infected. So, the afflicted person should be that young master whom Wu Lan Na fancies." Su Dan Novel Network.
Xiao Man gave a noncommittal smile, but Bai Ling's next words made her unable to smile.
"Is it the Qin King of Yusheng?"
"Saintess, why do you say that?"
"There were three Saintesses who left Wuyue Kingdom, and only one left a posthumous child. That was the Saintess before last, who was abducted by the Emperor of Yusheng. Her posthumous child is the Qin King of Yusheng," Bai Ling stated calmly. "What is your relationship with him, and why are you here seeking a cure for him?"
"He... he is my master!" Xiao Man originally intended to say "my subordinate," but considering the Qin King of Yusheng would never be anyone's subordinate, she quickly changed it to "master."
Ye Qing nearly dropped his teacup. Since when did the Qin King become your master?
"Liar."
Xiao Man chuckled, "He is the one I love!"
Ye Qing ultimately couldn't save the teacup. Due to the successive shocks, it finally slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
Bai Ling glanced at Ye Qing, then at Xiao Man, who was laughing carefree. She didn't know if Xiao Man's words were true, but it didn't prevent her from continuing. "Since he is the one you love, would you be willing to die for him?"
"No!"
Bai Ling had heard countless tales of lovers willing to sacrifice their lives for each other, yet Xiao Man plainly stated she was unwilling.
"Then this Gu cannot be cured."
"Didn't you say that the Gu can only be cured if the afflicted person sleeps with their beloved? He doesn't like me, and I'm just infatuated with him. Even if I were willing, I couldn't cure his Gu poison."
"That is indeed a problem," Bai Ling said in a steady voice. "Besides sleeping together, there is another path: someone must be willing to willingly draw the Gu poison upon themselves, trading their life for another's."
"I don't want to trade my life for anyone's," Xiao Man said frankly. She wanted to save Nangong Yu, but she didn't want to die. She still carried the burden of a bloody revenge.
"You are different from the people I know," Bai Ling said gently. "I thought all devoted women would be willing to give their lives for their beloved."
"That's just your wishful thinking. Not everyone has the courage to die for another person. At least, I don't," Xiao Man said as she picked up the teapot to refill her cup. "Men in this world are often fickle. Even if you give them your all, when they feel threatened by you, they will bare their fangs without hesitation and sever your throat."
Bai Ling frowned slightly. "Is there no true affection in this world?"
"There is," Xiao Man said slowly. "If you meet it, it is a fortune for a lifetime."
"Alas, our Saintess lineage knows no love and can never encounter it," Bai Ling whispered. "I envy you all, being able to move freely in the outside world. The farthest I've ever been is the altar, and the place I've stayed the longest is the Holy Land, followed by the White Tower."
"Do you... want to see the outside world?" Xiao Man asked, coaxing her.
Bai Ling instinctively shook her head, but halfway through, she paused, then nodded firmly. She did want to. After years of guarding the White Tower, she yearned to see the outside world, its people, and its magnificent scenery. She didn't want to spend her life confined to this single place!
"Yes, I do!"
A moment later.
Ye Qing, dressed in the Saintess's black ceremonial robe, looked utterly dejected. Why did he have to impersonate the Saintess and stay in the White Tower? If he were discovered, would his life be forfeit?
However, Xiao Man gave him no chance to resist. She heartlessly abandoned him, took the Saintess who had changed into his clothes, and slipped away silently.
Xiao Man led the Saintess out of the imperial palace in secret. She picked out a clothing store and chose a well-fitting set of men's clothes for Bai Ling, who changed into them. She also bought shoes and socks.
Bai Ling looked at the shoes Xiao Man placed before her, her expression puzzled. People of the Saintess tribe did not wear shoes. She had never worn them since childhood, so she was momentarily lost.
"I don't wear shoes."
Xiao Man crouched down, took her foot, and picked up a pair of socks. As she put them on, she said, "Not wearing shoes can easily hurt your feet. Such beautiful feet, it would be a shame to injure them. Put on your shoes and socks obediently."
Bai Ling looked at Xiao Man patiently helping her put on her shoes. A deep confusion flickered in her eyes, and a gentle warmth spread from her feet throughout her body, making her feel warm yet somewhat bewildered. After all, no one had ever told her that not wearing shoes would hurt her feet, nor had anyone ever helped her put them on.
Since they were old enough to understand, they faced only the elders' cold faces, icy voices, and countless poisonous insects and medicinal herbs. The elders cared only about how their Gu worms were doing, not whether they were eating enough, wearing warm clothes, or sleeping well. They would only whip them severely with their barbed teaching whips.
"There. Try walking a few steps to see if they fit. If they're not comfortable, we'll get another pair."
Bai Ling stood up and tentatively took a few steps. Her feet felt as if they were treading on clouds, somewhat unreal, but she didn't dislike the sensation.
"Do you feel anything uncomfortable?" Xiao Man asked gently.
Bai Ling shook her head. A faint smile appeared on her usually serene face, tinged with a hint of shyness, like a budding flower in early summer, just beginning to bloom.
Xiao Man led Bai Ling out of the clothing store and straight to the most bustling street market in the capital. It was crowded with people, full of life and warmth, a stark contrast to the cold, sterile White Tower.
Bai Ling gazed at the bustling street with curiosity. She had never seen anything like it. On festival days, the streets were always quiet, with no shouting vendors or peddlers.
Xiao Man bought two candied hawthorn skewers, one for Bai Ling and one for herself. "When I was unhappy as a child, my brother would always buy me candied hawthorns. Eating the sweet and sour hawthorns would make even my biggest unhappiness quickly disappear."
Bai Ling had never eaten candied hawthorns. The elders imposed strict dietary rules, and they only ate very bland foods. She took a bite of the hawthorn. The sweet and sour taste swirled in her mouth, both strange and delightful. She nodded at Xiao Man.
Seeing her eyes light up, Xiao Man knew she had likely never tasted such street snacks before. "Let's go, I'll treat you to everything on this street today!"