After a slight hesitation, a sliver of hope rose in Bai Wuji's heart. He said directly, "Even if you discard me after I've served my purpose, I believe living a little longer might be a blessing."
"I will wholeheartedly help you. In your hands, my life is already forfeit anyway."
"Living a bit longer is a gain for me."
"Come, place that thing on me. I don't want to suffer such torment constantly. I also hope you'll keep your word: I serve you, and you relieve me of this pain."
Lin Xiaotian flashed a brilliant smile. "You are a smart man, which is why I've given you this opportunity. Use your intelligence and despicable methods to deal with your enemies."
"As for who your enemies are, there's no need to say, right?"
Bai Wuji nodded. "Whoever is Young Master's enemy is my enemy."
"Anyone who dares to plot against Young Master, I will use every means to send them to eternal damnation."
Lin Xiaotian said with a smile, "Good. I like subordinates like you who know their place. You're smarter than many, and you know what you should do and what you shouldn't dare to do. This little bug will stay put once it's on you. Every month, I will give you an antidote."
As he spoke, he opened the bottle. A sesame-sized bug crawled out and, upon landing on Bai Wuji's skin, seemed to burrow in. Bai Wuji felt only a prick like a needle, and then nothing. He touched his arm; not a drop of blood had flowed. He even wondered if he was hallucinating.
Lin Xiaotian smiled. "Feel it carefully now. Do you feel something in your veins, blocking your heart?"
Bai Wuji already felt it. His heart had ached moments ago, as if something was crawling inside.
"Now that you feel it, you should understand where it is. Unless you can truly cut open your own heart, you can't remove that little thing. It's dormant now, but it will awaken in about a month. At that time, it will need energy replenishment, and the bottle I give you is to supply it with energy."
"As it grows, it will also become dependent on you. Eventually, this little bug will become your life-bound Gu worm."
Lin Xiaotian's expression became more jovial. "This little bug on you can provide you with many benefits; it's like sharing a life. Now, I'm giving you a benefit. As long as you have my antidote and replenish the energy the bug needs, you can live for a hundred or eighty years without issue."
"If you don't cherish this opportunity, you won't even know how you died."
Bai Wuji was utterly shocked by Lin Xiaotian's methods. His eyes widened with awe, and his heart churned like a stormy sea. This made him believe Lin Xiaotian was powerful, but he had initially thought him to be merely a common thug. He never expected Lin Xiaotian's displayed abilities to far surpass those of Mr. Song. Mr. Song only knew how to destroy, but Lin Xiaotian could make the Gu and person become one.
He could feel that after the little bug entered him, the beating of his blood had quickened slightly, and there was an indescribable, yet comfortable, sensation. At this moment, he was completely convinced.
"Young Master, from now on, I will follow your lead without question. You can assign me any task, and even if it means walking through a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, I will not flinch."
"Please believe me and give me a chance to prove myself."
Lin Xiaotian's face broke into a brilliant smile. "I'll give you a chance to prove yourself right now. Mr. Song has already met with misfortune. His family will surely come looking for him, and you will be the first to be approached."
"Once you get their whereabouts, you can message me immediately. If you don't see them, don't go out of your way to search, as it might leave traces and alert others. I came to find you today without fanfare, so very few people know. We still have a feud, you can keep an eye on me at all times, of course, that's just to put on a show."
Bai Wuji was a clever man, fond of scheming. Lin Xiaotian's words made him understand immediately. "We are going to lie in wait!"
Lin Xiaotian nodded and smiled. "Smart people speak simply. But you must also consider the risks. When dealing with the Song family, they might also use Gu worms. At that time, remember to obey them. Even if they put those little bugs inside you, I have ways to remove them."
"Your value exceeds that of the Song family. Mr. Song sought you out because you fit his requirements; you are sufficiently cunning. Those people have no local roots, which is why they need a stepping stone."
Hearing this, Bai Wuji understood. "So, I was merely a stepping stone in their eyes. No wonder they didn't take me seriously. I thought I could treat them as my retainers."
"It seems I was overthinking."
Lin Xiaotian said with a half-smile, "If those people want wealth, it's simple. But most of them don't deliberately accumulate it, as there are always people eager to please them and offer it. What they truly value isn't money, but medicine and resources. Only with immense strength can one stand invincible."
After a few brief words with Bai Wuji, Lin Xiaotian turned and left, leaving only a contact method. He had now brought another person under his wing. He had long planned to make this city an impregnable fortress. Anyone who dared to oppose him would first have to face his intelligence network.
With his current strength, few could defeat him. However, his enemies were like rats in the sewers, hiding deep. Digging them out was a huge hassle, especially since he was just one person and couldn't bother Old Li with everything. Thinking of Old Li, Lin Xiaotian suddenly recalled someone, and a shadow of sadness crossed his face.