Nan'an City.
Bai He Medicine Manor was closed to visitors today.
Moyu, dressed in black and carrying his signature paper umbrella, stood in the courtyard. Bai Hehuai lounged on a reclining chair, basking in the sun. "This time, you must accomplish a great task for our Sister Mu. Don’t slack off."
Moyu sighed softly. "If we’re talking about the most dangerous places in the martial world, the Tang Sect is undoubtedly one of them. A moment of carelessness, and you might never return."
"The Tang Sect, huh? Pretty impressive?" Bai Hehuai remarked casually.
"The Tang Sect ranks first in hidden weapons and second in poison arts," Moyu replied. "Tang Family Fortress is riddled with traps—no different from a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair."
"Oh? Then who ranks first in poison arts?" Bai Hehuai asked deliberately.
Moyu played along. "Naturally, the Wen Family!"
"Exactly. So, as a direct descendant of the Wen Family, which even surpasses the Tang Sect, I’ll give you a little gift since it’s so dangerous." Bai Hehuai pulled out a small green porcelain bottle from his sleeve. A moment later, a tiny green snake poked its head out, curiously looking around.
Moyu was taken aback. "This is—"
"Little Green," Bai Hehuai called with a smile.
The green snake swayed its head slightly and flicked its tongue.
"Cute, isn’t it?" Bai Hehuai stuck out his tongue, mimicking the snake.
Moyu sighed helplessly. "Certainly cuter than Yumo’s spiders."
"Hahaha, go on, go meet Young Master Su." Bai Hehuai extended a finger, and the green snake slithered out of the bottle, coiled around his finger once, then crawled onto the ground when he lowered it. It made its way across the stone path to Moyu’s feet.
Moyu crouched down and placed a finger in front of the snake. After a brief hesitation, the snake climbed onto his finger. Moyu stood up, examining the creature with curiosity. The snake was emerald green all over, as if carved from a piece of jade.
"This is a jade serpent. It hails from the southwest. They say it likes to coil around jade, so over time, it took on the appearance of jade itself." Bai Hehuai grinned. "Have you ever been to Miancheng in the southwest?"
"No," Moyu shook his head.
"Pity. It’s a fascinating place. One strike—poverty, another—riches, yet another—rags." Bai Hehuai mimed a chopping motion with his hand. "There are mountains of stones there. Cut one open, and you might find a vein of imperial green jade—or just worthless white rock. Ah well, Su Changhe is so wealthy. Let’s trick him into going there."
Moyu shook his head again. "Chang He is too clever. I couldn’t fool him."
"Fine. Carry this jade serpent with you. If you’re poisoned by something incurable, just let it bite you." Bai Hehuai raised an eyebrow.
"It can cure poison?" Moyu asked, puzzled.
"No, it carries venom—deadly upon contact with blood." Bai Hehuai smirked mischievously.
Moyu’s lips twitched slightly, and his finger stiffened as he stared at the little green snake now curiously studying him. "Deadly upon contact with blood?""Yes. But its venom is quite miraculous—it can form a unique suppressing relationship with other poisons. If you're poisoned by one toxin and then bitten by this emerald snake, the two will counteract each other, ensuring you won’t succumb to the poison for at least ten days. If you ever get poisoned, just let it bite you, then run back to me, and I’ll detoxify you." Bai Hehuai tossed the porcelain vial over. "Got it?"
Su Muyu caught the vial. The green snake slithered around for a moment before slipping back inside. He nodded. "Understood. But how should I care for it?"
"Isn’t Sister Mu accompanying you? Just have her toss a few spiders in every day," Bai Hehuai replied.
"Alright." Su Muyu tucked the vial away. "Thank you, Miracle Healer."
"Su Muyu," Bai Hehuai suddenly asked, "how do you define reaching the Other Shore of Dark River?"
Su Muyu froze. "Hmm?"
"At first, you thought reaching the Other Shore meant overthrowing the old Dark River families. Later, you succeeded in defeating the former heads of the three families and established a new Dark River. But then you discovered another hand pulling the strings behind Dark River, so you went to Heaven Revelation City, defeated the Shadow Sect, burned down their tower, and became a completely free Dark River. Yet now, you’re heading to the Tang Sect to form an alliance, all for Dark River’s survival in the martial world..." Bai Hehuai paused, hesitating before continuing, "It seems that legendary Other Shore is something you can never truly reach."
Su Muyu’s expression darkened as he looked up at the sky, silent.
"Just like how you came to Nan’an City, seemingly living a peaceful life, yet always having to return to Dark River." Bai Hehuai turned to leave. "You’ll always have to leave—either Nan’an City or Dark River." With that, she pushed open the courtyard gate and walked out.
Su Zhe was sitting on the steps outside, waiting for her. Seeing Bai Hehuai emerge, he stood up, the golden rings on his Buddhist staff jingling. "Come, daughter, let’s go buy some osmanthus cake."
"Dad, what did you think of what I just said?" Bai Hehuai asked.
Su Zhe sighed softly. "Su Muyu understands these things better than anyone. But once someone voices them aloud, perhaps it changes things."
"Ah." Bai Hehuai shook her head. "It’s a bit depressing. I just feel like Su Muyu keeps too much bottled up inside. If I don’t say it for him, he might suffocate himself."
"Who knows? That brat Su Changhe understands better than anyone. You can guess what Su Muyu is thinking, but never Su Changhe." Su Zhe walked ahead.
Back in the Medicine Manor, Mu Yumo slowly approached Su Muyu. "The Little Divine Physician’s words—you’ve asked yourself the same thing many times, haven’t you?"
Su Muyu shook his head lightly. "I know very well that no matter where I go in this life, I can never truly sever ties with Dark River."
"This trip to the Tang Sect—I think it’s the last one. I can guess Chang He feels the same. Once the Tang Sect matter is settled, you and Dark River can finally part ways." Mu Yumo spoke earnestly. "This time... consider it my thanks to you.""I already said it's impossible." Su Muyu gently patted Moyu's shoulder, "We'll always be friends—no, we'll always be best friends. How could we possibly have nothing to do with each other?"
After saying this, Su Muyu turned and walked toward his small house. Mu Yumo stayed where she was, silent for a long while.
The breeze lightly lifted the hair at her temples. Mu Yumo smiled and smoothed her hair back. "Truly worthy of being the man I once loved. Honestly, compared to that Tang Lingyue, he's not inferior at all."
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