An Jiu understood his meaning. "A dog-eat-dog situation?"
"You're as sharp as ever, with precise and incisive phrasing." Chu Dingjiang's reaction to her way of speaking had evolved from mere acceptance to genuine admiration.
An Jiu arched an eyebrow noncommittally. "How did you know about the situation when I took Wei Yuzhi hostage?"
"I saw Wei Yuzhi's injuries clearly." Chu Dingjiang reached out and hugged her. "I went to Plum Blossom Village and learned about your entry into the palace, so I went looking for you. Later, when I realized you might be missing, I had people keep an eye out. That’s why I spotted you the moment you entered the city."
Chu Dingjiang had always been confident in his judgment. When he hadn’t seen An Jiu, he hadn’t felt particularly worried or missed her. But now, with her in front of him, holding her in his arms, he finally felt his heart settle.
"Let’s go back," Chu Dingjiang said, releasing her.
Occasionally, he could indulge in tender gestures, but in this moment, words of affection wouldn’t come. Instead, he simply pulled his mantle over her and hurried through the rain with her in tow.
An Jiu looked up and saw the stubble shadowing his jaw.
She stared at him without looking away for what felt like an eternity. Chu Dingjiang slowed his pace slightly and glanced down at her. "What do you want to say?"
"Chu Dingjiang, let’s sleep together," An Jiu said.
Chu Dingjiang’s steps faltered, nearly stumbling.
He stopped in his tracks. "Do you mean… that kind of sleeping?"
An Jiu nodded calmly.
Chu Dingjiang was utterly helpless. He could never have predicted the conversation would take this turn. An Jiu’s words were too shocking, too direct, too sudden… In this situation, refusing would make him less of a man, but accepting too casually would make him seem less than human. He pondered—what exactly was going through her mind?
When he didn’t respond for a long time, An Jiu asked, "Was I too abrupt?"
"Not when it comes to me," Chu Dingjiang replied.
An Jiu didn’t speak further, her eyes fixed on his, waiting for an answer—without a trace of coyness or hesitation.
"Ahem." Chu Dingjiang had already agreed a thousand times in his heart, but how could he phrase it elegantly and handle the situation properly, ensuring she wouldn’t feel slighted?
Countless methods flashed through his mind before he finally settled on a suitable approach. Just as he was about to respond, he noticed An Jiu tilting her head to look at the sky, her right foot tapping restlessly against the ground.
An Jiu was wondering if Chu Dingjiang’s hesitation stemmed from her lack of feminine charm. She had once seen blonde women flirt by swaying their round, perky backsides, batting their lashes, and licking their lips seductively. Should she try that? But after mentally preparing for a while, it still felt off.
Catching his gaze from the corner of her eye, she simply waved a hand. "Never mind. Another day."
The wind was fierce, the rain heavy—hardly the right atmosphere for hormones to surge. Otherwise, how could she fail at even the most primal form of courtship? Hmph, it must be the rain’s fault.
Chu Dingjiang’s carefully crafted words surged to his throat, only to be swallowed back down. He exhaled and patted her back with a chuckle. "You’re being ridiculous."
An Jiu immediately felt a pang of defeat. So not only was he uninterested, but he even dismissed her words as nonsense!
For no apparent reason, Chu Dingjiang found himself on the receiving end of a cold glare. As he wrapped his arm around her again, her words echoed incessantly in his ears—"Let’s sleep together, let’s sleep together, let’s sleep together." Not even the night rain could extinguish the fire now burning in his blood.Half ice, half fire, the two of them arrived at Plum Blossom Village in a tangled mess.
The island was in complete disarray.
As dusk fell, only a few red lanterns hung beneath the flying eaves of a pavilion in the courtyard.
Mo Sigui lay inside the pavilion, sprawled on a wolfskin rug with his head resting on Xiao Yue and his feet propped up on Da Jiu's back. He puffed leisurely on his medicated smoke, filling the pavilion with a hazy mist.
Chu Dingjiang and An Jiu stood about two zhang away from the pavilion.
Noticing Da Jiu suddenly becoming agitated, Mo Sigui lazily rolled over, squinted his eyes, and took another drag from his pipe. "Did you get it?"
"Mn." An Jiu stepped into the pavilion and retrieved a small brocade pouch from her inner thigh.
"Disgusting." Mo Sigui made a face of disgust as he sat up, still holding the pipe between his teeth. He took the pouch, glanced inside, and promptly tucked it into his robe.
Chu Dingjiang stepped onto the pavilion. "What did you just say?"
Mo Sigui shuddered. "When did you die? It's bad enough ghosts don't make a sound, but why scare people by suddenly speaking! Listen here, I've had a talisman bestowed upon me by a master since childhood. Be smart and scram!"
Chu Dingjiang sat cross-legged beside An Jiu, his large hood obscuring his face, making his expression unreadable.
"What happened on the island?" Chu Dingjiang brushed off his words with an air of indifference.
Mo Sigui took a deep drag from his pipe. "Who knows? A bunch of mad dogs stormed the island at dusk, asking everyone, 'Where is Miraculous Doctor Mo?' If they answered 'don't know,' they got hacked down. All six shadow units of the Crane Control Army were wiped out. Luckily, I was quick-witted enough to hide in the cellar with the tiger."
An Jiu frowned slightly. "What about Madam Mei?"
"She's bandaging up the two newcomers. Speaking of which..." Mo Sigui tapped his pipe. "An Da Jiu, don't you owe me an explanation! Why are so many people flocking to you? Someone like you... couldn't possibly have any charisma! Don't tell me they also deserted the Crane Control Army. I left openly—I'm not on the same path as you lot. Don't even think about dragging me onto your pirate ship!"
"At this point, even if you had a mouth on every inch of your body, you wouldn't be able to talk your way out of this," Chu Dingjiang said, lowering his hood with a composed smile.
Harboring deserters, with the shadow units protecting him suddenly all dead—what would the emperor think?
Chu Dingjiang continued leisurely, "Once someone as important as the Miracle Doctor is labeled a traitor, the same level of favor they once enjoyed will turn into relentless pursuit. I happen to have some resources at hand and can ensure the Miracle Doctor remains undisturbed."
Mo Sigui looked at him, seeing his face practically screaming: Heh heh heh, so... will you submit or not? (To be continued...)
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