Wei Yuzhi usually slept very little, but the quality of his sleep was high, and he rarely dreamed. Tonight, however, he unexpectedly fell into a beautiful dream.
After a light rain, a beautiful face was reflected in the thick layer of fallen leaves in the forest.
Wei Yuzhi had never seen such a woman before—one who embodied both innocence and solemnity. Before that moment, he had always believed himself to be nearly emotionless, never expecting to be moved by any woman.
Life was unpredictable, and the sudden stirring of his heart caught him off guard.
Wei Yuzhi had always been adept at seizing opportunities. At that time, before he could even understand why he had fallen for An Jiu, he immediately proposed to her.
He had never been betrothed before, nor had he ever been involved in a romantic relationship with a woman. Unsure of how to pursue her, he could only express his feelings outright.
Yet, the subsequent turn of events was also beyond Wei Yuzhi’s expectations. They belonged to opposing factions, and though they had many chances to interact, none of those encounters left pleasant memories.
When he had detained An Jiu, Wei Yuzhi said he "had once liked her," and that was indeed how he felt—his thoughts of her grew fewer with time. But then, why had he sacrificed his mental strength to save her while observing the upheaval at Baohua Gate?
In bed, Wei Yuzhi opened his eyes. The world before him remained dark, yet he stared intently into the void.
The most complex people often yearned for simplicity. Wei Yuzhi preferred living in immaculate spaces, wearing clean and elegant clothes without any superfluous adornments. He thought that the reason he still couldn’t forget this woman was not just because of her beauty, but also because of her unchanging simplicity.
The human heart was so intricate, and An Jiu’s ability to remain pure was truly rare—even if that simplicity wasn’t necessarily beautiful.
Wei Yuzhi rose, draped a cloak over his shoulders, and slipped out through the rear window.
His solitary figure traversed the wilderness, entering the heavily guarded city of Bianjing as if it were unoccupied.
By the time he reached Hua Manor, thick snow had settled on his hair and clothes. The icy air filled his lungs, and Wei Yuzhi coughed lightly twice.
"Master Wei." A deep voice seemed to whisper beside his ear.
Wei Yuzhi lifted his gaze and saw a man standing beneath the wall, untouched by wind or snow, like a gravestone.
"Master Chu," Wei Yuzhi recognized him as well.
Chu Dingjiang approached. "Master Wei, you’ve arrived earlier than I expected."
Wei Yuzhi did not respond.
"Please." Chu Dingjiang gestured.
The two entered one after the other. The courtyard was pitch black, but once they passed the second gate, light suddenly appeared. Wei Yuzhi saw several brightly lit rooms. To the left was a pavilion, from which wisps of smoke seeped through the window cracks, making it seem as if a fire had broken out.
Chu Dingjiang led him straight to that very room and knocked on the door.
A lazy voice came from inside. "The door’s not locked."
Chu Dingjiang pushed it open.
Amid the thick haze of smoke, an ethereal face faintly emerged. The man’s languid gaze bypassed Chu Dingjiang and landed directly on Wei Yuzhi. The light in his peach-blossom eyes suddenly sharpened. "Ah, so this is Master Wei."
Mo Sigui, gripping his smoking pipe, strode forward eagerly, unable to conceal his excitement.
Wei Yuzhi remained expressionless and cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Miraculous Doctor Mo."
"Ah, no need for formalities." Mo Sigui clamped the pipe between his teeth, grabbed Wei Yuzhi’s wrist, and forcibly dragged him into the inner chamber.No matter where Wei Yuzhi stayed, he would always accumulate piles of medicinal herbs. Since he was residing at the Hua residence and the one ill was An Jiu, Hua Rongjian and Chu Dingjiang would send over large quantities of rare medicinal herbs every two days. Hua Rongtian also represented the Hua family in delivering many herbs. Thus, shortly after his arrival, his room was already so cluttered that there was hardly any space to stand, with only a small area left for sleeping now also filled with bottles and jars.
"Make yourself at home," Mo Sigui said warmly.
Wei Yuzhi did not sit. "I received news that Mei Shisi is critically ill."
Mo Sigui replied with a cheerful smile, "Indeed, but if you're willing to donate a few drops of blood, she won't be in critical condition anymore."
Despite having orchestrated many deaths himself, Wei Yuzhi found Mo Sigui's excited grin somewhat unsettling. "I wish to see her."
"That's no problem," Mo Sigui agreed on his own accord.
Chu Dingjiang did not refuse either. "Mr. Wei, please follow me."
Wei Yuzhi nodded.
For the first time, Wei Yuzhi saw An Jiu so tranquil and serene, resembling an untouched infant untainted by the world.
Da Jiu was crouched by the bedside. Upon seeing a stranger enter, she immediately bared her teeth in a threatening manner.
Wei Yuzhi ignored her, but his mental strength surged forth like a tidal wave. Da Jiu's eyes widened, standing frozen for a moment before, as Wei Yuzhi approached, she came over like a kitten and nuzzled his sleeve in a friendly gesture.
Mo Sigui leaned over and tapped her head with his pipe. "Pathetic! The only good trait A Jiu has is her ferocity, and you didn’t even learn that—instead, you picked up all her flaws. I’m disappointed in you!"
Da Jiu twitched her ears, looking utterly clueless, as if she hadn’t understood a word.
"Mei Shisi," Wei Yuzhi bent down and took her hand, closing his eyes.
Chu Dingjiang frowned and was about to step forward when Mo Sigui stopped him, whispering, "Bear with it, bear with it. What’s a little hand-holding? I’ve touched her all over—er, I mean, letting him probe with his mental strength won’t do any harm."
Chu Dingjiang narrowed his eyes, mentally noting this down. Though Mo Sigui had only spoken half the sentence, he could guess the rest. Now wasn’t the time to settle scores—there would be plenty of opportunities later. (To be continued...)
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