Wei Yuzhi lay on the couch, watching him. "Thank you for your kindness, Miracle Doctor, but I have no need for it."
Mo Sigui lit the medicated smoke and reclined amidst piles of herbs, exhaling clouds of it.
The smoke dispersed into transparency, yet Wei Yuzhi could still detect its sweet fragrance, feeling an indescribable relaxation in both body and mind. He could only imagine how soothing it would be to inhale such medicinal potency.
"All medicine is three parts poison—surely you know this better than I do. Why then..." To Wei Yuzhi, this seemed like self-destruction.
"Medicine isn’t something you can just stop at will," Mo Sigui murmured, squinting his eyes. "Years ago, I developed severe insomnia. Since then, I’ve relied on medicated smoke to lull myself to sleep. I’ve always tested medicines on myself, so I’ve built up a resistance. Where others need one dose, I need five. Over time, toxins have accumulated in my body. This celestial bliss isn’t purely for comfort—it’s an antidote."
He flicked the residue from his pipe and chuckled. "Perhaps after prolonged use of celestial bliss, I’ll need yet another antidote. Eventually, my body won’t withstand these medicinal forces. But it’s no great matter—that day is still far off. Though I can’t escape death, living to seventy or eighty won’t be an issue."
Wei Yuzhi fell silent. For him, even reaching forty was a distant hope.
"But what’s the point of living so long? Enough is enough." Mo Sigui sighed and continued, "In this life, I’m fated to be denied one thing."
From the day his insomnia began, he had drowned in an endless sea of medicine. For some, emotions are a driving force, but for Mo Sigui, they were a hindrance.
"You were born with a talent for the way of medicine far surpassing others, granting you a long life. It’s only natural you’d lose something else in return," Wei Yuzhi remarked.
Mo Sigui didn’t respond, and Wei Yuzhi said no more. The two drifted into slumber amid the fragrant haze.
The next morning.
Apart from Mei Yanran, who rose early to prepare breakfast, everyone else remained nestled in their warm beds. Hua Rongjian arrived with his servant in tow.
By the time Chu Dingjiang and An Jiu got up, he had already been waiting in the hall for half an hour, having gone through several rounds of tea.
Hua Rongjian lounged in a round-backed chair, idly skimming tea leaves from his cup. Glancing up as An Jiu entered, he couldn’t help but pout. "I’ve been here half an hour! Even if you started waking up outside the city, you should’ve arrived by now! If I weren’t making allowances for your condition, I’d be furious."
"Who asked you to come?" An Jiu retorted, her face still puffy, as she sat across from him.
"Always so sharp-tongued." Hua Rongjian gestured to a pile of items on the table. "These are tonics for you. Have Aunt Mei prepare them for you regularly."
An Jiu never refused food, accepting whatever was given. "What’s in them?"
"Common things like ginseng and bird’s nest," Hua Rongjian replied.
"Tastes awful." An Jiu disliked ginseng, especially after relying on ginseng soup to sustain herself during her recent coma. She felt as if her entire body reeked of it.
Hua Rongjian studied her pale, lifeless face and suddenly said, "Stay here. At least I can guarantee your safety—no more suffering like this."
With two individuals in the courtyard whose mental strength had reached the Transformation Realm, nothing escaped their notice. The moment Hua Rongjian spoke these words, both pricked up their ears to listen."If I don't court death, I won't die. If I'm determined to seek death, no one can protect me." Similarly, An Jiu wanted a stable life, but she didn't need others to provide it—now she had the freedom to choose. (To be continued...)
PS: Though my character and reliability have sunk so low that I've lost all friends, I promised myself to turn over a new leaf. So I should explain—the recent sparse updates are because my grandfather was hospitalized and family matters kept me busy. I'll make up the word count tomorrow.
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