Wei Yuzhi remained unconscious for three days before waking up.
These three days had exhausted Mo Sigui to the point where, for the first time, he fell into a deep sleep without the aid of medicated smoke.
Upon waking, he felt refreshed and invigorated—more so than after any previous sleep.
Sunlight reflected off the snow, dazzlingly white.
Mo Sigui stretched lazily and turned to see Wei Yuzhi, clad in a green robe, leaning against the couch reading a letter. His marten-fur coat was nearly slipping off his shoulders, and his snow-white hair now bore faint gray streaks at the roots, as if brushed with ink.
"Ahaha, this Miracle Doctor truly is remarkable!" Mo Sigui couldn't contain his excitement at the sight of the gray strands. He shoved a mirror into Wei Yuzhi's hands. "Quick, take a look! Given another year or so, your hair will return to its former state, and your face will regain its former handsomeness."
Wei Yuzhi set the mirror aside and, with slender fingers, handed the letter to Mo Sigui.
"My letter?" Mo Sigui asked, puzzled.
Wei Yuzhi replied, "No. But I thought the Miracle Doctor would want to know about Miss Lou."
Mo Sigui froze for a moment before hurriedly taking the letter and reading it carefully.
After finishing, his expression softened slightly as he returned the letter to Wei Yuzhi. "Thank you."
"It was only right," Wei Yuzhi said.
It turned out that a month earlier, Lou Mingyue had attempted to assassinate Yelü Huangwu again, severely wounding her. However, Lou Mingyue had also found herself in dire straits, and it was only through the covert assistance of Wei Yuzhi's forces in Liao that she managed to escape.
This was Lou Mingyue's second attempt after lying low for half a year, and she had clearly made greater progress than before.
"Given another opportunity, Miss Lou will surely achieve her vengeance," Wei Yuzhi mused. His relationship with Yelü Huangwu was one of both alliance and mortal enmity. If Lou Mingyue succeeded, he stood to gain everything without loss—naturally, he was willing to lend a hand. Moreover, this was a chance to repay Mo Sigui a small favor. Why not?
Chu Dingjiang's words from before held some truth—national grievances and personal vendettas need not be mutually exclusive. Given how Liao had marginalized him, even if he poured his heart into it, he could never destroy the Great Song. Some people could still turn back after straying down the wrong path, but for Wei Yuzhi, there was no second chance. Having realized this road led nowhere, should he stubbornly charge ahead or turn back while there was still time?
Wei Yuzhi gazed at the blinding sunlight outside and said slowly, "To accomplish one thing in a lifetime is still something to celebrate."
Mo Sigui sighed heavily. "You can't have your cake and eat it too. Some people think they can scheme their way into having everything, only to end up with nothing. Ah! Chu Dingjiang is the one who truly understands."
Unable to resist, he picked up his pipe and lit another pinch of medicated smoke. "Looking at it now, I might very well be that fool who ends up with nothing."
"Miss Lou is also someone who understands," Wei Yuzhi said after a pause. Then he added, "If the Miraculous Doctor Mo can correspond with her, perhaps you should advise her. Miss Lou went into this assassination attempt prepared to die with her enemy. Most likely... she wanted an early release—for herself and for you."
"I know. She’s never liked burdening others. I was the one who insisted on clinging to her." Mo Sigui exhaled a cloud of smoke, bitterness spreading on his tongue. "I’m the one who pushed her to this point."
Otherwise, Lou Mingyue wouldn’t have rushed so recklessly. As the saying goes, "A nobleman avenges a wrong even if it takes ten years." She could have taken more time to observe her enemy and plan her assassination carefully, ensuring a single, decisive strike—or she could have sought other ways to retaliate against Yelü Huangwu. It was her fear of this painful, entangled bond with Mo Sigui that drove her to take such risks again and again, even if it meant mutual destruction.No one was at fault; the fault lay with fate.
"It's time to let go." Mo Sigui walked to the desk, picked up a brush, and wrote a letter. He then called for Xiao Yue and tied the bamboo tube to its body.
Wei Yuzhi hadn’t expected him to make the decision so decisively. "To act resolutely when the time comes—truly admirable."
"After all, we grew up together. Since this bond has become a burden for both her and me, why hesitate?" Mo Sigui patted Xiao Yue’s head and fed it a pouch of medicinal herbs. "Go!"
Seeing Mo Sigui so free and decisive, Wei Yuzhi felt he too should make his decision sooner rather than later.
...
Mei Manor in Bianjing.
Two people sat in the main hall, yet the room was utterly silent.
Mei Zhengjing, dressed in plain robes, sat at the head seat, gazing at the woman in dark blue attire. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Cousin, forgive me, but I cannot make the exchange. Since childhood, I’ve known that while a Mei’s life may be discarded at will, there are two things that must never be surrendered: the Heart Sutra and the Cold Plum."
The Cold Plum was actually a plum tree carved from a rare type of chalcedony, capable of aiding External Cultivation in tempering the body and Mental Strength. Legend had it that, if used correctly, it could even bring the dead back to life.
Both items should be effective for An Jiu. The Cold Plum was a Mei family treasure and absolutely could not be handed over, but the Plum Fist Heart Sutra was a mere trifle. Mei Yanran could only choose the more feasible option to negotiate. "Not even in exchange for the Control Crane Secret Records ? Jiu and I are not outsiders—just a glance at the Heart Sutra. By any measure, this deal is no loss for you."
"Cousin," Mei Zhengjing lazily propped his chin on one hand. "If you truly considered yourself part of the Mei family, you wouldn’t be making this deal with me."
"Do you think I want to?" Mei Yanran’s eyes reddened slightly as she retorted sharply. "The Control Crane Secret Records aren’t even in my possession! If not for Mr. Chu’s special regard for Jiu, willing to offer them in exchange, I wouldn’t even have the standing to negotiate with you! Let me ask you this—in the six months Jiu has been unconscious, has the Mei family lifted a finger to help? I consider myself a Mei, but if the family turns a blind eye to my daughter’s plight, don’t blame me for looking out for myself!" (To be continued...)
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