An Jiu was preparing to set off for Zhending Prefecture to capture the next assassin but hadn't yet departed, as she noticed everything was developing in a favorable direction. First, Lou Xiaowu arrived with a mountain-like bundle on her back seeking refuge, followed by Zhu Pianxian receiving orders from Chu Dingjiang to dispatch her most profitable shopkeeper. Just as these arrangements were settled, the entire Mei Shi family packed up and came along.
On the surface, Mei Shi appeared to have only a few members left, but the number who had escaped the Crane Control Army was quite substantial—twenty-six in total, including Mei Yongting, the eldest son of Elder Qi, who was skilled in medicine.
Morning mist drifted lightly, mingling with the faint smoke exhaled by Mo Sigui, resembling ink wash painting.
He squatted by the newly cultivated medicinal herb garden, watching Mei Yongting work. "Lucky the old man didn't take me as his disciple, or the seniority would've gotten messy."
By blood relation, Mo Sigui should call him uncle. Had Elder Qi accepted Mo Sigui as his disciple, he would've had to address Mei Yongting as senior brother.
"Mei Shi has always been messy," Mei Yongting's voice was pleasant but deep and cold, as if devoid of any emotion.
Mo Sigui said, "The old man left behind his life's work, which I burned, but it's all in my head. I'll write it down for you."
"No need. Those were his gifts to you."
"His greatest regret was being too engrossed in the way of medicine. On his deathbed, he warned me not to repeat his mistake." Mo Sigui gazed at Mei Yongting's tall figure through the thin mist.
Mei Yongting stared blankly at the dew-kissed, vibrant herbs at his feet before finally turning back. "Did he... have no words for me...?"
Mo Sigui paused, holding his pipe. "You know he wasn't one for sentimental words."
"I didn't know." Mei Yongting straightened, looking at the yellowing eastern sky. "When I was home, I rarely even saw him. When I first joined the Crane Control Army, I resented him—if he'd spared even a fraction of his attention on me, I wouldn't have been condemned to perpetual darkness. Now that he's gone, I don't hold that grudge anymore. But his regrets... I'll never know."
"You do know," Mo Sigui said calmly. "You saw him in the ancestral hall."
"What does it matter? It was just a glance."
This father and son, though clearly caring for each other, refused to voice it. Had Mei Yongting truly harbored only hatred or indifference toward Elder Qi, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to return to Mei Shi for that single glimpse. Mo Sigui didn't expose him and continued, "If he knew you've left the Crane Control Army, he could rest in peace. Those medical records were his life's work. I hope you won't refuse them."
Mei Yongting nodded.
Seeing him silently return to tending the herb garden, Mo Sigui left him be and went back to transcribe the records.
As he caressed the sole surviving volume of Elder Qi's handwritten medical notes, someone called from outside, "Cousin."
Mo Sigui put away the records. "Come in."
An Jiu, Mei Tingzhu, Mei Tingyuan, and about seven others entered.
"Find seats wherever you like. Make yourselves comfortable." Having learned of the Mei Shi blood poison, Mo Sigui wasn't surprised by their group arrival.
Everyone found places to sit. Mei Tingzhu asked, "Cousin, have you detected the toxicity yet?"
Mo Sigui shook his head. "Not just others—I've treated A Jiu for so long without noticing anything unusual. It's clearly no ordinary poison."
"Could it be Gu?" Mei Tingzhu inquired."Even more impossible," Mo Sigui said. "I've used True Energy to examine A Jiu's pulse multiple times. If there were any Gu, I would have detected it long ago."
"I have a thought," An Jiu said.
Everyone turned to look at her.
An Jiu continued, "Is it possible that our ancestors were initially poisoned, but after several generations, the poison no longer exists, yet it has altered our blood? Even after the mutation, it could still be triggered by a certain type of medicine."
"Mutation!" Mo Sigui was stunned for a moment before suddenly laughing. "A Jiu, you're a genius!"
Mei Tingzhu understood An Jiu's meaning, and her expression changed slightly. "If that's really the case, wouldn't there be no antidote?"
They weren't poisoned—they were simply born with certain differences from ordinary people.
"Also," Mo Sigui showed no concern at all; instead, his eyes gleamed with excitement. "Don't you think the Liao Emperor's condition shares similarities with ours? I wonder which predecessor created such a potent poison."
Upon reflection, the Liao Emperor's hidden ailment also seemed to be a hereditary poison. The difference was that their poison shortened lifespans, whereas the Crane Controlling Families were unaffected.
An Jiu felt this phenomenon resembled genetic damage. Even the Liao's chaotic explosive crossbows bore similarities to the principles of firearms... The deeper she thought about it, the more chilling it became. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone, somewhere unseen, was orchestrating all of this.
Sui Yunzhu remarked, "I never expected the Feng family to also be part of the Crane Control Army."
Li Qingzhi asked curiously, "Could it be the Feng family that once monopolized the Great Song's river transport?"
"Indeed. I've never heard of anyone from the Feng family in the Crane Control Army," Mei Tingyuan added.
On the surface, the Feng family, like the Mei family, were merchants. They had dominated the Great Song's river transport for many years and were skilled in shipbuilding.
Mei Tingzhu, however, found it unsurprising. "If the imperial court hadn't tacitly allowed it, no single family could have controlled so many docks."
Whether by water or land, these routes were strategically vital. How could the court permit a private family to monopolize them? If that family rebelled, the entire Great Song could be destroyed overnight.
An Jiu asked, "What about the Yu family...?"
The Feng family was a thing of the past—now the Yu family held a significant position in water transport.
Mei Tingzhu pondered for a moment. "The Yu family likely isn't involved. The current head of the Yu family seems quite measured. After taking over the Feng family's river transport business, they only occupied the Jiangnan region—at most, they're a local power. They sold off all other territories to others."
"Let's not talk about others for now," Mo Sigui said with a smile. "Allow me to share some bad news."
The room fell silent.
He coughed lightly. "If what A Jiu said is true, then there's no poison for us to cure."
"So we just wait for death!?" Mei Tingzhu struggled to accept this reality. She was a woman of strong will, capable of fighting against any adversity. But the idea of being helpless prey on a chopping block—how could she face that? She had never even considered it.
An Jiu remained calm inside. Having lived as a killing machine, she didn't fear the unknown. But she didn't want to return to that past. No matter the circumstances, she would resist to the death.
Suppressing her unease, Mei Tingzhu asked, "Cousin, do you know the whereabouts of Second Miss Lou?"
Mo Sigui seemed surprised by the sudden change of topic. After a brief pause, he replied, "No. Why do you ask?"Mei Tingzhu said, "I suspect the 'Konghe Secret Records' may have fallen into the hands of the Liao People. They might use Second Miss Lou to coerce you and Lou Xiaowu into working for them."
"Heh." Mo Sigui let out a disdainful laugh. "Using Lou Er to threaten me? They'd have better luck using A Jiu."
He was utterly indifferent!
Mei Tingzhu studied him carefully, sensing no pretense in his demeanor. "That's good then. Still, we must find Second Miss Lou as soon as possible. Lou Xiaowu is a rare genius in weaponry—we can't let the Liao People control her."
An Jiu had been staring at Mo Sigui the whole time. Her intuition told her his words weren't forced, but she couldn't understand why someone who had been so persistent could become completely indifferent in such a short time.
"I'll do my best to find a solution. You all can leave now; I have work to do," Mo Sigui said.
Everyone knew he was referring to finding a cure for the mutation, so they all complied and left.
An Jiu remained. Only after everyone had gone did she speak. "I just have one question before I go."
"Speak," Mo Sigui replied.
"Why did you change so quickly?" An Jiu paused, then added, "Your feelings toward Lou Mingyue."
"You really have time for leisure, don't you? With our lives hanging by a thread, you still have the mind to ponder such things." Mo Sigui chuckled as he spread out paper on his desk and began writing medical notes.
After writing a few lines, he looked up and saw An Jiu still sitting there. He sighed. "These things—sometimes you can't figure them out in a lifetime, and sometimes understanding comes in an instant. For us to keep entangling ourselves would only bring more trouble. Why harm others and ourselves?"
An Jiu turned his words over in her mind. They seemed reasonable, yet something still felt unclear.
"Go ponder somewhere else. Don't clutter up my space," Mo Sigui said dismissively.
Lost in thought, An Jiu stood up and wandered out.
Lou Xiaowu, having just finished breakfast, found herself alone with no one around. She ran into Mo Sigui's courtyard and bumped into An Jiu, immediately grabbing her. "Mouse mouse, I'm mushroom."
An Jiu snapped back to reality and, as if divinely inspired, understood Lou Xiaowu's meaning: she wanted to talk.
"Speak quickly. I'm busy," An Jiu said. (To be continued...)
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