The medicated fumigation burner emitted curling smoke as the woman before them lay with her garments half-removed, her skin like congealed jade. The sheer silk bodice clung to her form, revealing the proud contours of her bosom. True Energy propelled the medicine through her limbs and meridians, thawing the frozen regions bit by bit—an excruciatingly slow process that steadily drained Mo Sigui's True Energy reserves.
Lou Xiaowu watched anxiously. While True Energy could regenerate, exhausting it completely risked damaging the Dantian Qi Sea. Though she possessed considerable mental strength, her Inner Force was weak and incompatible with Mo Sigui's, leaving her powerless to assist.
After two full hours amidst the fragrant medicinal haze, Mo Sigui finally withdrew the last silver needle.
"Brother Mo, how is she?" Lou Xiaowu blurted out, having held her tongue the entire time.
Collapsing onto the bed, Mo Sigui glanced at Lou Mingyue's profile before closing his eyes. "She'll be fine. Keep the fumigation going. I need rest."
With that, his eyes shut.
The weight in Lou Xiaowu's heart finally lifted. She pulled the quilt over Lou Mingyue, then noticed Mo Sigui still wore his heavy outer robe—surely uncomfortable.
"You've seen my second sister's body and clearly have feelings for her. Since you dragged her back from death's door anyway, marriage is inevitable sooner or later..." she muttered to herself as she began removing his outer garment.
Spotting his white inner garment beneath, she hesitated. "It's a bit improper for a sister-in-law to undress her future brother-in-law... but it's fine. Xiao Wu is still young."
Reassured, she worked more briskly, stripping him down efficiently before thoughtfully tucking both under the same quilt.
Exhausted into unconsciousness, Mo Sigui didn't stir despite the handling.
Lou Xiaowu added more of his medicinal powder to the burner before quietly slipping out to search Lou Manor for others.
The estate was vast, but with its dwindling population, half stood abandoned. After over an hour scouring only inhabited areas, she found no one else.
"Miss." Ling Gu stood wrapped in a woolen cloak beneath the corridor eaves. Though her cheeks were hollow and complexion sallow, her spirits seemed high.
Ling Gu had been Lou Xiaowu's wet nurse. Married at fourteen, she bore a child at fifteen—one with three legs. Villagers branded her cursed; her in-laws drowned the infant despite her pleas and cast her out. Ashamed, her own family disowned her.
Drifting far from home, she found work as a wet nurse and thereafter raised Lou Xiaowu as her own. When the girl fell gravely ill, her adoptive family—modest folk—abandoned her as treatment costs mounted. Only Ling Gu refused to give up, carrying her through snowstorms seeking care.
To Lou Xiaowu, she was mother in all but name.
"Coming out in this cold? You'll catch a chill!" Lou Xiaowu chided, rushing to support her.
"This old bones are hardy," Ling Gu replied, noting her alone. "Where's Miracle Doctor Mo?"
"He exhausted his True Energy saving Second Sister. Resting now." She guided Ling Gu inside.
A hopeful glimmer lit Ling Gu's face. "The Second Miss... she's saved?"Lou Shi had been focusing on grooming Lou Mingyue as the next manor head over the past few years. Thus, many affairs had gradually been handed over to her two years ago. If she could survive, Lou Shi would still have hope.
“Mm, Brother Mo said she’s fine now.” Lou Xiaowu helped her onto the bed.
“Wonderful! Truly wonderful, the Bodhisattva has shown mercy…” Ling Gu relaxed, tears suddenly streaming uncontrollably down her face.
Lou Xiaowu gently patted her back. “Rest a while longer. I’ll go see if there’s any food.”
“This servant will prepare the meal.” Ling Gu stood up.
Lou Xiaowu pressed her back into the seat, smiling. “Second Sister is ill, and you’re unwell too. If you truly care for me, don’t make me worry. Recover quickly so we can take care of Second Sister together.”
“Yes, this servant lacks the foresight of the young mistress.” Ling Gu patted her hand, her gaze affectionate. “Go on, young mistress.”
Lou Xiaowu waited until Ling Gu lay down before leaving. As she stepped outside, she faintly heard noises from Lou Mingyue’s courtyard. With a light step, she vaulted over the wall and landed silently at the doorstep in a few leaps.
“Listen to me!” Mo Sigui’s voice came from inside.
Lou Xiaowu pushed the door open to see Lou Mingyue, disheveled, pointing a sword at Mo Sigui, who was unarmed and cowering in a corner.
“Xiao Wu! Your sister’s about to kill someone!” Mo Sigui shouted.
“Second Sister.” Lou Xiaowu grasped Lou Mingyue’s wrist. “He’s Miraculous Doctor Mo—the one who saved you!”
Lou Mingyue frowned deeply. “Then how did we…?”
A physician finishing treatment and ending up asleep in her bed?
Lou Xiaowu hurriedly explained, “You were severely poisoned and needed acupuncture. Miraculous Doctor Mo exhausted his True Energy saving you and passed out. I thought his heavy robes looked uncomfortable, so I helped remove his outer garment.”
“Nonsense!” Lou Mingyue flushed with anger and shame. Though no prude, sharing a bed nearly naked with a man was beyond her acceptance.
Lou Shi was almost entirely composed of women. Forget this level of intimacy—Lou Mingyue had barely even spoken to men before.
Mo Sigui felt a pang of disappointment. The moment Lou Mingyue woke, she had attacked without hesitation, her moves ruthless. The way she looked at him was unmistakably at a stranger—she didn’t recognize him at all.
He and Qiu Ningyu hadn’t seen each other for many years, and both would have changed greatly. The image of Ningyu in his mind had blurred slightly, yet upon seeing Lou Mingyue, her features instantly came back to him as vividly as if she stood before him.
Mo Sigui couldn’t help but think—if Ningyu were still alive, wouldn’t she be the same? After all, they had spent over a decade together as childhood sweethearts, inseparable.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed Lou Mingyue sheathing her sword and straightening her clothes. When she faced him again, all hostility and awkwardness had vanished. She clasped her fists in salute. “Lou Er was rude. I beg your forgiveness, Benefactor.”
Her demeanor was now entirely that of a carefree martial artist.
“Never mind.” Mo Sigui retrieved his robes and dressed, his tone indifferent. “Ignorance is no crime.”
“Brother Mo, don’t be angry with Second Sister. After all, you’re not married yet.” Lou Xiaowu hung her head, murmuring, “It was all my doing.”
“Married?” Lou Mingyue, sharp as ever, pieced together the situation from that single word. She studied Mo Sigui impassively, then chose not to pursue the matter. “Benefactor, can the others of Lou Shi still be saved?”Mo Sigui said lazily, "We only saw you in the passage and haven't actually entered the ice cellar yet. But... if you tell me what happened before, I might be able to make some rough estimates."
"The first to fall ill in the family were the maidservants by the manor lord's side, followed by the manor lord herself. That same night, someone shot an arrow with a letter attached, and the family head immediately summoned the elders for discussion. The next day, none of the elders were spared, and soon after, others fell ill one after another. I'm not entirely clear on exactly when they became infected, but I received the manor lord's order stating that anyone who felt unusual symptoms should immediately enter the ice cellar." Lou Mingyue's voice gradually lowered. "At the time, I was outside presiding over my two younger sisters' funerals. When I returned, I found only Ling Gu remained in the entire manor. That same day, I accidentally discovered the body of a maidservant who had also contracted the illness. After guarding the manor with her for two days, I gradually felt the illness taking hold violently. So I gave her a few instructions and entered the ice cellar."
Looking back now, the whole incident was a meticulously designed conspiracy. The manor lord had only been infected with the Plague Gu for less than a day, and with her profound Inner Force, it initially seemed like a mild cold, so she paid it no mind. However, that very night, someone schemed to have her summon all the elders.
"So, everyone was infected before you?" Mo Sigui asked.
"Yes," Lou Mingyue added. "Even the last one was a day before me."
Mo Sigui sighed. Saving Lou Mingyue was like reaching into the King of Hell's domain. The others...
"Is there no way to save them?" Lou Mingyue asked.
Mo Sigui turned to look at her calm face. "I regret that I can't help."
Lou Mingyue clenched her fists and remained silent for a long moment before suddenly turning away.
"Though it's cruel, I still want to tell you..." Mo Sigui said softly. "Burn them."
Lou Mingyue had only been distressed before, but now, hearing these words, it felt as if a knife had carved out a piece of her heart. "They chose to enter the ice cellar to slow the poison and buy a little time for survival. And now you're telling me to burn them?!"
"You entered the ice cellar three days after being infected. If freezing truly worked, your condition should have been similar to Ling Gu's when we rescued you. But the freezing didn't completely halt the poison's progression." Mo Sigui had no choice but to state this cruel fact. "When we brought you out, you were barely clinging to life."
"Maybe it's because I didn't have time to go deeper into the ice cellar?" Lou Mingyue refused to accept fate, her beautiful eyes red as she stared at him intently. "Would being closer to the Mystic Ice help?"
Mo Sigui said nothing.
Those people had been poisoned before Lou Mingyue. Even if the Mystic Ice could freeze the plague poison, their condition wouldn't be much better. Mo Sigui knew he didn't have the ability to pull each of them back from the brink of death. Moreover, he was certain freezing couldn't fully suppress the poison—leaving them in the ice cellar would only lead to disaster sooner or later.
Mo Sigui didn't want to be this cold-hearted either, but the matter was no trivial affair.
Lou Xiaowu said, "Brother Mo, could you try rescuing one person closest to the Mystic Ice? Confirm whether they can be saved before..."
"This poison fears fire." Seeing Lou Mingyue's face pale as paper and her eyes nearly weeping blood, Mo Sigui suddenly realized his blunt honesty was too cruel. He changed his tone. "Alright, Xiao Wu and I will go in and try to rescue one more person."
"I'll go with you," Lou Mingyue said weakly, but her tone brooked no argument."Up to you." Mo Sigui gave her a deep look, then picked up the Fire Sable Coat hanging on the rack and left.
After closing her eyes to regulate her breathing briefly, Lou Mingyue also took a Fire Sable Coat and followed.
Fire sables were rare creatures—extremely agile, small in size, and intelligent—making them incredibly difficult to capture. Their fur was exceptionally luxurious, coveted by countless nobles who would go to great lengths to obtain even a single pelt. The Lou family had only managed to acquire these two Fire Sable Coats after decades of relentless and costly effort.
"Second Sister!" Lou Xiaowu ran after her. "Let me go instead."
But Lou Mingyue strode out of the courtyard without looking back.
Lou Xiaowu knew her second sister's temperament well—once she made a decision, it was nearly impossible to change her mind. She admired her sister for having the courage to face their slumbering clansmen, while she herself couldn't bear to look.
Lou Xiaowu gathered some food, ate a little, and brought some to Ling Gu.
As dusk approached, the sound of hoofbeats echoed from the foot of the mountain.
Five riders galloped through the snow.
One of them whistled sharply from a distance. Hearing it, Lou Xiaowu, halfway up the mountain, immediately sprinted down.
After a brief wait, the gate slowly creaked open.
"Aunt Six!" Lou Xiaowu dashed out and threw herself at the leader of the group.
Lou Xiaowu's sixth aunt was named Lou Xin, a woman nearing forty.
"Xiao Wu," Lou Xin dismounted. "Why are you the one opening the gate? Where are the gatekeepers?"
Though she asked, the tension in her voice betrayed that she already guessed the answer.
"Everyone's gone into the ice cellar. Only Ling Gu and I are left. Brother Mo and Second Sister went in to try and save them," Lou Xiaowu mumbled gloomily.
Lou Xin's heart sank. Knowing Lou Xiaowu's nature, if there had been even a sliver of hope, she would have been eagerly seeking praise by now. But this despondent demeanor...
"Let's go inside first," Lou Xin said, leading her horse through the gate.
They had set out with thirty-nine people. Though only she and Lou Xin were from the Lou family, the bleakness of their return weighed heavily on Lou Xiaowu's heart.
Her gaze swept over the group and suddenly froze on one person. "Mei Shisi!" she exclaimed in surprise. (To be continued...)
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