The soft, silky texture of the celestial silk robe felt comfortable against Mei Lin’s skin, but it was tailored for Murong Jing He’s size, making it overly large and long on her. She felt like she was swimming in it, with the fabric hanging loose and uncomfortably around her.
As she stepped out, the Wu didn't show any reaction, but Murong Jing He’s expression darkened. He immediately strode over, pulling her close to block the Wu's view with his own body. He then quickly untied her belt and adjusted the collar to cover her more securely before fastening it again.
Murong Jing He moved so fast that Mei Lin didn’t have time to react. By the time she realized what was happening, he had already retied her robe, leaving her to stand there stiffly, letting him do as he pleased. There was no point in getting into a spat with him now—it would only end up being more trouble for her. But as she looked at his stern, serious face, she couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed. He certainly didn’t seem to consider himself an outsider anymore.
After giving her a thorough once-over to ensure everything was properly covered, Murong Jing He turned and walked away as if all he had done was dust her off.
Mei Lin stood still for a moment, then expressionlessly continued walking towards the Wu. She knew that if she tried to argue with this man, she would definitely lose.
The Wu smiled, raising his hand. With barely a movement, several streaks of green light shot through the air, and the yarrow stems he had been holding pierced directly into several acupuncture points on Mei Lin’s body before disappearing. Mei Lin felt her body waver, and she would have collapsed if Murong Jing He, who had been watching her closely, hadn’t caught her in time.
A faint scent of pine and bamboo emanated from her, and Murong Jing He sniffed, unable to resist lowering his head to get a better whiff.
“Don’t,” the Wu cautioned him. “I’ve used the essence of yarrow to awaken the Junzi Gu. If your nose or lips get too close, the Gu might transfer to you.”
Murong Jing He froze, then looked down at the woman’s face in his arms, so thin that it was barely the size of a palm. A thought crossed his mind, and he asked, “Wouldn’t it be better if the Gu transferred to me instead? I’d be more useful than this foolish woman, and I could handle any danger.”
Mei Lin’s heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t help but curse, “Are you stupid?” Unable to move, she could only glare angrily at his chin.
Murong Jing He glanced down at her with a look of disdain, as if too annoyed to bother answering her, then eagerly awaited the Wu’s approval to proceed with his idea.
The Wu chuckled and shook his head. “Your internal energy is too strong. If the Gu enters your body, it will trigger an energy surge that could kill you instantly.” Without further delay, he signaled Murong Jing He to place Mei Lin into the water.
Murong Jing He was suddenly reminded of the words from the old doctor with the scaly head, and his mood plummeted. He had to admit that the woman’s earlier insult was probably the most accurate thing she had ever said to him—he wasn’t just being foolish; he was acting crazy. With Xiyan still unpacified, Nanyue unstable, and the political situation uncertain, even if his body could handle the Junzi Gu, he couldn’t afford to spend too much time here.
He carefully placed Mei Lin into the pool, seating her on the stone steps at the edge, letting the warm water rise to her chest. As he withdrew his hand, he wanted to lean down and kiss her, but he restrained himself and instead gently touched the red mole between her brows.
As the heat from the water rose, the scent of pine and bamboo from Mei Lin’s body intensified, filling the air with an intoxicating fragrance.
Murong Jing He gave her one last concerned look, noting the slight blush on her face from the warmth, before turning to attend to Luo Mei. Following the Wu’s instructions, he channeled his internal energy to melt the ice encasing her. Once her body had warmed up, he placed her into the pool, keeping a shoulder’s distance from Mei Lin.
Being so close, Mei Lin could see Luo Mei’s condition clearly. She fought the urge to panic and slowly shifted her gaze to the opposite side of the pool, focusing on the vibrant flowers beyond the steam. She couldn’t help but think that this woman must love him deeply to endure such suffering for his sake. It seemed that his feelings were not unreciprocated. Understanding this, she wasn’t sure how she felt—whether it was happiness for him or a sense of loss. It didn’t hurt as much as she expected.
A soft moan came from beside her as Luo Mei woke up. Mei Lin’s body stiffened, fearing that Luo Mei might react badly to her changed condition, knowing that she was currently unable to move.
“Jing He,” Luo Mei called softly, her voice tinged with confusion and vulnerability.
It’s often the case that when someone is usually strong, their moments of weakness seem all the more endearing. Even Mei Lin, hearing Luo Mei’s tone, felt a pang of sympathy.
“I’m here,” Murong Jing He replied, his voice filled with a gentleness Mei Lin had never heard before. She then heard the sound of him entering the water, and soon he was standing before Luo Mei, his expression calm and reassuring as he gazed at her.
“How is the battle going?” Luo Mei asked, surprising everyone by not inquiring about her own condition but rather the ongoing war with Nanyue.
For the first time, Mei Lin felt a genuine sense of admiration for this female general. It suddenly seemed that pitying her would be an insult.
“Our army has achieved a great victory,” Murong Jing He said, gently stroking her hair with a smile. “Rest and recover. By the time you’re healed, Nanyue will be part of our Da Yan territory.”
Luo Mei relaxed, and they exchanged a few more words, but she didn’t ask about Mei Lin’s presence.
The Wu approached, ready to begin the process of removing the Gu.
“Jing He, don’t leave,” Luo Mei said, finally showing a trace of fear as she noticed the thin green needle in the Wu’s hand. She clutched Murong Jing He’s hand, pleading softly.
Murong Jing He allowed her to hold onto him, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’m here with you.”
Don’t worry, I’m here with you. Don’t worry…
Those words—no one had ever said them to her. Mei Lin thought as she gazed at the bright flowers on the edge of the pool, her eyes growing misty as if clouded by steam.
＊＊＊
The green needle in the Wu’s hand was crafted from the essence of wormwood using his unique power, making it a natural enemy of Gu. Kneeling on the silk mat behind Luo Mei, with a brazier nearby, he prepared to start the extraction.
Supporting Luo Mei’s chin with one hand, he had her close her eyes and tilt her head back. Then, with lightning speed, he inserted the wormwood needle into the small black pores on her face.
Luo Mei didn’t feel any pain, but her delicate brows furrowed as she experienced an indescribable discomfort.
The Wu withdrew the needles, and each one had a tiny black worm, the size of a grain of rice, wriggling at the tip. He brought the needles close to the fire, and the worms instantly evaporated like mist, leaving no trace, as if they had been made of water. The pores on Luo Mei’s face closed up at a speed visible to the naked eye, and within moments, they had completely vanished, leaving her skin even smoother and more radiant than before.
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