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墨書 Inktalez
Wang Tuozi nodded and said, "You really know your stuff. Fine, Liu Linglang, I'll give it to you, but you must help me fix that child." With that, Wang Tuozi turned and walked away without looking back. Just as he was about to enter the house, he paused and coldly added, "I hope you keep your word. If you dare to have any ideas about Undying Bone, I will stuff every worm I dig out down your throat."
In the early morning, dew glistened between Qiqi's brows and eyes. She was still dressed in black, barefoot and curled up on the grass, revealing her delicate ankles—round and smooth, with no seams in her clothing. The outer sides had two rounded whorls, and the prominent tendons at her heels gave her a robust appearance rather than that of a fragile vine. Her bright eyes sparkled like stars at night, complemented by skin that was pale with a hint of red, exuding an enchanting aura. Even Peng Bai, who had long been detached from worldly affairs, couldn't help but be captivated.
Qiqi set down the Black Cat in her arms and began to dig into the soil with her hands. Before long, she unearthed an ancient pottery jar. When she opened it, she found it filled with hundreds of poisonous creatures—snakes, centipedes, earthworms, and toads—all writhing and clawing at each other as soon as the lid was removed. Qiqi frowned slightly and sighed deeply. She took out a knife and made a small cut on her hand, letting her blood drip into the jar. The moment her blood touched the contents, the poisons seemed to awaken with ferocity, engaging in a chaotic battle within the jar. After sealing it again and gripping it tightly, the jar began to shake violently for a long time before finally settling down.
Qiqi opened the jar once more and plunged her delicate hands inside. Suddenly, a dark mist enveloped her body as her face shifted through shades of blue, purple, and black in rapid succession. Biting her red lips, she trembled in apparent agony. After some time, she withdrew her hands from the jar and set it aside. She then took several talismans and burned them to ash before mixing them with clean water to drink. Gradually, her complexion returned to normal, though she was drenched in fragrant sweat.
Looking down at the jar with disappointment flickering in her eyes, she sighed deeply.
"Another year has passed; you've failed again," Peng Bai finally spoke up after witnessing Qiqi's entire process from behind.
"This is my own business; it has nothing to do with you," Qiqi replied coldly.
Peng Bai continued, "Don't forget who asked me to lift your Curse Poison when you first arrived here. Who taught you the art of raising Gu? Who shaped you into who you are today?"
"Rest assured, I will fulfill my promise to you. This is my own matter; please do not meddle further."
Peng Bai nodded. "That's good to hear. You've been here for four or five years now, trying to refine this Golden Silkworm Gu year after year without success. Do you know why?"
"Go on," Qiqi huffed but remained silent for him to continue.
"Because you're missing a 'Gu Inducer.'"
"Gu Inducer? What is that?"
Peng Bai explained, "The method of creating Gu involves placing various insects in a vessel so they can devour each other; those that survive become Gu. My Curse Poison is particularly difficult to master because it involves Earth Gu, Golden Silkworm Gu, centipede Gu, and toad Gu—the four most challenging and dangerous types. Each has its own Mother Gu and Child Gu distinction; the Mother Gu resides within the person who releases them while the Child Gu inflicts harm on others. The connection between Mother Gu and Child Gu means that when the Child Gu activates, it feels as if thousands of silkworms are gnawing at one's body—an indescribable pain. Among these four types, Golden Silkworm Gu is considered the most difficult to cultivate; someone like you could practice for a hundred years without success. In the end, you'd only meet a tragic fate akin to 'the golden silkworm eating its tail,' losing your life for nothing."
"Whether I live or die is my own business; it has nothing to do with you."
"How can it not concern me? If you die, who will I talk to?" Peng Bai paused before continuing. "The reason Golden Silkworm Gu is so hard to produce is that it is the weakest among all poisons. In battles among hundreds of poisonous creatures, the chance of a golden silkworm emerging victorious is less than one in ten million. Even if it manages a pyrrhic victory in the end, it won't survive long enough to produce Child Gu for you. That's why many Miao people spend decades raising Gu only to find they never obtain a single Golden Silkworm Gu."
Peng Bai saw Qiqi start to listen seriously. Clearing his throat, he said, "So if you want to ensure the successful birth of the Golden Silkworm Gu, you must continuously strengthen the golden silkworm in the jar using the Golden Silkworm Gu Guiding, making it the strongest and most poisonous among all poisons. Naturally, it will survive amidst the deadly competition."
Qiqi asked, "What exactly is the Golden Silkworm Gu Guiding?"
Peng Bai smiled mysteriously and remained silent.
"Never mind," Qiqi said as she tidied up the bottles and jars on the grass, holding her Black Cat as she headed inside. Peng Bai called out to her from behind, raising his voice, "Daylily Forgetting Worries."
Qiqi paused for a moment, then walked inside after a few seconds.
Recently, Wei Ning had been feeling both frustrated and eagerly anticipating Qiqi's daily injections. Especially when Qiqi injected him in that particular area, he felt so embarrassed that he wished he could sink into the ground.
However, whenever midnight came and memories returned, he would think of Qiqi's delicate hands gently massaging that part of him. At that moment, Wei Ning felt as if millions of ants were crawling all over him, unsure whether it was pleasurable or uncomfortable.
Aside from giving Wei Ning injections every day, Qiqi rarely entered his room and never initiated conversations with him. She was like an iceberg, and naturally, Wei Ning seldom sought to break the ice. The two completed one intimate act after another—only possible between a married couple—amidst this awkward atmosphere until Wang Tuozi forced Wei Ning out of bed.
"What's wrong? No more injections?" Wei Ning heard that his internal injuries no longer required treatment and could heal through self-care. A heavy weight lifted from his heart, but he felt an inexplicable sense of loss that even he couldn't understand.
"What's wrong? Are you tired of this heavenly life? Should I give you a few injections on your backside too?"
"No need, no need," Wei Ning quickly waved his hands in fright and jumped off the bed.
"Go take a good shower and then come find me. Damn it, you smell like medicine all over; it's disgusting."
After showering, Wei Ning felt relaxed all over. He couldn't help but scrutinize himself in the mirror. Despite being pampered in bed these days, he hadn't gained weight; instead, he had lost some. His face bore an inexplicable purplish hue, and the stubble made him look even more haggard and desolate while hinting at a certain maturity.
Yet those hollow eye sockets deeply pierced Wei Ning's heart.
Was I destined to be a second-rate cripple in this life?
When Wei Ning entered the hall, he found Wang Tuozi and Peng Bai already there. Qiqi was still holding the Black Cat in the corner of the room, ignoring Wei Ning's presence.
Seeing Wei Ning arrive, Peng Bai spoke up, "Tomorrow, you and Qiqi will go out for a while. Let's see if you have good luck and can find the Three-Legged Golden Crow."
Wei Ning was puzzled. "Why are we looking for the Three-Legged Golden Crow?"
Wang Tuozi jumped up and stomped his foot. "Isn't it because of you, my hopeless disciple!"
Peng Bai smiled and said, "Here's the deal: your master and I have come to an agreement. I will help you heal your eyes, but only if you can find the Three-Legged Golden Crow on your own."
Hearing that his eyes might be saved, Wei Ning exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"
"Come on! It's just about getting a pair of eyes back. Is it really worth getting this excited? When that girl was digging out your eyes, did you show any special reaction?" Wang Tuozi poured cold water on Wei Ning's excitement without hesitation.
Peng Bai waved his hand and said with a warm smile, "Wang Laoge, don’t be so harsh on the kid. I think Wei is a good child; I like him a lot. Now that your injury is almost healed, your senior sister Qiqi will take care of you on the way. You should pack up; we’ll set off tomorrow."
"But where are we going?" Wei Ning asked.
Peng Bai smiled slightly and replied leisurely, "Yunmeng Ancient Marsh."
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