Li Shuang’s neck was braced with wooden boards, barely supporting her throat that Jin’an had injured. The medicine woman said she should stay in bed for a month, but she didn’t have that much time to waste.
Early the next morning, Li Shuang got up and found brush and paper to write a letter to the troops at the mountain’s base, ordering them to hold their position. After having someone deliver the letter down the mountain, she slowly made her way toward the dungeon, supporting her head that felt a thousand times heavier than usual.
Just as she reached the dungeon entrance, she saw Wu Yin, still somewhat sleepy-eyed, opening the door. “General Li.” Seeing Li Shuang supporting her neck, he couldn’t help but smile away his drowsiness. “Won’t you rest a few more days?”
Li Shuang glanced at him, while Wu Yin continued to smile at her.
Tch, not being her soldier, wasn’t afraid of her, and she couldn’t even reprimand him.
Li Shuang could only maintain a cold expression without speaking. Wu Yin continued smiling as he activated the dungeon’s mechanism, accompanying her inside.
“I heard the Jade Silkworm Gu vessel showed no disturbance last night—the most peaceful night since he came to Southern Long Mountain. The Jade Silkworm’s reputation for loyalty to its master is indeed well-deserved.” While leading Li Shuang down the stairs, Wu Yin observed her expression in the torchlight. “It’s just a pity that this time, the Jade Silkworm’s master isn’t me.”
Li Shuang finally turned her eyes to glance at him, saying hoarsely, “Being born at the wrong time isn’t others’ fault.”
Wu Yin choked on her words, pausing before saying, “General Li isn’t one for courtesy, but speaking of blame, I’ve never blamed you. For me, the Jade Silkworm recognizing you as a master might even be fortunate.”
Li Shuang raised an eyebrow slightly.
Without waiting for her to speak, Wu Yin continued, “Perhaps General Li hasn’t noticed, but your body has already begun to differ from ordinary people.”
Li Shuang froze, suddenly remembering when in the Northern Border, Chang Wanshan had desperately brought news of the black-armored mysterious person. He had been infected with Gu, and when Li Shuang brought her hand near Chang Wanshan’s heart, those Gu worms hurriedly fled from his body…
“After the Jade Silkworm finds its host, it merges with the host’s body, hiding in the host’s bloodline until death, giving the host tremendous power while becoming one with their bloodline, creating a Jade Silkworm Gu vessel.
“The first blood the Jade Silkworm Gu vessel tastes makes them recognize their master, after which they become utterly devoted to the master, while also becoming extremely dependent on them. The master’s essence is the only thing that can calm the Jade Silkworm and the only thing that can make the Jade Silkworm bond more closely with the Gu vessel. Therefore, the Jade Silkworm Gu vessel yearns to stay by their master’s side, constantly sensing the essence in their master’s bloodline, even desiring to… mate with their master.”
Li Shuang’s entire body stiffened, nearly missing a step and falling down the stairs.
Wu Yin steadied her, and facing Li Shuang’s shocked gaze as she came to her senses, he appeared somewhat innocent as he pursed his lips: “The Jade Silkworm Gu vessel my father raised was a great beauty, but after my father died and the Spirit Woman lost her struggle with my mother, she stole the Jade Silkworm and ran. The Gu vessel she wanted to raise was, of course, male.” Wu Yin smiled. “Looking at this Jade Silkworm Gu vessel’s build and appearance, he’s truly a rare specimen in this world.” He winked at Li Shuang, his expression full of unspeakable subtle meaning. “General Li is blessed.”
“Ahem.” Li Shuang coughed, her voice extremely hoarse.
“Once a Jade Silkworm Gu vessel has prolonged contact with their master or physical intimacy, the master also becomes imbued with the Jade Silkworm Gu’s essence. The Jade Silkworm Gu is the king of Gu, and other Gu worms greatly fear it. So when you come to my Five Spirits Gate, even without any Gu-repelling techniques, no Gu would dare approach you.”
Physical intimacy…
Li Shuang felt her ears growing hot.
Her physical intimacy with Jin’an was just sleeping under the same blanket… although, there were those few forced kisses…
“Then why… did you still seek him?” Li Shuang deliberately changed the subject, trying not to reminisce.
“Actually, for me, finding the Jade Silkworm or not didn’t matter much.” Wu Yin explained:
“In recent years when we couldn’t find the Jade Silkworm, no one dared offend Five Spirits Gate anyway. But because it’s our clan’s sacred object, the older generation wouldn’t let it go. After hearing news of a hero with extraordinary abilities in the Northern Border, I led people there. Finding the Jade Silkworm Gu vessel, I brought him back. I was determined to extract the Jade Silkworm from him no matter what because I had no interest in having a man lusting after me day and night.”
Li Shuang found this somewhat amusing, imagining if Jin’an clung to Wu Yin the way he clung to her, that scene…
Was indescribably peculiar.
“But unexpectedly…” Wu Yin pointed at the door ahead, “he was more stubborn than me. No matter what, he wouldn’t let me extract the Gu.”
Li Shuang stood before the iron door, peering through the wire mesh to see the scene inside, largely unchanged from yesterday. After Wu Yin had taken her away yesterday, no one had dared approach. The iron door remained locked, two of the wall chains were broken, and three still bound that person’s neck and feet. Unlike last night, however, the one confined there had changed from a muscular man into a child.
Clothes hung on him like rags, and he seemed extremely tired, curled up on the cold floor, sleeping quietly.
It was Jin’an.
It was him.
Wu Yin also looked inside: “Truly peaceful, haven’t seen him sleep like this in a long time.”
“He…” Li Shuang struggled to speak, “Why does he…”
“Perhaps something went wrong when the Spirit Woman was creating the Gu vessel. As for the specific reason, I’m not too clear, only knowing that since the day we captured him, he’s been like this—small during the day, large at night, changing back and forth…” Wu Yin paused, “You stayed with him in the Northern Border for so long, you didn’t know?”
Li Shuang fell silent.
She hadn’t known.
She had even suspected Jin’an might be the black-armored man’s son, but… who could have imagined such a relationship? No normal person would have guessed!
“He’s probably the most unique Gu vessel Five Spirits Gate has had in many years. Hmm, though you’re also the most unique master.” Wu Yin said, “Throughout generations, the Jade Silkworm Gu only recognized Five Spirits Gate’s sect masters as masters. Sect masters receive Gu art training from childhood. To us, a Jade Silkworm Gu vessel is just a human-shaped Gu. My father’s Jade Silkworm Gu vessel—he would have necessary contact with her, but wouldn’t embrace her, kiss her, or have feelings for her like he did for my mother.”
Li Shuang watched Jin’an inside while listening, unconsciously frowning.
“Investing such emotions in a Gu, General Li, you should be careful.” Wu Yin’s words were light, but they were his most well-intentioned advice to Li Shuang. “He is a Gu without humanity, without memories or identity. His dependence, attachment, and loyalty to you are all because he’s a Gu vessel—he must be loyal to you, that’s all. General, you need to maintain proper boundaries.”
Proper boundaries?
What are proper boundaries?
In her eyes, in her heart, Jin’an wasn’t just a Gu—he was a living, breathing person. To Li Shuang, he wasn’t without a past or identity.
He had them.
He had his past with her. He also had an identity, that identity called Jin’an, that identity that had become a legend in the Northern Border.
He was human, not just a Gu.
Li Shuang pushed open the iron door with a “creak” and entered the dungeon. The child curled up on the ground and awakened, raising his head. When he saw Li Shuang, instantly, it was as if countless rays of light shone into his eyes, making them brighten completely.
All the hardness in Li Shuang’s heart seemed to soften at that moment.
She walked forward and knelt before Jin’an, raising her hand to wipe away the dirt smudged on his face.
Jin’an lifted his hand, gently touching the wooden board on her neck. In that instant, those clear, bright eyes reddened slightly: “Pain…” Not a question, but a certainty, as certain as if a knife had stabbed into his own heart.