The reality was, he had no choice at all.

“You’re forcing an honest man into prostitution!” Mo Sigui spat bitterly.

An Jiu found his words amusing and grinned.

Mo Sigui rolled his eyes. These two together could drive a person mad—one with deep schemes, the other carefree and heartless!

“Living on the island isn’t bad, though it can only accommodate a limited number of people,” Chu Dingjiang said, completely ignoring Mo Sigui’s emotions.

The island wasn’t small, but its resources were finite. If besieged for a few months, they might run out of food.

Mo Sigui sat up straight. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to send more people here?”

Chu Dingjiang replied, “I have no such plans at the moment.”

“At the moment?” Mo Sigui’s voice rose as he pulled out a fan and fanned himself vigorously. “Sending a few normal women is fine, but everyone else can stay ten miles away from me!”

“People with insomnia are indeed easily agitated,” An Jiu commented out of nowhere.

Her train of thought was completely different from the others, but her words struck Mo Sigui precisely and harshly. To think that he, a renowned divine physician, couldn’t even cure his insomnia—it would be a blow to his reputation if word got out.

“I’m done playing with you two!” Mo Sigui got up and stormed into the house.

His insomnia had been worsening. Initially, a few puffs of his custom-made medicinal smoke would help him fall asleep quickly, but after a few days, the effect diminished. Mo Sigui knew this was related to his habit of testing medicines on himself.

In the pavilion, Chu Dingjiang took out a small bag and handed it to An Jiu. “These are seeds of a poisonous flower. When they touch water, they release a large amount of toxic gas. Give them to Mo Sigui and have him devise a way to set up a defensive perimeter around the island.”

“Alright,” An Jiu agreed.

Just as Chu Dingjiang was about to bid farewell, he sensed someone approaching.

They both turned to look.

In the dim light, Mei Yanran appeared, wearing a long moon-white dress and holding a large yellow oilcloth umbrella. She carried a jar of wine in her arms, moving with light, graceful steps. An ordinary person would never guess she possessed martial arts skills.

She had originally intended to just pass by, but upon seeing An Jiu, she paused and changed course.

“You’re back,” Mei Yanran said, standing at the bottom of the steps. She looked An Jiu over, then turned to Chu Dingjiang. “And this is…?”

“I am a friend of Ajiu,” Chu Dingjiang said, offering a polite greeting.

Mei Yanran returned the gesture with a slight bow. “My surname is Mei.”

After a moment of silence, Chu Dingjiang took the initiative. “Madam Mei, please come up and join us.”

“No need, I still have to tend to others’ wounds,” Mei Yanran replied, then asked An Jiu, “Were you injured?”

A faint smile appeared on An Jiu’s calm face. “No.”

Mei Yanran nodded. “Well then, I’ll leave you to your business. Farewell.”

Watching her walk away, Chu Dingjiang asked An Jiu, “Is she your mother?”

“Yes and no,” An Jiu replied.

Chu Dingjiang understood. “It seems she knows the truth. Ajiu, don’t expect motherly affection from her. Even if you get along well and develop deep feelings, she will always harbor a trace of resentment towards you.”

From Mei Yanran’s reaction, Chu Dingjiang could guess that she must have loved her daughter dearly. It was only because An Jiu had risked herself for Mei Yanran that she forced herself to come and show concern.

“Mm.” An Jiu fell silent.

Chu Dingjiang stayed with her in the pavilion until midnight before leaving.

Two days later, he sent Sheng Changying to the island.

Although not the “normal woman” Mo Sigui had requested, he didn’t dislike Sheng Changying. These past few days, Mo Sigui had been shut in his room, trying to cure his insomnia. For some unknown reason, not only had his condition not improved, but it had become increasingly difficult to control, to the point where he was constantly surrounded by medicinal smoke.

When Sheng Changying went to greet him, she ended up being dragged out horizontally by Mo Sigui’s apprentice and slept for two whole days.