Mo Xiaoyao said, “The master didn’t say how to contact him, but Da Jiu is a tracking tiger and should be able to find him.”

Chu Dingjiang looked at the foolish-looking tiger, hesitating. He knew that Da Jiu and Xiao Yue were tracking tigers raised by Mo Sigui, but Da Jiu was specifically used to track An Jiu’s whereabouts. Whether it could find Mo Sigui was still unknown. Perhaps it had some connection with Xiao Yue, but no one knew how strong this connection might be.

“Go ahead,” Chu Dingjiang said.

Mo Xiaoyao glanced at Da Jiu, and seeing it didn’t intend to leave, he left alone.

Sui Yunzhu guessed Chu Dingjiang’s concerns, “My lord, stay with Fourteen. I’ll take Da Jiu to find the divine doctor.”

Chu Dingjiang nodded, “Very well. Can you control this tiger?”

“As long as there’s food, it’s easy to control,” Sui Yunzhu smiled, stepping forward to rub Da Jiu’s head and taking out a poisonous pill to wave in front of its nose.

Da Jiu, who had been lost in thought, followed the scent with a blissful expression and went out with him.

Chu Dingjiang rubbed his brow, his expression complex.

He wondered if this tiger’s gluttony had also taken after An Jiu.

The sunset in the west, and the moon rose in the east.

Chu Dingjiang maintained the same posture, gazing at An Jiu, never moving, like a mountain unmoved for ten thousand years.

When Zhu Pianpian and Sheng Changying entered, they saw this frozen scene.

“Dingjian,” Sheng Changying spoke.

Chu Dingjiang’s robe moved slightly as he turned his head, showing his profile, “You’ve come.”

The two walked to the bedside and looked at An Jiu lying there. Sheng Changying said, “She looks well. It seems there’s no major problem.”

Hearing this, Chu Dingjiang smiled, “No need for comforting words. I can handle it, whether good or bad. If she truly doesn’t wake up, I need to be even better, so I can take good care of her.”

He was a person so calm he seemed unfeeling, but as he said these words, his entire body trembled slightly. No one noticed; only he knew that this was truly a way of comforting himself.

Sheng Changying understood Chu Dingjiang a little and gave him a deep look, saying, “It’s good that you can think this way.”

Zhu Pianpian suddenly asked, “Was it Elder Zhi’s doing?”

Chu Dingjiang made a sound of agreement.

Although Elder Zhi valued talent, he was also extremely selfish in archery. He preferred to reach the peak himself rather than see others touch it. Many places that could be reached through effort were not the true peak. The real pinnacle had only a small space, room for only one person. So, those who were just one step away from that place were lonely. They wanted to reach the top while also eliminating other equally skilled competitors who posed a threat, especially strong ones like Elder Zhi who seemed to be forever stuck one step below the peak.

When An Jiu first showed her archery talent, Elder Zhi decided to carefully nurture her. At that time, the gap in strength between her and Elder Zhi was like that between heaven and earth. Yet, this seemingly insignificant existence had shot the startling arrow before him! Elder Zhi’s always calm heart was instantly shattered.

Now, facing her again, he discovered that the ant he once looked down upon had climbed to the top of his head in such a short time. At this moment, his feelings were complex, even he couldn’t distinguish whether it was jealousy, joy, astonishment, or resentment.

If An Jiu hadn’t been there, Elder Zhi might have considered his position and not acted so madly.

The Crown Prince was too vicious, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals. If he truly ascended the throne, the Mei family’s situation would only worsen. Although the Second Prince, who had always schemed to usurp the throne, couldn’t be considered upright, he was much better in comparison. With Elder Zhi’s wisdom, he should have known how to choose.

But if that arrow hadn’t been so dangerous at that moment, there would have been no need to expose An Jiu, and she wouldn’t have caught Elder Zhi’s attention.

“An enemy arranged by fate,” Zhu Pianpian sighed. “A predestined tribulation that couldn’t be avoided.”

She wanted to say that the wicked often live long, and Mei Shisi wouldn’t die so easily, but seeing Chu Dingjiang’s expression, she pressed her lips together, unable to muster the courage to speak those words.

“You’ve seen much of the world. Are there any precedents of fainting due to spiritual force depletion?” Chu Dingjiang looked at Sheng Changying.

Sheng Changying hesitated, “You know that people who can exhaust their spiritual force to the last drop are themselves extremely strong in both spiritual power and willpower, so it’s not common. I’ve only heard of one case, and that was fifty years ago.”

“What was the outcome for that person?” Chu Dingjiang knew he was building up to cushion the blow of a tragic ending, and he was somewhat prepared, but he still needed to hear it. Even a bit more experience would be helpful.

Sheng Changying said, “It was a transcendent realm inner cultivator. After being in a coma for a year… he passed away.”

To live in this world, besides the life force of the physical body, one also needs spiritual support. Ordinary people also have spiritual force, but it’s too weak, just enough to sustain life.

If spiritual force collapses, even with a strong physical life force, one can only be a living dead.

The silence made the atmosphere very oppressive.

Chu Dingjiang looked too strong, seeming to need no consolation, even companionship seemed superfluous. The two sat for a while before leaving.

“Ah!” Once they were far away, Chu Dingjiang couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh. His rough fingers gently caressed An Jiu’s face, tracing her beautiful facial contours.