Mo Sigui initially started treating An Jiu partly out of interest in her condition, and partly because he felt responsible for her meridians being destroyed by Elder Zhi.

“A lifetime for ruined meridians? How many people have you been kept by?” Chu Dingjiang disapproved of his wording, responding with a hint of sarcasm.

Mo Sigui didn’t notice, pondering Chu Dingjiang’s words and finding them quite reasonable. “You’re right. Ultimately, it’s her personality that appeals to me.”

Chu Dingjiang didn’t bother arguing further. “Is there anything you want me to help with?”

Mo Sigui seemed very resentful, but upon closer examination, his temperament made it difficult for him to harbor intense love or hatred like Lou Mingyue. He merely enjoyed finding amusement in trivial matters. Not taking advantage of this opportunity to make things difficult wasn’t for An Jiu’s sake. Chu Dingjiang sensed that, besides being somewhat tired, Mo Sigui likely had something he wanted help with.

Mo Sigui tapped his pipe on the table. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Want me to help Lou Mingyue kill Yelü Huangwu?” Chu Dingjiang guessed correctly again.

Mo Sigui glared at him. “You can guess everything. Isn’t living exhausting for you?”

“Revenge is only meaningful when you do it yourself,” Chu Dingjiang said. Though he felt Lou Mingyue’s actions weren’t particularly wise, he still admired her. People often admire what they lack, and Chu Dingjiang lacked that kind of drive.

“Meaningful?” Mo Sigui raised his voice. “I’ve never felt that avenging the old man was important. Whether he’s alive or dead, I know he most wanted me to achieve success in medicine. Isn’t that more urgent and interesting than revenge?”

The “old man” he referred to was naturally Elder Qi, the divine doctor of Plum Blossom Village.

Chu Dingjiang looked at him with an enigmatic smile, offering no comment on his words.

Those with detached and open-minded natures can never understand narrow-mindedness and extremism. “Empathy” is often just an empty phrase; no one can fully understand another person’s feelings.

Without hatred reaching a certain intensity, one naturally can’t comprehend Lou Mingyue’s feelings. Chu Dingjiang didn’t say it out loud, but these things would be understood sooner or later if they could be. If one couldn’t understand, even the most straightforward explanation from others would only lead to a superficial grasp of the reasoning. However, when it comes to emotions, there’s never been any logic to speak of.

“There’s at least a 30% chance that Wei Yuzhi will give the Heart Blood, and he won’t ask for Gu Jinghou’s blood,” Chu Dingjiang suddenly changed the subject.

Mo Sigui was stunned. “That can’t be right? Has he gone stupid recently?”

“It’s precisely because he’s not stupid,” Chu Dingjiang said. “Smart people have their pride. How could he exchange his blood? If he’s willing to sacrifice his Heart Blood, it’s because he likes A’Jiu.”

Exchanging his blood for Gu Jinghou’s would achieve two goals at once, but since it would be a transaction, there would be no sentiment between him and An Jiu. Moreover, with his pride, he would never believe he needed to sacrifice himself to achieve his goals.

Mo Sigui opened his mouth but couldn’t speak for a long while.

Chu Dingjiang said, “There’s nothing to be surprised about. The smartest people often have the most foolish aspects.”

“That’s not it,” Mo Sigui recovered. “I’m surprised that someone like A’Jiu has started to attract people’s affection.”

Chu Dingjiang was slightly displeased. “A woman as exceptional as her naturally attracts affection.”

Well, Mo Sigui reluctantly admitted that An Jiu was exceptional. She was indeed admirable in some aspects, but describing her as an “exceptional woman” was too much! Had all the women in the world died? Looking at An Jiu as a woman, she barely passed in any aspect, let alone being exceptional. He hadn’t realized Chu Dingjiang had such a sense of humor!

Mo Sigui felt indignant on behalf of all women in the world. “She’s just good-looking.”

“She’s an uncut jade,” Chu Dingjiang smiled gently, not angered by Mo Sigui’s assessment.

Mo Sigui was alarmed by this suddenly gentle aura, silently thinking that calling her a gold-plated iron block would be more accurate. With An Jiu’s shiny exterior, what else did she have besides her looks? She wasn’t like his Mingyue, beautiful both inside and out.

Chu Dingjiang didn’t know Mo Sigui was pondering this. They weren’t close confidants, so after finishing their conversation, he took his leave.

Mo Sigui thought of Lou Mingyue, his thoughts becoming chaotic again. The drowsiness he had carefully cultivated with those sleep-inducing drug pipes had mostly dissipated. He opened the window to watch the gently falling snow outside and lit another pipe.

During those days spent with Lou Mingyue at the border, Mo Sigui had glimpsed the fragility hidden beneath her tough, stubborn exterior. The way she so forcefully armored herself only made Mo Sigui’s heart ache more.

Mo Sigui didn’t know the depth of his feelings, only that he could no longer remain a bystander.

After finishing a pipe, Mo Sigui picked up a brush and wrote on the paper: “In life, I shall return; in death, I’ll be eternal longing.”

Then he crossed it out and wrote the character for “revenge” next to it.

He felt he still couldn’t generate deep-seated love or hatred in his heart, but he had finally taken Lou Mingyue’s revenge as his own. As for the medical path, he would just have to work harder.

As drowsiness gradually overtook him, Mo Sigui felt the weight on his heart lighten slightly. He held the paper close to the fire basin, squinting as he watched it burn to ashes, then got up and wobbled off to bed.

In a mansion buried under deep snow in Bianjing:

A figure in cyan sat by the fire basin, intently reading a letter as if trying to see through the thin paper.

His elegant face showed an unhealthy paleness.

The guards outside had checked the light in the room several times and finally couldn’t help but knock. “Sir, it’s past midnight. Please rest early.”

Wei Yuzhi looked up and coughed lightly, but didn’t answer.

The guard knew he couldn’t influence his decision and could only keep quiet, reminding him every so often.

Mei Shisi.

Wei Yuzhi’s lips moved slightly, but he didn’t speak aloud.

He had valleys in his heart. Even if he liked a woman, it was only a small part of his life, a diversion outside of his schemes. To have even a slight connection with her, to satisfy his desires, he could even indulge in troubling and hurting her. Now, this situation was beyond his expectations; he had never thought he would face the question of whether to save her or not.

That girl was dying and needed his Heart Blood to save her life.

“I already resent that my own life is too short,” Wei Yuzhi murmured. If he had to further shorten his remaining time because of this, he couldn’t help but be cautious.

Thinking of this, Wei Yuzhi was startled. Had he subconsciously considered saving her?

He raised his hand to touch the scar on his chest through his thick clothes. This was left by An Jiu back then. Although he had captured her first, this sword strike had indeed worsened his condition. Considering everything, they could be considered enemies.

Wei Yuzhi smiled self-mockingly, feeling he must be crazy to think of saving her.

“Sir,” the person outside knocked on the door again, reminding him, “It’s late.”

“I know,” Wei Yuzhi answered helplessly, extinguishing the light and going to bed.