Wei Yuzhi remained unconscious for three days before waking up.
These three days left Mo Sigui exhausted. For the first time, he fell into a deep sleep without the aid of medicinal smoke.
When he awoke, he felt refreshed. This sleep had been more effective than any before.
Sunlight reflected off the snow, blindingly white.
Mo Sigui stretched lazily and turned his head to see Wei Yuzhi in azure robes, leaning against the bed reading a letter. His leopard-colored fur coat was nearly slipping off. His snow-white hair had a faint gray tinge from the roots, like an ink-wash painting.
“Oh my, I’m truly amazing!” Mo Sigui exclaimed excitedly upon noticing the gray streak. He thrust a mirror into Wei Yuzhi’s hands. “Quick, look! In a year or so, your hair could return to its original color, and your face will be as handsome as before.”
Wei Yuzhi set the mirror down and held out the letter to Mo Sigui with his slender fingers.
“My letter?” Mo Sigui asked, puzzled.
Wei Yuzhi replied, “No, but I thought you’d want to know about Miss Lou.”
Mo Sigui paused briefly before hastily taking the letter and reading it carefully.
After finishing, his expression softened slightly. He handed the letter back to Wei Yuzhi, saying, “Thank you.”
“It’s only right,” Wei Yuzhi responded.
It turned out that a month ago, Lou Mingyue had attempted to assassinate Yelü Huangwu again, severely wounding him. However, she also found herself in a desperate situation. It was Wei Yuzhi’s clandestine forces in the Liao Kingdom that secretly aided her escape.
This was Lou Mingyue’s first action after lying low for half a year, and she had made progress since her previous attempt.
“With one more opportunity, Miss Lou will surely avenge her family,” Wei Yuzhi said. As both an ally and mortal enemy of Yelü Huangwu, if Lou Mingyue succeeded, it would benefit Wei Yuzhi immensely without any drawbacks. Naturally, he was willing to lend a hand, and it would also repay some of the debt he owed to Mo Sigui. Why not?
Chu Dingjiang’s words from before weren’t without merit. National hatred and family vengeance weren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. With the Liao Kingdom marginalizing him, even if Wei Yuzhi exhausted all his efforts, he couldn’t destroy the Great Song. For some, there’s still time to turn back from the wrong path, but for Wei Yuzhi, there was no second chance. Now that he realized this path led nowhere, should he continue to bang his head against the wall or find his way back?
Wei Yuzhi gazed at the dazzling sunlight outside and said slowly, “To dedicate one’s life to accomplishing a single task is also praiseworthy.”
Mo Sigui sighed deeply, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Some people think they’re masterminds who can have it all, but in the end, they’re left with nothing. Ah! Chu Dingjiang is the one who truly understands.”
He couldn’t help but pick up his pipe and light some medicinal smoke. “As things stand now, I might very well be that person left with nothing.”
“Miss Lou is also a perceptive person,” Wei Yuzhi paused for a moment before continuing, “If Divine Doctor Mo can communicate with her, it might be worth advising her. Miss Lou’s assassination attempt this time was with the mindset of mutual destruction. Perhaps… she wants to find release early… and release you as well.”
“I know. She’s always been considerate, not wanting to trouble others. It was I who insisted on clinging to her,” Mo Sigui exhaled a puff of smoke, bitterness spreading on his tongue. “I pushed her to this point.”
Otherwise, Lou Mingyue wouldn’t be in such a hurry. As the saying goes, ‘A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years.’ She could have had more time to observe her enemy and plan the assassination, striving for a single, decisive strike. Or she could have thought of other ways to exact revenge on Yelü Huangwu. She chose to take such risks repeatedly, even at the cost of mutual destruction, because she feared the painful and entangled bond with Mo Sigui.
No one was at fault; it was destiny that erred.
“It’s time to let go,” Mo Sigui walked to the writing desk, picked up a brush, and wrote a letter. Then he summoned Little Moon and tied a bamboo tube to it.
Wei Yuzhi hadn’t expected him to make such a quick decision. “To cut off when necessary is admirable.”
“We were childhood friends after all. If this bond has become a burden for both of us, why hesitate?” Mo Sigui patted Little Moon’s head and fed it a bag of herbs. “Go now!”
Seeing Mo Sigui’s carefree and decisive manner, Wei Yuzhi felt he too should make an early decision.
…
At the Mei residence in Bianjing.
Two people sat in the main hall, enveloped in silence.
Mei Zhengying, dressed in plain robes, sat in the main seat, looking at the woman in a light blue dress. After a long while, he finally spoke, “Elder Sister, I’m sorry, but I cannot make this exchange. Since childhood, I’ve known that while a Mei family member’s life may be expendable, there are two things we cannot give up: the Heart Sutra and the Cold Plum.”
The Cold Plum was a plum tree carved from a rare type of chalcedony. It could help external martial artists temper their bodies and spiritual energy. Legend had it that if used correctly, it could even bring the dead back to life.
Both items would likely be effective for An Jiu, but the Cold Plum was a Mei family treasure and could not possibly be given away. The Mei Boxing Heart Sutra, however, was of little use to them. Mei Yanran could only choose the one she had a chance of obtaining to negotiate. “Not even in exchange for the ‘Crane Control Secret Manual’? An Jiu and I aren’t outsiders. We just want to look at the Heart Sutra once. No matter how you calculate it, this trade isn’t a loss for you.”
“Elder Sister,” Mei Zhengying rested his chin on his hand, speaking languidly, “If you truly considered yourself a member of the Mei family, you wouldn’t be making this deal with me.”
“Do you think I want to?” Mei Yanran’s eyes reddened slightly, her voice tinged with anger. “It’s not as if I have the ‘Crane Control Secret Manual’ in my possession. It’s only because Mr. Chu regards An Jiu so highly that he’s willing to offer it in exchange. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even have the qualifications to negotiate with you! Let me ask you, in the half year An Jiu has been unconscious, has the Mei family extended any help? I consider myself a member of the Mei family, but when the family abandons my daughter in her time of need, don’t blame me for looking out for myself!”