After entering the cavern, Nan Muxue pulled Chu Ruo to a halt after only a single step. Chu Ruo looked at her, puzzled. "What is it?"
Nan Muxue meticulously inspected the soft armor Chu Ruo wore, the rings on her fingers, and the various hidden weapons concealed on her person. Finally, as she straightened Chu Ruo’s sleeves, she murmured, "Be careful in all things."
Chu Ruo smiled. "Didn't you check everything last night and again this morning? You aren't usually like this, my normally overconfident Little Scorpion..."
Nan Muxue’s expression did not lighten. "If you wish to talk back to me, you may do so as much as you like once we are out. Now is not the time."
"I was just answering you. Your talent for pinning blame on people is truly—"
"Ru'er," the third person beside them spoke up tonelessly. "How much longer do you two intend to dally here?"
Chu Ruo gave a dry cough to mask her embarrassment. Nan Muxue, however, continued to act as if no one else existed, though she did speak to Chu Ruo again. "Keep Ice Fiend ready."
"I know," Chu Ruo said. Looking at the woman whose eyes held nothing but her, she reached out and squeezed her hand. "Xue'er, no matter the outcome, I will be with you."
Nan Muxue blinked slowly, the corners of her lips lifting in a faint, rare trace of a smile. "Mhm."
"Zhi'er," Chu Ruo turned to the other woman. She knew Bai Zhi'er’s feelings for her were just as deep, yet she could offer no response. "Let’s stop here. You shouldn't risk your life for us..."
"It is for you," Bai Zhi'er said, her hands clasped behind her back, her smile as gentle as it had been when they first met. "Not for 'us.' Ru'er, don't try to persuade me. If something happens to us inside... well, I would be dying with the one I love." She cast a sideways glance at Nan Muxue. "And the one I hate would be dead too. I suppose I would have no regrets."
"Wishful thinking. Come if you aren't afraid to die," Nan Muxue retorted coldly.
Chu Ruo hurried to follow. "Xue'er!"
Nan Muxue walked ahead. "If she wants to die, I don't mind helping her along. If there are any traps later, I’d be happy to give her a push from behind..."
"Who pushes whom remains to be seen," Bai Zhi'er countered.
Chu Ruo knew, however, that her "Little Scorpion" was actually trying to help. Nan Muxue knew Chu Ruo didn't want to involve Zhi'er, so she was deliberately saying sharp, biting things to distance her. *Sigh, what did I ever do to deserve such a Little Scorpion in this life?*
"It’s getting darker. We won't be able to see if we go any further. I’ll light a fire..."
Bai Zhi'er blocked Chu Ruo as she reached for her fire striker. "Don't."
"Why not?" Chu Ruo asked, confused.
"This is their sacred ground. The Miao people are experts in insects and Gu. The heat of a flame might attract venomous creatures." She opened a pouch and pulled out an object that immediately emitted a bright glow. "This is powdered luminous pearl mixed with fireflies. It’s brighter than a fire striker but won't attract poisonous pests."
"Zhi'er, you're amazing! This thing is so bright." Chu Ruo marveled at the ingenuity. Though small, it functioned like a brilliant white lightbulb.
Any young woman would feel a flush of joy and shyness upon hearing praise from her beloved. Bai Zhi'er’s face reddened slightly. "Let’s go."
"By the way, Zhi'er, why do you carry something like this with you?"
"Sometimes I go out with that girl Shanshan to catch venomous insects or gather herbs for research. Most of those things are found in dark, damp caves. Ru'er, do you regret bringing me along now?"
"Hehe, I just felt bad for dragging you into—hiss!" Chu Ruo turned back pitifully. "You pinched me..."
Nan Muxue’s fury was practically written in ink across her face. "You certainly seem to treasure that little bead, chatting and laughing so happily with your 'confidante'..."
"I was wrong, I was wrong!" Chu Ruo gently rubbed the spot where she had been pinched; she was sure a layer of skin was missing. Her Little Scorpion really didn't hold back. *Who would dare want a wife like this? Well, I chose her, so I have to endure it. My life is so bitter.*
"Stop."
This time, it was Nan Muxue who spoke seriously, catching hold of the still-whining Chu Ruo. "There should be traps on both sides."
Chu Ruo and Bai Zhi'er looked ahead. The stone walls on either side were smooth, but they were riddled with countless tiny holes. In a place like this, such features were clearly artificial. They were obviously arrow slits. Chu Ruo studied them for a moment. "If it’s just flying arrows, getting across shouldn't be hard. I’m just worried there might be other issues once we start moving. But this is the only path; we have to take it."
"We’ll know once we try," Bai Zhi'er said. She picked up a stone, weighed it, and tossed it across. The stone landed and rolled a few times, eventually coming to a rest. Nothing happened.
Chu Ruo observed, "Perhaps the mechanism requires a person’s weight to trigger. No time to waste—I’ll go first, then you two follow."
Both women stepped forward. "I’ll go—"
"If something happens, you’ll still be in time to save me if I’m already across. Your Pregnancy Gu has been acting up lately; what if your stomach starts hurting halfway through?" Chu Ruo held Nan Muxue back and blocked Bai Zhi'er as well. "Zhi'er, your medical skills are great, but these are mechanical traps. Your lightwork isn't as good as mine. Let me go first. If there’s anything poison-related, you can take over."
Bai Zhi'er knew she couldn't win the argument. "Ru'er, you're looking down on me."
"Ahem... you two wait for me here. I’m going." Before she left, she glanced at Nan Muxue. That single look caused the older woman’s irritation over the earlier chatter to melt away instantly, leaving only a stifled sense of worry.
"Be careful," Nan Muxue urged, her concern tireless.
Chu Ruo grinned and launched herself forward with a graceful display of lightwork. Based on her experience watching television, she assumed that as soon as she stepped onto the path between the walls, arrows would fly. She tried to minimize her contact with the ground, using her lightness to leap. However, the path was quite long. Halfway across, she had to touch down. She looked around, drawing Ice Fiend to deflect any incoming projectiles as she prepared to leap again.
Strangely, it was nothing like she imagined. Nothing happened. Confused but not daring to linger, she focused and continued across, reaching the end safely a moment later. *Phew, that was too easy.*
"Ru'er?" the two women called from the other side. All three were clearly bewildered. It shouldn't have been like this; the place looked exactly like a gauntlet of traps. Chu Ruo waved. "I’m fine! But wait a moment to see if any delayed traps trigger. If not, come over."
They waited for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, but the silence remained unbroken. The two on the other side exchanged a look, and despite their suspicions, they used their lightwork to join Chu Ruo.
Once they landed, Chu Ruo rushed to them. "Are you both alright?"
Bai Zhi'er shook her head. "Is the mechanism broken?"
Nan Muxue didn't think so. "Unlikely. I’ve seen similar traps before; they don't break easily. Even if they were old, there would be some reaction."
Chu Ruo chimed in, "Arrows should have shot out. Do you think someone else was here and used up the traps?"
"These mechanisms aren't one-time use. Besides, even if someone had come through, why aren't there any arrows on the ground?"
"Perhaps there is another possibility," Bai Zhi'er suggested. "Someone *did* come here, but they were either very powerful or very familiar with the layout, and they disabled the traps."
"If that’s the case, I really have to thank them. I hope they disabled the ones further ahead, too."
Nan Muxue let out a soft laugh. "You really don't use your head sometimes. If someone got here first, it means they’ve already taken what’s inside. Would the item still be waiting for you?"
"...Oh. Right. Well, let’s not think about it. Let’s keep going and find out."
Despite their doubts, they soon discovered that the path ahead matched their theory perfectly. There were traps, but every single one had been dismantled. They even found physical signs of sabotage. Someone had definitely been here. But as Nan Muxue said, this only proved that the item was likely gone. If it was, the Miao people wouldn't help them.
After walking for about an hour, they reached the innermost chamber. It was a vast, open space. Ahead stood a large, flat stone with a box resting upon it. Light filtered down through cracks in the mountain ceiling, allowing them to see clearly without their artificial light. Bai Zhi'er’s ears twitched. she moved to the left, disappearing behind a rock wall. She returned shortly. "I felt a breeze over there. I checked, and it seems to be an exit. We won't have to go back the way we came."
Chu Ruo stared at the box. "What do you think is inside? It looks pretty big." Judging by the size, there was plenty of room for a book or something else. "Do you think the cave will collapse if we take it?"
"Hehe... Ru'er, your imagination is quite cute."
"Zhi'er..."
Nan Muxue scanned the surroundings. "We must be cautious regardless. Ru'er, you go to the exit first. I’ll take the box and—"
"No. You two go. This isn't up for debate."
"You—"
Bai Zhi'er took the initiative to speak to Nan Muxue, a rare occurrence. "Stay here. Ru'er won't leave without you. The Pregnancy Gu in your stomach could flare up at any moment. Listen to Ru'er. We’ll go to the exit and wait for her to grab the box."
Finally, Nan Muxue looked at Chu Ruo and relented. Once she saw the two of them reach the exit, Chu Ruo took a deep breath and dashed forward, scooping up the box. "I’m coming!"
The cavern seemed to shudder. Before running out, Chu Ruo glanced back. It didn't collapse, but massive boulders fell from the ceiling, accompanied by a deluge of scorpions, centipedes, and venomous snakes. Some were already rotting. It was indeed a trap, and the falling stones were part of it. That was why the box was still there—the previous intruder must have been deterred by this final mechanism. *But what was that person after then?* Chu Ruo didn't have time to wonder. She was just glad she ran fast; if those things had landed on her... *Ugh.*
The three of them emerged from the exit and found it wasn't far from where they had started. They soon made their way back to Fenghuang. The Witch Head was waiting for them. She smiled when she saw them, as if she had known they would succeed. "I knew you were capable. You were faster than I expected."
"That’s because—"
"We brought the item back. Where is the antidote for the Pregnancy Gu?" Chu Ruo had been about to mention the disabled traps, but Nan Muxue cut her off. Chu Ruo understood immediately, silently praising her Little Scorpion for being so sharp while she herself had almost let it slip in her excitement.
Fenghuang held out her hand. "Are you really going to be this insincere?"
Chu Ruo thought for a moment and handed the box over. "You say we're insincere? Since we arrived, have we failed to do anything you asked? Fenghuang, we’ve brought the item. I hope you won't make things difficult for us anymore. Cure Xue'er."
Fenghuang smiled, pressed several hidden catches on the box, and lifted the lid. No one could see what was inside. She closed it again. "It is not that I am making things difficult. As I said, the rules of the Miao cannot be changed. You have one final trial..."
"Another one?"
"The very last one. I promise. But you must think carefully. This time, you might die."
Chu Ruo waved her hand dismissively. "We expected as much. Speak. What is it?"
"You have been to the Sacred Land," Fenghuang said, gesturing for her subordinates to prepare. "Now we must see the will of our Ancestors."
"Their will?"
A table was brought out. Seven cups of wine were placed on the left, and seven on the right. Fenghuang pointed. "Of the seven cups on my left, six are poisoned and one is safe. You must drink one. Of the seven on the right..."
Chu Ruo finished for her. "The right is the opposite: one is poisoned and six are safe, but I would have to drink six of them? You want me to choose a side?"
Fenghuang nodded with satisfaction. "Correct. The poison is colorless and tasteless. If you drink and remain unharmed, it means you have passed the Ancestors' test. From then on, the Miao will always welcome you. Choose."
"Ru'er," Bai Zhi'er said, "the side with six safe cups sounds like better odds."
"No," Chu Ruo shook her head. "I choose the left."
"Are you mad? There are six poisoned cups there. You only have one chance—"
"Exactly. Only one chance, Zhi'er," Chu Ruo said with a smile. "At first glance, the right side seems safer because there’s only one poisoned cup, right?"
"Isn't it?"
"No. That’s a logical trap. Forget the numbers for a second and answer me this: if I pick up a single cup from this table, what is the probability that *that specific cup* is poisoned?"
Bai Zhi'er was quick-witted; she realized it instantly. "The probability of it being poisoned or not is fifty-fifty."
"Exactly! No matter which side I choose, the moment I pick up a cup, there is a fifty percent chance it is poison. If I choose the left, I only have to be lucky once. If I choose the right, I have to be lucky six times in a row. With every cup I drink, the odds of hitting the poison increase. The right side effectively multiplies the risk of poisoning by six. Between once and six times, I’ll take the single shot." Chu Ruo casually picked up a cup from the left and downed it in one go. "This one."
Nan Muxue had remained silent the entire time. Only after Chu Ruo finished did she step forward. Before she could speak, Chu Ruo took her hand. "Xue'er, do you trust me?"
In that moment, Nan Muxue’s eyes were filled with absolute conviction. she answered with a single, resonant word: "Yes!"
"Good!"
*Clap! Clap! Clap!* Fenghuang applauded. "The poison in those cups kills instantly upon contact with the blood. Since you are still standing..."
"That means—!"
"You have passed."
"The antidote."
"The antidote takes time to prepare. Go and rest. Do not worry."
Chu Ruo eyed her. "How long?"
"Half a month at the shortest, a month at the longest. Given her current condition, she can hold out that long."
***
That night...
Fenghuang looked at her visitor and teased, "Coming to see me so late? Aren't you afraid your lady will be jealous?"
*Shing!*
Ice Fiend was at her throat. Fenghuang shrugged. "Why do you all love threatening people with swords? You—"
Chu Ruo’s face was cold. "This afternoon, you weren't telling the truth, were you?"
A flicker of change crossed Fenghuang’s eyes. "I don't know what you mean..."
"When you opened that box today, I felt something was wrong. That box was empty, wasn't it?"
"Since you knew, why did you drink the wine?"
"I also want to know why you didn't assume *we* were the ones who took the contents."
Fenghuang pushed the blade aside, her smile tinged with sadness. "The box held the sacred relics of the Miao. You wouldn't care about the rest, but inside were the records of how to cure the Pregnancy Gu, as well as a prepared antidote. But..."
"But the contents were stolen."
"Yes. I don't know who did it. But if you had taken them, you wouldn't have come back. Even if you did, you wouldn't have risked the poisoned wine. So someone must have taken them before you got there."
Chu Ruo’s hand trembled. "Which means... you have no way to cure the Pregnancy Gu?"
"The Pregnancy Gu hasn't been used in many years. No one knows how to make it anymore; the ones we have were made long ago." Fenghuang closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes."
*Pfft!*
Fenghuang rushed over as Chu Ruo spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. She tried to steady her, but Chu Ruo pushed her away. "Sit down and catch your breath! Don't let your emotions agitate your internal energy further."
"You... you..."
"I didn't expect you to be so angry you'd spit blood. This is a physical collapse from extreme distress." Fenghuang poured a cup of tea for her. "I didn't want to lie to you, but the sacred relics are vital to the Miao. I cannot let it be known that they are missing. I truly wanted to help you. I sent you to the cave because I believed you wouldn't steal from us. I told you to wait a month because I wanted to see if I could find another way to break the curse."
"Liar... liar..." Chu Ruo clenched her fists. How could she not be angry? Her carefree, playful attitude over the past few days had been an act, a mask to keep Xue'er from worrying. They had worked so hard, fought so desperately, just to be together. Why? Why was fate so cruel?
"Ru'er," a white-clad figure stepped into the room with a soft sigh. "Perhaps I have a way."
"Zhi'er?!"
"Don't get up. Just sit. Don't get excited."
"Zhi'er, how... why are you here?"
Bai Zhi'er pressed her lips together. "When you secretly asked me for spirit-calming medicine this afternoon, saying you wanted to rest... Ru'er, did you really think I didn't know you? You must have used that medicine on Nan Muxue so you could sneak out. And who else would you come to see but Fenghuang?"
Fenghuang stared at her. "With your intelligence and medical skill, you could be the Witch Head of the Miao..."
"I have no interest," Bai Zhi'er replied.
"But perhaps if we join forces, we can find a solution," Fenghuang added.
"Zhi'er, you said you had a way?" Chu Ruo asked urgently.
"There is a way, but it is very dangerous. The chance of failure is high."
"Tell me. As long as it can save Xue'er."
Bai Zhi'er gave a bitter smile. *Why? Why in the end can I still not bear to see you suffer?* She had struggled with herself; if that woman died, she could take Chu Ruo away. Besides, that woman was her enemy. But when she saw Chu Ruo spitting blood from the shadows... *Fine. So be it.*
"Listen closely. Fake death and a blood exchange."
"Fake death... blood exchange," Chu Ruo murmured, not even bothering to wipe the blood from her lips. "Fake death?"
"Yes. It’s only my theory. The Gu parasite feeds on human flesh and blood, growing until it consumes the host entirely. If the person 'dies,' and we then exchange her blood, would the Gu leave on its own?"
"You mean, trick the Gu into thinking the host is dead so it exits?"
"Host?"
"The terminology doesn't matter. How certain are you?"
"Less than twenty percent..."
"Wait a moment," Fenghuang interrupted, her expression intense as she thought. Suddenly, she let out an excited cry, looking at Bai Zhi'er with delight. "You're brilliant! Your idea of fake death and blood exchange gave me an inspiration. What if we lure another Gu insect inside?"
Bai Zhi'er pondered this. "Internal strife?"
"Yes! We use fake death to trick it, and then use their natural aggression against each other. The Pregnancy Gu is extremely territorial; it won't allow another Gu in the same body. Once a second one enters, they will fight."
"No, no," Chu Ruo waved her hands. "That sounds even less reliable. What if they don't fight? What if they become brothers and decide to live together? Or what if one wins and stays? Most importantly, with two insects fighting in her stomach, can Xue'er even survive that?"
"If I’m suggesting it, I have some confidence," Fenghuang said. "If I can lure it in, I can lure it out. And I can add poison to them so they dissolve into bloody water."
Bai Zhi'er agreed. "With my medical skills, I should be able to suppress them until they are drawn out of the body."
"Mhm. Then starting tomorrow, you and I will work together to figure out how to—"
Chu Ruo interrupted. "Are you truly sure?"
"I am. But there is one problem."
"What?"
"I need a human catalyst—a poison vessel. The Pregnancy Gu in her body is already mature. There isn't enough time to let a new Gu grow. We have to use poison. I need someone’s body to act as a container for the poison to catalyze the process. When we draw the Gu out, we need a person to receive the toxicity as a bridge. It is extremely dangerous because the toxicity is immense. Specifically, we need Heart-Breaking Grass. It could be fatal."
Heart-Breaking Grass. Even Chu Ruo, who knew little of medicine, knew it was a lethal poison that caused agonizing pain. Without a second thought, she nodded. "I’ll do it."
*Xue'er, as long as I can save you, I don't care about anything else.*
***
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