Chapter 94: Transference of the Gu Poison (Please subscribe and vote with monthly passes)

Chapter 094: The Gu Poison Transfer

As An Yue’s words faded, An Ran stepped into the examination room.

Jun Moli lay on the couch, his brows tightly knitted, his cheeks deathly pale, and his head drenched in sweat. His eyes were shut tight, his lashes trembling as if he were trapped in a harrowing nightmare.

An Ran’s heart skipped a beat, and a sudden wave of panic washed over her. She realized, with a jolt of terror, that she was truly afraid of him dying. Seeing him lying there, unconscious and unresponsive, filled her with a dark foreboding. More than that, she felt a profound sense of guilt—he had truly been ill all along.

She felt a sudden coldness toward her own lack of trust. If she had only believed in him a little more, if she had understood him better, would she have rushed back without hesitation the moment Han Shang told her he was sick?

An Ran regained her composure, though the lingering alarm in her eyes had not yet faded. An Yue, having entered behind her, caught this flicker of emotion. He let out a soft sigh and turned toward the counter.

"Divine Doctor, please, you must save Brother Moli!" Zhan Lun, seeing An Ran standing dazed at the doorway, spoke with desperate urgency, his face full of anxiety and his eyes pleading.

An Ran looked up at Zhan Lun, her voice devoid of warmth. "Give me a detailed account of Jun Moli’s condition. Liehuo, Jiaoyang, take Prince Li to the medicine chamber!"

"Yes, Miss!" Liehuo and Han Shang, frantic with worry, immediately stepped forward to lift Jun Moli. They placed him in a wheelchair specifically designed by An Ran for patients with limited mobility and wheeled him toward the medicine chamber.

As An Ran walked alongside Zhan Lun, he quickly recounted the circumstances of Jun Moli’s collapse on the road. An Ran nodded and signaled for Zhan Lun to stop outside the medicine chamber.

"Lord Zhan, I must trouble you to go to the palace and report the Prince's condition to the Emperor in detail. If he does not believe you, he may send his own imperial physicians. However, the Prince is in no condition to be moved, so he will not be returning to the Prince Li estate for now." With these instructions, An Ran pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Zhan Lun was stunned that this fifteen-year-old girl could be so composed, settling all matters regarding Jun Moli’s situation before he had even regained consciousness. Most importantly, with Jun Moli in a coma and his life hanging in the balance, even if Jun Dingyue wanted to suppress him, he would not dare order a marriage or celebration at such a time. If Jun Moli woke up, it would be fine; if he didn’t, the bride would be a widow, and the Marquis of Yongle would surely harbor deep resentment toward Jun Dingyue. Besides, what point was there in suppressing a dead man?

Thus, Jun Moli would at least have a few days of peace.

Inside the medicine chamber, after checking Jun Moli’s pulse, An Ran’s heart turned cold. The toxins released by the Gu were becoming increasingly virulent. The Gu insects she had previously introduced into his body had all burst and died, and the poison in his blood was thickening. Introducing new Gu insects now would, at best, buy him a few more days of life. After that, he would still die.

Jun Moli’s bodily functions had been devastated by the Gu toxin. If she couldn't extract the poison and follow up with careful nursing and medication, he was as good as dead. To save him, there were only two options.

First: Kill the mother Gu, which would cause the Gu toxin within Jun Moli to vanish on its own. However, this poison was likely planted by the Gu King of the Miao border, and finding him and killing the mother Gu within a few days was impossible. The Gu King rarely left his territory and poured his entire life’s work into crafting such heart-Gu; a fanatical Gu King would even sacrifice his own life to protect it.

Second: The Transfer. This involved drawing the Gu toxin from Jun Moli’s body into another person, who would then endure the agony of the poison consuming their own bodily functions. This method was extremely dangerous. Furthermore, the person bearing the poison could not find a third party to take it on. In other words, if she could not find a way to cure the Gu, the person who accepted the transfer would die in Jun Moli’s place.

Who would be willing to do such a thing?

An Ran performed acupuncture on several of Jun Moli’s vital points, then looked at Liehuo with an expressionless gaze. It was a calm, ripple-less stare, yet it made Liehuo tremble with fear.

Her eyes were terrifying. Before you could even discern her intent, you were already drawn into the bottomless whirlpool of her ink-black pupils, unable to break free.

"Liehuo, do you trust me?" An Ran finally asked, her voice as flat and devoid of emotion as her face.

Jun Moli’s condition could not be delayed any longer. She dared not gamble his life on the hope that she could develop an antidote-Gu within three days. But if she transferred the toxin to another, even though the toxicity would double, she would have three years to formulate an antidote.

Liehuo felt a chill crawl up his spine under her gaze, yet he nodded involuntarily. Whether it was her skill or her character, he believed in her. Even if he wasn't used to her cold and distant demeanor, he truly respected and trusted her from the bottom of his heart.

"Miss, is there something you need me to do?" Liehuo asked, his anxiety mounting as An Ran’s expression grew increasingly grave.

Jiaoyang stood to the side, completely lost. Shouldn't the priority be to introduce more Gu insects to absorb the toxins?

"Are you willing to be the one to receive the Gu toxin transfer for your master?" An Ran’s expression turned colder, as did her tone. "If you are willing, I will exhaust every effort to develop an antidote to purge the poison from you; I will not break my word. I can save your master, but he cannot wait any longer!"

The Transfer?

Liehuo and Jiaoyang were both startled. The master’s Gu could be transferred to someone else, forcing another to suffer for him? Why hadn’t she mentioned this sooner?

"I am willing!" Liehuo and Jiaoyang answered in unison.

They were once street urchins. It was Jun Moli who had kindly fed them, adopted them, and hired people to teach them martial arts, never treating them like mere servants. Their lives were saved by Jun Moli; let alone a Gu transfer, they would not hesitate even if they were asked to give their lives right now.

"Jiaoyang, you are not suitable. This task can only be completed by Liehuo!" An Ran glanced at Jiaoyang and refused.

"Why?"

Jiaoyang was unwilling to let Liehuo face the danger alone, especially since he wanted to contribute to his master’s salvation. Last time, because of his own personal feelings, he had nearly caused the death of his master and Liehuo. He wouldn't let Liehuo risk his life again for anything.

"Why? Aside from Liehuo, which of you three guards is still a virgin?" An Ran’s eyes darkened as she stated the reason bluntly.

Liehuo felt his face burn with shame; after all these years, he hadn't yet tasted that kind of intimacy. Jiaoyang, and Han Shang who had rushed in from the door, all lowered their heads, their faces flushed deep red. It was a perfectly normal matter, yet the way An Ran said it made them feel as if they had committed some heinous crime.

"Liehuo, what are you ashamed of? Lie down on the couch next to your master!"

Since Liehuo had no objections, the transfer could begin immediately. The sooner the Gu was removed from Jun Moli, the less danger he would be in.

"Witch, I trust you, so don't let your hands shake!" Liehuo coughed awkwardly, forcing a smile to appear relaxed, joking with An Ran to show her he wasn't worried, lest she get nervous and end up with two corpses instead of one.

"Don't worry. You won't die. If you die, I will pay with my own life!" An Ran didn't mind him calling her a witch; her tone was filled with unwavering confidence and a solemn promise.

"Miss, then I..."

"Go outside and guard the chamber door with Han Shang. No matter who comes, do not let them in. If there is a single mistake, I will hold you accountable!" An Ran enunciated every word with sharp clarity. She knew Jiaoyang understood. As she finished, she turned to the hidden compartment to prepare the necessary tools.

"Please rest assured, Miss!" Jiaoyang said firmly, stepping out to stand guard with a grim expression, watching every movement outside the medicine chamber.

An Ran concocted a mixture from the Five Poisons and used a specific flute melody to summon two small foxes into the room. She used a dagger to make a small incision on the paw of the fox named Xue Rong, letting the blood drip into the liquid.

She bandaged the small creature’s wound, and after a few soft whimpers, it hopped onto the floor. The other fox, Xue Qiu, had been eager to participate; seeing Xue Rong jump down, it leaped into An Ran’s arms, brimming with excitement.

An Ran sterilized the dagger over a flame and used the same method to cut Xue Qiu’s paw, then brought it directly to Jun Moli’s mouth, dripping the fresh blood of the Snow Spirit Fox onto his purple lips, allowing it to seep down his throat.

Liehuo, lying beside Jun Moli, was already nervous. Seeing the blood drip into Jun Moli’s mouth, his own face paled. Would he have to drink that too? He had no appetite for such things!

"Liehuo, open your mouth!" Sure enough—

An Ran moved the little fox’s paw toward Liehuo’s mouth. Liehuo kept his lips pressed shut, his face twisted in misery, refusing to drink.

"This is the blood of the Snow Spirit Fox. It extends life and can neutralize a hundred poisons. Whether you drink it or not is up to you!" An Ran felt speechless. As soon as she explained the benefits of Xue Qiu’s blood, Liehuo immediately opened his mouth.

It wasn't until An Ran finished bandaging Xue Qiu that Liehuo added a remark that begged for a beating: "Tastes pretty good. Can I have some more?"

An Ran rolled her eyes at him, took out the thickest golden needle from her kit, and struck Liehuo’s sleep point with a firm hand. Before Liehuo could savor the remaining scent of blood on his lips, his eyes closed, and he drifted into unconsciousness.

An Ran smiled triumphantly. She lifted Liehuo’s right hand, made an incision in his palm with her dagger, and fresh blood welled up immediately. She placed a sterile gauze pad on the couch and rested his hand upon it.

Jun Moli’s lips were stained with blood. With his pale cheeks and purple lips, he would have terrified anyone who saw him in the dead of night, especially if accompanied by a mournful cry.

An Ran stripped off Jun Moli’s outer robe, leaving only his trousers. After inserting several needles into his honey-toned chest, she fed him the Five Poisons mixture. A moment later, she saw a bulge about an inch long writhing beneath his skin, twisting and turning, causing his skin to rise.

Jun Moli’s brows furrowed deeper, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his forehead. Shortly after, the creature pushed against the skin, moving away from his heart toward his neck, where it finally went still.

Seeing the creature had moved away from his heart, An Ran let out a heavy sigh of relief. She applied toad bile to Liehuo’s wound three times before placing his palm against the unwrapped wrist of Jun Moli. Moments later, the Gu toxin in Jun Moli’s neck began to stir again, writhing and moving downward.

An Ran watched this scene intently, observing the Gu toxin inching out of Jun Moli’s body, slowly sliding toward the wound on his wrist. As soon as it entered the wound, the blood of the two would merge. Since Liehuo’s body was free of toxins, the Gu would naturally choose to enter his body to consume his biological functions and gain nutrients.

"It’s in!"

Watching the Gu toxin successfully enter Liehuo’s arm and vanish beneath his skin, An Ran couldn't help but cry out!

"The Miss commanded that we must guard the door. No one is to enter!"

Suddenly, An Ran was pulled back to reality by the sound of clashing weapons outside. Who could be causing trouble at such a moment? Could it be Yu Jinglan?

An Ran didn't hesitate; she immediately introduced the pre-prepared medicinal Gu into Liehuo’s body. This Gu was several times more potent than the one previously in Jun Moli. It would need to be replaced every three days, but for now, Liehuo’s life was not in immediate danger.

However, the noise outside made An Ran’s heart race again. Given Yu Jinglan’s martial prowess, the three men outside could hold him off for at most half an hour. After that, he would certainly break in. If the final step of the detoxification were interrupted, Jun Moli would surely die!

An Ran couldn't help but find the irony in the situation. Last time she suppressed the poison for him, she had encountered two waves of assassins. This time, Yu Jinglan was far more formidable and difficult to deal with than those assassins. Especially since he knew it was Jun Moli inside; even if she went out to persuade him to wait, he would never allow it.

Therefore, she had to hurry!

After introducing the medicinal Gu into his blood, she used silver needles to stop the bleeding and wrapped the wound in gauze before rushing back to Jun Moli.

To force the Gu to reveal itself and leave his body, she had used a method of fighting poison with poison. The Five Poisons mixture was highly toxic, and while Xue Qiu’s blood could neutralize ninety percent of it, the remaining ten percent required her to use needles, bloodletting, and medication!

She took two pills from the hidden compartment—one white, one brown—and fed them to Jun Moli in two doses. She retrieved a new kit, pulled out silver needles of varying lengths and thicknesses, and rapidly inserted them into the vital points across his limbs.

Half a cup of tea later, Jun Moli’s body began to burn. His face looked as if it were scorched by fire, and sweat poured off him like rain...

*Bang!* The door to the medicine chamber was kicked open. Yu Jinglan charged in, sword in hand, with Jiaoyang and the others following him in a disheveled state, their own swords drawn.

An Ran turned around and met Yu Jinglan’s eyes, which were filled with sorrow and disbelief.

Yu Jinglan’s gaze fell upon Jun Moli, and his expression turned increasingly fierce, as if he wanted to skin him alive. His eyes glowed with a chilling, ghostly light, as if he wished to tear him limb from limb. Damn him! The reason Ranran wouldn't return to Yeyue to be his Empress must be because this man was behind it!

"Brother Lan, please go outside. I will be out in a moment!" An Ran knew she couldn't confront him head-on. She couldn't hurt Yu Jinglan, but she couldn't watch him kill Jun Moli either. She had to fulfill this critical final stage!

"Come with me!" Yu Jinglan’s gaze returned to An Ran, his tone decisive and cold. Seeing Jun Moli in such a near-death state, he knew that if An Ran left, the man would surely die. He couldn't be bothered to finish him off himself.

An Ran shook her head slightly, glancing at Jun Moli out of the corner of her eye. Just half a cup of tea more, and it would be done. She only prayed Yu Jinglan wouldn't strike now.

Yu Jinglan’s eyes were full of pain. At the thought of Jun Moli stealing his love, a raging fury ignited within him. He pointed his sword at Jun Moli and looked at An Ran. "You still refuse to come with me because of him? He is half-dead—what could he possibly have done to make you stay for him?"

"Brother Lan, I owe him a debt of unimaginable magnitude. Even if I had to pay with my own life, I would not hesitate. Please, wait for me outside, will you?" An Ran spoke half-truths, her cold face showing a slight trace of emotion.

She did indeed owe Jun Moli a massive favor, though she had already saved many lives and rescued him multiple times in return—more than enough to repay the debt for Lu Xuexin’s life. But if he hadn't agreed to give up that ginseng flower, Lu Xuexin would have died long ago. So, even if she had to give her life to Jun Moli, she would do so without hesitation once her revenge was complete.

"No. Either he dies by my sword right now, or he waits here to die. He cannot continue to live!" *If he lives, he is the greatest threat to me!*

"Brother Lan!" An Ran’s voice rose slightly. She quickly suppressed all emotion, her entire being enveloped in a cold, distant aura. Her eyes reverted to their usual aloofness. "Brother Lan, I do not want to be your enemy, but do not force me to become one!"

"Ranran..." Yu Jinglan called out in disbelief, his voice trembling.

He had never seen An Ran like this—her eyes cold, her gaze distant and indifferent, devoid of all feeling, like an empty shell. Though her nature was cold and she was indifferent to many things, she had never been emotionless. And now, this coldness was directed at him. How could she have become like this?

"Brother Lan, go outside. I will come to find you in a moment. He has consumed the Five Poisons mixture; perhaps he will die as you wish! But my debt remains unpaid, and I want to try one last time!"

Yu Jinglan listened to her quietly, then shifted his sharp gaze back to Jun Moli. He had consumed the Five Poisons mixture? Was he truly dying? Was he beyond saving? *Excellent. Even the heavens want him dead!*

"Pfft—"