Chapter 28 [VIP] The Jianghu Tale (9)

Chapter 28 [VIP] The Jianghu Tale (9)

In the original story, the epidemic was a turning point, where Su Mo accidentally contracted the virus.

Xiao Guanxue desperately sought a cure for the epidemic, while Xie Yu tirelessly cared for and guarded Su Mo, eventually contracting the disease himself.

In this life-and-death crisis, the two supported each other. Ultimately, Xie Yu was the first to express his feelings, which moved Su Mo. She gradually leaned towards him, giving him a chance, and slowly let go of the affection she once felt for another, thus Xiao Guanxue gradually faded from the picture.

Later, Xiao Guanxue discovered a cure for the epidemic, saving Su Mo, Xie Yu, and the villagers who were not yet fully deceased, becoming a lifesaving hero to the villagers.

The trio's reputation soared, earning them a certain status in the martial arts world as heroes of justice.

Watching the two embrace and cry through their struggles, Xiao Guanxue realized he no longer stood a chance, and Su Mo probably had developed feelings for Xie Yu, having made up her mind.

Since then, he began to step back, silently protecting the one he loved, solving problems for them to ensure that Su Mo and Xie Yu could smoothly be together.

By the time Nan Yan caught up with the events, everything had already been settled.

She sensed a change in Su Mo and Xie Yu’s relationship, although no one told her what happened. Intuition told her everything, their glances and smiles hinting at an intimacy inaccessible to others.

What else was there to misunderstand?

Nan Yan started seeking revenge. Her thought process was unconventional; hearing once that Su Mo’s beloved was Xiao Guanxue, she impulsively began approaching him.

It was a childish form of retaliation: 'You took my fiancé, I'll take your beloved.' But her actions only created more opportunities for the other two, serving no real purpose.

Xie Yu was indifferent to her, unaffected by her actions. Xiao Guanxue seized this chance to help dissolve their engagement, giving Su Mo the rightful place beside Xie Yu.

……

They arrived at Wufang Village, a prosperous self-sufficient hamlet near a town, surrounded by clear mountains and rivers. Now, it was shrouded in death and sorrow due to the epidemic.

At the village entrance, soldiers sent by the government were on guard, their faces covered with white cloth and armed with long swords, preventing any infected villagers from leaving.

It was easy to enter but hard to leave, unless someone could completely cure the epidemic.

Seeing the strict and dangerous measures, Xie Yu immediately pulled Nan Yan off the carriage, forbidding her from proceeding. "Yan Yan, the plague is serious. You've always been frail, you are not allowed to go in."

This was the first time since that day that Xie Yu had initiated a conversation with her. Nan Yan bit her lip, glanced at the dire situation at the village entrance, and then back at Xie Yu.

She shook her head, "No, I'm going with you."

Xie Yu frowned slightly, unwilling to compromise. "Be obedient, Yan Yan. We three are skilled in martial arts and physically stronger than average, less susceptible to illness. But you're different. Please stay here and wait for us to return, okay?"

Nan Yan shook her head again, grasping one of his hands tightly, refusing to let go. "I don’t want to. Wherever you go, I go. Even if you don't let me in today, you can't stop me once you leave. I'll still sneak in alone."

Seeing her plea rejected, Nan Yan softly implored, "Brother Yu, let me accompany you, please?"

Her voice was gentle as she spoke, and Xie Yu, looking into her clear, moist eyes, suddenly saw the affection in their depths, momentarily flustered.

Yan Yan's feelings for him... she still...

Xie Yu struggled to believe this realization, yet the unusual emotions welling up inside made him instinctively pull away from her grasp.

"No, it’s not possible..."

He didn't understand why he was so nervous.

Hadn't he always known about Yan Yan's feelings for him? He had been indifferent before, so why was he reacting so differently now?

"Then I will go in by myself. Brother Yu, you can't stop me." The girl turned her face away, her voice tinged with a rare hint of defiance.

Hearing this, Xie Yu felt somewhat helpless. Nan Yan was known for her stubbornness, and no amount of persuasion would dissuade her from entering. If he truly left her behind, she might sneak in, putting herself in danger without protection.

It would be safer to let her follow him, keeping her under his watchful eye and protection, reducing the risk.

Finally, he reluctantly agreed, frowning, “Then stay close to me, don’t wander off, and don’t approach any sick villagers.”

Nan Yan pursed her lips, smiling in agreement.

Their carriage, loaded with medicinal herbs, arrived at the village entrance. The guards scrutinized them but became respectful upon hearing of a divine doctor among them. After registering, they allowed the group to enter.

Inside the village, they found the situation worse than imagined, with every door and window tightly shut.

The healthy villagers looked at them with a mix of fear and hope. Elders clutched children tightly, and cries of grief occasionally echoed, the air heavy with the scent of death, painting a pitiable scene.

Villagers nearing death from the epidemic were confined in the charity graveyard on the mountain.

The only path down the mountain was guarded by the villagers, surrounded by sharpened wooden stakes to prevent infected individuals from escaping.

This method effectively isolated the sick from the healthy, preventing rapid infection spread. However, without a quick cure, these people would eventually succumb.

The village was still safe for now. The village chief's son led the group to the ancestral hall, where doctors discussed strategies and examined the illness.

Thanks to Doctor Xiao Guanxue's reputation, the group received decent treatment in the village.

Upon arriving at the ancestral hall, which was significantly larger than the exterior suggested, they found it partitioned with curtains, behind which some villagers with mild symptoms of the epidemic lay in beds, being treated by doctors.

The medicines used were common herbal remedies aimed at strengthening the body, so their effectiveness was limited, serving more as a psychological comfort.

However, once a person's condition worsened critically, they were forcibly taken to the charity graveyard on the mountain.

Xiao Guanxue observed the patients, all exhibiting a bluish complexion, persistent high fever, and cracked lips. Some were even coughing up blood, which was a dark, almost blackish red.

Moving further inside, the faint smell of decay grew stronger, mingled with a hint of alcohol.

Using strong alcohol to wipe the body can indeed help reduce a patient’s fever, indicating that the doctors were not completely without methods.

After examining the symptoms, Xiao Guanxue was at a loss. No known epidemic presented in this manner, leaving him puzzled.

To identify the cause, they needed to start from the beginning, so they asked nearby villagers about the sequence of events.

Initially, a few elderly people working in the fields had collapsed, found with a bluish complexion and unrelenting high fever. It was thought to be a cold, treated with some common medicine.

However, the situation did not improve. Subsequently, those caring for them fell ill one after another, all vomiting blood that darkened with each episode. Towards the end, it seemed as if tiny insects were wriggling in the blood. By then, it was too late. The local wise man eventually deduced it was an epidemic.

The rest of the events were widely known.

The disease spread rapidly, engulfing the area in less than half a month. Almost all villagers who had slight contact fell victim, and even the doctors couldn’t escape their fate.

……

While everyone was busy caring for the patients in the ancestral hall, Xiao Guanxue went to the fields where the outbreak began to investigate, followed by his apprentice who recorded everything.

Nan Yan and the others were not idle either. They had come to help and started sorting and categorizing the herbs in the carriage, working alongside the villagers to list the required medicinal herbs.

Following their previous conversation, Xie Yu's attitude towards her had finally softened, and they returned to their usual closeness.

However, Xie Yu still instinctively avoided eye contact with her.

He couldn't explain why, but each time he saw her tender eyes looking at him, his heart would flutter in a way it never had before.

It was a secret delight mixed with tension and conflict, something even he couldn't understand.

Nan Yan pretended to be oblivious, maintaining her usual demeanor, but the affection in her eyes inevitably stirred something in Xie Yu’s heart…

He suppressed these feelings, but the more he did, the more he found himself inadvertently following her with his eyes, only relaxing when he saw she was safe.

When he was with Nan Yan, he found himself thinking less about Su Mo, but when with Su Mo, his thoughts involuntarily drifted to Nan Yan.

He was confused about his feelings, ostensibly loving Su Mo but constantly distracted by thoughts of Nan Yan. Was he really being so irresponsible? Professing love for one while his heart wandered to another?

In the end, even he wasn't sure what he truly wanted.

……

Meanwhile, Xiao Guanxue walked through the fields to the mountainside, finding nothing out of the ordinary.

It wasn't until he reached a riverside that Xiao Guanxue sensed something amiss.

This small river, used daily by villagers for water, had been around for centuries. The water was clean and sweet, teeming with lively fish and shrimp, seemingly without any major issues.

Yet, Xiao Guanxue felt something peculiar. He asked his apprentice to catch some fish and shrimp with a net and discovered that these creatures were unusually lively. Upon inspecting them, he found a ring of eggs attached to the underside of the fish. This pattern was consistent in several specimens, giving Xiao Guanxue a clue.

After removing the eggs, the apprentice stored them in a bottle and then returned to the ancestral hall with the villagers.

Back at the hall, Xiao Guanxue didn't rest immediately but obtained some contaminated blood from the doctors treating the sick. He found that the tiny creatures in the blood were the same as those in the eggs attached to the fish.

This discovery startled everyone.

Xie Yu took the bottle containing the eggs from the apprentice, his expression grave.

"You're saying this is poison? But who would possess such potent poison to harm an entire village of innocent people?"

Xiao Guanxue frowned, "It's not exactly poison, more accurately a kind of 'Gu' (a kind of witchcraft). The perpetrator uses the victim's blood to nourish the 'Gu'. Once mature, the Gu leaves the host's body, leading to their demise."

"Moreover, these Gu reproduce rapidly. The infection feels like a needle prick, barely noticeable at first. Then they slowly develop inside the body, gradually draining the life force."

After Xiao Guanxue’s explanation, everyone understood the process of the infection.

But there was an even more pressing question:

"Now that you know it's Gu poison, do you know its origin and is there a way to counter it?"

Nan Yan asked this question, glancing at him before looking at the eggs in the bottle, her tone filled with doubt.

Xiao Guanxue fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Guanxue's gaze fell on Su Mo, hesitating momentarily before continuing, "This Gu is known as the Thousand Thread Gu, originating from the demonic sects. It's ancient, and few know of it. I only learned of its characteristics from an old medical text, which unfortunately, did not detail any antidote."

"Demonic sects?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the others' gazes simultaneously shifted to Su Mo, though they hid their doubts well.

Su Mo's expression turned ugly, her face reddening with anger. "What do you mean by looking at me like this? Are you suspecting me of poisoning these people?"

Xie Yu, looking embarrassed, instinctively clarified, "No, that's not it. You're overthinking. We trust you, but since you're from the demonic sects, we thought you might have some insight into this matter."

Su Mo felt more betrayed than comforted by these words.

The way they looked at her made her feel distrusted by everyone. Tears welled up in her eyes. "So what if I'm from the demonic sects?"

"I've never harmed ordinary people. We in the demonic sects may act on our whims, but we never harm the innocent. This accusation is too much."

Seeing her distressed state, Xiao Guanxue also realized his directness might have been inappropriate.

While the Thousand Thread Gu is indeed a poison from the demonic sects, it doesn't rule out someone else using it to frame and ignite conflict between the orthodox and demonic sects.

He should have considered other factors instead of stating it outright, but regretfully, it was too late.

The looks they had given her had already left a mark in Su Mo's heart.

Just as he was about to speak soothing words, Nan Yan intervened, "Sister Su, don't be upset. We know who you are and won't doubt you. Besides, you've been with us this whole journey and had no opportunity to be involved in this."

"Even if it truly was a poison from the demonic sects, it has nothing to do with you. People in the martial arts world are clear about grudges and debts, and won't hold this against you."

Her words were appropriate, but coming from her, it seemed to imply the poisoner must be from the demonic sects, worsening Su Mo's mood.

Su Mo had already faced discrimination in the martial arts world due to her background in the demonic sects. The so-called righteous people, despite their claims of justice, looked down on her, a woman, primarily because of her origins.

The more Su Mo thought about it, the more heartbroken she felt, recalling how Xie Yu had also been difficult and disdainful when they first met.

The demonic sects had indeed committed many atrocities and killings in the past, but for the last hundred years, there had been peace and no incidents between the orthodox and demonic paths.

Why should she still be doubted?

On this matter, Su Mo became particularly sensitive, her impulsive nature making it impossible for her to accept their current reassurances.

"You keep saying it's a poison from the demonic sects, but do you have any evidence? You directly blame the demonic sects in front of me, have you considered my feelings?"

"We're just suspecting, not confirming..."

"Yan Yan, let's not talk about this now."

Xie Yu shook his head at her, his eyes reflecting difficulty.

Nan Yan paused, then seemed to understand something. She looked at Su Mo, then at Xie Yu, and finally turned away with pursed lips, sulking in silence.

Xie Yu had been watching her closely and, seeing her unhappy expression, instinctively wanted to console her.

Su Mo, observing their interaction, felt an even deeper sadness.

She stood up abruptly, her eyes red with tears. "I don't need your pretense of trust. I will get to the bottom of this. If it's not the demonic sects' doing, I want an apology from all of you."

After saying this, she stormed out, leaving everyone in a daze. Before they could react, she had disappeared into the night.

It was already late, and Xie Yu, worried about her safety, wanted to follow but instinctively glanced at Nan Yan.

Seeing her with her head down and showing no reaction, he inexplicably felt a sense of irritation.

After a moment's hesitation, he still went after Su Mo.

Later, Xiao Guanxue informed the village chief about the situation, omitting the source of the Gu poison, finally clarifying the cause of the villagers' illness.

Upon hearing the news, everyone was astonished. Who would poison a group of defenseless villagers, and to what end?

The unsettling discovery caused widespread fear and anxiety.

For safety, the river water, especially its aquatic life, was declared off-limits for consumption.

After storming out, Su Mo found herself lost in the depths of the forest, eventually realizing she couldn't discern any direction.

As night fell, with wild animals on the prowl, she acknowledged her impulsiveness and the difficulty in finding her way out.

Considering the rampant Gu poison outside, the risk of infection was too high. With this in mind, she started retracing her steps.