Chapter 575: Pre-Wedding Troubles (4)

Chapter 575: Another Disturbance Before the Wedding (4)

Night adorned the sky with stars, painting prosperity across the heavens.

In the guest room of the backyard, candlelight burned brightly, illuminating the space bright as day.

"Sister Su, you’ve thought of everything. My father also instructed me to be cautious, so regarding poison control and detoxification, you need not worry."

Clasping her hands together, Ning Wanyue appeared gentle and composed, much like her father, Bamboo Master. Dressed in plain green robes, she exuded an air of elegance and approachability, yet her response carried the no-nonsense efficiency of a martial artist—gentle but resolute.

"Then I’ll trouble you, Sister Ning."

As the daughter of Bamboo Master, Su Rao had addressed her as "Sister Ning" upon their first meeting—a mark of respect for Bamboo Master and a gesture of warmth toward Ning Wanyue. In return, Ning Wanyue called her "Sister Su," marking their sisterly bond.

After settling the matter and exchanging a few more words, Su Rao prepared to take her leave. Just as she was about to depart, Ning Wanyue stopped her.

"Sister Su, wait a moment. I have something else to say."

Pausing briefly, Ning Wanyue finally spoke of Yun Ji's condition, having overheard fragments of the conversation between the family elder and her father. The *Zhu You* technique of her clan was infinitely profound, far removed from the ignorant view of those who deemed it mere soul-stealing sorcery. Her father had said that combining the *Zhu You* technique with Master Hui Shan's calming Buddhist methods could yield an eighty percent success rate.

"Sister Su, pardon my frankness, but as a healer, I must speak. This illness is unpredictable—delaying risks complications. For Yun Ji's sake, you should discuss it openly with him.

Though I've known Yun Ji only briefly, my father has often spoken of him. If he knew there was a way to cure his ailment, I believe he would take his chances."

Though Ning Wanyue had devoted herself to the study of poisons since childhood, as a daughter of the Ning family, her medical principles remained untainted. Medicine and poison were two sides of a coin—both aimed at alleviating suffering and saving lives.

"I see your point, Sister Ning."

Su Rao knew and appreciated Ning Wanyue's candor, never taking offense at the implication that she might understand Yun Ji less than someone who had known him for mere days. Ning Wanyue's advice stemmed purely from her compassion as a healer.

"I know Yun Ji well. I have never hidden his condition from him and have spoken frankly before. But now, he is at odds with himself. If I don't choose the right moment, he will only beat himself up more, believing that the person I care for is not him. Should such thoughts arise, he might do something rash."

Showing no displeasure at Ning Wanyue's words, Su Rao gave a faint smile.

"I have never seen him as two separate individuals. He is himself—only his temperament and habits differ. Deep down, everyone hides a second self, that surfaces only with different situations or people—like me, or like you, Sister Ning.

The 'me' you know, the Su Rao standing before you now, emerged from darkness. She trod a hard path from malice to kindness, each step precarious, always in danger of losing herself to the second personality within her.

And the 'you' I know, Sister Ning—though we've only just met—you stand by healer’s compassion. Yet, toward those who betrayed your family, I imagine even you have felt flickers of vengeance.

As healers, compassion is not wrong. But that compassion should be reserved for those who are likewise kind—saving the deserving, practicing medicine justly. To save one at the cost of harming a hundred makes a healer no healer, but a butcher. Such is the duality of human nature—good and evil separated by a single thought."

Ning Wanyue reflected inwardly. Under her family's influence, she had long grasped the essence of medical ethics.

As a healer, one must uphold benevolence, walking the path with a merciful heart.

Yet now, hearing Su Rao articulate a deeper truth—that morality and personality defined one's actions, whether healer or not—Ning Wanyue was stunned. The profundity of Su Rao's understanding left her reeling long after Su Rao had bid farewell, her usually serene eyes wide with astonishment.

Another shared her shock. Yun Ji, who had come searching after Su Rao's prolonged absence, stood outside the guest room before entering. He had overheard Su Rao's words—particularly those concerning him.

"I... am myself. Rao Rao, so you've known all along."

He did not meet Su Rao when she emerged. For reasons unknown, he hid himself away.

His somewhat dazed eyes gazed at Su Rao, who had already walked far away back to Rao Xiang Courtyard. No longer fond of wearing red, she now donned the moonbeam-colored hue that Yun Ji loved most; even her outer fur cloak for warmth was of the same color.

Compared to the bold and unrestrained demeanor she exuded in red, clad in the moonbeam hue, her sharpness was softened, radiating a serene grace.

Staring intently for a long time, the moonbeam hue in his eyes suddenly blurred, splintering into multiple ghostly visions of Rao Rao in his vision. The figures were too ethereal, overlapping with the night, making it impossible for him to discern which one was truly Rao Rao.

"I am me. The 'me' in Rao Rao's words—is it Yun Ji, or Ah Xiao? Han Mochen is just Han Mochen. Han Mochen was never Yun Ji, nor Yun Muhao. He could never become Yun Ji. The only thing he ever wanted was to be Rao Rao's Ah Xiao. But now, it seems that was just a distant dream."

Abruptly, he closed his eyes and covered them with his hand, making the illusions vanish completely, blocking out even the memory of Rao Rao in his heart.

But only for that brief moment. Soon, clarity returned to his gaze, and he lowered his hand, reopening his eyes.

Before him, there were no more illusions, nor the figure that had walked away. Su Rao had already returned to Rao Xiang Courtyard, now out of sight. Yet, she had long been imprinted deep within his heart, carefully cherished within the protective light he had created around her.

"Since Rao Rao is so perceptive, if she returns now and doesn’t see Yun Ji there, she’ll surely worry, won't she?"

The corners of his lips curled into a faint smile. His jade-like fingers pressed against his temples, smoothing the furrow from his brow. He then strode forward, taking a detour through another corridor.

He arrived outside Rao Xiang Courtyard a few minutes before her.

Standing quietly, his dark, piercing eyes once again reflected that moonbeam hue—the slender silhouette no longer an illusion. When she saw him waiting outside, her steps immediately quickened. Lifting her skirts, she hurried over, stopping right before him.

"It’s so cold out—why wait here without even holding a hand warmer?"

The moment she took Yun Ji’s hands, an icy chill shot into her palms, making her own slightly chilled hands feel even colder. Her heart clenched—just how long had he been waiting out here?

She hastily clasped both of his hands between hers and blew warm breath onto them.

"Rao Rao, it wasn’t long. I meant to go find you, but halfway there, I worried I might disturb your conversation with Miss Ning, so I turned back. I just arrived at the courtyard when you returned."

Instead, he grasped Su Rao’s equally cold hands and pulled her entire figure—cloak and all—into the embrace of his heavy fur coat. Made of the finest pelts, its interior was exceedingly warm, far warmer than her fleeting breath could provide.