Forced to flee, Gu Qianying carried only a single silver needle. She carefully inserted it into Su Cheng's body, her brow furrowing tighter with each insertion.
When she withdrew the needle, Ouyang Qinglin leaned in.
"It's just a minor wound from a sword, not life-threatening. Why the grim expression?"
He naturally felt that Su Cheng was being overly dramatic. His own injuries that day were less than half as severe as Gu Qianying's, yet he was eliciting such sympathy.
Gu Qianying removed the needle and turned back.
"My concern isn't about his injury, but the presence of蛊虫 (gu worms) within his body."
She had never studied sorcery or witchcraft, and even after discovering this, she was helpless.
Seeing this, Ouyang Qinglin glanced at the abbot beside them. Though displeased, he still walked over.
"Elder, my friend is afflicted with a蛊毒 (gu poison). Do you have a way to cure it?"
His words were somewhat abrupt. Gu Qianying wanted to rise and explain, but the abbot paid it no mind and walked directly over.
"When this benefactor entered this temple, this old monk also noticed he was afflicted with a strange poison. However,蛊术 (gu techniques) are secret arts of the Wu Jiang region, and very few in the Central Plains know how to cure them. This old monk is willing but unable; I cannot cure the蛊 (gu) afflicting this benefactor."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianying's expression grew heavy again. She looked at Su Cheng's pale face with worry.
She knew Su Cheng must be in great pain.
After speaking, the abbot left the room, leaving only the three of them.
Ouyang Qinglin, seeing Gu Qianying's demeanor, couldn't hold back his words.
"You shouldn't be like this towards him. What if feelings develop?"
He naturally understood Gu Qianying's affection for Nangong Mo. Though he loved her unrequitedly, he couldn't bear to see Gu Qianying entangled by emotions.
However, his words still didn't fully convey his meaning.
"What? I have no romantic feelings for him. It's merely a debt of gratitude, and I'm taking care of him more due to Miss Su Yu Xi's circumstances. You're overthinking it."
Gu Qianying didn't understand Ouyang Qinglin's words, and her explanation was meaningless.
Ouyang Qinglin sighed helplessly.
He knew in his heart that although Gu Qianying claimed to have no feelings, her actions were clear to others, and he understood them too.
Some people simply couldn't comprehend their own feelings, deceiving themselves.
For the next few days, the three remained in the temple. With the abbot's protection, the Grand Tutor's men did not find them.
And because the place was suitable for recovery, within three days, Gu Qianying's injuries had largely healed.
One day, as she was meditating and circulating her energy outdoors, she heard voices from inside the room.
Ouyang Qinglin had gone to investigate the origin of the strange蛊虫 (gu worms), leaving only Gu Qianying and Su Cheng behind.
Thinking of the person inside, she hurried back.
"You're finally awake."
Seeing the person on the bed open his eyes, Gu Qianying quickly brought over the cooling medicinal soup and helped him up.
"Where is this? Miss Gu, are we safe?"
Despite being unconscious for the past few days, he had constantly worried about Gu Qianying's safety.
Seeing that he was still thinking of her at this moment, an inexplicable warmth spread through Gu Qianying's heart.
"We are safe for now. This is a temple outside the city. The abbot is kind and allowed us to stay here to recuperate."
She knew that Buddhist temples were places of peace. Once she and Su Cheng had recovered, they would not disturb the place further.
Su Cheng looked at the furnishings around him. The back courtyard was situated halfway up the mountain, peaceful, with wisps of cooking smoke drifting by, lending an air of tranquility.
"So that's how it is. Miss Gu, I am frail. Please take care of me."
With no one else around, Su Cheng understood who had been looking after him.
Gu Qianying curved her lips slightly, gesturing for him to drink the medicine, and then asked with confusion.
"The sword wound wasn't serious, but why are there蛊虫 (gu worms) inside you?"
Su Cheng was a bit confused by her words. Although he didn't know what蛊虫 (gu worms) were, he recalled his physical condition.
"I fainted from pain again. For some reason, my health has always been poor since childhood. My two brothers also suffer from this ailment. Painful episodes occur frequently, and when severe, I would faint for several days. We always thought it was a family illness."
He couldn't understand it either. At that moment, an explanation came from the doorway.
"This蛊毒 (gu poison) is a secret inheritance of the Su family. In the Su family, after a boy comes of age, he drinks water mixed with蛊虫 (gu worms). As they grow older, they reside within the body. If they leave the Su family, the poison will act up. The strange thing is, if they don't go far, the pain isn't severe, but if they travel far, the蛊虫 (gu worms) will act within the body, causing pain and fainting."
Ouyang Qinglin's efficiency was remarkable. In just one day, he had investigated the origin of the蛊虫 (gu worms).
Gu Qianying recalled Su Yu Xi's expression when she wanted Su Cheng to be released and closed her eyes.
"So that's what her reminder meant."
Su Cheng also learned this for the first time. His immediate concern was for his brothers.
"In that case, are my two brothers in mortal danger?"
He was the one who had escaped at this time. If anything, he should be the one in danger, yet he was worried about Su Jie and Su Ming.
Gu Qianying took his medicine bowl away and gently comforted him.
"You don't need to worry. The most important thing now is your own health. Don't forget, I am a physician. I will naturally find a way to cure these蛊虫 (gu worms)."
Hearing her words of comfort, Su Cheng felt relieved.
As night fell, Ouyang Qinglin passed by Gu Qianying's room. Seeing that the light was still on inside, he knocked on the door.
"Why are you still awake so late? What are you looking at?"
He was invited into the room by Gu Qianying. Seeing her poring over medical books borrowed from the temple so late, he couldn't help but feel a pang of concern.
"These蛊虫 (gu worms) are truly harmful, and they are difficult to remove once embedded in the body. This is the first time I've encountered something like this, and I can't sleep thinking about it."
Although he was thoroughly displeased with Su Cheng, Gu Qianying was still his sworn sister, and Ouyang Qinglin felt sorry for her.
"When I was investigating yesterday, I heard that the Su family seems to have an antidote. If you are determined to cure Su Cheng's蛊毒 (gu poison), we might have to return to the Su family."
He shared what he had learned with Gu Qianying.
At this time, they shouldn't be rushing back, but seeing her disregard her own health so much, Ouyang Qinglin, out of concern, could only suggest this course of action.
"So that's how it is. Then we must go back to the Su family, no matter what."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianying decided to go to the Su family.
Seeing her act so rashly, even though Ouyang Qinglin had suggested it himself, her response made him somewhat regret his words.
"But if we go back, Grand Tutor Su and the Empress's people will find us. Won't it be even more dangerous?"
He felt that Gu Qianying should be thinking of Nangong Mo, not this Su Cheng.