"Is that so?" she said indifferently, lowering her gaze.
It was as if she were talking about someone else's affairs.
At this moment, Wei Li sensed something was wrong.
"Have you been enduring discomfort all along? You... are you poisoned?" His delicate brows furrowed, and his gaze swept over her comprehensively.
Although her voice had remained calm and steady, upon closer listening, it was frail, her breath low and weak.
Gu Junshi was indeed experiencing the consequences of her actions, as the saying goes. Even if she didn't know what "Huangtong Crystal" was, she could guess she had fallen into Lang Ci's trap.
Of course, she wasn't an immortal and couldn't account for every detail with absolute precision. Even immortals made mistakes, let alone her.
She shook her head wearily at Wei Li, her senses overwhelmed by the bone-gnawing, blood-sucking pain in her abdomen. With no energy to reply, she poured the entire bottle of pills given to her by Chenghong into her mouth.
Then, she took out the "True Dragon's Eye."
She thought that the urgent matter was to obtain the "Dragon Marrow." If she couldn't even get the "Dragon Marrow"...
Although the "True Dragon's Eye" was the eye of a True Dragon god, after materialization, it didn't appear as two bloody, round eyeballs. Instead, they were two balls of green flame. They possessed no inherent offensive capabilities; their power was as rumored. Otherwise, she wouldn't have deliberately manipulated the "True Dragon Remnant Souls" to be her enforcers, while she remained in the background.
That wasn't putting on a facade of depth; she genuinely couldn't handle it.
They were held weakly and pathetically in Gu Junshi's palm. She controlled them, and so they constantly struggled to escape.
As expected of a True Dragon god, even after death, leaving behind these two eyes could cultivate sentience. Gu Junshi thought this with boundless wandering in her heart.
"I will not forcefully form a contract with you or make you recognize me as your master. I only want to know where the Dragon Marrow is."
She spoke to the "True Dragon's Eye" in a calm and gentle tone. If it weren't for the absolute dominance of her grip, one would truly believe she was negotiating with them.
But this pair of "eyeballs" twisted and writhed desperately, stubbornly refusing to reveal anything.
In normal circumstances, Gu Junshi might have indulged in some "playfulness" with them, but now she had very little patience.
Her once-flat abdomen had visibly changed in a short period. The underdeveloped fetus uncontrollably absorbed all her energy to sustain itself. Now, the size of her belly precisely matched what it should be for a child of her current gestation.
Her five fingers tightened, veins appearing under the fair skin of her hand. Her eyes, imbued with a dark and profound aura, showed a sinister smile. "If you refuse to reveal what I wish to know, then you have no value to me. I am shallow-minded; I cannot tolerate things I've obtained falling into the hands of others. To prevent such a situation, I'd rather destroy them myself, so no one can have them."
Her words were quite frightening to the dragon eyeballs, but even more chilling were her deathly eyes.
She looked like a murderer who had just emerged from a dark alley on a rainy night, wielding a dripping weapon, bloodthirsty and crimson.
The green flames on the "True Dragon's Eye" flared up in shock, trembled violently, then wilted, becoming sluggish and dejected.
This was the downside of developing sentience – they understood human speech but couldn't withstand threats.
She was a demon; no wonder she lacked any trace of humane aura.
The "True Dragon's Eye" did not want to die. They had a destiny to fulfill. They had to endure this tribulation, even if it meant betraying the location of the "Dragon Marrow."
Thus, the two dragon eyeballs reluctantly surrendered. With a sudden movement, they unfurled a pair of clear and bright green flame wings. The luminous light reflected on the white tower walls, shimmering brilliantly, as if instantly elongating a vast territory.
Gu Junshi found the light somewhat blinding and involuntarily closed her eyes.
At the same time, in the darkness, she seemed to see clear images appearing before her.
It was as if some force guided her spirit through time and space. Whatever she wanted to see, she could experience it firsthand.
...This was a dark, subterranean passage at the bottom of a tower. Shadows loomed all around, yet there was no sound, as if some deformed, evil creatures dwelled here, avoiding sunlight... The scene then shifted, flashing past rows of inscribed chains hanging from the darkness... The dark walls faintly reflected a pale light. In the center, a coiled ball of light floated suspended.
Gu Junshi trembled and opened her eyes with a solemn expression.
She mused, "Is that where the Dragon Marrow is located?"
The "True Dragon's Eye" was truly despondent now, melting like mud, trailing dim green flames in her palm, like "dead" things with no reaction.
Gu Junshi knew the location of the "Dragon Marrow." She propped herself up against the wall with one hand, slowly straightening her body. Wei Li, who had remained silent, finally spoke, asking, "You're looking for the Dragon Marrow?"
He hadn't expected her greed to far exceed his imagination. Having obtained the "True Dragon's Eye" wasn't enough; she wanted to take the "Dragon Marrow" as well!
Gu Junshi indifferently replied, "Mm."
Wei Li didn't know what had happened to her. When he asked, she always evaded his questions. Feeling resentful, he thought he wouldn't bother with her anymore, that she deserved what she got, and he wouldn't go out of his way to be foolish.
But before he could say more than a couple of sentences, he couldn't resist placing his palm on the wall behind her ear. His gaze pressed down, his beautiful, foxy, heart-shaped face full of charm. The words, though filled with concern, came out in an unpleasant tone: "In your current state, how do you expect to get the Dragon Marrow?"
The "True Dragon's Eye" itself had no defensive abilities, but they were protected by "True Dragon Remnant Souls." If Gu Junshi hadn't possessed exceptional skills, anyone who entered the "Dragon Island Secret Realm" with cultivation suppressed below the Nascent Soul stage would have no chance of defying heaven and defeating the "True Dragon Remnant Souls" to obtain the "True Dragon's Eye."
Of course, Liu Jiang Fusheng, that cheat, was an exception.
Now, in her current state, unable to even stand steady, she still wanted to go to the dragon's lair to seize the Dragon Marrow. She was so capable, why didn't she just fly to heaven?
"I didn't plan for him to come out." Gu Junshi met his gaze, waved her hand, and the next moment, a bewildered and surprised Gu Er popped out.
The sudden appearance of another person made Wei Li's hair stand on end.
He quickly turned his head, glancing at Gu Er, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "Who is he?"
Just then, Gu Er looked at Wei Li with an unpleasant expression, asking with a strange, speculative look, "Who is he?"
Gu Junshi walked out from behind Wei Li, passed him, and staggered into Gu Er's embrace.
Gu Er was startled and hastily supported his sister, bearing her falling weight.
At the same time, his body stiffened. As his hand inadvertently pressed against her waist, he felt the considerable weight of her abdomen.
"Sister—" his tone immediately changed.
He had only recently heard that his sister was pregnant. This sudden, direct sensation... A single thought of collapse filled his mind: his sister was really not joking.
"Gu Er, I can't walk anymore. Carry me," Gu Junshi said calmly, but the body leaning against him felt as cold as ice, trembling slightly.
Perhaps it wasn't cold...
Gu Er instantly regained his senses. Nothing was more important than his sister right now.
When had he ever seen Gu Junshi so weak and listless? His heart ached with concern, so upon hearing his sister's words, he cast all other matters aside.
"Sister, what's wrong? Does your stomach hurt? I..."
Seeing Gu Er stammering in his worry, lest he say something he shouldn't, Gu Junshi interrupted him. "Don't ask for now. Let's go get the Dragon Marrow."
Gu Er carefully scooped her up, his face taut. He knew that if his sister didn't want to say anything, no one could get it out of her.
Even though his heart was twisted into a knot, he dared not shout at his sister. It was all due to her usual overwhelming presence that he dared not act presumptuously, no matter how anxious he was.
"...Alright," he mumbled gruffly.
Wei Li, standing nearby, saw that Gu Junshi not only had a man with her but was also asking him to carry her. She had just been in his arms, and now... Reality was too cruel. He almost choked with anger.
Wei Li asked her incredulously, "So now that you have help, you plan to discard me after using me?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Er immediately turned to look at Wei Li.
The other party's extremely resentful tone confirmed it without a doubt. This must be the romantic entanglement his sister had caused outside. This peerless, enchanting fox must be Xiao Wu.
Speaking of which, his sister had quite a varied taste, even daring to experiment with cross-species relationships.
Gu Junshi was unaware that in Gu Er's eyes, she had become a player, assigning numbers to each "fish" in her ponds.
Gu Junshi turned her face away. After taking the medicine, she could finally catch her breath. "Don't you have important matters on Dragon Island Secret Realm? Why delay your journey for me?"
Wei Li's eyes turned red with anger. Impatiently, he said, "Mind your own business!"
Gu Junshi directly stated, "Wei Li, I'll advise you one last time: don't fall for me, don't harbor any hope for me, and don't think I'll be a good person. This is my most sincere advice and kindest reminder."
Wei Li's eyes not only turned red but also, pathetically, became misty. Like a cat with a sore paw, he retorted stubbornly, "I don't like you, I don't have any hope for you, and I don't think you're a good person! Don't be so self-righteous. What makes you think you're so great?"
Gu Er found it amusing. His sister's words had actually made the man cry... But hearing him contradict himself while shouting at his sister, Gu Er, the biased one who only sided with his own kin, became enraged. "If you don't like her, fine, but why are you yelling at my sister?!"
Gu Junshi patted Gu Er's head, telling him to shut up.
Her thoughts differed from Gu Er's. Hearing his words, she softened. "You've helped me, and you've saved me. I will definitely repay this favor..."
Wei Li interrupted her, his voice gruff. "Your name."
He was going all out. He didn't want to repeat the previous two times, where he was only sad and annoyed, unable to do anything but watch her turn and leave.
Gu Junshi looked at him calmly.
He ran a hand through his silver hair, blinked away the moisture in his foxy eyes, and lifted his chin proudly. "Since you want to repay a favor, I want to know my name, and I want to see your face!"
His eyes were as clear as if washed with water, and they seemed to be entwined with the burgeoning greenery of early spring.
He was ultimately unwilling. He didn't want to meet her like this every time, meeting but not recognizing each other. If, one day, she decided not to appear before him, all she'd have to do was change her attire and voice. Once she vanished into the vast crowd, he would never be able to find her.
Gu Junshi could be a cunning schemer, but she also valued her promises and kept her word. Since she had agreed, she would not go back on it.
Therefore, as he wished, she said, "Gu Junshi."
Wei Li was still somewhat surprised that she had told him so readily.
Gu?
Oddly, Wei Li's first thought was: Ah, she shares the same surname as "Gu Yi."
Junshi... This name suited her personality rather well.
Wei Li, like a little fox guarding a treasure, savored her hard-won name with satisfaction.
Wei Li wasn't a particularly mature fox. Years ago, he had desperately wanted to be human. Not only had his body not yet grown, but his heart hadn't either. Thus, the maturity was merely forced upon his appearance and his practiced human facade; his heart remained the same as it was back then.
This was the first time he had fallen for someone. The budding affection that had remained dormant for hundreds of years had finally blossomed, and he felt as if he could usher in spring and blooming romance through his own imagination.
"Gu Junshi, I want to see you." He called her name earnestly, looked at her earnestly, and made his request earnestly.
Gu Er glanced at the excited Wei Li, then at his cold-hearted sister.
He couldn't help but sigh.
His sister had attracted another love rival for his brother-in-law. Seeing this person who wouldn't leave no matter what he said, who was acting clingy and demanding favors in return, it wasn't a good sign. If this exposed him and caused marital discord, who would be responsible?
Gu Junshi said, "Yes, but only after I get the Dragon Marrow."
Once things were settled, she wouldn't mind Wei Li knowing she was Gu Yi.
"Then I'll help you." Wei Li immediately said.
She had agreed, and he would finally get to see her face.
He had given up on seeing her face before, not because he truly worried she was ugly, but because he sensed her reluctance. So, he had taken a step back to save face. Otherwise, being rejected in public would be too embarrassing.
This time, he was completely confident. He believed that since Gu Junshi had promised, she would absolutely not break her word.
Unlike his sister, who acted without restraint, Gu Er was somewhat worried. What if they encountered his sister's husband in the "Dragon Island Secret Realm"? Wouldn't that be a shuraba?
He immediately refused, "Sister has me, she doesn't need you."
Wei Li, who always had two faces when dealing with Gu Junshi and others, lost the smile on his face, exuding a seductive aura. "Kid, you..." Suddenly, his gaze deepened, and he sniffed. "Why do you carry such a scent of death?"