To put Bai Zanhe at ease, I grabbed Yu Longting's hand and shook it, acting cute. "Um, Longting, can I go and chat with Sister Zanhe?"
"Sure." Yu Longting was very generous this time.
Bai Zanhe was delighted, "I was just about to go pick up some medicine from the pharmacy. Come with me, and we can chat along the way."
"Then I'm off with Sister Zanhe!" Afraid that Yu Longting might change his mind, I grabbed Bai Zanhe and ran like a thief.
Yu Longting called from behind me, "Wait a second."
Even though he hadn't moved at all, my feet felt rooted to the ground as if my acupoints had been struck, unable to take even half a step.
Anxiety filled my heart, fearing he might get angry and mind it.
Actually, I didn't understand.
Out of all the good friends I had, only Bai Zanhe treated me as if guarding against a thief.
"What... what is it?" I turned my head mechanically.
Yu Longting took off his down jacket and draped it over me. "If you get tired along the way, let me know, I'll come to pick you up. And... pick up some more medicine."
Yu Longting carefully zipped up and tidied the collar, making sure there were no gaps for the wind to get through, "Aren't you planning to go back?"
Like a father worried sick over his precious daughter.
Me: "Oh, if we're going back, we need to prepare enough medicine to last until recovery."
Yu Longting: "Go ahead."
"Okay, then I'm off." I strutted out like a little Shiba Inu who had just been let off the leash, taking quick, excited steps along with Bai Zanhe.
The Spring Festival was coming soon, making the streets exceptionally lively. Googlᴇ search Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
There were extra stalls selling New Year items like Spring Festival scrolls and sugar-coated pancakes made from potatoes.
I couldn't resist and bought two.
I gave one to Bai Zanhe and held the other, nibbling on it.
Bai Zanhe asked softly, "Are you guys going back?"
"Yes, I have to leave you." I had been taking medicinal soups made by Bai Zanhe these days, and I felt truly reluctant to part with her.
Bai Zanhe masked a slight reluctance on her face and smiled, "In this world, no banquet lasts forever. People meet, naturally, they must part."
"That's true. After all, the earth is round; we'll meet again someday." I took the initiative and asked, "Is there something specific you wanted to discuss with me alone?"
"Yes, I recall you have a red Centipede Gu, right?" Bai Zanhe said expectantly.
I took out the Matchbox and showed the sleeping Xiao Honghong to Bai Zanhe. "Xiao Honghong was severely injured while saving me and has been unconscious since. Are you acquainted with Sister Tian Na? When the High Priest came to capture you, you mentioned her name, didn't you? This Centipede Gu was a gift from Sister Tian Na."
"I knew it! I must have recognized it correctly—it's Sister Tian Na's gu." Bai Zanhe gazed at the Centipede Gu and sighed softly, "She gave you her family's gu. You must be pretty close, right?"
"I met her in a small village. Our relationship, well, was like love at first sight." I mused.
Bai Zanhe seemed to fall into a distant memory,
"Actually, I moved to Barbarian Village later. I used to live in the remote Miao Village with Sister Tian Na when I was a child; we were fairly close. Sister Tian Na, how has she been?"
"She's doing quite well, already has a husband and a child. Sister Tian's Husband treats her really well." I thought that was all Bai Zanhe wanted to talk to me about privately.
I went to a Miao Doctor's pharmacy with Bai Zanhe, and we picked up lots of medicine that Xiao Li and I would need, carrying heaps of big and small packages.
As we approached the small courtyard, Bai Zanhe stopped, her expression becoming solemn, "Wanwan, have you ever heard of Ten Thousand Poison Hall?"
"No, what is that?" I responded.
Bai Zanhe's expression grew even more serious, "Here, anyone involved in Gu Raising knows about Ten Thousand Poison Hall; it's the Number One Evil Sect in Miao Border."