Jin Zijin said, "You should have already guessed who poisoned you, right?"
"Hmm?" Gu Youyou looked up at him and then nodded her head.
She had naturally guessed it was the people from the Dao Family’s Xuanzong, the same "Master" mentioned by the black-clad person last night.
Being the senior brother of Tianzong, Jin Zijin surely knew that person.
"He is the Sect Master of Xuanzong, the current State Preceptor of Zhuzhao Country," Jin Zijin said calmly.
She didn’t expect this person to have such a grand background, so how could she, a mere village girl, have offended such a significant figure?
Gu Youyou asked, "Then why did he make me drink those medicines?"
Jin Zijin said, "The main ingredient in the medicine you drank is Youying Grass. This ’grass’ is better described as a poisonous insect."
My gosh, this is getting more and more fantastical.
Gu Youyou had heard about such things as poisonous insects before; they always seemed mysterious and frightening, something unfathomable.
Jin Zijin nodded and explained, "This grass blooms from the flesh and blood of poisonous insects, thriving in cold and shadowy places. If nurtured by Youying Pearls, its medicinal effect is even more exceptional, hence it’s called Youying Grass."
It sounded a bit like the growth pattern of caterpillar fungus, and just by this pattern alone, one could tell its preciousness.
They really didn’t spare any expenses.
Gu Youyou nodded to signal him to continue.
"Youying Grass is a poison of extreme yin and cold, ordinarily fatal to anyone within three days of ingestion. However, someone with the Four Pillars Pure Yin constitution can consume small amounts daily when combined with a unique formula, producing unexpected effects."
"What effects?" Gu Youyou asked subconsciously, her heart growing increasingly tense.
Jin Zijin replied, "The Youying Yin Qi you emit can suppress the poison in my body. Having taken the medicine for many years, your blood has already blended with the properties of Youying Grass, which is highly beneficial to the flame poison in my body. That’s also why I brought you out of the Gu Family."
"So you’re finally admitting that you’ve been using me?" Gu Youyou said with a bitter smile.
But Jin Zijin said, "No, it’s mutual use."
"Heh...? And how exactly am I using you?" Gu Youyou looked at him sarcastically. "I recall not bothering anyone and just quietly lying in that dark room waiting to die. I didn’t agree to anything with you!"
Jin Zijin didn’t appreciate Gu Youyou’s indifferent attitude towards life and death; that touch of dispassion in her clear eyes invariably made him panic.
He clenched his fists tighter and tried to keep his voice steady as he said to her, "Your grandfather sought cures for your illness everywhere, even secretly worshipping Buddha, and happened to be discovered by me. You may not yet know, but worshipping Buddha... is taboo in Zhuzhao Country. He told me everything about you and pleaded that I keep it a secret!"
Jin Zijin watched for Gu Youyou’s reaction, and indeed, she was utterly astonished. Buddhism being taboo in Zhuzhao Country reminded her of that certain nation in ’Journey to the West’ that valued the Dao over Buddhism.
That made sense. With the State Preceptor deriving from the Dao Family, it would be strange if Buddhism wasn’t suppressed.
"So don’t tell me that after hearing this, you felt compassion, pitied that old man who cried to you, and thus came up with this method to get me out of the dark room legitimately. And my ability to suppress the poison in your body was merely incidental."
Looking troubled, Jin Zijin said in a low voice, "Why must you mock me?"
"I’ve been in Lotus Village for years. I’ve known about your existence and that it was Xuanzong’s doing. I was solely focused on finding the Youying Pearl and didn’t want to draw Xuanzong’s people here because of you. And taking you away from the Gu Family, firstly, your body was no longer holding up, and secondly, I just happened to need you. As I said before, we are merely helping each other."