"The three of us will use our inner force to roar. If the woman doesn't show herself, we'll roar louder to disturb her. I don't believe she won't come out."
Liu Liu's mind was made up, and the other two agreed. The three of them used their inner force to unleash roars like tigers and lions, echoing through the mountains. The sound shook the birds in the forest into a frenzy, instantly enlivening the mountainside. Trees swayed, animals bolted, and the roars reached the heavens.
Indeed, after a short while, the woman appeared. Her face was filled with fury, her black robe billowing dramatically, her long hair flowing. Her delicate face was shrouded in darkness and cold disdain.
"What do you want?" Yun Gu's voice was chilling, as if encountering a ghost on a summer's night.
"If you don't give us the Blood Droplets, the three of us will make your days and nights unbearable,"
Liu Liu had resorted to shamelessness. To obtain the Blood Droplets, she disregarded all appearances. A dignified Empress Dowager now had no regard for her image.
Every time she thought of the suffering Feng Xie was enduring, or wondered if he could hold on until they returned, the mere possibility made Liu Liu feel as though her heart was splitting apart. She lost the strength to speak and collapsed onto the ground.
"Senior Yun, please give me the Blood Droplets,"
Liu Liu pleaded softly. Nan Gong Yue felt as if his heart had been sliced by a knife. How arrogant she had been in the past; nothing could break her.
She likely wouldn't have bowed her head even with a knife at her throat, nor would she have even flinched. Yet now, Nan Gong Yue saw her so humbly begging this woman for the antidote, the Blood Droplets.
"Liu'er, don't beg her. We'll find it ourselves. We'll search every mountain, and we will find the Blood Droplets,"
Nan Gong Yue couldn't bear to watch any longer. He reached out to pull Liu Liu up. Liu Liu's straight back remained unmoving, her gaze fixed on Yun Gu.
Upon hearing Nan Gong Yue's words, Yun Gu couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Good, you can try. Even if you find the Blood Droplets, they might not be useful when you take them back. If they can't cure the poison, they'll only cost you your life."
Nan Gong Yue's heart sank upon hearing this. He realized there was more to the Blood Droplets. If this woman didn't explain, what good would it be to take them back to save the Emperor?
He could say nothing further, only looking at the woman with furious resentment as she laughed mockingly.
She was clearly seventy or eighty years old, yet she insisted on acting young. Nan Gong Yue's eyes drifted elsewhere dismissively, not deigning to look at the woman. Any longer and he felt he would be driven to madness by her.
When Yun Gu had laughed enough, she glanced at the woman kneeling on the ground, meeting her gaze directly. She appeared composed, neither humble nor overbearing, and showed no signs of embarrassment or anger.
Her entire demeanor was graceful, making Yun Gu seem small-minded. Yun Gu couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation. This had become a solo performance for her. She had initially intended to leave them to their own devices, but if she left, she feared this woman would start roaring again, leaving her no peace.
"Speak, who do you want to save with those Blood Droplets?"
Yun Gu spoke with simmering resentment. Liu Liu chuckled upon hearing her words. Had this woman finally run out of options? This was wonderful. She quickly replied.
"My husband. The蠱 poison was originally in me. He used his inner force to draw the蠱 worm into himself, so I cannot let him die."
Liu Liu's voice was filled with emotion, carrying deep affection. She gazed intently at the woman before her. Unexpectedly, upon hearing her words, Yun Gu's expression turned grim.
Recalling the love she had never received until her death, and that others had obtained it so easily, a sinister smile spread across her face. She unexpectedly agreed, but a fleeting darkness flashed in her eyes.
"Follow me. As for whether you can collect the Blood Droplets, that's not my concern."
Yun Gu's figure flickered as she led the way. Her black robe draped to her shoulders. In the dead of night, others would have mistaken her for a ghost.
Liu Liu rose and quickly followed the shadow ahead. She saw that the shadow seemed to glide without touching the ground, moving swiftly and erratically. Fortunately, all three were skilled in martial arts, and keeping up with her was not difficult.
The group passed through dense woods. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the ground with shifting shadows. They moved quickly through the forest and soon arrived at a place with green buildings, hidden within the trees.
If one wasn't paying attention, it would be impossible to discern. The structures were concealed by dense bamboo leaves. Below were several small, exquisitely crafted houses built from bamboo. In front of the doors, various medicinal herbs were planted, scattered around in disarray, their fragrances filling the air.
Yun Gu stopped and walked to a lush green flowering fruit tree. It was a four-leaf plant, with stems two feet high and four broad leaves.
In the center of the leaves, there were four small, bright red fruits, dazzling to behold. Liu Liu noticed Nan Gong Yue's gaze fixed on these four fruits and immediately spoke softly.
"Are these the Blood Droplets?"
Nan Gong Yue studied them. According to the records in his books, these were indeed Blood Droplets.
This Blood Droplet plant must have been transplanted here by the woman. However, it was clearly well cared for. Perhaps she had already figured out how to cultivate the Blood Droplets.
"Yes, they are Blood Droplets,"
As soon as Nan Gong Yue finished speaking, Liu Liu dared not hesitate. Even if she had to snatch them, she would seize these Blood Droplets. With quick movements, she reached out, but a gust of wind swept her hand away, and Yun Gu's cold voice followed.
"Even if you snatch them, they're useless. The Blood Droplets have their own trick."
Liu Liu heard her words. Whether they were true or not, she dared not act rashly.
Since there was only one Blood Droplet plant, if she snatched it and it turned out to be useless, she would have harmed Feng Xie. Therefore, she decided to listen to what the woman had to say before making further plans.
Seeing that Liu Liu and the other two had quieted down, Yun Gu turned and sat on a bamboo chair in front of the bamboo house. She leisurely poured herself a cup of tea, its fragrance wafting all around.
Liu Liu's expression was exceedingly grim. In a matter of life and death, this woman was still so at ease, drinking tea. She truly wished to end her with a single blow, but for the sake of the Blood Droplets, she had to endure.
"Senior Yun, this is a matter of life and death. Please, you must save a life."
"Alright, but you must agree to two conditions, and then I'll give you the Blood Droplets," Yun Gu said, surprisingly amenable. She took a sip of tea, closing her eyes in contentment, not looking at Liu Liu's face. Liu Liu readily agreed. At this moment, she would agree to even a thousand conditions.
"Okay, I promise. Tell me."
Yun Gu listened to her words and said with satisfaction, "First, you must show me your sincerity. Kneel before the Blood Droplets now. You may rise when I tell you to."
This condition was not difficult. Although Nan Gong Yue and Feng Kuang Wu Lang Jun looked extremely displeased, their mistress was the Empress. This old woman had asked their mistress to kneel before a plant.
However, Liu Liu was unfazed. As long as she could save Feng Xie, she didn't fear suffering any hardship. She immediately nodded earnestly.
"Alright, what's the second condition?"
"Second, swallow this pill, and you will become a woman without memories. I live alone on Snow Show Peak, and I am very lonely. You will stay and keep me company; you are not allowed to go anywhere."
Yun Gu sighed. For so many years, she had indeed been too lonely. She found this young woman quite pleasing. If she stayed to keep her company, she would generously give her the Blood Droplets to save someone. After all, saving one person and gaining another was no loss to her.
"What? How despicable! How can you erase her memories?" Nan Gong Yue and Feng Kuang Wu Lang Jun were outraged by the woman's words. How could they allow their mistress to lose her memories? The Emperor had been poisoned trying to save her. If the Emperor was saved, but she lost her memories, what would happen then?
"If she refuses, then you should leave the mountain immediately. I'm going to sleep. I'd prefer not to see any of you when I wake up, or don't blame me for turning ruthless. To be honest, I haven't attacked you yet." Yun Gu stood up, snorted coldly, and turned to walk inside. Liu Liu behind her, no longer able to care about anything else, immediately said in a deep voice.
"Alright, I promise."