My back stiffened, and I almost tripped over the threshold.
Because I was just around the corner, these two people didn't realize I hadn't walked far.
"Is it worse than pig's food? Hmph, you idiot, was the Sect Master's Wife brought here to cook for you?"
Uncle Zhong snorted coldly.
The Bearded Man chuckled awkwardly, "Heh heh, of course she's here to warm the Third Master's bed."
Do these two guys not know the saying 'he who takes the meal eats with short hands'??
They've been eating the food I cooked, and there they are, fabricating nonsense!!
I was full of exasperation as I hurriedly fled from the scene.
When I got back to the small courtyard where I had first woken up, someone had already lit the candles inside.
I thought there might be someone inside, so I knocked on the door.
When there was no response for a long time, I realized there probably wasn't anyone inside.
I pushed the door open and took a look – indeed, there was no one there, only the lit candles.
I guess Zhang Shuying must have been concerned that I wasn't used to using candlelight and came over to light them for me in advance.
The leaf where I had placed the Golden Silkworm Gu was carelessly set on the desk, and I leaned on the desk, lost in thought.
The shadow of Yu Longting lingered in my mind, impossible to dismiss even for a moment.
I was already missing him terribly, and by the quiet of the night, this longing was overwhelming, like a tidal wave I couldn't contain.
By now he should have woken up, if Yun Hao had followed all the way here.
Could it be that he hadn't found the chance to inform Yu Longting, and Yu Longting didn't know I was kidnapped by Zhang Shuying?
My cell phone and ID, they had all been snatched by Zhang Shuying.
Moreover, the mountain gate was full of traps and Formations; there was no possibility of me escaping at all.
This must be why Zhang Shuying didn't keep a strict eye on me but gave me some freedom instead.
As I was lost in thought, I noticed an extra strand of golden thread on the leaf and watched it with some surprise for a while.
I found that Xiao Yuanyuan was struggling to spin the thread, and all of it was golden.
"Wow, Xiao Yuanyuan, are you spinning thread?" I exclaimed with wide eyes.
Xiao Yuanyuan gave me a woeful look, its little form somehow reminiscent of a wronged wife from the deep palace, "Have you finally noticed?"
"Sorry, I was just thinking about home and got distracted," I apologized to Xiao Yuanyuan. "Why didn't you go back to Zhang Shuying?"
The spinning of thread paused, and a flicker of hurt seemed to pass through Xiao Yuanyuan's shiny eyes, "Do you… not like Xiao Yuanyuan anymore?"
I said discontentedly, "Don't jump to conclusions, a normal Life-bound Gu would usually like to follow its owner."
"But I want to follow miss," Xiao Yuanyuan said.
In the end, I couldn't resist and patted Xiao Yuanyuan on the head, "Alright, fine, you can do as you like."
"Mm, miss, I like you the most," Xiao Yuanyuan nudged its soft, cool little head against me, as adorable as a little kitten.
The next day, I woke up early.
When I saw the golden silkworm cocoon on the leaf, I almost went crazy.
Just a night's sleep, and Xiao Yuanyuan had turned into a cocoon??
Last night, when I saw it spinning silk, I should have expected this, but my mind was slow, and I didn't think that far ahead.
Now I believe Yu Longting's words; I might really be an idiot!
I'd never heard of a Gu insect that could spin silk into a cocoon. This couldn't possibly turn into a dusty, flapping moth after a few days, could it? The thought alone is terrifying.
If it becomes a fluffy moth, how is it supposed to return to Zhang Shuying's body?
I had originally woken up early to cook, but now I had to find Zhang Shuying first.
The Gu Sect was too large, and I had no idea where Zhang Shuying's room was.
Luckily he rose early and was fetching water from the well beside the kitchen; otherwise, I would have passed out searching through hundreds of rooms.
"Zhang Shuying, quick, look at your Golden Silkworm Gu, it… it's turned into a cocoon, and this… this isn't a problem, is it...?"
I asked Zhang Shuying nervously, holding the leaf in my hands.