A glimmer of light flashed through the eyes of the stunned girl. After a while, Gu Yunxi stammered,

"Is it... tear?"

"Correct!"

Yu Xuanji's eyebrows rose in complacence, "The legend has it that Jiaozhu is transformed from the tears of mermaids. Jiaozhu Pear Curd is the original creation of a man of talent; and its main ingredient is the tears of farewells, also reputed as 'Liyu'.

The icy curd is made from a beauty’s tears and hence comes its unique taste of bitterness and tartness. It cannot be replaced by any material in the world!"

She saw it now...

The Jiaozhu Pear Curd was a parting gift created by Pei Rushi before leaving the palace, expressing her sadness and yearning to her beloved boy.

The realization struck Gu Yunxi!

She, as stupid as she was, copied the dish and gave it to others behind the Master's back. It was no wonder he had been so angry!

Yu Xuanji gazed at her and asked, "The Master is dying. What will you do?"

"Can you cure him?"

She stood up and inquired timidly.

Yu Xuanji sneered as cunningness gleamed in his cold eyes. His lips were touched by a faint smile of slyness, "I'm but a priest. Why ask me when even the medical sage gave up? Do you know who had afflicted him such?"

"It's the Western Depot. It's Ming Lan!"

She looked directly at him and answered without hesitation.

"Wrong!"

Yu Xuanji's eyes were locked on the girl's decisive face. The curve of his lips deepened, "It's you! You made him like this!"

The words stabbed the girl's fragile heart like a freezing blade. Regardless of the heavy bleeding, they continued ruthlessly, "One who rings the bell must silence it himself. Since you caused it, you must save him naturally."

Outside the window, a bolt of lightning slashed across the night sky, followed by a rumble of deafening thunder.

The girl flinched at the thundery roar. She only came out of a trance after minutes and then squeezed her question out of the chattering teeth, "Eminence, do you mean..."

"Yes! The antidote is in Ming Lan's hands!"

The light in Yu Xuanji's eyes became gloomier. It would take one single glance of them for one to fall into the dark abyss. The aching coldness was so devastating that it could snatch one's soul in an instant.

With eyes shining brighter, he pressed the stunned and timid girl, "With Ming Lan's antidote, we won't need to waste time on unnecessary preparations. Must I labor further on what you should do?"

Yunxi felt a ghastly wind caressing her spine, and her heart suddenly stopped beating as if it was gripped by invisible sharp claws.

Unable to breathe, Gu Yunxi looked around in panic and dismay.

She knew what Yu Xuanji meant, and he seemed to be right.

She had been brought to the Eastern Depot by the Master in the first place, and Ming Lan saw through her disguise as a man. Consequently, the two Depots started a feud at the Qingfeng Temple because of her. Hence, the Master and the Eastern Depot were framed and came this far...

After a moment of struggle, Gu Yunxi stepped back to the bed, "Your Eminence's prediction has been truly accurate..."

Her determined look was heartbreaking and distressing along with the bitter smile, "You said that if I stayed with him, one of us would suffer a premature death. Now things happen as you foresaw. Nonetheless, the Eastern Depot can go on without me, but not the Master."

Her eyes were brimming with tears, which sprang out ceaselessly and dropped on the Master's calm face.

Gu Yunxi held the man's cold hand, studying his face through tearful eyes. Every sight she cast at him was with unforgettable pain.

Smiling reluctantly, she muttered sadly, "Master, I said before that I would never leave you. Now it seems that I have to break my promise. From now on, I can't serve you at your side.

No matter what lies ahead, I will never forget that there was a man in my life who was as gentle and brilliant as jade and kind to me. I will remember the words he told me. Brand them in my heart and doubt no more..."

Yu stared at the heartbroken girl silently, who was weeping at the man at stake with fluttering moist eyelashes. For a moment, his gaze lost focus as if he was caught in a reverie.

After a long time.

Gu Yunxi put down his big hand and tucked the quilt for the Master. Before she turned around, Yu Xuanji's cold voice sounded, "Wait."

He presented her with a parcel in front of her eyes as words came out of his slightly parted lips, "This is Juehun Powder found in the cushion on his chair. Bring it just in case and do as I say."

...

Lightning streaked the night sky in quick succession. Thunder clapped loudly as if there were armies fighting on the boundless sky.

Standing before the porch in the courtyard, Cheng Wanli looked up at the gloomy sky and turned to speak to his fellow captains, "Go back and guard the Eastern Depot. I'll stay here!"

Ai Qing raised his eyebrows and glared in a murderous aura. His voice broke as he shouted, "Chiliarch, we are waiting for your words. With one order, we will take people to the Western Depot and take back the antidote!"

As soon as he spoke out, the captains all worked up in agreement and rage.

Cheng Wanli's face sank as he yelled back, "Don't be ridiculous! Without the Master's order, you must not act presumptuously. Don't forget this is the capital. Recklessness is a handle to our enemy."

"Are we supposed to watch the Master die?!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes were shining with tears and reddish about the rims. He glared at Chiliarch, desperate and helpless.

Cheng clenched his fist and punched the crabapple tree trunk beside the porch. Immediately, his hand began to bleed under the trembling tree crown.

The feeling of difficulty and incompetence was inexperienced, driving him to the brink of breaking down.

Cheng Wanli was at a loss.

The Master's life was hanging by a thread right now. And there were many matters, overt or covert, still awaiting his attention.

From his understanding of the Master after many years, Cheng Wanli could not fathom the reason.

If not precognitive insight, the Master at least composed a strategic talent.

He mentioned before that he would save his life. How could he now give in willingly before achieving his goal?

In thunder, the door opened.

A thin and red figure walked into the courtyard and stood before everyone.

"Lady…"

Drawing closer, Qinger spotted Yu Xuanji before she could utter a word.

Finally, Yunxi's cherry lips were pursed into a smile as she scanned every present face.

"Qinger, I feel hungry..."

Then, Gu Yunxi looked at the sad little maid and muttered, "Thank you for your hard work. Please look after the Master in my stead. I'll go to the kitchen to cook something."

"Lady, you should rest, and I bring the food you want."

Qinger stammered in disquiet and she fixed her eyes on Gu Yunxi's pale and composed face with suspicion. The strange calm disturbed her careful mind.

"Do as I tell you."

Gu Yunxi smiled and then walked away without looking back.

Yu Xuanji watched her departure in silence.

The thin but firm back was filled with infinite power, brightening his gloomy gaze. For an instant, the coldness in his eyes eased.

Everyone else watched Qinger chasing her with puzzlement.

Before long, they heard her miserable shriek.

Shocked, Xiao Xiaoshen dashed outside.

"Yunxi." Running through many corridors and courtyards, he found Qinger crying alone.

"Where is Yunxi."

Hardly had his voice faded away, a horse whinnied outside the gate.

"She went to find Ming Lan..."

Qinger cried in Xiao Xiaoshen's arms.

Xiao Xiaoshen's heart trembled as he mumbled, "No... Yunxi, you can't go..."

Letting go of Qinger, he tumbled after her.

Outside the gate, he only caught a glimpse of a flying horsetail which was soon blotted out by the night.

"Yunxi, come back! Don't go."

Yelling, Xiao Xiaoshen mounted a horse and chased after her.

Blinding bolts lit up the dark and grim land, where the two silhouettes, red and purple, galloped in single file, looking tiny and pitiful under the white flash.

...

When Imperial Doctor Jiang returned to Leng's Mansion, Cheng Wanli was shaking Yu Xuanji violently by the front of his robe, interrogating, "What did you tell her? What did you say?"

Under the gaze of Chiliarch, the beautiful man replied, "I asked her to find Ming Lan for the antidote."

"She is the life of the Master! How dare you!"

Cheng Wanli drew blood out Yu Xuanji's mouth with a punch and then pushed him down.

Yu Xuanji stood up with a smirk.

"Don't be emotional, or we'll all be done! I know he cherishes her. That's why I help him get rid of his weakness! Isn't that what you want? To use her for the antidote? You, and you!"

Pointing at Cheng Wanli, Yu Xuanji then turned to Imperial Doctor Jiang with grim eyes, "I'm the bad guy here! But, compared to you hypocrites, I am frank."

Cheng Wanli shook his head feebly,

"Do you know who she is?"

"Tut-tut! An insignificant stumbling block."

He was not critical of this.

Staring at self-righteous Yu Xuanji, Cheng Wanli swallowed the rest of his reply back and smiled sadly, "Yu Xuanji, you will regret it sooner or later."

"Nonsense!"

Yu Xuanji snorted with a resentful squint, "Why should I care about her life?"

"Get out!"

Cheng Wanli pointed towards the door and roared,

"The Master doesn't want to see you! Don't force me to do it. Go away."

"He'll thank me when he wakes up!"

Yu Xuanji straightened the rumpled robe and walked away without the slightest care.

...

The rain was pouring at Ming Lan's mansion in the Langtian Lane.

Gu Yunxi stood in the rain, staring at the closed vermillion door. Xiao Xiaoshen was behind her, his eyes dim, and his right hand firmly on the sword hilt.

As soon as the two showed up at the mansion, a little eunuch rushed to report to his Master for favors.

Ming Lan deliberately delayed his appearance to drench Gu Yunxi in the pouring rain.

At this moment, he was slowly drawing his eyebrows and changing his clothes in the bedroom, imaging the clumsy look of the interesting girl.

She had disobeyed him over and over again. He already showed mercy by leaving her in the rain!

Gu Yunxi shivered in the storm.

Raindrops slapped her face without a stop, blurring her vision.

After long, the gate finally opened before her eyes. Gu Yunxi could clearly hear her nervous and depressed heartbeat.

In a white robe with crane and python, Ming Lan stood under the lintel with his hands back. His beautifully defined eyes and brows were seductive, and his rouged lips were juicy.

He looked down and calmly stared at the girl in the rain.

Her chiffon dress had long been soaked, clinging to her body and outlining her delicate curves for all to see.

After a long while, Ming Lan curled his lips in satisfaction and said sloppily,

"I thought Leng Qingtang cared about you. In the end, he gave you away."

Gu Yunxi lowered her hollow eyes away from Ming Lan, "Give me the antidote."

Her voice was plain without emotion. Ming Lan's eyes glimmered as he smirked, "Is this the attitude for begging?"

Her eyebrows twitched. Without a word, she dropped on her knees.

"Yunxi!"

Strained, Xiao Xiaoshen groaned.

Gu Yunxi looked at the ground and raised her voice again, "Give me the antidote!"

Ming Lan snorted, "How arrogant! How can you be sure that I will give the antidote to you?"

Gu Yunxi looked up at him suddenly, unwilling to waste her breath. She rolled up her sleeve and raised her left arm.

There was a three-inch-long cut, striking on her fair skin.

The injury was not shallow. After soaking in wet clothes, the edge of it was swollen and everted. The rotten blood was washed away by rain as soon as it oozed out.

"I applied Juehun Powder here! The poison will work sooner on open flesh than Master Leng. If you don't give me the antidote, I will die with him. Master Ming, all your calculations are to force me out. Now without this pawn, what will you do?"

The injury was so painful that she had to grit her teeth. Still, she bore it in trembles and threatened him resolutely.

Those words were taught by Yu Xuanji. And the injury was left by him.

Color gradually disappeared on his feminine face.

Ming Lan was astonished on the spot, unable to think.

The fiery figure was like an immortal flame, petite but fascinating. Her wet eyelashes drooping, the slender girl kneeled in the heavy rain without a cringe and full of tenacity.

Yes, tenacious... She was touchingly tenacious!

Unexplainable outrage occupied his mind.

Ming Lan rushed down the steps, closely followed by a young eunuch, who held the heavy umbrella straight in his hands.

With an abrupt slap, Gu Yunxi collapsed in the deluge.