Hidden Shadow – CH 035

Chapter Thirty-Five: Forcing An Jiu Out

“Let me check on my two cousins’ conditions first,” Mo Sigui said.

Mei Yanran nodded.

Mo Sigui was clearly more interested in Mei Jiu’s condition, but because of the two unpleasant experiences before, Mei Jiu shrank back uncomfortably.

Mei Ruyan smiled and said, “Cousin, my hand hurts terribly; why not take a look at it first?”

“Alright.” Mo Sigui smiled and sat down next to her.

Seeing his strange smile, Mei Ruyan innocently said, “Cousin, I already know I was wrong for accidentally letting you fall into the water last time. Please do not hold a grudge and take revenge on me, alright?”

Had he seen through her? Mo Sigui laughed magnanimously. “How could I? I would have forgotten if you had not reminded me, Cousin.”

These words were too ambiguous! Even Mei Jiu felt he had ill intentions.

“Mother, I am afraid of pain.” Mei Ruyan withdrew her hand, looking at Mei Yanran expectantly.

Mei Yanran observed the thoughts of all three. In these small acts of kindness, she did not mind protecting Mei Ruyan, so she smiled gently, as if coaxing a child, “How childish! Did it hurt when the physician bandaged you yesterday? Sigui’s medical skills are renowned throughout Bianjing, far superior to that physician’s. Not only did it not hurt, but this little injury will heal in a couple of days.”

The implication was that if it hurt or healed slowly, it was Mo Sigui’s deliberate revenge. Mo Sigui had heard of Mei Yanran’s reputation since childhood, and even if he were bold, he would not dare retaliate against her daughter under her nose. “Aunt, you flatter me.”

Only then did Mei Ruyan obediently extend her hand.

Mei Yanran looked at Mei Ruyan’s poised and confident demeanor, while Mei Jiu was shy and cautious, and felt a pang of guilt. With Mei Jiu’s talent, she should have been outstanding, but Mei Yanran had ruined her into this pathetic state, ultimately unable to escape her constraints.

She felt ashamed.

Mo Sigui, as expected of a renowned physician, skillfully applied the medicine. Mei Ruyan felt no pain during the process; the cool medicine seeped into her fingers, quickly suppressing the burning sensation.

“Cousin’s medicine is truly miraculous! It does not hurt at all anymore!” Mei Ruyan praised generously.

Mo Sigui was speechless. These two cousins ​​were quite different. One seemed innocent and lively, yet harbored sharp claws behind her back; the other appeared gentle and introverted, yet could reveal a violent side without warning.

The former was a typical two-faced person, quite normal overall. What intrigued Mo Sigui was Mei Jiu, who possessed two completely unrelated personalities.

“Cousin Ruxue, you do not look well. Shall I take your pulse?” Mo Sigui offered solicitously.

Mei Jiu shook her head repeatedly. “No, no, I am just frightened, not ill.”

You, frightened? Me too!

Mo Sigui gritted her teeth inwardly, but her face still wore a faint, friendly smile. “A fright can be a big deal or a small one. If it’s just a fever to dispel the wind-evil, that’s fine. But if it leaves a lingering ailment, it will be difficult to cure later.”

Mei Yanran had a sudden thought. “Jiu’er, let Sigui take a look at you.” Having no choice but to obey her mother’s order, Mei Jiu gritted her teeth and solemnly extended her wrist.

An Jiu did not want to express her opinion. First, she disliked all physicians, and second, she disliked Mo Sigui. Previously, An Jiu’s approach to such people was basically only two: if they did not cause trouble, she’d ignore them; if some reckless individuals insisted on approaching, there was only one word—kill. But now, she decided to endure it for the time being.

The cool fingers touched her wrist, and Mei Jiu’s hair stood on end.

When taking the pulse of a woman, a suspended silk thread was usually used, or a thin silk handkerchief was placed on the wrist, but neither of these was as accurate as a direct pulse diagnosis, especially when trying to discern subtle changes in the pulse.

The Mei family, both men and women, had practiced martial arts for generations and did not particularly care about such formalities.

Mo Sigui closed his eyes and carefully felt the pulse.

It was no different from an ordinary person’s. Most people would think someone with two personalities was possessed, but Mo Sigui dismissed that notion; he was certain it was an illness.

“How is it?” Mei Yanran asked when he withdrew his hand.

“A normal pulse.” He suddenly had an idea, changing the subject. “But there’s a slight fluctuation at the end of the normal pulse; it feels… like when I felt my cousin’s pulse and pressed down on a thread under my finger and felt another pulse.” The three people in the room were all startled!

“This is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation,” Mo Sigui said cautiously. “We can try using the Dream Locking Technique.”

“Cousin, you…” Mei Ruyan wanted to say, “You are not plotting revenge, are you?!” But she did find Mei Jiu’s change strange, so the question that came to her lips was, “Are you sure?”

Mo Sigui looked at Mei Yanran. “I cannot be sure, but the Dream Locking Technique is beneficial and harmless. My cousin was frightened; the Dream Locking Technique can dispel the evil influence.”

How many people in this world could be completely selfless? Even someone as kind as Mei Jiu felt a selfish thought surface in her mind for a moment. An Jiu had threatened her with her mother’s life; she was ultimately a threat. If only she could use this opportunity to resolve it! But she was also afraid that failure would only anger An Jiu…

Mei Jiu struggled several times, still unable to make up her mind.

“Try it,” Mei Yanran said, making the decision for her.

Mei Jiu said urgently, “Mother, I do not want to use the Dream Locking Technique.”

Mei Yanran frowned. “Why?”

Mei Yanran knew about the Dream Locking Technique. This method would put a person into a state of half-sleep, half-awake, causing their hidden secrets to be discovered and exposed. Failure would simply result in the person falling into a deep sleep, or it might have no effect on the recipient; it was indeed harmless. Mei Jiu’s actions these past few days far exceeded Mei Yanran’s understanding of her, so Mei Yanran felt it would not hurt to give it a try.

“Let him try,” An Jiu suddenly said.

Mei Jiu hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked, “You want to try?”

An Jiu did not answer, and Mei Jiu, persuaded by Mei Yanran, half-heartedly agreed.

Mo Sigui was overjoyed.

Then, the group watched as he took out the necessary items one by one from his person: a small piece resembling sandalwood, several blood-red beads, a small, intricately carved snow-white porcelain incense burner, and a small porcelain bottle with a red stopper.

Mei Ruyan stared wide-eyed. Either this was pre-planned, or he had stuffed various odds and ends on his person. Judging from his fluttering sleeves, he did not seem to be hiding many things, so she concluded it was the former.

“This is the antidote to the sleeping incense I’ve prepared. Aunt and Cousin Ruyan should take it first to avoid falling asleep.” Mo Sigui poured two pills from the small porcelain bottle.

After the two took the incense, Yao-Ye and Dan-Yue were sent to stand guard outside, forbidding anyone to make a sound.

Mei Jiu was sweating profusely with nervousness, while An Jiu remained unusually silent, refusing to respond to anything said.

Mo Sigui casually pulled a tinderbox from his sleeve, lit the incense stick, and placed it in the burner along with the red beads. Wisps of smoke rose from the latticework.

Mei Ruyan was utterly speechless. To dare carry a tinderbox so close to one’s body—was she not afraid of burning herself to death in a fire?

“Do you remember everything that happened in front of the ancestral hall?” Mo Sigui sat down opposite Mei Jiu.

Mei Jiu nodded, then shook her head. She remembered but did not know the whole story.

Mo Sigui did not press her about the meaning of her actions, continuing, “Close your eyes. Can you smell the fragrance?”

The fragrance made her feel languid, and Mei Jiu slowly relaxed. “Yes.”

“What kind of fragrance is it?”

Mei Jiu heard Mo Sigui’s voice, soft and gentle, as if from the heavens. She murmured, “Pine resin.” The white smoke in the incense burner had turned pale red.

“Do you see the pine forest stretching to the sky? The bright moon rises in the east, the clear spring murmurs, and you feel light, as if you could fly.” Mo Sigui whispered, “Getting closer and closer to the moon, surrounded by a vast sea of ​​clouds, not knowing where you are…”

Mei Jiu had already closed her eyes, and An Jiu’s vision was completely black as she listened indifferently to his words.

For a time, An Jiu was injected with sedatives every few days, so small doses of sleeping pills had a negligible effect on her. Later, after joining an assassin organization, she received specialized training in hypnosis, and any hypnosis had no effect on her.

Therefore, the psychologist encountered great difficulties in treating her, leading her to eventually resort to killing to alleviate the restlessness in her blood.

“Who are you?” An Jiu heard Mo Sigui ask.