Hidden Shadow – CH 244

Chapter Two-Hundred-Forty-Four: Hidden Enemy

“Ha!” Mo Sigui chuckled, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Ah Jiu, you are really laying your heart bare for a game. Do you dare dig any deeper into your cunning?”

An Jiu stared at him silently, inwardly wondering, “Was it really that obvious?”

“Fine, I’ve resigned myself to it anyway.” Mo Sigui suddenly leaned closer to her and whispered, “How’s our little Yuyu doing now?”

“She’s doing well,” An Jiu pondered.

Mo Sigui waited expectantly, but she seemed lost in thought and did not say anything more. “Tell me more! Like, is she eating well? Is she dressed well…?”

“She eats dry rations and wears this black outfit.” An Jiu scoffed at him. “Do you not already know? Why waste my breath!”

“Sigh!” Mo Sigui sighed a few times, abruptly changing the subject, and reached out to take her wrist to feel her pulse.

After a moment of silence, he solemnly grasped An Jiu’s other wrist.

After a pause, he said, “Have you been seriously injured again recently?”

An Jiu nodded, thinking to herself that Mo Sigui was indeed quite skilled. “Once, I encountered the Liao army alone and suddenly used my mental power, which caused me to vomit blood.”

“No wonder! Otherwise, with the pills I’ve prepared this time, plus your gradual practice of Plum Blossom Fist, you should have recovered long ago.” Mo Sigui took out another small bottle from his pocket. “I suppose you are running low on pills. Continue taking them, two at a time, to help you recover.”

An Jiu uncorked the bottle and sniffed it gently. Sure enough, she smelled a faint bloody odor again. “What kind of medicine is this? Why does it smell like blood?”

“I cut my finger while clipping my nails,” Mo Sigui lied without batting an eye.

An Jiu knew that Mo Sigui’s pills were concentrated. Such a large pot of ingredients could not possibly produce such a strong smell from just a little blood, especially since it was definitely raw blood, never boiled.

“You did not just cut your finger; you chopped it off!” An Jiu frowned. “Are you hiding something from me?”

Mo Sigui shook his head decisively. “You are overthinking it.”

He then changed the subject. “I’ve noticed your mental state is much better; your madness seems to be healing.”

If An Jiu was determined to pursue something, she would not be so easily fooled.

Seeing her stern face and unblinking eyes, Mo Sigui waved his hand. “Fine! I will tell you, it is Gu Jinghong’s blood.”

“Why?” An Jiu could not understand. When did Gu Jinghong donate blood to her? And why?

“Because…because…you are beautiful…” Mo Sigui could not think of a reason either. He said impatiently, “You are asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Just thinking about Gu Jinghong makes me furious! Anyway, do not stop your medication; do not give up treatment for any reason! I cannot take any more blows!”

Mo Sigui had gone to great lengths to give Gu Jinghong a chance to live and had paid a considerable price, but he still died. Mo Sigui was truly unwilling to accept it.

“He gave you blood. Did he not say anything?” An Jiu asked, still unwilling to give up.

Mo Sigui was about to answer no, but then suddenly remembered, “He really did say something. Did you drink and chat with him? He said it was his way of thanking you.

Sigh!” Mo Sigui said regretfully. “I actually really enjoy talking to people about their troubles.”

Hearing this, An Jiu felt a burning sensation in her hand as she held the medicine bottle. “Gu Jinghong… how did he die?”

“Anyway, he did not die from bloodletting. He could not think straight.” Mo Sigui had just finished saying that he enjoyed talking to people about their troubles. When asked to elaborate, he immediately became impatient again. “Do not think about such nonsense. You should just stay as silly and single-minded as before! Why be so sentimental?”

“You seem very agitated today,” An Jiu said, looking into his eyes. “You were rejected by Lou Mingyue again, were you not? Or did she simply ignore you?”

“Fine.” Caught off guard, Mo Sigui squatted down against the tent, looking dejected. “My heart is filled with medicine; I rarely think about marriage and children. Since hearing of Ningyu’s passing, I’ve completely given up on that idea. Seeing her again this time, I thought it would be nice to spend this life with her, but unfortunately, she does not share that sentiment. I… I am tired.”

He had sacrificed so much time and energy to follow Lou Mingyue? He chased after her, yet was anxious about wasting time. Three to five months would be fine, but if it continued, his heart would surely be exhausted.

“Unable to grasp it, unable to let it go,” Mo Sigui sighed deeply.

“You each have your own things to do; you’ve taken different paths. Why force yourselves to stay together?” An Jiu could not understand.

If it were someone else, they might answer because of feelings. But for Mo Sigui, besides feelings, there was also a sense of responsibility towards Lou Mingyue. They were childhood sweethearts; he had long considered her family. Watching a loved one walk down a path of no return, unable to pull her back, unable even to be there for her—it was agonizing.

“Ah Jiu, what do you think I should choose?” Mo Sigui pulled the little tiger from the ground, cuddling it and smoothing its fur.

“I’ve always been alone, only responsible for myself,” An Jiu finished speaking, then thought of Mei Yanran and Mei Jiu. “Maybe now I have something to hold onto, but I always act on my gut feeling. If I feel it is right, I do it.”

Mo Sigui suddenly felt that being single-minded was not so bad; at least he would not be confused, always knowing which direction he was heading.

Neither of them spoke. The surroundings were quiet, save for the crackling of the torches.

Mo Sigui was enjoying the tranquility of the night when An Jiu’s murderous aura suddenly erupted. The two tiger cubs, who were being petted, snapped at him as if their tails had been stepped on, baring their teeth and becoming wary.

He followed her cold gaze; everything seemed normal, with a squad of soldiers on night watch passing by with torches.

But An Jiu did not relax at all. She had just seen a figure flash by in the flickering firelight, and for a moment, she had sensed the person’s presence. At this moment, few could hide around An Jiu, not even the Madman who had once been a master of martial arts. This time, she could not even discern the other person’s martial arts level, let alone accurately sense their aura!

Mo Sigui did not ask, but simply stroked the tigers’ backs intermittently.

Thinking of Chu Dingjiang, who was still healing, An Jiu immediately turned and went back into the tent.

Mo Sigui also got up and followed her in. He did not see any suspicious figures, but he felt inexplicably uneasy, as if a thorn was in his side.

Seeing Chu Dingjiang sitting cross-legged on the couch, An Jiu felt a sense of relief, but she dared not relax for a moment, slowly extending her mental energy outwards. Even if this did not find the hidden enemy, it would at least have a deterrent effect, preventing the other party from making a move easily.