Chapter 22

The doctor spent a full quarter of an hour diagnosing Jiang Chu Ting. After releasing his hand, he stroked his beard, furrowed his brows in deep thought, and remained silent.

Having practiced medicine for over thirty years, he had seen all sorts of difficult and complicated cases. However, this was the first time he encountered such severe abdominal pain with a completely normal pulse, leaving him utterly perplexed.

Jiang Chu Ting’s body was almost curled up into a ball, his hair and clothes soaked with cold sweat. His eyes were dazedly fixed on the string of love peas beside his pillow.

With Jiang Chu Ting’s consent, the medicine boy removed his mask, brought a cloth to wipe his sweat, and took care of him.

His pain was definitely not feigned. The doctor asked Jiang Chu Ting, “Before the abdominal pain, were there any signs? Or did you come into contact with anything unusual?”

Jiang Chu Ting moved his lips and struggled to speak, “No.” But then he remembered the floral scent he smelled before the pain started. Unsure if it was relevant, he decided to mention it. He mustered the strength to say two words, “Floral scent.”

The doctor asked again, “Where did you smell it?”

“On the outskirts of the city.”

“Do you recognize what kind of flower it was?”

Jiang Chu Ting replied, “I don’t.”

The doctor wanted to ask more about the specific location, but seeing Jiang Chu Ting trembling in pain, he didn’t press further. He said, “I’ve prepared some pain-relieving medicine for you. Once you feel better, I’ll ask you more questions.”

After the medicine was prepared, the medicine boy brought it to Jiang Chu Ting, who drank it and lay down for a while. The pain gradually subsided. Although it still hurt, it was within his tolerable range, and he could sit up on his own.

Jiang Chu Ting picked up the bracelet, lost in thought. The doctor came over and sat on the stool by the bed, “How are you feeling now?”

“Much better, thank you.” Jiang Chu Ting slightly bowed to express his gratitude.

“That’s good.” The doctor smiled, stroking his beard, and continued with the previous questions. Jiang Chu Ting roughly described the path, saying, “By the way, there’s an old Guanyin Temple nearby.”

The doctor pondered for a moment, “If you mentioned other places, I might not be sure, but there’s a large patch of glazed red flowers on the hillside not far from the Guanyin Temple. These flowers have a strong fragrance, especially after rain. You probably smelled them. However, these flowers are non-toxic.”

Jiang Chu Ting understood, “So, it has nothing to do with the floral scent.”

The doctor looked at him with a gentle smile and said softly, “Don’t rush. Let me finish. These flowers are originally non-toxic, but they conflict with a certain herb called Wangxian Grass.”

“Wangxian Grass?” Jiang Chu Ting had never heard of it.

“Yes, if you’ve taken Wangxian Grass, no matter how long ago, smelling the fragrance of these glazed flowers will cause adverse reactions. However… it shouldn’t be as painful as you experienced. It’s possible you accidentally took too much.”

Jiang Chu Ting didn’t pay attention to why the doctor said “accidentally,” thinking it was likely because of the pills Lin Xuan forced him to take back then, which contained Wangxian Grass, causing the sudden reaction after smelling the floral scent.

Over the years, he had seen many doctors who couldn’t figure it out, and now, by a twist of fate, he had a clue. Jiang Chu Ting asked, “Doctor, what is Wangxian Grass used for?” He wanted to know Lin Xuan’s intentions.

“Wangxian Grass is rare and precious, hard to find even one plant. It’s said to be abundant only on the legendary Penglai Island, where spiritual herbs are as common as stones by the roadside. But ordinary people don’t even know where it is, so the abundance of spiritual herbs has nothing to do with the outside world. In this sense, Wangxian Grass is indeed rare and precious.” The doctor paused for effect before revealing the main use of this rare herb, “It’s a miraculous medicine for treating female infertility.”

Jiang Chu Ting had many speculations in his mind, but he never expected it to be used for this purpose, leaving him stunned.

A medicine for treating female infertility. He’s a man, so why did Lin Xuan give him this medicine?

The doctor fetched a book and pointed to the page describing Wangxian Grass, “It looks like this. Think carefully if you’ve accidentally taken it before.”

Jiang Chu Ting said, “Years ago, I did swallow a pill with unknown properties, and it caused abdominal pain similar to today, lasting over three hours. Now that I think about it, it probably contained…”

“A pill? Then it must have been mixed with other things. Otherwise, just taking this herb wouldn’t cause much pain.” The doctor understood that Jiang Chu Ting didn’t know what he had swallowed and didn’t waste time asking about the pill’s formula. After a moment of thought, he said, “In my opinion, regardless of what else was mixed in, your sudden abdominal pain must be related to the fragrance of the glazed flowers. As long as you avoid these flowers in the future, you should be fine.”

Apart from this, there seemed to be no other solution. Jiang Chu Ting sincerely thanked the doctor again.

The doctor advised him to lie down and rest. Jiang Chu Ting suddenly thought of something and called out to him, pausing before asking, “May I ask, who brought me here?”

The doctor replied, “Two young gentlemen, both quite handsome. But they left right after bringing you here. If you want to thank them, I’m afraid you won’t find them.”

Jiang Chu Ting tentatively asked, “Was one of them wearing a purple outfit with short hair, looking about sixteen or seventeen?”

“Yes.” The doctor was surprised, “Do you know him?”

Jiang Chu Ting forced a smile and said softly, “I know him, but not very well.”

He really thought he was hallucinating from the pain, but it turned out he actually encountered Lin Zhi.

He heard Lin Zhi coldly say not to bother, and it was the other person who argued and carried him here. Lin Zhi truly loathed him from the bottom of his heart.

Jiang Chu Ting stared at the bright red love peas in his hand, feeling a sting in his eyes.

*

Jiang Chu Ting lay down for another half an hour, collected himself, asked the doctor to draw pictures of the glazed red flowers and Wangxian Grass, and left with still weak steps.

His whole body was soaked with sweat, and his clothes were muddy. He found a nearby inn to take a hot bath and change clothes.

Unexpectedly, as fate would have it, just as he was led to his room by the innkeeper, Lin Zhi and Zhao Chengyang came out of the room next door.

Caught off guard, they came face to face.

Lin Zhi seemed a bit surprised, pausing for a moment upon seeing him, but quickly his expression turned cold, averting his gaze as if even one more look was too much.

Zhao Chengyang, on the other hand, didn’t care, his eyes lighting up as he greeted Jiang Chu Ting, “It’s you! How are you? Are you okay now?”

Jiang Chu Ting didn’t immediately enter the room because he wanted to thank him. His eyes behind the mask softened with a gentle light, “I’m fine now. I know it was you who saved me, thank you.”

“No problem, no problem, don’t mention it. As long as you’re okay.” Zhao Chengyang waved his hand with a smile, then suddenly realized, “Wait, how did you recognize me?”

Logically, he was almost unconscious at the time, and after being sent to the clinic, he left immediately. How could he remember his face?

Jiang Chu Ting explained, “We met once before at Jingfeng Teahouse.”

“Jing, Jingfeng Teahouse?” Zhao Chengyang’s smile became increasingly stiff as he glanced at Lin Zhi beside him. He remembered now, the person he met at Jingfeng Teahouse was the one who had caused a scandal by seducing Lin Zhi’s father, known throughout the martial world. He suddenly understood why Lin Zhi had told him not to bother.

However, he always felt this person didn’t match the shameless, frivolous reputation. He didn’t find him particularly annoying. Of course, he wouldn’t dare say such things in front of Lin Zhi, or he’d get beaten.

Jiang Chu Ting noticed his sudden awkwardness and didn’t disturb him further. He nodded slightly, didn’t spare Lin Zhi a glance, and went into the room, closing the door.

After soaking in hot water for a while and changing into dry clothes, Jiang Chu Ting packed his things, planning to check out and find another inn.

Lin Zhi didn’t like him, so it was better to avoid him. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard Lin Zhi and Zhao Chengyang’s voices approaching, probably returning from a meal, chatting as they walked.

Jiang Chu Ting withdrew his hand, intending to wait until they entered their room before leaving.

Outside, Zhao Chengyang’s voice said, “You haven’t figured things out yet, and you’re leaving already?”

Lin Zhi replied, “It’s almost time for my meeting with Chu Ran. I need to hurry back to Xiang Si Xiao Zhu.”

Zhao Chengyang said, “You still have two or three days, why rush?”

Lin Zhi said, “I can wait for him, but I can’t let him wait for me. I should hurry back.”

Zhao Chengyang sighed and reminded, “Don’t blame me for being nosy, but your Chu Ran is so mysterious. I always feel like he’s hiding something from you. You met him ten years ago, so he must be at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight now, right? Still not married? Who would believe that? Lin Zhi, as a friend, I advise you to be cautious and guard against him, don’t get deceived.”

Lin Zhi immediately said, “What’s there to guard against? I begged him to meet me, he’s very good. Besides, even if he deceives me, even if he kills me, I’d willingly accept it.”

“…You’re hopeless.”

For some reason, this conversation left Jiang Chu Ting with a sense of unease, lowering his gaze and staring blankly at his toes.

As the two passed by his door, they seemed to deliberately stop talking.

Jiang Chu Ting sat back at the table, waiting until he heard Lin Zhi and Zhao Chengyang leaving before he breathed a sigh of relief.

With Lin Zhi gone, there was no need to avoid him anymore. He lay down on the bed, exhausted.

Once his mind calmed, he suddenly connected the dots.

The same unbearable abdominal pain, the same inability to diagnose… His situation was somewhat similar to that of the previous courtesan.

But ultimately, it was different. His episodes were infrequent, and there was nothing growing in his abdomen. Besides, Lin Xuan had been dead for many years and couldn’t harm these people.

The next morning, his abdominal pain had stopped. He returned to the place where he had fainted the day before and indeed found a large patch of glazed red flowers nearby, with a rich fragrance, just like the scent he had smelled earlier.

After confirming this, Jiang Chu Ting was even more puzzled. If Lin Xuan wanted to harm him, why not just give him poison instead of these strange pills? What else was mixed in the pills? What unforeseen effects would they have on his body?

He couldn’t figure it out, and no one could tell him.

*

Jiang Chu Ting knew Lin Zhi had already returned early to wait for him, but he still went to Xiang Si Xiao Zhu on the afternoon of their agreed meeting.

Originally, Lin Zhi greeted him with a bright smile, but soon noticed something was wrong and asked urgently, “What’s wrong with you? You don’t look well, you seem to have lost weight. Are you sick? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll get a doctor to check on you.”

He was about to call for a servant, but Jiang Chu Ting quickly stopped him, “No need, it’s just a cold, and I’m already better.”

A few days ago, he had left him to die, and today he was worried because he didn’t look well. Jiang Chu Ting thought he should have been used to Lin Zhi’s hot-and-cold attitude by now, but he couldn’t help the bitterness rising in his heart.

“But I’m really worried about you. Let’s get a doctor to take a look.”

His eyes were filled with sincere concern. Jiang Chu Ting smiled faintly, “Really, there’s no need. I’m fine now. How have things been lately? Any news?”

“There is.” Lin Zhi didn’t immediately say what the news was, instead adding, “Don’t push yourself. If you’re not feeling well, you must tell me.”

Jiang Chu Ting nodded helplessly, “I know.” Usually, he acted like a child, but at times like this, he seemed like an elder.

Seeing him agree, Lin Zhi seemed a bit more at ease, leading him inside to sit down, pouring him tea, and then telling him about the subordinates being killed and the killer leaving a pattern on the bodies.

Jiang Chu Ting hadn’t expected that his investigation would cost a life, and he sighed deeply.

“Look, this is the pattern.” Lin Zhi had drawn it from memory and showed it to Jiang Chu Ting. Jiang Chu Ting reached out to take it, and Lin Zhi noticed the red bracelet hidden under his sleeve, his mouth curving into a high smile, his eyes shining as he stared at Jiang Chu Ting’s face.

Jiang Chu Ting focused on the pattern, not noticing his gaze. After a moment of thought, he said, “This… looks like a tree.”

Lin Zhi nodded repeatedly, “You think the same as I do. I think it might be a totem symbolizing something, or a family crest.”

Jiang Chu Ting tilted his head, studying it for a moment. The killer left such an obvious clue, either because they had a powerful backing, using it as a warning to stop their investigation, or it was a deliberate misdirection to lead them astray.

But despite his years in the martial world, he had never seen a major family’s emblem that was a tree…

Jiang Chu Ting thought for a moment, then looked up at Lin Zhi and said, “You’ve helped me a lot lately. It’s best to call back the people you’ve sent out. The other side has noticed our actions, and staying will only lead to more deaths.”

Lin Zhi immediately understood his meaning and asked, “So you’re planning to investigate personally?”

Jiang Chu Ting nodded, and Lin Zhi said, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Chu Ting’s eyes flickered, his mouth just opening when Lin Zhi seemed to predict what he was going to say, covering his mouth with his hand, pretending to be fierce as he bared his teeth, “No refusing, no leaving me behind, no talking!”

Jiang Chu Ting’s dark eyes quietly watched him.

Lin Zhi’s eyes reddened, releasing his hand and throwing himself into Jiang Chu Ting’s arms, sadly saying, “Chu Ran, I just want to spend more time with you. Please don’t leave me, okay? I’m begging you.”

In fact, Jiang Chu Ting had planned to take this opportunity to completely sever ties with Lin Zhi and never meet again. But with Lin Zhi pleading like this, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

Jiang Chu Ting sighed silently. With this child, he was always helpless in countless ways.

Moreover, compared to the cold and hateful Lin Zhi, he found it hard to let go of this warm, bright, and affectionate Lin Zhi.

This wasn’t a good thing for him.

Patting his head, Jiang Chu Ting whispered, “Alright, I promise you.”

*

That night, Jiang Chu Ting stayed at Xiang Si Xiao Zhu. Lin Zhi had gathered a pile of books, all about family crests and totems, and they searched through them by candlelight, trying to find the origin of the tree.

After flipping through until their heads ached and their eyes were sore, Lin Zhi finally found it.

He perked up, placing the book in front of Jiang Chu Ting, excitedly saying, “Look, isn’t it exactly the same?”

The one in the book was indeed identical to the one Lin Zhi had drawn earlier. Jiang Chu Ting was slightly surprised and read the three words beside it, “Penglai Island?”

It turned out to be the totem of Penglai Island.

Jiang Chu Ting read the notes below, discovering that the image was indeed a tree, but not an ordinary one. It was the thousand-year-old sacred tree of Penglai Island.

It was said to be the only thing left by the immortal ancestors of Penglai Island, still imbued with immortal energy, and the faith of all the island’s inhabitants, serving as their totem for hundreds of years.

Lin Zhi couldn’t help but ask Jiang Chu Ting, “Chu Ran, do you believe in the existence of Penglai Island?”

“It should exist.” Jiang Chu Ting looked back at him, speaking warmly, “I’ve heard from some traveling merchants that Penglai Island sends people out every year or so to trade gemstones, pearls, and other treasures for goods or food. I’ve seen those gemstones, and they don’t seem like anything from the outside world.”

“But so far, it seems no one has actually been there.”

“Because it’s impossible to reach.” Jiang Chu Ting said, “Many people, greedy for the island’s wealth, have secretly followed the islanders’ ships, trying to find Penglai Island’s exact location in Qionghai. But not only did they fail, they also lost many ships and lives.”

“Then if no one has been there, how can anyone know this totem is really from Penglai Island?”

“I just remembered, the merchants also said that the islanders’ ships fly flags with a tree on them. So, it shouldn’t be wrong.” Jiang Chu Ting said as he continued reading, suddenly frowning and reading out two words, “Sacrifice?”

Lin Zhi had previously speculated about this, quickly leaning in to look. They were already close, and when he suddenly leaned over, he bumped into Jiang Chu Ting’s head with a thud.

Jiang Chu Ting instinctively turned to look at him, wanting to ask if he was hurt, but was immediately aware of a warm, fresh breath brushing against his lips, both ticklish and numbing.

Lin Zhi’s lips were only a fist’s distance from his.

Jiang Chu Ting froze, Lin Zhi’s bright eyes staring straight into his, smiling, “Almost kissed you.”

Jiang Chu Ting’s heart skipped a beat, quickly avoiding his gaze, lowering his head to look at the book, but not a single word registered. He worried that his “cut sleeve” identity might inadvertently disturb Lin Zhi.

“Chu Ran.” Lin Zhi suddenly called his name, his tone softening, his voice low and gentle, “Do you know, I’ve always thought your eyes…”

“My eyes what?” Jiang Chu Ting finally looked up at him, puzzled.

Lin Zhi tilted his head slightly, resting his chin on his hand, gazing at him with fascination, “Your eyes are beautiful, like… two pools of sweet wine, gentle and sweet, intoxicating, drawing my soul in.”

He was exaggerating again. Jiang Chu Ting’s initial discomfort was washed away, and he chuckled, “It’s not as exaggerated as you say.” If his eyes were really that beautiful, why did Lin Zhi never glance at him when he was in his original appearance? It was simply because he liked “Chu Ran,” so he found everything about him good.

“I’m not exaggerating, I’m telling the truth! Anyway, in my heart, you’re perfect in every way.” He finished with a sweet smile.

“Alright, I know… Let’s continue. Look here.” Jiang Chu Ting pointed to a section in the book, trying to redirect his attention. Fortunately, Lin Zhi was obedient, not stubbornly continuing to praise him, but quickly focusing on the task.

After quickly scanning the text, Lin Zhi commented, “Forcing people to sacrifice themselves is one thing, but they’re all willing? These people must be out of their minds. Isn’t the legendary ancestor of Penglai Island supposed to be an immortal? Shouldn’t immortals be pure and noble? Why would they leave such a vile custom?”

Jiang Chu Ting softly said, “The power of extreme faith can lead people to completely devote themselves. It’s not uncommon.”

Lin Zhi snorted, “But if they’ve been sacrificing for hundreds of years, all the crazy ones should be dead by now, right? The ones left are the smart ones, and I doubt anyone would be willing now.”

What was originally a serious matter, when Lin Zhi put it that way, Jiang Chu Ting couldn’t help but let out a short, ambiguous sound, like a sigh or a laugh.

Lin Zhi continued, “Maybe that’s why they’re reaching out to the outside world, using strange illnesses to force people to sacrifice themselves, which could barely count as voluntary.”

“You might be right.” Jiang Chu Ting said softly, “But they might not be crazy. Because the environment one grows up in can greatly influence their thoughts. If someone is forcefully indoctrinated with certain ideas from a young age, over time, they’ll not only firmly believe it’s an unbreakable truth, but also see opposing views as absurd and incomprehensible, thus steadfastly holding onto their beliefs, passing them on to the next generation. This invisible power is terrifying.”

Lin Zhi was nodding along, but suddenly, Jiang Chu Ting’s words made him think of himself, his eyes filled with contemplation. He quickly dismissed the rising doubts. He didn’t think he hated that person because of any indoctrination. After all, it was a fact that person shamelessly seduced his father.

“Do you think this has anything to do with Penglai Island?”

Jiang Chu Ting closed the book, “The totem is real, but the sacrifice might not be entirely believable. We haven’t personally investigated Penglai Island, so it could all be based on rumors. And if they wanted sacrifices, they wouldn’t need to come all the way here. But we can’t completely deny it either. In short, until we have more information, we can’t jump to conclusions.”

“You’re right!” Lin Zhi nodded, concisely saying, “No matter how you investigate, I’ll always be with you.”

Jiang Chu Ting smiled at him, and Lin Zhi tilted his head, giving him a bright smile in return. After smiling, he rubbed his eyes, a childlike gesture.

“Are you sleepy?” Jiang Chu Ting caught his hand, stopping him from rubbing.

Lin Zhi hummed with a nasal sound, and Jiang Chu Ting gently said, “It’s late, let’s rest.”

Lin Zhi leaned on his shoulder, wrapping an arm around his neck, taking a deep breath, and happily closing his eyes, “It’s nice, being able to sleep with you again.”

After a night of book searching, they were both exhausted. Once on the bed, they quickly fell asleep.

*

The previous day, Lin Zhi had followed Jiang Chu Ting’s advice, ordering the recall of all the people stationed in various brothels to gather information. That morning, a few nearby individuals returned to report, and Lin Zhi gave them brief instructions before dismissing them and returning inside.

Jiang Chu Ting was packing his things when he accidentally pulled out a piece of paper tucked in his clothes. The paper fluttered to the ground, and Lin Zhi quickly stepped forward to pick it up, “What’s this drawing of…”

There was nothing to hide, so Jiang Chu Ting answered, “It’s Wangxian Grass, a rare and hard-to-find herb.” It was the drawing he had asked the doctor to make at the clinic.

“Hard to find?” Lin Zhi laughed, “I saw a large patch of it when I was a child. How can it be hard to find?”

Jiang Chu Ting was stunned, his first reaction being that Lin Zhi had mistaken it, especially since the doctor had described Wangxian Grass as extremely rare, “Are you sure what you saw looked like this?”

Lin Zhi confidently said, “Of course, I’m absolutely sure. It looked exactly like this drawing. When I was a child, I accidentally wandered into a medicinal garden and was chased with a knife. I panicked and rolled down a slope, getting scratched by poisonous plants, and that’s when you saved me. I saw plenty of this Wangxian Grass in the garden.”

Seeing Jiang Chu Ting’s skepticism, Lin Zhi added, “Don’t worry, I remember it clearly, I won’t mistake it.”

After his repeated assurances, Jiang Chu Ting believed him, but still felt something was off.

Jiang Chu Ting couldn’t help but ask, “Do you remember where that medicinal garden was? Can you take me there?”

“I can take you, but it’s no use now. When I left home this time, I specifically went to check, and it’s long gone, turned into a wasteland.” In fact, after Lin Zhi returned home and told his grandmother about Lin Xuan chasing him with a knife, he remembered her cold expression, saying, “I’ll handle it,” and then locking him up.

As he grew older, he understood what “handle” meant and went to see the garden, finding it desolate, with no sign of life. Lin Zhi feared this person would think his family was ruthless, so he deliberately concealed it.

Jiang Chu Ting said, “Then forget it.”

Lin Zhi observed his expression and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you looking for this herb? How much do you need? I can help you.”

Jiang Chu Ting snapped back to reality, shaking his head, “No, I won’t need it.”

Lin Zhi hesitated, studying him for a moment before returning the drawing. Jiang Chu Ting took it and put it away. If Lin Zhi had indeed seen a large patch of Wangxian Grass as a child, it must have been someone meticulously cultivating it for high-priced sale, given its miraculous effects. The people inside were likely angry at Lin Zhi, a half-grown child, for intruding and potentially damaging the plants, hence the chase.

That was the only explanation.

Lin Zhi had initially ordered the recall of all personnel, but within half a day, news came that two people hadn’t been withdrawn in time and were killed.

Jiang Chu Ting and Lin Zhi quickly went to the scene, finding two bodies dumped in the same place. The marks on them were no longer the Penglai Island sacred tree totem, but two different patterns.

Lin Zhi was so angry he laughed, “Are they playing with us?”

Jiang Chu Ting understood why he was angry.

Because one of the bodies had a three-petal flower mark carved on it. The Lin family’s crest was a purple three-petal flower.

“This is our Lin family’s symbol.” Lin Zhi’s eyes burned with anger, gritting his teeth, “Are they deliberately provoking me, knowing my identity?”

This showed that the previous Penglai Island totem was likely a deliberate misdirection to waste their efforts.

Jiang Chu Ting pondered silently, not speaking.

Lin Zhi looked at him for a moment, his breath suddenly heavy, becoming anxious as he grabbed Jiang Chu Ting’s hand, “Chu Ran, you don’t really suspect me because of this, do you?”

Jiang Chu Ting looked back at him, but before he could speak, a shadow flashed in the distance. He quickly broke free from Lin Zhi’s hand and gave chase.

After a relentless pursuit, the black-clad figure suddenly stopped ahead, turning to wait for him, raising both hands to signal not to attack.

Jiang Chu Ting recognized him as the same black-clad person he had chased when Bao Qi’s body was burned.

He showed no hostility or killing intent, as if he had something to say.

Jiang Chu Ting didn’t approach too closely, nor did he draw his sword, frowning as he asked, “Did you kill those people?”

“No.” The black-clad person said, “It has nothing to do with me, but I did carve those patterns.” Though wrapped tightly, with only his eyes visible and his voice deliberately lowered, it was clear he was young.

Jiang Chu Ting found it strange, asking, “Why did you do that?”

For some reason, the black-clad person let out a cold laugh, “No reason.”

Hearing others approaching, he quickly said to Jiang Chu Ting, “I wasn’t sure of your identity before, so I didn’t approach you. But whether you are or not, I want to warn you today. The last person who tried to investigate this died. I think he wouldn’t want you involved. Remember, stop investigating, or it won’t do you any good.”

So someone had investigated this before and died because of it. Jiang Chu Ting asked, “Who is ‘he’ you’re referring to?”

Was it someone he knew? Why would they care about him? Or was the black-clad person mistaken about his identity?

Jiang Chu Ting was full of questions, but the black-clad person didn’t answer, instead saying, “Also, it’s best to stay away from the person you were with just now.” With that, he turned and disappeared.

His lightness skill was excellent, vanishing in an instant. Jiang Chu Ting didn’t chase, feeling a bit dazed. The person beside him, referring to Lin Zhi? What did he mean?

“Did he get away?” Lin Zhi caught up, stopping beside Jiang Chu Ting, surprised as he asked, “Were you talking? What did he say?”

Jiang Chu Ting was silent for a moment before saying, “Let’s go back and talk.”

*

Inside, Jiang Chu Ting stared at the candle flame, his thoughts growing more chaotic as he learned more, unsure when the fog would clear.

After thinking for a while, he noticed Lin Zhi, usually lively and clingy, now dejectedly resting his face on the table, staring at him with a gloomy gaze, not saying a word.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jiang Chu Ting was surprised, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Reaching out to touch his forehead, Lin Zhi caught his hand, hoarsely saying, “My heart feels unwell.”

Jiang Chu Ting thought he meant physically unwell, leaning in slightly to ask, “Should I call a doctor?”

“No need.” Lin Zhi finally sat up, asking, “What did that black-clad person say to you?”

So that’s what he was concerned about. Jiang Chu Ting said, “I already told you, he just warned us to stop investigating.”

“But I feel like there’s more you haven’t told me.” On the table was a vase with a single bright yellow flower. Lin Zhi pulled it out, plucking the petals one by one as he lowered his head, muttering, “Why won’t you tell me? Are you guarding against me, or suspecting me?”

Jiang Chu Ting recalled what Lin Zhi had said at the inn.

“What’s there to guard against? He’s good. Even if he kills me, I’d willingly accept it.”

Lin Zhi trusted him so much, and now he was hurt because he sensed something unsaid.

“I’m not suspecting you, nor guarding against you. Don’t overthink it.” Jiang Chu Ting truly didn’t suspect Lin Zhi. The black-clad person’s final warning to stay away from Lin Zhi could be interpreted in two ways: either the matter was related to the Lin family, or it was nonsense meant to separate them and stop their investigation. Telling the truth would only upset Lin Zhi, so he decided against it.

Lin Zhi continued plucking petals, still upset.

Jiang Chu Ting worried he might hurt his hand on the flower’s thorns, reaching to take it, only to prick his own hand, quickly drawing blood.

Lin Zhi forgot his anger, taking Jiang Chu Ting’s finger into his mouth to gently suck, anxiously asking, “Does it hurt? Does it hurt?” He blew on the finger.

Jiang Chu Ting withdrew his hand, smiling faintly at him, “It doesn’t hurt.” Compared to the abdominal pain a few days ago, this was like a gentle caress.

Jiang Chu Ting’s throat tightened for a moment, then he suddenly smiled at him, “Is this little injury worth your worry? Just don’t leave me lying injured one day.” With that, his breath caught, and he quickly looked away.

Lin Zhi was puzzled, “Chu Ran, what nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean by leaving you? Do you think I’m that kind of person? Even if I saw a stranger injured, I’d help, let alone you. And stop talking about injuries, it’s not auspicious! Don’t say it again, understand?”

“Alright, I won’t say it again.” Jiang Chu Ting picked up the teacup in front of him, taking a sip, his face calm, but inside, he felt a bit unsettled.

What was wrong with him? Why did he say such things just now?

He was too careless, but fortunately, Lin Zhi didn’t notice anything unusual.

It took Jiang Chu Ting a while to calm his emotions, and when he turned back, he found Lin Zhi staring at him with a dazed look.

It seemed that when he said he felt unwell, it wasn’t just about the black-clad person.

Jiang Chu Ting couldn’t think of anything else he had done to upset him, so he softened his voice and asked, “Lin Zhi, is there something else you want to ask me?”

“There is, about Wangxian Grass.” Lin Zhi first hooked his finger around Jiang Chu Ting’s long index finger, then slowly held it tightly, looking at him with wide eyes, softly asking, “I looked it up, this herb… is for treating female infertility. Chu Ran, don’t be mad, I just want to ask, who are you inquiring about this herb for?”