Gu Mang looked at him.
His bare toes under the table rubbed restlessly back and forth twice.
Then he suddenly said:
“Fan Dou and I warm each other together.”
Mo Xi looked at him calmly.
“So?”
“Your clothes are thin, so you’re cold. My clothes are thin, so I’m cold too. If you’re cold and I’m cold, then we stay close together, and we’ll become warm.”
“……”
Mo Xi was a man who liked men.
Gu Mang was his former lover.
Even though the walls of reason were built high and could lock away actions that crossed the line, they could never completely restrain certain instincts of the body.
Mo Xi knew very clearly that he had an extremely strong reaction toward Gu Mang.
If they really stayed close together with only thin clothing between them, it would probably not be as simple as merely getting warm.
Because of this, Mo Xi felt a surge of anger as if he had been deliberately seduced.
Although this kind of “seduction” could only be said to exist entirely within his own imagination, his expression still darkened noticeably.
He stared at Gu Mang for a while.
Then he suddenly released the fingers holding Gu Mang’s chin.
Almost with disgust, he grabbed a sheet of rice paper and wiped his fingers.
Coldly, he said:
“Don’t really think too highly of yourself.”
“Is that not allowed?”
“You think you are what?”
Hearing this, Gu Mang showed no trace of sadness.
He only looked back at Mo Xi.
Every emotion was openly written across his face.
Mo Xi could easily see confusion, uncertainty, and daze in his eyes.
But he could not see the slightest emotion that would bring him satisfaction.
If Gu Mang could feel hurt because of his cruel words—
Even just a little—
Mo Xi felt that perhaps he would not be this restless and miserable.
Gu Mang answered:
“I thought… I was a companion.”
He paused.
“Your companion.”
Mo Xi did not respond.
After a moment, he raised his hand.
With one finger, he hooked the slave collar around Gu Mang’s neck.
His fingertip slowly moved downward and flicked the metal piece hanging from the black iron ring twice.
Looking down, he said:
“You think I would become companions with someone wearing this thing?”
“You are a traitorous subject. I am your mortal enemy.”
Mo Xi spoke softly.
“That will never change.”
“Gu Mang, we can never return to how things were.”
As the year-end sacrificial ceremony approached, Mo Xi became more and more certain that Gu Mang truly was not pretending.
Because he had lost two souls, he had genuinely lost all his memories and part of his mind.
Mo Xi had been gloomy because of this for a long time.
On this day, after returning from court, Mo Xi received news that Physician Jiang had finally returned from his travels outside.
Jiang Fuli was the greatest alchemy physician in Chonghua.
He had extensive knowledge of rare and difficult illnesses.
There was no one else Mo Xi could ask about Gu Mang’s condition.
But Jiang Fuli was still someone worth trying.
So carrying the last trace of hope, Mo Xi brought Gu Mang and went to visit Jiang’s residence.
Jiang Fuli’s personality was extremely arrogant and strange.
Among Chonghua’s three great flaws:
Greed belonged to Murong Lian.
Obsession belonged to Murong Chuyi.
And anger—
That referred to someone who became furious when things did not go according to his wishes, who acted recklessly, who allowed emotions to control him.
That person was Jiang Fuli, Physician Jiang.
This physician relied on his talent and behaved without restraint.
He never accumulated virtue with his words.
He acted however he pleased.
“Did you hear? After he returned home and found out about that incident where his wife met Li Qingqian, he was so angry that he refused to speak to his wife for an entire day. He even asked whether his wife’s brain was ill and told her to take medicine if it was.”
“Why did he do that?”
“Who knows the details? Probably because he thought his wife acted too recklessly. I heard he even went to the Yue Residence to scold Murong Chuyi, saying Murong Chuyi should not have interfered and dragged his wife into the matter.”
“Haha, obsession versus anger. Murong Chuyi didn’t fight him?”
“Murong Chuyi wasn’t even at home. Jiang Fuli smashed more than ten sets of tea utensils in Yue Residence before leaving angrily. He even declared that if Murong Chuyi dared involve his wife again, he would personally go there, tie Murong Chuyi up, and throw him into the furnace to make medicine pills. I heard he even scolded Young Master Yue, who tried to stop him, until the child cried.”
“Wow, he’s that fierce…”
That was Jiang Fuli.
Mo Xi had interacted with Jiang Fuli before.
His impression of this person was truly terrible.
If he had anyone else to ask, he absolutely would not want to visit Jiang’s residence.
But when he turned his head and saw Gu Mang lying in the courtyard with Fan Dou, squinting peacefully while sunbathing, he felt that this trip was unavoidable.
Inside the main hall of Jiang Residence, two vine-wrapped Falling Star lamps burned brightly on both sides.
Thousands of whale-oil lamps illuminated the night as if it were daytime.
Every decoration in the hall was exquisitely crafted.
Compared to ordinary cultivators’ residences, the furnishings were hundreds of times more refined.
It could even be called extravagant.
Since it was after dinner, the steward prepared abundant tea and snacks and sent someone to inform Jiang Fuli.
They originally thought Jiang Fuli would appear immediately.
But unexpectedly, they waited for a very long time.
Mo Xi closed his eyes and rested.
Gu Mang, however, kept holding the plate and eating.
The blue Yue porcelain plate contained peach pastries, flower cakes, preserved fruits, and fresh fruits.
He stuffed every single thing into his mouth.
After finishing his own plate, he licked his lips.
Still unsatisfied, he reached out toward Mo Xi’s plate.
He secretly glanced at Mo Xi.
Seeing that even Mo Xi’s eyelashes did not move, he boldly lowered his head and continued eating.
Unexpectedly, Mo Xi suddenly asked:
“Are you very hungry?”
Gu Mang froze.
Mumbling through his food, he said:
“You want some? There’s still some left. I thought you weren’t eating…”
Mo Xi calmly replied:
“I’m not eating.”
“Okay, okay. Then I’ll help you finish it.”
The final words were almost impossible to understand because Gu Mang had stuffed another large piece of walnut pastry into his mouth.
Although his stuffed cheeks worked very hard to chew, all that came out were muffled sounds.
Mo Xi said nothing.
But his sword-like eyebrows slightly tightened.
He did not want to look at Gu Mang’s embarrassing eating habits anymore.
He turned to the steward and asked:
“Why has it taken so long? Is your master occupied with something and unable to come?”
The steward answered:
“Master is treating Changfeng Jun’s daughter’s illness. He should finish soon.”
Mo Xi frowned.
“Recently, I have often heard about Changfeng Jun. What illness does his daughter have?”
“Mad Heart Disorder.”
The steward said:
“Changfeng Jun’s young lady’s spiritual core is too violent. She is still too young and cannot control herself. She has already injured many young masters and young ladies at the cultivation academy…”
The steward sighed, unable to hide his sympathy.
“She is only seven years old. When she is not suffering an episode, she is quiet, obedient, and polite. But no one is willing to spend time with her. It is truly pitiful.”
“Can it be cured?”
“It cannot be cured in a short period.”
The steward sighed.
“The cultivation academy has said that if she injures someone again, they will destroy her spiritual core and expel her from the academy.”
Mo Xi fell silent for a moment.
Then he asked:
“Does that mean she will never be able to cultivate again?”
“Not only will she be unable to cultivate, destroying that spiritual core is extremely dangerous. If things go wrong, her mind may be damaged and she could become mentally disabled.”
“……”
“Changfeng Jun and his wife had a daughter in their old age, but they never expected things would turn out this way. They have cried until they have no tears left.”
The steward sighed.
“Actually, the young lady of Changfeng has always been trying her best to control herself. She has been slowly learning to control the power of her spiritual core. She is constantly improving, it’s just…”
He sighed again.
“Xi He Jun knows how the academy is. Most students are children of nobles. No one wants to take the risk of staying with a child suffering from Mad Heart Disorder.”
“Changfeng Jun begged for a long time and used many connections just to allow her to remain until today.”
“But the other noble families have strong objections. If another injury occurs, regardless of whose child is hurt, she probably will not be allowed to stay.”
Mo Xi immediately thought of the gifts Changfeng Jun had previously sent him.
So that was the reason.
Before he could speak, a stern male voice came from inside the hall.
“Old Zhou, you talk too much. Who allowed you to reveal a patient’s information?”
The steward immediately shut his mouth.
Mo Xi turned his head.
Behind the golden silk screen walked out a man around thirty years old.
He wore an elegant and luxurious pale green embroidered robe.
The layers of his collar overlapped neatly.
His belt was perfectly arranged.
He casually brushed his wide sleeves and sat down in the seat of honor.
Then he raised a pair of light-colored almond eyes.
His face was cold.
His brows were arrogant.
Mo Xi said:
“Physician Jiang.”
Jiang Fuli rested his fingers on the armrest.
He glanced at the visitors.
His thin lips moved.
Without a single word of greeting, he said directly:
“Your body is healthy. No treatment needed.”
Mo Xi asked:
“What about him?”
Jiang Fuli glanced at Gu Mang.
“He has every possible illness. Nothing can cure him.”
Although Mo Xi had already lost most of his hope that Gu Mang would recover his memories, hearing Jiang Fuli personally deny it still caused his heart to sink.
Mo Xi closed his eyes.
Unwilling to give up, he asked:
“Is there truly no possibility of recovery?”
“There is.”
Jiang Fuli raised his eyebrows slightly and gave two cold laughs.
“Search the heavens above and the underworld below. Find the two scattered souls that left him, and everything will be solved.”
“The problem is…”
He looked at Mo Xi.
“Does Xi He Jun know where to find them?”
Normally, if anyone else spoke to Mo Xi like this, he would have already lost his temper.
But Jiang Fuli’s remarkable quality was precisely this—
Everyone in Chonghua disliked him.
They called him a profiteer, a black-hearted merchant, someone who made money from the dead.
Yet no one in Chonghua would truly do anything to him.
Even the Lord of Chonghua could do nothing about him.
Because he was a rare divine physician in this world.
Mo Xi glanced at Gu Mang, who was staring blankly at the plate of pastries.
Then he turned back to Jiang Fuli.
“……Physician Jiang, is there any other method? At least enough to help him recover some memories.”
“If you only want him to remember a little, there is no need for any method.”
Jiang Fuli answered directly.
“The soul that governs his memories was taken away, but it does not mean he has forgotten all his past experiences forever.”
“As time passes, he will naturally recover some memories.”
Mo Xi’s heartbeat suddenly skipped.
“How much can he recover?”
“Depends on his fate.”
Jiang Fuli said.
“But if the two missing souls do not return, he will still be unable to remember most things.”
Seeing the brief darkness flash through Mo Xi’s eyes, Jiang Fuli gave a cold laugh.
“Actually, memories are a troublesome thing.”
“Either someone recovers everything.”
“Or they forget everything completely.”
“To keep only scattered fragments…”
“That is what truly torments people.”
“If I were him, I would rather remain confused forever.”
“It would save him from much suffering.”
The candle flames crackled.
Jiang Fuli shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning lazily against the soft cushion.
“Besides…”
“A person’s consciousness is unpredictable.”
“Who knows which part of his past he will suddenly remember?”
Those words made Mo Xi’s heart tighten.
Yes.
If he only recovered incomplete fragments depending on chance—
Who knew which fragments they would be?
The first half of Gu Mang’s life contained too many secrets.
He had endured too much suffering.
Speaking lightly, there was the private relationship between Mo Xi and him.
There was Murong Lian’s humiliation of him.
Speaking seriously, there were military secrets involving the Black Tortoise Army.
There was also the oppression he suffered from the Lord of Chonghua.
If Gu Mang suddenly remembered these scattered pieces—
How would he face himself?
Mo Xi only thought about it briefly.
Yet he already felt a bone-piercing chill.
Jiang Fuli clearly saw through his thoughts.
He smiled maliciously.
“Is it frightening?”
“……”
“What if he remembers how the Lord treated him back then?”
“Without knowing the causes and consequences, he may become even more unstable and uncontrollable.”
“At that time, Xi He Jun, cleaning up the aftermath will become extremely troublesome.”
Mo Xi glanced at Jiang Fuli.
Looking at Jiang Fuli’s calm and leisurely expression under the candlelight, he said:
“You have medicine.”
He did not phrase it as a question.
Jiang Fuli sneered.
“Very clever.”
“I have no method to restore his memories.”
“But I can prescribe many formulas to reduce the chances of him remembering those dark memories.”
The handsome man had the face of a true profiteer.
He slowly turned the jade thumb ring on his finger.
Like a hunter waiting for prey to enter a cage, he asked:
“Do you want it?”
Mo Xi naturally was not short of money.
His long legs wrapped in black leather battle boots crossed.
One arm rested casually against the back of the chair.
Without even raising his eyes, he said:
“Name your price.”
“Good.”
Money immediately made Jiang Fuli’s expression slightly more pleasant.
He said:
“You are much more straightforward than the Lord.”
“The Lord also knows that Gu Mang might recover his memories?”
“Why would I hide it from him?”
Jiang Fuli said.
“But he hopes Gu Mang will remember everything regardless of what it is.”
Mo Xi remained silent for a while.
Then he said:
“……Prescribe the medicine.”
Jiang Fuli said:
“Let me make this clear first.”
“This formula calms the mind and stabilizes emotions.”
“Although it can suppress some dark emotions, it cannot completely control what memories Gu Mang chooses to recover.”
“If one day he still remembers something painful and hateful…”
“You open your eyes and find him holding a knife against your neck…”
“Physician Jiang does not offer refunds.”
After speaking, his white jade-like fingers tapped lightly on the wooden table.
He raised his chin proudly and pointed toward the physician residence plaque hanging outside.
“Everything follows Jiang Residence’s rules.”
Mo Xi did not even bother looking at that broken plaque.
That plaque had left a deep psychological scar on him the first time he saw it when he was young.
Since then, his impression of medicine practitioners who claimed to save lives had changed greatly.
Other medicine halls, no matter how poor, would still hang phrases such as:
“Saving lives through medicine.”
“Fair prices for all.”
But Jiang Physician’s residence had a completely different motto carved onto its sign:
“Whoever troubles Jiang, Jiang kills.”
Jiang Fuli asked arrogantly:
“Understood?”
Mo Xi’s expression did not change.
“Prescribe the medicine.”
“Good.”
Jiang Fuli said.
“One treatment course. Seventy thousand gold shell coins.”
“Pfft—”
Even Steward Zhou of Jiang Residence could not hold back after hearing the price.
But he immediately turned it into a cough.
“Cough, cough. I… caught a cold. A cold.”
Jiang Fuli glanced at him.
His white teeth flashed in a dangerous smile.
“Sure. I’ll give you medicine later.”
Steward Zhou:
“……”
Mo Xi took out gold notes from his Qiankun pouch.
But at that moment, Gu Mang suddenly leaned over.
After spending so long at Plum Blossom Residence, the clearest words he had learned were:
“Shell coins.”
Now his companion was going to spend money.
Not only spend shell coins.
But gold shell coins.
Not only gold shell coins—
But seventy thousand gold in one move…
How long would he need to work as a servant to earn that much money?
Seeing that Mo Xi was about to hand the money to that fierce-looking almond-eyed man, Gu Mang immediately objected.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed Mo Xi’s wrist.
With a serious expression, he shook his head.
“Don’t give it.”
Mo Xi looked at him.
“My money.”
“……”
“Let go.”
Gu Mang thought for a while.
He could not come up with any reason to stop him.
So he sighed and slowly released Mo Xi’s hand.
Then he asked:
“We won’t have money anymore.”
“Will we go hungry?”
Mo Xi ignored him.
He simply placed seven gold notes worth ten thousand each onto the table.
Then, with his long fingers, he pushed them toward Jiang Fuli.
Jiang Fuli probably had never looked at even his own wife with such a gentle expression.
He accepted the notes.
Then he ordered the steward to bring paper and brush.
From the table, he pulled over a small purple sandalwood box.
Inside, he took out a clear crystal lens frame and placed it over his left eye.
His cold white fingers held the wolf-hair brush.
Then he began writing.
After leaving Plum Blossom Residence, Gu Mang’s days were no longer as dark.
The wildness in his blood had gradually begun returning.
He was no longer in that completely dull and emotionless state.
His curiosity had also slowly returned to this scar-covered body.
So when he saw Jiang Fuli wearing the crystal lens, he asked:
“What is that?”
Jiang Fuli answered calmly:
“A lens.”
“Why are you wearing it?”
“I have night blindness.”
“What is night blindness?”
“It means I cannot see clearly at night.”
“Then why are you only wearing one?”
“I am only blind in my left eye.”
Gu Mang said:
“Oh.”
But after thinking about it, he felt something was wrong.
He said:
“Night blindness means you cannot see in darkness.”
“But your room is shining so brightly.”
“Why can’t you see?”
“Spell damage.”
Jiang Fuli replied.
“Not a normal illness.”
“My left eye becomes blind at night.”
“No matter how many lamps I light, they only help my right eye.”
“……”
Jiang Fuli’s cold gaze passed through the crystal lens.
“Does Marshal Gu have more questions?”
“Physician Jiang does not like being disturbed while writing prescriptions.”
Gu Mang answered honestly:
“No more.”
The prescription contained more than seventy different medicinal herbs.
Jiang Fuli ordered someone to bring a golden abacus.
His clean fingers moved rapidly across the beads.
While calculating the price, he also checked whether any of the herbs would conflict dangerously with each other.
“Keep this prescription carefully.”
Jiang Fuli said.
“Come here tomorrow to collect the medicine.”
Mo Xi accepted the prescription.
There was truly nothing more for him to discuss with Jiang Fuli.
It was time for them to leave.
However, Jiang Fuli suddenly stopped him.
“Wait.”
“Does the physician have any further instructions?”
“One more thing.”
Jiang Fuli glanced at the servants around them.
“You all leave first.”
“Yes.”
Everyone withdrew.
Only the three of them remained inside the hall.
Jiang Fuli slowly finished the tea in his cup.
Then he raised his eyes.
“Xi He Jun, let me ask something unrelated.”
“That day, when Li Qingqian’s sword spirit came looking for my wife…”
“Were you also there?”
Mo Xi nodded.
Jiang Fuli’s expression changed slightly.
He asked:
“Did you hear what my wife said to him?”
“Madam Jiang’s voice was very soft. I did not hear.”
Jiang Fuli seemed dissatisfied with this answer.
His pale lips moved slightly.
It looked as though he was silently cursing someone.
After finishing, he asked:
“Does the Red Peony Sword still have any remaining parts?”
“The hilt remains.”
Jiang Fuli’s gaze suddenly sharpened.
“Whose hands is it in?”
“Murong Chuyi.”
“Why are you asking this?”
Jiang Fuli did not answer.
But the moment he heard Murong Chuyi’s name, he immediately cursed.
His expression darkened.
After thinking for a while, he said:
“Forget it. There is nothing more to investigate.”
He stood up and adjusted his clothes.
Then he pointed his chin toward Gu Mang.
“By the way, Xi He Jun, there is something else I must remind you.”
“If you want this person not to remember those terrible past events…”
“Besides taking medicine on time, there is another important thing.”
“Please advise me, Physician Jiang.”
Jiang Fuli raised one finger.
He moved it twice.
Then said:
“Do not let him see old objects related to those memories.”
“A person’s thoughts are the most difficult thing to predict.”
“Perhaps a memory that cannot be recovered no matter how hard you try…”
“Can be awakened by nothing more than a single familiar scent.”
“Remember this carefully.”