Chapter 618: How did it become like this?

Liu Guiyan helped him up, walked to the bedside, supported him to lie down, and then covered him with a thin blanket:

"Master Cheng, don't rush; after all, we don't even know where that larval Gu is now."

"Didn't you say last time it had already been pulled from Princess Consort Ning's body?"

"Now, who its host is still needs to be slowly investigated."

Lu Wu listened silently, Princess Consort Ning? That child's mother?

His eyes suddenly lit up: "What does that larval Gu look like?"

Cheng Jing blinked, eyes amused: "Even a Daoist Priest has interest in this?"

"It is a black double-headed Gu."

"Black! Double-headed Gu!"

Lu Wu's hand began to tremble.

He recalled the scene when he questioned the ghost: that ugly black double-headed Gu, after eating a few drops of that child's blood, turned into a white and plump appearance.

Moreover, he recalled how that white and plump Gu worm sprayed a faceful of slime on him, breaking the forbidden technique; if not for dragging Teng Qingxing into a dream, his old life would have been gone.

Cheng Jing stared intently at him: "Daoist Priest, did you recall something?"

Lu Wu took a deep breath: "May I dare ask your honored name, Sir—is it Cheng Jing?"

Cheng Jing's face sank: "Daoist Priest, you haven't been idle in Jingcheng—in fact, you've even looked up my honored name."

Lu Wu recalled the punch Tuan Tuan gave him, raised his hand to rub his nose, and gave a wry smile: "No, I even took a punch for you, Sir."

"I learned it from that child's mouth."

Cheng Jing's face full of surprise: "What? How would she know?"

Lu Wu shook his head: "I'm not sure about that, but I know that Gu worm has no host."

Cheng Jing raised an eyebrow: "No? Daoist Priest, are you joking? If a larval Gu has no host, how can it still survive?"

Lu Wu walked to the table, sat down, poured himself a cup of tea: "I know where it is, and I know its current appearance."

Liu Guiyan suddenly lifted his head: "Where?"

A flame of greed ignited in Lu Wu's eyes, lighting up his withered old face with extra vitality.

"I once told the Supreme Venerable that when I cast my spell, I saw a white and plump Gu worm in the Xibei Daying."

His eyes grew brighter: "It's that child, who fed her blood to nurture your larval Gu."

"I personally watched it change from a black double-headed Gu into a white and plump little worm."

He thought: "It bears some resemblance to that child."

"Only after hearing you mention it today did I realize it was actually your Gu worm."

Cheng Jing listened, growing more incredulous: "White and plump? Daoist Priest, is that how you describe Gu worms there?"

Lu Wu shook his head: "If you were to see it yourself, Sir, you would understand I am not lying."

He paused: "I want to go to Xibei, Sir."

Cheng Jing frowned: "What does this have to do with you, Daoist Priest?"

Lu Wu smiled, moved the folds on his face, looking somewhat grim: "I came here and became like this, all because of that child."

He gritted his teeth: "If it weren't for my damaged soul and spirit, I would never share her with you, but now I am unfamiliar with this place and find every step difficult, so I have no choice."

"Now, the only one who can restore me to my former self is that child."

"I have lost over half of my essence and blood, so I can no longer perform high-level sorcery to fight her, but if I go myself, I can still match her."

"What I want is her blood; what you want, Sir, is her life and that of the Gu worm. Our paths differ but lead to the same end—we each get what we need."

Cheng Jing glanced at Liu Guiyan, his eyes flickering.

Liu Guiyan understood; the secret remedy for headaches still relied on this Daoist Priest, so Master Cheng naturally couldn't ask outright.

She frowned and asked, "Daoist Priest, if you have taken all her blood, how can Master Cheng's mother Gu still emerge?"

"'All of it?' Lu Wu stared, then burst out laughing: 'Her blood is so extraordinary; if I took it all for myself, I'd likely burst apart.'"

"Excess is as bad as deficiency; I only need a few drops."

He thought: "If you're not at ease, Sir, you may accompany me. But regardless of whether you go, I am determined to make this trip."

Seeing Cheng Jing lower his head in thought, silent, Lu Wu took a step back: "If you need to report to the Supreme Venerable for a decision, I will return first and await his arrangements."

Cheng Jing nodded: "That's fine. Thank you, Daoist Priest, for coming in person to relieve my urgent need."

"Someone! Send the Daoist Priest back to his residence!"

"Yes!"

Lu Wu followed the attendant and turned to leave.

The next morning, at Xibei Daying.

Feng Zhou's tent was quiet; Tuan Tuan lay asleep beside the bed, one hand resting on Xiao Feifei's body.

Xiao Yuanhang sat by the bed, dozing, one hand resting on his daughter's back.

The three brothers lay sprawled on the table, Xue Tong leaning against the foot of the bed, the tent filled with sleeping figures.

Cheng Ru'an quietly lifted the curtain, glanced inside, let out a soft sigh, turned and walked out: "Granny Liu, prepare their breakfast."

"Take it in gently, first wake Yuan'er and the others, as well as the Prince and the Old Valley Master; let Tuan Tuan sleep as long as she likes."

"Alright, I'll go now."

"Wait, don't forget to prepare the raw meat strips that Xiao Feifei loves."

She thought: "Leave it separate; if Xiao Feifei hasn't woken yet, first give it to the guards outside, don't bring it in—Tuan Tuan would feel worse seeing it."

"'The Princess Consort has thought of everything, rest assured.' Granny Liu turned and left."

Moments later, breakfast filled the table; Granny Liu gently woke the three brothers, gesturing toward Xiao Yuanhang and Xue Tong.

Xiao Ningxun nodded, and Granny Liu whispered, "The meat strips for Xiao Feifei are outside."

Xiao Ningyuan replied, "Okay, I understand."

Liu Mama stepped out.

The three brothers quietly woke Xiao Yuanhang and Xue Tong; the two opened their eyes and both looked toward Tuan Tuan, seeing she was still asleep, they tiptoed to the table.

Everyone had finished breakfast, but Tuan Tuan was still asleep, and Xiao Feifei showed no sign of waking up.

Several people glanced at each other, all worried with furrowed brows.

Xiao Ningchen suddenly shuddered, "Could Tuan Tuan have fallen asleep again? When we rescued Feng Zhou yesterday, she also..."

The father and son group all felt a strong jolt in their hearts.

Xiao Yuanhang didn't let him finish, rose and strode to his daughter's side, crouched, and gently patted her back: "Tuan Tuan, Tuan Tuan?"

Tuan Tuan jerked her head up, "Xiao Feifei!" She opened her eyes and immediately looked at Xiao Feifei.

Xiao Yuanhang felt a huge weight lift from his heart, quickly pressed her down: "It's fine, Xiao Feifei is alive, just not awake; she's tired, let her sleep."

Tuan Tuan then relaxed, leaning into her father's embrace: "Dad, when will Xiao Feifei wake up?"

Xue Tong walked over, took her little hand, led her to the table: "When it's time to wake, she'll naturally wake; you're willing to stay by Master's side and not stop you, first eat your meal."

Tuan Tuan looked at the full table of food, then felt her stomach empty: "Mm! I'll go see Xiao Feifei after I finish eating."

She quickly ate it all in big bites, then scanned the table: "Huh, where's Xiao Feifei's meat? It's missing; if she woke up she'd surely be hungry too!"

Xiao Ningxun quickly rose, left the tent, took a plate from a soldier's hand, brought it in and placed it on the table: "It's here, don't worry, I prepared it earlier."

Tuan Tuan grabbed a strip, ran to the bedside, waved it over Xiao Feifei's body: "Xiao Feifei, are you hungry? Hurry up and eat the meat!"

The next moment, Xiao Feifei suddenly lifted her head and snatched the meat strip from Tuan Tuan's hand in one bite.

Everyone stared in shock: "Is this Xiao Feifei? How did she become like this?"