Chapter 121: Look at my eyes and run quickly!

Gu Xixi was already on edge, and when someone suddenly seized her wrist, she cried out in fright.

The wild wolves in the distance were stimulated, and their howls rose and fell in waves.

Gu Xixi felt the familiar chill of that hand and realized who it was.

"Mu Nan Zhao? What are you doing here?"

Mu Nan Zhao felt somewhat breathless, "Given the situation, should I be asking this?"

"He should be the one asking her why she ran alone onto this wilderness!"

"Why would she linger here, risking her life, even after dark!"

"Is it fun to be torn apart and eaten by the wolf pack!"

"But now there's no time to say these things."

The wolf pack was clearly becoming restless, slowly advancing toward them.

Gu Xixi warily watched the flickering green lights, her hand reaching into her small cloth pouch to quickly open the various stoppers and little paper packets inside.

She wondered whether the poisons, incapacitating powders, and itching powder combined would be enough.

Wolves are intelligent animals and sensitive to smells; if she used drugs at a critical moment to make them feel threatened, perhaps the other wolves would retreat.

The wild wolves were only about ten steps away.

Counting the points of light, there were six wolves.

By now the sky was completely dark, and Mu Nan Zhao didn't notice Gu Xixi's small movements as she slipped her hands into her pouch.

He silently drew his soft sword, readying himself to fight the wolves desperately.

But he heard Gu Xixi whisper sharply, "Quick! Cover your mouth and nose!"

Mu Nan Zhao hadn't yet reacted when he saw a large patch of variously colored fine powder flung out in an arc.

He hastily covered his nose with his sleeve, stumbled backward, and before he could steady himself, Gu Xixi grabbed him.

Run!!!

The two sprinted madly toward the village.

The wolves' painful whines gradually faded behind them, eventually becoming inaudible.

Mu Nan Zhao turned to look at Gu Xixi, seeing her face covered with a cloth, which made him even more furious.

"Could you at least give me a heads-up before scattering the powder?"

"You yourself know to wear a face covering!"

Others might not know, but he certainly does!

The stuff in Gu Xixi's pouch doesn't even have an antidote prepared!!

Gu Xixi, aware she was in the wrong, gave an embarrassed laugh, "It's not like this happened out of an emergency."

"Besides, the wind blowing now is from the Xi Bei direction, our position is safe, and with my skill, I normally wouldn't be affected."

Mu Nan Zhao was practically gritting his teeth, "What if I do get affected?!"

Gu Xixi smiled ever more kindly, "My master said the strange poison you've contracted has entered your very flesh, and after all those medicines you've taken these past six months, you're now invulnerable to all poisons."

"Even if you unfortunately inhale a bit, it would just cause a choking cough, uncomfortable for a moment then pass."

Mu Nan Zhao: "……"

With the danger passed, the two stood by the riverbank to catch their breath.

A round moon emerged from the clouds, casting a soft silver glow over the entire riverbank.

Gu Xixi also saw Mu Nan Zhao's face, as black as the bottom of a pot.

"You……are you angry?"

She became self-aware and reflected, "Sorry, I now realize you came out especially to find me."

"I shouldn't have left and lost track of time, making you worry and putting you in danger."

Mu Nan Zhao finally couldn't hold back and roared, "Gu Xixi!"

His voice echoed across the wilderness.

Gu Xixi always owns up to her mistakes and never shifts blame, "I was wrong!"

Mu Nan Zhao said coldly, "Or was it to find that firefly bone flower?"

"What damn thing could be more important than your life!"

Gu Xixi was about to make up an excuse when she suddenly caught a glint of cold light out of the corner of her eye.

She looked over curiously.

It turned out to be a white stone covered in ice crystals at the center of the riverbank.

Moonlight shone on it, coincidentally refracting a bit of brightness.

But……

Next to the stone there seemed to be an irregular clump of shadow that swayed lightly when the wind blew.

Gu Xixi immediately left Mu Nan Zhao behind, stepping on ice and stones toward the center of the riverbank.

Mu Nan Zhao was exasperated, "Gu Xixi, what on earth are you trying to do!"

Gu Xixi ignored him and instead sped up.

Seeing Gu Xixi stumble and nearly trip several times, Mu Nan Zhao reluctantly followed.

Slow down!

Gu Xixi stopped in front of the white stone, then suddenly lunged forward, almost crawling on the ice.

Firefly bone flower!!

Yellow stamens, ice-blue petals! Five-petaled flower! Heart-shaped leaves in opposite pairs!!

Gu Xixi's excited voice trembled.

"Mu Nan Zhao! I finally found you!!!"

When she came, she didn't see it, possibly because the firefly bone flower hadn't bloomed yet.

Such luck, heaven finally did not disappoint!

Mu Nan Zhao watched Gu Xixi carefully dig up the flower, saying, "It's just a rare medicinal herb; why are you so happy?"

Gu Xixi shielded the firefly bone flower with her sleeve, the smile on her face unstoppable, "I'm just happy, what's the problem?"

Old Doctor Lao said, even if they obtained the firefly bone flower, the antidote might not be successfully prepared.

Gu Xixi did not tell Mu Nan Zhao the truth, because she did not want to add pressure to his slim hope, and she also did not want him to be disappointed again in the end.

However, Mu Nan Zhao looked at Gu Xixi's smiling face and said, "To prepare an antidote for me, gambling on that less than fifty percent chance, you almost risked your life—was it worth it?"

Gu Xixi was startled, staring wide-eyed at Mu Nan Zhao.

Only seeing him curl the corner of his mouth, a half-smile, he said, "If you get eaten by wolves tonight, none of the things you want to do will be possible."

Gu Xixi regained her voice after a moment, "How do you know?"

She immediately regretted, "Master clearly promised me..."

Mu Nan Zhao said, "No need for Old Jiang to say, you've been preoccupied lately, searching everywhere for firefly bone flower,"

"There's only me, a dying person, at home; no need to guess, everyone knows what this is for."

Gu Xixi fell silent.

The two continued walking back along the riverbank; after just a few steps, they met Meng Chengping running toward them, spear in hand.

Meng Chengping was drenched in sweat; seeing the two, he visibly relaxed.

"I heard the howling over there, I was afraid you'd run into a wolf pack—it scared the hell out of me!"

Last time, he was ordered to escort a noble guest, but ended up encountering the Bei Li cavalry.

If something goes wrong this time, he wouldn't have the face to see the grand general again; he might as well just kill himself to apologize.

He Jinglan followed closely behind; she came running, out of breath, panting heavily, and asked, "Are you two alright?"

Mu Nan Zhao glanced at Meng Chengping, his tone gloomy, "Boss Gu was indeed trapped by the wolf pack."

"General Meng, the guard duty was unfavorable."

Meng Chengping's face turned pale, he looked pitifully at Gu Xixi.

"Boss Gu, you... you..."

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "I'm fine,"

"Don't listen to his threats; I left the village without telling you."

"Even if the grand general finds out, I'll help you explain."

Mu Nan Zhao gave a slight nod, "Indeed."

"Thanks to Boss Gu's bravery, fending off the enemy with a single strike, we managed to escape with our lives."

Meng Chengping and He Jinglan both stared at Gu Xixi in shock.

Gu Xixi explained embarrassedly, "I just threw a handful of powder; it's not that exaggerated."

On the way back, He Jinglan could see that Gu Xixi was in a good mood.

She whispered, "You two, huh?"

Gu Xixi frowned, "What?"