Chapter 137

Dawn light streamed through the window, and Gu Xixi opened her eyes.

Not hearing Lao Langzhong's voice all night shows that Mu Nan Zhao truly lived through a day.

Gu Xixi's slight movement woke Zhang Shen.

Zhang Shen sat up abruptly, shaking her head as she looked toward Zhang Wang, "What's up? Any news from Xiao Chen?"

Gu Xixi reached out and patted Zhang Shen, comforting her, "Auntie, don't panic, nothing's wrong. I just woke up and accidentally disturbed you."

Zhang Shen, still half-asleep, sat dazedly and let out a breath, "Nothing..."

She gradually came to her senses and then happily said, "Old Ginger hasn't called us yet, which must be a good thing!"

Gu Xixi smiled and nodded, "Exactly, no news is good news."

Zhang Shen threw on her clothes and jumped out of bed, exclaiming, "I overslept—I need to hurry and make food!"

"Old Ginger sees that Gu Xiao Chen is working hard, so I'll make him something nice!"

Breakfast was clear soup with tiny wontons filled with shepherd's purse and egg, plus tiny shrimp skins stir-fried over low heat until golden, combining the freshness of spring to its peak.

Lao Langzhong ate one without a word, nodding repeatedly, "Your aunt's cooking is beyond praise."

"If you set up a little food stall in town, customers would surely come like clouds."

Gu Xixi responded in agreement, but her gaze remained fixed on the person on the bed.

Yesterday, Mu Nan Zhao's face was veiled in a faint bluish-black aura, which made one feel uneasy just looking at it.

I don't know if it's just a psychological effect.

Now Gu Xixi looks at Mu Nan Zhao's face, and that color has faded.

She asked Lao Langzhong, "Master, do you think Chen Fang is feeling better today?"

Lao Langzhong, without lifting his head from his bowl, said, "Better where? I just took his pulse before you came in."

"Still the same death‑like state."

"But this kid's got a tough life—he's actually managed to last a day."

"It seems the antidote is still having some effect."

Lao Langzhong put down his spoon, inhaled, thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "What comes next is really hard to say."

Gu Xixi sized up Lao Langzhong's expression and pressed, "When you say it's hard to say, do you mean the good side or the bad side?"

Lao Langzhong counted on his fingers, "Maybe he'll suddenly open his eyes and be completely healed at some unknown moment."

"Or maybe he'll die suddenly. Or he could linger half‑dead, never waking up, becoming the vegetative state you mentioned."

"'Master~!' Gu Xixi exclaimed in frustration, 'What you're saying is no different from before—saying it is the same as saying nothing!'"

"'How could it be the same?' Lao Langzhong straightened his posture solemnly."

"'He's lived another day, which shows the first possibility is more likely, giving us a slight edge.'"

Gu Xixi said nothing.

Lao Langzhong's medical skill is superb; since he said so, it must be true.

At that moment, a birdcall came from outside the window.

Lao Langzhong's ears twitched, "Hey, is that the call of a sea‑east blue?"

"'How could a sea‑east blue fly to our home and circle the house?'"

Gu Xixi thought of something, suddenly stood up, and said, "You keep eating; I'll go check it out!"

Hearing her rush out, Lao Langzhong asked, "You're looking at the bird? That's a raptor—watch out for getting pecked!"

Gu Xixi answered loudly, already having run out of the house.

On the night they encountered wolves in the Xi Bei wilderness and returned to the cottage, Mu Nan Zhao taught Gu Xixi a whistle, saying it was a secret Western Regions beast‑taming technique that might come in handy someday, though he didn't specify when or where.

The whistle is simple: an eight‑beat pattern, like a melodious birdcall with rises and falls, sometimes slow, sometimes fast; once learned, just repeat it three times.

At that time Gu Xixi had just found the firefly‑bone flower, was in a good mood, and, believing that more skills never hurt, she casually learned it.

Now listening, the whistle sounded remarkably similar to the call of the sea‑east blue.

A mighty large bird circled above the west house.

As expected of a sea‑east blue, it flies far higher than a carrier pigeon.

Gu Xixi looked up for a while, seeing the sea‑east blue showing no sign of landing, she tried placing her index finger against her lower lip and emitted the whistle Mu Nan Zhao had taught her.

First time, the sea‑east blue lowered its altitude but continued to circle and fly.

Second time, the sea‑east blue descended to roof height, adjusting its angle several times, as if testing whether to land.

Third time, the sea‑east blue suddenly spread its huge wings and swooped down toward Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi stared at the sharp beak and talons, suppressing her fear, she extended her left arm and stood still.

She closed her eyes, unwilling to look, thinking, "This stance should work, right?"

In historical dramas, falconers usually let the falcon land on the arm or shoulder.

The sea‑east blue's talons landed on Gu Xixi's arm, and it folded its wings.

Gu Xixi felt a wild gust blow past her face; she slowly opened her eyes a slit to peek, then flung them wide open.

Sure enough, it's a raptor—up close it's overwhelmingly impressive.

But now wasn't the time to admire it; Gu Xixi lowered her gaze and indeed saw a small bamboo tube bound with cloth strapped to the talon.

Gu Xixi had seen such a bamboo tube on Mu Nan Zhao's table before.

It seemed an ally or subordinate of Mu Nan Zhao had sent another message.

Gu Xixi couldn't help but sneer, "What a deceitful dog! I'd already thought that if I ever fell unconscious, I'd have to arrange in advance (deceive) a person to receive messages for me!"

"'What Western Regions secret beast‑taming technique! Charlatan!'"

Gu Xixi, doing this for the first time, fumbled with the cloth and bamboo tube for a long time before finally undoing them.

Then, person and bird stared at each other, big eyes meeting small eyes.

The letter has already been obtained; what else can be done next?

At that moment, Zhang Shen returned from outside, holding a freshly cut piece of pork, the lean meat red and moist, the blood not yet dried; one could tell it was extremely fresh at a glance.

Gu Xixi clearly saw the Eastern Sea Green's round eyes light up all at once.

Zhang Shen was first startled by the big bird, but after Gu Xixi explained and soothed her, confirming the bird wouldn't harm people, she relaxed a little.

Gu Xixi spoke with some difficulty, "Auntie, could you spare a piece of meat..."

She raised the Eastern Sea Green on her arm and said, "Give it."

The Eastern Sea Green finally got to eat the fresh meat.

Zhang Shen watched from the side, sighing continually, "I finally managed to buy this piece of meat with great reluctance, and now it's eaten more than half—these days even birds need meat, I don't know how high meat prices have risen, it's truly a sin!"

After the Eastern Sea Green finished the meat, it took a few sips of water, spread its wings, and vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Shen kept her gaze fixed on the sky and remarked, "Now I understand—this bird clung to your arm earlier just because it smelled the meat!"

Little Flower emerged from some corner, pitifully rubbing against Gu Xixi's leg.

It had just been frightened by that bird, its fur all puffed up.

Zhang Shen shook her head and walked away; only then did Gu Xixi open her palm to reveal a bamboo tube.

Mu Nan Zhao is still unconscious; how should this be handled?

It's wrong to invade someone's privacy, but if the letter's contents are of utmost urgency, a matter of life and death?

Gu Xixi faced the west-room window, caught in a dilemma.