Chapter 171: Showdown

Food and lust are natural.

However, Gu Xixi only spaced out for a moment; a blink and she was back to her senses.

Above the character for lust hangs a knife; she still knows whether life or lust is more important.

Gu Xixi quickly set the oil lamp on the stove, bent over to help Mu Nan Zhao up, her expression solemn, her gaze unwavering.

"What's wrong? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Although Mu Nan Zhao usually looks slim, his weight is actually not light.

Gu Xixi tried twice to pull him up, but couldn't, and she grew a bit anxious.

"You can't exert any strength? Didn't the master say that once the poison is cured, it can't relapse?!"

She thought of something, her face paling: "Or did you get injured when you went to the Beili Military Camp this time?"

In that instant, Gu Xixi's heart filled with bitter complaints.

After finally getting him cured, how did he fall ill again?

Worse yet, every time he collapses, he just happens to fall right in front of her!

If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten up to get water……

Mu Nan Zhao drew two heavy breaths, then said softly, "No relapse, and I'm not injured."

"It seems... I'm hungry."

Gu Xixi startled, "Huh?"

A moment later, Gu Xixi watched as Mu Nan Zhao drank down a bowl of honey water.

Then his complexion quickly improved, and he was no longer panting or sweating.

Mu Nan Zhao now needed no help to rise; he stood on his own, pulled over a stool, and sat.

Gu Xixi ruefully thought, "I was such an idiot just now—I even forgot such obvious low‑blood‑sugar symptoms in my panic."

Mu Nan Zhao held the bowl in one hand, looked at Gu Xixi, and asked, "Why won't you let me eat food, only drink sugar water?"

Gu Xixi replied irritably, "The body lacks sugar, although it's due to hunger,"

"but if you eat rice right away, the food won't turn into sugar quickly; instead it will divert your blood and energy to digestion, possibly making you faint outright."

Mu Nan Zhao pondered, then said, "That doesn't sound like something Old Master Jiang taught you."

Gu Xixi felt a pang of guilt and snapped, "What my master teaches me—do I need to report it to you?"

She turned to rummage through the cupboard for ingredients, saying, "You're this hungry—surely you haven't eaten anything in the two days you were out?"

"Did Meng Chengping's team go out without bringing any dry rations?"

Mu Nan Zhao said, "They brought some, but I couldn't keep it down."

Gu Xixi raised an eyebrow, seeing through his smirk.

This guy has a mild cleanliness obsession; with horse dung smeared on him, reeking, how could he eat anything?

Gu Xixi gloated, pursing her lips silently: "Serves him right."

At that moment, Mu Nan Zhao said coolly, "You're not thinking, 'I left the rations uneaten—I deserve to starve,' are you?"

Gu Xixi startled, shaking her head like a rattle drum, "No, I was thinking about what to make to eat."

Mu Nan Zhao watched her back, amused inside—indeed, that's exactly what she was thinking.

There was no ready‑made food.

Gu Xixi had to do it herself, scooping a ladle of wheat flour, adding water and egg, and stirring into a smooth batter.

This was the soft pancake she had just learned from someone.

It requires no leavening skill—make and eat it right away, easy to control the texture, and hard to mess up.

When the batter reached the right consistency, Gu Xixi chopped some scallions, added two spoonfuls of sesame salt, and mixed them in.

She was still not very practiced, so her hands fumbled while doing this.

By the time Gu Xixi finished the batter, she noticed Mu Nan Zhao had silently lit the stove.

She exclaimed, "That fast? I didn't even hear a sound—how did you light the fire?"

Mu Nan Zhao tossed aside the fire‑stoking stick, skillfully added a few pieces of dry firewood, and said, "You're just too slow."

Noticing Gu Xixi still studying him, he added, "Not all young masters from aristocratic families are useless at practical skills."

"Back when we went hunting, we had to roast our own meat—lighting a fire was part of the fun."

Gu Xixi nodded.

Before, when Mu Nan Zhao was at home, he already took on the chores of splitting wood and carrying water.

Today she discovered he also had the skill of starting a fire.

From these aspects, Gu Xixi felt she seemed more like a young master than Mu Nan Zhao did.

Gu Xixi resolved to show off a bit; she couldn't afford to appear weak in front of Mu Nan Zhao.

She oiled the pan, heated it, scooped the batter, and poured it evenly into the hot pan.

Then she swirled the pan, watching for small bubbles to rise in the pancake, and flipped it at the right moment.

Gu Xixi focused intently to complete the whole process.

Seeing a round, perfect scallion‑sesame pancake land on the plate, she let out a small sigh of relief.

Mu Nan Zhao watched from the side and said, "Besides steamed buns, this is the first time I've seen you make a meal from start to finish yourself."

Gu Xixi said, "You can eat now—have it while it's hot."

Mu Nan Zhao didn't stand on ceremony; he took the plate and began to eat.

The pancake was soft and slightly chewy on the bite, the scallion aroma mingling with sesame, the light saltiness just right.

"Mmm, delicious."

"Just as tasty as a steamed bun with vegetables," he added, with a hint of teasing amusement.

"Thanks for cooking for me in the middle of the night."

Gu Xixi was making pancakes, glanced over and said, "No need to be polite; I've been hungry all day—I need to eat too."

"There's also a portion for Jing Lan; wait for her to wake up and eat."

As time went on, Gu Xixi became more skilled at it; she couldn't help thinking that even if she wasn't good at something, as long as she wanted to do it, she could do it fairly well.

She made a dozen or so pancakes in a row, then finished work and sat down opposite Mu Nan Zhao to eat.

Eating egg pancakes, drinking warm honey water—a simple, delicious, filling meal.

Gu Xixi ate, took a moment to ask, "By the way, when you came back at noon, did you have anything to say?"

Mu Nan Zhao took a sip of honey water, half-lowered his eyelids, and set down the bowl.

"Why have you always been afraid of me?"

This question came out of nowhere.

Gu Xixi's throat tightened, and she couldn't help but choke and cough.

Mu Nan Zhao naturally reached out to pat her back and ease her breathing, his expression calm.

"Look, you're so afraid of me—or rather, wary? On guard?"

"Your reaction can't fool anyone."

Since Mu Nan Zhao detoxified, his temperature is no longer ice-cold, and his palms are warm too.

But Gu Xixi felt a chill flow from his palm into her back, cold enough to make her heart tighten.

She gradually stopped coughing and set down the unfinished pancake in her hand.

"If I said there wasn't any now, you wouldn't believe me at all."

Mu Nan Zhao looked at her, neither affirming nor denying, "We've been together for quite a while; we've also shared hardships."

"I just want to know a reason."

Gu Xixi fell silent for a moment.

When she lifted her head to meet Mu Nan Zhao's gaze, her expression no longer showed any unease.

"Self-preservation."

"Just as when we first met, I've said before—I only want to live my days in peace."

"I know my own limits; I never thought of getting involved with you—that we've been able to travel together this far is purely coincidental."

"In reality, we each have our own path; we are not truly fellow travelers."

"Before, you were like a flood dragon lurking in the depths, forced to stay at my house; but I guess, once this battle is over, it won't be long before I wish you a triumphant return."

Mu Nan Zhao stared fixedly at Gu Xixi's eyes, his face devoid of expression.

"Do you really just want to drive me away?"