The Gusu Mistake - Chapter 21

Jiang Yilan had never intended to stand idly by when it came to the matter of the Zhong family’s child. Especially now that it seemed the person involved had merely been deceived, rather than being truly malicious. So when Master Zhong knelt down, Jiang Yilan quickly helped him up.

“This Forgetfulness Gu isn’t difficult to break,” Jiang Yilan explained calmly. “But from what we learned from that demon cultivator Qiu Rong, the one who placed the Gu on your son was his elder brother. This man’s whereabouts are unknown, and we don’t know if he has other motives. We must capture him first.”

Master Zhong grew anxious. “Where should we go to find him?”

“We probably can’t find him directly,” Jiang Yilan replied. “But since they’re brothers, the elder one likely won’t abandon his younger brother.”

Master Zhong thought for a moment. “You mean… he’ll come to rescue Qiu Rong?”

“Exactly,” Jiang Yilan nodded. “Go prepare.”

“Prepare what?” asked Master Zhong.

“Medicinal ingredients to cure your son,” Jiang Yilan said, glancing at the boy. “And spread the word that the culprit who harmed your son has been captured.”

“But…” Master Zhong hesitated. “If he comes, won’t that be dangerous?”

“Just go prepare,” Yuan Ruo urged. “Leave the rest to us.”

Master Zhong studied Jiang Yilan and Yuan Ruo for a moment, then gritted his teeth and agreed. “Please write down the ingredients needed.”

The list wasn’t long—Jiang Yilan wrote just two lines. Once Master Zhong left to give orders, Jiang Yilan approached the boy and gently pressed his Fengchi acupoint. The boy immediately closed his eyes and fell asleep.

“What are you doing?” Yuan Ruo asked.

“This Forgetfulness Gu may be easy to break, but it’s extremely cruel,” Jiang Yilan sighed. “I couldn’t bear to tell Master Zhong that his son’s mind may never fully recover.”

“That bad?” Yuan Ruo was shocked. “This Gu is that vicious?”

“Yes,” Jiang Yilan said. “That’s why those of us who raise Gu despise anyone who uses this one.”

“Despise? They deserve to be executed!” Yuan Ruo cursed. “If I catch that villain, I’ll kill him myself.”

“Oh?” Jiang Yilan raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t expect you to be so bloodthirsty. Aren’t you a cultivator?”

“So what?” Yuan Ruo replied without remorse. “Killing to protect the innocent is still a form of kindness.”

“Well said,” Jiang Yilan was about to continue when footsteps approached. She stopped speaking and turned to see Master Zhong entering.

“Your son is better off sleeping for now,” Jiang Yilan explained. “I pressed his Fengchi acupoint. No need to wake him—once the Gu is broken, he’ll wake naturally.”

“Yes, yes, thank you!” Master Zhong said gratefully, though he immediately rushed to his son’s side to check his breathing. Confirming he was fine, he turned back. “You’ve worked hard for my son. Please, come to the hall and have a meal.”

At the mention of food, Jiang Yilan instinctively clutched her stomach—it growled loudly. “You’re quite thoughtful!”

“Hehe,” Master Zhong chuckled. “Please, this way.”

The Zhong family was wealthy, so the food was excellent. Jiang Yilan ate until she was stuffed, rubbing her belly. “So full!”

“Your family may treat you poorly, but surely they don’t starve you?” Yuan Ruo was stunned by her appetite. “You ate the whole table!”

Jiang Yilan lazily glanced at him. “They don’t starve me, but food is sacred. I was hungry!”

“You’re like a pig!” Yuan Ruo teased, then pulled her up. “Come with me to the storeroom.”

“What for?” Jiang Yilan asked, confused.

“If what Qiu Rong said is true, his brother is watching the Zhong family closely,” Yuan Ruo explained as they walked. “Now that the news is out, he could come at any moment.”

“True,” Jiang Yilan nodded, brushing off Yuan Ruo’s hand. “Don’t drag me—I can walk.”

Yuan Ruo smirked. “Can you even walk after eating that much?”

“Of course I can—hic!” Jiang Yilan hiccupped, embarrassed. “Okay, maybe I ate a bit too much.”

“Take it easy next time.” With that, Yuan Ruo dropped the subject and they headed to the storeroom. But what they saw there shocked them.

In the backyard, the room where Qiu Rong had been held was wide open. The guards were all dead—horribly mutilated and unrecognizable.

“What happened?” Jiang Yilan rushed forward.

“Someone’s been here,” Yuan Ruo concluded immediately.

“We were careless!” Jiang Yilan slapped her hands in frustration. “We should’ve stayed here!”

“Not good!” Yuan Ruo suddenly exclaimed.

“The Zhong family’s son!” Jiang Yilan realized too, and both rushed to the boy’s courtyard. But they were too late. The boy was gone, and Master Zhong was wailing:

“My son! Give me back my son!”

“Chase them!” Yuan Ruo shouted, and Jiang Yilan was already sprinting ahead.

Fortunately, both had excellent lightness skills and managed to catch up with the kidnapper and Qiu Rong. They flanked them, blocking their escape.

The kidnapper was a square-faced man, ordinary-looking but with a sinister expression. Seeing Jiang Yilan and Yuan Ruo—one a woman, the other in male disguise—he scoffed, not taking them seriously.

“Get out of the way. Don’t meddle!” he barked.

“I’m meddling whether you like it or not!” Jiang Yilan pointed at him. “Put the boy down!”

The man sneered. “And if I don’t?”

“Then don’t blame me for being rude!” Jiang Yilan readied herself to fight.

“Hahaha…”

“Big brother, these two aren’t ordinary. Be careful!” Qiu Rong warned quietly.

“You’re just being cowardly!” the man dismissed him. “They’re just a woman and a weakling. How dangerous can they be? Hold the boy!”

“Big brother!” Qiu Rong called out as the boy was shoved into his arms. The square-faced man charged at Jiang Yilan.

“If you want to die, I’ll oblige!” Jiang Yilan spun her hand, revealing a hidden sleeve blade—sharp and deadly.

“Yilan!”

“I’ve got this!” Jiang Yilan stopped Yuan Ruo from helping.

Seeing Jiang Yilan holding her own, Yuan Ruo turned to Qiu Rong. “Put the boy down yourself, or I’ll make you.”

“Don’t come any closer!” Qiu Rong panicked, knowing he couldn’t beat Yuan Ruo. Desperate, he grabbed the boy’s neck. “One step closer and I’ll kill him!”

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