CHAPTER 252: STEP ASIDE

," he said, stepping inside. "Took long enough. You passed out before you could even introduce yourself. Bad manners."

"I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—"

"You didn’t mean to nearly die? Mm, I believe that."

She opened her mouth to explain—but the words stuck in her throat.

He walked past her to the stove, dropped the herbs into a boiling pot, and stirred slowly.

"You’re looking for Gu Wei," he said casually.

Her heart jumped. "Yes! Yes, I am! Do you know him?"

The old man stirred once more.

Then smiled.

"Let’s talk about that after you finish drinking what I made you. You’ll need your full strength for what comes next."

He held out a small cup containing a burgundy looking drink.

Hua Jing paid him no mind and quickly got up.

The moment Hua Jing shot upright, her body reminded her of every bone and muscle she’d just abused over the last twenty-four hours.

Pain surged through her like a crashing wave.

Her vision blurred. Her legs turned to air. And the world tilted sideways.

She was going to faint again—

But before her body could surrender, a hand slapped against her chest—twice, firm and startling.

Her eyes snapped wide open as her energy snapped back into her limbs like a taut string.

"Don’t be stupid," the old man said, peering at her with a raised brow. "Or are you just naturally this dumb?"

Hua Jing blinked, too stunned to speak.

He stepped back, arms crossed. "You nearly died five hours ago and now you want to leap off the cot like you’re some war general? Tch. Kids these days. No respect for life."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You—!"

"What?" he shrugged, already moving to stir the bubbling pot at the fire. "Did I lie? You climbed a whole mountain with the spiritual strength of a wet noodle and now you’re mad I pointed it out?"

"You—!" She clenched her fists. "Are infuriating!"

"You’re welcome," he said, nodding to himself like she’d just paid him a compliment. "Most people take at least a week before they want to strangle me. You’re clearly advanced."

"I don’t have time for this!" she snapped.

The old man looked unconcerned, calmly scooping a ladle of steaming broth and pouring it into a clay cup.

"You should sit and eat," he said with maddening slowness. "Even the most impatient warrior can’t run on an empty stomach."

"I’m not here for food!"

"Yes, yes," he said, waving his hand. "You’re here for something life or death. So is everyone who climbs this hill. The last one wanted an immortality pill for his goat. Guess what? The goat still died."

Hua Jing stared at him, her rage visibly mounting. "You think this is a joke?"

The man gave her a lazy once-over. "You showed up unconscious, sword at your side, smelling like river rot and desperation. Everything about you is a joke."

Her eyes flared.

That was it.

"I asked you a question before I collapsed!" she growled. "Are you going to help me find Gu Wei or not?"

The moment she spotted her sword leaned against the side of the doorway, she didn’t think twice. Her feet moved before the old man could blink.

She snatched it up, turned, and in one fluid motion, pressed the blade against his neck.

"I’m not in the mood to repeat myself," she said, voice low, dangerously cold. "Will you help me find him... or not?"

He didn’t flinch.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t even blink.

For a moment, they stood there like a frozen painting—the ragged woman with fire in her eyes, and the calm old man staring back at her like she was a house cat trying to roar.

Then, in a blink—

The sword was no longer in her hands.

What?!

She gasped as her balance tipped, and her palm—her wrist—was gently, firmly, caught.

She blinked again.

Now he was standing before her, her hand turned upward, his fingers pressed lightly against her pulse.

She hadn’t even seen him move.

What kind of technique was that?

But his expression... had changed.

His sharp, sarcastic smirk was gone, replaced by something unreadable. Intense. Calculating.

"This is... strange," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Very strange."

"What are you—?"

"Your pulse," he said. "It’s... almost not there."

Hua Jing blinked.

"What?"

"You’re clearly alive," he continued, his brows furrowing. "But this pulse is like nothing I’ve felt before. It doesn’t flow right. Doesn’t connect with the Earth’s energy. It’s not tethered. You’re like... like a spirit with a heartbeat."

He looked up at her then, eyes narrowing.

"Lady," he said softly, "just who are you?"

Hua Jing jerked her hand back.

"That is none of your concern."

He tilted his head. "Isn’t it?"

"I came here for one reason," she said. "To find Gu Wei. If you can’t help me, I’ll leave right now."

She turned on her heel, despite the weakness that still clung to her legs like chains. Her pride pushed her forward.

"Stop," he said.

She didn’t.

"I said stop."

Only when his next words cut through the air did she freeze.

"...Are you looking for the prince?"

Silence.

Pure, thick silence.

Her back stiffened.

Slowly, she turned, eyes wide.

He was no longer smiling.

Hua Jing took a step forward, her voice no longer sharp, but trembling.

"...What did you say?"

The old man exhaled, long and slow.

"Tall," he murmured. "Sharp eyes. Moves like a soldier, speaks like a scholar. A bit too serious for his own good. You’re looking for that one, aren’t you?"

She didn’t speak.

"You are," he answered himself. "That poison... Widow’s Death. It’s rare. Deadly. But not unfamiliar to me. And only someone like that prince could survive this long with it in his blood."

She stared at him, breath caught in her throat.

"So," he said quietly, folding his arms behind his back. "Tell me, girl. Just how far are you willing to go to save him?"

Hua Jing stared at him, throat dry.

The air between them had changed. Gu Wei wasn’t snarky now. Not mocking. Not amused.

Just... still.

Still—and watching her far too closely.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, carefully.

Gu Wei blinked, as if surprised she hadn’t deflected. He straightened, folding his arms behind his back, and rocked slightly on his heels.

"I want to know where you’re from."

She blinked. "Where I’m from?"

He nodded. "Answer that, and I’ll tell you where your little prince is."

Her lips parted. The question was so absurd it knocked the breath out of her.

"I—"

She paused, then frowned, her voice rising. "I don’t have time for this."

"Time?" Gu Wei tilted his head like a curious bird. "Time is all I have. You, on the other hand..."

"I need to find him," she snapped. "He needs the antidote. If he doesn’t get it, he’ll die—and the whole empire will spiral into ruin."

Gu Wei waved a dismissive hand, turning his back to her and reaching for a kettle on the stove. "I don’t care about the empire. Never have."

Hua Jing clenched her jaw.

"I care," he continued, "about you. And what exactly you are."

"I’m a person," she growled.

"Wrong," he said. "You’re something more—or less, depending on how you see it. That pulse? It isn’t human. Not fully. It’s like your spirit’s stitched onto your body with a thread that doesn’t belong here. Your qi is fragmented. Unrooted. So, lady..." He turned to her again, eyes glinting. "Where are you from?"

Hua Jing exhaled slowly.

It sounded ridiculous even in her own head.

And yet—what was the point in lying?

Even if it cost her everything, she would do it. For Zhao Yan.

So she squared her shoulders and said quietly, "I’m not from this world."

Silence.

A full second.

Two.

And then—

Gu Wei burst into laughter.

He laughed like someone had told him the best joke he’d heard in years—head tilted, shoulders shaking, voice echoing through the small hut.

"You’re from another world?" he repeated, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "What are you? A fallen star? A heavenly maiden cursed by fate? Or maybe you tripped into the wrong dream and never woke up?"

"It’s the truth," she said quietly, heat rushing to her cheeks.

He snorted again, but this time the laughter faded quickly. "And your prince?" he asked. "Is he from your world too?"

She didn’t answer.

That was enough for him.

He sighed, dragging a hand down his face as he sat on the edge of his stool. "Well. That explains the two of you. Always acting like rules don’t apply. Always running toward death like it owes you a favor."

"Will you help me now?" she asked.

He glanced at her—then at the pile of shattered glass and dried poison on the floor.

"I could," he said slowly. "But it wouldn’t be much of a test if I handed it over like candy."

She stiffened. "A test?"

"Mm." He stood, brushing dust from his robe. "One favor, one life. But first, you need to prove you’re serious. The poison you brought isn’t just Widow’s Death—it’s tempered. Strengthened with Black Nightshade and powdered serpent gall. Whoever gave this to you wanted the prince to die painfully."

"I know," she hissed. "That’s why I came to you."

Gu Wei smiled—sharp, sly.