CHAPTER 220: 199: AFTER MARCH, WISHES WILL BE FULFILLED.

Fifth Granny placed the elongated glass jar by her feet onto the table, pulled out an antique silver knife from her pocket, and threw it into the jar to soak.

Once the knife was completely blackened, she tossed it to Meng Han without a trace of emotion, like a machine devoid of any feelings.

"At most, you can shorten it by one month."

Forming a Love Gu typically required half a year, and even with the enhancement of heart’s blood, achieving the finest product in a short time was impossible.

"Alright, then I’ll drip it now." Meng Han picked up the dagger, not even blinking as she made a small incision on her fingertip.

Fresh crimson blood dropped into the jar, one drop at a time.

The Poisonous Insect, confined in the small space, squirmed excitedly, raised its head, and let out a series of high-pitched squeals as it awaited the tasty offering.

As the scent of blood seeped into its body, its tiny, black, mung-bean-sized eyes suddenly turned scarlet. It leaped and lunged, attempting to break free of the jar.

Fifth Granny screwed the lid back onto the jar and tapped the table twice. Instantly, all the snakes, bugs, rats, and ants in the room began to converge toward her as if drawn by an invisible command.

Even the tiny creatures that had previously been playing around Bai Shirui’s limbs and in her nostrils did the same, slipping into the mud walls without a trace.

The sight left Meng Han astounded, and deep in her heart, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of admiration. "Thank you, Fifth Granny. I’ll come find you again in three months."

To show her respect and gratitude to Fifth Granny, she bowed deeply and placed a bank card on the table before leaving.

Not wanting to disturb her further, Meng Han quickly moved to the woman’s side, struggling to lift her up and staggered out with shaky steps.

At the moment the wooden cabin door closed, endless darkness engulfed the old woman’s strange, twisted face, leaving only the creaking sounds of branches in the forest accompanying her.

The path down the mountain was treacherous, but fortunately, the burly man Guo Qiang, who had guided them there, was still waiting at the original spot.

Seeing that Bai Shirui remained unconscious, Meng Han had no choice but to hand her over to Guo Qiang to carry on his back, following slowly behind them.

Feeling the softness of a noblewoman for the first time, Guo Qiang’s thoughts began to scatter. His jet-black eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint of desire.

He slowed his pace, letting his hand slide over the woman’s thigh through her clothing, occasionally hitching her higher on his back.

Though it appeared as though he was preventing her from slipping off, the truth was far darker—he was indulging in the forbidden pleasure of her softness.

Winding past two twisting gravel paths, the sound of rushing water could be heard.

Peeking through the gaps in the dense branches, a crystal-clear stream came into view.

"Miss Meng, let’s rest here for a while." Guo Qiang found a relatively clean rock and carefully set the woman on his back down.

"How much farther do we have to go?" Meng Han frowned deeply, feeling utterly drained in this godforsaken place.

That Fifth Granny’s abode was inaccessible by car was one thing, but why, of all places, did it have to be perched on a mountainside?

Sure, reclusive experts preferred solitude, but this was taking it to an extreme.

"About twenty minutes more." Guo Qiang glanced down the stream and then turned his gaze to the woman leaning on his right shoulder.

Although her appearance wasn’t particularly striking or flamboyant, her figure was undoubtedly the best he had ever encountered in all his years of knowing women.

Without revealing his intentions, Guo Qiang slipped his arm around her waist and let his hand slip under her coat, relishing the unprecedented thrill of secret intimacy.

But before he could venture farther—

"What are you doing?" Meng Han turned her head and immediately caught sight of their overly intimate posture, prompting an odd feeling to stir within her.

Her slightly cold voice reached his ears, and Guo Qiang hurriedly moved his hand to Bai Shirui’s shoulder. "Miss Bai almost slipped just now, so I helped steady her."

He maintained an innocent demeanor, and the desire in his eyes was quickly masked, leaving no clues behind for anyone to pick up on.

Meng Han’s gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment before concluding he wouldn’t dare try anything. Only then did she relax slightly.

She gave a soft acknowledgment before lowering her head to massage her aching calves. "Be careful, don’t let her get hurt."

"Understood." Wary of being caught, Guo Qiang restrained himself from making any further bold moves, at least temporarily.

Still, the dark instincts embedded in his nature continued gnawing at him, leaving him restless and itchy.

Flocks of birds flapped their wings above, casting fleeting shadows across the ground.

Fish swimming in the stream flicked their tails, creating gentle ripples that brought with them a chill that seemed to seep into their bones.

After resting for a short while, the sound of snapping branches resumed and gradually faded again as they continued their journey.

"Wait here, I need a bathroom break." Meng Han, driving part of the way, suddenly felt her stomach cramp.

She finally located a reasonably clean public restroom, clutching her stomach as she rushed over.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Guo Qiang waited until her figure disappeared from view before pulling out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket.

"Fifth Granny’s stuff always works wonders." Just a small sprinkle on her earlier, and the results were already apparent.

He climbed into the back seat, stroking the still-unconscious Bai Shirui. A sinister smile spread across his brutish, wild face.

"Be good now, Brother Qiang will keep you company for half an hour." Guo Qiang cautiously set an alarm on his phone and bent down over her.

He kissed the woman’s lips, and his long-restrained hands finally ventured, exploring without hesitation. At last, his desires were met.

"Tap, tap—"

The sound of high heels drew closer, and the next moment, the driver’s side door was pulled open from the outside.

Having squatted for half an hour, Meng Han’s legs were completely numb, and her entire body felt drained as if on the verge of collapse.

She massaged her feet and, while fastening her seatbelt, glanced into the back seat. "Why hasn’t Shirui woken up yet?"

She had been unconscious for so long now that Meng Han was genuinely worried something might have happened, something she couldn’t explain to anyone.

"The bugs raised by Fifth Granny aren’t easily tolerated. While the toxins won’t enter the body, it’ll still take some time for her to recover."

Guo Qiang lowered his gaze to the alarm on his phone screen. The satisfaction in his eyes gave way to regret.

Aside from the final act, he had indulged in everything else. Compared to the women he had been involved with in the past, this one was truly in a league of her own.

Even so, the lack of complete satisfaction gnawed at him, leaving him tense and uncomfortable. Truly, what a pity.

"Alright, as long as she’ll be fine." Meng Han let out a sigh, resolving never to bring anyone to a place like this again to avoid such trouble.

In her carelessness, she failed to notice that the woman, who had previously been lying face-up, had somehow turned her head to the side.

Beneath a few strands of loosely fallen hair, her lips glowed an unnaturally bright, tantalizing red, and a faint sheen lingered on them.

It was clear at a glance—someone had already stolen her kiss.