CHAPTER 221: 200: LET BROTHER WEI NEVER LEAVE ME IN HIS WHOLE LIFE

Night falls.

The cold, pale moonlight refracts through the sheer curtains into the bedroom, shrouded in a thin veil of mist, rippling softly with the breeze.

The corner of the curtain sways gently, creating shifting shadows that fall upon the woman lying on a lace-patterned sheet.

Her consciousness, brushed awake by the wind, slowly returns, and she opens her eyes to stare blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings.

It takes her a long while to realize where she is.

Scenes from earlier in the wooden house flash vividly through her mind—the sensation of being touched by insects and ants, a feeling she still cannot shake off.

Bai Shirui rubs her temples uneasily, her stomach churning violently with discomfort. Unable to bear it, she throws aside the corner of the blanket and walks into the bathroom.

Water splashes onto her feet, and the heat wakes her up a little.

Her dress slips off slowly, and by chance, she catches sight of horrifying marks on her thighs and chest.

Her eyes widen, not out of surprise, but because these marks—these marks resemble the aftermath of passion.

She bites her lip, desperately trying to recall the things she had forgotten. Concentrating so deeply, even the bangs dampened on her forehead go unnoticed.

The swirling steam fills the bathroom entirely.

Water hits the tiles, splashing against the glass door and leaving faint marks behind.

After analyzing quietly for a long time, Bai Shirui finally attributes the marks on her body to those snakes, insects, and rats, the resentment in her heart magnifying severalfold.

She squeezes a handful of shower gel and scrubs every inch of herself fiercely. Even as her skin turns raw red, the feeling of discomfort doesn’t fade.

Only after washing herself three times over does she put on a bathrobe and head effortlessly into the master bedroom next door.

"Han Han, I need to ask you something."

"Han Han?"

Deep in sleep, Meng Han jolts upright at the sound of soft calling.

She turns to the woman beside her, her severe morning irritation evident as she snaps, "Are you kidding me? It’s late at night, why are you bothering me instead of sleeping?"

The atmosphere freezes in an instant, with the lingering sharp-edged tone reverberating through the master bedroom.

Bai Shirui’s hand, hanging by her side, unconsciously tightens. She glances at the ’princess’ displaying her tantrum, forcibly suppressing her near-fraying emotions.

"Han Han, I was only worried about you..."

The soothing tone of the woman’s voice pulls Meng Han back to her senses from her storm of anger.

Leaning against the headboard, she waves her hand dismissively. "I’m fine."

For the temper she had just unleashed, there wasn’t a trace of explanation, let alone an apology.

Bai Shirui doesn’t care about that—she hadn’t come simply for trifles but to clear up something more significant.

She clasps Meng Han’s hand with concern. "That person we visited today, there’s something off about them. What are they really doing?"

"You mean Fifth Granny? She’s a Gu Master from the Miao Clan."

"Gu? Isn’t that something out of legends? Don’t let yourself be fooled." Bai Shirui furrows her brows in worry.

"Impossible." Meng Han is resolute, a flicker of admiration passing through her eyes. "Fifth Granny is very famous in certain circles. We’ve been in contact for a while now..."

In the Imperial City, there are only two renowned Gu experts: one known as Poison King, and the other as Fifth Granny.

Fifth Granny was born in Miaojiang, spending the first half of her life secluded within a large clan, inheriting her mother’s Gu techniques at a young age.

After a devastating fire claimed the lives of her family and clan—including her parents—she left her birthplace forever.

Fifth Granny first made her name in the Imperial City by saving a dying person, prolonging their life for ten years with a single Gu.

She only takes requests at her discretion—despite countless people approaching her over the years, she has accepted merely a handful.

Meng Han first heard of her by chance during a meeting with Shi Yaoyu.

The lore of poisonous insects, Gu, and their rituals has circulated for ages, yet most have never witnessed them firsthand. Precisely because of this absence of evidence, such things fell into the realm of legend.

Unless one is an insider or has personally experienced it, it is difficult to believe in its existence.

Meng Han poured over countless materials, and upon discovering the effects of Love Gu, she began imagining ways to use a Gu master to realize her desires for Brother Wei.

Initially, her sights were set on Poison King.

Compared to Fifth Granny, Poison King is even more enigmatic.

No one has seen their face, nor does anyone know if they are male or female.

They gained fame by aiding an Imperial City dignitary in dismantling a foreign faction using poison techniques. Rumor has it, their arsenal of Gu insects is larger and deadlier than Fifth Granny’s.

However, Poison King is elusive—money and power alone cannot sway them.

Meng Han leveraged every connection she had to obtain a contact known as Rattlesnake.

Even after raising the stakes twice, Poison King refused to emerge, leaving her no choice but to settle for Fifth Granny.

"Han Han, are you planning to use Gu on Master Shi?" Bai Shirui’s grip on Meng Han’s hand tightens sharply.

Perhaps the shock is too immense—her voice rises uncontrollably. She cannot believe the audacity of the person standing before her.

With utter seriousness, Meng Han nods. "This is my only option now. If I don’t... I may never get to be with Brother Wei in this lifetime."

"If you’re discovered, you’re done for! Do you understand?"

"Fifth Granny said it wouldn’t happen. And even if he suspects something, he won’t find anything when he goes to the hospital."

Such chilling words, accompanied by Meng Han’s fanatical expression, make Bai Shirui break out in goosebumps. Her face alternates between pale and flushed.

After a long silence, she softly asks, "What does the Love Gu do?"

"Its effects...?" Meng Han stretches her last syllable, her gaze tinged with hope and joy.

Her lips curl upward. "As long as Brother Wei is under the Gu’s influence, the first person he sees upon waking will make him fall in love—forever loyal, never leaving."

Meng Han’s soul trembles at the thought of Shi Wei drawing closer to her, holding her in his arms, kissing her, and whispering the tender words, "I love you, Han Han."

Though the plan has yet to be set in motion, she is already utterly satisfied.

Bai Shirui lowers her gaze, dissecting Meng Han’s words in her mind. It’s as if she can already glimpse the future, the two walking hand in hand.

Her nails dig into her palm, veins bulging across her hand for a fleeting moment before returning to their usual calm, as though nothing had happened.

"Will the Love Gu... harm his body?"

"How could it? Do you think I’d ever hurt Brother Wei? I plan to spend my whole life with him."

Lost in her idyllic dream, Meng Han pouts, her slightly curved gaze brimming with delight.

For no apparent reason, a sharp pang grips Bai Shirui’s heart, Meng Han’s radiant smile suddenly piercing and unbearable.