54 What Must Be Done, Will Be Done II (1/2)
Zong Yue remained quiet and went over to feel her pulse, only to be shunned by her.
”Quack... I think I... have been given... aphrodisiac...”
”Only beauties are targeted by aphrodisiac, so why you?”
Meng Fuyao laughed weakly, lacking in energy to bicker. ”Is it treatable? If not... leave now... don't tell me about Yin and Yang... neutralizing... if it has to be that way... I'll... despise you... for life.”
Zong Yue smiled. While he appeared gentle, he wasn't one to smile. Now that he did, it was as if the sun had sprinkled its rays from behind the clouds so compassionately and warmly.
”I don't actually mind that...” He added lightly, reaching forward to carry her, only to have her jolt and ready to struggle free. In response, he added, ”We're at the back entrance of the King De Residence. You've been through so much already, so can't you persevere until we get in?”
”...you can deactivate my acupuncture point, but you choose to let me suffer...” she cursed lowly.
Zong Yue lowered his head, observing the redness on her cheeks and her droopy lids. It was possibly the most beautiful combination, of willows and peach blossoms in spring, and jade clear water and lotus pond in summer.
He savored the sight before him. His usually steady hand slightly trembling. Meng Fuyao opened her eyes abruptly, and her gaze was bright and limpid; like the stream whose every grain of white sand was clearly visible.
Zong Yue no longer said anything. He carried her into his own garden, deactivated her acupuncture point and fed her a pill before treating her wounds. He did everything himself and, upon completion, stood by the window for a long time, muttering to himself with his hands cupped behind his back.
When Meng Fuyao regained consciousness, she first checked her clothes to see if she had intercourse with anyone during the time she had been burning with desire. The fire snakes, which had been roaming within her whole body, seemed to have returned to their cave and were no longer wreaking havoc. However, there also was a hot sensation lingering deep within her pubic region. She attempted to regulate her energy, and as if realizing something she sat, cross-legged, and asked, ”You can't eliminate it completely?”
Zong Yue turned around, knitting his brows. ”It isn't an aphrodisiac but something more potent called the Emotion Lock. It's made from the essence blood of female brothel keepers, which has been stored for thousands of years. The victims will feel an overwhelming sexual desire, day and night, but excessive intercourse will only lead to internal injuries. The victims can only stand such a deranged, promiscuous lifestyle only three months at most. Death is certain.”
”Igniting desire at the expense of life?” Meng Fuyao mumbled. ”What a wicked invention.”
”Guo Pingrong's master is Fang Yimo, also known as the Starlight Sage.” Zong Yue's expression seemed a little peculiar as he continued, ”It was said that Fang Yimo had fallen in love with a girl when he was young, but the girl eloped with another man when he was journeying around. He concocted this thing upon his return to punish the adulterous couple. They went at it all day and night until one died from excessive ejaculation and the other from withered blood vessels.”
Meng Fuyao drew a deep, cold breath before sighing. ”It's no wonder Guo Pingrong became this immoral – his Master is not a good person either.”
Zong Yue added faintly, ”Guo Pingrong has been indulging in women and wine so much these past few years that his cultivation progress is not even a third of his master's. Sir Fang shields him a lot as well.”
Upon noticing that there was not the slightest trace of fear in Meng Fuyao's eyes, Zong Yue sighed. ”Your fur coat, dipped in Poison-Dispelling Fragrance, should be effective in most cases. You should've been fine, if not for the fact that your body already contains a poison like that in the Emotion Lock. It's traceless and symptomless but fatal when mixed with certain types of poison. Fortunately, you have yet to come into contact with any of those in the past 17 years. If not for the Poison-Dispelling Fragrance, just the Emotion Lock alone would've been enough to kill you on the spot...”
”Having said so much, you're just afraid that I'll call you a charlatan. Why else would you blame me for the ineffectiveness of your medicine? Seems like you're unable to do anything about this poison?” Meng Fuyao raised her brow, asking. ”No way... holy doctor?”
”If I can't find a way, no one will be able to,” answered Zong Yue. He was certain and somewhat haughty. ”But I have a way to reduce its potency.”
”How?”
”By medication. You can transform the poison into a real aphrodisiac. As long as you're willing to...” Before Zong Yue could finish his sentence, Meng Fuyao started putting on her shoes and getting off the couch.
Zong Yue let out a bitter laugh, only continuing when she had reached the door, ”There's one more way. Since it is a mix between aphrodisiac and poison, it can be converted into either one. However, as long as the poison remains in your body, you can't get aroused, or you'll bleed from all seven apertures, resulting in death. Take your pick.”
Meng Fuyao walked back and sat down, cross-legged and carelessly. ”Is there a need to ask?”
Zong Yue stood by the window, looking at her, his face basking under the bright sunlight. His pale complexion and lips appeared whitewashed, as if heavily troubled. A long time later he asked, ”You... sure?”
Meng Fuyao waved. ”Don't be so wishy-washy.”