Chapter 86: The Return of the Three

Gu Zhiheng slept in the hotel for two full days and a night before slowly waking from his slumber. His gaze was somewhat bewildered, the world before him blurred and indistinct. He felt as though he had wandered through a long, winding dream in which a man identical to himself had appeared.

He mocked his own cowardice, his constant urge to retreat, derided himself for not being a true man, always thinking of giving up.

“Brother, pour me some water. I want a drink.” His throat was hoarse, the sound rough and rasping.

The moment he heard Gu Zhiheng awaken, Liu E rushed in from the balcony, his excitement palpable as he looked at the revived man.

Awake at last—finally awake. If Gu Zhiheng had not stirred soon, Liu E would have been making preparations for a child-sized coffin.

Thank heavens, thank heavens, he was unscathed.

He knew it all along—Gu Zhiheng was far too tough for death to claim him so easily. It was all a scare, a bluff; surely, he would pull through.

“What are you standing there for? Bring me some water. My throat feels like it’s about to catch fire.” Gu Zhiheng called out with difficulty, nearly expending all his strength.

His entire body ached, as if his bones had been dismantled atop Misty Brow Mountain—pain that drilled deep and unrelenting.

“All right, all right, I’ll get you some water. Just stay put.” Liu E’s mood brightened immediately. As long as this kid was fine, he would do anything.

“Hey, Shushu, my brother’s okay now. Thanks for your concern!” He answered Jing Shushu’s call, exchanged a few words, then hung up.

He still needed to take good care of Gu Zhiheng; everything else could wait.

Liu E poured a glass of water, carried it over, instinctively reached out—but seeing Gu Zhiheng shrink back, he withdrew his hand.

This child—never mind. He’d promised to look after him, after all.

He set the cup on the bedside table, turned to help Gu Zhiheng sit up, half-supporting him in his arms, then held the cup to his lips.

“That’s enough. Are you planning to pour the whole glass down my throat?” Gu Zhiheng turned his head, amused. Liu E was hopeless at caring for people.

He’d been unconscious for so long, finally awake, and Liu E seemed intent on drowning him with water.

“Let me go. I need to rest again. Keep an eye out for my sister and the others—they should arrive in the next couple of days.” He managed to say, then lay back, exhausted.

He wasn’t sure how he would explain his condition to Chu Xingran and the others. The truth was, he didn’t understand it himself.

If someone had tampered with fate, he couldn’t act directly against Jing Shushu. If he harmed someone with virtue, it would be more than just rebellion and backlash—his very life might hang in the balance.

“I can explain Shushu’s situation to you, but you mustn’t harm her. She hasn’t done anything wrong.” Liu E understood Gu Zhiheng’s thoughts. Over the past two days, he’d considered it carefully and realized that Gu Zhiheng had suffered backlash because of Jing Shushu.

“Yes, I forced a reading of her past and present lives, saw what shouldn’t be seen, and suffered the consequences.” He couldn’t believe a Red-Tailed Fox could possess such power.

“Don’t underestimate Shushu; she’s no ordinary Red-Tailed Fox. Her identity is far from simple.” Liu E didn’t elaborate, but he couldn’t allow Gu Zhiheng to harm Jing Shushu.

Jing Shushu’s identity was complicated—she wasn’t someone just anyone could touch, not even Gu Zhiheng.

He knew Gu Zhiheng had come here for Jing Shushu, but she mustn’t die. If she did, the Gu family’s troubles would remain unresolved.

“So what, just because she knows Gu Mojiang?” Gu Zhiheng was unimpressed. So what if she knew the ancestor? He’d been dead for ages.

No matter how nostalgic they were, Jing Shushu shouldn’t linger in the human world. Besides, he had no intention of killing her.

He merely wanted to take her spiritual core—it wouldn’t cost her life.

“Gu Zhiheng, I said, you cannot touch her!” Liu E grew anxious at Gu Zhiheng’s stubbornness. He was as obstinate as Ye Zheng—impossible to reason with!

“I’m going out to buy you something to eat. Stay in bed and don’t entertain such thoughts.” Shaking his head in resignation, he turned and left.

How could he explain to Gu Zhiheng that Jing Shushu was more than an old acquaintance—she was the key to lifting the Gu family’s punishment.

Otherwise, how could a Red-Tailed Fox spirit possess such virtue?

Alas, some things couldn’t be said outright, and Gu Zhiheng couldn’t be swayed. It was a difficult predicament.

If he truly couldn’t dissuade Gu Zhiheng, what should he do when the time came for action against Jing Shushu?

To protect one or the other was impossible, to protect neither, just as impossible.

“Hey? Are you Chu Xingran, Gu Zhiheng’s sister?” As soon as Liu E stepped outside and downstairs, he spotted Chu Xingran.

The man beside her must be from the Mo family, and the other seemed to be Ye Zheng’s little worm.

“Liu E? What are you doing here? Weren’t you missing?” Chu Xingran rubbed her eyes, half-thinking she’d mistaken him.

She recalled that after fighting her elder brother, this man had vanished. For centuries, no one had seen him, though now and then rumors surfaced of contact with the Gu family.

“You still remember me! I came to look after Heng, just out to buy him food.” Liu E felt awkward before Chu Xingran; this little sister was no pushover.

Especially since he bore enmity with her brother Chu Zhaoting. Now, he would be following Gu Zhiheng, and inevitably, they’d interact.

“Looking after Ah Heng? What happened—he needs someone to care for him?” Mo Han stepped forward, his face wary.

“Don’t worry, Young Master Mo. Heng forced a divination and suffered backlash; it’s quite serious.” Liu E glanced at the trio, nodding with satisfaction.

Just these three would suffice for the journey northwest—even without him, their safety was assured. However, Gu Zhiheng still needed his guidance for certain knowledge.

The Mo family’s young master looked rebellious; Liu E didn’t fully trust him.

As for the little worm, Ye Zheng had raised the child, so following Gu Zhiheng posed no issue.

The Chu family’s girl, though once Ye Zheng’s beloved and now with the Mo family’s boy, still held her heart for Gu Zhiheng.

“Go up. Here’s the room card. Don’t blame him for anything.” Liu E warned them in advance, fearing they might reproach Gu Zhiheng.

Gu Zhiheng couldn’t withstand any further shock—one misstep could cost him his life.

Chu Xingran and the others took the room card and ascended in the elevator. As soon as they entered, they saw Gu Zhiheng lying in bed.

“Ah Heng, how are you? How could you suffer backlash?” Chu Xingran gazed at the pale-faced Gu Zhiheng, her heart aching, at a loss for words.

Mo Han and Chen Yuan’s expressions were grim as they stood by the bed, staring at Gu Zhiheng. After only a short absence, he had sustained such serious injuries.