Chapter 33: Implanting the Gu

Unease swelled in Su Wei’s heart, but she still followed Su He into the cabin. Just as she closed the door, she heard her master say, “Stand there, don’t move.”

Su He sat on a chair and poured herself a cup of tea. She blew on it and took a small sip. “What were you and Su Yun talking about just now?”

“She found out about Master’s identity and wants to enter your harem.” Su Wei paused here, feeling this phrasing wasn’t quite right. “She wants power.”

Su He’s expression didn’t change much upon hearing this. She tapped her finger on the table. When she looked up again, however, a smile had appeared. “Come here. Gu has a question for you.”

Su Wei sat down on the chair beside Su He, trying her best to sit upright. “Master.”

“Don’t you want power?” Su He glanced sideways at her. “With power, you wouldn’t be in your current situation. You could do whatever you wanted. Gu would protect you.”

As she finished speaking, Su He extended the teacup in her hand. In a flash, Su Wei recalled those unpleasant memories of the past. She hesitated for a few seconds before lifting her hand to accept it.

But before her fingertips could even touch the teacup, Su He casually tossed it to the floor. The porcelain instantly shattered into pieces. Su Wei raised her eyes and met her master’s gaze directly.

This was the first time she had sensed genuine anger from Su He.

Su Wei immediately moved to kneel, but Su He grabbed her arm and forcibly held her in the chair. Her eyes widened as she heard Su He’s voice, neither light nor heavy: “Su Wei, if Su Yun could replace you, Gu would kill you right now.”

“Why can’t I find a substitute for you?” Su He forced these words out. She pinched Su Wei’s face, suppressing her fury. “Su Wei, why does Gu like you so much?”

Su Wei’s eyes trembled. Her lips moved, and she finally spoke: “Master, this subordinate said nothing wrong.”

Before, she would never have thought herself right. Whatever her master said, that was the truth. But she had been wrong too many, too many times—so much so that Su Wei couldn’t sleep night after night, repeatedly failing to understand why she was always wrong.

She just wanted a reason, a concrete explanation.

“What did this subordinate do wrong?!” Su Wei’s voice wasn’t loud, but she asked Su He with utmost seriousness. “Back then, it was Master who told Shadow Nine that I must not let emotions stir. I’m just a lowly Shadow Guard; how would I dare even think of climbing higher? This subordinate has fulfilled that command.”

“So why do you still punish me?”

Su Wei was no fool. After thinking for so long, she also understood that her master’s anger had ignited over this very statement. This made her even more baffled. The one who said those words was Master, and the one angered by them was also Master.

Su He wasn’t stumped by Su Wei’s questioning. She wouldn’t answer this question at all. She simply countered: “Then do you like Gu?”

“I don’t.” Su Wei answered crisply. “This subordinate only holds feelings of admiration. Shadow Nine deeply respects you.”

Su He suddenly fell silent. She let out a short, humorless laugh. Upon clearly receiving this answer, she finally understood where that vague displeasure had been coming from all along.

She would get angry because someone coveted Su Wei, feeling her possession was being tainted. But now, she suddenly realized she was no longer satisfied with just that. She wanted Su Wei’s heart and mind to be entirely filled with her.

And Su Wei was human. As a human, she would have emotions and desires. If Su Wei fell in love with someone else, Su He truly would be unhappy—extremely unhappy.

Then there was only one solution: make Su Wei fall in love with her.

Su He suddenly thought of the solution. She truly adored the way Su Wei looked at her.

“Gu won’t hurt you.” Su He poured a fresh cup of tea and drank it in one go. “Don’t be afraid.”

“Do you want to sleep?” Su He’s tone had softened considerably. “Gu will go out for a stroll.”

“The issue you just raised… Gu has thought it over.” Su He smiled at her. “Don’t worry. In the future, Gu won’t do that again.”

Su Wei was so startled she shot to her feet, nearly dropping to her knees. Anyone could say such words, but Su He could not.

“What are you afraid of? Gu doesn’t eat people.” Su He’s tone was bland. “Rest. Gu has matters to attend to.”

With that, she was about to walk out. Su Wei hesitated, then spoke: “Master, you haven’t put on your disguise yet.”

Su He waved a hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter. Everyone who needs to know already knows.”

Su Wei could only sit back down. She slumped over the table, her thoughts a tangled mess. Muddled as she was, she somehow drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Su He, who had just stepped out, was in a completely opposite mood. She found the Leader and said in a deep voice, “Gu needs you to find someone for her.”

The Leader immediately became alert. “Who do you wish to find?”

“A Gu Master. She is in the Jiangnan area. Gu wants to see her by tomorrow. Can you do it?”

Su He’s questions never allowed for a negative answer. The Leader’s heart immediately filled with anxiety, guessing wildly, yet she could only respond, “This subordinate obeys the decree!”

Su He raised an eyebrow in satisfaction, her gaze falling upon the rolling river.

.

They arrived around noon the next day. Since the day she’d laid things out clearly with Su He, Su Wei hadn’t received any punishment. At night, she still shared a bed with her master, and even upon waking, she could still feel the arm wrapped around her waist.

She didn’t understand what had happened to her master. Why had her feelings towards her suddenly changed?

Su Wei thought of many possibilities but couldn’t find an answer. The moment she stepped off the boat, everything suddenly went black before her eyes. Her body pitched forward uncontrollably, but the very next second, she fell into a familiar embrace.

“Are you alright?” Su He’s voice was filled with concern. “Are your eyes uncomfortable, or is your wound hurting?”

Su Wei was silent for a few seconds before replying hoarsely, “It’s my eyes. I’m somewhat… unable to see.”

“It’s fine.” Su He softened her voice. “Gu will take you to find a physician. There’s a very famous doctor here. I contacted her yesterday. Let’s go have a look.”

Su Wei naturally had no objections. Held by Su He, her vision flickered with wave after wave of afterimages, making her head spin. Left with no choice, she could only follow her master.

“We’re here.”

Su He released her, guiding her to sit in a chair.

Su Wei could sense she had been brought into a small room. She clutched her clothes somewhat unnaturally.

“Relax. It will be over soon.” An unfamiliar female voice spoke. The back of her neck was gripped. “Don’t be nervous. You will be fine.”

Su Wei’s fingertip was squeezed. Gauze was wrapped over her eyes—very cool. In an instant, many of her senses were dulled.

She could feel the other party taking a drop of blood from her fingertip, then applying silver needles to her body. The entire process lasted a long time.

Gradually, Su Wei could feel her eyes recovering. She was nearly numb from sitting still for so long. Only after receiving permission did she remove the gauze. When she opened her eyes, Su He was sitting right across from her.

She murmured: “Master.”

Su He grasped her hand, the corners of her eyes curving into a smile.

“Good. Everything will end now.”