◎Blood-Eroding Insect, the Martial Alliance Investigates (Part 2)◎
Lu Jianwei took Tiao to the small courtyard where the corpses were kept, running into A'Nai along the way.
He had come to deliver money.
"Shopkeeper Lu, your courtyard gate was closed last night, so I didn’t disturb you," A'Nai said, handing over a money box.
Inside were ten banknotes worth a hundred taels each.
Lu Jianwei smiled. "Please give it to Guan He and have him deliver it to my courtyard."
"Alright." A'Nai asked curiously, "Where are you two headed?"
"To examine the corpses."
"..."
The assassins' bodies were stored in a remote courtyard, far from the main area, with a guard stationed outside.
It was early spring, and the weather was cool. Lu Jianwei had also used preservatives, so the bodies showed no signs of decay.
She put on gloves and removed the corpse’s clothing.
Zhao Jiang hurried over and said, "Shopkeeper Lu, if you need anything, just let me know."
"Aren’t you supposed to be heading to Dongliu City?"
Zhao Jiang sighed. "With such a major incident happening in Dongliu City, the merchant convoy is postponing the trip. We’ll rest here for a few days and set off once the turmoil dies down."
"That’s for the best." Lu Jianwei paused, then added, "The courtyard might get a bit messy later. Apologies in advance."
"You’re too polite, Shopkeeper Lu. You’re doing this to uncover clues." Zhao Jiang waved his hand. "I’ll leave you to it."
He turned and left, closing the courtyard gate behind him.
The corpse’s upper garments had been removed, revealing a ring of black-purple discoloration around the heart, stark against the surrounding grayish-white flesh.
Most gu worms would reside near the heart, while more sinister ones would burrow into the brain.
Judging by the black-purple symptoms, the assassin’s gu worm must have been near the heart, controlling his speech and life.
The moment he showed signs of betrayal, the gu worm would immediately erode his heart, causing it to rupture and leading to death.
Without the warmth of a human host, the gu worm would also perish.
Lu Jianwei took out a sharp knife, cut through the flesh, and soon extracted a black insect the size of a peanut from the heart.
Thanks to her intensive study the previous night, she recognized the gu worm at once.
Gu worms were categorized by function, with the most well-known being love gu. Others included life gu, puppet gu, sensory gu, and hunting gu, among others.
Though the categories seemed limited, each contained numerous varieties, with some gu worms being more potent than others. The higher the grade, the stronger their power.
The gu worm inside the assassin was a Blood-Eroding Insect, a type of puppet gu. It thrived on blood and, once tamed, was controlled by a mother gu. The offspring gu would enter the host’s body near the heart, lying dormant in the warm flesh.
If the host betrayed its master, the gu worm would awaken from dormancy, bite through the heart, and perish alongside its host.
Lu Jianwei placed the dead insect in a vial and returned to her courtyard.
She flipped open The Theory and Practice of Gu Arts, searching for the reason why the gu worm could instantly detect betrayal.
Gu worms had no intelligence—how could they discern a host’s betrayal?
The answer lay in commands.
During the taming process, key syllables were ingrained into the gu worm’s instincts. Once triggered, they would react instinctively.
Before dying, the assassin had uttered the words, "I am." The gu worm immediately activated, rupturing his heart.
The key syllable must have been "I am."
Assassins sworn to secrecy would never reveal their identity, so they’d have no reason to say "I am"—unless under interrogation.
Lu Jianwei realized she had underestimated the martial world.
She locked herself in her room and continued studying gu arts.
At the very least, the next time she encountered a similar assassin, she would be able to neutralize the puppet gu in advance.
In the garden of the Jin residence, Xue Guanhe and A'Nai sat around a stone table, the former enthusiastically recounting the events in Dongliu City.
A'Nai snorted. "You refused to tell me last night, but now that I’ve delivered money to Shopkeeper Lu, you’re suddenly chatty. You’re really money-minded."
"It’s not like Shopkeeper Lu demanded the money—your young master offered a thousand taels for the information!" Xue Guanhe retorted without hesitation. "Since your young master was so sincere, Shopkeeper Lu, being kind-hearted, naturally didn’t refuse."
"I was talking about you!"
"If I’d told you last night, what if you’d gone back on your word?"
"My young master would never renege! Don’t spout nonsense!"
"Just teasing. I just didn’t want to tell you. You must’ve been itching with curiosity all night, tossing and turning, right?"
A'Nai leaped up to hit him. "You did it on purpose!"
"So you did lose sleep!" Xue Guanhe laughed triumphantly, happily engaging in the scuffle.
After exchanging a few playful blows, both collapsed onto the grass, panting.
"Last time at the inn, we didn’t dare fight. This time was much more satisfying." A'Nai rested his head on his hands, squinting up at the blue sky.
Xue Guanhe frowned. "There’s something I don’t understand."
"What?"
"If the assassin already had a gu worm planted in him, why bother hiding a poison capsule in his teeth?"
A'Nai scoffed. "Are you stupid?"
"You’re the stupid one!"
"The poison capsule was just to let the assassin kill himself to avoid interrogation. No one cares about a dead man, so no one would discover the gu worm."
"So?"
A'Nai plucked a blade of grass and chewed on it, legs jiggling. "An ordinary swordsman assassin—who could trace his origins? That’s the first line of defense."
"Then why bother with the gu worm? It just leaves clues."
A'Nai sighed. "I told you you’re stupid. Did you forget how Shopkeeper Lu triggered the gu worm? The mastermind was guarding against experts like her."
"Not many are as skilled as Shopkeeper Lu, right?" Xue Guanhe argued.
A'Nai: "Exactly. That’s why the mastermind is meticulous, using the gu worm as a second line of defense. Even if the gu worm is exposed, it’d take time to trace any useful leads."
Few could unravel such sinister schemes.
Xue Guanhe frowned. "They’re hiding this deeply—they must’ve planned this carefully. Why slaughter the Zhou family? Now that we’ve killed their assassins, will they come after us?"
"They might keep an eye on us, but they probably won’t act," A'Nai speculated.
"Why not?"
"They’re operating in the shadows. If they move against you, they’d be exposed—unless Shopkeeper Lu uncovers the origin of the gu worm."
"Still gives me the creeps." Xue Guanhe rubbed his arms and stood. "It’s getting late. I’ll go cook."
"I’ll join you."
In her courtyard room, Lu Jianwei set down the book, feeling somewhat defeated.
The Blood-Eroding Insect was neither rare nor particularly advanced among gu worms. Tracking its origin would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Shopkeeper, dinner’s ready," Xue Guanhe called from the courtyard gate.
Lu Jianwei went to the main hall, where Wen Zhuzhi was also present. She paid him no mind and sat down to eat.
The food was delicious, but after reviewing so many gu worm illustrations, her mind was filled with their grotesque appearances, leaving her with little appetite.
"Shopkeeper Lu, try this." Wen Zhuzhi reached out, sliding a small dish toward her.
Only then did Lu Jianwei notice a plate of supplementary food beside his left hand—a type of pastry, cut into neat cubes, each no larger than two or three dice. A faint, tangy aroma wafted from it.
She didn’t touch it, merely raising a questioning glance.
"I heard you didn’t have much appetite this morning. This pastry is appetizing—perhaps you’d like to try it."
Having said this, Wen Zhuzhi didn’t press further, lowering his gaze to his medicinal meal as if he’d only mentioned it in passing.
Lu Jianwei picked up a piece of pastry and placed it in her mouth. The sweet and tangy flavor instantly captivated her taste buds, gradually dispelling the nausea brought on by the book of gu worms, leaving only a faint fruity aroma.
The pastry was filled with sour raisins, and when bitten into, the soft, chewy texture combined with the jujube fragrance of the pastry itself was indeed appetizing and mouthwatering.
She returned the kindness, saying, "I've identified the type of gu worm, but its origin is still unclear."
Wen Zhuzhi paused, then lifted his gaze with a smile. "What is it?"
"Blood-Corroding Worm, a relatively common puppet gu," Lu Jianwei replied, picking up another piece of pastry.
Wen Zhuzhi mused, "I believe I've heard of it."
"Young Master," A'Nai exclaimed in surprise, "When we went to the southwest to seek medicine, we did hear the locals mention it. Could the murderer who killed the Zhou family be from the southwest?"
"The southwest is indeed known for its gu arts," Wen Zhuzhi said slowly, "but there aren't many sects capable of mobilizing multiple high-level martial artists simultaneously."
Tiao added, "The southwest mostly deals with gu worms and poisonous insects. Those who use swords are rare."
"That makes it even harder to track down," Xue Guanhe muttered gloomily as he shoveled rice into his mouth. "I really don’t understand why they had to kill so many people."
Luo Lianhuan gritted her teeth. "They killed three of my senior brothers. Once we find out who they are, I’ll make them pay!"
"Miss Luo, the letter has already been sent to your sect. I’m sure Red Cloud Peak will send someone to Shuangxi City soon," Zhao Jiang interjected.
Luo Lianhuan replied hoarsely, "Thank you."
Being in a foreign land surrounded by strangers, with her senior brothers dead or injured, the pressure she had endured these past few days was immense.
Her former arrogance and willfulness had long been buried.
Lost in thought, Lu Jianwei absentmindedly finished an entire plate of pastries. Only when she snapped out of it did she realize the plate was nearly empty, with only a few crumbs left.
For the first time, she felt a twinge of embarrassment but pretended not to care, turning her attention to the dishes before her.
"Lu—Lu Innkeeper, my senior brother still hasn’t woken up. He…" Luo Lianhuan stared at Lu Jianwei with pleading eyes.
She didn’t know why others referred to her as "Innkeeper," nor did she have the energy to question it, so she simply followed suit.
Lu Jianwei replied impassively, "His external injuries are no longer life-threatening, but his internal injuries are more complicated."
"Complicated?" Luo Lianhuan stiffened, gripping the hem of her robe tightly.
"His cultivation is at the fourth level, but he was struck by a fifth-level martial artist, damaging his meridians. He needs someone to help regulate his qi."
Such was the cruelty of the martial world—the strong preyed on the weak. Lower-level martial artists had to be extremely cautious when facing higher-level opponents.
If struck by a higher-level martial artist, death might be a mercy. Surviving meant enduring constant agony as the residual force ravaged their meridians.
Luo Lianhuan paled. "Then… does that mean he’ll never be able to practice martial arts again?"
"I said he needs someone to regulate his qi," Lu Jianwei repeated, setting down her chopsticks now that she was full.
Luo Lianhuan choked back a sob. "But who would be willing to do that for him?"
"Doesn’t Red Cloud Peak have martial artists above the fifth level?" Xue Guanhe asked, puzzled. "Can’t you just ask a sixth-level master to help?"
"It’s not that simple," Zhao Jiang sighed, shaking his head. "The slightest mistake could lead to backlash. The risks are too great."
Unless the relationship was extremely close or the benefits substantial, few would be willing to take on such a task.
"But—" Xue Guanhe instinctively glanced at Lu Jianwei, but seeing her indifferent expression, he swallowed his words and clamped his mouth shut.
Niu Xiaoxi had once been injured by Hu Jiuniang, also a fifth-level martial artist, with residual force left behind. Yet the Innkeeper had healed him quickly, making it seem effortless.
Now he realized it wasn’t easy at all—it even carried risks.
The Innkeeper was truly kind-hearted.
He couldn’t go blabbing about this, or else Red Cloud Peak might shamelessly beg her for help.
Luo Lianhuan turned to Lu Jianwei in desperation. "You promised to save my senior brother’s life for ten thousand taels."
"And he’s still alive," Lu Jianwei said. "His life is preserved."
Luo Lianhuan: "…"
And she still charged ten thousand taels for this? What a rip-off!
She turned to Yan Feicang. "Brother Yan, if this continues, my senior brother’s meridians will deteriorate further. Could you… could you help him? Once my father sends people, I’m sure he’ll reward you handsomely!"
Yan Feicang looked up and said earnestly, "My internal energy is too aggressive—it’s unsuitable for regulating qi. Innkeeper Lu likely has another method, but ten thousand taels is far from enough."
"Exactly," Zhao Jiang agreed solemnly. "This matter requires careful consideration. Miss Luo, perhaps it’s best to wait until your sect sends someone before making a decision."
Luo Lianhuan had no choice but to concede.
After the meal, everyone returned to their rooms.
A'Nai crouched on the floor, organizing a chest, and asked, "Young Master, since we’re not going to Dongliu City, when are we returning to Jiangzhou?"
"No rush," Wen Zhuzhi replied, placing a chess piece. "Take out that set of pink porcelain tea ware and gift it to Innkeeper Lu."
"What?!" A'Nai shot to his feet, reluctant. "But this is a treasure you just acquired! A full set of priceless porcelain—why give it to her?"
Wen Zhuzhi said, "We agreed earlier—if she told me the type of gu worm, I’d reciprocate with a gift."
"But does it have to be something this valuable?"
"It’s of no use to me. Send it over."
A'Nai took a deep breath and bent down to retrieve the tea set. It was stored in an exquisite wooden box, cushioned with soft cotton to prevent damage.
"Such a fine treasure… how could you bear to part with it?"
Hugging the box, he trudged slowly toward Lu Jianwei’s courtyard, where he ran into Xue Guanhe at the gate.
"Here to see the Innkeeper?" Xue Guanhe asked curiously. "What’s in your arms?"
A'Nai jerked his chin toward the courtyard. "A gift from the Young Master to Innkeeper Lu."
"What kind of gift?"
A'Nai huffed. "None of your business."
"Fair enough," Xue Guanhe scratched his head. "Young Master Wen is so generous and thoughtful. Earlier, if not for him, the Innkeeper might still have had no appetite. I was so stupid—I didn’t think to prepare something light and appetizing."
A'Nai puffed up proudly. "Of course. The Young Master is the best person in the world. When he heard Innkeeper Lu hadn’t eaten well this morning, he sent me out to buy ingredients and personally made the pastries."
"He made them himself?" Xue Guanhe gasped. "Young Master Wen knows how to bake?"
"The Young Master is skilled in many things," A'Nai said, adjusting the box in his arms. "Enough chatter—I need to deliver this."
Lu Jianwei was meditating when she overheard the conversation outside her courtyard. A flicker of surprise crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
The gate opened, and A'Nai entered with the ornate wooden box, placing it on the table with an awkward air.
"Innkeeper Lu, this is a gift from the Young Master as thanks. Please accept it."
Lu Jianwei approached the table and lifted the lid.
Inside lay a delicate set of pink porcelain, bathed in sunlight from the window. The glaze shimmered with a translucent, soft luster, reminiscent of peach blossoms in spring—elegant, refined, and subtly radiant.
Her system couldn’t help but interject: "A rare, top-tier pink porcelain set. Its value is incalculable."
Lu Jianwei stared for a few seconds before smiling faintly. "I can’t accept such an extravagant gift without merit."
"You won’t take it?!"
"You won’t take it?!"
The system and A'Nai’s voices overlapped in disbelief. Both were utterly stunned.
Lu Jianwei said, "Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. When I save lives, no amount of reward is too much. But a mere piece of news about the 'Blood-Corroding Worm' isn’t worth such a lavish gift in return."
The system fell silent.
A'Nai also stayed quiet.
Put that way, it did seem that Lu Jianwei had initially demanded high compensation precisely because her inn could preserve lives.
It sounded rather principled.
A'Nai hesitated before saying, "But my young master insisted on giving it to you."
"Take it back and relay my words to him exactly," Lu Jianwei replied, unable to comprehend Wen Zhuzhi’s intentions and thus bluntly rejecting the extravagant gift.
A'Nai had no choice but to carry the box out of the courtyard.
Lost in thought as he walked, he was suddenly stopped by Xue Guanhe, who had been waiting nearby.
"What do you want?"
Xue Guanhe glanced at the box and blinked in surprise. "The innkeeper didn’t accept it?"
"Nope. What are you doing here?"
Xue Guanhe tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Has my cooking gotten worse?"
"No, it’s still as terrible as ever."
"I’m not joking—I’m serious!" Xue Guanhe pressed anxiously. "The innkeeper had no appetite for breakfast or lunch today. She only ate a bit more at lunch because of Young Master Wen’s pastries. Tell me, has she grown tired of my cooking?"
A'Nai rolled his eyes. "That’s what you’re worried about?"
"Isn’t this a big deal?"
"Calling you slow would be an understatement," A'Nai said, poking his forehead. "Think carefully—why would Lu Jianwei suddenly lose her appetite?"
Xue Guanhe frowned. "If I could figure it out, would I be asking you?"
"Let me ask you this: after that assassin died the other night, did Lu Jianwei still not know what kind of poison was planted in his body?"
"Right."
"And today, did she specifically dig it out to examine it?"
"Yeah, so what?"
"..." A'Nai gave him a look of utter disdain. "You really are a blockhead."
Xue Guanhe looked bewildered. "What does this have to do with eating?"
"I don’t know much about Lu Jianwei’s poison arts, but I’m certain she dislikes grotesque-looking poison worms. Seeing them would naturally make her queasy."
"No way!" Xue Guanhe declared firmly. "She examined the worm after breakfast."
A'Nai countered, "Just the thought of having to look at worms during breakfast would be enough to ruin anyone’s appetite."
"There’s no way the innkeeper would be disgusted by worms!" Xue Guanhe shook his head, utterly convinced.
A'Nai was speechless for a moment before finally saying, "And why exactly do you think she wouldn’t be?"
"She’s so formidable and worldly—how could something as trivial as worms kill her appetite? I don’t buy it."
A'Nai tilted his head, studying him. "Xue Guanhe, this kind of thinking is dangerous. Your innkeeper is human, not a god. All humans have likes, dislikes, and weaknesses. Putting her on a pedestal helps neither her nor you."
"Then tell me—do you think your young master is extraordinary?"
"Of course!"
"Does he have any weaknesses?"
"Impossible!"
Xue Guanhe spread his hands. "Pot calling the kettle black."
"That’s different!" A'Nai argued. "My young master is indeed peerless, but I know his body is frail—he can’t handle the cold or heavy flavors. So what if Lu Jianwei finds worms disgusting? Disgust isn’t fear. What exactly are you trying to prove?"
Xue Guanhe pondered for a moment before his expression turned solemn. "You’re right. I’ve been too blind. That’s not good."
A'Nai nodded approvingly. "Now you’re getting it."
He carried the box back inside.
"Young Master, Lu Jianwei refused the gift."
"Mm. Put it away." Wen Zhuzhi handed him a slip of paper. "Go into town and buy these things for me."
"Right away!"
A'Nai hurried out of the estate, only to bump into Tiao, who was also leaving.
"Going to the market too?"
Tiao ignored him, her cloth bag slung over her shoulder as she walked away from the Jin residence toward the bustling streets.
"Strange girl," A'Nai muttered, watching her disappear into the distance before heading in the opposite direction.
By dusk, A'Nai returned laden with packages and crossed paths with Tiao again.
"You spent the whole afternoon shopping and bought nothing?"
Tiao still didn’t acknowledge him, heading straight for Lu Jianwei’s courtyard to hand over the fifty taels she had earned that afternoon.
"At this rate, you’ll repay your debt before we even reach Jiangzhou," Lu Jianwei remarked, unusually concerned. "Once we’re in Jiangzhou, what are your plans?"
Tiao hesitated before shaking her head. "I don’t know."
That evening, the group gathered for dinner once more.
Zhao Jiang shared some news he had picked up: "The case in Dongliu City involved too many deaths, with victims from different sects. The impact is huge—the Martial Alliance has decided to take over the investigation."
"The Martial Alliance?" Xue Guanhe frowned. "Why not the Mystic Mirror Bureau?"
Zhao Jiang chuckled. "With so many sects involved, the Mystic Mirror Bureau lacks the credibility. Only the Martial Alliance has the authority for this."
"Then why didn’t the Martial Alliance investigate the White Crane Manor case sooner?" Xue Guanhe grumbled on Yue Shu’s behalf.
Zhao Jiang smiled awkwardly. "Perhaps it was too far away. By the time word reached Luozhou, the Mystic Mirror Bureau had already stepped in."
"‘Stepped in’? They uncovered the truth and delivered justice for White Crane Manor!"
A'Nai nodded. "What could the Martial Alliance possibly find? A sinister assassin organization has been operating in the martial world, and they didn’t even notice? The White Crane Manor case might be connected to these people too."
"Exactly! Everyone knows Song Xian was just a puppet. The real mastermind behind it could be the same one pulling the strings in the Zhou family case," Xue Guanhe agreed emphatically.
Zhao Jiang raised an eyebrow. "A moment ago, you praised the Mystic Mirror Bureau for delivering justice. Now you’re saying the truth hasn’t come to light. Isn’t that contradictory?"
Xue Guanhe faltered.
Well… strictly speaking, the Mystic Mirror Bureau hadn’t uncovered the full truth either.
"The Mystic Mirror Bureau has only existed for fifteen years. The Martial Alliance has centuries of history—how can they compare?" A'Nai scoffed. "Investigations are exhausting and dangerous. No one wants to do thankless work. The Dongliu City case involves too many factions, so of course the Martial Alliance has to intervene."
In other words, the White Crane Manor case was too insignificant for their attention.
"A'Nai, mind your words." Wen Zhuzhi set down his spoon and turned to Zhao Jiang. "He’s young and inexperienced. Please forgive his thoughtlessness."
Zhao Jiang waved it off with a laugh. "No harm done. Our trading house does have business ties with the Martial Alliance, but it’s purely transactional. No need for such formality, Young Master Wen."
"My apologies, Steward Zhao. I spoke out of turn," A'Nai said sincerely.
Zhao Jiang dismissed it. "Honestly, we all know how things stand. No need for apologies. Let’s eat."
Two more days passed.
Amid Luo Lianhuan’s growing anxiety, envoys from Red Cloud Peak finally arrived.
The Peak Master couldn’t come personally, so he sent Elder Ge, the second elder of the peak, along with two young disciples.
Zhao Jiang escorted them to the main hall and had tea served.
"Uncle Ge, you’re finally here!" Luo Lianhuan rushed forward, her eyes reddening as tears welled up at the sight of her kin.
Elder Ge patted her shoulder affectionately. "Don’t worry. With me here, no one can harm you."
Such was the confidence of a sixth-rank master.
"Junior Sister, we heard Senior Brother was badly injured. How is he now?" one of the young men asked urgently.
Luo Lianhuan wiped away her tears. "He was injured by a fifth-rank assassin and is in poor condition. Elder Ge, Fifth Senior Brother, please come with me."
"Wait a moment." Elder Ge turned to another young man. "Young Hero Yu, since you're here, you might as well state your purpose as well."
Young Hero Yu cast a sharp glance at Zhao Jiang and demanded in a raised voice:
"Where is Lu Jianwei?!"
