FBC – Chapter 183 Willingly

Mu Junyan split the pill into two halves, placed one half at her lips, and said softly: “Take half.

The other pill—split it for those two, let them each take half. Keep the last half in case of emergencies.”

Chiyu nodded and gave the two remaining soldiers their portions, who gratefully swallowed them.

Gu Hua clutched Mu Junyan’s sleeve tightly: “We should ask Brother Ji—can the blood of someone who has taken the antidote save others?”

Mu Junyan stared at her. “You want to use your blood to save them?”

“Mm.” Gu Hua’s gaze was resolute.

She didn’t just want to save people—she wanted to save Mu Junyan.

After today, things would be different from her past life.

He didn’t die. He couldn’t die!

“You don’t need to.” Mu Junyan pulled her to leave, but she broke free.

Gu Hua suddenly retreated, warning: “I’ll infect you. Don’t come near—I can walk on my own.”

But Mu Junyan yanked her into his arms, holding her tightly.

Gu Hua stiffened, her nose filled with his scent. She couldn’t help but choke with tears: “I’m already infected. Aren’t you always calm and rational? Aren’t you afraid you’ll catch it and won’t be able to command in battle?”

Feeling her trembling in his arms, Mu Junyan stroked her head with aching tenderness and whispered: “I’m not afraid. Don’t worry.”

He knew the danger, knew this poison was highly contagious.

But he couldn’t help it—he couldn’t control himself.

Gu Hua’s heart ached. She tried to push him away, but he only held her tighter.

“It’s too late—if I was going to be infected, it would’ve already happened. Don’t move around, your neck is still injured.”

Helpless, Gu Hua wrapped her arms around him in return, tears welling in her eyes.

“Does your neck hurt?” Mu Junyan looked down at her.

“No.” Her voice was choked.

Still uneasy, Mu Junyan straightened her and lowered his head to check.

The silk cloth was soaked in blood. The sight pained him deeply, barely restraining his murderous urge. He stroked her head to soothe her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t protect you.”

Gu Hua didn’t dare shake her head—she only blinked her eyes. “I did it willingly. But… it seems I’ve caused you trouble.”

She had willingly gone back to find Ji Xuanyu, willingly acted as bait to distract Yifeng Hall, willingly swallowed the gu poison to seek the antidote.

“No—you and Chiyu did very well.” Mu Junyan cupped her face.

Gu Hua frowned slightly. “Wait… did you already know?”

Could it be… she was also part of his calculations?

Her heart grew uneasy.

Mu Junyan didn’t answer, only held her hand and carefully led her down from the city wall.

Gu Hua’s eyes widened at the sight of corpses everywhere, the streets drenched in blood.

“Ziyuan, let me see him, please?” She tugged at his sleeve.

“Now?” Mu Junyan looked at her.

Afraid of being misunderstood, she hurriedly explained: “There were only two pills of antidote. I want to ask him if the blood of those who took it can detoxify others. This gu poison spreads quickly—we can’t wait.”

Mu Junyan asked quietly: “Is it that you don’t trust me, or that you trust him too much?”

Gu Hua grew anxious: “Of course I trust you—you’re my husband! But this gu poison was made by Yifeng Hall—they must know the cure. Some of Mu’s soldiers are already infected, and in Juzhou City, they poisoned the porridge too.”

Mu Junyan’s voice was low: “He won’t tell you—unless you go with him.”

Gu Hua froze for a moment. “I won’t go with him. But isn’t he the only one who knows?”

“The outbreak in Juzhou was contained. We also have shamans, so it didn’t spread. As for the army, it hasn’t spread widely either—because we suspected Yuan Zhongyong was poisoned long ago. We figured it was Yifeng Hall’s doing. Injuring him was to keep him from marching with the troops.”

Gu Hua looked uncertain. “Then… did you count me into this too? Was I your bait?”

Mu Junyan’s gaze darkened. “Not like you think. I guessed Ji Xuanyu might intercept you once you left the city, so I arranged for it—hoping to capture him and find Yifeng Hall’s headquarters. But unexpectedly, you didn’t leave the city, and instead discovered his tracks early. And even more unexpected—you risked yourself to stop him, and I met you here.”

Gu Hua’s heart chilled, thudding painfully.

So he had foreseen Ji Xuanyu would intercept her—and let her go, so they could track him back to the lair?

If she hadn’t caught Ji Xuanyu and been taken by him, perhaps he would have used that as an opportunity for Mu’s army to follow?

Seeing her expression change, Mu Junyan felt panic for the first time.

“I never meant to use you as bait. Chiyu was ordered to follow you closely. I never thought you’d swallow the gu poison.”

His grip on her hand tightened slightly.

Gu Hua drew a deep breath. “It’s fine. I was willing to be bait from the start. So let me see him—I’ll tell him I didn’t take the antidote, that the soldiers needed it more. Then maybe he’ll tell me how to cure it.”

Mu Junyan frowned deeply.

Gu Hua pleaded: “Please trust me just this once? I’m not of much use—I can’t help you in other ways. This is the only thing I can do.”

She wanted to see him… to persuade him to surrender, to save his life, didn’t she?

Mu Junyan couldn’t bear to refuse her.

He led her into a house, where Ji Xuanyu sat weakly on the ground.

When he saw Gu Hua enter, his eyes lit up.

“Did you take the antidote?”

Gu Hua shook her head slightly, her voice hoarse: “Someone in the army fell ill. There were only two pills, so they took them. Brother Ji, tell me—can the blood of those who’ve taken the antidote cure others?”

Ji Xuanyu didn’t answer. Instead, his face contorted in rage. “Mu Junyan, are you even a man? Do you really want to watch Hua’er suffer a fate worse than death?”

Mu Junyan pulled her close. “Wasn’t it your people who brought this poison to Juzhou? Wasn’t it you who forced her to be infected?”

Yes—it was him who poisoned her!

Ji Xuanyu gritted his teeth, refusing to answer, his eyes fixed on Gu Hua. “I have an antidote, Hua’er. Come here, I’ll give it to you.”

Gu Hua froze.

“You… still have one?”

“I have only one pill, and I’ll give it only to you.”

Gu Hua frowned.

“I want to save Juzhou’s people. I want to save everyone infected. One pill isn’t enough. Brother Ji, answer me.”

Staring at the couple in each other’s arms, Ji Xuanyu fought to control himself. “Hua’er, you deliberately let yourself be infected—for his sake? You even used yourself as bait to capture me, didn’t you?”

Gu Hua’s voice was calm: “At first, yes—I thought if I fell ill, you would surely give me the antidote or tell me the cure. But now I know I was wrong. You won’t give up your stubbornness or prejudice—not even for me.”

“Brother Ji, the world is full of unfairness. You have deep hatred, so do I, so do many others. But if one person’s hatred has to drag countless others to die—that isn’t fair.”

“So you’d rather die for him?” Ji Xuanyu’s tone sharpened.

“He’d die for me too. I was poisoned, and he risked everything to save me. Now, I understand—life and death together, that’s all it means.”

Her words pierced Ji Xuanyu’s heart like blades.

“So… you care for him more?” Ji Xuanyu ground his teeth.

“Yes.” Gu Hua nodded without hesitation.

“But Brother Ji… you were once the only light in my childhood.” Tears fell from her eyes.

“Even if the world condemns you, in my heart, you’ll always be good. Even if your sins are unforgivable, I will collect your body, and on your death anniversary every year, I will offer incense…”

As she spoke, she began to cry.

Though her words were tender, Ji Xuanyu felt as if his heart were being torn open and trampled.

Mu Junyan held her tighter, wiped her tears, and whispered: “I’m sorry. I didn’t protect you well enough.”

Gu Hua looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

The scene of intimacy, when it fell into Ji Xuanyu’s eyes, was like a thousand blades cutting him apart.