"It's okay. I'll definitely save He Zhou."
Gu Jiangyue's tone was full of determination. Hearing her words, Xi Yun felt a bit better. After Gu Jiangyue comforted her for a while, she called Xie Jiuan and Ji Yunsheng back, planning to brainstorm with everyone.
Ji Yunsheng was less talkative than before. He sat aside with his arms crossed, looking reluctant. Seeing that no one paid attention to him, he was about to speak when Xie Jiuan gave him a look, which stopped him.
Ji Yunsheng snorted and sat there dejectedly, giving up the idea of speaking again.
"Xi Yun, how did Gu Zhengwan contact you?"
Gu Jiangyue voiced her doubt.
Xi Yun's swollen eyes had subsided a bit. She lowered her head and thought for a while, as if organizing her words.
"A few days ago, when I was going to pick up Zhou'er from the private school, she blocked me with some people and said I must cure her leg. If I couldn't, she would kill Zhou'er. She should come to me tomorrow."
Xi Yun seemed to recall something unpleasant. Her eyes filled with tears again, and she barely managed to hold them back. Gu Jiangyue gently patted her, and Xi Yun continued.
"Gu Zhengwan is not a good person. I didn't want to treat her, but Zhou'er was in her hands. I had no choice but to tell this to Zhiyuan."
Listening to Xi Yun's narration, everyone unconsciously clenched their fists. Gu Zhengwan's leg was injured when she tried to show off. Now she forced Xi Yun to treat her and kidnapped her child. After all, the child was innocent.
"Can you cure her?" Gu Jiangyue asked.
Xi Yun shook her head slightly with tears in her eyes, indicating that she wasn't fully confident in curing Gu Zhengwan.
Gu Jiangyue sighed softly and then turned to look at Ji Yunsheng, who was sitting sprawled on one side. Ji Yunsheng noticed Gu Jiangyue's gaze. Remembering Gu Jiangyue's question just now, he let out a soft laugh, which sounded rather evil.
"Don't ask me. I'd rather poison her other leg to make it useless."
Although Ji Yunsheng was from the Valley of the Medicine King, he was not good at saving lives but rather at using poison. Although he knew something about saving people, he didn't want to save such a vicious person as Gu Zhengwan. Moreover, the way he saved people was something Gu Zhengwan couldn't bear.
Seeing that Gu Jiangyue still had a glimmer of hope for Ji Yunsheng, Xie Jiuan quickly explained.
"He really can't cure her."
Xie Jiuan was once lucky enough to be saved by Ji Yunsheng. He only remembered that he was seriously injured and had nowhere to go, so he went to Ji Yunsheng. Ji Yunsheng examined his injury and said with a smile that he could cure it.
Xie Jiuan would never forget the way Ji Yunsheng treated him. Ji Yunsheng broke all his bones and then soaked him in a vat of poisonous insects to reshape his bones. Just thinking about that feeling made Xie Jiuan shiver. Since then, unless it was a life - threatening illness, he never went to Ji Yunsheng again.
Gu Jiangyue nodded. She absolutely trusted Xie Jiuan. Since Xie Jiuan said Ji Yunsheng couldn't cure her, Gu Jiangyue didn't ask anymore. She frowned slightly, constantly thinking of a way.
Time passed by second by second. Gu Jiangyue rubbed her head irritably. At this moment, a soft voice sounded.
"I have a not - so - good idea. I don't know if it will work."
There was a way?!
Gu Jiangyue looked in the direction of the voice and saw Xi Yun looking a bit hesitant.
"What's the idea?"
The situation was urgent. Every idea meant an extra chance for He Zhou to survive. Xi Yun understood this truth and continued.
"There's a forbidden technique in the beauty - keeping secret arts. I don't know if you've heard of it. It's called the skin replacement technique. It can cure Gu Zhengwan's leg, but it will come at a great cost."
Hearing the skin replacement technique, Ji Yunsheng's eyes lit up. He liked such things the most and must have known something about it. He looked at Xi Yun and asked.
"Is it to peel the skin of a close relative while they're still alive and exchange it with your own?"
"Exactly."
Xi Yun nodded, agreeing with Ji Yunsheng's words.
The thought of skin - exchanging made Gu Jiangyue shiver. She suppressed her nausea and asked Xi Yun to confirm.
"Can this really cure Gu Zhengwan's leg?"
Gu Jiangyue's worry was reasonable. This method was too bloody. If it didn't cure Gu Zhengwan's leg but instead angered her, He Zhou would be in great danger.
"Except for not being able to dance, Gu Zhengwan's leg has almost recovered. But the stasis in her leg hasn't been removed and has seeped into her skin, which is why her skin hasn't improved and is still covered in red patches. The skin replacement technique can just cure her illness, but it's too risky, and it must use the skin of a blood - related person. If it fails..."
Gu Jiangyue understood the rest without Xi Yun finishing her sentence.
He Zhou's smiling face kept flashing in Gu Jiangyue's mind. She made up her mind, her eyes filled with cold light.
"Use this method."
This method was feasible. Gu Zhengwan loved beauty enough, and there was still Gu Liuru in the Third Branch. Based on Gu Jiangyue's understanding of Gu Zhengwan, she thought Gu Zhengwan would accept this method, and Gu Jiangyue had already thought of a plan.
"Jiangyue, what should I do?" Xi Yun asked.
A faint smile appeared on Gu Jiangyue's lips. She didn't plan to let Xi Yun perform the skin - replacement on Gu Zhengwan. After all, Gu Jiangyue thought that a person like Gu Zhengwan wouldn't completely trust Xi Yun to do it. So Gu Jiangyue decided to let Xi Yun reveal the method to Gu Zhengwan. With Gu Zhengwan's love for beauty, she would surely be tempted.
Since what happened at the Qingshan Temple last time, Gu Jiangyue could tell that although Gu Zhengwan and Gu Liuru were sisters, their relationship was not good. Especially now that Gu Liuru had just returned from the Qingshan Temple, Chen Yanqin would surely pay more attention to Gu Liuru, and it was inevitable that she would neglect Gu Zhengwan.
Gu Zhengwan was always a person who would avenge every grievance. So as long as her hatred for Gu Liuru reached its peak, a small thing could completely enrage her. As long as Gu Zhengwan did as they expected, saving He Zhou would be an easy task.
Gu Jiangyue explained the plan to Xi Yun in detail. Then they discussed it again. Finally, they decided that Ji Yunsheng and Xie Jiuan would go to save the person, while Gu Jiangyue and Xi Yun would negotiate with Gu Zhengwan.
Gu Jiangyue asked Xi Yun to prepare some more of the medicine that Gu Zhengwan often used before, increasing the dosage.