Mu Hongyu was worried that Chu Liuyue had been bullied by the Gu family’s Mistress, but when she saw how calm Chu Liuyue looked, Mu Hongyu’s mind was at ease.
Then again, since Chu Liuyue had survived the black flying python, was there anything that she could not do? A mere Gu family was nothing.
“It’s fine! Enough of that! We have to celebrate your return this time,” said Mu Hongyu with bright eyes. “Liuyue, you previously said that we could go to Phoenix Restaurant! I haven’t been there in a long time!”
Chu Liuyue knocked on her forehead gently. “We can go with everyone when you’re feeling better. However, you’d better stay here obediently for now!”
Mu Hongyu’s smile collapsed, and she raised two fingers. “I swear I won’t drink! Okay? We’ll just eat!”
Chu Liuyue raised her brows. “Is that so?”
Mu Hongyu nodded. “Really! Come on, Liuyue! Agree to it, please!”
Chu Liuyue pretended to think for a while before she agreed. “Okay!”
Since they have been worried sick about me for the last couple of days, they deserve to relax.
“What about tonight? Cen Hu, call Liao Zhongshu and Gu Mingfeng as well.”
Cen Hu scratched his head awkwardly. “This… Liao Zhongshu is still not well. He’s been sick in bed. I’m afraid he won’t be able to make it.”
Chu Liuyue was a little surprised. “Why are Liao Zhongshu’s injuries so severe? I remember that his injuries were rather superficial. He should be feeling better, so why can’t he leave his bed?”
Both Mu Hongyu and Cen Hu’s expressions were stiff as they spoke of the matter. “Yeah. The teachers of the academy have checked on him. They’ve used medication as well, but his condition has been relapsing for some reason. He has not shown any signs of recovery.”
Cen Hu continued, “Also, Gu Mingfeng has not returned to the academy in the last couple of days. I heard… I heard that he was chased out of the Gu family…”
Chu Liuyue froze. “Why would the Gu family do this out of the blue?”
Mu Hongyu pouted. “Isn’t it because of Gu Mingzhu? Gu Mingfeng has been looked down upon in the Gu family, and they pushed all the blame for her death to him this time!”
Cen Hu clenched his fists. “He hardly returned there before anyway. It hardly counts as his home. It’s better that he left!”
Chu Liuyue shook her head. “That’s different.”
Gu Mingfeng being looked down on is one thing, but being chased out is another. No matter what things were like before, he carried the Gu family name. Hence, people were a little more careful, but now…
Chu Liuyue pondered for a moment. “I think we can’t have dinner today then. Cen Hu, go and look for Gu Mingfeng now. Let us know if you have any news. Hongyu and I will go over to see Liao Zhongshu.”
The two agreed when they heard Chu Liuyue’s words. After all, they had been through life and death together; they could not just leave him in the lurch.
Mu Hongyu’s expression became more serious. “I know where Liao Zhongshu lives. Come with me.”
…
When Chu Liuyue arrived at the warrior student residence area with Mu Hongyu, they attracted a lot of attention.
The news of Chu Liuyue’s safe return had spread like wildfire the day before. Hearing that she had returned, many were rather curious.
Chu Liuyue’s presence in the warrior residence area naturally drew quite a bit of attention.
Chu Liuyue ignored all of that and followed Mu Hongyu to a particular building.
Mu Hongyu walked to the door and knocked on it. “Ji Yurong, are you there?”
The door was opened by a slender and tall young man. He recognized Mu Hongyu and gave her a warm smile. “Mu Hongyu, are you here to see Zhongshu?”
She nodded. “Yeah! Liuyue and I are here to visit him!”
The young man paused when he heard Chu Liuyue’s name. It was only then that he noticed that another person was next to Mu Hongyu. A strange expression flashed across his face, but it was fleeting. “I see that you all are here! Hurry on in! Zhongshu just woke up, so you’re just in time to see him!”
Chu Liuyue narrowed her eyes.
Mu Hongyu did not sense that anything was amiss. She pulled Chu Liuyue towards the second floor. “We’ll head up first then; it’s been hard on you for the last couple of days!”
Ji Yurong smiled. “We’re all classmates, so it’s what I should do. You guys chat; I have something to attend to, so I’ll head out first.”
With that, he tidied things up and left, closing the door behind him.
Chu Liuyue turned and glanced at him. She wondered if she was imagining things, but Ji Yurong seemed like he was running away…
“Does Ji Yurong live here too?” Chu Liuyue asked as they ascended the stairs.
“Yeah! He lives here with Zhongshu! This is the warrior residence area. Everyone here shares lodgings. Our amenities are not as nice as the Xuan Masters’ lodgings, which allows individual courtyards. Zhongshu talks about Ji Yurong often, but Ji Yurong doesn’t really talk to us because he’s a little introverted.”
Mu Hongyu spoke as she walked. “But he’s quite nice. He has been the one taking care of Zhongshu for the last few days.”
Chu Liuyue nodded but did not ask any further.
As they spoke, the pair arrived at the second-floor bedroom.
Chu Liuyue was stunned when she entered the room and saw Liao Zhongshu, who was lying in bed.
Over the past few days, he had lost a significant amount of weight. His cheeks were sunken in, and his eyes were dark and lifeless. He looked rather haggard.
Liao Zhongshu broke out into a wan smile when he saw the pair and barely managed to raise his hand. “You’re here? Have a seat.”
Mu Hongyu frowned. “Why do you look worse than before? Have you been taking your medicine?”
His voice weak, Liao Zhongshu said, “My body has failed me, but it’s okay. Liuyue… it’s great that you are back.”
Even though he was sick, he had heard about Chu Liuyue’s matter. He was really happy to see her standing before his eyes well and alive.
Chu Liuyue stepped forward and took his wrist. “What did the teachers say about your body?”
Liao Zhongshu moved his lips and coughed. “Cough cough… There’s not much of a problem… It’s just that my body is too weak, and I can’t absorb the medicine well. Hence, I have not been recovering… The teachers said that they’d observe me for another two days… Cough…”
Chu Liuyue knitted her brows slightly.
Mu Hongyu asked curiously. “Liuyue, is something wrong?”
Liuyue suddenly pulled Liao Zhongshu’s blanket away!
“Hey… Liuyue!” Mu Hongyu was stunned and tried to stop her, but Chu Liuyue was too fast.
Liao Zhongshu did not expect this either. He was embarrassed and tried to pull up the blanket.
However, Chu Liuyue was not bothered as she intently stared at his left leg.
Liao Zhongsuh’s injured leg was swollen beyond recognition. It was double the size of the other and stretched his pants to its seams.
Mu Hongyu cried out in surprise. “Wh-what happened?!”
Liao Zhongshu’s face was grim. “… It’s been like this since I returned. The teachers don’t know why either…”
Chu Liuyue pondered for a moment before saying, “You’ve been poisoned!”