128. A Mark Left Upon the Heart

That single sentence was like a pebble dropped into a placid lake: soundless, yet sending ripples outward that refused to fade.

Gu Fei tightened her grip around the ink pellet in her hand. Its square edges dug painfully into her palm, but she seemed oblivious. Only the slight curve of her lips betrayed a faint, unreadable smile.

“Lizhi? Lizhi is at the Little Mo residence?”

Mo Yuhua noticed nothing unusual. Drawing near, he narrowed his eyes and examined Gu Fei closely. She seemed thinner again; her pointed chin was almost as though someone had mistreated her. His heart filled with pity, but the moment his gaze met her strikingly clear black-and-white eyes, he froze.

They were indifferent and merciless, black and bottomless.

Without changing expression, Gu Fei wrapped the ink pellet in fine silk and put it into the ink box. Only then did she continue, “Old Master Feng told me several days ago that Lizhi had left home of his own accord. How is it that he is now at the Little Mo residence?”

At the mention of this matter, Mo Yuhua could only smile bitterly. He touched his nose and spoke evasively. “A-Fei, now that your identity has been made clear, could you stop treating me with such distance? I knew nothing of what you had suffered before. Otherwise, whenever I traveled back and forth to the capital, I would certainly have found you and brought you home.”

Gu Fei’s fingertips paused over the latch of the ink box. She looked at it, picking lightly at the metal with her fingernail as she considered her answer.

“Brother Yuhua, we cannot go back. I wish we could, but every night, just before I wake from my dreams, I think of my parents’ faces. After that, I can no longer feel even the slightest tenderness toward the Little Mo family.”

As she spoke, she raised her head. Stray wisps of hair fell beside her eyes, casting shadows that obscured her expression.

“Brother Yuhua, Mo Fei is dead. The Gu Fei who remains is a ruthless, scheming woman, deep as the sea in guile and unfathomable in her calculations. You… would do better not to become too entangled with me.”

Mo Yuhua’s hand trembled faintly within his sleeve after hearing her call him “Brother Yuhua” twice in succession. It took him a long while to steady his emotions before he gave a bleak smile.

“How could that be? It was only because, when you were in hardship, there was no one to pull you back up. But that will not happen again. A-Fei, I will be the head of the Little Mo family in the future. No one will dare speak against you. You may rest easy.”

Gu Fei had no desire to discuss old ties with Mo Yuhua, and she was even more worried about Feng Lizhi. Thus, she shook her head and answered perfunctorily, “We can talk about the future when it comes.”

Mo Yuhua knew that such matters could not be rushed, so he returned to the original subject.

“When Lizhi left home, he encountered my father while preparing to leave Yizhou City. My father had received a letter from him when Mo Geyi departed, instructing him to obtain the hammering technique from the Feng family at all costs. That was how Lizhi came to the Little Mo residence.”

The moment she heard Mo Yan’s name, Gu Fei’s brows drew together. She also understood why Mo Yuhua had come to find her instead of simply releasing Feng Lizhi.

“So Lizhi was the one who asked you to come to me?” she asked.

Mo Yuhua nodded. Leaning slightly forward, he lowered his voice.

“Lizhi and I were once close. And I know that what my father has done is wrong. Naturally, I cannot stand by and watch Lizhi be forced into submission. Nor can I…”

He left the rest unsaid, but Gu Fei guessed what he meant. Her fingers rubbed over the ink box, feeling the uneven carved patterns beneath them. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Since that is the case, what do you want me to do?”

Mo Yuhua had already considered the matter.

“There is no time to lose. Tomorrow night, I will find a way to have my father leave for a banquet. You can then come to the Feng residence and take Lizhi away.”

“Oh?” Gu Fei thought for a moment. “Why not release Lizhi directly? I can wait outside and receive him.”

Mo Yuhua shook his head, turning the folded fan in his hand.

“I considered that, but Lizhi cannot leave the Little Mo residence on his own. I can draw away most of the guards, but some are my father’s trusted men. That is why you must go in person, A-Fei. Give Lizhi a slight disguise and have him pose as one of your servants or something similar. With me covering for you, you should be able to leave the Little Mo residence before my father returns.”

Gu Fei could find no flaw in his reasoning. What he said was sensible, and so she nodded in agreement.

Mo Yuhua’s heart lifted. He immediately rose and cupped his hands.

“Then I will return and make the arrangements.”

Though he still wished to remain a little longer, Mo Yuhua nevertheless departed in haste. He comforted himself with the thought that Lizhi was still there and could not escape. There was plenty of time ahead. So long as Gu Fei retained even the slightest trace of their former affection, he could reclaim at least a little of what they had once shared.

Only after Mo Yuhua had disappeared from sight did You Hu emerge from the courtyard. Carrying a pot of tea, he gave it a slight swing before asking, “Are you truly going? Aren’t you afraid of being trapped inside and caught like a turtle in a jar?”

Gu Fei continued rubbing the ink box beneath her hands, her eyes half lowered. After a long while, she replied, “Whether this is a trap or not, sooner or later I must go to the Little Mo residence.”

“Oh?” You Hu raised his long brows, set down the teapot, and turned to walk a few steps. Then he suddenly asked, “Must you go?”

Gu Fei nodded. Her gaze settled on the teapot, her expression thoughtful.

“My parents’ spirit tablets are at the Little Mo residence. I must bring them out.”

You Hu, who had been walking into the courtyard, halted briefly before continuing onward. It was indeed a sufficient reason. Bringing the tablets out sooner would also prevent them from becoming a weapon Mo Yan could use against her one day.

Before long, the rumble of wheels sounded. Gu Fei turned her head and saw You Hu pushing out a wooden wheelchair.

It was the same wheelchair she had used before, yet in Gu Fei’s eyes it seemed somehow different now. She curved her lips faintly.

“Is it repaired?”

You Hu tilted his head. Pale, creamy skin lay beneath mottled shadows, lending sudden vividness to his features.

“Since you have made up your mind, the wheelchair naturally ought to be repaired.”

As he spoke, he smiled to himself, his eyes filled with unfathomable mystery.

“There is a surprise as well.”

When the wheelchair came before her, Gu Fei leaned forward and prepared to haul herself into the seat. But You Hu was quicker. He bent down, wrapped his arms around her, and lifted her into the wheelchair.

Gu Fei had always found this strange. To the eye, You Hu looked delicate and frail, as though he lacked the strength even to restrain a chicken. Yet she remembered him carrying her several times, each time with great steadiness. Could it be that his usual appearance—more delicate even than hers—was nothing but an act meant to deceive?

Completely unaware that she was speculating about him, You Hu waited until she was seated before crouching beside her. He pointed beneath the two armrests, indicating that she should feel beneath them.

“There is a raised button. Press it, and a concealed blade will spring out to protect you.”

Gu Fei followed his instructions and pressed it.

With a sharp hiss, a short blade as keen as a dagger shot from the end of the armrest with a metallic clang.

You Hu had not expected her to press it so readily. He was crouched close beside her, and the blade suddenly thrust toward his chest. Its tip barely pierced his clothing, stopping precisely over his heart. One more inch and it would have entered him.

Gu Fei jolted in alarm. She pressed the raised button again, and the blade shot back into its housing. Only then did she let out a careful breath.

You Hu lowered his eyes without changing expression and looked at the hole in his chest. A small patch of bare skin could be seen through it. When he raised his head again, the corner of his mouth curved upward, giving him a faintly wicked air.

“If you wish to leave a mark over my heart, my lady, there is no need to use such a method. There are better ways to do it.”

Hearing this, Gu Fei could only regret that the blade had been just a little too short to pierce him properly.

Seeing that his words had, for once, left her speechless, he rose leisurely.

“I will accompany you tomorrow night.”

Gu Fei had no objection.

That night, the bright moon hung high above them, and scattered stars glimmered across the sky.

After receiving word from Mo Yuhua, Gu Fei made a few preparations, changed into dark clothing, and set out beneath the moon with You Hu, You Er, and Bai Lu.

Because the wheelchair made movement inconvenient, You Er simply lifted Gu Fei and the wheelchair together onto his shoulder, steadying them with one hand. He ran without the slightest jolt. Born with extraordinary strength, he felt no strain at all carrying both Gu Fei and the chair.

The four of them arrived at the Little Mo residence. Mo Yuhua had already drawn away the guards, allowing Gu Fei to enter through a side gate.

The moment she entered the estate, a feeling both unfamiliar and familiar swept over her.

She knew the Little Mo residence intimately. Along the way, she occasionally gave You Er quiet directions. The four of them met not the slightest resistance and, to make matters easier, even followed a series of shortcuts.

When they reached a secluded side chamber, Gu Fei, perched on You Er’s shoulder, saw farther than the others. She spotted Mo Yuhua waiting with his hands behind his back. After they passed through a moon gate, he hurried toward them before they had even drawn near, anxiety visible on his face.

“This way. Quickly. I had Lizhi change his clothes earlier. A-Fei, take him and leave the residence at once.”

Gu Fei nodded. After a moment’s hesitation, she still asked, “What about you?”

The concern hidden beneath her seemingly casual words made Mo Yuhua pause. He turned back and gave her an apparently carefree smile.

“I am his son. Even the fiercest tiger does not devour its cubs. What can he do besides beat me and scold me?”

Gu Fei pressed her lips together. The instant the question had left her mouth, she had realized it was unnecessary.

They turned into a covered corridor. Mo Yuhua gestured for Gu Fei to wait outside while he took a key from his robes. After a crisp metallic click, he pushed open the door.