I Have Medicine

Chapter 550 - (Not yet the right time) Gu Zuo pretends not to care.

Finally, Chang Heyue leaped high into the air, swinging his bronze staff downward in a series of ferocious strikes.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* Three thunderous attacks landed in quick succession.

Faced with such an onslaught, Wu Yingyuan couldn’t hold her ground. She raised her twin halberds above her head to block the blows, allowing the bronze staff to pound down repeatedly. Though she remained standing tall, her feet were driven deeper into the ground with each strike, sinking until she was buried knee-deep.

At this moment, Chang Heyue lifted his bronze staff once more, ready to strike again.

Seeing this, Wu Yingyuan knew she was defeated. Admiring Chang Heyue’s strength, she called out, “I concede!”

Hearing her words, Chang Heyue immediately withdrew his staff. Reaching out, he grabbed Wu Yingyuan by the arm and pulled her from the pit in the ground. He said warmly, “Miss Wu, you have my respect.”

Wu Yingyuan showed no sign of displeasure. On the contrary, her fighting spirit remained undiminished. “When I make further progress in the future, I would like to spar with you again, Young Master Chang.”

Chang Heyue laughed heartily. “Of course!”

The two shared a moment of camaraderie. However, down below the battle platform, Sun Ziwen’s expression turned subtle. He seemed both relieved and displeased. In contrast, Ge Shijing furrowed his brows, clearly unhappy with the rapport between Wu Yingyuan and Chang Heyue.

Breaking the mood, Ge Shijing called out, “Miss Wu, take a moment to rest, and then allow me to test your skills next.”

His words shattered the harmony between Wu Yingyuan and Chang Heyue. Chang Heyue quickly stepped down from the platform, while Wu Yingyuan took out a pill gifted by Gu Zuo, swallowed it, and sat down to meditate and recover.

Before long, the third match of the day began.

Gu Zuo observed the scene closely. On the battle platform, the deep pit Wu Yingyuan had left behind earlier began to recover visibly. In no time, the entire platform returned to its pristine state, as if nothing had ever happened.

Soon, Wu Yingyuan stood tall once more, her fighting spirit blazing as she invited, “Young Master Ge, please enlighten me!”

Ge Shijing stepped onto the platform with a confident, slightly arrogant smile. “Miss Wu, at your service.”

Unlike the previous two opponents, his tone carried a hint of flippancy.

Wu Yingyuan paid it no mind. With a sweep of her twin halberds, she launched an attack on Ge Shijing. Ge Shijing brushed his hand against his waist, and a dark spear appeared in his palm. The spear was slender yet remarkably long.

As the saying goes, “An inch longer, an inch stronger.” Though Wu Yingyuan’s halberds were swift and fierce, they were relatively short weapons, leaving her at a slight disadvantage against the spear.

However, facing stronger opponents was nothing new for Wu Yingyuan. She had experienced such situations countless times. In battle, she seized every opportunity to strike, found every flaw in her opponent’s moves, and even turned the tide against Ge Shijing!

Before long, Wu Yingyuan’s relentless assault shattered the seemingly flawless momentum Ge Shijing had built. She risked injury to unleash a devastating move, her twin halberds creating a brilliant red glow.

In an instant, an overwhelming aura of killing intent erupted. The red mark at the center of Wu Yingyuan’s forehead burned even brighter, and her eyes seemed to blaze with fire. The oppressive force made Ge Shijing hesitate for just a moment, but that moment was all Wu Yingyuan needed to launch another fierce attack.

Ge Shijing’s brow furrowed tightly. While he fought her with his spear in his right hand, his left hand moved subtly, releasing a burst of dark light from his palm. The black energy surged directly toward Wu Yingyuan’s waist and abdomen.

Wu Yingyuan’s reflexes were extraordinary. The moment Ge Shijing struck, her figure split into several afterimages. The dark light hit one of the illusions, causing it to dissipate, while Wu Yingyuan reappeared elsewhere, completely unscathed. At the same time, another afterimage blocked the threat of his spear.

However, such advanced footwork came at a steep cost. After evading the attack, fine beads of sweat appeared on Wu Yingyuan’s forehead. She gazed at Ge Shijing’s increasingly grim expression and launched another attack.

This time, her reactions seemed slightly slower. After sustaining injuries to her arm, waist, and leg from consecutive strikes by Ge Shijing’s spear, she finally stepped back and conceded defeat.

Ge Shijing’s expression, while still dark, softened slightly compared to before.

Though pale-faced, Wu Yingyuan exchanged polite words with Ge Shijing.

His gaze toward her also showed a hint of newfound respect.

Wu Yingyuan had faced three opponents in succession, and her three defeats were unsurprising to the crowd.

Afterward, she turned to the warriors below the stage and asked if anyone else wished to challenge her. The audience exchanged uncertain glances—after witnessing the three intense battles, few believed they could best Wu Yingyuan.

With that, the second day of battles came to an end.

Wu Zhenhuang called Wu Yingyuan over and exchanged a few quiet glances with her. Afterward, he nodded slightly and stood up to address the crowd. “The martial contest to seek a spouse was originally planned for three days, and that remains unchanged. Everyone, we shall meet again tomorrow.”

These words surprised the warriors in the audience.

Does this mean that none of the three victors today has captured Wu Yingyuan’s heart?

Wu Zhenhuang continued, “My daughter already has her thoughts… but since we agreed on three days, we will not go back on that. If anyone tomorrow proves themselves stronger than my daughter, the matter can still be discussed.”

It was only then that the crowd understood.

Indeed, the city lord was a man of his word. If he had promised three days, he wouldn’t change it, even if they had already found a suitable match on the second day. However, if no one came forward to challenge tomorrow, then the conclusion would naturally follow.

With that, the warriors of Eight Desolations City began to disperse.

Wu Zhenhuang approached the three victors of the day and cupped his hands. “Nephews, why not stay here for the night?”

Sun Ziwen and the other two naturally did not refuse and promptly agreed.

The group then returned to the city lord’s mansion, where Sun Ziwen, Chang Heyue, and Ge Shijing were all given accommodations.

Gu Zuo walked alongside Gongyi Tianheng as they headed back to their courtyard. “Big Brother, who do you think Miss Wu will choose as her husband?”

Gongyi Tianheng smiled. “Do you think as I do?”

Gu Zuo chuckled. “Shall we say it together?”

With matching smiles, they both spoke simultaneously: “Chang Heyue.”

The two exchanged a glance and laughed.

Gongyi Tianheng said, “Among the three, Sun Ziwen’s aptitude is somewhat lacking, which is one thing, but his indecisive nature and dislike of being overshadowed by women—combined with his lack of resolve—make him unsuitable.”

Gu Zuo nodded. “I noticed that he seems hesitant about marrying Miss Wu himself.”

Gongyi Tianheng continued, “As for Ge Shijing, his displeasure when slightly overpowered in battle shows his narrow-mindedness. Furthermore, injuring Miss Wu in three places wasn’t due to his battle spirit but rather out of spite. He, too, is unsuitable.”

Gu Zuo nodded again. “He’s incredibly arrogant and can’t tolerate being contradicted. If he holds grudges even over minor offenses, imagine what he’d be like as a husband. Whoever marries him would be in for a lifetime of suffering.”

Gongyi Tianheng chuckled softly before composing himself slightly. “Among the three, only Chang Heyue truly respects and admires Wu Yingyuan. His ferocious demeanor during their battle shows his willingness to fight with all his might and his unyielding battle spirit. Yet, once the fight ended, he immediately reined in his aggression, displaying remarkable self-control. He fought her without holding back, but the moment she admitted defeat, he stopped without hesitation. Their shared combativeness suggests that even if they don’t become husband and wife, they could still form a deep bond as confidants.”

Gu Zuo nodded in agreement. “Moreover, Chang Heyue is the young lord of a nearby Iron-ranked city, while Wu Yingyuan is the daughter of the city lord. From status to strength, determination, and talent, they’re a perfect match. Even from a political perspective, while this union might not be as advantageous as aligning with Silver Wing City, it would still bring considerable benefits to Eight Desolations City.” He paused thoughtfully before adding with a serious expression, “But the most crucial point is that Wu Yingyuan clearly has the best impression of Chang Heyue. If they marry, there’s a strong possibility that genuine affection will grow between them over time.”

Seeing Gu Zuo’s earnest tone, Gongyi Tianheng couldn’t help but lower his head slightly and press a soft kiss to Gu Zuo’s forehead.

Caught off guard, Gu Zuo’s face turned scarlet. “B-Big Brother?”

The sight of Gu Zuo’s flustered expression only made Gongyi Tianheng find him more endearing. Unable to resist, he cupped Gu Zuo’s face in his hands, leaned in, and captured his lips. His kiss was gentle at first, a soft exploration, but soon deepened as his tongue pried Gu Zuo’s lips apart, seeking entry.

Gu Zuo’s breath hitched.

Then, he slowly closed his eyes, his hands instinctively resting on Gongyi Tianheng’s shoulders. He surrendered to the kiss, their lips and tongues entwining in a tender yet passionate exchange.

After what felt like an eternity, the two finally parted.

Gongyi Tianheng brushed his hand across Gu Zuo’s flushed face, his gaze dark and intense.

Gu Zuo’s heart raced under his penetrating stare. He blinked and hesitated, “…Big Brother?”

Gongyi Tianheng closed his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, the shadowy intensity that had made Gu Zuo’s heart pound was gone. His tone softened. “It’s not the right time yet.”

Gu Zuo froze for a moment before understanding the meaning behind those words.

His face, which had just returned to its normal color, immediately flushed crimson again.

Then, he turned his head abruptly. “…Big Brother, why don’t we check what those three are up to now that they’ve arrived at the City Lord’s residence?”

The attempt to change the subject was so awkward it couldn’t have been more obvious.

Yet Gongyi Tianheng played along graciously. He reached out to rub Gu Zuo’s head, amusement flickering in his eyes. “…Alright, we’ll do as Ah Zuo says.”

Gu Zuo pretended not to notice the teasing undertone in his brother’s words. He tugged lightly on Gongyi Tianheng’s sleeve, feigning nonchalance. “Then, I’ll extend my spiritual senses to take a look.”