My girlfriend is a Miao demon.

The three of them walked together, the night wind like waves.

The sky was crystal clear, without a single cloud. Against the deep, inky black background, countless stars, like crushed diamonds, were densely scattered across the sky. The Milky Way, like a frosty silver ribbon, stretched across the heavens, its clear light spreading everywhere. But the Willow Constellation, one of the Seven Mansions of the Vermilion Bird, stood out conspicuously in this sea of ​​stars. Its halo shone brighter than the surrounding stars, like a warning light suspended in the dome, blazing against the night sky with an inexplicable eeriness.

Gazing at that unusual light, a horrifying image involuntarily flooded Xiang Nanfeng's mind: in some hidden corner of the world, unknown to anyone, a mulberry tree resembling a Gu mulberry was quietly blooming against the night wind, its stamens glowing faintly, concealing a deadly secret. His throat tightened, and he couldn't help but shudder, a chill running from his tailbone down his spine, spreading throughout his entire body.

But then he thought, this Gu Sang actually holds Zuo Sigong's lifelong secret, and the ultimate mystery of the Twin Gates of the Flower Seed Holy Land. The instinctive fear was finally overwhelmed by the intense curiosity and urgent desire to explore that surged in his heart. His heart was suddenly stirred by a ripple, and he even felt a thrill of excitement, knowing that danger lurked everywhere, yet still yearning for it.

"Now I understand the secret of Gu Sang, but what does this have to do with Liu Su in the sky? You said that Liu Su is bright because Gu Sang is blooming, what is the connection between the two? Also, what is the connection between Gu Sang, Liu Su, and how did you find Miss Zuo?" Xiang Nanfeng frowned and asked a series of questions in one breath. His words were clear and his logic was meticulous. Every sentence went straight to the core and there was no redundancy.

Upon hearing this, the Master of the Maoxi Gu waved his hand, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and his previously tense tone softened somewhat:

"Don't rush me, this is a long story, I'll tell you slowly. The whole story starts with a promise Grandma made back then."

As he spoke, he looked up at Liu Su in the night sky again, his gaze gradually darkening and becoming deep and distant, as if he were looking through this sea of ​​stars at distant events from decades ago, his eyes surging with indescribable nostalgia and melancholy.

"Back then, I was only seven or eight years old. I followed my grandmother around all day, listening to her tell me about the history of the Miao people and the mysteries of witchcraft. I think my grandmother probably felt that I was too young to understand the kind of trust between them that allowed them to live and die together, so she never told me in person who the person who was so close to her and who had earned her absolute trust was."

Mao Xigu's voice carried a hint of nostalgia:

"She only mentioned when she was telling me about the inheritance of witchcraft that she received three Gu worms from the ancestor Jiang Yang: the Stubborn Stone Gu, the Spirit Snake Gu, and the Child-Losing Gu. Later, I saw the Stubborn Stone Gu and the Spirit Snake Gu in my grandmother's Gu room, but I never saw the Child-Losing Gu. So I asked her where the third Gu worm was. It was under those circumstances that she finally told me the secret of the Child-Losing Gu and the Wood Spirit, and the person with whom she made a pact."

"Grandma told me that the person she trusted would help her find the Twin Gates."

"The Twin Gates are the sacred ground of the Flower Seedlings and the key to unlocking many secrets. Grandma was pushed into the Twin Gates back then, but she survived by chance. She has always wanted to find the Twin Gates and find out the truth of what happened back then. The person with whom we made the promise said that if he really finds the clues to the Twin Gates, or even the Twin Gates themselves, he will put the clues into the wood spirit that is parasitized by the Child-Losing Gu, and then bury the wood spirit on the eastern slope of Jinji Mountain in Aoyin County, waiting for Grandma to come and meet him."

Mao west Gu Master paused for a moment, turning his gaze from the starry sky to Xiang Nanfeng and Zuo Hezi, and continued slowly:

"Besides being able to protect the secrets hidden in the mulberry tree with its own Gu power and prevent outsiders from peeping, this Gu Sang has a very special characteristic, and it is this characteristic that tightly connects it with the Willow Constellation in the sky."

"As I told you before, the Gu Sang takes root in one month, grows tall in two months, and blooms in three months. Its growth rate is far beyond that of ordinary plants. And whenever it blooms, it releases a unique Gu Sang pollen. The power of this pollen is far stronger than you can imagine."

"This pollen is extremely special, born with the power to reverse the laws of nature."

"If released in autumn and winter, it can revitalize the vegetation within a hundred miles. The withered branches will sprout tender green buds again, and the withered flowers will bloom again. The entire area will regain the lush greenery of summer in the bleak autumn and winter. However, if it is released in spring and summer, the pollen will have the opposite effect. Within a hundred miles, the vegetation will wither and die rapidly at a visible speed, eventually leaving only a barren wasteland where not a blade of grass grows."

Mao west Gu Master's tone carried a hint of genuine amazement, clearly filled with awe for this almost heaven-defying magical power.

"We all know that plants are harvested in autumn and stored in winter, and grow in spring and flourish in summer. This is an inviolable natural law, an ironclad rule established by heaven and earth, which has never changed from ancient times to the present."

He raised his hand again and pointed to the Willow Constellation in the sky, his fingertips glistening with the cool night dew:

"The Willow constellation in the Vermilion Bird constellation is the star that governs the growth and decline of all plants in the world. Its brightness and dimness are closely related to the flourishing and withering of plants on earth, sharing their joys and sorrows. According to normal patterns, the Willow constellation is often bright and dazzling in spring and summer because plants on earth are lush and full of life at that time; but in autumn and winter, it will gradually become dim because plants gradually wither and life is hidden. This is an unchanging truth since ancient times."

"However, the pollen of the Gu Sang flower has the power to reverse the growth pattern of plants. It can make plants revive and grow against the trend in autumn and winter, and suddenly wither and die in spring and summer, causing a complete reversal of the life and death pattern of plants in the human world."

Mao Xigu's voice gradually became solemn, each word conveying seriousness:

"This abnormal growth pattern of plants directly affects the constellations in the sky, influencing the state of the Willow Constellation and causing its brightness to become distorted. The fact that the Willow Constellation is so unusually bright now indicates that a Gu Mulberry is blooming in this autumn and winter season, releasing pollen and causing the surrounding plants to exhibit abnormal vitality, which in turn affects the Willow Constellation, making it defy the norm and become so dazzling."

"So that's how it is!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Nanfeng couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of admiration, his eyes filled with a light of sudden realization:

"The connections between them are so intricate and precise, without the slightest deviation. It is truly rigorous and ingenious! The ancestors of the Huamiao people were able to combine the changes of the stars with witchcraft so seamlessly. It is truly admirable."

He had never imagined that there could be such a deep connection between the seemingly unreachable constellations and the mysterious witchcraft. These words gave him a completely new understanding of the Hua Miao culture, and he was deeply shocked.

Zuo Hezi, standing to the side, remained completely bewildered. Her brows furrowed deeply, forming a deep frown, and she looked at Xiang Nanfeng and Mao Xigu Master with a confused and anxious expression. She couldn't help but ask:

"What exactly do you mean by all this? I still don't quite understand. When Liu Su Liang appears, the Gu Sang flower blooms, and when the Gu Sang flower blooms, the plants become abnormal. But what does all this have to do with finding clues about the Twin Gates, or with me? I can't make sense of this logic at all. The more I listen, the more confused I get."

Her tone carried a hint of anxiety, perhaps because she was frustrated that she couldn't keep up with the two of them, or perhaps because she was eager to know if all of this was related to her father's death.

Seeing this, Xiang Nanfeng softened his tone and patiently explained to her:

"Miss Zuo, if you calm down and think about it carefully, you will understand the reason. The reason why the grandmother of the Maoxi Gu Master and the person who made the agreement chose to use Gu Sang to store the clues of the Twin Gates was actually for safety. Think about it, once someone really discovers the clues of the Twin Gates, or even finds the Twin Gates themselves, how can we be sure that it is the real Twin Gates and not a trap set by someone else?"

"Is it absolutely necessary to verify this in person? But if we really go, we'll inevitably be targeted by the Panhu clan—you should know that the Panhu clan has always coveted the Hua Miao's witchcraft and sorcery, and they've been eyeing the Twin Gates, the sacred land of the Hua Miao, for a long time. If they discover our presence, they will definitely follow the clues. At that time, not only will the clues to the Twin Gates be stolen, but even the life of the person who discovers the clues will be fatally threatened, and the consequences will be unimaginable."

There's an old saying, from the Zuo Zhuan, I don't know if you've heard it, that goes, "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

Xiang Nanfeng paused, and seeing the puzzled look on Zuo Hezi's face, he continued to explain:

"This means that an ordinary person may not have committed any crime, but if he possesses a rare jade disc, he may bring disaster upon himself or even be convicted because of it."

"What is a jade disc? It's just a piece of jade. Why can't ordinary people have one?"

Zuo Hezi frowned and blurted out the question, her eyes filled with even more confusion.

"The jade disc is not an ordinary piece of jade, but a ritual object used by ancient kings, nobles and generals. It is a symbol of status and power, and a rare treasure."

Xiang Nanfeng patiently explained:

"The deeper meaning of this story is that even if a person is without fault, if he possesses something precious that is not commensurate with his status and abilities, he will become the target of others' covetousness, which is dangerous in itself. Others will deliberately fabricate charges against him in order to take away this treasure, ultimately causing him to lose both his wealth and his reputation."

He then changed the subject and returned to the main point:

"For someone who possesses the Flower Seedling's top secret—the Twin Gate clues—it is extremely dangerous if they don't have powerful witchcraft to protect themselves. Once those around them learn of this, they will inevitably harbor malicious intentions and try to steal it. In that case, they will also fall into an abyss of no return, and even their lives will be in danger."

"That's why they thought of using Gu Sang, a method that is almost absolutely safe, to put the clues of the Twin Gates into the wood spirit as soon as possible and protect them with the power of Gu Sang."

Xiang Nanfeng's tone became serious again, and his words were clear:

"As long as the person who stored the clues and Mao Xi Gu Master's grandmother completely sever ties and stop communicating with each other, then the other person will not be in danger because of the existence of the clues. After all, without any connection, there will be no loopholes, and no matter how cunning or powerful Pan Hu's people are, they will not be able to find any breakthroughs and will naturally have no way to make a move."

"Moreover, although the two sides have severed all contact on the surface, they have a silent agreement between them, an agreement based on the constellations. As long as the Gu Sang blooms as scheduled three months later, and the Liu constellation shows such unusual light due to the influence of the Gu Sang pollen, the grandmother of the Maoxi Gu Master will know that the clues to the Twin Gates have been safely stored and the other party is temporarily safe and sound. At that time, she will set off for the eastern slope of Jinji Mountain in Aoyin County to meet that person, and then the two of them will go to the Twin Gates together to explore its secrets."

Xiang Nanfeng paused, softened his tone, and continued to explain the logic to her:

"At this point, a full three months had passed since that person discovered the clues to the Twin Gates, or even found the Twin Gates themselves. These three months were enough for him to carefully confirm whether he was absolutely safe, and whether he was being followed or targeted by Panhu's people. If nothing unusual happened within three months, it meant that his whereabouts had not been exposed, he was safe, and he could meet with Mao Xi Gu Master's grandmother with peace of mind."

"Conversely, if the three-month deadline has passed and Liu Su brightens as scheduled, it means the clues have been safely stored. However, if the person fails to attend the meeting on time, it means he may be unsafe, or even have met with misfortune. In that case, Mao Xi Gu Master's grandmother can use his itinerary from three months ago to find his whereabouts and track him down. Whether to avenge him, seek justice for him, or continue searching for clues about the Twin Gates, she can plan calmly and always remain hidden in the shadows, without revealing her whereabouts, and maintain the initiative."

Xiang Nanfeng meticulously explained the logic behind it, guiding Zuo Hezi step by step to understand the deeper meaning. At this point, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly, letting out a long sigh, his tone full of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion/reflection).

"They say they are kindred spirits, but they are truly kindred spirits who would entrust their lives to each other! A person can reveal all his secrets, even the secrets of the entire Miao tribe, to another person, and even dare to hand over the most precious and powerful Gu worm in his possession to the other person. What a great trust that is!"

"It would be impossible for anyone else to do this. And the person who made the promise with her also deserves this heavy trust. He was able to entrust his life to someone else, even though the two of them had broken off their relationship for thirty or forty years for various inexplicable reasons and had no contact with each other anymore. Yet, he still kept the promise made back then in secret, never forgetting it in the slightest, and never betraying this promise."

"This kind of affection that transcends time and even life and death, this unwavering trust that has lasted for decades, is truly breathtaking!"

Xiang Nanfeng's tone was full of emotion. He spoke of others, but in his heart he was thinking of himself and Gui Luyao.

He believed that he and Luyao shared the same trust and affection, and he was confident that their love could transcend the Twin Gates and the boundary between life and death. Hearing this, Mao Xi, the Gu Master, and Zuo Hezi were overwhelmed with emotion.

They all learned the greatest secret of their loved ones' lives only after their passing, inevitably filling their hearts with a sense of unfamiliarity and immense regret. In Mao Xi Gu Master's memory, his grandmother was the old woman who had been widowed a few months after her marriage, raised two generations of children and grandchildren, and lived a life of widowhood for half her life. Even though he knew that his grandmother had mentioned a vow related to the "child-losing Gu," he was never prepared to witness the fulfillment of this vow of life and death.

Zuo Hezi was unable to accept it for a while. From the sudden death of her only relative to the secret her father might have kept hidden all his life and the real reason for his death, this sudden blow and secret was obviously more unexpected for a 20-year-old girl.

This complex emotion plunged the two into a long period of remembrance. In the silent night sky, only the sound of the wind and the rustling of the leaves could be heard.

Mao Xigu's grandmother has been dead for many years, and the past grudges and affections have gradually faded away with the passage of time; while Professor Zuo has just passed away. If it is true, as Mao Xigu deduced, his death was probably not an accident, but a brutal murder.

Thinking of this, Zuo Hezi, who had always lived independently and presented a strong image, couldn't help but feel her eyes redden, and helpless tears welled up in her eyes. She tried desperately to hold back, not wanting to expose her vulnerability in front of others, but the grief and helplessness of losing her loved ones eventually broke through her psychological defenses, and tears slowly slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her clothes and spreading into a small dark stain.

In the darkness of night, her slightly trembling shoulders silently spoke of her inner grief.

Xiang Nanfeng observed all of this, a pang of pity rising in his heart. He considered offering a few words of comfort, but then thought again that someone with Zuo Hezi's strong personality might not be willing to show her vulnerability to outsiders. After all, although the three of them were all in the same boat, sharing similar circumstances, they had only known each other for a few short hours. The unusually strong sense of boundaries in modern society made it difficult for anyone to easily open their hearts to each other.

Xiang Nanfeng was always understanding; he knew that the best way to comfort her at this moment was perhaps to change the subject, divert her attention, and temporarily pull her away from her grief. So, he immediately spoke, breaking the silence, turning his gaze to the Mao west Gu Master, and pressed him for an answer:

"Master Mao Xi, since your grandmother never told you who that person she trusted was, how did you determine that person was Professor Zuo?"