Volume One, Chapter 11: Suffering the Backlash

Ran Shuyi’s scream stunned everyone in the room.

Old Madam Gu hurriedly released Yan Chu’s hand to check on Ran Shuyi. She saw that Ran Shuyi’s face had turned deathly pale, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she clutched her face in agony. Gradually, blackish-brown marks began to emerge on both sides of her face, appearing even more terrifying than the "birthmark" Gu Ruoruo had suffered from.

Gu Rong was struck with sudden terror. The backlash... it had truly arrived!

"What... what is happening?" Old Madam Gu asked anxiously.

Yan Chu turned around, her gaze cold and piercing as she stared at Ran Shuyi. "How does the taste of the backlash feel?"

Gu Chenxiao furrowed his brows tightly. He walked quickly to Yan Chu’s side and asked in a low voice, "How could Shuyi be suffering from a backlash?" He remembered that when Yan Chu was helping the fifth sister conceive, she had said something to Gao Yuanxiang—telling him to wait for the backlash. It was clear that only the person who administered the poison would suffer such a fate. And yet, Ran Shuyi...

Yan Chu explained calmly, "I said before that the one who poisons others will suffer a backlash twice as severe, if not worse. It seems the toxicity has seeped deep into Ran Shuyi’s body. Now that the Nine-Turn Xuanqing Pill is purging the toxins from Ruoruo, Ran Shuyi is simultaneously enduring the backlash."

Gu Chenxiao found it hard to believe. Gu Ruoruo had developed her "birthmark" ten years ago, when Ran Shuyi was only eight years old. She had learned to poison people at such a young age!

Old Madam Gu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. "Quick, go call the doctor!"

Yan Chu shook her head helplessly. It was useless. But it was for the best that these evildoers finally face the reality of their actions.

At that moment, Gu Ruoruo opened her eyes. As she woke, the birthmark on her face had completely vanished.

Gu Ruolin was incredulous. "Ruoruo, your face..."

Gu Ruoruo looked dazed, unaware of what had just transpired. She felt as though she had just had a dream—a dream where she had become beautiful, and the birthmark was entirely gone. Gu Ruolin hurriedly took a small mirror from her bag and held it up for her. "Look, Ruoruo, the birthmark is gone."

"It’s true... my face..." Gu Ruoruo touched her cheeks, her eyes filled with wonder. "It’s really gone!"

Her voice was choked with emotion, unable to contain her excitement. Gu Chenxiao looked at Yan Chu, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his eyes. He had never doubted Yan Chu’s abilities, but witnessing this firsthand was still a shock. He stepped forward and gently took Yan Chu’s hand. "Thank you." Thank you for letting him confirm that the malice in human hearts knows no age.

*

The ambulance arrived and carried away the wailing Ran Shuyi. Gu Rong, unable to set her mind at ease, followed closely behind. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors could only respond with helpless resignation, stating that the condition was untreatable.

"No!" Gu Rong grabbed the doctor’s hand, pleading, "My daughter is only eighteen! If her face is ruined, her whole life is ruined!"

The doctor sighed. "I remember a girl in your Gu family named Gu Ruoruo who had a similar illness. We couldn't do anything back then, and your daughter’s condition is even more severe than hers was."

Watching Ran Shuyi writhing in pain in the hospital room, Gu Rong’s tears fell like rain. "Very well, I understand. Thank you, doctor." It seemed she would have to find the Taoist priest who had given her the poison in the first place.

The next day, Ran Shuyi woke up to find that the pain in her face had vanished. Unaware that her face had developed new "birthmarks" overnight, she assumed she was recovered. Feeling lethargic from sleeping the entire night, she decided to go for a walk.

"Ah! A ghost!" A nurse at the door screamed at the top of her lungs. Her face was covered in horrific black spots—was this even human?

"A ghost? Where is a ghost?" Ran Shuyi turned around, only to send another group of people fleeing in terror. "Ghost! It's a ghost!"

Only then did Ran Shuyi realize that the "ghost" they were referring to was her. She hurried into the hospital restroom and looked into the mirror. Seeing her reflection, she touched her face in horror and let out a scream. "Ah!" She completely broke down, pounding her fists against the mirror in a frenzy.

Hearing her daughter’s scream, Gu Rong rushed into the room. Seeing her daughter’s face, her heart sank. "Shuyi, it’s all Mother’s fault..." She hugged her tightly, trying to comfort her, tears streaming down her face.

"Mom, how did I become like this?" Ran Shuyi cried until her voice was hoarse.

"Shuyi, Mother will get revenge for you. Mother will get revenge..." She knew that all this tragedy was caused by Yan Chu! If it weren't for Yan Chu helping Gu Ruoruo detoxify, Shuyi would never have suffered this backlash! It was all Yan Chu’s fault! She would find that Taoist priest and avenge her daughter!

*

After her "illness" was cured, Gu Ruoruo put on her favorite dress and the prettiest hair accessories. Looking at her snow-white skin in the mirror, she couldn't believe her eyes. She was finally back to normal, and all of this was thanks to her aunt.

Gu Ruolin pushed the door open, followed by Yan Chu. "Ruoruo, these are things I prepared for you. Do you like them?" Gu Ruolin brought out various little dresses.

Gu Ruoruo was surprised. "Mom, when did you buy all these?"

Gu Ruolin’s eyes grew misty. "Actually, every year, I prepared new clothes for you for the change of seasons. It’s just a pity that you would always be sad whenever you saw new clothes. I knew that if it weren't for the birthmark, you would have been a girl who loved to dress up. Now, I can finally give these to you."

Gu Ruoruo’s eyes welled up with tears. She hugged Gu Ruolin tightly, her heart filled with gratitude and happiness. She knew that none of this change would have been possible without Yan Chu’s help.

Gu Ruoruo turned to Yan Chu, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Aunt, thank you so very much."

Yan Chu smiled and shook her head. "Ruoruo, there is no need to thank me. Good and evil will eventually meet their due reward; I only did what I had to do."

A long-lost smile bloomed on Gu Ruoruo’s face. She knew that from now on, she could walk confidently in the sunlight like any other girl, no longer trapped by the shadows of the past. She vowed to always remember this kindness and be forever grateful for everything her aunt, Yan Chu, had given her.

"But..." Gu Ruolin asked, puzzled, "why is it that Ruoruo is healed, but Shuyi is..." A seed of doubt had been planted in her heart, but without proof, she could not jump to conclusions.

"Sixth Sister, I can tell you, but you must keep it a secret and not tell anyone else."

"That goes without saying."

"Because Shuyi was the one who poisoned her, and she is suffering the backlash," Yan Chu explained calmly, her voice devoid of any ripples.

"Backlash?" Gu Ruolin frowned, her eyes filled with horror. "You mean... Oh my god, the year Ruoruo developed her birthmark, Shuyi was only eight years old."