Ma Jingguo walked into the underground cell complex. He hadn't been in many, aside from the Gu Household's prison, but he noted that the cells here in Sunset Sect were noticeably larger and far colder. Wang Biming was locked in the first cell near the stairwell. The prison was eerily quiet, as Wang Biming was the sole occupant.
The two guards at the top of the stairs saluted Ma Jingguo, then quietly stood aside, leaving Ma Jingguo and Wang Biming alone in the cold, ancient prison.
Ma Jingguo pulled a wooden bench and sat squarely in front of Wang Biming. He stared at his prisoner, his eyes radiating icy disdain. He didn't speak, and neither did Wang Biming. The two sat in the gloom, staring bitterly at each other in a silence that lasted longer than the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense, testing each other's resolve.
Wang Biming finally broke the silence. "Are you just going to stare at me like this?"
Ma Jingguo's response was a loaded question. "You prefer me beating the hell out of you?"
Wang Biming scoffed. "You dare not."
"I just want to know what's so good about you to make xiao shushu love you so much. Looking at you, I find nothing special," Ma Jingguo said, his voice low and resentful.
Wang Biming met his gaze with arrogance. "There must be something special about me that makes Dishi want to run away with me again and again."
Ma Jingguo smirked. "I want to figure out what you said to xiao shushu so that he wants to go with you. What you say is false. I know you made up some stories for xiao shushu to go with you and deepen our misunderstanding. You have been successful for a long time, but what you said many years ago suddenly reminded me..."
Wang Biming looked at Ma Jingguo, intrigued. "Oh, have I said something that is helpful to you?"
"Of course. You told me that if Dishi hates a person, he will hate that person very much, but once he loves a person, he will love that person very much." Ma Jingguo stood up, his interpretation twisted and chilling. "It turns out that the person that Xiao shushu loves very much is me, and the person he hates very much is you."
Wang Biming smirked, eyes gleaming with challenge. "You want to bet on that?"
Ma Jingguo dismissed him. "No need to bet. I know..." He started walking toward the stairs. "Good luck enjoying the rest of your life alone in this cold prison cell."
"Do you really believe that?" Wang Biming's voice stopped him on the second step. "Ma Jingguo, do you really believe that Dishi loves you more than me? Do you forget the love between Dishi and me is like fermented wine? The longer it is buried in the ground, the stronger the aroma." He laughed lightly, pressing his advantage. "Moreover, there are many people who like Dishi. Dishi has many choices to choose who he wants to be with. Obviously, besides you and me, there is Cao Wenyan and Yong Taihua..."
Ma Jingguo turned back instantly, rage overriding caution. He walked swiftly back to the cell, knelt on one knee, grabbed Wang Biming's front collar, and yanked his face close.
"You should be thankful that you are my jiujiu, with the same blood as my beloved mother," Ma Jingguo snarled through gritted teeth, "otherwise, I will beat you to the point where no one recognizes you! I don't care how many people like my Dishi. I will never let any of you have him, nor will I let him leave my side. A future Dishi belongs to someone else other than me... does not exist!"
He shoved Wang Biming violently back against the wall, then rose and ascended the stairs without another word.
Mu Dishi didn't know how long he had been unconscious, but he was awakened by a gentle stroking motion on his hair. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Ma Jingguo holding him tightly. Ma Jingguo's eyes were closed, but the rhythm of the strokes told Mu Dishi he wasn't asleep. Mu Dishi wrapped his arms tightly around Ma Jingguo's waist.
Ma Jingguo turned and kissed Mu Dishi's left temple. He smiled. "You are awake."
"Your hand?" Mu Dishi asked, worried about the injury Ma Jingguo sustained from the golden needle.
Ma Jingguo teased, "Why do you care about me? Have we broken up?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," Mu Dishi whispered.
"Xiao shushu, people only decide to break up because they no longer care about each other," Ma Jingguo said meaningfully.
"What happened to Wang Biming?" Mu Dishi asked, shifting the subject.
"He was locked up in a cell."
"Are you going to kill him?"
Ma Jingguo looked at him directly. "What if I want to kill him? What are you going to do about it?"
"You can't kill him. He told me that he knew who killed Chen guniang," Mu Dishi pleaded.
"I already know who killed Dandan... but there is no evidence yet," Ma Jingguo admitted.
"Who?"
"Fu Yuanjun."
"Then Wang Biming is your proof."
"I don't need him. I have two years to do it myself."
Mu Dishi countered desperately, "But your time is running out."
"You know…" Ma Jingguo said, his voice dropping as he realized Mu Dishi knew the true danger of his condition.
Mu Dishi didn't answer.
Ma Jingguo sighed. "Forget it, I'm tired."
"Jingguo, please hold me like this tonight," Mu Dishi requested, clinging to the warmth.
At midnight, Mu Dishi opened his eyes and slowly slipped out of bed. He quickly dressed, tied Honglei around his waist, and tucked the golden bells and black gloves into his inner robe. He walked to the incense burner and slowly lifted the lid. He reached into his robe and grabbed the dark bottle Yan Zhanjin had given him—the antidote. He poured the powder into the burner, slowly closed the lid, and then quietly opened the door.
Two guards stood watch outside the bedroom.
"Chief is asleep, don't disturb him," Mu Dishi instructed. "Where is the cell?"
One of the guards replied, "Mu gongzi, I will take you there."
Mu Dishi followed the guard. The moment they disappeared down the hallway, the remaining guard opened the door and walked into the bedroom. He went straight to the incense burner and poured the remaining tea into the contents.
The guard turned to Ma Jingguo, who was already sitting on the edge of the bed. "Chief, Mu gongzi has left for the cell as you expected."
Ma Jingguo spoke with a note of disappointment. "If he saves the prisoner and walks toward the gate, then follow our plan."
Guard, "Yes, Chief."
After the guard left, Ma Jingguo quickly put on his clothes and blew out the candlelight. He closed the door softly behind him. He looked in the direction of the cell and muttered to himself, "Xiao shushu, I hope you don't disappoint me and burn the last chance I gave you." He sighed, a mix of hope and despair in his voice, and started walking toward the cell.
The two guards saw Mu Dishi approaching but did not question him, letting him pass immediately. Mu Dishi walked slowly down the stairs and saw Wang Biming leaning against the cold stone wall.
Wang Biming, eyes closed, spoke first. "Dishi, you finally came to see me."
"How do you know it's me?" Mu Dishi asked.
"I know it's you just by listening to your footsteps," Wang Biming replied, opening his eyes. "Where is Ma Jingguo?"
"He is sleeping," Mu Dishi stated. He looked at Wang Biming with focused intent. "Jingguo told me that Fu Yuanjun killed Liu gongzi and Dandan. Do you have physical evidence to prove his guilt?"
Wang Biming challenged him. "I have, why should I give it to you?"
"What if I rescue you from here?"
"You are willing to help me escape here?" Wang Biming asked, hope flickering in his eyes.
"Yes."
Wang Biming pressed him, seeking reassurance. "Dishi, do you still love me in your heart? Is it possible to start again?"
Mu Dishi replied coldly, crushing the hope instantly. "No. The day you confessed that you poisoned Uncle Long, our relationship has been turned to ashes. There is no love between us, you know very well."
"Do you want to know why I did this?"
"I don't care. Those things you have done are unforgivable. I gave you ten years to live; you shouldn't just waste it like this."
Wang Biming countered with the deal. "If I give you proof that Fu Yuanjun is guilty, will you still kill me ten years from now?"
"If you can give me conclusive evidence that Fu Yuanjun is guilty, I will let you live your life, as long as you stay away from me," Mu Dishi promised.
Wang Biming smiled faintly, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I thought our love was stronger than the love between shifu and da ge, but I was wrong." He looked at Mu Dishi. "Deal."
Mu Dishi took out the pill that Yan Zhanjin had given him and swallowed it. He sat cross-legged on the ground and said, "Zhanjin said that the antidote will take a while to be effective."
Wang Biming watched Mu Dishi meditating. "Dishi, since we have nothing to do, should I tell you a very tragic love story?"
Mu Dishi kept his eyes closed and answered curtly. "Whatever."
Wang Biming began his tale. "That was a long time ago. There was a young man who loved medicine and wanted to study medicine very much. His father refused to let him study medicine. His father wanted him to be the most outstanding martial artist in Central Plains. He had no choice. He had to secretly study medicine behind his father's back, but one day, his father gave him a mission to steal an acupuncture needle technique from a very famous clan, so he accepted the mission without hesitation."
Mu Dishi slowly opened his eyes and stared at Wang Biming, recognition dawning in his cold gaze.
Wang Biming knew he had captured Mu Dishi's attention. He smiled faintly. "It was the beginning of autumn...when this young teen decided to leave home and head towards the capital city..."