Callia thought carefully and said, "There were no special signs, the illness started during a sumr when the weather had just begun to warm up."
"Was there anything abnormal before that?"
"After the New Year that year, Xiao Kunkun started saying he felt itchy, and he felt better after taking so dicine, but he beca ill during the sumr; does that count as abnormal?" Callia asked uncertainly.
At that mont, Bai Ling brought over the brewed tea and Ling Zhenfei took a sip; the tea indeed was fragrant and refreshing, with a subtle floral scent mingled with the earthy aroma of spring. Ling Zhenfei liked the flavor after just one sip.
"The tea leaves are really good, I like them a lot." Ling Zhenfei genuinely praised.
"As long as you like it, I'll bring back more for you when we go back to Miaojiang for the New Year." Callia said with a hint of enthusiasm.
After hearing this, Ling Zhenfei suddenly hesitated, then seed to think of sothing, and quickly asked, "Do you go back to Miaojiang every year for the New Year?"
"Yes, we go back every year. There are elders and relatives in Miaojiang; it wouldn't be good not to visit." Callia said lightly.
Ling Zhenfei suddenly stood up and said, "I think I understand now. You ntioned that Xiao Kunkun started feeling itchy after coming back from the New Year, right?"
"Yes, that's right." Callia looked at Ling Zhenfei blankly, not knowing what Ling Zhenfei had figured out.
"If you go back to Miaojiang for the New Year every year, and Xiao Kunkun started feeling itchy after one of those trips, then beca ill in the sumr, if I'm not mistaken, there must have been a problem during his stay in Miaojiang over the New Year." Ling Zhenfei analyzed confidently.
"Then what could have gone wrong?" This ti, even Bai Ling was a bit stunned, not understanding what Ling Zhenfei ant.
Ling Zhenfei explained, "The tea in Miaojiang is quite famous, but more famous than the tea is the gu. I guess Xiao Kunkun was affected by a gu!"
Upon hearing this, it was indeed an astonishing revelation that stunned both Callia and Bai Ling, their eyes wide open in disbelief.
"Actually, what Xiao Kunkun has isn't any aging disease at all, so the doctors at the International Hospital have been treating it as such, which is why they haven't been able to cure it. Actually, what Xiao Kunkun has isn't an aging disease, but an odd insect bite that burrowed into his body, which has a strange ability to absorb Essence Qi to evolve itself."
"This insect, unable to find Essence Qi in Xiao Kunkun's body, could only absorb the Essence Qi from his organs. As the Essence Qi dried up, Xiao Kunkun's organs lost their vitality, thus leading to premature aging. What I saw inside Xiao Kunkun is the Miaojiang gu insect."
After Ling Zhenfei finished speaking, Bai Ling was sowhat incredulous, but Callia was pensive, silent for a mont. However, Ling Zhenfei continued observing Callia's expression and knew his analysis was likely correct from the way Callia looked.
"Maybe you're right." Finally, Callia spoke.
"Did you rember sothing?" Ling Zhenfei knew from Callia's expression that she must have rembered sothing.
"Yes, I have rembered so things; they might be related," said Callia, pausing for a mont to gather her thoughts.
"My hotown is in Miaojiang, a place composed of several villages of the Miao ethnic group. You just ntioned the practice of raising gu, and indeed, several villages there have the custom of creating Gu insects. Perhaps Kun Kun's illness is indeed caused by soone casting a gu on him during his ti in Miaojiang."
As Callia spoke, her expression turned grim, as if recalling so unbearably painful mories.
"Who would be so hateful as to cast a gu on a child, and such a strange gu at that? It's heartless," Bai Ling said indignantly upon hearing Callia's words.
Ling Zhenfei certainly knew why Bai Ling was angry. Seeing the condition of little Kun Kun would pain anyone's heart, so it was natural to feel angry at the person who had cast the gu.
"So, do you know who cast the gu? I think you probably have an idea," he asked.
Gu insects are often raised from a young age, so people raise gu as a common practice, amassing many of them; however, so raise only a single, extrely rare gu their entire life, unique and irreplaceable. Unless there is a deep hatred or vendetta, one wouldn't cast a gu on another person.
Kun Kun is so young; he couldn't possibly have offended anyone. So, if soone cast a gu on him, it is very likely that this person holds so deep grudge against Kun Kun's parents. Callia must be aware of it.
Callia's face was hard to read, showing great pain yet seemingly reluctant to admit to it all. After a long pause, she finally said, "I'm not sure, but if Kun Kun was really affected by a gu, then it must have been him."
"Who is it?" Ling Zhenfei knew Callia was ready to reveal it.
"Would you like to hear my story?" Callia asked, her voice low, clearly indicating that the story was not a happy one.
"Of course, we would," Bai Ling said, glancing at Ling Zhenfei.
Then, Callia began to tell a tale that had happened to her.
As it turned out, when Callia was young, she was known as a great beauty in the region of Miaojiang, famous across the villages. When she ca of age, many young n pursued her.
Among them was a particularly persistent young man nad Gu Shan. He was tall, well-built, and simple-hearted. In his pursuit of Callia, he even wrestled with wild oxen and ventured into the mountains during stormy nights to gather dicinal herbs, doing many touching things for her.
However, Callia's marriage was not hers to decide. Her family had already chosen a partner for her, the fairly successful Leize Ta, and their engagent had been arranged early on. Gu Shan, unaware of this, continued his foolish acts for her love.
So, Callia arranged to et him, intending to break the news. Gu Shan was overjoyed; it was the first ti Callia had initiated a eting, thinking his sincerity had touched her. But when Callia told him everything, Gu Shan was dumbfounded, unable to accept the outco, though nothing could be changed.
Since then, the once lively and cheerful Gu Shan beca quiet and withdrawn, even shunning people. Callia was greatly saddened, but her marriage to Leize Ta still took place as scheduled. On her wedding day, she received a special gift, a curse written in blood, wishing that Callia and Leize Ta's children would die before them.
Although the bloody letter was unsigned, Callia knew it must have been from Gu Shan. However, everyone treated the bloody letter as a sick joke, not taking it seriously. Thinking back to the many years that have passed, many people probably have forgotten about that ordeal. Who could have imagined such a mishap would befall little Kun Kun?
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