The wind rustled through the trees as Zhu Yanyi sat cross-legged on a flat stone, her small hands resting gently on her knees. She looked up at the silver fox, her eyes bright and serious.
"Once you drink the Forgetfulness Soup, you will forget everything," Zhu Yanyi said, her voice soft but clear. "You will forget your lover, your family, and your friends. You will know them, but you will feel nothing. Your spirit will change. You will feel out of place, even with those you love. You will look at the world like a stranger watching a play. That is why it is called the Observer’s Eye."
She tilted her head, looking at the silver fox. "Which one do you want? Both choices have a heavy price."
The silver fox looked at her, then smiled slightly. "The first one."
"Are you sure about the first one? You will forget your entire past," Zhu Yanyi said, a small smile playing on her lips.
"You gave me two choices, but only the first one is useful, isn't it?" The silver fox did not look angry. "Others may not know, but I do. If I choose the second, my sister becomes a machine. She will have no feelings. Such a person is the most dangerous. Someone who is not involved in the game is hard to control. I never fight a battle without being sure of victory."
Zhu Yanyi chuckled, not embarrassed at all. "I actually hoped you would choose the second one. It would be nice to have a machine that works for me, ignoring all family ties."
"No," the silver fox refused directly. "I may not know you well, but I know your skills as a young doctor. If I use your medicine, I might get a machine, but you are the maker. You could use her against me. To be safe, I choose the first one."
Zhu Yanyi clicked her tongue, looking regretful. "I was hoping for the second choice. But the first one also has a price."
"Tell me," the silver fox said. He knew there was no free lunch in this world.
"You must prepare the herbs yourselves. And you must prepare three sets. Two sets are my payment." This meant only one set would be used for the medicine.
"That is necessary. You deserve payment. I agree," the silver fox said. She knew asking Zhu Yanyi to make medicine was not a simple task.
Zhu Yanyi continued, "Second, you must bring something to my master. My master must receive it and give you a receipt. When I get the receipt, I will start making the medicine."
The silver fox tilted his head, looking at her. "How do you think I can get close to your master?"
"I am not sure," Zhu Yanyi said, smiling as she took a sip of milk. "But this is my condition. If you do it, I make the medicine. If you don’t, I don’t. I lose nothing."
The silver fox looked at her deeply for a moment, then said, "Fine. I agree."
Zhu Yanyi smiled. "Come find me after I return to my country. I need to prepare some good things for my master."
"Aren't you afraid I will open and use the items?" the silver fox asked directly.
"I said only my master can use them. Others cannot. If I didn't have that confidence, why would I make this condition?" Zhu Yanyi said with a smile.
The silver fox nodded. She truly believed Zhu Yanyi could do it. "Then it is settled. I will find you after I return to my country, as you said."