Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 45: The Last Encounter with Corpse Transport (10,000-word chapter)

As evening fell, the sun began to set.

Orange-red light slanted in through the window, spreading a warm patch of light on the blue brick floor and dyeing the whole room a gentle golden hue.

Gu Guanqi sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands clasped in front of his lower abdomen, his eyes slightly closed, and his breathing long and even.

After the release of desire,

He then cleared his mind of all distractions and easily entered the carefree and dreamlike state of Mingyu Gong, rapidly nourishing his depleted spirit.

The spirit that had been depleted by the Fifteen Deadly Swords recovered very quickly under the nurturing of the Mingyu Skill.

An Yi curled up on the inner side of the bed, covered with a thin blanket, her dark hair scattered on the pillow, making her flushed face even more beautiful. Her breathing gradually became steady, her eyelashes trembled a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing that catches the eye is Gu Guanqi sitting cross-legged.

The setting sun shone down on him, outlining his figure in a soft and warm silhouette.

An Yi looked at Gu Guanqi, and her heart skipped a beat.

She quickly looked away, her cheeks burning uncontrollably again. The scene from just moments ago kept replaying in her mind.

An Yi closed her eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

"I can't think about it anymore, I can't think about it anymore..." she silently told herself. "I promised it would only happen this once, and then I'd pretend nothing ever happened..."

She carefully sat up, the thin blanket slipping off her shoulders to reveal a patch of fair skin.

The setting sun shone on her, making her exquisite curves appear even more captivating. She quickly pulled the blanket up to cover her chest, glancing rapidly at Gu Guanqi. She saw that Gu Guanqi was still practicing his internal energy, his eyes tightly closed, seemingly oblivious to the outside world.

An Yi breathed a slight sigh of relief and tiptoed off the bed.

She stood barefoot on the floor, not daring to make a sound, and slowly bent down to pick up the clothes scattered on the ground one by one—outer garments, inner garments, bodices…the clothes were scattered messily on the ground.

The blush on her cheeks spread all the way to her ears.

She quickly put on her clothes, then picked up the silk handkerchief from beside her pillow, carefully folded it, and tucked it into her sleeve.

After doing all this, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and raised her head.

Then, her gaze met a pair of clear eyes.

Gu Guanqi had opened his eyes at some point and was quietly looking at her. The setting sun shone into his eyes, making them appear exceptionally bright.

An Yi's body stiffened abruptly.

"Junior Brother... Junior Brother..." Her voice was as soft as a wisp of smoke, tinged with guilt and nervousness, "You... you're awake?"

"Just woke up." Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and asked, "Where are you headed, Senior Sister?"

An Yi quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at him, her fingers unconsciously twisting her sleeve, and said, "I... I'll go out and take a look. There are still quite a few injured people. I'm afraid my junior sisters won't be able to handle it well."

Her voice regained some of its composure.

Gu Guanqi nodded, got up from the bed, put on his outer robe, fastened his belt, and said, "Perfect timing, I'm hungry, let's go get some food."

"Um."

An Yi responded, but didn't dare to raise her head. She quickly turned around and opened the door.

An Yi stepped out of the room and took a deep breath.

The corridor was dimly lit, with only the last rays of the setting sun filtering in through the window at the far end.

The two quickly arrived downstairs.

The lobby was crowded at the moment. Those who had been poisoned by snake venom last night were mostly able to move around, and apart from Tang Yu, no one was seriously injured in today's battle at the dome.

It's lunchtime, and there are many people eating, so it's quite noisy.

Tang Yu was sitting at a table by the window. His abdomen was wrapped in thick gauze, and traces of blood could still be faintly seen seeping through the gauze.

His face was as pale as paper, his lips were bloodless, and he looked listless. There was a bowl of porridge in front of him, but he barely touched it, only stirring it with a spoon intermittently.

Tang Batian and Pan Lin sat at a table, and the group was talking.

At this time,

Gu Guanqi and An Yi came downstairs, and Tang Yu quickly called out, "Master Gu, Junior Nephew An, please come and sit here."

Gu Guanqi and An Yi walked over.

At this moment, An Yi had returned to normal, and her complexion was as usual.

As soon as Gu Guanqi sat down, Tang Yu asked, "Master Gu, have you recovered?"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I've basically recovered. It was just that my mind and spirit were exhausted. With Senior Sister An's miraculous healing skills, my recovery was naturally very fast."

Tang Yu said, "Junior Sister An's medical skills are truly excellent, having inherited her master's true teachings."

"Sect Leader Tang, you flatter me. I am far from worthy of your praise."

As she spoke, An Yi secretly glanced at Gu Guanqi, sensing that there was something more to Gu Guanqi's words.

Tang Yu cupped his hands and said, "If it weren't for Hero Gu's heroic act of turning the tide today, we would all probably have perished in that cave. I will never forget this great kindness."

Gu Guanqi waved his hand and said, "Sect Leader Tang, you're too kind. Um, how's your injury?"

Tang Yu shook his head and said, "My injuries aren't too serious, but the poison is very strong. It will take some time to clean it up, and I won't be able to fight for a while."

Upon hearing this, An Yi said, "I'll take another closer look for you in a bit; perhaps I can find a way to quickly clear the toxins."

Tang Yu cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Junior Nephew An."

An Yi quickly replied, "Sect Leader Tang, you're too kind."

Just then, the waiter brought the food up and placed it on the table. There were several small dishes, a bowl of rice, and a large bowl of hot soup, all steaming and fragrant.

The group immediately began eating.

Tang Yu picked up his bowl of porridge, took a sip, put it down, pondered for a moment, and slowly asked, "Master Gu, do you intend to pursue this matter today?"

Gu Guanqi asked, "What does Sect Leader Tang plan to do?"

Tang Yu said in a deep voice, "In order to seize the position of leader of the martial arts alliance, the Tingchao Sword Sect actually colluded with the Four Extremes Hall and committed such a heinous act of harming fellow martial artists. I must expose this matter to the martial arts world and then demand an explanation from the Tingchao Sword Sect."

Gu Guanqi nodded and said, "Then let's go to the Tingchao Sword Sect together."

Tang Yu asked, "Back in the Qiong Cave, you said that the Tingchao Sword Sect was the martial arts alliance leader pre-selected by the Left Prime Minister Zhang Jiexi? What did you mean by that?"

Gu Guanqi said, "I fought with the Four Extremes Hall in Zhongwei County some time ago and learned that the Four Extremes Hall is very likely backed by the Left Prime Minister Zhang Jiexi. The reason why the Four Extremes Hall came to Yunzhou to stir up trouble is to pave the way for the designated martial arts alliance leader. However, I did not know who their designated person was before. Today, after meeting Wang Qingzhi, I learned that it is the Tingchao Sword Sect."

"snort!"

Tang Yu snorted coldly and said, "A self-appointed leader of the martial arts alliance, what a grand gesture! Don't you even ask if the martial arts community of Yunzhou agrees?"

After saying that, he looked at An Yi and said, "Junior Nephew An, you don't need to go to the Mechanism Gate. I'm canceling my birthday banquet. I'm going to convene a martial arts conference ahead of schedule. Go back and discuss it with your master. I'll contact the Bodhi Academy again."

Once Bodhi Temple agrees, we will invite martial arts practitioners in the name of our three families to hold a martial arts conference ahead of schedule, right at the Listening Tide Sword Sect. I want to see if Zhang Jiexi can really extend his reach into the martial arts world of Yunzhou!

An Yi nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I will return to Medicine King Valley tomorrow."

Tang Yu then looked at Gu Guanqi and asked, "Master Gu, is the news accurate?"

Gu Guanqi said, "It's almost certainly him, but there's also a very small chance he's a member of the eunuch faction. However, it doesn't matter; once we go to the Tingchao Sword Sect, we'll be able to confirm whether it's Zhang Jiexi or not!"

Tang Yu said, "We'll have to ask Master Gu to keep things under control again then!"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "It's nothing."

At this time,

An Yi suddenly stood up and said, "Sect Leader Tang, my master asked me to bring you something when I went to celebrate your birthday. Please wait a moment while I go and fetch it."

Immediately,

An Yi went upstairs and quickly retrieved a bundle.

The bundle contained a dozen or so porcelain bottles and a jade bottle.

She took out the jade bottle and said, "Master heard that Sect Leader Tang is about to break through. This is the Heavenly Spirit Pill, a treasure of our Medicine King Valley, which I brought specially to give to Sect Leader Tang, hoping that you can break through soon."

Tang Yu quickly refused, saying, "This is too valuable, I can't accept it!"

An Yi said, "Our Medicine King Valley and the Mechanical Gate have always had a close relationship. If Sect Master Tang has any needs, we should do our best to help. We hope that the friendship between Medicine King Valley and the Mechanical Gate can last forever."

Tang Yu naturally understood the meaning behind Medicine King Valley.

The imperial court's sudden announcement of a martial arts tournament to elect a martial arts leader signifies an impending major upheaval in the martial arts world. Medicine King Valley and the Mechanism Sect, who have always been on good terms, should stand together in the face of the impending upheaval.

then,

He no longer refused, accepted the jade bottle, and said, "Nephew An, please tell your master for me that the Mechanism Sect will stand with Medicine King Valley through thick and thin."

"Yes, I will definitely pass it on," An Yi nodded, then pushed the bundle to Tang Yu, saying, "These are the pills that the Mechanical Gate ordered from Medicine King Valley. We were originally planning to send them along with the pills, but since we are now returning to Medicine King Valley, we will leave them here to you!"

"Okay." Tang Yu took the bundle.

Those pills were the ones that Medicine King Valley had asked Gu Guanqi to deliver to the mechanical gate, but Gu Guanqi found it troublesome and had An Yi carry them all along.

Subsequently,

The group continued eating and chatting.

By the time the meal was finished, it was already dark.

Everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

Gu Guanqi and An Yi went upstairs together.

As they walked, Gu Guanqi asked疑惑地问道, "Judging from what Sect Leader Tang said, he doesn't seem to be afraid of Zhang Jiexi at all!"

An Yi said, "Of course he has nothing to fear. The Mechanical Gate is a branch of the Chu Zhou Shenji Gate, one of the eight major sects. If it really comes to a head-on confrontation, the Shenji Gate will not sit idly by."

Furthermore, although Zhang Jiexi wields great power in the imperial court, his influence diminishes significantly in local areas. The Mechanical Gate, on the other hand, has a history of two to three hundred years in Yunzhou, with connections in both the martial arts world and the government. It won't be easy for Zhang Jiexi to control the Mechanical Gate; otherwise, he wouldn't need to support the Listening Tide Sword Sect.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I see. Does Medicine King Valley have some powerful backing?"

An Yi shook her head and said, "Medicine King Valley is Medicine King Valley. It is neither an appendage nor a branch of any force. However, Medicine King Valley has a strong network of connections. Since everyone in Medicine King Valley is a doctor, they can do a lot of favors and have influence among the eight major sects."

Gu Guanqi chuckled, "Behind Bodhi Courtyard is Great Bright Temple, behind the Mechanism Gate is Divine Mechanism Gate, and Medicine King Valley has a lot of connections with the Eight Great Sects. So, of the four major sects in Yunzhou, the one that appears most powerful is actually the Tingchao Sword Sect, which only has three Grandmasters and the weakest foundation?"

An Yi nodded slightly and said, "That's why the Tingchao Sword Sect has never been able to develop. Besides their own style of doing things, which makes people afraid to provoke them, they do indeed lack some foundation."

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "The intricacies of the martial arts world are far more numerous than I imagined. Relying solely on martial arts skills is not enough."

At this moment, An Yi came to the door, pushed it open, and said, "High martial arts skills can enhance one's personal reputation, but if you want to develop your power, you certainly can't rely solely on high martial arts skills."

"Senior sister," Gu Guanqi said, "you must know a lot about this, so could you teach me?"

"Of course," An Yi said, "as long as you're willing to learn."

"I want to learn right now," Gu Guanqi said.

"Huh?" An Yi said, "Junior brother, there's no need to be in such a hurry. It's getting so late. How about this, we'll head back tomorrow, and I'll tell you slowly on the way... Oh dear!"

Before An Yi could finish speaking, Gu Guanqi took advantage of the fact that there was no one in the corridor and pulled An Yi into the room, then quickly closed the door.

Before An Yi could react, her back was already pressed against the door. A sudden panic gripped her, and she stammered, "Junior brother, you…"

"Senior sister, please start teaching me now."

Gu Guanqi placed one hand on An Yi's shoulder, while his other hand reached to her waist, his fingertips hooking the sash.

An Yi quickly grabbed his hand, her breathing becoming rapid, and her voice extremely low: "Junior brother, you can't... We agreed that it would only be once, and then we would pretend nothing happened..."

"That's what you said," Gu Guanqi said, bowing slightly. "I didn't agree."

An Yi panicked and pushed Gu Guanqi's chest hard, saying, "No, you really can't... Junior brother, I can't do this anymore. You need to leave quickly, it won't look good if others see us..."

As she spoke, she tried to dodge to the side, but in her panic, she tripped over a stool leg.

"Clang—"

The stool overturned, making a loud noise in the quiet room.

An Yi swayed, and Gu Guanqi reached out and put his arm around her waist, steadying her. Their bodies were now closer together, and she could clearly feel the warmth of his chest.

"Senior Sister, what's wrong?"

A female disciple from Medicine King Valley spoke from outside the door, her voice tinged with concern and doubt.

An Yi froze, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady: "It's nothing, I didn't turn on the light and accidentally bumped into something."

"Just call me if anything happens. We're getting treatment right across the street!"

The disciple outside the door said something.

"Okay...okay!" An Yi replied.

The room fell silent.

But you can still hear people talking outside, which means that quite a few people are going upstairs at this moment.

Gu Guanqi lowered his head, his lips brushing against An Yi's earlobe, and whispered, "Senior Sister, shall I go out now?"

"No, no, there are people outside..." An Yi said, "You...you can sneak out again in the middle of the night."

Gu Guanqi reached out and put his hand on An Yi's waist.

This time, An Yi did not stop her.

Her cheeks flushed, she bit her lip, paused for a moment, and then said in a very soft voice, "Junior brother, just this once... just this once... if this continues, I really don't know how I'll ever face anyone again..."

"You didn't call me that before!"

"My...my husband..."

"Um."

Gu Guanqi responded and gently tugged at his belt, which then came loose.

immediately,

An Yi reluctantly lay down on the bed, her breathing becoming rapid and her chest heaving.

Gu Guanqi lowered his head and kissed An Yi's lips.

An Yi's body stiffened slightly, then slowly relaxed, her hands unconsciously gripping Gu Guanqi's collar.

In the darkness, the rustling sound of fabric was exceptionally clear.

The wind outside the window had stopped sometime ago, and the whole world seemed to sink into boundless tranquility.

Only the sound of two heartbeats remained, clearly audible in the darkness, one after another, getting closer and closer, more and more frequent.

The moon slowly sank, and the night grew deeper.

An Yi couldn't fall asleep.

She was very nervous.

It's getting quieter outside.

Later on, there was no sound at all.

After a long while, when she was sure no one was outside, she gently nudged the sleeping Gu Guanqi and whispered, "Junior Brother... wake up, you should go back, you..."

Gu Guanqi suddenly hugged An Yi and turned over slightly.

An Yi lay on Gu Guanqi's body.

By the dim moonlight, she looked at Gu Guanqi and said nervously, "Junior brother... we agreed on this as the last time, you... you can't..."

Gu Guanqi lowered his head.

An Yi's body went limp instantly, her black hair cascading down onto the pillow, making her flushed face appear even more radiant. She closed her eyes and gently placed her hands on Gu Guanqi's shoulders.

"This is the last time, junior brother, this really is the last time!"

"..."

……

The next day, early in the morning.

After breakfast, An Yi led a group of Medicine King Valley disciples away from Snake Mountain Town. Gu Guanqi naturally accompanied them.

Because the events in Snake Mountain Town were of great importance, and they needed to return to Medicine King Valley as soon as possible to discuss countermeasures, the group was in a great hurry.

That evening,

An Yi and her group arrived at a relatively remote area. Seeing that it was about to rain, An Yi found a roadside inn based on the map.

The waiter hurried out to greet them and led the horses to the stable.

An Yi then led everyone into the inn.

As soon as we entered the inn, a torrential downpour began outside.

Large raindrops pounded on the roof tiles, making a dense, muffled sound, a constant patter. Rainwater poured down from the eaves, gathering into streaks of white ribbons in front of the door, splashing up fine droplets.

"Luckily we made it in time," said a female disciple from Medicine King Valley. "Any later and we would all be soaked to the bone."

"Perfect!"

"..."

There were no other guests in the inn, and the lobby was empty.

The innkeeper hurriedly came over to invite the group to sit down.

The group of eight sat down at two tables.

The group had ordered their food and were waiting quietly when several people appeared at the door in the pouring rain.

The rain fell like a curtain, and the world was shrouded in a misty haze. The figures walked slowly through the rain, their pace unhurried. The raindrops fell on them, running down the lines of their raincoats, but it did not affect their rhythm at all.

Walking at the front was an old woman with a full head of white hair.

The old woman had an indifferent expression, a full head of white hair, and walked with a powerful stride, not at all like an elderly person. She was wearing a Taoist robe and had a long sword slung across her back.

She held a red rope in her right hand, which looked particularly bright in the rain.

Four people are tied together by a red rope, one after another.

All four were wearing straw raincoats and bamboo hats, pulled low so that they almost completely covered their faces. Underneath the hats, they also wore face masks.

The way those people walked was strange.

One after another, like in a queue, their movements were perfectly synchronized. The old woman took a step, and they all took a step in unison, with the same stride, the same rhythm, and even the same swing of their arms.

Beside the old woman was a young girl, petite and delicate. What was most striking was that she also had white hair, but her white hair was different from the old woman's; it was snow-white.

The girl kept her head down, so her face was not visible.

The old woman stopped at the entrance of the inn.

The four people behind her also stopped at the same time.

The old woman looked up, her gaze piercing through the rain to fall on the inn's lobby, then she stepped inside and asked, "Waiter, do you have a room?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the waiter quickly replied, "How many rooms would you like, sir?"

"Two rooms, take me there now."

The waiter quickly invited the old woman upstairs.

The old woman gently tugged on the red rope and led several men in straw raincoats upstairs.

Just as he passed by Gu Guanqi...

Gu Guanqi suddenly frowned.

Those four men in straw raincoats were all dead!

……

After the white-haired old woman led the others upstairs, An Yi asked, "Junior brother, what's wrong?"

Gu Guanqi said, "Senior sister, the four people that the old woman was leading with the red rope were dead."

Although those people's skin and faces were not visible, Gu Guanqi was not only highly skilled in martial arts but also in medicine. He could confirm that those people were definitely dead and lifeless.

"They are indeed dead," An Yi said.

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback and said, "Senior Sister noticed it too?"

"No, that's not it," An Yi shook her head slightly and said, "My skills are not as profound as yours, Junior Brother. I recognized the old woman's identity, so I guessed that the people she was leading were dead."

Gu Guanqi raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's your identity?"

An Yi said, "She has quite a background; she is Han Caiye, one of the thirteen grandmasters of Yunzhou."

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment and said, "I think she has a nickname: the Corpse Driver?"

"Yes, it's her." An Yi said, "There are four grandmasters in Yunzhou who are not in the four major sects or the Six Doors. She is one of them and the only female grandmaster in Yunzhou. The corpse-driving technique she cultivates is a method specifically for sending the souls of people who died far from home back to their hometowns."

Gu Guanqi asked suspiciously, "So, her title of 'corpse driver' isn't a nickname, but her profession!"

An Yi nodded slightly.

Gu Guanqi exclaimed in surprise, "There really are corpse drivers? I thought they were just made up in storybooks!"

An Yi said, "Actually, many of the legendary professions do exist, such as knife sellers, corpse drivers, and spirit mediums, but they are not as magical as they are in folk tales."

Take, for example, Elder Han's corpse-driving technique. I heard the Grand Elder talk about it; it's not like in the stories where a single spell commands a horde of corpses. In reality, it involves using puppetry techniques and special internal energy to guide the corpses, making them move as if they were alive.

The real difficulty of the corpse-transporting profession lies in preserving the bodies from decay. Ordinary corpse-transporters chop up the corpses, make them into cured meat, and then carry them on their backs. However, Elder Han is different; she possesses a rare and precious herb called Ice Soul, which is said to preserve corpses for a hundred years without decay, more than enough for corpse-transporting.

"Is that so?" Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "In that case, it's not so amazing after all."

An Yi said, "Many legendary and mysterious things are made mysterious by hearsay. However, Senior Han's corpse-driving skills are definitely superior to those of ordinary corpse-drivers. Many people in the martial arts world pay a lot of money to have her transport corpses because she can indeed transport corpses intact across thousands of miles back to their hometowns for burial!"

Gu Guanqi asked疑惑地问道, "Since you know her, why didn't you say hello just now?"

An Yi laughed and said, "Just because I know her doesn't mean she knows me. It would be too presumptuous of me to suddenly go and pay my respects!"

"That's true." Gu Guanqi smiled.

at this time,

Footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Gu Guanqi and An Yi both stopped discussing and looked over.

Sure enough, Han Caiye came down, accompanied by the white-haired girl. She kept her head down, walked cautiously, and dared not make a sound.

Han Caiye led the white-haired girl to a table by the window.

Han Caiye glanced at Gu Guanqi and the others, her gaze landing on Gu Guanqi. She paused for a moment, then took out a portrait from her bosom.

She compared the portrait to Gu Guanqi's, then slowly rose and walked straight towards him, cupping her hands in greeting, "May I ask, young friend, are you the Sword Immortal Gu Guanqi?"

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "I dare not accept the title of Sword Immortal. I am Gu Guanqi. What brings you here, senior?"

Han Caiye smiled gently and said, "What a coincidence, Master Gu. I just received a letter from Tang Yu the day before yesterday, learning that Master Gu had single-handedly killed Qinglong, Zhuque, and Wang Qingzhi. I was thinking that I must meet you, this extraordinary prodigy, and I never expected that my wish would come true today!"

After saying that, Han Caiye cupped her hands and said, "I am Han Caiye, and my friends in the martial arts world have given me the nickname 'Corpse Driver'."

Gu Guanqi stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Senior Han!"

An Yi and the other disciples of Medicine King Valley also stood up, cupped their hands, and greeted, "Senior Han!"

Han Caiye nodded slightly to the disciples of Medicine King Valley in response, and then cupped her hands to Gu Guanqi and said, "Tang Yu said in his letter that Hero Gu is handsome and dashing, a rare beauty in the world. I was somewhat skeptical before, but after seeing him today, I can confirm that Tang Yu was right."

When I first saw Master Gu's face, I thought, "So this is what they mean by handsome." Then it suddenly dawned on me, and when I took out your portrait, it really was you!

"You flatter me, senior!"

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly.

Any man would smile when praised for his good looks, and Gu Guanqi was no exception. He cupped his hands to Han Caiye and said, "Since arriving in Yunzhou, I have heard much about Senior Han. You are the only female Grandmaster in Yunzhou, a heroine among women, and a woman who is no less than a man. It is truly an honor to meet you today!"

Han Caiye smiled slightly and turned to the girl who was still sitting in the corner, saying, "You Niang, why don't you come and pay your respects to Master Gu?"

The girl lowered her head, slowly rose, walked over, bowed deeply, and said in a timid voice, "Greetings...Greetings, Master Gu."

The white-haired girl kept her head down the whole time, and after she finished speaking, she hid behind Han Caiye.

Han Caiye said, "Master Gu, this is my granddaughter, Han Youniang."

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Miss Han."

Han Caiye quickly said, "Master Gu, please forgive me. My granddaughter has been special since she was a child. She was born with white hair and red eyes, and people thought she was a monster. Her family did not want to keep her."

I couldn't bear to see her suffer, so I gave her my surname and took her back to my parents' home to raise. But the Han family had many children, and she was ridiculed and bullied from a young age, hiding at home for a long time, too ashamed to face anyone. I had no choice but to take her away from the Han family, but because I was going to travel the world, I hired several servants to take care of her. As it turned out, I entrusted her to the wrong people; those scoundrels even bullied her when I wasn't home. The girl was too timid to complain.

By the time I found out, she had already been bullied for many years. Alas… Since then, I've kept her by my side. But this girl's personality has already taken shape. So, please forgive this rudeness, Master Gu; she didn't mean to be disrespectful!

Gu Guanqi quickly replied, "No offense, no offense. I'm just a young man, I don't have much to say about etiquette."

Although Han Youniang kept her head down and her hair covered her face, so he couldn't see what she looked like, he understood just from what Han Caiye said.

Born with white hair and red eyes, such an appearance would certainly be considered an ominous sign in this era, subjecting one to criticism, slander, and even bullying wherever they live.

They were more vulnerable when they were young.

Living in that kind of environment for a long time will definitely make one very insecure and sensitive, even when they grow up.

At this moment,

The waiter and the shopkeeper brought out the food.

Gu Guanqi then said, "Senior Han, the world is so vast, it's fate that we met. Why don't we eat together? This restaurant is small, and you'll have to wait a long time for them to serve all our dishes."

Han Caiye thought for a moment and said, "Very well, I do have some questions I'd like to ask Master Gu, so I'll take the liberty of asking!"

"Senior Han, please don't be so kind. Please have a seat." Then, Gu Guanqi introduced An Yi, saying, "Senior Han, let me introduce you. This is An Yi, the senior sister of Medicine King Valley."

An Yi quickly cupped her hands and said, "Junior An Yi greets Senior Han!"

Han Caiye suddenly realized, "I was wondering why you looked so familiar. It turns out to be Young Master An. I saw you five years ago in Tonghe County. You were with Elder Mu Fenghua of your Medicine King Valley at the time."

"Yes," An Yi said, "I did have the honor of meeting Senior Han five years ago."

"I'm too old to recognize you just now."

As she spoke, Han Caiye pulled Han Youniang to sit opposite Gu Guanqi.

Just then, Han Youniang looked up slightly at Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi happened to be looking in that direction as well.

He was momentarily stunned.

He originally thought that Han Youniang was so self-conscious because her white hair and red eyes were unattractive.

In reality, Han Youniang was very beautiful, with fair skin that was almost translucent, which made her red eyes stand out with their stunning and aloof beauty. The color of her eyes was like molten crimson glass, clear yet with a touch of eerie etherealness.

Her brows were delicate, her eyes slightly upturned at the corners, and her long, thin eyelashes shimmered with a pale silver-white, casting a hazy shadow as they fell. The moment she looked up, her crimson eyes met the light and shadow, like tiny sparks burning within them. Her lips were pale pink, her face ethereal and otherworldly, her white hair contrasting beautifully with her crimson eyes.

If we're really talking about looks,

This was the second most beautiful woman Gu Guanqi had ever met, after Jiang Baili.

He met Gu Guanqi's gaze.

Startled, Han Youniang immediately lowered her head, gripping Han Caiye's sleeve tightly, wishing she could bury her face in her chest.

"Senior Han, Miss Han, please!" Gu Guanqi said.

"Please, Master Gu, please, Young Master An." Han Caiye was also very polite.

Then, Gu Guanqi picked up his chopsticks and asked, "Senior Han just said he had something to ask me?"

Han Caiye said, "In his letter to me, Sect Leader Tang said that he and Master Gu have already agreed on a plan to go to the Tingchao Sword Sect to demand an explanation, and at the same time, they are preparing to hold the martial arts conference ahead of schedule."

"That is true," Gu Guanqi said. "However, I am not from Yunzhou, so it is inconvenient for me to participate in the martial arts tournament. But I will definitely investigate the matter of the Tingchao Sword Sect colluding with the Siji Hall."

Han Caiye said, "Tang Yu's letter wasn't very clear. The Tingchao Sword Sect colluded with the Four Extremes Hall. Could you please explain the specific details to me, Master Gu?"

"sure."

immediately,

Gu Guanqi then recounted the events surrounding the Four Extremes Palace's theft of the Bright Moon Pearl and the events in Snake Mountain Town. However, he omitted the Heavenly Physician's Poison Manual and the cooperation between Ding Yue and the Four Extremes Palace.

"This is outrageous!"

After listening, Han Caiye slammed her hand on the table and said, "Originally, I thought that the Tingchao Sword Sect and the Mechanical Gate had some grudge against each other and that they wanted to collude with the Four Extremes Hall to deal with the Mechanical Gate. I never expected that it was really for the position of leader of the martial arts alliance!"

"With such behavior, does he even deserve to be the leader of the martial arts alliance? I agree to this matter as well. I will definitely accompany Master Gu and Sect Leader Tang to the Listening Tide Sword Sect. It's utterly shameful! As long as I live, I will never allow such a despicable person to become the leader. Wouldn't he be a scourge to the martial arts world of Yunzhou?"

Gu Guanqi hadn't expected Han Caiye to be so passionate at her age, and bowed, saying, "Senior Han is truly righteous!"

Han Caiye cupped her hands and said, "It's quite embarrassing for Master Gu to see the martial arts world of Yunzhou become a laughing stock. However, Master Gu, please don't take it to heart. Such scoundrels are not many in Yunzhou. The righteous path of Yunzhou will always prevail!"

Gu Guanqi said, "This junior knows. I have interacted with Elder Mu and Valley Master Su of Medicine King Valley, and Sect Master Tang of the Mechanism Sect. I admire their magnanimity and sense of justice!"

Han Caiye asked, "Are Master Gu and Young Master An heading back to Medicine King Valley?"

Gu Guanqi nodded and said, "Yes."

Han Caiye said, "The destination of these corpses isn't far from Medicine King Valley. Once I deliver these corpses, I'll immediately come to Medicine King Valley. Then, I'll accompany you, Hero Gu, to the Listening Tide Sword Sect!"

"Alright, I'll wait patiently!" Gu Guanqi said.

Han Caiye hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Master Gu, there's something I'm curious about. You're so young, yet your martial arts are so superb. Why has no one in the martial arts world ever mentioned your sect? May I ask, Master Gu, which sect do you belong to?"

Gu Guanqi shook his head slightly and said, "To be honest, senior, the reason there are no rumors about my sect in the martial arts world is because I am unaffiliated with any sect. My martial arts skills were taught to me by a wandering Taoist priest when I was a child, but I don't even know who he is..."

Just then, a hysterical scream suddenly came from upstairs:

"Ah! There's a ghost!"

Han Caiye's expression changed drastically. She exclaimed "Not good!" Before she finished speaking, she dashed out like an arrow, taking three steps at a time to climb the stairs.

Gu Guanqi and An Yi exchanged a glance, filled with doubt, and immediately got up and followed.

As the group went upstairs, they saw that the door to a guest room at the end of the corridor was open.

A waiter lay motionless at the entrance, his body stiff, his face ashen white, his lips bluish, his eyes rolled back, as if his soul had been ripped away.

The person pressing down on him was a man wearing a straw raincoat.

The man in the straw raincoat was one of the four dead people that Han Caiye was leading with a red rope.

At this moment, it was lying face down, pressing tightly against the waiter, their faces almost touching, nose to nose, mouth to mouth.

The dead man's face was deathly pale, his eyes were tightly closed, and his lips were slightly parted. The waiter's mouth was also open, and a faint wisp of air was slowly flowing between their mouths.

It was as if the breath escaped from the waiter's mouth and was slowly inhaled by the dead man, or as if the breath exhaled from the dead man's mouth and entered the waiter's mouth, as if connected by transparent threads.

Immediately,

Han Caiye rushed over quickly, her right hand outstretched, her five fingers like iron clamps, and grabbed the waiter's shoulder, pulling him back sharply.

"laugh--"

With a soft thud, the waiter's body was dragged from beneath the dead man, sliding about a foot across the blue brick floor. The wisp of transparent air snapped and dissipated into the air in that instant.

Han Caiye pushed the waiter behind her, and Gu Guanqi quickly reached out to catch him and helped him to sit against the wall.

Almost at the same instant, Han Caiye raised her right foot and kicked the dead man in the chest.

"boom--"

With a dull thud, the dead man's body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the wall behind him, dust falling in a shower.

But after the dead man landed, he stood up straight as if pulled by an invisible thread.

Its body was as stiff as iron, but its movements were unusually fast. It sprang up from the ground and pounced on Han Caiye.

Han Caiye lightly touched the ground and quickly circled behind the dead man. She rapidly channeled her inner energy, a faint bluish-gray true energy flowing from her fingertips. Then, she joined her index and middle fingers together and touched the back of the dead man's neck.

"Snap—"

A soft sound, like striking rotten wood.

The dead man's body stiffened abruptly, then opened its mouth, spewing out a thick, black mist. The mist was as dark as ink, spreading and dispersing in the air.

The dead man stood still.

Han Caiye took out a red rope from her sleeve, wrapped it three times around the dead man's right wrist, and then tied a knot.

Then, she gently tugged at the red string.

As if receiving a command, the dead body began to walk, following Han Caiye into the house. Its steps were stiff and mechanical, each step beating at the same rhythm, just as it had when it went upstairs.

The corridor fell silent.

Gu Guanqi was deeply shocked by what he saw.

At that moment, An Yi reached out and felt the waiter's pulse.

"How is it?" Gu Guanqi asked.

"It's nothing too serious, just a bit too much coldness in my body," An Yi said.

At this time,

Han Caiye came out and said, "Corpses naturally possess yin energy, and I also used special cold energy inside them to ensure they don't decompose. Therefore, the yin energy is very strong." She squatted down and handed the waiter a silver ingot, saying, "I'm sorry, take this money and buy some aphrodisiac supplements."

"What just happened?" Gu Guanqi asked curiously.

The waiter slowly stood up, still shaken and pale-faced. He said, "I was just passing by the door when I heard a loud 'bang' from inside. So I knocked and asked, but the door wasn't locked and just opened."

I saw that person convulsing there, and the others weren't paying attention. I went over to ask what was wrong, and then the mask on his face... fell off, and his face looked like a dead person's. Then he lunged at me.

Han Caiye said, "Don't worry about what happens here, go down!"

"well!"

The waiter quickly went downstairs with the silver in his pocket.

Gu Guanqi asked in confusion, "Senior Han, were those zombies just now?"

Han Caiye waved her hand and said, "It's not exactly a zombie, just an ordinary corpse. However, in order to keep it alive and prevent it from decaying, I used some methods. So, it has some zombie characteristics, like just now."

Actually, it wasn't the folk legend about absorbing yang energy. It was because I used special methods, along with extremely cold true energy, that caused the energy of these corpses to be drawn to the yang energy of people. Yin and yang repel each other but also attract each other.

The corpse had encountered a thief recently, and now, having absorbed some yang energy, it had been somewhat out of control for the past few days. It must have lost control again just now, and then the waiter, in close contact with the corpse, had his breath mingled with the corpse's cold energy.

Gu Guanqi asked, puzzled, "From what you're saying, senior, are there really zombies in the world?"

"Yes," Han Caiye said. "However, it's not like the folk legends, where it's born from the resentment and bad luck of heaven and earth, immortal, and rejected by the three realms of heaven, earth, and man. It's not that evil."

There are two types. One is that it is made by people who know the art of corpse refining using special methods. It is a branch of puppetry and a way of making puppets. However, it is too inhumane and has been condemned as an evil path by the martial arts world.

The second type is where the corpse is buried in a special feng shui spot, causing the body to not decompose and to be nourished for a long time. Eventually, by some twist of fate, it becomes a monster, just like those rare and precious treasures, except that the object has turned into a corpse.

However, the second type is almost never seen, while the first type is more common. Fifty years ago, there was a Corpse Refining Sect in Yunzhou that was always engaged in the business of killing people and refining corpses. In the end, it was wiped out by the righteous martial arts world. There are many people in the martial arts world who also know the art of corpse refining, but none of them dare to be as blatant as the Corpse Refining Sect!