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

Chapter Sixty: Visitors from Miao Territory

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Gu Guanqi, Yan Wangchuan, and their group left Medicine King Valley and sped along the official road.

This departure lasted for seven or eight days.

Finally, at dusk that day, the group entered the territory of Lishan County, which borders Qingzhou and Yunzhou.

As the sun sets and dusk creeps in from the mountains, it paints the trees along the official road a dark red, while wisps of smoke rise from the distant villages.

Yan Wangchuan rode alongside Gu Guanqi, saying, "There's a small town about ten miles ahead, but it's very small and there are no inns or restaurants to stay in."

Gu Guanqi said, "Then let's find a place to set up camp!"

He didn't like staying at ordinary farmhouses because they were all ordinary people. Dealing with people from the martial arts world made the whole family feel uneasy and disturbed.

Therefore,

Unless absolutely necessary, Gu Guanqi prefers to set up camp outside, even in dilapidated temples or caves.

Yan Wangchuan, being an old hand at the game, naturally understood the importance of minimizing disturbance to the people, so he said, "Then let's walk a little further and find some flat ground."

The group continued onward.

Just as they passed through a mountain pass, they saw a group of about five or six people standing on the official road ahead, blocking the way completely.

Those people all had weapons hanging from their waists and had an extraordinary air about them; one look was enough to tell they were people from the martial arts world.

Upon seeing this, Xu Sheng and Pang Mao's expressions changed slightly. They subconsciously thought they had encountered robbers, and the two of them drew their swords at the same time.

"Don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive!"

Yan Wangchuan quickly said, "They are from the Kuangfeng Sect." He looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "We haven't been hiding our tracks along the way. The Kuangfeng Sect is the largest sect in Lishan County, with many spies. They probably knew you were passing through this area and waited for you here."

Looking over, Gu Guanqi saw a flag among the group, which was the symbol of the Qingzhou Great Sect, the Mad Wind Sect.

at this time,

Among the group, a middle-aged man dismounted, and the rest followed suit. He led the others quickly forward, shouting as he went, "Guo Yuanli respectfully welcomes Hero Gu and Magistrate Yan!"

Gu Guanqi recognized the middle-aged man.

He was Guo Yuanli, one of the eight heroes of Qingzhou and the leader of the Kuangfeng Sect.

Previously, when the various sects besieged Wenjian Mountain, Gu Guanqi had met Guo Yuanli once. At that time, Guo Yuanli killed Wen Qiuchi, broke through the Guanyin Sect, and saved the various sects in Qingzhou. When he left, the leaders of the various sects came to pay their respects in person.

Gu Guanqi and Yan Wangchuan dismounted.

The two returned the greeting with clasped hands, and Yan Wangchuan asked, "Sect Leader Guo, what brings you here?"

Guo Yuanli stepped forward with a smile and said respectfully, "I heard that Hero Gu and Magistrate Yan are passing through Lishan County. I have taken the liberty of waiting here for your arrival."

Yan Wangchuan chuckled, "Saying you're waiting for me is just polite talk. I've passed through Lishan County quite a few times over the years, and when has your Sect Leader Guo ever stopped me? Waiting for Hero Gu is the real reason!"

Guo Yuanli quickly cupped his hands and said, "Prefect Yan, I would very much like to invite you to visit me every time, but as a government official, there are many inconveniences for you. I am really worried about causing you trouble, so I dare not disturb you."

Yan Wangchuan chuckled and said, "I understand. I'll take advantage of Master Gu's kindness today. We were just about to find a place to set up camp."

Guo Yuanli quickly said, "Since you, Hero Gu and Magistrate Yan, are passing through Lishan County, I, Guo, should naturally extend my hospitality. It is already late, so I humbly request that you stay here for the night. I have prepared some simple wine."

Gu Guanqi said, "Sect Leader Guo, this place is no less than a hundred miles away from the Kuangfeng Sect, I'm afraid it's not very suitable!"

Guo Yuanli said, "Hero Gu, there is a small town ten miles ahead. I have a residence in this town. You and your companions have had a long journey, so you can rest here."

Upon hearing this, Yan Wangchuan stroked his beard and chuckled, saying, "Master Gu, it's hard to refuse such hospitality. Sect Leader Guo has probably been waiting for you here for days. Please don't decline!"

Since Yan Wangchuan had said so, Gu Guanqi naturally did not object. He nodded slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Then I will trouble Sect Leader Guo."

Guo Yuanli was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Hero Gu, Magistrate Yan, mount your horses! I will lead the way!"

Subsequently,

Guo Yuanli immediately led his disciples to ride horses.

Yan Wangchuan and Gu Guanqi mounted their horses. Yan Wangchuan said, "You are coming to Qingzhou to serve as the leader of the martial arts alliance. This is common knowledge in the Qingzhou martial arts world. Scenes like this are common. Just watch, on your way back, there will be people waiting for you everywhere you go."

Gu Guanqi said, "For the Martial Arts Alliance?"

Yan Wangchuan said, "With you, Gu Guanqi, as the leader of the alliance, no one dares to compete, and no one can compete. Right now, the only thing that's lacking is a formal title. Who wouldn't want to become familiar with you?"

However, I don't need to tell you all that. Your martial arts alliance in Yunzhou has already been established, and as you know, the significance of a martial arts alliance to the martial arts community in a region involves many aspects.

At this time,

Guo Yuanli had already mounted his horse and quickly rode over to Gu Guanqi, walking half a step behind her, and respectfully invited Gu Guanqi and Yan Wangchuan to proceed.

After the group had traveled for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a small town appeared ahead.

Guo Yuanli led the group through the town's main street, turned into a quiet alley, and stopped in front of a house.

The courtyard gate opened, and lanterns and decorations were displayed.

Dozens of disciples from the Wild Wind Sect bowed in unison: "Welcome, Great Hero Gu and Magistrate Yan!"

Subsequently,

Guo Yuanli invited Gu Guanqi and his entourage into the courtyard. The ceremony was very grand, and it was obvious that the entire courtyard had been carefully maintained. There wasn't a speck of dust in the huge courtyard.

Guo Yuanli led Gu Guanqi and the others through the courtyard and into the main hall, where three tables were set up.

Guo Yuanli invited Gu Guanqi to sit in the main seat. Although Gu Guanqi declined, he insisted on doing so.

After Gu Guanqi took his seat,

Guo Yuanli then invited the others to sit down, and finally had his disciples and a few high-ranking members take their seats to keep him company. All three tables were full.

The banquet then began.

Guo Yuanli was very talkative and eloquent. Sitting next to Gu Guanqi, he brought up various topics, and the atmosphere remained harmonious.

Then, Guo Yuanli found an opportunity and had several high-ranking members of the Kuangfeng Sect come over to offer him a toast.

Gu Guanqi rarely drinks, but he still politely raised his glass in response.

The last to offer a toast was Guo Yuanli's son, Guo Jinhao, the young leader of the Kuangfeng Sect. He looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He nervously carried a cup of wine to Gu Guanqi's side and said, "Great Hero Gu, I am Guo Jinhao. I have long admired your name. It is an honor to meet you today... I toast you..."

however,

Before Guo Jinhao could finish speaking, he suddenly smashed his wine glass, tore open his clothes, and started dancing wildly, behaving extremely unrestrainedly.

For a time,

The hall fell into dead silence, and the expressions of everyone from the Gale Sect changed drastically.

The next moment,

Guo Yuanli stood up in a rage, shouting, "You unfilial son, what are you doing?"

As he spoke, he slapped Guo Jinhao across the face with his backhand. With a "thud," Guo Jinhao was knocked to the ground, leaving a bright red handprint on his face.

Guo Jinhao fell to the ground, stammering, "Dad... I... I don't know what happened, my hands and feet suddenly wouldn't obey my commands, I... I..."

"You unfilial son, how dare you commit such a disrespectful act! I'll beat you to death!"

Guo Yuanli was furious and grabbed a chair to hit Guo Jinhao.

Gu Guanqi quickly grabbed the chair and pleaded, "Sect Leader Guo, please calm down. There might be something fishy going on here!"

Guo Yuanli hurriedly said, "Hero Gu, this unfilial son is incredibly audacious! Don't stop me, I'm going to beat him to death today!"

Gu Guanqi pressed down on the chair, then reached out and grabbed Guo Jinhao's hand, rolling up his sleeve.

Everyone's expression changed slightly.

Because Guo Jinhao had a bluish-black mark on his arm, which started from his wrist and spread across half of his arm.

There was a small red dot on his wrist.

Guo Yuanli frowned and said, "This is... poisoning? You unfilial son, what have you done today?"

"I...I don't know, Dad," Guo Jinhao said, his face pale and flustered. "I didn't do anything!"

"This is not poisoning."

Gu Guanqi pulled Guo Jinhao up and flicked his wrist lightly with his finger. Instantly, a lump the size of a peanut swelled up on Guo Jinhao's wrist and quickly moved upwards along the meridian.

Gu Guanqi immediately took out a silver needle and sealed Guo Jinhao's meridians. The swollen bulge stopped instantly, but it was still wriggling, as if something inside was trying to crawl out.

Guo Yuanli exclaimed in surprise, "What is this?"

At this time,

Yan Wangchuan said, "This looks like a Gu worm!"

Everyone's expression changed.

Gu techniques are among the most mysterious methods in the martial arts world, even more feared than poison techniques.

Gu Guanqi said, "There is indeed a living thing inside, but I can't tell if it's a Gu worm."

Gu Guanqi had naturally heard of Gu magic, but he had only been wandering the martial world for a short time and had never met anyone who knew Gu magic.

Guo Jinhao exclaimed in panic, "Dad, what... what do we do?"

Guo Yuanli's expression was solemn. He cupped his hands in greeting to Gu Guanqi and asked, "Master Gu, can it be taken out directly?"

Gu Guanqi said, "It's possible, but Gu magic is mysterious. I'm not sure if there will be any problems if we take it out rashly!"

Yan Wangchuan also said, "There are many kinds of Gu worms, each with different abilities. It's best not to take them rashly. After all, if you're not an expert, you have no idea if there are any other hidden tricks. Ideally, the one who tied the knot must untie it!"

Guo Yuanli's face darkened as he glared at Guo Jinhao and demanded, "You unfilial son, why don't you confess honestly? What have you done? Who have you offended?"

Guo Jinhao shook his head and said, "No, I really didn't..."

He paused, then suddenly said, "I remember now, Dad... This afternoon, I was buying things in town and got into a fight with a woman from out of town. Yes, it must have been her... She didn't sound like a local from Qingzhou... But... I don't know where she went, I..."

suddenly,

at this time,

Guo Jinhao raised his hand and slapped Guo Yuanli across the face.

Guo Yuanli immediately grabbed Guo Jinhao's hand.

"Father, I didn't do it..."

Guo Yuanli naturally knew that it wasn't Guo Jinhao who wanted to hit him, so he immediately used acupressure to immobilize Guo Jinhao. Then he turned to look at the door, cupped his hands, and said loudly, "I don't know which expert is here to mock my son. I apologize on behalf of my son for any offense he has caused. Please show yourself, and I will certainly make amends!"

However, no one responded.

At this time,

Gu Guanqi suddenly chuckled, patted Guo Yuanli on the shoulder, and pointed to a rockery in the courtyard.

Guo Yuanli was slightly taken aback, and then through the gap in the artificial hill, he saw a person hiding behind it.

Gu Guanqi had already noticed that there were people there, but he assumed they were Guo Yuanli's disciples or something. After all, there were quite a few people in that courtyard, so he didn't pay any attention to it.

However, when Guo Jinhao lost control, he noticed that the person behind the artificial hill made a move at the same time. Then, when Guo Jinhao lost control a second time, the person made a move again at the same time. He was then basically certain that the person was the Gu Master.

Immediately,

Guo Yuanli lightly touched the ground with his feet and used his lightness skill to fly over.

next moment,

A woman in purple leaped out from behind the artificial hill and landed directly on the courtyard wall. She was a girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, with delicate features and a beautiful face. She had two dark eyes, a rosy cheek, and a sweet smile that revealed two dimples. She said to Gu Guanqi, "Your brother is so handsome, how come you're helping these bad guys bully your sister!"

The girl's voice was soft and melodious, but her accent was a bit strange. It didn't sound like the accent of Qingzhou at all, but it was somewhat similar to the accent of Zhao Lingyuan from the Rong Prince's Mansion.

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "But by teasing Young Master Guo here, aren't you disturbing my meal?"

"Then let me apologize to you first," the little girl said with a smile, "but that person is a bad person, brother, you must not go with them. You are so beautiful, if they lead you astray, you won't be pretty anymore!"

Gu Guanqi chuckled softly but remained silent.

At this time,

Standing in the courtyard, Guo Yuanli took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and cupped his hands, saying, "May I ask, young lady, why have you treated my son so cruelly?"

The little girl asked in confusion, "Isn't his name Guo Jinhao? Why is he called 'my son' now? Does he have two names?"

Guo Yuanli took a deep breath and said, "Miss, that's not important. May I ask what he did to offend you?"

The little girl said, "He stole my things and threw them around."

Guo Jinhao shouted, "How can something I bought with my own money be yours...?"

"Speak properly!" Guo Yuanli snapped, "What exactly happened?"

Guo Jinhao quickly lowered his head and stammered, "Well...it was today in town, there was a handicraft shop with a bamboo dragonfly. She had it but didn't buy it, so I bought it from her at a high price."

Then she insisted it was hers and wouldn't let it go. In the ensuing scuffle, I accidentally broke the bamboo tube she was wearing. However, I paid her compensation.

"How am I being unreasonable? I'm just trying to reason with you. You're the one who pushed me, okay? Besides, who cares about your money?" With that, the girl took out a silver ingot and threw it into the yard, saying, "You should apologize to me. And I clearly saw that bamboo dragonfly first; I was still haggling with the shopkeeper when you snatched it from me. You're so unreasonable!"

Guo Jinhao retorted, "You didn't buy it, but I paid for it, so naturally it's mine. You..."

Guo Yuanli glared at Guo Jinhao.

Guo Jinhao immediately shut his mouth.

"Where are the things?" Guo Yuanli sneered.

Guo Jinhao lowered his head and said, "I... gave it away!"

"Who did you give it to?" Guo Yuanli asked.

Guo Jinhao said, "Ms. Chen... Ms. Chen!"

At this point,

The group basically understood the details of the process.

The young girl who knew Gu magic took a liking to the bamboo dragonfly. While she was bargaining with the shopkeeper, another Miss Chen also took a liking to it. In order to win Miss Chen's favor, Guo Jinhao offered a higher price and snatched the bamboo dragonfly away.

The girl was indignant, and an argument ensued. During the scuffle, Guo Jinhao accidentally broke one of the girl's belongings. He didn't apologize at the time, but simply left some money as compensation and walked away.

then,

Unexpectedly, this young girl turned out to be a tough nut to crack and came after him for revenge.

It's not a big deal.

Gu Guanqi initially wondered if Guo Jinhao had been harassing the young girl.

Guo Yuanli breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands, saying, "Miss, the bamboo dragonfly has already been given away. However, I can send someone to prepare one for you immediately. Just name your needs. As for how you want to compensate me for the bamboo tube, just tell me, and I will definitely compensate you!"

"No need," the girl said. "I just came here to vent my anger. I'm not here to scam money. I just don't like how annoying he is. Stealing my things is one thing, but breaking them and not even apologizing!"

Guo Yuanli quickly said, "I'll make him apologize to you right now."

"No way," the little girl said. "I've already punished him, we're even now. If he apologizes to me again, wouldn't I have to apologize to him too? I don't want to apologize to him."

Guo Yuanli asked, "Then, please, young lady, remove the Gu worm for the dog...?"

The little girl gently patted the small drum at her waist.

immediately,

A small gash appeared on Guo Jinhao's arm, and a peculiar insect crawled out and flew towards the little girl.

Guo Yuanli cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for showing mercy, young lady!"

The little girl opened a small bamboo tube at her waist, and the Gu worm flew directly inside.

This scene,

This made everyone think it was understandable that Guo Jinhao was being chased and retaliated against by the young girl, since he was the tool she used to store the Gu worms, which was equivalent to a swordsman's scabbard, or even more important.

Subsequently,

A smile appeared on the little girl's face. In the dim light of the setting sun, her eyes were bright and lively, and her two dimples made her look very cute. She looked at Gu Guanqi and asked, "Handsome young master, my name is Lanlan. Can you tell me your name?"

Everyone looked at Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "My name is Gu Guanqi."

Lanlan said with a smile, "You are the most handsome prince I have ever seen, you..."

at this time,

A strange sound came from behind.

"Blue... Blue..."

The sound was elusive, as if it came from a corner outside the courtyard wall, or as if it came from the sky above.

It came from afar and near, left and right, making it impossible to tell where it came from. The voice was hoarse and aged, with a long, drawn-out ending that echoed in the twilight, carrying an indescribable eeriness.

Gu Guanqi frowned slightly.

He possesses profound inner strength and hearing far surpasses that of ordinary people.

He listened intently and realized that it was neither the voice of one person nor the voice of multiple people. The voice seemed to come from countless directions at the same time, or it seemed as if only one sound was repeatedly refracted and superimposed in the air, eventually forming a strange resonance.

At the same time, he sensed someone approaching from outside the courtyard.

But upon closer inspection, it doesn't seem to be human.

The auras were complex and dense, moving simultaneously at an astonishing speed.

next moment,

A faint buzzing sound came from the courtyard wall.

The buzzing sound was initially very faint, like the flapping of wings of a swarm of bees in the distance, but it quickly became noisy and dense, covering the sky and the earth.

As everyone looked up, they saw a swarm of dark flying insects leaping over the wall in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The flying insects gathered in a swarm, swirling and dancing like a moving dark cloud, obscuring the sky above the courtyard wall and making a figure vaguely visible inside.

The swarming insects made a rustling sound, mixed with the buzzing of their wings, which sent chills down one's spine.

Flying insects were swirling wildly in the yard.

Slowly, a figure emerged from the swarm of insects.

It was an old woman, thin and slightly hunched, wearing a wide, dark robe with dark red patterns embroidered on it, resembling the shapes of some kind of insects or runes, appearing and disappearing in the twilight.

Her hair was completely silver, tied into a tight bun at the back of her head, revealing a face covered in wrinkles. Her skin sagged loosely, her eyes were half-open and half-closed, and her pupils were very cloudy.

The old woman held a golden cane in her right hand. The cane was thicker than an ordinary cane and was entirely golden. The head of the cane was carved into the shape of an insect, with two dark red beads embedded in the insect's eyes, which gleamed faintly in the twilight.

As she stood still

The countless flying insects quickly gathered behind her, forming a ball, before scattering again and disappearing into the twilight as if they had never existed.

She stood in the courtyard, glanced at everyone present, her gaze calm to the point of indifference, and then slowly spoke.

"Blue Blue".

"High Priest, what brings you here?"

Lanlan, who was standing on the wall, stuck out her tongue and obediently jumped down from the wall, landing next to the old woman.

The old woman took Lanlan's hand, took two steps forward, and bowed slightly to Guo Yuanli. Her voice was still hoarse: "I apologize, sir. My child is ignorant and has offended you all. I will take her back and discipline her strictly. I hope you will not take offense."

Lanlan pouted, her cheeks puffed out, and she looked very unconvinced.

Guo Yuanli quickly cupped his hands and said, "Senior, you flatter me. The whole story has been clarified. The fault does not lie with this Miss Lan; it was my son who acted rashly first. Please do not blame her, Senior."

The old woman nodded slightly, glanced at Guo Jinhao who was frozen in place, and said, "Now that things have been discussed, I will take her back. I apologize for the inconvenience caused."

After saying that, she turned and walked out.

Lanlan was led by the old woman, her steps were a little unsteady, and after taking two steps, she looked back again.

She made a playful face at Guo Jinhao, stuck out her tongue, and then turned her head and waved to Gu Guanqi with a smile.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly in response.

Watching the old woman and Lanlan walk out of the courtyard, Guo Yuanli turned back to look at Guo Jinhao, his eyes full of hostility.

Guo Jinhao trembled, then knelt on the ground with a thud, covering his ears with his hands, and said, "Father, I know I was wrong!"

Guo Yuanli walked into the house and said, "Get outside and kneel down. Don't embarrass me here. I've told you before, when you're out in the world, be kind to others and don't offend anyone. You should know that the world is vast, and there are always people more capable than you. You're just a nobody, yet you dare to be so arrogant and domineering!"

Guo Jinhao obediently walked to the outside courtyard and knelt down.

Guo Yuanli said coldly, "You are not allowed to get up before dawn."

Guo Jinhao lowered his head, his face ashen.

Yan Wangchuan advised, "Sect Leader Guo, a small punishment is enough to serve as a warning. Why punish him so severely? Although your son offended someone today, it's just youthful impetuosity, and his behavior is far from being arrogant!"

Guo Yuanli waved his hand and said, "Prefect Yan, don't try to excuse this kid. He's in his twenties, yet he acts so irrationally. He's not fit for a big responsibility. He needs to learn a lesson. The girl he provoked this time wasn't ruthless, but what if he provokes someone from the demonic path next time?"

Yan Wangchuan sighed softly and stopped trying to persuade him.

He also knew why Guo Yuanli was so angry. Guo Yuanli had finally found an opportunity to host a banquet for Gu Guanqi, and he had specifically sought out the chance for Guo Jinhao to show his face in front of Gu Guanqi.

As a result, instead of seizing the opportunity to perform well, he made such a big joke. Not only did Guo Jinhao not have a good impression on Gu Guanqi, but the image of the Kuangfeng Sect in Gu Guanqi's mind was also greatly diminished.

Therefore,

In order to make up for Gu Guanqi's bad impression, Guo Yuanli had to show his strict family discipline to prevent Gu Guanqi from thinking that the Mad Wind Sect had a problem with its style.

But in fact,

Gu Guanqi didn't think that much about it.

He has only been the leader of the Yunzhou Alliance for a short time, and the leader of the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance has not yet officially taken office. In fact, they have not yet realized that he is now someone whose every expression and word will make many people rack their brains to figure out what he is talking about.

"Elder Yan, Sect Leader Guo," Gu Guanqi asked, "who are Lanlan and that old man just now? You two are very knowledgeable, do you have any guesses?"

Guo Yuanli shook his head slightly and said, "Please forgive me, Master Gu. I have spent my whole life in Qingzhou and know very little about the area outside of Qingzhou. I cannot tell where these two people came from."

Yan Wangchuan smiled, slowly sat down, and said, "I didn't recognize Lanlan at first, but when that older sister appeared, I learned who they were."

The older woman's clothes had an insect shadow pattern on them, which was the symbol of the Gu God Cult of Hongzhou. This Gu God Cult was very mysterious. There was a Miao people on the border of Hongzhou who occupied two counties, and these Miao people worshipped the Gu God Cult.

The Gu God Sect has a history of over a thousand years and is extremely mysterious. As you can tell from its name, it mainly cultivates Gu techniques. It is said that their Gu techniques are incredibly wondrous, and even the Hanyue Sect, one of the eight major sects of the Gan Kingdom, treats the Gu God Sect with great respect.

However, the Gu God Sect has always avoided involvement in martial arts conflicts and rarely interacts with the outside world. The Miao people are primarily active in those two prefectures, giving them a sense of isolation from the world. Even the government has promulgated a series of laws specifically for the Miao people, granting them considerable autonomy.

Gu Guanqi asked in confusion, "Since you rarely interact with the outside world, why would you come to Qingzhou?"

"I don't know about that," Yan Wangchuan said. "I need to report this to the Six Doors as soon as possible. The Gu God Sect is not a small sect, and besides, Lanlan just called that elder sister the High Priest, a title that cannot be used casually in the Gu God Sect."

The number one figure in the Gu God Cult is naturally the Cult Leader, the second is the Miao King, and the third is the High Priest. I don't know about previous information, but since the founding of our Great Gan Dynasty, in Hongzhou, the successive Cult Leaders, Miao Kings, and High Priests of the Gu God Cult have all been undisputed Grandmasters. Therefore, the appearance of the High Priest in Qingzhou is definitely not a trivial matter.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "We should indeed be more careful when such a person comes to Qingzhou."

……

at the same time,

In the small town, the high priest was walking slowly, leaning on his golden cane, with Lanlan skipping and hopping beside him.

"High Priest, weren't you resting?" Lanlan asked.

The high priest said, "I'm just worried that you'll be bullied. It's not like we're in our Miao village. In the Miao village, you're the leader's disciple, so if you're naughty, no one will hold it against you. But it's different outside."

Lanlan giggled and said, "High Priest, I'm very powerful. No one can bully me."

The high priest shook his head slightly and said, "There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. You've been spoiled in the Miao village. If you had really gone too far just now, see if you could have left so easily."

Do you know the identities of those people in the courtyard just now? Two of them are top-tier experts from Qingzhou, and that young man is even more remarkable—he's the leader of the Yunzhou martial arts alliance, and he's about to concurrently assume the position of leader of the Qingzhou martial arts alliance!

Lanlan's eyes widened in surprise. "Is it that handsome prince?" she exclaimed.

"Um."

"He's so amazing!" Lanlan exclaimed. "Isn't he even more amazing than the Holy Maiden? And the best part is, he's so handsome! High Priest, he's the most handsome prince I've ever seen!"

The high priest said sternly, "Don't have any improper thoughts. Men outside are adept at deceiving women!"

Lanlan muttered, "But he's so handsome, how could he lie?"

The high priest said, "The more handsome a man is, the more likely he is to lie. Do you know why we've come to Qingzhou?"

Lanlan said, "Let's go to Qingtai Temple and retrieve the Nirvana Gu!"

"Do you know why the Nirvana Gu was lost in Qingzhou?" the High Priest asked.

Lanlan shook her head.

The high priest said, "Thirty years ago, a very handsome man entered our Miao village and tricked the then-holy maiden into falling in love with him. Then, he used the holy maiden's love to steal the Nirvana Gu."

Lanlan asked, "And then what happened?"

The high priest said, "They all died after that."

"Huh?" Lanlan asked, "How did he die?"

The high priest said, "The Holy Maiden betrayed the religion and was captured by the old leader. She was tortured to death by being devoured by ten thousand snakes according to the religion's rules. As for that man, he was a monk from Qingtai Temple. He was hiding in Qingtai Temple and was poisoned by the love curse. He suffered the pain of the curse worms eating his heart for forty-nine days before he died."

Lanlan asked, "The love potion backfired? Did he betray the Holy Maiden?"

The high priest nodded and said, "What betrayal? His original purpose was to deceive the Holy Maiden. However, that monk did not know about the Love Gu. Those afflicted by the Love Gu can only love one person for their entire lives. Once they develop feelings for someone else, they will suffer a backlash."

"Love potions are terrifying," Lanlan whispered. "If that prince had been lying to me today, I probably wouldn't have used a love potion on him!"

High Priest: "..."