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

Chapter 61: The Tallest Tree Caught in the Wind, the Miao People Attack

After resting overnight in the town, Gu Guanqi and the others set off early the next morning after having breakfast.

As they headed towards Qingzhou City, just as Yan Wangchuan had guessed, various sects and gangs along the way had made preparations to welcome Gu Guanqi, which slowed down their journey considerably.

but,

Halfway there, Gu Guanqi broke away from the group, took two guards, changed direction, and headed straight for Jiujiang County, because he was going to Wangchen Mountain to find Jiang Baili.

Jiang Baili has already emerged from seclusion.

During the months Gu Guanqi spent in Yunzhou, he maintained communication with Jiang Baili through the Six Doors, so he knew that Jiang Baili had emerged from seclusion. Jiang Baili also knew that Gu Guanqi would not be able to return to Yunzhou for a while, so she waited for him in the Valley of Forgetfulness.

At noon that day,

Gu Guanqi arrived at Wangchen Mountain.

Xu Sheng and Pang Mao were left in the nearest county town because Forget-Worry Valley was Jiang Baili's master's place, and it was inconvenient to bring outsiders in. Jiang Baili and You Jinxiang were the ones who went to the county town to retrieve the letters.

The mountain road winds along, with ancient trees towering on both sides. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Gu Guanqi led the horse into the Valley of Forgetfulness.

He had already thoroughly understood the key points of the Qimen formation outside the Valley of Forgetfulness during his time living there, so he entered the valley without any hindrance.

After passing through the bamboo forest, a bright and open view suddenly appeared before us.

Forget-Worry Valley remains unchanged, surrounded by mountains on all sides. A few small wooden houses are built against the mountainside, with green tiles and wooden walls, simple yet elegant. The plum trees by the courtyard are lush and green, though the flowering season has passed.

As soon as he entered the valley, he saw a figure in pure white float out of the wooden house.

The figure flew over at incredible speed, like a ray of moonlight falling from the heavens, or a cloud blown by the mountain wind.

It was Jiang Baili.

She lightly touched the plum tree branch in the courtyard with her toes, and her figure rose into the air, her clothes fluttering in the wind, and her black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall.

Sunlight shone from behind her, casting a faint golden halo over her pure white figure.

Gu Guanqi looked up.

Jiang Baili floated down from the sky, her plain white dress fluttering gently in the wind, and her aloof and ethereal face appeared even whiter and more translucent in the sunlight.

Her temperament underwent a tremendous transformation; her purity became increasingly detached from worldly affairs and untouched by dust.

Her skin was as white as jade, with a faint glow, and her clear eyes, under the sunlight, were like an ice lake on a mountaintop, reflecting the light and shadow of the sky and clouds.

She floated down like a fairy descending from the heavens, untouched by worldly affairs.

Jiang Baili was already as beautiful as a fairy, but now that her cultivation has broken through and her realm has improved, she has become even more ethereal.

"elder brother."

Jiang Baili landed in front of Gu Guanqi and called out softly.

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and extended his hand.

Jiang Baili took a step forward and threw herself into Gu Guanqi's arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face against his chest.

"Brother, I miss you so much!"

Gu Guanqi lowered his head, resting his chin on Jiang Baili's head, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair, and whispered, "Little Fish, I miss you too."

"Um."

Jiang Baili raised her head slightly, her clear eyes looking at Gu Guanqi, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I know my brother must miss me a lot too. I want to go find him, but I'm afraid we'll get lost, so I can only wait here. But every day feels like an eternity!"

Gu Guanqi reached out and gently cupped Jiang Baili's face, stroking her cheek lightly.

Jiang Baili tilted her head slightly, sunlight falling on her face.

this moment,

The sunlight was fortunate enough to be imbued with a touch of ethereal beauty.

Gu Guanqi lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Jiang Baili closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering gently, and wrapped her arms around Gu Guanqi's neck.

The two embraced at the valley entrance, sunlight streaming down from above, merging their figures together.

The plum tree in the courtyard swayed gently in the wind, its branches and leaves rustling.

After a long while, the two finally separated.

Jiang Baili's cheeks flushed slightly as she reached out and took Gu Guanqi's hand, their fingers intertwined.

"Brother, let's go inside."

The two held hands and walked along the blue stone path into the courtyard.

Just as I reached the courtyard gate, I saw You Jinxiang come out of the house.

She was dressed in a gray cloth dress, her hair was gray, and she was leaning on a cane. When she saw Gu Guanqi, a smile appeared on her face, and she quickly came to greet him.

"Junior Brother Gu, you're back."

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Senior Sister You, thank you for your hard work these past few days."

You Jinxiang waved her hand and laughed, "What's so hard about it? I've always been taking care of my junior sister like this. But you, you went out for only a few months, yet you experienced so much. I heard about your trip to Yunzhou."

As she spoke, You Jinxiang's gaze lingered on the two people's clasped hands for a moment before she said, "Come in and sit down, I just made some tea."

The three entered the house and took their seats as host and guest.

You Jinxiang poured tea for Gu Guanqi and another cup for Jiang Baili before sitting down. She took a sip, her gaze falling on Gu Guanqi, and slowly said, "Junior Brother Gu, now that Junior Sister has finished her seclusion and you're back, I can finally retire gracefully."

Gu Guanqi said, "Senior Sister You, you should also know that I am about to take office as the leader of the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance."

You Jinxiang nodded and said, "Junior Brother Gu is so young, yet he shoulders the weight of the martial arts world in both Qingyun and Liang provinces. He is truly a genius, unparalleled in the world!"

"Senior Sister, you flatter me," Gu Guanqi said. "I wonder if Senior Sister would be willing to take a position in the Martial Arts Alliance? I would like to set up a special hall for Senior Sister, where, with your physiognomy skills, you will surely be able to display your martial arts prowess!"

You Jinxiang waved her hand and said, "I'm getting old now, it's time for me to go back and enjoy my retirement. I've long since given up on fame and fortune in the martial world, otherwise I wouldn't have retired from the martial world at such a young age to be a wife and mother!"

Gu Guanqi felt quite regretful; he really wanted to recruit You Jinxiang into the Martial Arts Alliance.

However, Yu Jinxiang's refusal was within his expectations. After all, Yu Jinxiang had given up fame and fortune and retired at a young age, and now that she was older, it was even less likely that she would be moved by fame and fortune.

Gu Guanqi said, "I heard from my senior sister that some of your younger relatives have received your true teachings. If they are interested in entering the martial world, they can come to the Martial Alliance at any time, and will surely be given important positions!"

Yu Jinxiang was quite tempted.

She also knew that Gu Guanqi's willingness to employ her family members was purely a way of repaying her for taking care of Jiang Baili. After all, although some of her younger relatives had learned her physiognomy skills, none of them were proficient. Gu Guanqi was not unaware of the skill level of her younger relatives.

She had no desire for fame or fortune, but if the younger generation of her family could rely on the martial arts alliance and Gu Guanqi, that would be a dream come true for many people!

So You Jinxiang said, "I am honored by your high regard, Junior Brother. After I return home, I will give those talented juniors in my family a good lesson, hoping that you will find it useful and put it to good use!"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "Those taught by Senior Sister will certainly not be bad."

You Jinxiang took a sip of tea and then asked, "Junior Brother Gu, you are now the leader of the martial arts alliance in Yunzhou, and you will soon become the leader of the martial arts alliance in Qingzhou. You are busy traveling between the two places. I wonder what arrangements you plan to make for Junior Sister?"

Gu Guanqi put down his teacup and said, "Senior Sister You, I've made up my mind. I want Xiaoyuer to be the vice leader of the alliance."

You Jinxiang was somewhat surprised and said, "Junior Brother Gu, Junior Sister is simple-minded and naive. You are constantly traveling between the two places. When you are not in Qingzhou, the huge Martial Alliance falls entirely on her shoulders. I'm afraid she is not up to the task."

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "Senior Sister You, don't worry. I certainly won't let Xiaoyuer shoulder this alone. I'll arrange for others to assist Xiaoyuer. Xiaoyuer's main role is to help me oversee things. With Xiaoyuer's martial arts skills and status, he's perfectly suited for the task!"

You Jinxiang looked at Jiang Baili and asked, "Junior Sister, what do you think?"

Jiang Baili said, "I'll do whatever my brother tells me to do."

You Jinxiang chuckled and said, "That's true, it's pointless for me to ask this question." Then she looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "Anyway, Junior Brother Gu, you should think it over carefully. This is no small matter."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

Jiang Baili suddenly asked, "Brother, will you invite Sister Shangrong and Zhu Jing?"

Gu Guanqi said, "I have already informed You Rong. As for Zhu Jing, I don't know whether the Tingshan Sect will recommend her to join the Martial Alliance. However, if you want her to go, I can send a message to the Tingshan Sect."

"Hmm," Jiang Baili said, "Sister You Rong is very smart, she's very suitable to help you manage the Martial Arts Alliance."

"What about Zhu Jing?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Jiang Baili said earnestly, "She's a good person. I like her. She taught me a lot, and she even gave me a book. That book..."

Gu Guanqi quickly said, "There's no need to go into so much detail about the book!"

You Jinxiang cast a questioning glance at her and asked, "Junior Brother Gu, what book is it?"

Gu Guanqi smiled sullenly.

The book Zhu Jing gave me was really not presentable.

Is there any kind soul who would like to send me an illustrated copy of "The Pleasures of the Boudoir"?

He suddenly felt that Zhu Jing was not suitable to come to the Martial Arts Alliance.

Jiang Baili added, "Zhu Jing is a good person, I like her."

Gu Guanqi: "..."

Zhu Jing has a very promising future!

"Alright, I'll discuss it with the Tingshan Sect later."

Gu Guanqi thought about it and felt that this was a good idea.

When he wasn't in Yunzhou, Jiang Baili was in charge of overseeing things, Lin Yourong was in charge of management and coordination, and Zhu Jing... just needed to be a person!

"Sister Yourong is also very good," Jiang Baili said. "I like her very much too."

"Why?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Jiang Baili said, "Because she calls me 'sister'."

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and said, "Judging by the time, You Rong should be heading to Tianjun Mountain by now. You'll be able to see her when we arrive."

……

Tianping County, Lin family.

In a courtyard, the warm autumn sun shines through the carved window frames, spreading a bright patch of light on the blue brick floor.

Fang Yulan held Lin Yourong's hand, tears welling up in her eyes. Her voice choked with sobs as she murmured, "Yourong, listen to your mother. When you go to the Martial Alliance, you must prioritize Guan Qi's advice in everything you do. Just listen to whatever he says and don't act on your own."

Lin Yourong said, "Mother, you've repeated these words many times recently."

Fang Yulan said, "I'm worried about you. You've always been very opinionated and have your own thoughts. I know you're capable and smart, but you need to know that Gu Guanqi is, after all, a man and the leader of the alliance."

You have to follow his ideas in everything you do. When making any decision, your priority should be to save face for Gu Guanqi; everything else has to come second...

Lin Yourong leaned back in her chair, her tone helpless: "Mother, I'm going to work for the Martial Arts Alliance, not to get married!"

Fang Yulan wiped her eyes and said reproachfully, "We all know about your relationship with Gu Guanqi. Let alone us, how many people in the Qingzhou martial arts world don't know? Going to the Martial Alliance is no different from marrying him!"

Lin Yourong smiled helplessly; she really couldn't refute it.

Even before the Martial Arts Alliance has been officially established, she has already reserved the position of the first elder with real power, the Elder of the Discipline Hall.

As for why,

Everyone knows the truth.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Fang Yulan continued, "You must remember, a woman can't be too assertive, otherwise, no matter how much affection there is, a man will get tired of her..."

Lin Yourong smiled slightly.

Just then, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Lin Yourong and Fang Yulan looked over and saw Lin Youcai appear at the door, peeking into the yard and saying with a grin, "Oh, Mother, you're here too!"

Fang Yulan wiped her eyes, concealing her tears, and regained her usual dignified demeanor: "What are you doing here?"

Lin Youcai walked in and said, "A Taoist priest has come from outside to seek refuge with my sister."

Lin Yourong asked疑惑地问道, "Is there something special about this person?"

Since Gu Guanqi appointed Lin Yourong as the elder of the Discipline Hall, many martial arts figures have come to the Lin family to seek refuge with Lin Yourong. They come from all walks of life.

Among these people, some were just trying to make a living by taking advantage of the situation, while others were genuinely capable. Because there were too many people, Lin Yourong couldn't meet them all, so she specially arranged for someone to help her with the assessment.

Therefore, someone who specifically comes to notify Lin Yourong must have special abilities.

"Sister, this person is really quite special," Lin Youcai said. "He said his methods are different from ordinary people; they're not about martial arts or schemes, but about vying for favor!"

Lin Yourong frowned and said, "What are you vying for favor with?"

Lin Youcai smiled and said, "What else can we compete for? Of course, we're competing for my brother-in-law's affection! Who in the martial arts world doesn't know that my brother-in-law is amorous? Take the vice leader of the martial arts alliance, for example. Who doesn't know that position is reserved for Jiang Baili, the number one beauty in Qingzhou?"

It's said that the vice leader of the alliance in Yunzhou is also a beautiful woman in her twenties. Is there something going on between them? You decide, you decide!

Lin Yourong rolled her eyes.

Lin Youcai chuckled and said, "Who knows if there are other women? Will other women appear in the future? So, sister, vying for favor is absolutely necessary!"

Lin Yourong thought for a moment and said, "Alright, let's meet them!"

quickly,

Lin Yourong and Lin Youcai then arrived at a side hall in the front courtyard.

A Taoist priest stood inside the hall.

He was around forty years old, with a thin face, three long wisps of beard under his chin, wearing a gray-blue Taoist robe, and his hair was tied up in a bun with a wooden hairpin, giving him a somewhat otherworldly and ethereal appearance.

The Taoist priest, his hands tucked into his sleeves, bowed deeply upon seeing Lin Yourong enter, his tone humble: "This humble Taoist, Guangwu Sanren, greets Miss Lin!"

Lin Yourong sat down in the main seat, gestured for the Taoist priest to sit down, and said, "May I ask what wondrous skills you possess?"

Guangwu Sanren straightened up, smiled slightly, and said, "Miss Lin, before I explain my methods, I must dare to speculate on your future development after joining the Martial Alliance. If I am wrong, then there is no need for me to embarrass myself by showing off my methods."

Lin Yourong had her maid pour tea for Guangwu Sanren and said, "Please speak freely, Daoist Master!"

Guangwu Sanren said, "When you go to the Martial Alliance, the most important thing is not how much power you can gain within the alliance, but how much influence you can gain over Alliance Leader Gu. In the end, the power of the Martial Alliance rests on Alliance Leader Gu alone. Whoever he favors holds great power; whoever he neglects is nothing."

I wonder if Miss Lin agrees with my statement?

Lin Yourong took a sip of tea, a gentle smile on her face, and said, "How will you teach me, Daoist Master?"

Guangwu Sanren looked around, paused on Lin Youcai and the two maids, and hesitated for a moment.

Lin Yourong put down her teacup and said, "Rest assured, Daoist Master, everyone here is someone I trust most closely. You may freely display what you have."

Guangwu Sanren cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Then this humble Taoist will make a fool of himself!"

As he spoke, he took out two porcelain bottles from his sleeve, one red and one white, and gently placed them on the table.

The two porcelain vases were not large, and their surfaces were smooth and lustrous. The mouths of the vases were sealed with vermilion wax seals, making them look quite exquisite.

"This humble Taoist possesses a secret technique that can help Miss Lin firmly hold onto Alliance Leader Gu's heart."

Lin Yourong's gaze fell on the porcelain vase: "What is it?"

Guangwu Sanren extended two fingers, pointing to the two porcelain bottles, and said calmly, "The substance in the red bottle is called the Love Gu. Those afflicted by the Love Gu can only love one person in their entire lives. If they dare to develop feelings for anyone else, they will suffer excruciating pain, unable to live or die."

As he spoke, he pointed to another one: "This white bottle contains a love curse. Those afflicted with the love curse will fall deeper and deeper into love for the mother curser. The longer it goes on, the more deeply they will be trapped. In the end, they will only have that one person in their eyes and heart, and they will love her to the extreme, unable to extricate themselves."

finished,

Guangwu Sanren stroked his beard, quite pleased with himself, and said, "If Miss Lin combines these two Gu worms, Alliance Leader Gu will love only you, and will have no other thoughts. Miss Lin will no longer need to consider anything else; not only will she hold great power in the martial arts alliance, but she will also enjoy Alliance Leader Gu's love exclusively!"

Lin Yourong's eyes lit up, and she said, "Is it really that effective?"

Guangwu Sanren nodded slightly, his tone resolute: "If Miss Lin does not believe me, she is free to have someone test me. Everything I have said is true; if even a single word is false, I am willing to accept any punishment."

Lin Yourong smiled, her eyes crinkling, and her tone tinged with joy: "Then I must thank you very much, Daoist Master. If it truly succeeds, I will repay you handsomely. May I ask what you seek in teaching me?"

Guangwu Sanren cupped his hands and said, "I have spent my whole life raising Gu and cultivating Gu techniques. I believe I have achieved quite a bit in this field, but I have no way to showcase my skills because the financial cost of raising Gu is simply too high. Therefore, if Miss Lin can establish herself in the Martial Alliance, please give me a platform to demonstrate my abilities!"

"No problem," Lin Yourong said. "I'm best at making money, and the Lin family isn't short of cash, so as long as you, Daoist..."

at this time,

As Lin Yourong spoke, she suddenly stretched out her right hand and pointed her index finger in mid-air.

The force of the fingers pierced through the air silently and with lightning speed.

Before Guangwu Sanren could even react, he felt a powerful force strike his chest, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the wall behind him.

With a muffled thud, Guangwu Sanren slid down the wall to the ground, a mouthful of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his face instantly turning pale.

He struggled to get up, but Lin Yourong pressed twice more, sending two sharp finger strikes that precisely targeted two acupoints.

Guangwu Sanren's body suddenly stiffened, his limbs went limp, and he was unable to move.

He lay on the ground, his eyes filled with terror and confusion, his voice hoarse: "Miss Lin... what are you doing?"

Inside the main hall, Lin Youcai and several maids were also shocked, wondering why Lin Yourong had suddenly made her move.

Lin Yourong slowly stood up, walked around the table, and stood in front of Guangwu Sanren. The smile on her face had disappeared, replaced by a coldness.

"Speak, who sent you?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "Dare to harm Alliance Leader Gu? The people behind you are truly audacious!"

Guangwu Sanren quickly said, "Miss Lin, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a wandering martial artist..."

Lin Yourong sneered and said, "You don't have to talk, but I have a good relationship with the Six Doors. They have hundreds of interrogation methods. Let's see how long you can hold out!"

Guangwu Sanren hurriedly said, "Miss Lin, I really don't know what you're talking about. I just want to seek refuge with you and make a living. I..."

Ignoring Guangwu Sanren's words, Lin Yourong immediately shouted, "Someone come here!"

Immediately,

Several guards rushed in from outside the door.

Lin Yourong said, "Take him away and keep him under guard. Be careful, this person may have Gu worms on him, search him thoroughly. Then, go to the Six Doors and invite a few interrogation experts over!"

Immediately, several guards dragged Guangwu Sanren away.

Lin Youcai asked疑惑地问道, "Sister, how did you figure out there was something wrong with this person?"

"I didn't see that coming. I don't understand Gu," Lin Yourong said calmly. "But I understand people's hearts. Your brother-in-law is in a very high position now, and many people are watching him. He's bound to face all sorts of open and covert attacks. Besides, he's offended a lot of people."

In this situation, a person of unknown origin comes to me with a strange and mysterious object of unknown origin, precisely targeting my greatest weakness. Furthermore, this object's mysterious power can influence your brother-in-law's mind and control his life and death. Don't you think this person is highly likely to have impure motives?

Lin Youcai nodded slightly and said, "That's true, but it's also possible that it really is just a coincidence?"

"Then he deserves to die too," Lin Yourong said. "He's after your brother-in-law. He said his love potion and love gu can control your brother-in-law. I definitely don't want to use these things on your brother-in-law because I love him, I don't want him to be hurt, and I'm rational enough."

Not all women truly love him, and not all women are rational enough. I can reject this hermit of Guangwu, but he can also find other women to cooperate with. What if it really hurts your brother-in-law?

Lin Youcai said, "So, when he took out the Love Gu and the Aphrodisiac, it was destined that you would kill him?"

"No," Lin Yourong said, "There are many strange and powerful things in this world. I wouldn't kill someone for no reason. My murderous intent towards Guangwu Sanren isn't because he possesses the Love Gu and Affection Gu, but because he intends to use them to control your brother-in-law. If he uses them against others, it's none of my business!"

Lin Youcai suddenly realized, "I understand." After saying that, he hesitated for a moment and asked, "But, sister, that thing is so powerful, aren't you really tempted?"

Lin Yourong shook her head and said, "It would be a lie to say I'm not tempted, but thinking about it carefully, what I want is your brother-in-law's love, not the love of a controlled puppet. Is the love generated because of a curse truly the love of this person?"

"This..." Lin Youcai frowned and said, "A mind-controlling technique?"

Lin Yourong added, "Besides, no matter how much I crave your brother-in-law's love, I would never hurt him in the name of love. Because I love him, it seems a bit illogical to recklessly steal his love without considering the consequences!"

Lin Youcai thought for a moment and said, "It seems so, but it also seems not..."

With that, he waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I don't understand it anymore. I'll go help interrogate that guy and see if someone is really behind him, trying to harm my brother-in-law!"

Lin Yourong nodded slightly and returned to her courtyard.

By noon,

Lin Youcai came to Lin Yourong's courtyard again, found Lin Yourong, and said: "Sister, the interrogation is over. Guangwu Sanren confessed that he came from Hongzhou Miao Village and was under the orders of the current Miao King."

That Gu was indeed a love Gu, but its purpose wasn't to help you; it was to control your brother-in-law in order to control the martial arts world of Qingyun and Liangzhou!

Lin Yourong frowned and said, "I've heard of the Miao Village in Hongzhou. It's said that this tribe has always lived in seclusion, self-sufficiently, and rarely interacts with the outside world. Why would they suddenly do this? Did he say anything else?"

Lin Youcai said, "He said he is one of the twelve elders of the Miao village, named Guangwu, and that the current Miao king is a powerful ruler with great ambition, whose cultivation surpasses all others in the Miao village's thousand-year history. He is the number one in the world today and will lead the Miao village into a new era. We should think this through carefully!"

Lin Yourong curled her lip and said, "Looks like your fists aren't hard enough."

"What do you mean?" Lin Youcai asked, puzzled.

"You didn't hit him hard enough, that's why he dared to threaten you," Lin Yourong said.

"Uh...it seems so," Lin Youcai scratched his head and said, "I'll go beat him up again later, but sis, what are you planning to do with this guy?"

Lin Yourong thought for a moment and said, "Take the person to the Martial Alliance and hand him over to your brother-in-law. Your brother-in-law is now in a very high position and has made enemies with the Left Prime Minister of the court. It's hard to say that someone might be deliberately using this to kill him."

Therefore, the identity of this person and the veracity of the matter cannot be determined for the time being; everything will have to wait until we reach the Martial Alliance!

Lin Youcai nodded slightly and said, "By the way, that guy also revealed his accomplices, who are all in Tianping City now."

Lin Yourong said, "Then arrest them all!"