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

Chapter 78: The Shura Field (13,000 words, please vote)

At the foot of Mount Futu, dust began to rise as the mountain path wound its way through.

The Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance's troops were marching along the official road towards Futu Mountain, their banners fluttering and rustling in the wind.

An Yi, who was walking in front, was dressed in a green robe, her long hair was neatly tied up, a sword hung at her waist, but her gaze was somewhat unfocused.

Su Qingxing followed on her right, and a half-step behind on her left. A slender young woman was following the group with her head down. She wore a plain gauze hat, the light gauze hanging down to her shoulders, covering her face. Only occasionally was a corner blown up by the mountain wind, revealing a few strands of snow-white hair and her stunningly beautiful face.

It was Han Youniang.

Behind the procession were Master Fayuan of Bodhi Temple, Tang Yu of the Mechanical Gate, and many other renowned figures in the Yunzhou martial arts world, as well as disciples from various sects, totaling over a thousand people, a truly magnificent sight.

Su Qingxing glanced at An Yi, noticing a hint of absent-mindedness in her expression, and chuckled, "What's wrong, are you nervous?"

An Yi withdrew her gaze, paused for a moment, and slowly said, "I heard a couple of days ago that Miss Fang is still alive. I... I don't know how to face her. My junior brother was willing to fight against the Hanyue Sect for Miss Fang, so he must love her very much. I... I'm a little worried."

Upon hearing this, Su Qingxing couldn't help but shake his head, a hint of helpless amusement in his voice: "You're overthinking it. That brat is a womanizer; he loves everyone. If you were the one being humiliated, he would have come knocking on your door just the same. That little scumbag is best at dividing his heart into pieces, each person getting a piece. Your place in that little scumbag's heart is no less than that of Miss Fang."

An Yi frowned slightly and hesitated before asking, "Is that really true?"

Han Youniang, standing to the side, spoke softly, "Sister An, I... I think Aunt Qing is right. Brother Gu's love for you and his love for that Miss Fang... are definitely the same."

"Han girl is a sensible person." Su Qingxing reached out and patted An Yi's shoulder, his tone becoming more serious: "Don't worry, you have the support of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance behind you. You don't need to worry too much about the position of the eldest son's wife. The entire Yunzhou martial arts world will help you fight for it."

It's a pity your junior sister can't come out yet; otherwise, the two of you sisters could join forces, giving you a greater chance of success, whether you can attack or defend. Also, you don't need to worry too much about that Miss Fang. If we're really talking about it, your real opponents are Jiang Baili and Lin Yourong from Qingzhou; those two formed an alliance a long time ago.”

At this point, Su Qingxing suddenly turned his head to look at Han Youniang, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "However, you are not completely without help. Han girl is so beautiful, she can also help out. I don't believe that little scumbag is not tempted by Han girl."

Han Youniang suddenly looked up, her veil swaying slightly, and stammered, "I...I...May I?"

Su Qingxing laughed, "Of course you can. You think your white hair and red eyes are unlucky and make you feel inferior, but that scumbag has no shortage of pretty girls around him. Your appearance will actually be more attractive to him. I've been there, I understand men better than you. Besides, don't you want to sleep with your Brother Gu?"

"I...I..."

Han Youniang stammered for a long time, and her ears could be vaguely seen turning red under her veil. In the end, she couldn't say a word and just buried her head even lower.

Su Qingxing then said to An Yi, "Based on my understanding of scumbags, Gu Guanqi must be feeling guilty right now. After all, he caused such a commotion because of another woman, and you went to great lengths to come to his aid. You can take advantage of his guilt and give him a break for a while. After that, you'll be able to gain more initiative."

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from around the bend in the mountain road ahead.

Everyone looked up and saw two fast horses galloping from the direction of Futu Mountain. The one riding in the lead was Gu Guanqi, dressed in white robes fluttering in the wind. Behind him was Prince Rong, Zhao Tianfang.

Gu Guanqi spurred his horse to the front of the group, landing swiftly and decisively. Tang Yu, Master Fayuan, and the others dismounted, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and bowed, saying, "Alliance Leader Gu!"

Gu Guanqi returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the crowd, and said sincerely, "Thank you all for coming from afar to help me! I will remember this kindness."

"You're too kind, Alliance Leader Gu." "It's my duty." "Of course."

The crowd responded enthusiastically, their voices rising and falling in waves.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and turned his gaze to An Yi.

An Yi also looked at Gu Guanqi. She was about to speak, but suddenly remembered her master's instructions to take the opportunity to put Gu Guanqi out of the way and gain more initiative.

So she didn't say anything.

When their eyes met

Gu Guanqi took a step forward, her voice softening slightly, tinged with tenderness: "Senior sister, I missed you."

An Yi's heart tightened suddenly.

Her little thought shattered instantly. She didn't care about taking the initiative anymore. Looking at Gu Guanqi's slightly tired face, she felt her heart break. All she wanted to do was hold Gu Guanqi tightly to ease the heartache she felt for him.

Suddenly,

Her feet moved uncontrollably toward Gu Guanqi.

Seeing this, Su Qingxing sighed helplessly, thinking to himself, "This useless brat, she surrendered after just one sentence!"

An Yi ran to Gu Guanqi, wanting to reach out her hand again, but ultimately suppressed her emotions. Remembering that they were in front of everyone, it would be inappropriate, so she forcibly controlled her racing heart and said with heartache, "Junior brother, you've worked hard!"

"His hard work is nothing," Su Qingxing chuckled lightly, glancing at Gu Guanqi and speaking slowly, "You little scumbag, you're always causing trouble wherever you go."

Gu Guanqi smiled helplessly and cupped his hands, saying, "Aunt Qing, I had no choice. The Hanyue Sect is truly despicable. You know I'm a righteous person and can't stand such crooked and evil practices!"

"I don't even bother to call you out on it!"

Su Qingxing rolled his eyes and said, "Recently, the 'Path of Passion' has been all the rage in the martial arts world. Countless heroines are now clamoring to help Alliance Leader Gu cultivate!"

Gu Guanqi coughed awkwardly: "It's all about cultivation, and it's really not what I wanted."

Su Qingxing curled her lip: "Little scumbag."

Gu Guanqi chuckled, turned to the side, and raised his hand to introduce Zhao Tianfang beside him, saying, "Let me introduce you all. This is Prince Rong, Zhao Tianfang. This alliance meeting at Mount Futu is entirely thanks to the Prince's great assistance."

Zhao Tianfang stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, and said loudly, "Gentlemen, you have come from afar. I have prepared some simple wine. Please!"

Everyone returned the greeting.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone began to mount their horses.

Gu Guanqi then walked towards Han Youniang and called out, "Youniang, you've worked hard."

Han Youniang quickly said, "Brother Gu... I... I'm not tired... I'm not tired."

Gu Guanqi asked, "How's your cultivation going lately? You haven't been slacking off, have you?"

Han Youniang hurriedly said, "I won't slack off. I... I will definitely do my best to do what Brother Gu asked me to do."

Su Qing walked over and said, "Stop bullying Han girl. This girl always says that she can only help you if she improves her martial arts. She wishes she could practice for twelve hours a day without sleep. She has even been practicing while traveling these days."

Gu Guanqi chuckled, "Your diligent training is commendable, but your inability to balance work and rest deserves criticism!"

Han Youniang lowered her head and said softly, "I...I understand, Brother Gu. I will pay attention to resting in the future."

"You Niang is the best girl." Gu Guanqi smiled slightly.

Su Qingxing mounted his horse, looked Gu Guanqi up and down, and said in surprise, "How come you've become even more handsome since I last saw you, you little scumbag?"

"Really?" Gu Guanqi mounted his horse and said, "Aunt Qing hasn't seen me in a long time, it must be your imagination!"

"No," An Yi said, staring at Gu Guanqi with a gentle smile, "Junior brother, you really have become even more handsome."

Han Youniang whispered, "Brother Gu is really becoming more and more like an immortal."

Su Qingxing asked, "I heard that Mu Jianjia, the leader of the Gu God Sect, helped you cultivate the Path of Passion. You've broken through again; you're probably too embarrassed to admit it yourself!"

Gu Guanqi: "..."

Don't expose my struggles, Aunt Qing!

The group slowly ascended the mountain along the path towards the Futushan camp, flags fluttering and the sound of horses' hooves echoing through the valley.

……

The camp on Mount Futu unfolded in the afternoon sunlight, with banners planted one after another along the camp walls, fluttering in the mountain wind.

The Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance forces filed in.

A banquet had already been set up in the square in the center of the camp. Long tables were arranged along both sides of the open space, covered with dark blue tablecloths, and bowls, plates and wine cups were neatly arranged. In the kitchen, many people were busy preparing the food.

Zhao Tianfang and Gu Guanqi welcomed the members of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance to their seats. As more members of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance took their places, the square gradually became lively.

However, amidst the commotion, a commotion suddenly broke out among the crowd on the east side of the square. The martial arts masters from the Martial Arts Alliance, who had been politely urging each other to sit down, all fell silent, and the disciples of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance instinctively turned their heads away.

At the other end of the square, a group of people were walking from the direction of the camp gate.

Fang Cunxin, dressed in a black outfit, walked at the front. She was tall and had a steady gait. Behind her, Liu Changgeng and several elders of the Heavenly God Sect walked side by side, followed by more than twenty disciples of the Heavenly God Sect. Their steps were neat and their aura was solemn.

Someone whispered, "That's Fang Cunxin? The one Alliance Leader Gu killed his way into the Hanyue Sect for?!"

"That's her. The young sect leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, she was originally a disciple of the Shaking Mountain Sect, but was forced to jump off a cliff and survived..."

"The Alliance Leader Gu was so enraged for the sake of a woman, wasn't that her?"

"But the one at the main table..." The person speaking lowered their voice and gestured towards the main table, "Isn't that An Yi, the vice leader of Yunzhou Alliance? I heard that she has a special relationship with Alliance Leader Gu."

"She's more than just extraordinary. She even resigned from her position as the young master of Medicine King Valley for Alliance Leader Gu and came to Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance to be Alliance Leader Gu's deputy."

"..."

The whispers were as faint as mosquitoes, rising and falling among the crowd like ripples on water, spreading out in concentric circles. The clamor in the square seemed to be suppressed by an invisible hand, gradually subsiding.

As Fang Cunxin approached, the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance disciples who were talking fell silent, their eyes shifting back and forth between Fang Cunxin and An Yi.

Even martial arts masters like Tang Yu and Master Fayuan were greatly interested.

"Brother Gu." Fang Cunxin called out as she walked to Gu Guanqi's side.

Gu Guanqi said, "I was just about to send someone to summon you and Sect Leader Liu!"

"No need to call us, we were just helping to set up the banquet here."

As she spoke, Fang Cunxin's attention fell on An Yi, and she slightly opened her mouth to speak.

But at that moment, An Yi spoke first, asking, "Junior brother, is this Miss Fang Cunxin?"

Gu Guanqi nodded: "Yes, that's right..."

Before Gu Guanqi could finish speaking, An Yi looked at Fang Cunxin with great heartache and said, "Miss Fang has suffered so much! It's unbelievable that the Hanyue Sect, one of the eight great sects and revered by the martial arts world, can't even tolerate a little girl."

As she spoke, she took a step forward, reached out, and naturally grasped Fang Cunxin's hand. Her movement was very gentle, her palm resting against the back of Fang Cunxin's hand, carrying a hint of warmth.

"Rest assured, the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance will definitely seek justice for you!"

The female elder behind her thought to herself, "Oh no, the young sect leader is no match for her!"

She understood.

With just one sentence, An Yi transformed the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance's visit to help their leader into one aimed at seeking justice for Fang Cunxin, instantly placing herself on the moral high ground. If Fang Cunxin agreed, An Yi would completely control the subsequent events.

They weren't denying the kindness shown to them by the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance, but that wasn't the real issue, and besides, it was now a battle between two women. But in this situation, Fang Cunxin truly couldn't refute them.

And at this moment,

Fang Cunxin was indeed slightly taken aback by An Yi's sudden warmth and intimacy. Realizing something was amiss, she could only go along with An Yi's words and nodded, "Thank you, Vice Alliance Leader An, and thank you to all the martial arts practitioners in Yunzhou!"

An Yi tightened her grip on her hand slightly, her tone tinged with affection: "No need to be so formal. We've come to help Miss Fang for the greater good, so we should be like family. If Miss Fang doesn't think we're being nosy, just call me 'elder sister.' From now on, the Yunzhou Martial Alliance will be my support, and I'll never let anyone bully me again!"

Immediately,

The female elder behind Fang Cunxin secretly sensed something was wrong.

If I were to actually call her "sister," I would truly admit defeat.

So she prepared to speak up, but before she could utter a word, Su Qingxing's voice came from the side: "Which one of you is Headmaster Liu of the Heavenly God Sect? We've heard that the Heavenly God Sect has been slandered and framed by the Hanyue Sect for years. The Yunzhou Martial Alliance has come all this way to help the Heavenly God Sect clear its name."

Liu Changgeng's face twitched slightly, thinking to himself, "What's the point of competing? I can't beat the main character, and I can't compete with their background!"

Immediately, a smile appeared on his face, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Many thanks to all the martial arts practitioners in Yunzhou, I am truly grateful."

Su Qingxing smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Sect Leader Liu, you are too kind. The Yunzhou Martial Alliance has come here not only to seek justice for Miss Fang, but also for the Heavenly God Sect."

As he spoke,

Su Qingxing glanced at the female elder.

The female elder stood there, swallowing back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

At this moment, Fang Cunxin also realized what was happening, but she knew that she had nothing to say now. She had to thank An Yi, and the Heavenly God Sect also had to thank the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance, so she could only call out, "Sister An."

"Hey! Sister Fang!" An Yi responded, smiling gently, her smile as warm as melting snow in spring. "Come, sister, sit with me and tell me how those people from the Hanyue Sect bullied you back then. I'll get revenge for you!"

Fang Cunxin was led by An Yi to sit at the table next to her.

At this moment, Zhao Tianfang stepped forward and said, "Everyone, please sit down. The Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance will be here shortly!"

In no time, the atmosphere in the square became lively again.

Everyone looked excited.

Everyone involuntarily looked at Gu Guanqi, marveling that there was actually a second round today.

Among the crowd, Zhao Lingyuan stood with Mundo. She shook her head slightly, sighed softly, and said, "They surrendered before even lasting a single round!"

Mondo chuckled, "After all, An Yi is capable of managing the martial arts alliance of a state very well, something Young Master Fang is lacking. Moreover, Vice Alliance Leader An has the backing of the Yunzhou martial arts alliance, which the Heavenly God Sect is far inferior to, so she lacks basic confidence. Young Master Fang has no fighting spirit at all!"

Zhao Lingyuan nodded and said, "I wonder how strong those two from Qingzhou are?"

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves came from the camp gate again. A scout quickly dismounted and ran to Gu Guanqi, reporting, "Reporting! Reporting to Alliance Leader Gu, the Qingzhou Martial Alliance has arrived at the foot of the mountain!"

The noise in the square subsided once again, and the guests who were raising their glasses and chatting stopped what they were doing.

Gu Guanqi immediately cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment!"

After all,

Gu Guanqi then turned around and prepared to head towards the camp gate.

Just then, the square suddenly fell silent.

At first, only the tables near the village gate were silenced, as if cut off by something invisible. Then, the silence spread like ripples across the landscape, table after table, area after area, until all voices ceased.

All eyes turned toward the camp gate.

A woman appeared at the gate of the village.

She wore a plain white dress, the hem of which draped down to the blue brick ground, gently swaying in the afternoon mountain breeze.

Sunlight streamed down from behind her, outlining her slender figure like a watercolor painting bathed in light, hazy and indistinct, as if she had descended from the clouds, or emerged from a dream.

She stood there quietly, and all that came to mind for everyone was the phrase "as beautiful as an angel."

Her features exuded an ethereal, otherworldly aura. Her clear eyes, like a frozen lake atop a mountain, reflected the light and shadows of the sky and clouds. She seemed shrouded in a light mist, both real and illusory, as if she were not of this world.

The wind blew in from the valley entrance, blowing her skirt and the stray hairs at her temples, making one feel that she might be blown away by the wind at any moment and melt into the sunlight.

She stood there, so real, yet she gave off an unreal, dreamlike feeling. It was as if she were a ray of moonlight condensed into a human form, or a night-blooming cereus blooming on the edge of a cliff, which would shatter into a pile of silvery white if you looked at her too long.

this moment,

Everyone present subconsciously thought of Jiang Baili, the legendary and universally acknowledged number one beauty of Qingzhou, who was also the only woman in the thirteen states and five regions of the Qian Kingdom to have such a title without any controversy.

Other regions also have similar titles to varying degrees, but none of them are without controversy.

Jiang Baili tilted her head slightly, her gaze passing over the layers of people and landing on Gu Guanqi.

"elder brother."

She called out softly.

The two words were spoken very lightly, like petals scattered by the wind.

The next instant, she took a light step forward and floated up, like a cloud lifted by the wind. Her pure white dress spread out in the air, her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and sunlight poured down from behind her, bathing her in a layer of shimmering golden light.

She flew over and threw herself into Gu Guanqi's arms.

She hugged Gu Guanqi tightly, burying her face in his shoulder and neck, her voice filled with undisguised longing and joy: "Brother, I missed you so much!"

"Little Fish," Gu Guanqi asked, "Weren't you down the mountain?"

Jiang Baili said, "They're down the mountain, but I couldn't wait to see you. I originally wanted to come see you much earlier, but Sister Yourong said that as the vice leader of the alliance, I can't leave the team, so I'm only arriving now. She also asked me to wait a little longer, but I really didn't want to wait any longer!"

The square was so quiet that even the sound of the wind blowing the flag could be clearly heard.

All eyes were fixed on that one spot, on the two figures embracing each other.

An Yi stood by the table, watching the figure in pure white rush into Gu Guanqi's arms, and felt as if something had gently bumped into her heart.

She was deeply shocked.

Because Jiang Baili was so open and uninhibited, she threw herself into Gu Guanqi's arms and said she missed him. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she showed no hesitation, no shyness, as if the gazes of everyone else in the world were irrelevant to her.

An Yi stared at Jiang Baili, murmuring, "She's so amazing! I could never do that!"

Sitting next to An Yi, Fang Cunxin also stared blankly at the scene.

"She's so beautiful!" she thought to herself.

She lowered her eyes and sighed softly to herself, "She and Brother Gu are such a perfect match. In front of her, I feel like a servant. What right do I have to compete with her?"

At this moment, Han Youniang sat in the corner, the light veil of her hat slightly lifted by the mountain breeze. She gently raised her hand, lifting the veil a little to reveal a pair of red eyes that glowed with a faint red light, her gaze falling on the two figures in the center of the square.

She murmured softly, "So brave, so beautiful, and with such high martial arts skills—how can there be such a perfect woman in this world?"

At the same time, Zhao Lingyuan, who was in the crowd, closed her folding fan, looked at the two figures in the center of the square, and suddenly smiled. She tapped the folding fan lightly in her palm and said, "This makes it impossible to play."

Mondo, standing beside her, sighed, "Vice Alliance Leader An couldn't be as fearless as Vice Alliance Leader Jiang. In this match, Vice Alliance Leader Jiang seized the initiative, and Vice Alliance Leader An lost. Young Master Fang was already insecure in front of Alliance Leader Gu, and now he's probably even more insecure and has no will to fight!"

Zhao Lingyuan chuckled, "It's still early. Let's see if there are any more magical duels tonight!"

……

After comforting Jiang Baili, Gu Guanqi took her down the mountain, with Zhao Tianfang accompanying them as before.

Soon, the forces of the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance were brought up.

Although Qingzhou is recognized as a weak martial arts region, its current momentum is no less than that of Yunzhou. In terms of high-end combat power, there is Shang Guzhou, the leader of Wenjian Sect, Xuanbei of Qingtai Temple, and Jiang Baili, who has now been named a grandmaster.

On the Yunzhou side, there were also three grandmasters: Tang Yu of the Mechanical Gate, Master Fayuan of the Bodhi Temple, and Su Qingxing, who was only recently recognized as a grandmaster in the martial arts world.

In terms of numbers, the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance also gathered over a thousand people.

As the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance entered, the atmosphere reached its peak. However, most people were focused on An Yi and Jiang Baili, wondering if a clash would occur regarding seating arrangements as the banquet was about to begin.

Lin Yourong and Zhu Jing, who entered with Gu Guanqi and Jiang Baili, were eager to try, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Gu Guanqi immediately whispered, "You Rong, Zhu Jing, don't give Xiaoyuer any bad advice."

Zhu Jing pursed her lips, not daring to refute Gu Guanqi.

But Lin Yourong didn't have so many scruples. She put on a pitiful look and said, "I never thought that you would think I was so ungrateful in your eyes. You must have forgotten about me now that you have someone new. I was being unreasonable. I should have withdrawn voluntarily. It turns out there is no place for me by your side anymore!"

Gu Guanqi had no choice but to admit defeat, and said in a low voice, "I'll call you 'good sister,' so please stop using your supernatural powers and stop making things difficult for me!"

Lin Yourong smiled and chuckled, saying, "Then promise to come see me tonight."

Gu Guanqi asked suspiciously, "What do I want with you?"

Lin Yourong circulated her inner energy and lowered her voice, saying, "I have good news for you. My sister passed on a cultivation technique to me called the Returning to Origin True Technique, which has already helped me stabilize my Pure Realm." As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her voice even further, saying, "Come find me tonight; my sister and I will be together!"

Gu Guanqi's eyes lit up. He looked at Jiang Baili beside him and whispered, "Little Fish, did you hear what You Rong said?"

Jiang Baili said in a low voice, "Yes, I know. It's a secret manual that Jingjing gave us, called 'One Dragon Plays with Two Phoenixes.' Yourong and I have been studying it carefully recently. Jingjing is a good person!"

Gu Guanqi: For the first time, I really think Zhu Jing is a good person!

quickly,

Then the banquet began.

Although Gu Guanqi didn't really care about the women's subtle rivalries, he certainly wouldn't allow things to escalate in a formal setting, so he arranged the seats separately.

The high-ranking members of the Heavenly God Sect sat at a separate table, as did the high-ranking members of Yunzhou and Qingzhou. He, on the other hand, sat at a table with the high-ranking members of the host families, namely the Prince Rong's Mansion, the County Commandant's Mansion, and the Six Doors, along with Zhao Tianfang. Naturally, no one could find fault with this arrangement.

The banquet was very lively and noisy.

As the main character, Gu Guanqi was naturally toasted repeatedly after some polite exchanges, creating a very lively atmosphere.

The banquet didn't end until late afternoon.

The Prince Rong's residence had naturally arranged a place for them to rest well in advance.

As the leaders of each faction were leaving, they all came to say goodbye to Gu Guanqi.

First, the Qingzhou side finished their journey, and then the Yunzhou side followed one after another.

At last,

An Yi led Han Youniang to Gu Guanqi's side and whispered, "Junior Brother."

Gu Guanqi turned around and said, "Senior Sister, I'll have to trouble you to keep a close eye on those fellow cultivators in Yunzhou. There are many of them, a mixed bag, and they come from various factions, so please make sure there are no conflicts."

"I know," An Yi said. "Don't worry, Junior Brother."

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "I have complete confidence in what my senior sister does."

An Yi nodded, then remained silent for a moment before slowly raising her head, her cheeks slightly flushed. She hesitated before asking, "Junior brother, do you...do you know where I live? Are you coming tonight?"

Gu Guanqi quickly replied, "I have some matters to discuss with Prince Rong and Prince Zhao tonight, and I'm not sure if I'll be free."

An Yi quickly said, "I'll wait for you. Also..." She glanced at Han Youniang beside her and said, "Youniang also has some cultivation-related matters she'd like to ask you about. Come over when you're done with your business; Youniang and I will be waiting for you!"

Gu Guanqi looked at Han Youniang.

Han Youniang slightly lifted her veil, mustered her courage, and raised her head. Her full head of white hair, paired with her red eyes, made her look exceptionally charming.

She only dared to glance at Gu Guanqi before her face immediately flushed red, and she lowered her head, whispering, "Brother Gu... I... I'll wait for you... I..."

As she spoke, she hid behind An Yi.

An Yi took Han Youniang's hand and said to Gu Guanqi, "Junior brother, we're leaving now."

After saying that, she took Han Youniang's hand and quickly left.

Watching An Yi and Han Youniang's departing figures,

Gu Guanqi frowned and said in a low voice, "This is troublesome. Which way should we go?"

……

As night falls, the evening breeze from Futu Mountain flows in from the valley entrance, carrying the crisp scent of mountain plants and trees. It brushes past the lanterns hanging from the eaves, causing the orange glow to sway slightly.

The small courtyard deep in the camp was very quiet. Occasionally, the footsteps and whispers of the night patrolling soldiers changing shifts could be heard from outside the courtyard wall, but they were carried away by the night wind.

Two lamps were lit in the room, their dim yellow light making the whole room feel warm and cozy.

Han Youniang sat on the stool with her head down and her hands folded on her knees.

She removed her veil, and her long, snow-white hair cascaded down her shoulders and back like a waterfall, making her small face appear even paler and more delicate. Her crimson eyes gleamed in the lamplight, like two amber beads melted into the moonlight.

She twisted and turned the hem of her dress, crumpling the fabric until it was wrinkled, and asked in a low voice, "Sister An... Brother Gu, will he come?"

She asked cautiously, with a mixture of tentative anticipation and nervous fear of disappointment. She didn't dare look up at An Yi, focusing instead on her own fingers.

An Yi reached out and gently took Han Youniang's hand, which was still twisting the hem of her clothes, and said softly, "I don't know either. I hope he comes, but I'm also afraid that it will really put him in a difficult position. If he comes, I'm afraid the two people in Qingzhou won't approve!"

Han Youniang's fingers trembled slightly, and she quickly raised her head, her voice tinged with urgency: "That...that's not good. I don't want to make things difficult for Brother Gu. Sister An, let's not make things difficult for Brother Gu, okay?"

Seeing how anxiously she was considering Gu Guanqi's situation, An Yi couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Don't worry, Junior Brother Gu is a man of his own mind. Whether he comes or not, he has his own reasons. We can just wait for him here."

"Hmm." Han Youniang nodded in response, then asked nervously, "Sister An, do you think... Brother Gu will like me?"

An Yi gently patted Han Youniang's hand and said, "You're so beautiful, and so well-behaved and sensible, who wouldn't like you? His eyes lit up when he heard you were waiting for him today!"

"Really...really?" Han Youniang suddenly raised her head, her crimson eyes suddenly brightening in the lamplight, filled with surprise and joy. "If it's true, that would be wonderful. Sister An, I...I really like Brother Gu. In this world, only Brother Gu doesn't despise me and even protects me. I want to follow him for the rest of my life, I dream of him looking at me even once. But I'm afraid he won't like me, I'm afraid I'm just deluding myself...I don't even dare to tell him."

An Yi reached out and gently put her arm around Han Youniang's shoulder, letting her lean on her shoulder, and said softly, "Then you should tell him yourself tonight, okay?"

"Okay...okay!" Han Youniang replied.

Just then, a soft creak came from inside the courtyard, and the gate opened.

An Yi and Han You Niang both looked up at the doorway.

Gu Guanqi walked in, dressed in a white brocade robe, his cloak fluttering slightly in the wind. He walked in against the moonlight, then turned around to close the door.

An Yi and Han Youniang stood up almost at the same time, both with surprised smiles on their faces, and quickly walked into the courtyard.

Gu Guanqi turned around and saw An Yi and Han Youniang.

Both of them dressed up specially for the night. An Yi wore a light purple nightgown, her long hair loosely tied up, exuding a mature charm that was exceptionally alluring.

Han Youniang was dressed in a blue dress, her long silver hair cascading over her shoulders, and her red eyes gleaming under the lamplight, giving her a peculiar and eerie quality.

"Junior brother, you've arrived."

An Yi's voice was filled with undisguised joy as she spoke, and she stepped forward to take off Gu Guanqi's cloak.

Han Youniang followed behind An Yi and timidly called out, "Brother Gu." She then asked, "I saw that you drank a lot of wine earlier, so Sister An and I made you some hangover soup. I'll go and bring it to you."

"Need not."

Gu Guanqi reached out his left hand to hold An Yi's hand, while his right hand naturally took Han Youniang's slightly cool hand.

An Yi was quite natural, but the moment Han You Niang's hand was held by Gu Guan Qi, she seemed to lose her soul. Her whole body trembled, her breathing became disordered, and she couldn't remember anything except for a secret joy.

Gu Guanqi led the two into the hall and said with a light laugh, "You Niang, didn't you say you had some questions about cultivation that you wanted to ask me? Tell me, and I'll answer them for you."

"Ah?" Han Youniang panicked, tightly grasping Gu Guanqi's hand, and stammered, "I...I'm sorry, Brother Gu, I lied to you...I...I don't have any problems with cultivation...I'm sorry, I know I was wrong..."

"Young lady, don't listen to his teasing."

As she spoke, An Yi gently punched Gu Guanqi's chest and said coquettishly, "Junior brother, don't bully You Niang!"

Gu Guanqi took the opportunity to grab An Yi's hand and pull her closer to him. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Good senior sister, why aren't you calling me husband today?"

When Gu Guanqi hugged her, An Yi felt weak all over. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Gu Guanqi's neck, saying, "Husband... I missed you so much!"

Gu Guanqi asked softly, "How much do you want to?"

An Yi said softly, "I think of you every single moment, I wish I could fly right to your side." She stared intently at Gu Guanqi and said, "Husband, I want to hear you say you miss me too!"

Gu Guanqi lowered his head, kissed An Yi, and said, "Senior sister, I missed you so much."

As he spoke, he put his arm around An Yi's waist and lifted her up, while holding Han You Niang's hand with his other hand, and they walked into the inner room.

The bed was covered with clean, plain-colored bedding, which shone with a soft glow from the candlelight.

Gu Guanqi gently placed An Yi on the bed.

An Yi lay on her back, her black hair spread out on the pillow, the candlelight reflecting on her flushed cheeks, her eyes filled with a hint of shyness.

At this moment, she turned her head and saw Han Youniang standing nervously to the side. She slowly sat up, reached out and helped Gu Guanqi undress. As she undressed him, she whispered, "Husband, Youniang is still a virgin... please don't be too rough."

Han Youniang stood by the bed, head bowed, not daring to look at them. Her fingers gripped the hem of her clothes tightly as she whispered, "Sister An, I... I'm not afraid. As long as Brother Gu is happy, I... I'll do whatever it takes. I'm not afraid of pain."

An Yi smiled helplessly, gently took Han Youniang's hand, and said, "You'll definitely let him have his way in the future, and I just love being pampered by him, so I'll let him have his way too. Who knows how he'll bully us sisters in the future!"

Han Youniang stood by the bed, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, making her small face appear even more delicate and beautiful. She said softly, "Brother Gu is the best person in the world; he wouldn't bully us."

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "You Niang is right, I can't bear to bully you."

An Yi placed Gu Guanqi's coat beside the pillow, playfully scolding, "You're so good at sweet-talking girls." Then, she got up to get out of bed, saying, "I'll go blow out the light!"

"No need," Gu Guanqi said, pressing An Yi down. "Let's not blow out the lamp tonight, let it stay lit."

An Yi's cheeks flushed instantly, the blush spreading from her ears down to her neck. Her voice was tinged with embarrassment and panic: "Husband, how can this be? This is too embarrassing..."

Gu Guanqi said, "Then what's the point of you two being together?"

"You...you can't do this, I..."

Before An Yi could finish speaking, Gu Guanqi pounced on her and pushed her onto the bed.

An Yi lay down in the quilt, her black hair spread out on the pillow. Just as she was about to speak, Gu Guanqi's other hand reached out to Han Youniang, who was standing to the side with her head down.

"what!"

Han Youniang gasped softly, and before she could react, she had already fallen into the bedding.

The next moment, the soft rustling of clothes against bedding was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

quickly,

Then a strange sound came from inside the room.

"Brother Gu...I...I'm fine, you...ah!"

"..."

"Junior brother, Youniang has rested well, go find her..."

The night wind on Mount Futu was still blowing, and a few faint chirps of insects could be heard in the distance, only to be carried away by the wind. Only the dim light of the lamps remained in the courtyard, casting a warm glow on the window paper.

……

At midnight, the bright moon hangs high in the sky.

In the room, the candle had burned down to almost nothing, the wick crackling softly in the grease. Dim yellow light leaked from the lampshade, illuminating the clothes scattered around the bed.

Han Youniang was curled up on the inside of the bed, her long silver hair spread out on the pillow, her eyelashes covered with light shadows, her breathing long and steady, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

An Yi lay on her side on the outer side, her light purple nightgown partially covering her shoulder, revealing faint red marks on her collarbone. Her hair was loose, spread out on the pillow, making her face look even more tired, though her eyes still held a hint of dampness.

Gu Guanqi had already sat down on the edge of the bed and was fastening his belt. He moved very quietly, trying not to disturb the two people beside him, but An Yi still noticed.

She slowly opened her eyes, looking at Gu Guanqi's retreating figure, her voice languid yet tinged with a hint of resentment: "Husband... are you leaving already?"

Gu Guanqi fastened his belt, turned around, and said, "Senior Sister, I still have some official business to attend to tonight."

Upon hearing this, An Yi couldn't help but roll her eyes, but her flushed face only added to her allure. She said with a hint of reproach, "What official business? I think you're really going to see Jiang Baili and Lin Yourong!"

Gu Guanqi sat on the edge of the bed, leaning slightly forward, one hand resting on the pillow beside An Yi's ear, very close. His gaze met An Yi's, and he said softly, "Good senior sister, I know you're the most understanding. After things in Hongzhou are over, I'll go to Yunzhou to be with you, okay?"

Looking at Gu Guanqi's face so close to hers, An Yi couldn't muster any anger. She reached out and gently pushed Gu Guanqi's chest, her tone tinged with annoyance: "Go ahead, go ahead. I must have owed you a debt in my past life; I deserve to be bullied by you in this one. I know you're going to find someone else, but I don't want to see you in trouble. As long as you're willing to coax me, I'll do anything you want!"

"I like my senior sister the most."

Gu Guanqi lowered his head and gently kissed An Yi's lips, then turned his head and placed an equally gentle kiss on the forehead of the sleeping Han Youniang. Han Youniang murmured in her sleep, turned over, and buried her face in the quilt.

"Junior brother, you should go quickly, don't keep them waiting!" An Yi whispered.

Gu Guanqi straightened up, gently stroked An Yi's cheek, and said, "Senior Sister, I don't know if you owed me a debt in your past life, but I must have saved millions of people in my past life to be so fortunate to meet you in this life!"

An Yi pouted and said, "You're always saying nice things to coax me!"

Gu Guanqi got up and slowly left the house.

……

The lights were still on in a small courtyard on the east side of the camp.

Two candlesticks were placed on the table by the window. Light shone through the window paper, casting the shadows of the clumps of short bamboo in the courtyard onto the blue brick ground, swaying gently in the wind.

Inside the room, Lin Yourong was getting sleepy from waiting. She leaned against a low couch, holding an embroidered pillow in her arms, her head nodding little by little, her eyelids almost closing.

She wore a scarlet nightgown, made of thin fabric, with a silk sash loosely tied around her waist. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, giving her a languid and weary look.

Jiang Baili sat beside her reading a book. She was still wearing a plain white dress, quiet and still, as if she blended into the dim candlelight.

Lin Yourong opened her eyes and muttered with a wronged expression, "Sister, it seems our husband isn't coming today."

Jiang Baili put down her book and said, "It's alright. If you're sleepy, we can go and rest."

Lin Yourong tossed the embroidered pillow aside and collapsed onto the low couch like a deflated sack, her voice filled with deep disappointment: "No, sister, I'm jealous. How about we ignore him for two days? Let him know we're not easy to bully... Hmm, two days is too long, how about one day... One day won't do either, I can't even stand half a day, boohoo... Sister, I'm so pathetic, as long as he smiles at me, all my anger disappears."

Jiang Baili walked to the low couch and sat down. She reached out and gently patted Lin Yourong's shoulder, her voice gentle: "It's alright, I'll help you get revenge."

Lin Yourong immediately sat up, asking expectantly, "How do you vent your anger?"

Jiang Baili thought about it carefully and said, "I won't answer the first thing he says to me tomorrow."

Lin Yourong was stunned, completely puzzled: "What do you mean by venting your anger?"

Jiang Baili said, "Jingjing taught me this. It's called 'let him cool off'."

Lin Yourong said speechlessly, "Does venting your anger count as just saying a few words?"

Jiang Baili blinked, her expression somewhat matter-of-fact: "Sister Yourong, you can't ask for too much!"

Lin Yourong: "..."

She pounded the embroidered pillow hard, gritted her teeth, and said, "Hmph, if he doesn't coax me tomorrow, I'll definitely ignore him for five out of ten sentences!"

Just then, a very faint creak came from the direction of the courtyard gate.

Lin Yourong's expression instantly brightened, the determination she had just shown vanished, and a glint of light suddenly appeared in her eyes. She quickly began to tidy her hair and put on her shoes.

Jiang Baili had already stood up, her figure like a leaf lifted by the wind, gracefully drifting to the doorway. Moonlight poured in from behind her, casting a cool, silvery glow on her plain white skirt.

When she saw the figure walking into the courtyard, a faint smile appeared on her face, and she immediately pounced on him.

"elder brother."

Gu Guanqi reached out and hugged Jiang Baili.

"Little Fish, have you been waiting long?"

Gu Guanqi lowered his head, his chin gently resting on the top of Jiang Baili's hair.

Jiang Baili tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes shining brightly in the moonlight: "It's enough that my brother is here."

At this moment, Lin Yourong walked to the door and looked at the two figures embracing in the courtyard. When she saw Gu Guanqi, she couldn't help but smile, but then she immediately suppressed her smile and adopted a sarcastic tone, leaning against the door frame: "Oh dear, whose husband is this? In the middle of the night, instead of spending time with his wife, why is he knocking on our door?"

Gu Guanqi led Jiang Baili to the door, then put his other arm around Lin Yourong's waist, pulling her closer to him. His tone was somewhat coaxing: "What's wrong? Are you jealous? I'm here now, aren't I?"

Lin Yourong spoke sarcastically, but she didn't resist Gu Guanqi's outstretched hand. Instead, she leaned against him, her body softening slightly as she did so. She still stubbornly turned her face away, her tone defiant: "Who do you think I am? What right do I have to be jealous? My dear husband, you should go find someone else you should be looking for!"

As she spoke, she raised her hand and pushed Gu Guanqi's chest, but she was afraid that she would really push Gu Guanqi away, so the force was as light as brushing a fallen leaf.

Gu Guanqi chuckled softly, pulling Lin Yourong closer to him. He turned to look at Jiang Baili and said, "Little Yu'er, your sister Yourong is incredibly audacious, daring to speak ill of her husband. Come, help your husband punish her."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Baili's eyes lit up slightly, and her tone was filled with serious curiosity: "How will you be punished?"

Gu Guanqi's lips curled slightly: "I'll grab her, and you can take off her clothes."

Jiang Baili replied almost without hesitation, "Okay."

Lin Yourong's eyes widened, and she quickly said, "Sister! We're on the same side!"

Jiang Baili tilted her head slightly and said very seriously, "Now I'm on my brother's side."

Before he finished speaking, Gu Guanqi had already bent down, put one arm around Lin Yourong's waist, and supported her knees with the other, lifting her up horizontally.

"oops!"

Lin Yourong gasped in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around Gu Guanqi's neck, her cheeks already flushed.

"You...you put me down..."

Gu Guanqi didn't answer and strode into the house. Jiang Baili followed behind him and closed the door behind him.

The moonlight was shut out from the door, and the candlelight inside flickered for a moment before returning to its steady brightness.

Soon, unusual sounds rang out from inside the room.

First came the soft rustling of fabric, then Lin Yourong's slightly embarrassed and annoyed whisper, which was then muffled by something.

"Sister...please help me... Waaah..."

"Brother, I can't go on... Go find Sister Yourong..."

"Sister, I can't either..."

"..."

The sound was intermittent, like words that had been crumpled up and were carried by the night wind, scattered in the moonlight in the courtyard.

The shadows of the short bamboo swayed gently on the window paper, and the candlelight flickered slightly in the wind.

The night breeze rustled through the eaves, brushed against the grass on the wall, and passed by the window that shone with warm light. The lanterns swayed gently under the eaves, casting a circle of orange light that enveloped the entire courtyard in a tranquil warmth.

Inside the room, the candlelight was still burning, and the whispers gradually subsided, with only a few extremely soft laughs occasionally punctuated by petals that seemed to dissolve into the night and vanish in an instant.

……

late at night.

Suddenly, a swarm of flying insects appeared above the Futu Mountain camp, hovering over the camp like a swarm of bees, emitting a strange buzzing sound.

Under the moonlight, the flying insects looked strange, with faint, unique patterns on their carapaces.

Swarms of flying insects flew back and forth above the camp, and the chirping sounds they emitted gradually converged to form a peculiar sound wave before dissipating.

And at this moment,

In the small courtyard on the east side of the camp, Gu Guanqi was fast asleep, with Jiang Baili and Lin Yourong on his left and right sides respectively.

Moonlight streamed in through the window cracks, illuminating the clothes scattered on the floor.

suddenly,

Gu Guanqi opened his eyes and heard a unique chirping sound of insects.

"Gu worms!"

He frowned slightly, gently released Lin Yourong and Jiang Baili from his arms, then got out of bed, quickly dressed, and flew away like a wisp of smoke, appearing and disappearing a few times in the camp before arriving at a small earthen mound outside the camp.

Under the moonlight

Sitting on the small mound was a woman with a graceful figure, none other than Mu Jianjia, the leader of the Gu God Sect.

"Master Mu, it really is you!"

Upon first noticing the chirping of the Gu insects in the camp, he guessed it was Mu Jianjia, as he had seen her in action and was somewhat familiar with her Gu techniques.

After acquiring the Heavenly Silkworm Demon Art, he became a grandmaster in the art of Gu, and naturally he could distinguish the differences between the Gu techniques of different people.

Mu Jianjia slowly rose, looked at Gu Guanqi, and smiled sweetly, like a newly blossoming flower, a beautiful jade glowing with radiance, incomparably radiant. She said softly, "I really want to help you with your matter concerning the Hanyue Sect, but we Miao people have signed a treaty with the imperial court, so I cannot intervene, nor can I lead people across the river. Therefore, I cannot help you deal with the Hanyue Sect. I'm sorry."

Gu Guanqi said, "I understand. You are the leader of the Gu God Sect. Every move you make concerns hundreds of thousands of Miao people. You cannot act impulsively."

Mu Jianjia slowly walked down the earthen slope and said, "However, the reason I asked you to come out tonight is to give you a heads-up. I have already prepared twenty warships on the Shenmu River."

If you are defeated in the battle against the Hanyue Sect, then lead your men to the Shenmu River, and I will take you to the Miao region. No matter how strong the Hanyue Sect is, they will not dare to cross the river. Once you reach the Miao region, you will be safe. I can protect you!

Gu Guanqi said, "If it really comes to that, you'll have offended the Hanyue Sect to the death."

Mu Jianjia said, "It doesn't matter. Officially, you are a benefactor of Miao territory, and we should help you; personally, I have indeed fallen in love with you and cannot stand idly by in your affairs."

During this time, I will remain hidden near Mount Futu. If absolutely necessary, I will lend you a hand.

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Mu Jianjia shook her head slightly and said, "By the way, there's one more thing. The Hanyue Sect claims to have three thousand soldiers, but in reality, it has eight thousand soldiers, personally led by Commandant Gong Kun. This man has a Five Elements Army Formation, which is extremely powerful. You should pay close attention to it!"

As for Qi Tianyang, the leader of the Hanyue Sect, I won't say much. He's a Dao Realm expert like you, possessing the incredibly powerful Mountain-Shaking Fist. He also has a move called the Mountain-Shocking Golden Body, known as invincible in defense. You must be very careful!

Gu Guanqi nodded and said, "Okay."

"Well... let's leave it at that," Mu Jianjia said. "I asked you to meet me tonight to tell you something, and also... I wanted to see you."

Mu Jianjia smiled slightly and waved her hand, saying, "I'm leaving!"

immediately,

She turned and flew away quickly, disappearing into the night.