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

Chapter 69 Farewell (Please Subscribe)

The killing of the Holy Son and Holy Daughter of the Heavenly Demon Sect quickly caused a huge uproar. Centered on Changqing County, the news spread outwards and within a few days throughout Linzhong County, and began to reach the entire Jianghu of Qingzhou.

Gu Guanqi, who was at the center of the incident, stayed at the inn for a few days with two main purposes: first, to help Fang Shiyang recuperate and recover as soon as possible; and second, to wait for news from Yan Wangchuan so that he could go to Tianping County to modify the golden silk soft armor.

Gu Guanqi took the redesigned two sets of gold-threaded soft armor very seriously. After witnessing the cunning and shrewdness of a seasoned veteran like Yan Wangchuan, he realized that one must be cautious when navigating the underworld.

And just like that, seven or eight days passed in the blink of an eye.

That morning, Gu Guanqi and Fang Cunxin were having breakfast in the lobby of the inn.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from the doorway.

Gu Guanqi and Fang Cunxin looked in the direction of the sound.

The person who came was Yan Wangchuan, but he wasn't alone.

Accompanying Yan Wangchuan was an elderly man with gray hair, who looked older than Yan Wangchuan. His face was deeply wrinkled, but he was very burly and much larger than Yan Wangchuan. Standing there, he was like an iron tower, which was very imposing.

Behind Yan Wangchuan and the burly old man were two men and two women, all of whom were exceptionally robust and strong. Even the two women had broad shoulders and thick backs, with clearly defined muscle lines on their arms. The sight of these people standing at the doorway made the hall dim.

Besides their burly and robust physiques, those men also possessed outrageous weapons, all of them heavy weapons: copper hammers, iron rods, giant axes, and even the smallest was a thick-backed broadsword with a blade so wide it could almost be used as a shield, weighing at least thirty pounds.

Gu Guanqi originally thought that Fang Cunxin using a 30-pound spear was already exaggerated enough, but compared to these people, it was nothing.

In that instant, Gu Guanqi had a guess in his mind: these people should be from the Hanyue Sect, one of the eight major sects and the leading sect in the Hongzhou martial arts world.

Two days ago, while Fang Shiyang was handling the Xiao family's funeral, he received news that the people from the Hanyue Sect were about to arrive.

Yan Wangchuan walked closer, smiled at Gu Guanqi and Fang Cunxin, stepped aside, and introduced the old man, saying, "Hero Gu, Miss Fang, this is Elder Wu Qing, the Grand Elder of the Hanyue Sect."

Fang Cunxin quickly stood up, cupped her hands and said, "Junior Fang Cunxin greets Senior Wu."

Gu Guanqi also stood up and clasped his hands in a salute.

Wu Qing nodded slightly, looked at Gu Guanqi, cupped his hands, and spoke in a loud and clear voice, full of vigor: "I have already heard about the Xiao family's affairs. Xiao Changliu is from our Hanyue Sect, and for so many years he has served the sect faithfully. Now that he has suffered this calamity, we are fortunate that Hero Gu has avenged him. The Hanyue Sect will certainly remember this. If Hero Gu ever needs our help in the future, please send someone to inform us, and the Hanyue Sect will certainly do its utmost to assist you!"

Gu Guanqi naturally didn't take such polite words seriously. He waved his hand and said, "It was just a coincidence. As for my sister Cunxin, she went to the Hanyue Sect. I hope Elder Wu will take good care of her!"

Wu Qing nodded and said, "I came here for two reasons. First, to retrieve the Heavenly Crafting Stone. Second, to take this girl to the Hanyue Sect. I will personally escort her and take good care of her. Rest assured, Master Gu."

Thank you.

"Don't mention it!" Wu Qing then looked at Fang Cunxin and asked, "Is your father here right now?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Cunxin quickly said, "Elder Wu, please wait a moment. I'll go and call my father down right away."

She immediately turned around and hurried upstairs.

Before long, Fang Shiyang followed Fang Cunxin downstairs. He had been recuperating well these past few days; his complexion had regained its rosy hue, and his steps were much more steady.

Fang Shiyang was carrying a large box made of ironwood with copper plating around the four corners, and it looked quite heavy.

He walked over and placed the box on the ground.

This box contains the Heavenly Crafting Stone.

Two days ago, after the funeral arrangements at the Xiao family's house were completed, Fang Shiyang went to collect it.

Xiao Changliu never kept the Heavenly Crafting Stone at the Xiao family home; instead, he buried it in a cave behind the Xiao family's mountain.

Fang Shiyang bowed respectfully, then bent down and opened the box.

There was a rock the size of a pillow in the box.

The stone was dark black with a rough surface, and there was nothing particularly special about it. However, when the morning light shone on it, a layer of flowing luster appeared on the surface of the stone, as if something was slowly flowing inside.

Wu Qing closed the box and asked, "Would Chief Escort Fang like to come along to Hongzhou?"

Fang Shiyang nodded quickly and said, "I will go. If my daughter fails the test, I will bring her back with me. Otherwise, I will be worried about her coming back alone from a foreign land."

Wu Qing nodded and said, "That's good. If there's nothing else, let's set off now. Chief镖头 Fang should know that our Hanyue Sect's inherited divine weapon has been damaged, and we urgently need the Heavenly Crafting Stones right now."

Fang Shiyang quickly replied, "Elder Wu, we are ready to depart at any time."

Wu Qing looked at Fang Cunxin.

Fang Cunxin stood beside Fang Shiyang, but her gaze involuntarily turned to Gu Guanqi. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she hesitated.

She took a deep breath, walked up to Gu Guanqi, looked up at him, and said in a softer voice than usual, "Brother Gu, could you—could you see me off?"

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "It should have been given as a gift."

Fang Cunxin smiled, turned around and went back upstairs to her room. Soon she came down with two bundles on her back.

The group left the inn.

At the same time, more than a dozen people came out of the inn. They were bodyguards from the Zhenshan Escort Agency who had arrived a few days ago to accompany Fang Shiyang to escort Fang Cunxin to the Hanyue Sect.

The disciples of the Hanyue Sect each led their own horses, which were all more robust than ordinary horses, with thick limbs and strong bodies.

Yan Wangchuan, Wu Qing, and Fang Shiyang rode side by side at the front, chatting as they went. The disciples of the Hanyue Sect and the bodyguards followed behind.

Gu Guanqi and Fang Cunxin lagged behind, riding side by side. Their horses moved slowly, their hooves clattering on the bluestone pavement at a leisurely pace.

Gu Guanqi glanced at Fang Cunxin, then suddenly smiled and asked, "Cunxin, if you go to the Hanyue Sect, will you become like that in the future?"

Fang Cunxin was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Gu Guanqi gestured towards the direction of the few disciples of the Hanyue Sect ahead and said with a smile, "They are—the particularly strong kind."

Fang Cunxin quickly replied, "No, Brother Gu. Although the martial arts of the Hanyue Sect emphasize external skills and physical training, not all martial arts will make one so physically imposing. Don't worry!"

Gu Guanqi laughed and said, "Why would I worry? I think that's great; they'd definitely be incredibly good at fighting!"

Fang Cunxin smiled.

The two chatted idly as they walked slowly, and soon they were left far behind by the group in front of them. Later, they were completely out of sight.

After about half an hour, the two left the city.

The trees along the official road gradually increased. As the autumn wind blew, a few withered leaves fell from the branches, landing on the horses' backs and the shoulders of the two men.

When we reached a fork in the road.

There, Fang Shiyang, Wu Qing, Yan Wangchuan, and others had already reined in their horses and were waiting by the roadside.

Fang Cunxin knew that the time for parting had come.

She reined in her horse, turned it around, and faced Gu Guanqi. The morning light shone from behind her, making her face appear somewhat hazy, but her eyes remained clear and bright.

"Brother Gu," she began, her voice much softer than usual, "will you be living in Qingyang County permanently in the future?"

Gu Guanqi thought for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know."

In the past few months, he has traveled from Qingyang City to Qiandeng County, then from Qiandeng County to Zhenwu County, and then to Linzhong County, visiting more places than he had in the previous twenty years combined.

Once you embark on the path of the martial arts world, it's hard to stop.

He couldn't be sure where he would go in the future, where he would settle down, or whether he would continue to wander the world.

Fang Cunxin lowered her head slightly, remained silent for a moment, then raised her head again and said, "Brother Gu, I will definitely try my best to stay in the Hanyue Sect, and I will definitely learn profound martial arts."

She paused, looking directly at Gu Guanqi, her voice low but clear and distinct: "That way, if one day in the future I am also qualified to stand not far from you and look at you at some grand martial arts gathering."

A morning breeze swept across the official road, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples. As she finished speaking, a slight blush rose to her cheeks.

Gu Guanqi looked at her, remained silent for a moment, smiled slightly, and said, "It doesn't have to be that bad. If I ever go to Hongzhou in the future, I will visit you at Hanyue Sect."

Fang Cunxin grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and said, "Then you must remember, don't forget!"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly.

"Brother Gu,"

She suddenly spoke again, "Could you—play the flute for me just once?"

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback, then nodded.

He took the jade flute from his waist; it was the one Fang Cunxin had commissioned for him in Zhenwu County. The flute was a deep blue-green, gleaming with a warm luster in the morning light.

He held the jade flute to his lips, took a deep breath, and then slowly blew it out.

The sound of the flute begins.

At first, it was extremely light and gentle, like the morning mist slowly flowing in the mountains, or like a stream murmuring among the rocks. The sound was unhurried and melodious, spreading in the morning breeze, drifting over the official road, over the fields, and towards the distant mountains.

Fang Cunxin listened quietly, her gaze fixed on Gu Guanqi's face, looking at him very seriously and carefully.

She only realized then that, after traveling with Gu Guanqi for so long, this was the first time she had ever really looked at Gu Guanqi up close.

"So beautiful!" Fang Cunxin murmured.

At this moment, the sound of the flute gradually rose higher, like a bird flapping its wings, soaring into the clouds, and then slowly fell back down, like fallen leaves returning to their roots, returning to silence.

Fang Cunxin took a deep breath and looked away from Gu Guanqi's face.

She reined in her horse, squeezed its flanks with her legs, and the chestnut horse neighed loudly, galloping off towards the group ahead.

The morning breeze lifted her hair and the hem of her clothes.

The sound of the flute ceased shortly afterward, but its lingering melody remained.

At Wu Qing's waving, the vanguard set off, galloping swiftly forward, their hooves thundering, raising clouds of dust as the morning light streamed down.

Fang Cunxin turned around and waved.

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and waved his hand while holding the jade flute.

At this moment, the sunlight seemed somewhat dim and blurry.

When the smoke and dust cleared, Fang Cunxin was nowhere to be seen.

Yan Wangchuan rode his horse to Gu Guanqi's side and chuckled, "The world of youth is always filled with partings and tender feelings. Young man, are you willing to part? Or not?"

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "When friends part, there's no such thing as being reluctant to part."

"Hey, you treat her like a friend, but does that girl even want to be friends with you?" Yan Wangchuan raised an eyebrow and said, "If you had tried to persuade her to stay, that girl from the Fang family probably wouldn't have been able to leave."

Gu Guanqi remained silent.

Yan Wangchuan chuckled and said, "Well, I didn't realize you, young man, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, were such a romantic." He thought for a moment, then added, "Heh, that's to be expected. If I had your looks, charisma, and martial arts skills when I was young, I would have seduced at least thirty or fifty female martial arts heroes before I ever looked back!"

Gu Guanqi waved his hand and said, "You must have been quite handsome when you were young."

Yan Wangchuan laughed and said, "I'm definitely not as good as you, but I was a well-known handsome young man in the surrounding villages back in the day." After saying that, Yan Wangchuan paused for a moment and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. You've finished your business here and seen the people off. You can take those two sets of golden silk soft armor to Tianping County."

Gu Guanqi's eyes lit up. He cared a lot about this matter and quickly asked, "Have you made contact on your end yet?"

'

Yan Wangchuan continued, "He has already replied to me, so you can go see him anytime. Um, when you go, also take a handwritten letter from me. He lives at Tianyi Xiaozhu in Baoping Lane, Tianping County."

"Alright, thank you, Commander Yan."

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