Chapter 378: Truly Ferocious

Gu Jiu Ling stepped forward and grabbed Xiao Yin's arm in one swift motion; Xiao Yin blinked, and before he could react, he was flipped over, ending up lying on his back facing Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling leaned over, looming above him, staring intently, then raised her hand and reached toward Xiao Yin's chest.

Her hand slowly came to rest on the scar across Xiao Yin's chest, which ran horizontally across his entire chest.

It was clear that this slash had nearly taken half his life back then; indeed he was tough‑lived, surviving such a vicious scar.

Back then, relying on the original host's memories, Gu Jiu Ling had wanted to find the children's father; the only vivid impression she retained was that, while struggling beneath that man, she had felt his long scar.

Previously she had thought it was Tuo Ba Yu, but this time seeing Xiao Yin's scar, it was noticeably longer and deeper than Tuo Ba Yu's.

She gritted her teeth and said, word by word, "It really is you!"

Though Xiao Yin was pinned beneath Gu Jiu Ling, a strange red flush gradually crept up the base of his ears.

This time it seemed that, aside from saying "sorry," any additional words would be a crime.

"Sorry, it's my fault!"

Xiao Yin stared at her, took a breath, and said, "For the children's sake, come back to Shang Jing with me."

If Xiao Yin didn't mention the children, it would be fine; but as soon as he brought them up, Gu Jiu Ling flared with anger.

The hand pressing on Xiao Yin's chest bore down with extra force, nearly squeezing the breath from his chest.

He couldn't help coughing, then gasped, "Gu Yatou, don't be angry—come back with me."

"I've never begged anyone in my life—consider this me begging you."

"The two children are still young, and besides, they're my flesh and blood—I can't let my wife and children wander homeless among the common folk!"

"Hah! You say 'come back' and you expect me to?" Gu Jiu Ling gritted her teeth, "Tell you what—I'm not going back; I just want to stay here quietly, and never again get tangled up in your mess."

"You're not lacking women around you—what's this Ying Gu, Yang Gu, and all the rest—given your disposition, who knows how many girls are lining up to bear your children?"

"Why bother about the two children I bore? Let's just go our separate ways—bridge to bridge, road to road—so we have nothing more to do with each other."

A complex flicker crossed Xiao Yin's eyes as he lifted his gaze to stare steadily at the woman before him: "Gu Jiu Ling, could it be that you're jealous?"

"That Ying Gu is the daughter of my benefactor, my sworn sister! How could I…?"

"I spit in your face—I'm jealous of you, get over it! I still say the same thing: after this, Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin will have nothing to do with each other. Get out of Peach Blossom Island first thing tomorrow morning."

The anxious look on Xiao Yin's face flickered away as he drew a breath and said, "Gu Jiu Ling… you… don't go too far."

"I've searched for you over three months, scoured every inch of Southern Qi's land, truly risking my life to find you—can't you show me a little pity?"

"Pity my head—who drove me to this state? Who ignored me, had people watch me and restrict my freedom? Who forced me away from your side?"

"Fine! Let's not talk about anything else for now—my maternal grandfather killed tens of thousands of your brothers; you might let me off, but what about all those people around you? How could they possibly let me go?"

"Xiao Yin, you've always been smart—how can you not see this now?"

"There's no possible future for us! Please just leave me an escape route—I don't want to stay entangled with you any longer, that's all."

Finally…

At last the two stood face to face, unable to avoid confronting the tragedy of Qi Sha Gu—this, too, was their personal tragedy.

Xiao Yin stared fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling's face, which had flushed slightly from anger.

He could clearly see the tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

Xiao Yin instinctively lifted his hand and gently brushed her cheek.

Gu Jiu Ling didn't know whether it was Xiao Yin's touch or the sting of her tears, but she twitched slightly.

Xiao Yin's distinct‑knuckled fingers lightly wiped away the tears at the corner of her eye, then he sighed deeply and whispered, "But you like me, don't you?"

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes widened in disbelief at the shameless man beneath her; she bit her lip, increased the grip of her hand, and dug her nails in hard.

Xiao Yin laughed despite the pain and repeated, "Your eyes can't fool me—you like me, down to the bone."

"You can't fool yourself either!"

"I like you too—I used you at first, but later I came to like you."

"Our mutual affection is enough."

Gu Jiu Ling gritted her teeth and snarled, "Is even the ten‑plus‑thousand lives of Qi Sha Gu not enough?"

A flash of pain crossed Xiao Yin's eyes as he drew a breath and said slowly, "When your maternal grandfather committed his evil deeds, you were still a child—how could you be blamed?"

Gu Jiu Ling froze for a moment, not expecting him to say that, and for a while didn't know how to respond.

Xiao Yin continued calmly, "Besides, the Qi Sha Gu affair involves far too many parties; your maternal grandfather is merely one thread among many, and we still need to investigate further."

"Gu Yatou, I'm truly swamped, utterly busy—please don't stab me in the back; I really can't take it."

Gu Jiu Ling felt a sharp pang in her chest, but she didn't want to let him notice on the surface.

"Hah! If you could let me go, how could the people around you possibly let me go?"

Xiao Yin lifted his gaze to Gu Jiu Ling, his expression unprecedentedly solemn, and said, word by word, "You are the mother of my children, the mistress of Rui Wang Fu's young heir and the young commandery princess—who would dare say no?"

Gu Jiu Ling's spirit instantly deflated a few notches, though she still carried a stubborn, obstinate streak.

"Heh, but what if—"

"No 'what if'!" Xiao Yin cut off Gu Jiu Ling's words, and at the same time shattered all her worries.

He paused, then said, "From now on, whoever tries to kill you, I will kill them—no matter who! Even if my own father acts against you, I will overturn his tomb—will that satisfy you?"

Gu Jiu Ling was utterly dumbfounded, unable to utter a word for a moment.

She hadn't expected Xiao Yin to protect her to this extent—after all, all she ever wanted was his promise, wasn't it?

Her brows furrowed slightly, yet though a man's mouth is a deceitful ghost, this time she hesitated.

Xiao Yin looked at her, then slowly untied a black‑iron token from his disheveled belt and placed it before her.

"This token can punish anyone under my command, mobilize all of my wealth and property, and order all the forces I have hidden away—will you keep it for me? Is that enough?"

Gu Jiu Ling froze, staring hard at the black‑iron token Xiao Yin had thrust before her eyes.

Inside, however, a tidal wave surged—his act was tantamount to placing his very life in her hands.

Gu Jiu Ling instinctively tried to push it away, but Xiao Yin forced it into her hand, and her gaze turned icy.

Gu Jiu Ling, I've given you all the face I could; if you still refuse to go with me, I'll blow up Peach Blossom Island and toss everyone on it into the sea to feed the fish.

Wherever you hide, I'll blow up there—I'll keep blowing up until you come back with me!

I, Xiao Yin, am not a good person—think carefully!

Gu Jiu Ling instantly flared up—good grief, those last few lines must be his real intent, right?

His few tender words just now almost made Gu Jiu Ling forget what sort of beast his nature really is.

"Go die!" Gu Jiu Ling hurled the token at Xiao Yin's head.

The watching guards outside all exclaimed in unison, seeing the Princess Consort astride the Prince, she raised her hand—unsure what she held—and smashed it straight onto the Prince's head.

Tsk tsk tsk…

Thrilling!