Chapter 169: The Betrothal Gift for Yao Yue

Jiang Biehe secretly plotted, distributing the treasure map across the martial world, pointing to the tombs of Emei Sect's ancestral masters, intending to incite martial artists to fight each other and plunge the world into chaos.

When Gu Qing, disguised as Yan Nannan, arrived here with Zhang Jing, both sides were already locked in a standoff.

On one side were the treasure-seekers led by Master Huangji and Scholar Xiao Yun, eager to pry open the coffins of Emei's past abbots to find the hidden treasures; on the other side stood Master Shenxi, the Emei Sect's abbot, along with his disciples, determined to protect the ancestral coffins.

Xiao Yuer was also among them, aiming to stop the conflict.

"Stop this!"

Gu Qing let out a thunderous shout, leaping into the center like a hungry tiger springing across a ravine; the wind he carried made the candles flicker violently, causing both sides to freeze mid-action, staring in shock at the figure in the middle.

He was gaunt and emaciated, with sharp eyes and an iron sword in hand, resembling a destitute beggar.

Yet this beggar radiated a towering presence—standing there alone, he seemed forged from iron, making everyone dare not move.

"Huu…"

Gu Qing suddenly exhaled; his true qi condensed into a fine white thread, striking the iron sword of an Emei disciple fifty feet away—there was a sharp "clang," and the blade snapped in two.

At this, everyone in the crowd trembled with fear.

Master Shenxi shuddered slightly, recalling one name, and asked: "Are you the great hero Yan Nannan?"

Some names, even after many years, still carry the weight of a thousand catties.

"Correct."

Gu Qing spoke gravely: "I am Yan Nannan. I know you've been deceived by a villain, and I've come here to halt this conflict."

Xiao Yuer's eyes darted around—he realized Gu Qing was using Yan Nannan's identity to intimidate everyone.

Master Shenxi sighed deeply and said: "If the great hero Yan Nannan has come, what more can Emei say? We only hope everyone will withdraw and not desecrate our ancestors' coffins."

Master Huangji, Scholar Xiao Yun, and others now bowed humbly to Gu Qing, then paid their respects to Master Shenxi, their eyes filled with reluctant longing.

"Hahahaha…"

Gu Qing let out a loud laugh and said: "You all came seeking Yan Nannan's treasure—do you truly believe Yan Nannan's treasure would be buried in the coffins of Emei's ancestors?"

Master Huangji suddenly realized: "We've been tricked?"

"Correct."

Gu Qing said: "This is the work of a conspiracy. Had it not been for Gu Qing's insight, who summoned me here, the consequences would have been dire."

Who is Gu Qing?

Aside from Xiao Yuer and Zhang Jing, most in the crowd were puzzled.

"Gu Qing… hmm…"

"Yan Nannan" sighed: "He pities the wicked, rejoices in virtue, rescues the desperate, and saves the endangered. In my view, Gu Qing is a true ancient knight-errant. He knew I was trapped in the Valley of Evils, spent months hiding there, and rescued me. He knew my treasure was fake, traveled across several provinces, and uncovered the truth."

"A promise is worth a thousand gold; a word carries the weight of nine tripods. Three cups of wine seal a vow, five mountains bow before it. The martial world once praised me as a great hero—but compared to Gu Qing, I fall far short."

When praising himself, Gu Qing never held back.

Xiao Yuer, hearing this, felt nauseated.

"You—"

Zhang Jing could no longer bear Gu Qing using Yan Nannan's identity to elevate himself; she tried to stop him, but meeting Gu Qing's gaze, she instead blurted: "Father, you are a true hero!"

Zhang Jing was reminding Gu Qing to remember his disguise as Yan Nannan.

"Hero."

"Yan Nannan" smiled proudly: "One who has never met Gu Qing may call himself a hero—but he is nothing without knowing Gu Qing. My heroism only became real after I met him."

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Xiao Yuer couldn't hold back—he stepped forward, glaring at Gu Qing disguised as Yan Nannan, and shouted: "Great Hero Yan Nannan! Your deeds are legendary in the martial world, yet Gu Qing is unknown! I simply cannot understand what's so worthy of praise!" "Exactly! Exactly!"

Zhang Jing, rarely agreeing with Xiao Yuer, now nodded in agreement.

"Hahahahaha…"

"Yan Nannan" threw his head back and laughed, turning to Zhang Jing: "Did Gu Qing rescue me from the Valley of Evils and reunite me with my wife and family? Is that not an act of chivalry?"

Zhang Jing pouted, speechless.

"And as for the fake treasure—Gu Qing traveled across provinces, investigated meticulously, and uncovered the true villain behind it all: Jiang Biehe, the great hero of the south. Is that not heroic?"

"Jiang Biehe?"

"How could it be him?"

"Could there be a mistake?"

!

Jiang Biehe, the great hero of the south, had an excellent reputation.

"Of course not."

"Yan Nannan" roared decisively: "This Jiang Biehe is the very enemy I hunt. Once, he was Jiang Feng's servant, Jiang Qin. He betrayed my brother Jiang Feng, leading to Jiang Feng and his wife's deaths at the hands of the Twelve Stars. Now, he's transformed himself into the great hero of the south—I'm going to find him and settle the score!"

"Yan Nantian" snapped: "This Jiang Biehe is the enemy I'm hunting—once Jiang Feng's servant Jiang Qin, he betrayed my brother Jiang Feng, leading Jiang Feng and his wife to their deaths at the hands of the Twelve Zodiacs. Now he's turned himself into the Great Hero of the Jiangnan Region—I'm going to settle the score with him!"

Hearing the names of these enemies, Xiao Yuer fell silent.

Master Shenxi, Master Huangji, Scholar Xiao Yun, and others now understood why Yan Nannan held Gu Qing in such high esteem—by his actions alone, Gu Qing had rendered immense aid to Yan Nannan.

"So… there really are no treasures in this cave?"

At some point, three new figures had entered the cave—a man and two women. The young man was exceptionally elegant, like a refined gentleman, yet his noble bearing marked him as a nobleman's son, utterly unlike ordinary martial artists. The two women carried natural arrogance on their faces; one, a round-faced girl, loudly asked "Yan Nannan":

In the cave, three people had appeared— one man and two women. The young man was strikingly elegant, like a gentle scholar, yet his air of nobility marked him as a nobleman's son, utterly unlike common wanderers of the Jianghu. The two women carried natural haughtiness on their faces; one, a round-faced girl, shouted loudly at "Yan Nantian."

"Yan Nannan" saw them and seemed to bristle with anger, but suppressed it, saying: "There is treasure in Emei Mountain."

"Yan Nantian" saw the three and seemed angry, but suppressed it, saying: "Mount Emei holds a treasure."

This stunned everyone in the crowd.

The noble young man was Hua Wuxue, the other protagonist of The Peerless Twins. He bowed and asked: "Where is this treasure?"

"Yan Nannan" stared at the noble youth and said: "You resemble Jiang Feng so much… never mind. The treasure has been found by Gu Qing and is to be delivered to the Yihua Palace. If you descend now, you should see Gu Qing and Shen Qinghong."

"Yan Nannan" finished speaking, then quickly pulled Little Fairy Zhang Jing and left.

"Great Hero Yan—"

Hua Wuxue bowed from behind, puzzled: "Why give the treasure to the Yihua Palace?"

Hua Wuxue and his companions had come to find treasure—suddenly, someone handed them the meal before they even reached the table, and it felt deeply odd.

"Because Gu Qing is a romantic gentleman. He once saw Yao Yue from afar and swore to become a man worthy of her. This treasure is Gu Qing's betrothal gift to Yao Yue."

"Yan Nannan's" voice faded into the distance.

Master Huangji, Scholar Xiao Yun, and others who had still hoped to seize the treasure now fell silent upon hearing it was Yao Yue's betrothal gift.

Yao Yue is a fairy—and a demon.

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)