Chapter 173

Through her bronze mask, Yao Yue's gaze scrutinized Gu Qing. Originally, Yao Yue had hated Gu Qing to the core, but seeing him defend her now made her feel that Gu Qing had some redeeming qualities.

Of course, even with redeeming qualities, Yao Yue still intended to kill Gu Qing. Because the matter of Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque was a scheme Yao Yue had been planning for over a decade, this hatred had already twisted her mind; Yao Yue would never allow anyone to interfere with her plans.

Disguising herself as Mr. Tong and mingling by Gu Qing's side was merely to ask how many people knew that Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque were brothers, and then kill them all together.

"Gu Guo Guo Daxia, protecting your wife with such righteousness—a true hero indeed!"

Gu Qing's slap on the table startled Qiu Qingbo, who cupped his hands at Gu Qing and approached him.

This Qiu Qingbo was the head of the Qiu Sect of Eastern Zhejiang, belonging to a family of spearmen. He was also one of the figures who had followed Master Huangji and the others during the treasure hunt on Mount Emei. His wife was the greatest beauty in Suzhou. In *The Peerless Twin Prides*, one of the Ten Great Villains, Xuan Yuan Sanguang, had forced Qiu Qingbo into a gamble with his wife as the stake; Qiu Qingbo had chosen to commit suicide rather than gamble.

Now, hearing Gu Qing's words, Qiu Qingbo felt they were perfectly to his taste and couldn't help but step forward to praise him.

Gu Qing cupped his hands in greeting to Qiu Qingbo.

"Gu Guo Guo Daxia, on Mount Emei, you said this treasure conspiracy was the work of the Jiangnan hero Jiang Biehe. After that, most of us treasure hunters went to seek justice from Jiang Biehe. Wang Yizhao of the Eagle Claw Sect specifically snuck into Jiang Biehe's study and found Jiang Biehe's secrets."

Qiu Qingbo said, "Jiang Biehe is currently fleeing toward Dongting, seemingly looking for some kind of protection. I received a letter from Wang Yizhao and have come specifically to assist."

Qiu Qingbo and Wang Yizhao had a friendship spanning generations; if one family had trouble, the other would always step up.

"Seeking protection..."

Gu Qing seemed to think of something; he hesitated slightly, then changed the subject.

At this time, the group discussed some matters in the Jianghu, such as Li Dazui of the Ten Great Villains emerging into the Jianghu, and the Sanxiang Wu Lin Alliance leader Tie Wushuang currently hunting him down. There were also rumors that the Ten Great Villains were infighting.

Gu Qing talked with these people for a while. Seeing that the time was right and the people on the small boat were prepared, Gu Qing finished his tea, bid farewell to the group, and walked toward the small boat.

Mr. Tong, the incarnation of Yao Yue, followed closely behind Gu Qing. After Gu Qing boarded the boat, with a flicker of movement, she arrived at his side.

The cabin where Gu Qing stayed was very clean. After looking around, Yao Yue was quite approving and said, "You are a person who loves cleanliness."

"Actually, I wasn't so particular before."

Gu Qing smiled and said, "It's just that after falling for the Palace Mistress of the Migrating Flower Palace, I learned through inquiries that she loves cleanliness most of all, so I forced myself to change. I really don't want to leave a bad impression on her."

Such words made Yao Yue take another look at Gu Qing. She hadn't expected this madman who was infatuated with her to be so devoted.

"Then do you know who I am?"

Yao Yue asked coldly.

Gu Qing looked at Yao Yue, smiled, and said, "I heard from Hua Wuque that after he left the Migrating Flower Palace, he had to take orders from Mr. Tong. Could you be the good friend of the Palace Mistress, Mr. Tong?"

Yao Yue nodded and said, "You have some discernment."

Gu Qing smiled.

"You should also know what I do."

Yao Yue asked indifferently.

"I know."

Gu Qing naturally knew that Yao Yue had come to silence him, but he said calmly, "However, before I see the Palace Mistress, I will not say a single word."

Yao Yue's eyes were extremely cold.

"If I were to speak, I fear I would never see the Palace Mistress."

Gu Qing said with a smile.

Yao Yue's voice was cold as she said, "What a devoted person. I wonder what it is about the Palace Mistress that has you so bewitched."

Yao Yue herself was also very curious. "Warblers and swallows, spring and spring; flowers and willows, true and real; matters and things, grace and charm; delicate and tender, poised and proper, a person."

Gu Qing chanted in contemplation, his thoughts drifting far away.

Yao Yue snorted coldly and said, "Do you take the Palace Mistress for a demon like 'True and Real'?"

In the present world, there was a legend that a Tang Dynasty scholar obtained a scroll called 'True and Real.' Every night when he called out, 'True and Real' would emerge from the painting to share his bed. After a year, they had a son. Later, the scholar's friend suspected her of being a demon and prepared to kill her. 'True and Real' said she was originally a fairy, and from then on, she returned to the painting and never came out again.

Stories of such fairies in paintings made many scholars unable to forget them.

"She is my fairy in the painting."

Gu Qing said calmly.

Yao Yue was caught off guard by this direct confession. She paused for a moment and said, "The metaphors are forced, the elegance is far-fetched. Qiao Ji's use of these stacked words is truly ugly; he isn't even fit to carry Li Yian's shoes!"

Yao Yue began attacking the author of the song directly.

"..."

!

Gu Qing was speechless. After taking a sip of tea, he said, "If you say so, then it is so."

Yao Yue seemed to have won a point and felt smug. Only then did she pick up the teacup, noting that it was quite exquisite and the pattern was crafted with ingenuity. After admiring it, she took a sip.

Hunan was a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, with winding rivers. Gu Qing and "Mr. Tong" took a boat toward Dongting, enjoying quite a bit of scenery along the way.

That day, as the boat was traveling, sounds of fighting suddenly came from ahead. Gu Qing stood at the bow to look and saw that the person being hunted was Shen Qinghong. This was the man Gu Qing had rescued while disguised as Yan Nantian, and he had also contributed greatly to digging up the treasure in Ouyang Ting's underground palace. Seeing him being hunted now, Gu Qing naturally would not stand idly by.

"Whoosh!"

Gu Qing flicked his finger while still in the cabin, and a pine nut shot through the air toward the shore. With a *clang*, a long saber was knocked from a hand and sent flying. The person hunting Shen Qinghong slowed his pace and looked toward the cabin.

"Gu Guo Guo Daxia!"

Seeing Gu Qing, Shen Qinghong was deeply moved and called out loudly.

Gu Qing, still in the cabin, suddenly leaped out. After cultivating the Wedding Dress Divine Art, his internal energy was fierce; when he unleashed it, he lacked his usual calm and ease, possessing instead a bit more ferocity and dominance. After this leap, Gu Qing stepped on the air with one foot, flipped over, and landed like a hungry tiger jumping a ravine.

Yao Yue, watching from behind, saw this lightness skill, and her eyes suddenly turned cold. She stared fixedly at Gu Qing; even Yao Yue could not match such lightness skill.

The man who had dropped his saber retreated repeatedly. He wanted to leave, but seeing Shen Qinghong, he hesitated.

"Fine, fine, fine. Shen Qinghong, you've won this round again!"

The man who had dropped his golden saber said coldly.

Gu Qing's intervention made the man feel that revenge was hopeless.

Gu Qing stared at the man and suddenly asked, "Tie Rulong?"

The man was very surprised. He hadn't expected Gu Qing to call out his name. He nodded and said, "Indeed, I am Tie Rulong."

Shen Qinghong and Tie Rulong had once been good friends. When they were competing to be the head escort, Tie Rulong's martial arts were superior to Shen Qinghong's, but Shen Qinghong had used a scheme to wound Tie Rulong. Since then, Tie Rulong had disappeared without a trace. Shen Qinghong had wanted to apologize, but firstly, he couldn't find Tie Rulong, and secondly, he had been trapped in the mountains for over a decade.

Originally, Tie Rulong should have died in the chaos when Xiao Yu'er was trapped in the cave and threw out many treasures, inciting the Jianghu people to kill each other. Now, Gu Qing had killed the Offering Fruit God and rescued Shen Qinghong, which had indirectly saved Tie Rulong's life as well.

"I have heard of the grudge between the two of you."

Gu Qing looked at them and said, "Planting thorns is not as good as planting peaches and plums. You two haven't seen each other for many years; why not talk it over before drawing swords?"

Gu Qing displayed his benevolent, heroic persona of valuing harmony above all.

(End of chapter)