Chapter 175

"Please, Senior, save me..."

Jiang Biehe kowtowed and cried out.

He had plotted many schemes and provoked a large group of Jianghu people, but after being exposed by Gu Qing, he had faced their backlash. Over the past decade, Jiang Biehe had also diligently practiced martial arts and could be considered capable in the Wu Lin, but he could not withstand a pack of wolves.

Gu Qing's gaze turned to Jiang Yulang. Compared to Jiang Biehe, the big beast, Jiang Yulang, the little beast, was oily, lustful, ruthless, and even more disgusting.

Back in Ouyang Ting's underground palace, Gu Qing had already locked him up. Apparently, during the subsequent treasure digging, Jiang Yulang, that little brat, had dug another tunnel and escaped... One must know that the secret hideout Jiang Yulang dug was very close to the treasure cave; it was in that tunnel that Xiao Yu'er had noticed the water flowing downward and dug his way into the underground palace.

"Xiao Yun Jushi, Wang Yizhao, Feng Tianyu... these people are relentless. And there is also Jiang Feng's child, Jiang Xiaoyu. He is with the daughter of the Mad Lion Tie Zhan, and they have also repeatedly tried to kill me."

Jiang Biehe had indeed been having a miserable time lately.

Yao Yue looked at Gu Qing.

All of this had started because of Gu Qing.

"Where have you been hiding lately?"

Gu Qing suddenly asked.

Jiang Biehe knew that the Gu Qing before him was the true culprit who had caused his current misery, but with Yao Yue present, he could only answer truthfully: "We are in a tunnel in the city."

"Keep hiding."

Gu Qing said, "After we finish our business, we will come to deal with you."

It was only because Yao Yue was present that Gu Qing had to maintain his persona; otherwise, one sword would have sent these two to meet Long Xiaoyun and his son.

"But they are almost on our trail."

Jiang Biehe knew that Gu Qing saying this meant he didn't want to be bothered with them, so he hurriedly begged, "By the time they find us, my son and I will be dead."

Gu Qing looked at Yao Yue and simply took the matter upon himself, saying, "Keep hiding. I will help you seal the entrance. When the Palace Mistress and I finish our business, we will return to rescue you."

The Jiang father and son were both considered experts in the Jianghu; hiding for a day or two was nothing.

With Yao Yue behind this, Jiang Biehe had no other choice. He could only lead Gu Qing and Yao Yue to a dry well in a manor where he was hiding. People of this era would often dig pits underground to store money, and this dry well had a small hole on one side. After entering, there was quite a bit of space, and there were even air vents; it could be said to be well-prepared.

Gu Qing prepared three days of dry biscuits and fresh water for the Jiang father and son, then moved stones to seal and bury the hole at the bottom of the dry well. Only then did he leap up and arrive at Yao Yue's side.

"Does coming to rescue them violate your principles again?"

Yao Yue's voice seemed devoid of emotion.

"For you, I can do evil."

Gu Qing said firmly.

For a devoted fool like Gu Qing, what else could Yao Yue say?

Loyalty!

The two faced each other in silence for a moment before Yao Yue suddenly asked, "Are we still going to Dongtinghu?"

Their marriage was originally Gu Qing forcing Yao Yue to wed, and Yao Yue luring Gu Qing to meet. Now that both knew each other's identities, whether they went to Dongtinghu or not didn't matter.

"Yes, we must go."

Gu Qing said, "To be able to drift on Dongtinghu with the Palace Mistress, I would have no regrets even in death."

Yao Yue nodded.

Huarong County was not far from Dongting. Gu Qing and the Palace Mistress could both leap nearly ten *zhang* in a single bound. Dusk was approaching, a cool breeze was blowing, and the two flew side by side without a word. With such lightness skill, they arrived at the shores of Dongtinghu before they knew it.

Dongtinghu was vast and misty, with a very long shoreline. The Jianghu people who wanted to watch the spectacle of Gu Qing and the Palace Mistress naturally couldn't watch every spot, but most of the boats near the shore had Jianghu people nearby, either pretending to fish or having a picnic, drinking wine and eating meat, and discussing martial arts—it was very lively.

Gu Qing and Yao Yue stood on the treetops, looking at the endless misty Dongtinghu and the Jianghu people watching the spectacle nearby.

"Courting death!"

Yao Yue's voice held hidden malice as she said, "Whoever dares to follow, I will have them die!"

As she spoke, Yao Yue prepared to go down and seize a boat directly.

"There is no need for that."

Gu Qing had already planned for this. He signaled for Yao Yue to stand on the treetop while he leaped into the mountain forest. After about a moment, a ring of light suddenly appeared in the deep mountains, divine light shimmering, visible from afar.

The Jianghu people watching the spectacle below saw this and suspected a treasure had appeared. One by one, they unleashed their lightness skills and flew toward the mountains. The area where they were watching the boats naturally became empty. Gu Qing flew over, arrived at the ferry with Yao Yue, paid the silver, and Gu Qing took the boat. A small skiff quietly merged into the night of Dongtinghu.

"What was that divine light about?"

Yao Yue asked in surprise.

"Pine resin powder."

Gu Qing said, "Wei Wuya's followers are all extremely greedy. I used this pine resin powder to disguise a divine light, which will surely attract them. It also ensures that we will not be disturbed on Dongtinghu."

Yao Yue looked toward the deep mountains. The light there had faded, but many Jianghu people were still rushing toward it. She imagined that when these people arrived, there would surely be a fight for the treasure. She couldn't help but think of Gu Qing's words: "For you, I can do evil."

This benevolent and righteous Jianghu hero now seemed to have truly transformed into a calculating, sinister villain.

A bright moon hung in the vast sky, illuminating the ten thousand *qing* of misty waves on Dongtinghu, bright and clear.

Yao Yue stood gracefully at the bow of the boat, possessing the bearing of a flying immortal.

"How many people know about the matter of Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque?"

!

Yao Yue's voice suddenly turned cold as she asked indifferently.

She had brought Gu Qing to Dongtinghu to ensure he couldn't escape or send out a message, and to kill him in this deserted place.

"Only I know."

Gu Qing's voice was gentle.

"Oh..."

Yao Yue turned around indifferently.

"Palace Mistress Yao Yue."

Gu Qing said very calmly, "Actually, I understand what you mean. I also know that after uncovering Jiang Xiaoyu's secret, you will definitely kill me. I am willing to die by your hand, and I will never disrupt your plans."

Yao Yue's eyes were cold as she stared at Gu Qing, who was rowing at the stern. The boat was less than two *zhang* long; for Yao Yue, this distance could be crossed in a single step.

"To be able to drift on Dongtinghu under the moon with the Palace Mistress, I have not lived this life in vain."

Gu Qing smiled and said, "I also know that chasing after the Palace Mistress is like a moth to a flame, destined to have no result. But having gone through the process of coming to Dongtinghu side by side, I am already very happy."

Gu Qing seemed to have prepared himself for death.

Such realization made Yao Yue pause slightly.

"Palace Mistress Yao Yue."

Gu Qing looked at Yao Yue and said, "Before I die, I have only one wish, and that is to hope you can remove your mask and let me see your fairy face one last time."

Gu Qing had humbled himself to the extreme.

Yao Yue looked at Gu Qing and suddenly sighed softly, saying, "Gu Qing, I don't think I will ever forget you." As she spoke, Yao Yue gently removed the ferocious mask from her face.

It was indeed a peerless face, bright yet cold, ethereal yet soul-capturing.

Seeing such a face made Gu Qing's heart twitch violently, and then his expression gradually changed.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Yao Yue's voice held a hint of softness. If not, Yao Yue was going to act.

"Yes..."

Gu Qing said with a hint of strangeness and trembling, looking at Yao Yue, "Can you tell me where Palace Mistress Lianxing is?"

Yao Yue frowned slightly.

"I might have... been mistaken all along..."

Gu Qing said with a trembling voice, "The fairy in the painting I was looking for should be Lianxing..."

I'm not going to die!

(End of chapter)