Chapter 178: This Family

"Pain! Too much pain!"

"Lost forever, my beloved—everything lies in ruins!"

"My love, why are you hiding from me?"

Gu Qing spoke with deep emotion, freely teasing.

Yao Yue stood before Gu Qing, feeling as if thorns pierced her back; Jiang Feng's elopement with Hua Yuenü had always filled her with hatred, but Gu Qing's teasing now made her feel deeply ashamed.

"Hua Wúque, kill Jiang Xiaoyu!"

Yao Yue barked the order in fury.

Hua Wúque lifted his eyes and looked at Gu Qing.

"Why are you looking at him?"

Yao Yue snapped: "You and Jiang Xiaoyu are born enemies—your fates are sealed: one of you must die by the other's hand."

Hua Wúque turned to Jiang Xiaoyu; they stared at each other, bewildered as to why they had become natural foes.

"You handled this rather crudely."

Gu Qing remarked from the side: "If I were you, making Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wúque fight would be easy—I'd force Tie Xinlan upon Hua Wúque, then send Hua Wúque to kill Li Dazui, Tu Jiaojiao, and the rest of Jiang Xiaoyu's kin; Jiang Xiaoyu would surely fight him to the death."

Yao Yue fell silent at once.

Jiang Xiaoyu panicked, grabbing Gu Qing's sleeve: "Brother Gu, which side are you on?!"

"I'm on both sides!"

Gu Qing chuckled.

Xiao Yu frowned—helping both sides? That was just stoking the fire!

"Your current strength is too low. Go train with Yan Nantian when you have time."

Gu Qing patted Xiao Yu's shoulder: "You've wandered the Jianghu long enough—you should know by now: is it better to learn from Yan Nantian, or from Li Dazui, Tu Jiaojiao, and the like?"

When facing hardship, Xiao Yu had once wondered why he didn't learn from Yan Nantian, why he chose Li Dazui, why he insisted on playing petty schemes.

"Yan Nantian has a set of Five Supreme Divine Arts. Go see it."

Gu Qing said—the Five Supreme Divine Arts scripture had been shared with Xiao Xiannü and Murong Jiu; Xiao Xiannü had returned to Yan Nantian's side and would surely have him guide her, so Xiao Yu could tag along and pick up some insights too.

Yao Yue's eyes flickered slightly: "Five Supreme Divine Arts?"

All the scriptures, weapons, and jewels from Ouyang Ting's underground palace had been sent to the Yihua Palace; Yao Yue had read many of those scriptures—they were drafts and notes left by the Five Supremes as they sought to create the Five Supreme Divine Arts, containing countless martial arts, but the true essence lay in the Five Supreme Divine Arts they aimed to forge.

"Ah!"

Gu Qing slapped his forehead: "My stealth techniques and the Five Supreme Divine Arts were originally meant for my immortal."

Not for you anymore!

Yao Yue turned her face aside, gazing toward Dongting Lake, saying nothing.

"Let's call it a day."

Gu Qing looked at Hua Wúque: "Since you called me Master's Master, I'll teach you the Lianhua Treasure Mirror—it contains the darkest tricks of the Jianghu. Study it well, accumulate experience."

Of Jianghu's dark arts, Gu Qing knew the most—especially during his time in the Lu Xiaofeng world, when he swept through the Japanese Wu Lin, crushing the Koga, Iga, Jiechuan, Genrai, Na, Takeda, Akiba, Shin'i, and other schools; these Japanese were masters of clandestine martial arts. Gu Qing collected their scriptures and combined them with the Lianhua Treasure Mirror to give Hua Wúque a proper lesson.

"Thank you, Master's Master."

Hua Wúque bowed to Gu Qing.

In good spirits, Gu Qing recited passages from the Lianhua Treasure Mirror, along with some Japanese ninja techniques.

Hua Yuenü's two sons were both extraordinary talents—Hua Wúque had already become a top-tier martial artist, easily defeating the Emei Sect's leader; Jiang Xiaoyu, with the Five Supreme Divine Arts, could rise swiftly to elite status within two or three years. Now, merely by reciting, Gu Qing caused both Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wúque to memorize every word, even grasping subtle essences.

Jiang Xiaoyu realized from these verses: if Gu Qing wished, he could be even more ruthless than the villains—but he chose not to use such methods, instead shining through martial prowess alone.

The scripture recitation ended past noon.

Hua Wúque was still pondering the teachings, especially the Lianhua Treasure Mirror and Japanese martial arts, while Jiang Xiaoyu had already rushed to Gu Qing, begging him to buy more time so Hua Wúque would pause his pursuit.

"Iron Wushuang, leader of the Three Xiang Martial Alliance, is Li Dazui's father-in-law."

Jiang Xiaoyu said: "Back then, Li Dazui killed his wife and daughter, boiled and ate them, then fled to the Wicked Men's Valley. Now he's returned to the Jianghu—Iron Wushuang won't let him go. Iron Wushuang is fair and just, and I deeply admire him. But Li Dazui is nearby…"

After Iron Wushuang's daughter married Li Dazui, she looked down on him and cheated on him. Li Dazui pleaded with her, but she refused to return—so he killed her, boiled her, and sent his daughter to a friend's home. There, she suffered abuse, and by chance ended up in the Yihua Palace, where she became Tie Pinggu.

Now, Li Dazui, Tu Jiaojiao, and others are hunting the Ouyang brothers, fellow members of the Ten Evils.

Because the Ouyang brothers embezzled a treasure belonging to the Ten Evils.

Jiang Xiaoyu is caught in the middle—he doesn't want a hero like Iron Wushuang harmed, nor does he want Li Dazui and the others who raised him hurt.

!

"Minor matter."

Upon hearing Jiang Xiaoyu's request, Gu Qing casually ordered Hua Wúque: "For the next six months, do not pursue Jiang Xiaoyu."

"Yes!"

Hua Wúque bowed deeply in compliance.

Yao Yue's brows shot up: "Who gave you permission to obey him?"

"Hmm?"

Gu Qing glanced sideways at Yao Yue—If you're unwilling, I'll reveal the truth about Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wúque's relationship.

Yao Yue met that gaze, stomped her foot in fury, and said: "Fine! Six months!"

Hua Wúque stared, stunned—his master, usually rigid and cold, had just been silenced by a single glance from Gu Qing, acting like a meek little wife. He'd never imagined such a sight on Yao Yue, not even in dreams.

"Brother Gu!"

Jiang Xiaoyu gripped Gu Qing's hand, admiringly: "You're so manly!"

This family's status is too high!

"Go."

Gu Qing smiled faintly, offered no defense, and let Jiang Xiaoyu leave with Tie Xinlan.

"Wander the Jianghu more. Experience its human ways."

Gu Qing looked at Hua Wúque.

Hua Wúque nodded in agreement, took his leave.

Finally, Gu Qing turned to Yao Yue—by now, she was pale with rage. He teased: "Perfectly beautiful, yet not perfectly good."

Yao Yue turned away with a sharp breath and walked off.

"Are you returning to the Yihua Palace?"

Gu Qing followed close behind—he noticed Yao Yue was heading not toward Huarong County, realizing she was so furious she'd forgotten Jiang Biehe and his son. Of course, he made no reminder.

(End of Chapter)