Chapter 195: Gu Qing Knows How to Spice Things Up

Murong Fu has arrived!

Murong Fu has fallen!

Murong Fu wants to cry!

To restore the Yan state, Murong Fu endured any hardship, trained diligently for years, rose to prominence in the Jianghu and earned the name "Southern Murong"—but before Gu Qing, he couldn't even survive one strike, defeated outright; faced with Gu Qing's puzzled gaze and questioning tone, Murong Fu felt like spitting blood.

"Cousin."

Wang Yuyan hurried toward Murong Fu.

"Don't come closer!"

Murong Fu barked sharply.

As a member of the Yan royal family, Murong Fu had always been arrogant, regarding no one in the world as worthy of notice—but after being defeated in a single strike by Gu Qing, shame and fury filled his chest; he wished he could die right then and there, and didn't want anyone to recognize him.

Startled by the shout, Wang Yuyan halted her steps and apologized: "Cousin, I didn't know you were planning an ambush—I only raised the alarm out of instinct." Wang Yuyan believed her warning had angered Murong Fu.

Murong Fu's eyes rolled back in rage—why, of all times, did she mention the word "ambush"?

Being defeated in one strike was already disgraceful; adding "ambush" to it—how could he ever show his face in the Jianghu again?

"Not so, not so!"

Another man lying on the ground spoke up: "Prince Murong is pursuing a grand cause, enduring humiliation to eliminate unjust men—he employs grand strategies like 'repairing the plank road while secretly marching through Chen Cang.' How could that be called an ambush?"

Hearing this, Murong Fu felt slightly better.

"So it's deception. It's an ambush."

Gu Qing turned to the man who had said "not so, not so," knowing this was Bao Budifferent.

Bao Budifferent was born with a foul temper; Murong Fu sought to unite the Jianghu to restore his state, but Bao Budifferent constantly offended them. Some said Murong Fu should dismiss him—but Bao Budifferent was a hereditary servant, born with a lifetime iron rice bowl.

They were a perfect match.

"Not so, not so—if we're talking about ambushes, who could ambush better than Lord Gu Qing?"

Bao Budifferent, heedless of life or death, specialized in arguing for the sake of argument.

Gu Qing ignored Bao Budifferent and turned to Wang Yuyan: "Wang Miss, keep shouting 'Cousin, Cousin' nearby—make it sound as heart-wrenching as possible."

Wang Yuyan had seen Gu Qing knock Murong Fu down; her attitude toward him had turned icy. Now she glared and asked: "Why?"

"Because it makes me feel more satisfied when I beat Murong Fu."

Gu Qing smiled, rolling up his sleeves.

Better to directly lash Murong Fu than argue with Bao Budifferent.

"Sssss…"

"You…"

Some of Murong's fallen retainers could no longer hold back—shouldn't this scene be reversed? Shouldn't Gu Qing be lashing Wang Yuyan while Murong Fu cries "Cousin, Cousin!"?

Wang Yuyan was innocent and didn't understand—she cared for Murong Fu; how could she possibly assist Gu Qing in his amusement?

"Lord Gu."

Madam Wang stepped forward, her figure full and poised, to mediate: "I've heard you issued a challenge to the Murong family. Now that they've lost, show mercy where you can."

Murong Fu, hearing "the Murong family has lost," kept his face dark throughout.

Gu Qing glanced at Madam Wang, then at Wang Yuyan: "Wang Miss, you should plead for mercy too."

Concerned for Murong Fu, Wang Yuyan bowed respectfully: "I beg Lord Gu Qing to show mercy."

Gu Qing nodded, then turned to A Bi: "A Bi, you should plead for mercy too."

A Bi looked around, stepped forward, and begged Gu Qing for clemency.

Gu Qing then called upon several others to publicly beg for mercy, thereby earning a great deal of good merit.

"Enough."

Gu Qing looked at Murong Fu: "You may leave."

Murong Fu's face was ashen; today's crushing defeat, followed by being spared only because women begged for him—Murong Fu felt utterly lifeless.

"Lord Gu Qing."

At that moment, A Bi hurried forward: "You dug up our master's grave to force our lord into battle; now that our lord has surrendered, please return our master's coffin."

Gongye Qian returned to Swallow's Nest and found, to his horror, the grave had truly been dug up. Gu Qing hadn't been joking—this sent the Murong family into an uproar, and now they showed Gu Qing no martial virtue whatsoever.

"I can return the coffin."

Gu Qing fixed his gaze on Murong Fu: "But from now on, you must accept the title I bestow upon you: 'Marketing Number One'—and wear it as you walk the Jianghu."

"Impossible!" Murong Fu refused outright. Bearing such a title would utterly destroy the Murong family's reputation.

"Then there's nothing to discuss."

Gu Qing smiled: "Prince Murong, you surely hate me now—but I believe you'll thank me before long."

Murong Fu straightened his robes, picked up his sword from the ground, bowed slightly to Madam Wang as farewell, then turned and left with his retainers.

Gu Qing stretched lazily—he, too, had now fought in the Manuo Manor, just like Prince Duan.

"Why did you dig up my father-in-law's coffin?!"

Wang Yuyan, face icy, confronted Gu Qing.

Murong Fu had already lost—why, then, did Gu Qing still keep the coffin and demand Murong Fu thank him? It made no sense.

Seeing Wang Yuyan's angry expression, Gu Qing couldn't resist teasing her: "Wang Miss, do you believe in resurrection?"

Wang Yuyan shook her head firmly.

!

"But I do!"

Gu Qing lifted his head and declared: "I once swept through Japan and discovered a secret technique called 'Impure Land Reincarnation'—a terrifying ritual capable of summoning the dead from the netherworld back to life. Murong Fu has already lost—I plan to summon Murong Bo and duel him properly."

"What's 'Number One Under Heaven'? What's 'Perfectly Virtuous'? I, Gu Qing, seek invincibility both in life and after death!"

Is he insane?

Wang Yuyan's eyes were utterly bewildered.

"You don't believe me?"

Gu Qing asked with a smile.

"Of course not!"

Wang Yuyan said.

"Then do you believe I can resurrect your father?"

Gu Qing asked with a smile.

Madam Wang's face hardened instantly.

"My father?"

Hearing mention of her father, and seeing Gu Qing's serious expression, Wang Yuyan asked in shock: "You can really resurrect him?" She recalled Gu Qing's words to Murong Fu: "You'll thank me someday"—could it truly be possible?

"Yes!"

Gu Qing said: "But I can only summon your biological father."

Hearing this, Madam Wang realized Gu Qing was teasing Wang Yuyan—and unconsciously sighed in relief. She'd truly feared her husband might be resurrected.

"Of course it's my biological father!"

Mu Wanjing interjected: "How many fathers can one person have?"

Madam Wang's face flushed red; she clenched her teeth in fury.

Mu Wanjing stepped before Gu Qing, her eyes piercing through her veil, and asked seriously: "Can you truly bring the dead back to life?"

Unlike the well-read Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanjing had received less education and was more inclined to believe in the supernatural.

"Of course!"

Gu Qing said.

"Then can you resurrect my mother?"

Mu Wanjing asked urgently—she had never known her mother.

"Yes."

Gu Qing said.

"And… and my father too!"

Mu Wanjing added. Though her master had said her father was no good, she still longed to meet him.

"Leave it to me!"

Gu Qing patted his chest in assurance.

(End of Chapter)