Chapter 196: Murong Bo: I Have an Objection!

Gu Qing defeated Murong Fu, demonstrated his strength, and held Lady Wang's secrets; now that he was at the Mantis Mountain Villa, rumors claimed he could even revive the dead, so the entire villa treated him with utmost care—this exquisite meal left Mu Wànqīng, a wild child, utterly dazzled.

"Come, try this bear's paw."

Gu Qing served Mu Wànqīng food.

Mu Wànqīng covered her mouth with one hand and silently savored it.

"Young Master Gu, when do you plan to revive Miss Yuyan's father?"

Lady Wang, having been threatened by Gu Qing and knowing he knew all her secrets, and now hearing of reviving her husband, realized he meant Duan Zhengchun—so during the meal, she spoke gently and was exceedingly attentive.

I know you're eager, but don't rush.

Gu Qing glanced at Lady Wang; among Duan Zhengchun's lovers, her domineering nature rivaled Dao Bai Feng's—Dao Bai Feng refused to let Duan Zhengchun have other women, while Lady Wang wanted to lock him inside the Mantis Mountain Villa for a life of mutual companionship, even denying him the throne of Dali's emperor.

"The scrolls in the Langhuan Jade Cave are nearly finished."

Gu Qing said: "Once I've finished reading them, I'll revive Miss Yuyan's father."

"Should I come along?"

Lady Wang's eyes shimmered with hope.

Gu Qing felt speechless—did you really expect Duan Zhengchun to be faithful, and once told of his daughter, he'd change his heart and return to you for a life of togetherness?

No way!

"Of course Mother must come along."

Though Miss Yuyan found the idea of reviving the dead absurd, seeing Mu Wànqīng believe it wholeheartedly and Lady Wang smiling daily, she unconsciously began to feel a flicker of anticipation.

Gu Qing turned his gaze to Miss Yuyan, watching her hopeful expression, and couldn't resist teasing her: "Your mother must come along—otherwise, a beauty like you, once outside the Mantis Mountain Villa, would be beyond your control."

Miss Yuyan turned her face slightly toward Gu Qing.

"No one ever told you how beautiful you are?"

Gu Qing smiled.

Miss Yuyan frowned and said: "Inside this Mantis Mountain Villa, they all treat me as Young Lady—I've never heard anyone speak of beauty or ugliness, so I don't even know if I'm beautiful."

Mu Wànqīng, who had been eating intently, lifted her head slightly; though her tone was cold, she said: "You really are very beautiful."

After learning Gu Qing could revive her parents, Mu Wànqīng abandoned her plan to assassinate Lady Wang; she now followed Gu Qing around and even entered the Langhuan Jade Cave to browse—but since Mu Wànqīng could barely read, she understood little of the scrolls and gained nothing.

After deducing Mu Wànqīng's close ties to Qin Hongmian, Lady Wang glared at her coldly—but Mu Wànqīng had endured countless sneers and insults in her life, so she simply ignored them. Now, this reclusive woman suddenly spoke up, acknowledging Miss Yuyan's beauty, leaving Miss Yuyan deeply pleased.

"When we go out, anyone who sees your celestial beauty will surely bow in worship."

Gu Qing added with a smile.

Duan Yu would definitely kneel.

Miss Yuyan's gaze grew distant as she said: "I've never been outside before—only once to my aunt's home, where I met Elder Deng, Second Brother Gongye… but none of them ever said such things."

Gu Qing, seeing her expression, felt the setup was complete and struck coldly: "Didn't Murong Fu ever praise you?"

That single sentence struck deep into Miss Yuyan's heart—amid the silence, a tear rolled down her cheek.

Lady Wang whispered words of comfort. Miss Yuyan sighed: "He's always busy—never has time to spare. When I'm with him, we either discuss martial arts or state affairs… I don't like martial arts; after all, a girl wielding swords and spears is unseemly."

As she spoke, Miss Yuyan looked up and saw Gu Qing wasn't listening—he was barely holding back laughter, clearly enjoying her misery.

Her sorrow vanished instantly. In the Mantis Mountain Villa, she didn't know who was good or evil—but now, she knew exactly what an evil person looked like.

"Sorry, sorry."

Gu Qing's smile faded as he said calmly: "I laughed because you mentioned Murong Fu talks about martial arts every day."

He had already been smiling; now, thinking of it, he grinned even wider.

Miss Yuyan immediately recalled Murong Fu's crushing defeat at Gu Qing's hands—and grew even angrier.

"Young Master Gu."

Lady Wang interjected smoothly, halting their exchange, and asked curiously: "Young Master Gu, you're so young yet possess such extraordinary martial skill—have you had any unusual encounters?"

After cultivating the Mingyu Gong, Gu Qing's appearance had grown even more striking; he knew every detail of Lady Wang's secrets and exactly where the Xiao Xiang Gong was hidden—so she suspected Gu Qing had some mysterious connection with Li Qiushui.

"No, no."

!

Gu Qing said: "My strength today comes entirely from my own efforts."

He had never used any of those tricks—master's transmission, miraculous fruits, Great Restoration Pills—only once in the Condor Universe had he eaten some Pusiqu snake gallbladders, and otherwise just spent good deeds.

Hearing Gu Qing deny it, Lady Wang dropped the matter.

For the next two days, Gu Qing continued searching the Langhuan Jade Cave for techniques to memorize, until he had nearly exhausted his good deeds. Seeing many scrolls still unread, he sighed and decided to leave first to gather more good deeds, then return to continue memorizing.

That day, a small boat departed the Mantis Mountain Villa—Lady Wang, Miss Yuyan, and Mu Wànqīng were aboard, followed by the villa's female servants. After leaving the villa, they first rowed toward the Swallow's Nest, but once they drew near and alerted its inhabitants, the boat turned again, drifting toward Suzhou.

Murong Fu sat on a distant boat, trailing them. He watched as the vessel entered a patch of lotus flowers and suddenly stopped—then Gu Qing leapt into the water.

Murong Fu stared intently and saw the water bubble violently, ripples expanding—suddenly, a coffin rose from the depths, then shot into the air with a thunderous crash and landed steadily on a boat.

Murong Fu's teeth nearly bit through his lips—that coffin was Murong Bo's!

The Murong family had scoured the entire Taihu region for Murong Bo's coffin and found nothing—now seeing it submerged in water, Murong Fu felt another crushing humiliation, desperate to fight Gu Qing to the death.

"You hid the coffin here…"

Miss Yuyan found this hard to judge.

"Murong Bo has no objections."

Gu Qing smiled.

To Miss Yuyan and Mu Wànqīng, it sounded as if Gu Qing had communicated with the underworld and made arrangements with Murong Bo.

Having recently heard of Murong Fu's defeat and the coffin's desecration, Murong Bo had rushed to Suzhou overnight and witnessed this scene from afar; furious as he was, his gaze fell upon Murong Fu.

Child, I have objections!

(End of Chapter)