Chapter 201: Believe Gu Qing!

Lady Wang, at her Man Tuo Villa in Suzhou, daily led her maids on patrols; whenever she encountered men flirting with other women, she would capture them and force them to kill their wives and take concubines, or turn them into flower fertilizer—all because of Dao Bai Feng.

Lady Wang had repeatedly advised Duan Zhengchun to kill Dao Bai Feng and come to Man Tuo Villa to live with her, but Duan Zhengchun always refused.

Now Dao Bai Feng had fallen into her hands.

With a knife in hand, Lady Wang hesitated no longer; she slashed straight at Dao Bai Feng's neck!

Dao Bai Feng's aura was cold and serene; she clenched her teeth against the sudden strike, uttering not a single plea, merely watching the blade approach her throat.

After this cut, she would surely lose her head.

Dao Bai Feng thought this, her eyes half-closed, calmly awaiting the fatal blow—yet in her peripheral vision, she saw a hand move swiftly and skillfully, rising late yet catching the knife's back with effortless grace, halting it just an inch from her neck.

【Satisfy Dao Bai Feng…】

Gu Qing looked at the good deeds on his system; though Dao Bai Feng did not beg, she still yearned for rescue.

"Slow down, slow down."

Gu Qing applied slight pressure with his fingertips, drawing Lady Wang's short knife away from Dao Bai Feng's pale neck, saying: "Talk calmly. Don't wield knives so carelessly."

Dao Bai Feng looked at Gu Qing, her eyes filled with quiet gratitude.

"You ungrateful wretch—you're helping her too?"

Lady Wang had failed to kill Dao Bai Feng; seeing her smooth, porcelain skin and composed nobility, jealousy surged anew. Seeing Gu Qing intervene, she felt as if Duan Zhengchun himself were favoring the other side, and her words grew reckless.

"Mother…"

Wang Yuyan sensed the ambiguity and interrupted: "We seem to have misunderstood her."

"No misunderstanding! Only hatred!"

Lady Wang declared firmly.

Wang Yuyan turned her gaze to Gu Qing.

Gu Qing looked at Lady Wang and suddenly suggested: "What if we leave a note and take her captive?"

Lady Wang's grip slowly loosened; she imagined Duan Zhengchun coming to rescue her, and she could threaten him with Dao Bai Feng. Gu Qing promptly withdrew the knife and returned it to Mu Wanjing.

"Thank you."

Dao Bai Feng whispered her thanks.

Gu Qing turned back, gave a slight nod, and studied Dao Bai Feng up close; though nearing middle age, her beauty had not faded—her flawless, pale skin shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Old Duan's taste was indeed excellent.

Lady Wang also studied Dao Bai Feng's appearance; her murderous intent gradually faded. Seeing Dao Bai Feng's unyielding demeanor, Lady Wang felt a pang of pity—how much more so for Ah Nu's feelings. She waved her hand, ordering Wang Yuyan to fetch ropes to bind Dao Bai Feng, while preparing ink and brush to write the letter.

"Where should we arrange to meet him?"

Lady Wang asked.

"The Wuliang Cave."

Gu Qing said: "You know the place well."

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang swiftly wrote the letter and handed it to a nun from the Yu Xu Temple. As the Princess of Zhennan had taken vows, she did not reside alone in the temple; the nun took the letter and immediately rode off toward Dali City.

Gu Qing drank a few sips of water in the temple, completing the act thoroughly, then mounted his horse. Lady Wang led the way, guiding everyone toward Wuliang Mountain.

Wuliang Mountain's terrain was steep and its scenery exquisite, but when Gu Qing's party arrived, a battle was already underway—some said it was the Wuliang Mountain Grand Contest, others claimed the Shennong Gang was attacking. Many martial artists fled through the mountains. Lady Wang, "an old horse knowing the way," followed a narrow path at the mountain's base and led them into the valley of Wuliang Mountain.

"Actually, the path along the Lancang River would be easier."

Lady Wang said: "But it's a longer detour."

Gu Qing nodded.

This place was encircled by natural cliffs, enclosing a three-li area. When Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanjing arrived, they saw the lake's clear waters, the secluded valley, and the moonlight casting its glow—like a paradise beyond the mortal world.

They hurried as fast as they could; the moon neared its zenith.

Lady Wang went to open the cave entrance when suddenly, a loud rustling echoed—the collapse of a massive pine branch, like a rolling log, hurtled toward them.

Gu Qing leaped forward, letting the pine log roll toward him; with one sweep of his hand, he redirected it to the side. Then he soared upward, flying ten zhang through the air, using the void twice for leverage, stepping on the cliff face as if walking on level ground—within moments, he vanished from sight.

Dao Bai Feng, witnessing this martial skill, felt as if a deity had ascended the clouds. After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Gu Qing returned, carrying a man, one foot lightly touching the cliffside, gliding down like ice-skating. When he reached the ground, he tapped lightly and landed gracefully before them.

Dao Bai Feng then saw—the man Gu Qing carried was her son, Duan Yu.

"This boy fell off the cliff."

Gu Qing said calmly. Duan Yu was handsome, but before falling, he had been slapped, buried alive, fled through the night pursued by assassins, and then plunged from the cliff—now he had no dignity whatsoever. After being pulled down by Gu Qing, he hurriedly knelt and thanked the immortal savior.

"Thank you, great hero, for saving my son!"

Hearing of Duan Yu's peril, Dao Bai Feng's tears flowed naturally as she repeatedly thanked Gu Qing.

Saving Duan Yu was like saving her own life.

Gu Qing gained good deeds, nodded, glanced at Dao Bai Feng's tear-streaked face—this was ambrosia to Duan Yanqing.

Dao Bai Feng's initial revenge against Duan Zhengchun had been to make him wear a green hat, but after bearing Duan Yu, she desired to see him ascend the throne—her intentions grew sinister. Had that worthless man not been the Crown Prince Yanqing of the Duan family, Dao Bai Feng would have replaced the entire Duan lineage.

"A mere trifle."

Gu Qing reached out and helped Duan Yu to his feet.

Duan Yu, barely escaped death, saw his mother first—felt as if in a dream. After embracing her, overwhelmed by the day's bizarre, near-fatal events, he nearly wept. Through tear-blurred eyes, he saw Wang Yuyan, her robes fluttering in the moonlight before the waterfall.

"Immortal…"

!

Duan Yu was dazed.

Under Dao Bai Feng's questioning, Duan Yu recounted everything that had happened. When he mentioned his poisoning by Duan Chang San and his need to warn Zhong Ling, Dao Bai Feng's face naturally showed concern.

"Duan Chang San poison?"

Gu Qing stepped forward, placed his fingers on Duan Yu's wrist, feigned sensing his pulse, and said: "Princess, do not worry." Then he pressed Duan Yu's acupoints; his qi surged into Duan Yu's meridians and completely purged the poison.

Duan Yu initially felt his intestines burning with pain, but moments later, he felt entirely restored, and immediately thanked Gu Qing.

Gu Qing naturally gained more good deeds from Dao Bai Feng and Duan Yu.

Dao Bai Feng looked at Gu Qing, her eyes glistening.

"Enough!"

Mu Wanjing felt Gu Qing was showing off before Dao Bai Feng; she pulled him aside and asked Duan Yu: "Do you know that girl, Zhong Ling?"

Duan Yu still had Zhong Ling's shoe in his arms; he quickly pulled it out.

"It really is that girl."

Mu Wanjing examined the shoe, confirmed it was Zhong Ling, then added: "The Wanjie Valley doesn't allow anyone with the surname Duan to enter."

"Then just lie about it."

Duan Yu said: "Even if I risk my life, I'll save Zhong Ling."

Such resolve earned him higher regard from Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanjing.

"But the situation has changed."

Duan Yu smiled at Dao Bai Feng: "My poison is gone. If I take Mother with me, the Shennong Gang will surely hand over Zhong Ling."

Duan Yu had full confidence in Dao Bai Feng.

Dao Bai Feng was indeed skilled in martial arts; defeating the Shennong Gang would be easy for her. Yet at this moment, she did not accept Duan Yu's words.

"Young Master Duan."

Gu Qing said: "I forgot to inform you—your mother is now our captive."

Duan Yu's eyes widened in disbelief. After entering the valley, he had been saved by Gu Qing, cured of poison, and seen such a beautiful immortal sister—he had already longed to stay and join them. But now he realized the opposite was true.

"We've already sent a letter to your father."

Gu Qing smiled: "The Prince of Zhennan of Dali will arrive soon. If you send word to Zhong Ling's family early, you might meet your father on the way—then come together."

Duan Yu looked at Dao Bai Feng.

"Yu'er, with Brother Gu Qing here, you can rest easy."

Dao Bai Feng reassured Duan Yu.

Gu Qing had saved both Dao Bai Feng's life and Duan Yu's. Such martial prowess and righteous heart made Dao Bai Feng, in this desperate situation, already see Gu Qing as her anchor.

As long as Gu Qing was here, Dao Bai Feng would not die.

Believe Gu Qing!

(End of Chapter)