Chapter 215: It really is you! Ding Chunqiu!

The Murong family had long sought to restore their kingdom, generations of careful planning having amassed vast treasures and hidden influence; after Murong Bo assumed the identity of Yan Longyuan, he roamed the Jianghu, accumulating power and spending gold and silver with great prestige.

Both families were formidable forces; with just a little investigation, Murong Fu uncovered Yan Longyuan's true identity.

"Very well. Once I've explained Ma Dayuan's death to the Beggar's Sect, I'll write to you, and we'll go together to find Yan Longyuan."

Murong Fu said.

Recently, the Beggar's Sect's vice-chief, Ma Dayuan, was killed by his own signature technique; the entire sect believes the Murong family is responsible, hence their massive southern advance—rumor even says Bei Qiao Feng has arrived. Since Murong Fu is in Suzhou, he must clarify matters with Qiao Feng.

Gu Qing readily agreed.

After concluding the major matters, Murong Fu turned to Wang Yuyan, about to address her—when he saw Gu Qing pulling Wang Yuyan into his arms, smiling: "Young Master Murong, Yuyan has become my wife."

Murong Fu's smile froze. Seeing Gu Qing embrace Wang Yuyan, his heart went blank—but quickly he regained composure, realizing he must win Gu Qing's favor; that Wang Yuyan was now with Gu Qing was already fact…

Thinking thus, Murong Fu's eyes glistened, yet his face wore a smile: "Young Master Gu is as elegant as a jade tree; my cousin is as beautiful as moon and flowers—you are truly a perfect match…"

After exchanging these polite words, he hurriedly boarded another boat and departed, somewhat flustered.

"I've given you my body; you know all my thoughts…"

Wang Yuyan was about to lay bare her heart to Gu Qing when she felt a sudden chill. She turned—and saw Mu Wanzhen's piercing gaze, coldly fixed on the two of them.

"What do you mean, 'given you my body'?"

Mu Wanzhen asked.

How far are you trying to push me away!

Zhong Ling, terrified of such scenes, shuddered and quickly ducked into the cabin.

The tea flowers of Mantuo Manor bloomed brilliantly, a splendid tapestry.

As Gu Qing disembarked, he had already soothed the angry Mu Wanzhen. Now inside Mantuo Manor, he took on the role of master, immediately ordering the women of the manor: from now on, no patrols, no enforcement, no dispatches.

Gu Qing had already demonstrated his martial prowess within Mantuo Manor before; without Madam Wang's opposition, the servants had no choice but to obey.

After firmly establishing his authority in Mantuo Manor, Gu Qing selected seven maidservants and taught them the Northern Dipper Seven-Star Sword Array from the White Cloud Temple of the Lu Xiaofeng world, to serve as the manor's guardians—only after nightfall did he find time to enter the Langhuan Jade Cave to peruse the secret manuals.

"Hey!"

In the darkness of the Langhuan Jade Cave, a hand suddenly shot out toward Gu Qing's neck.

In the dim chamber, Gu Qing's vision remained unimpaired; at this critical moment, he even turned his head slightly to look at the attacker.

Dressed in a blue robe, long hair cascading down his back, his hair snow-white, skin smooth and lustrous—he bore the air of a venerable elder. Gu Qing recognized him at once.

Ding Chunqiu.

In the revised version of Tianlong Babu, Li Qiushui and Ding Chunqiu moved the secret manuals from Liangshan to Mantuo Manor; later, Li Qiushui went to Xixia to become a princess, while Ding Chunqiu raised Li Qingluo, who called him Father.

Wang Yuyan was also aware of this grandfather's existence.

Jiumo Neng stole the Xiao Xiangong from the Langhuan Jade Cave precisely because he overheard Ding Chunqiu teaching Madam Wang the Xiao Xiangong.

Gu Qing noticed Ding Chunqiu's fingertips, laced with deadly poison; any ordinary martial artist struck there would be at the mercy of death.

"Hah!" Gu Qing acted only after fully observing Ding Chunqiu; with a casual flick of his finger, he struck Ding Chunqiu's arm. Ding Chunqiu's Centipede Hand, poised to strike, suddenly twisted like a chicken's claw, then—"Crack!"—Gu Qing delivered a palm strike to Ding Chunqiu's chest, sending him flying like a severed kite, smashing through wooden cabinets, outer walls, and landing fifteen or sixteen zhang away, amidst the tea bushes.

"Puff!"

Ding Chunqiu spat blood upward. He had come to Mantuo Manor, seen Gu Qing reorganizing its affairs, sensed his ambition, learned Gu Qing had once terrorized the manor, and now discovered he was Yuyan's husband—he suspected Gu Qing of coercion, so he moved to seize him.

But he never imagined that a surprise attack would fail to land a single blow against Gu Qing—he was instantly thrown out.

Gu Qing leapt out, shouted "Intruder!" then stepped forward and kicked into the flower bed, his leg sweeping like a whirlwind through fallen leaves, lifting Ding Chunqiu's body lightly into the air before him.

"Crack!"

The Ruyi Orchid Hand was applied casually now.

Since mastering the Ruyi Orchid Hand, Gu Qing had used it mostly to save lives—this was the first time he deployed its lethal potential: dislocating tendons, twisting meridians, striking Ding Chunqiu's hands until they twisted, striking his legs until they spasmed.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Qing struck Ding Chunqiu over a hundred times, then kicked his chin, sending him tumbling twice before he collapsed against a large tree, face bloodied, body swollen and bruised.

"What intrusion?"

The Langhuan Jade Cave was the heart of Mantuo Manor; Madam Wang's bedroom lay nearby. Hearing the cry, she rushed over with attendants, a dozen lanterns illuminating the scene—there, at the tree roots, lay Ding Chunqiu, drenched in blood, disheveled, crouching in darkness, limbs twisted like a beast's.

!

"Father?"

Madam Wang recognized Ding Chunqiu by his white hair. She stepped closer—his face swollen, his body covered in wounds, groaning in agony.

"Why did you beat my father so badly?"

Madam Wang spun around, furious, her chest heaving.

"He's your father?"

Gu Qing was astonished. He looked again at Ding Chunqiu: "Ding Chunqiu?"

Ding Chunqiu nodded, confirming his identity.

"Is this Ding Chunqiu?"

Gu Qing was still stunned. "Why didn't you use the Meridian-Dissolving Technique?"

Ding Chunqiu, writhing in pain, heard Gu Qing's words and nearly spat another mouthful of blood. As the Star Pavilion Immortal, he was far from weak—only Gu Qing's speed had left him no time to activate the Meridian-Dissolving Technique.

Ding Chunqiu felt he had many techniques left unused.

Gu Qing bent down, examining Ding Chunqiu closely, utterly unafraid of his poison. He casually rummaged through his robes and pulled out a book: The Xiao Xiangong.

"It really is you."

Gu Qing nodded. Earlier, in the Langhuan Jade Cave, he had read the Xiao Xiangong but found one scroll missing—so he hadn't studied it. Now, finding the missing scroll in Ding Chunqiu's possession, the Xiao Xiangong was complete.

Ding Chunqiu: …

Having you as my grandson-in-law is truly my fortune.

(End of Chapter)