Chapter 263

Suxin lay on the bed.

The World's Number One Manor's physicians, Sai Huatuo and Sai Shennong, came to take Suxin's pulse. Their medical attainments were extremely high; after examining her, they said in surprise, "This Miss Suxin's severed pulse has been reconnected; she can be considered a healthy person, but if she doesn't have the third Heavenly Fragrant Tianxiang Doukou within a year, Miss Suxin will still die."

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis had long known this and nodded blankly.

Sai Huatuo and Sai Shennong took their leave.

"Foster father."

Duan Tianya and Shangguan Haitang stepped forward at this time and bowed.

"Where is Gu Qing?"

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis asked with an expressionless face.

"Master went to the gambling den in the capital to gamble."

Duan Tianya said truthfully.

"Since when does Gu Qing like to gamble?"

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis did not know Gu Qing had this hobby and asked immediately.

"Master is just playing around."

Duan said, "However, since Master arrived at the gambling den, he has never used martial arts to cheat; gambling involves both winning and losing."

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis sneered and said, "That 'Doro Leaf Finger' move he taught Shangguan Haitang is formless and shadowless, capable of manipulating objects from a distance, and given his martial arts level, even if he cheated, no one would be able to tell..."

Duan Tianya and Shangguan Haitang knew that the Iron-Clad Divine Marquis had a deep prejudice against Gu Qing because of his "Little Zhu" comment.

"Hmph!"

Zhu Wushi knew their thoughts well; he flicked his sleeves, turned around, and said coldly, "I know you two think that because Gu Qing called me 'Little Zhu', I am now at odds with him... Do you think this Prince is the kind of person who can't distinguish between priorities?"

Duan Tianya and Shangguan Haitang quickly said they wouldn't dare.

"I am an Imperial Prince of the current dynasty, the famous Iron-Clad Divine Marquis; although I do not care for fame or wealth, Gu Qing's contempt for me is something no one could endure."

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis said, "But I endured it!"

"I endured it for the sake of the Great Ming, and I endured it for the sake of Suxin."

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis said, "The third Heavenly Fragrant Tianxiang Doukou is in Cao Zhengchun's hands; he will inevitably use various methods to force me to submit. In this crisis, we need Gu Qing."

Wow, the vision of the Divine Marquis!

Duan Tianya and Shangguan Haitang were full of admiration for him.

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis briefly inquired about their martial arts progress and instructed Shangguan Haitang, "You have been under Gu Qing's tutelage for the shortest time, yet you have learned the most; you must put in more effort."

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis had Shangguan Haitang apprentice under Gu Qing primarily to spy on the mysteries of Gu Qing's martial arts.

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis could endure, endure until Gu Qing revealed a flaw.

"Cao Zhengchun..."

The Iron-Clad Divine Marquis muttered to himself again. Cao Zhengchun and the Iron-Clad Divine Marquis were constantly planting spies in each other's camps; the Eastern Depot already knew about Suxin's awakening, and the Heavenly Fragrant Tianxiang Doukou in Cao Zhengchun's hands had become his trump card.

Jingcheng.

Gu Qing stood up in the gambling den, pushed the door open, and saw the streets filled with men from the Eastern Depot.

"This must be Gu Guo Guo Daxia Qing, right?"

Before him stood an elderly eunuch with graying hair and an air of nobility; he smelled of incense, and when he bowed to Gu Qing, he appeared refined and courteous.

Gu Qing looked him over briefly, understood the situation, and said, "Who the hell are you?"

The old eunuch's face turned awkward; they didn't have that "thing," so they couldn't stand hearing those words.

"Presumptuous!" The young eunuchs and various experts behind the old eunuch shouted, "This is our Eastern Depot's Eunuch Cao; show some respect."

Cao Zhengchun waved his hand slightly to calm the people behind him, then said, "Gu Guo Guo Daxia, I heard you have two beautiful Japanese wives who are from the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu of Japan."

Gu Qing looked at Yanagi Xueji and Rikugawa Piaoxu beside him, then nodded and said calmly, "So what?"

Hearing the thorns in Gu Qing's words, Cao Zhengchun was not angry and said gently, "Last night, inside the Eastern Depot, assassins suddenly attacked; among them was a female assassin who used moves from the Japanese Yagyu Shinkage-ryu. That is why I have come to visit you, Guo Daxia, to ask a few questions." At this point, Cao Zhengchun added, "Of course, Gu Guo Guo Daxia, I absolutely do not mean to suspect you."

Japanese Yagyu Shinkage-ryu causing trouble inside the Eastern Depot?

"Absolutely impossible!"

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji said decisively, "My father only deals with the coastal Japanese pirates; he would never interfere in the affairs of the Central Plains."

One knows one's own family affairs; the current Yagyu Tajima-no-Kami was busy consolidating his power.

"Miss Yanagi Xueji has been in the Central Plains for a long time and is unaware of affairs at home; that is normal."

Behind Cao Zhengchun, someone spoke up.

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji let out a cold shout and suddenly drew her blade; with a *clang*, a chilling blade aura emerged. She actually bypassed Cao Zhengchun and killed the person behind him who had spoken out of turn.

!

The person who spoke was the Third Guard of the Eastern Depot, named Xu Jin. Seeing the blade aura coming, he hurriedly reached out to defend. Behind this Third Guard were various other experts who also attacked together. They were all men of the Eastern Depot and were all experts; attacking together, they were orderly and not chaotic, their power quite strong.

"Snow Drifting in the Human World!"

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji slashed out a blade aura like drifting snowflakes falling one after another; in an instant, a misty mass appeared. With a series of *ding-ding-dang-dang* sounds, Yagyu Yanagi Xueji stepped gracefully back to Gu Qing's side.

"Bang!"

The veins on Xu Jin's forehead were severed, his blood pressure forced out by internal energy, and in an instant, a fountain of blood a yard high sprayed out; he staggered to the ground, almost dying.

"I may not know my family's affairs, but I know my family's blade."

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji said coldly.

The men of the Eastern Depot were furious, but Yagyu Yanagi Xueji had already sheathed her blade and was standing beside Gu Qing, so they didn't dare to start trouble.

"Good, good blade technique!"

Cao Zhengchun gave a thumbs up and praised, "Gu Guo Guo Daxia also has good internal energy."

Just when Yagyu Yanagi Xueji drew her blade, Cao Zhengchun had also silently tested his internal energy against Gu Qing's, but his subordinate hadn't won, and Cao Zhengchun hadn't won either.

It was this round of probing that made Cao Zhengchun feel that Gu Qing's reputation was well-deserved.

"Until we meet again."

Cao Zhengchun bowed to Gu Qing, then waved his hand to withdraw his team, dragging the dying Xu Jin away.

Gu Qing watched these Eastern Depot men until their backs disappeared before withdrawing his gaze.

"Someone is framing us!"

Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu said with dissatisfaction.

"Of course it's a frame-up."

Gu Qing nodded and said, "I already have an idea in my mind."

A matter like this was a headless case; for Gu Qing, it was hard to investigate even if he wanted to, but it didn't matter. After hearing about the matter involving himself, Gu Qing already understood: it must be Zhu Wushi's conspiracy!

Zhu Wushi wanted to use Gu Qing to hit the Eastern Depot!

"Sister, your sword technique and internal energy progress are not normal."

Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu, as a member of the Yagyu family, felt that Yagyu Yanagi Xueji's martial arts were strange.

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji had originally been cold and aloof; after hearing Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu's words, a blush crept onto her cheeks. She spat and said, "You can be like this in the future too."

This was all thanks to the Yoga Tantra.

(End of chapter)