Chapter 263: It Must Be Zhu Wushi

Su Xin lay in bed.

The world's foremost physicians, Sai Huatu and Sai Shennong, came here to examine Su Xin's pulse; their medical expertise was unparalleled, and after checking, they exclaimed in astonishment: "Su Xin's severed pulse has been reconnected—she is now a healthy person. But if she does not receive a third Tianxiang Doukou within a year, she will still die."

Tie Dan Shen Hou had long known this, and nodded blankly.

Sai Huatu and Sai Shennong took their leave.

"Yi fu."

Duan Tianya and Haitang stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Where is Gu Qing?"

Tie Dan Shen Hou asked, expressionless.

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

Duan Tianya replied honestly.

"When did Gu Qing develop a taste for gambling?"

Tie Dan Shen Hou, unaware of this habit, asked.

"Master just plays for fun."

Duan said: "But whenever he goes to the gambling den, he never uses his martial arts to cheat—he wins and loses fairly."

Tie Dan Shen Hou sneered: "The Luoye Finger he taught Haitang is formless and invisible, manipulating from afar. And his martial level—even if he cheated, no one could detect it…"

Duan Tianya and Haitang knew Tie Dan Shen Hou held a deep grudge against Gu Qing because of Gu Qing's casual address of him as "Xiao Zhu."

"Hmph!"

Zhu Wushi, well aware of their thoughts, swept his sleeve and turned away, coldly saying: "I know—you two think that because Gu Qing called me 'Xiao Zhu,' I've become his sworn enemy… Do you think I'm that petty?"

Duan Tianya and Haitang quickly said they dared not think so.

"I am the Emperor's uncle, the famed Tie Dan Shen Hou. Though I care nothing for fame or fortune, Gu Qing's disrespect toward me is something no man could endure."

Tie Dan Shen Hou said: "But I have endured it."

"I endured it for the Great Ming—and for Su Xin."

Tie Dan Shen Hou said: "The third Tianxiang Doukou is in Cao Zhengchun's hands. He will surely use every means to force me into submission. In this crisis, we need Gu Qing."

Gui Gui, the Shen Hou's vision!

Duan Tianya and Haitang admired him deeply.

Tie Dan Shen Hou briefly inquired about their martial progress and told Haitang: "You've been under Gu Qing's tutelage the shortest time, yet learned the most. You must work harder."

Tie Dan Shen Hou had urged Haitang to become Gu Qing's disciple primarily to uncover the secrets of his martial arts.

Tie Dan Shen Hou could wait—wait until Gu Qing revealed a weakness.

"Cao Zhengchun…"

Tie Dan Shen Hou murmured again. Cao Zhengchun and he had long been planting thorns in each other's paths. Now that Su Xin had awakened, the Eastern Depot knew. Cao Zhengchun's Tianxiang Doukou had become his trump card.

The capital.

Gu Qing rose from his seat at the gambling den, pushed open the door, and saw the streets filled with Eastern Depot men.

"You must be Master Gu Qing."

Before him stood an elderly eunuch, hair silvered, radiating nobility, perfumed, who bowed to Gu Qing with refined poise.

Gu Qing glanced at him briefly, understanding at once, and said: "Who the fuck are you?"

The old eunuch's face flushed—he had no such thing, and could not bear to hear those words.

"Insolent!" shouted the junior eunuchs and elite warriors behind him: "This is our Eastern Depot's Lord Cao! Show some respect!"

Cao Zhengchun waved slightly, silencing them, then said: "Master Gu, I hear you have two Japanese wives from the Yanagi Shin'i-ryu."

Gu Qing glanced at Xueji and Piaoxu, then nodded calmly: "And?"

Hearing Gu Qing's sharp tone, Cao Zhengchun did not anger, but spoke slowly: "Last night, assassins attacked the Eastern Depot. One female assassin used techniques from the Yanagi Shin'i-ryu. That is why I came to inquire." He added: "Of course, Master Gu, I have no suspicion of you."

Yanagi Shin'i-ryu assassins infiltrating the Eastern Depot?

"Impossible!"

Yanagi Xueji declared: "My father only deals with coastal pirates—he would never interfere in Central Plains affairs."

Family knew family: Yanagi Danma Shou was currently busy consolidating power.

"Miss Yanagi has been in the Central Plains a long time; not knowing your family's affairs is natural."

Someone behind Cao Zhengchun spoke.

Yanagi Xueji coldly snapped, drew her blade instantly—there was a sharp clang, then a chilling blade aura surged as she leapt past Cao Zhengchun toward the insolent speaker.

!

The speaker was Xu Jin, the Eastern Depot's Third Captain. Seeing the blade aura strike, he raised his hands to block. Behind him, other elite warriors of the Eastern Depot all struck in unison—ordered, disciplined, formidable.

"Snow Drifts Through the World!"

Yanagi Xueji slashed, her blade aura like falling snowflakes, swirling into a misty haze. In an instant, a flurry of clinks and clatters rang out—then she stepped lightly back to Gu Qing's side.

"Crash!"

Xu Jin's forehead veins burst, his blood qi forced out by internal energy—he spouted a geyser of blood over a zhang high, then staggered and collapsed, nearly dead.

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

Yanagi Xueji said coldly.

The Eastern Depot men were furious, but Xueji had sheathed her blade and stood beside Gu Qing—they dared not provoke further.

"Excellent! Excellent swordplay!"

Cao Zhengchun raised his thumb in praise: "Master Gu, your internal energy is equally impressive."

Just as Xueji struck, Cao Zhengchun had silently matched his internal energy against Gu Qing's—but he had lost the exchange.

This test confirmed to Cao Zhengchun that Gu Qing's reputation was well deserved.

"Until we meet again."

Cao Zhengchun bowed to Gu Qing, then signaled his men to withdraw, dragging the nearly dead Xu Jin away.

Gu Qing watched the Eastern Depot men until their backs vanished, then turned his gaze away.

"Someone is framing us!"

Yanagi Piaoxu complained.

"Of course it's a frame."

Gu Qing nodded: "I already know who's behind it."

Such a case was unsolvable—but it didn't matter. When Gu Qing heard the accusation touched him directly, he understood: It was Zhu Wushi's plot!

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

"Sister, your swordplay and internal energy have changed strangely."

Yanagi Piaoxu, as a Yanagi family member, sensed something off about Xueji's martial progress.

Xueji, normally cool and detached, blushed faintly at Piaoxu's words, spat lightly, and said: "You'll be able to do it too."

All thanks to the Yogic Secret Transmission.

(End of Chapter)