Chapter 307

Gu Xixi was actually not far from the carriage just now; she had only pulled back a little distance, merely not wanting to harm her own people when she suddenly struck.

An Qinghe and Jiang Mingyuan had also been listening closely; upon finally hearing Gu Xixi's order, they both immediately sprinted over.

Without time to look or think, An Qinghe immediately tackled one person, raising his dagger to stab down hard.

Jiang Mingyuan, observant, quickly called out, "Don't kill them!!"

An Qinghe is a foreigner; even if he killed in self-defense, once taken to the Government Office he would still have to undergo a complicated review and evidence-gathering process.

If he were to act, it would surely delay the journey, not worth the loss.

Fortunately, An Qinghe reacted quickly, the dagger tip stopping just above that person's left chest.

Jiang Mingyuan said, "You see they are already powerless to resist; we only need to subdue a few, preventing them from recovering and launching a counterattack."

An Qinghe stared and saw that the lackey he was pressing down was convulsing all over, eyes rolled back, terrified expression, veins bulging on his forehead, seemingly in extreme pain.

Yet he could not cry out in pain, only emitting a strange "ge ge ge" sound from deep in his throat.

Jiang Mingyuan twisted another lackey's arms behind his back, observing and saying, "Looks like he's been poisoned."

He couldn't help but look toward Gu Xixi standing ahead.

What a potent poison; its onset is practically instantaneous—did Xixi make this?

An Qinghe felt nauseated by the white foam bubbling from the lackey's mouth; as he released his grip and rose, he flicked his dagger into the lackey's right leg, slicing outward.

By severing one of his tendons, even if the poison doesn't kill him, he will never be able to bully others again in this lifetime.

Jiang Mingyuan had originally said he would look for some rope to tie them up, but seeing An Qinghe's method—both efficient and permanent—he went along with it.

An Qinghe quickly dealt with the eight lackeys, wiping the blood from his dagger with the last one's clothes, and as he wiped he smiled at Jiang Mingyuan, "You've served as an official in the Government Office; I thought you would stop me, not allow me to handle them this way."

Jiang Mingyuan smiled faintly, "By our dynasty's law, any subject of the Great Enterprise who blocks roads, robs, or forcibly takes women—if they meet resistance and die, they bear the consequences; likewise, those who act bravely may be executed."

"These people have just proclaimed their own heinous crimes, having harmed countless; meeting such an end is only fitting."

"\"Subject of the Great Enterprise? \" An Qinghe pondered, \"Meaning you can kill them without responsibility, but I cannot? \""

Jiang Mingyuan nodded, "Yes."

"Killing someone within the Great Enterprise's territory will be a hassle to handle."

An Qinghe felt Jiang Mingyuan was more pleasing to the eye now, "Then you just stopped me earlier—still pretty decent of you."

The two waved toward Gu Xixi's side.

An Qinghe shouted, "All taken down, you can come over now!"

Gu Xixi then ran over, first looking at the lackeys sprawled on the ground, "How is it, has the medicine taken effect?"

Jiang Mingyuan said, "All eight have taken effect; symptoms are largely similar, and the time between their collapses does not exceed five breaths."

Gu Xixi glanced admiringly at Jiang Mingyuan—no wonder he's a top student, he knows how to grasp the essentials!

This is a medicine she newly prepared before departure; it won't kill, but in an instant it damages the inhaler's respiratory system, causing throat swelling.

It triggers breathing difficulty, splitting headache, and seizure-like symptoms, causing a temporary loss of resistance.

Since this is the first time using it on a creature other than a rat, she doesn't yet have full confidence.

So Gu Xixi scattered the medicine and then ran, lest these people still have strength to struggle in their death throes, which she couldn't overcome.

An Qinghe asked, "Is this medicine from Lao Langzhong? It's quite potent—will it kill them?"

Gu Xixi crouched to examine the lackeys' condition, gathering experimental data, and said, "Oh, the medicine is my own formulation; poisoning may cause a short-lived state of wishing for death, but they won't actually die."

"According to the amount they inhaled, at most they'll feel awful for half a day before it eases."

Gu Xixi answered offhandedly, but An Qinghe and Jiang Mingyuan heard it with a start.

"She made it herself?"

"Worse than death?"

"That little bit of dosage?"

The two men looked at Gu Xixi, simultaneously convinced in their hearts: not enough; their understanding of her is still far too lacking!

The white-clad woman walked over slowly, looking at the lackeys on the ground, a flash of delight crossing her face.

"\"I never expected these people to have such a day! Truly, heaven has opened its eyes! \"

She suddenly turned, plopping down on her knees before Gu Xixi, "Thank you, miss, for saving my life!"

Having spoken, without waiting for Gu Xixi's reply, the white-clad woman loudly kowtowed three times, her forehead turning somewhat bluish-purple.

Gu Xixi hurriedly rose to help her up, "Please don't; we merely happened to meet, and I only lent a hand."

The white-clad woman remained kneeling, insisting she not rise, "Miss, you saved me from being defiled by my enemies, and also let these lackeys reap what they sowed."

"Although the chief culprit still lives, your deed has already comforted the spirits of my parents in heaven."

"Having spared my life today, I will someday confront my enemies face to face to seek justice."

"Miss, you have granted me a great kindness akin to rebirth!"

Gu Xixi felt uncomfortable, saying, "I understand your feelings; please rise quickly."

"Otherwise… I would have to kneel and kowtow to you as well."

The white-clad woman and Jiang Mingyuan stared, stunned—could there really be such a way?

An Qinghe burst out laughing, "Mutual bows—you kowtow three times, she three times; we might be at it till tomorrow!"

Jiang Mingyuan chuckled, "So then, both ladies, please rise."

"If we don't get moving, we'll likely have to camp out tonight."

Gu Xixi and the white-clad woman looked at each other, puffed out a laugh, and both smiled.

The two rose together, hand in hand, and the white-clad woman said, "My surname is Lv, given name a single Jing character; because I was born under a blazing sun, my father used three suns for my name."

"I am seventeen this year; originally my family lived in An Ning Cun not far from here."

Jiang Mingyuan said, "There is indeed an An Ning Cun nearby."

Lv Jing smiled at Gu Xixi and asked, "May I ask your honored surname, benefactor, and where you reside?"

Gu Xixi calmly gave her name, saying, "I am the same age as you."

I came from Huachi Du Cun near the Xi Bei border.

Lv Jing again performed a solemn bow, saying, "Your great kindness and virtue are etched in my heart, but I now possess nothing of value; the little money I have left must be used for travel expenses."

"If I still have my life someday, I will surely devote the rest of my life to finding my benefactor and repaying him with my very self!"

An Qinghe murmured softly, "Isn't this just 'not expecting repayment, offering oneself in marriage'?"

Gu Xixi glared at him, "Nonsense!"

Lv Jing blushed and smiled, "What this benefactor said is pretty much the same meaning."

"Once my family is cleared of injustice and I personally see that wicked person meet their punishment, I can then wholeheartedly follow Benefactor Gu."

Gu Xixi hastily declined, "Don't keep calling me 'benefactor'; we're both girls of the same age, you can just call me Xixi."

"As for you wanting to devote half your life to me, I truly cannot bear that."

"However, if you ever find yourself alone with nowhere to go, you can come to Xi Bei to find me."

"I might be able to help you find a means to support yourself and establish a livelihood."