Chapter 19: Deep Hatred and Great Enmity
The silver needles pierced through the bodies of several wild wolves in an instant, and the beasts collapsed one after another. The townsfolk, seeing the wolves fall dead, though unclear about what had happened, wasted no time lingering and hurriedly fled.
It was obvious these wolves were being manipulated. After Le Qianxue dispatched a few, Haoyue on the other side realized someone was secretly intervening. She paused and said, “Your Highness, it seems someone is acting in the shadows to save people.”
But the wolves on her side remained untouched—what could that mean?
Haoyue struck down another wolf, and then heard Zhan Lianjing say, “Go and see.”
Meanwhile, Zhuixing arrived with reinforcements. With Haoyue present, Zhan Lianjing had not suffered the slightest injury.
Haoyue went to investigate at once, but Le Qianxue had already changed locations.
Le Qianxue moved to the backstage of the beast arena. As she had suspected, everyone inside had been rendered unconscious.
She glanced about; the haze was still spreading. Le Qianxue had never feared such smoke and moved unhindered.
She had heard that somewhere in the world existed a technique capable of controlling people—Gu poison.
Her interest piqued, Le Qianxue wanted to witness it herself, especially since Yin Susu had said she wished to find a person skilled in this art.
Le Qianxue searched around for a while but found no one. She frowned; it seemed the culprit had escaped after their failure.
Ahead, she spotted the Lord of Night City, collapsed on the ground.
Le Qianxue hurried over to assess his condition.
No sooner had she approached than a sudden palm strike came from behind!
Le Qianxue retreated instantly, silver needles flying from her hand.
Her vigilance had saved her life; otherwise, she would have perished then and there.
Her face was concealed, and the attacker knew only that she was a woman.
Though Le Qianxue possessed no martial arts, her skill with silver needles was formidable.
The assailant, having failed to strike her, fled through the exit. Le Qianxue was about to give chase but found the Lord of Night City’s body convulsing!
This was dire—he must have been used and now suffered grave injury.
Le Qianxue checked his pulse: Gu worm? She quickly rolled up his sleeve and saw a black line on his arm.
That was it!
She had studied this before, but had never encountered a practitioner of Gu poison. Now she could finally try her hand.
She opened her acupuncture kit and took out her pill box, moving swiftly lest anyone arrive and delay her.
With a deft flick of her needle, she extracted the Gu worm from the Lord’s arm.
The worm, bred in the human body, writhed briefly once removed, then died.
Le Qianxue packed her things and prepared to leave, when she caught sight of the Lord’s money pouch.
Her visit to Night City had cost her several hundred taels thanks to Zhan Lianjing’s trickery, and the resentment lingered.
Now, claiming a consultation fee seemed only fair.
Le Qianxue took the pouch and wrote in blood beside the Lord: “Consultation fee received, no thanks necessary!”
She was about to depart when a rush of footsteps sounded at the exit—a crowd was approaching!
This was bad; their numbers were considerable.
Le Qianxue frowned, recognizing Zhuixing and Haoyue’s voices drawing nearer.
If both arrived, escaping wouldn’t be so easy this time.
Just as anxiety overtook her, a hand appeared from nowhere and pulled her into a dark passage!
With a rumbling sound, the stone door closed, and Le Qianxue realized she had been dragged into a secret tunnel.
She raised her silver needle defensively, determined to protect herself regardless of who it was.
“It’s me!” In the darkness, someone produced a luminous pearl, illuminating the tunnel and revealing their face.
Le Qianxue’s eyes reddened upon seeing the familiar figure—it was Yin Susu, missing for days!
Yin Susu still wore red, her face veiled with crimson silk—she had clearly snuck in.
“Susu, where have you been these days? I thought Zhan Lianjing had captured you!” Le Qianxue exclaimed.
Yin Susu said, “It’s a long story. Let’s talk as we walk; it’s dangerous here.”
Le Qianxue nodded, allowing Yin Susu to lead the way and following closely.
They hurried along, and Yin Susu explained, “Zhan Lianjing did intend to seize me. He’s clever, deducing my connection to the Ghost Doctor—meaning you—so he let me escape, hoping to use me to lure you out.”
“I know, but I managed to dispel his suspicions,” Le Qianxue replied. “He watched me closely, making it hard for you to contact me. But why didn’t you try later?”
“I was about to reach out when I discovered the Gu poison practitioner and followed them to Night City. Unfortunately, I couldn’t catch them, but at least I found some clues.” Yin Susu panted, pushing aside a stone wall to emerge outside the beast arena.
Dragging Le Qianxue to a concealed spot, Yin Susu’s pallor betrayed her injury.
Le Qianxue frowned, seeing blood dripping from Yin Susu’s hand, and quickly dressed her wound.
“Why didn’t you bring anyone with you? It’s too dangerous alone,” Le Qianxue said.
Yin Susu’s gaze was sharp as Le Qianxue bandaged her.
She said, “Xue’er, since Zhan Lianjing destroyed the Thousand Gold House and Drunken Painting Pavilion, my visible power is gone and I’m constantly restrained.”
“It’s all my fault,” Le Qianxue said, feeling guilty. “I actually provoked him!”
“It’s not your doing. Losing those places doesn’t matter; I have clues now,” Yin Susu replied.
Her eyes burned with determination—and a hint of vengeance.
Le Qianxue knew Yin Susu was a woman with a story, but she had never spoken of it except her resolve to find a Gu poison master, asking Le Qianxue to keep watch.
Le Qianxue asked, “Susu, I know we haven’t known each other long, but could you tell me what you’re really doing?”
Yin Susu lowered her gaze. “No. If you get entangled in this, it could cost you your life.”
Le Qianxue said helplessly, “Back in the palace, I was falsely accused of poisoning, and then the Fourth Prince was stabbed by my father. When haven’t I faced mortal danger? If you keep me at arm’s length, we needn’t be friends at all.”
Yin Susu was loyal and true—otherwise, she would have exposed Le Qianxue to Zhan Lianjing long ago. Now, her inability to show herself was also for Le Qianxue’s sake.
Yin Susu hesitated, then said, “The Gu poison practitioner is my enemy—the murderer of my father!”
Le Qianxue was stunned; no wonder Yin Susu had expended so much effort seeking the Gu poison master—it was vengeance she sought.
“I was only three then, and my father was the rightful heir of Gu technique. One night, a gang broke in and killed him. My nurse carried me away. At three, I remember some things—those men wanted my father’s Gu manual, so they slaughtered my entire family.”
The carnage was so vivid that Yin Susu still recalled the scenes.
Later, she investigated as she grew, but found that among the three nations, no one had mastered Gu poison; it was said to have vanished in the previous dynasty, leaving no trace.
But that suited her. Those who stole the manual would surely have studied it. If someone skilled appeared, it would be easy to track them down.
Now, she finally had a clue.
Le Qianxue murmured, “Strange, though, that the Gu practitioner would appear in Night City, controlling the Lord and wolves. Whom are they targeting?”
“I overheard—they’re after Zhan Lianjing!” Yin Susu gritted her teeth. “And the Fourth Prince! But he left with you, so escaped unharmed.”
Le Qianxue laughed, “Then he’s a fool. Zhan Lianjing is not so easily dealt with.”
Yin Susu nodded, “Exactly. It was only a test, I believe. He has other plans.”
Le Qianxue pondered, “Now the culprit has fled—what do we do?”
This was Yin Susu’s family vendetta—it could not go unavenged.
Yin Susu replied, “I overheard mention of another master behind them, someone of considerable power—likely from the palace.”
“What?” Le Qianxue had finished bandaging her and was startled. Someone from the palace? Wouldn’t that make investigation easier?
“Xue’er, I didn’t want to trouble you, but you’re the only one who can help me now,” Yin Susu said. “I must uncover their master—to avenge my family!”
Le Qianxue didn’t hesitate. “I only fear you won’t ask for my help! Though I am merely the eldest daughter of the General’s household, don’t underestimate me.”
Yin Susu smiled, warmth filling her heart. Family lost, but she still had Le Qianxue, her sister.
Suddenly, Yin Susu remembered something. “I… I recall my father saying something back then.”
Le Qianxue looked at her—perhaps recalling that memory had paled her face.
Yin Susu’s eyes were vacant as she murmured, “My father said something to me… I don’t remember much, only two words: ancestral scroll.”
“Ancestral scroll?” Le Qianxue repeated. “What does that mean?”
Yin Susu shook her head. “I don’t really know. I was too young then, and remember little.”
“Did your father leave you anything?”
“No, it happened too suddenly. He only made sure I was sent away,” Yin Susu said. “But I do remember he kept a waist token inscribed with the character ‘Yuan.’ He often told me that once I grew up, he would reveal everything.”
But he never had the chance, and was slain before he could speak.
Le Qianxue grew increasingly puzzled. Could the ancestral scroll conceal some secret? And what did the character ‘Yuan’ signify?