"Why the great anger, Divine Physician Feng? My Gui Sha Sect bears no disrespect."
From the crowd, a voice playfully chimed in.
The common folk turned at the sound, spotting a woman with a cheerful demeanor.
Who was this woman speaking of the Gui Sha Sect?
Was she from the Gui Sha Sect?
The crowd hastily retreated, parting like a dense sea to create a two-meter-wide path. Nan Shiying then saw who had spoken.
Qin Tianlin, whom she had pinned underfoot, suddenly stirred and cried out, "Hong Gu, Hong Gu, save me."
"Noisy!"
The woman, who had been all smiles moments before, suddenly turned cold. The temperature around her dropped several degrees, and the surrounding villagers felt a bone-chilling cold, their teeth chattering uncontrollably.
"Hong Gu? I must be ignorant indeed, not to know such a notable figure within the Gui Sha Sect."
This person did not seem to be one of the Nine Sha, or perhaps she was, but used a different name?
Hong Gu smiled, covering her mouth. "Divine Physician, you jest. How could a woman of my humble appearance warrant such praise? I am no notable figure, merely a woman."
"What is wrong with a woman?"
"Cannot a woman be considered a notable figure?"
A glint flashed in Hong Gu's eyes. This person was handsome, spoke eloquently, and lacked the conceited arrogance of those other men. Why must she be from the Medicine King Valley? If not for her backing from the Medicine King Valley and Ji Jinmo, she would have loved to abduct him. He was far more interesting than that Feng Quan.
The common folk caught key points from their conversation.
"Divine Physician? Is this Feng Luan, the Divine Physician Feng?"
"Divine Physician Feng, the one the people of Yuzhou revere as a living bodhisattva? The one who single-handedly thwarted the Liao bandits' plot and the one the people of Wucheng brutally murdered the county magistrate, the living Yama, Feng Luan?"
Living Bodhisattva, Living Yama.
How could one person be both Yama and Bodhisattva?
Listening to the surrounding murmurs, the smile on Hong Gu's lips deepened. She had the path naturally cleared for her but had no intention of approaching Feng Luan.
Who would be foolish enough to get close to Feng Luan?
She raised her delicate hand and gently clapped. "Divine Physician speaks wisely. This humble woman has learned much."
Nan Shiying, seeing her stand amidst the crowd and make no move to approach, raised her eyebrows. She said, "Is Hong Gu planning to converse with me in this manner?"
"Yes!"
"And which of the martial artists dares to approach you? Do you not agree?"
Nan Shiying ignored the sharp barb in her words and smiled. "It seems my reputation among the martial folk is not very good!"
Hong Gu's lips curved into a smile, her bright red fingernails making her face appear even paler.
Nan Shiying was also smiling, a hint of rogue spirit flickering in her eyes. She suddenly lifted Qin Tianlin and walked towards Hong Gu.
Hong Gu's heart tightened, and she instinctively stepped back.
"Didn't the lady intend to kill him? I am bringing him to you, so why are you retreating?"
Nan Shiying asked with feigned innocence as she walked, appearing genuinely confused as to why the other was evading her.
Hong Gu's expression darkened. Feng Luan was no gentle lady; she was a capricious lunatic. She could save someone one moment and kill them the next. The other person's calm approach was deceptive, and only a fool would let her get close.
"Divine Physician Feng misunderstands. I do not know why the Qin family offended you. My previous intervention was merely to clear our sect's name. Our Gui Sha Sect is located within Xiling Commandery, and naturally, we wish for all within Xiling Commandery to be stable. Our support for the Qin family was only to foster a clan that could protect the populace and oversee officials. Who would have thought these scoundrels would abuse the prestige of the Gui Sha Sect, causing chaos and preying on the people? They truly deserve to be dismembered. I can only applaud their demise; I would never save such despicable wretches."
Hong Gu pushed all blame aside, completely distancing the Gui Sha Sect. But her words were hardly convincing, not to Nan Shiying, nor to the people of Xiling Commandery. Hah, did she take them for three-year-olds to be coaxed?
Not even a three-year-old would believe that!
"Is that so!"
Nan Shiying stopped and asked with a smile.
Hong Gu nodded. "Not a single word is false."
Nan Shiying lowered her head, looking at Qin Tianlin, whose face was etched with despair. She asked with a smile, "Well? Any thoughts?"
Qin Tianlin's eyes were bloodshot. Hong Gu spoke slowly, "Qin Tianlin, the delicate flower is still on the mountain. If you do not wish it to be withered by the wind, it is best to be cautious, would you not agree!"
With the Qin family's downfall, only Yan'er and he remained. He knew he was doomed today; only by protecting Yan'er could he safeguard their only bloodline and prevent the Qin family from becoming extinct.
Nan Shiying clicked her tongue at Hong Gu's veiled threat. With a swift movement, she grasped Qin Tianlin's jaw, anticipating his attempt to bite his tongue and commit suicide.
Truly foolish.
With the Qin family's demise, how could the Gui Sha Sect allow Yan'er to continue to flourish, lest she hold a grudge against them?
Either way, he was dead.
However, Nan Shiying was not interested in the secrets Qin Tianlin possessed. There was only one way to eradicate the Gui Sha Sect: lead an army to attack their stronghold.
Surround the Gui Sha Sect with a large army, cutting off their water and food supplies.
Therefore, whether there was evidence of his guilt or not was of no consequence.
After all, Qin Tianlin had already said what she most wanted to hear.
"Xuan Yi!"
Nan Shiying raised her hand. Xuan Yi handed her the freshly penned confession and then held Qin Tianlin's hand, pressing his fingerprint onto the confession.
Done!
She clutched the confession of guilt from the father and son. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her sharp gaze hiding a layer of golden light. The shimmering golden light was incredibly captivating. But upon meeting her eyes, Hong Gu's expression changed. She rapidly retreated, leaving behind the words, "Green mountains will never change, and rivers will flow long. Divine Physician Feng, we shall meet again," before vanishing from the crowd.
Escaped.
Someone from the Gui Sha Sect had escaped!
The mountain that had been pressing down on them seemed to loosen slightly. So, people from the Gui Sha Sect were also afraid. So, they were human, not ghosts!
They fled quickly.
Hong Gu ran fast, and Nan Shiying deeply regretted not being able to keep her.
She lowered her head, looking at Qin Tianlin.
As her hand reached towards his collar, Qin Tianlin, under the watchful eyes of everyone, dissolved into a pool of blood.
Asura Gui Sha!
It was the sect leader of the Gui Sha Sect!
Nan Shiying flicked her hand in disgust. Couldn't that scoundrel wait until she let go before activating Asura Gui Sha? What bad luck!
As she was growing angry, a hand extended towards her, offering her a handkerchief. Nan Shiying slowly looked up and saw that the hand belonged to the young girl from the inn.
She had changed her clothes and was holding a fur coat.
Nan Shiying took the handkerchief and wiped the dirty water from her hands. As she was about to throw it away, the young girl took the handkerchief back, tucking it into her embrace without any sign of disgust, and then handed her the coat. "It's cold, be careful not to catch a chill."