Ye Qingying's expression changed instantly.
The Gu worms gnawed at his bones. Though he was in unbearable pain, he was at least not afraid.
But when Xiao Yao wanted to come in, he felt inexplicably panicked.
Hong Chou saw this hint of fear clearly.
Hong Chou curled her lips into a smile and said, "It seems you are very nervous about this little girl. If I let her taste the same Gu worms you have..."
"You... dare!"
Hong Chou wasn't playing the flute when she spoke.
With the flute music gone, Ye Qingying finally regained some strength. He stood up and lunged at her.
Anyone who dared to harm Xiao Yao, he would kill them!
Let alone Hong Chou, even Yu Linglong was no different!
Hong Chou had expected this. Taking advantage of his weakened state, having been tormented to the brink of death by the Gu worms, she flashed and landed outside the window.
"This is the medicine the Emperor prepared for Prince Xuan. If he takes it a few more times, his cultivation will be completely depleted."
That wretched girl was about to enter. Hong Chou's words were also very brief:
"Don't think of escaping. You can't. If you don't deal with Prince Xuan, the Emperor will deal with her. Think carefully."
"Master!"
Xiao Yao burst through the door.
Hong Chou outside the window was gone, but she knew someone had been there.
However, at this moment, the person who had been there was less important than her master.
Xiao Yao hurried over and supported the staggering Ye Qingying.
Seeing the blood flowing from his nostrils, Xiao Yao immediately grasped his wrist pulse. "Master, what exactly is going on? Who hurt you?"
His breathing was chaotic, but there were no internal injuries, nor did he seem poisoned!
What was happening?
"I... I'm fine." Ye Qingying raised his hand and wiped the blood from his nose.
"Perhaps I've been a bit too heated these past two days, causing a nosebleed."
"Impossible!" Xiao Yao glared at him. "Master, tell me the truth! Who exactly came?"
"No one..."
Xiao Yao didn't believe him and turned to chase after the person.
Ye Qingying grabbed her hand, trying to pull her back.
Unexpectedly, he was completely weak at the moment, while Xiao Yao's strength was considerable.
Pulled by her, he lost his balance and stumbled forward violently.
Xiao Yao was startled and immediately turned back to support him. "Master, you're injured like this, why are you still unwilling to tell me the truth! Who is it?"
Ye Qingying shook his head and only said, "Help me back to my room. I need to meditate and recover."
... Ye Qingying sat cross-legged on the bed.
Half an hour later, his pale complexion finally returned to normal.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Xiao Yao staring at him intently, her eyes vacant.
"What's wrong? With this look, Master is still fine, isn't he?" He smiled to comfort her.
Xiao Yao's expression, however, was very grim. "No internal injuries, no poisoning... Master, you've been afflicted by Gu."
Ye Qingying's eyes flickered slightly, but the surprise in his eyes flashed and disappeared.
He still smiled. "How is that possible? Don't overthink things. Master is perfectly fine."
"Master, I trust you, but you can't treat me like an idiot."
Xiao Yao walked over and grabbed his clothes. "Master, tell me, who exactly planted the Gu on you, who harmed you? What do they want you to do?"
Ye Qingying remained silent.
The time spent with her was so limited.
He was unwilling, and unable, to give up like this.
"Xiao Yao, give Master a little more time. Master will definitely find a way to get rid of those people."
Xiao Yao shook her head. "Although I don't understand Gu arts, I know that without resolving the Gu, leaving the person who planted it means only death."
She held Ye Qingying's hand, her fingers slowly tightening.
"Tell me, what exactly do they want you to do?"