Ouyang Qinglin ignored the sword in Gu Qianying's hand, his lips curling into a deeper, wicked smile.
It would be a shame not to claim this little girl, who understood him so well, for himself.
Moreover, this little girl before him was the Purple Feathered Maiden he had been searching for years.
Therefore, he had to snatch this little girl before him!
Raising his palm, Ouyang Qinglin clasped Gu Qianying's sword between his fingers. With a gentle twist, the sword snapped, its tip falling to the ground with a crisp clang.
In the blink of an eye, Ouyang Qinglin's large palm gripped Gu Qianying's wrist. Just as he was about to take her away,
Gu Qianying suddenly broke free from his grasp. As she turned, her palm clenched, channeling seven parts of her internal energy into her fist. She tilted her body and, at close range, struck Ouyang Qinglin fiercely in the abdomen.
"National Preceptor, this humble woman offends you!"
Ouyang Qinglin had not expected Gu Qianying to attack him. He took the full force of her punch.
After staggering back several meters, a white blur once again lunged at him.
The broken sword in Gu Qianying's hand had, at some unknown time, transformed into several blades that circled Ouyang Qinglin, enveloping him.
Moments later.
The blades, as if imbued with souls, simultaneously lunged towards Ouyang Qinglin's entire body.
Such a bizarre scene stunned everyone present.
However, those with martial arts knowledge knew this was a long-lost forbidden technique!
"Forbidden technique? A forbidden technique! Ninth Imperial Uncle, your woman knows forbidden techniques??? Is she really that formidable?" Nangong Li hid behind Nangong Mo, utterly astonished.
At this moment, Nangong Mo's deep gaze fell upon Gu Qianying, who was currently battling Ouyang Qinglin with the forbidden technique.
He paid no attention to Nangong Li's words.
No one knew what he was thinking.
With a gesture, Bai Qi bowed and approached, "Master."
After Nangong Li whispered a few words into Bai Qi's ear, he said, "Let Wuxin handle this matter."
Bai Qi was slightly surprised.
Wuxin was the most formidable of the Master's Jingwei guards.
Would assigning Wuxin to such a trivial matter be a waste of his talents?
But since the Master had spoken, he dared not object.
"Yes, your subordinate will go now."
Bai Qi left the crowd.
Nangong Mo's gaze shifted to the two figures not far away, locked in a fierce battle.
His gaze gradually deepened.
The hands resting on the armrests of his wheelchair clenched, then relaxed, then clenched again.
At this moment, the desire to stand up within him grew more intense.
Just then, a man in white, wearing a bamboo hat, appeared beside him.
The man's features were blurred, making him unrecognizable to outsiders.
However, the seven-colored snake coiled around his right wrist revealed his identity.
"Du Chun, why are you here?"
Nangong Li was slightly surprised by Du Chun's appearance.
Du Chun ignored Nangong Li and silently stood behind Nangong Mo. He casually took out a white jade bottle from his embrace, poured out a black pill from it, and handed it to Nangong Mo.
"Your Highness, it's time for your medicine."
Nangong Mo frowned and looked at him.
The meaning behind this exchange was likely understood only by the two of them.
"Your Highness, although this medicine is bitter, it is something you must take daily. Please do not be so willful. Come, eat it quickly."
Du Chun's words were both a persuasion and a reminder.
The coldness emanating from Nangong Mo's eyes immediately vanished.
His tightly clenched hands gradually relaxed.
Finally, he accepted the pill from Du Chun and put it into his mouth.
"Your Highness need not worry too much. While men who learn this forbidden technique may be imprecise and prone to qi deviation, it is much safer for women. A woman's yin nature can be both rigid and refined. I observe that Miss Gu wields this forbidden technique skillfully, and it is of the 'Shu' level. It is currently feasible to deal with Ouyang Qinglin's thirty percent power."
Following Du Chun's words.
Nangong Mo and Du Chun simultaneously looked towards Gu Qianying.
Meanwhile, on Gu Qianying's side.
Ouyang Qinglin, using his Qinggong to dodge the incoming blades, arrived before Gu Qianying, a wicked smile on his lips. "You little girl indeed have some skills. This National Preceptor likes you more and more."
Killing intent flickered in Gu Qianying's eyes, but she replied politely, "The National Preceptor flatters me. This humble woman merely knows some skills that ordinary people do not."
She lightly touched the ground and leaped up.
As her palm spun, the blades she controlled swirled in the air, transforming into an incredibly sharp long sword.
She wielded the sword and lunged at Ouyang Qinglin.
She knew well that at this moment, her martial arts and personal abilities could no longer be hidden.
And she knew even better that from this moment on, everyone would harbor suspicions about her.
Whether it was her father, her brother, or others.
It was inexplicable for an unmarried young lady to know a forbidden technique that had been lost to the martial world for so long.
But so what!
At this very moment, no one knew how desperately she wanted to drive Ouyang Qinglin out of the Gu Mansion.
She was not afraid of being suspected and unable to explain!
Because she knew how terrifying Ouyang Qinglin was.
His appearance signaled the arrival of death.
In her previous life, it was also during Ouyang Qinglin's appearance that her Gu family suffered countless casualties, all because Ouyang Qinglin brought forth evidence proving that several members of her mother's clan had been capable Gu masters from the Southern Barbarian kingdom.
Gu masters were, of course, skilled in raising Gu worms.
With such evidence, it could be used to insinuate that she or her mother might be raising deadly Gu worms within the mansion.
Then, her claim of using Gu worms to kill people would become plausible.
Therefore, if she were to be in trouble today, it would implicate the entire Gu Mansion.
For this reason, at this moment, she could only take the initiative to prevent Ouyang Qinglin from executing his plans.
Hiss!
The long sword pierced Ouyang Qinglin's shoulder, and blood spread.
"National Preceptor!"
Nangong Qi exclaimed, then frowned at the person behind him, "What are you waiting for? Go and help!"
Suddenly!
The black-clad guards who obeyed Nangong Qi appeared simultaneously, swords in hand, intending to surround Gu Qianying.
Swish, swish, swish!
Several short arrows flew.
Clang!
Five or six black-clad guards fell simultaneously, their long swords clattering to the ground.
Nangong Qi glared coldly at Nangong Mo, who was sitting in his wheelchair and firing the short arrows at his men from a hidden compartment. "Ninth Imperial Uncle, what do you mean by this?"
In full view of everyone, he openly shot and killed his men. Such brazen behavior was something only Nangong Mo would dare to do!
"Nephew, what do you mean by allowing your subordinates to help the National Preceptor against your Ninth Imperial Aunt?"
Nangong Mo's voice was indifferent, his tone devoid of emotion, but those who knew him well understood that Nangong Mo was on the verge of a rage.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, any discerning person can see that Gu Qianying harbors murderous intent towards the National Preceptor. Do you truly wish for her to kill the National Preceptor? Do you know that the National Preceptor is the Emperor's most trusted confidant, and his status is incredibly noble? If he is killed, are you not afraid of the Emperor's wrath?"
Nangong Mo's expression was calm. When he looked at Nangong Qi, he still had an air of disregarding everyone: "Killed? His Highness the Crown Prince speaks too severely. I merely saw that the National Preceptor's martial arts were profound, and I was interested in engaging in a spar. A young girl's temper can be impatient, and her hand might be a little heavy."
As he spoke, Nangong Mo pulled Nangong Li, who was hiding behind him, to the front. "Look, your Ninth Imperial Aunt's martial arts are so formidable. She has been sparring with the National Preceptor for so long; she must be tired. Quickly, go and prepare some tea for your Ninth Imperial Aunt so she can rest a little."
Nangong Mo blatantly lied, and Nangong Li cooperated perfectly, "Certainly."
Nangong Mo had just shot Nangong Qi's men dead with an arrow and then shamelessly claimed that Gu Qianying and the National Preceptor were merely sparring.
Such a statement infuriated Nangong Qi to no end.
However, more than half of the people present feared Nangong Mo's influence, and even more, they feared Old General Gu, who stood beside Gu Yefeng, holding a large saber.
If they were to accuse the eldest daughter of the Gu family of attempting to kill the National Preceptor, it would be a capital offense punishable by beheading.
If they were to speak thus, they might not even be able to leave the Gu Mansion's gates.
Clang!
The long sword in Gu Qianying's hand fell to the ground, and she stood unharmed before Nangong Mo.
Puff!
Ouyang Qinglin stood opposite her, clutching his abdomen and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
A devilish voice whispered in her ear, "Gu family girl, you are the first person to wound this National Preceptor. You are so special, this National Preceptor remembers you. Our time will come, and one day, this National Preceptor will have another three hundred rounds with you! Farewell!"