The three who had caught up did not expect that Gu Qianying would have a master helping her outside the palace.
One of them wanted to rush forward but was stopped by his companion.
"This person's Qinggong and internal energy are extraordinary. Just now, a single sword attack unleashed such a powerful sword wind. We should be cautious."
The man who was reminded tightened his grip on his weapon.
"It's you, Ouyang."
Gu Qianying was already seriously injured. She hadn't expected Ouyang Qinglin to appear at this moment, but it was fortunate he had returned.
"How did you get yourself into this state when I wasn't by your side for even a moment?"
His words were filled with heartache, but a glance revealed Gu Qianying's hand resting on a man's.
"You were injured saving this boy?" Ouyang Qinglin's eyes were filled with disbelief.
When he left, she had only said she was going to Nan Yi Kingdom to find Little Gu Nian and Keke, and that Duan Xifeng was accompanying her, which was why he had left with peace of mind.
In just one month, things had come to this upon his return.
With the crisis at hand, Gu Qianying knew it was not the time for explanations.
"Take us away first, and I will explain when we get back."
Looking at her injuries, Ouyang Qinglin naturally wouldn't compete with an unfamiliar man at this time.
However, for a grown man to need protection from a woman showed that this person was not to be trusted.
He harbored resentment but still comforted Gu Qianying.
"Don't worry, leave this to me. Take him and leave first."
With him here, Gu Qianying was naturally at ease. She assumed Duan Xifeng and Caixia had already taken those people back to Yi Jing Pavilion.
Thus, she could only take Su Cheng to find a place to hide, and then they would discuss matters after Ouyang Qinglin dealt with these people.
"Alright, I'll leave a marker."
With that, she endured the pain of her wounds, took Su Cheng, and leaped away, disappearing into the night sky.
The three people who saw this naturally wouldn't let Gu Qianying go easily.
"What are you standing around for? Hurry and chase!"
One of the leaders commanded the other two, while he himself prepared to deal with Ouyang Qinglin alone.
"Chase? Do you take me for a decoration?" Ouyang Qinglin laughed upon hearing this.
A crimson robe fluttered in the wind, its vibrant color now somewhat dazzling, evoking a chilling sensation.
He slowly raised his sword, blocking their path.
"How dare you injure her? Tonight, not one of you will leave alive."
With those words, Ouyang Qinglin's sword shot out.
For a time, the bamboo forest outside the prison was filled with the glint of swords and the flash of blades.
There were no vacant rooms in the city, so Gu Qianying had no choice but to find a secluded inn to hide for the night.
"I've lost all my strength. Go get some water over there, wipe the blood off me, then carry me on your back to cover the stab wounds. Lie to the innkeeper that I'm drunk and need a place to stay for the night."
Gu Qianying, with her last ounce of strength, instructed Su Cheng, who naturally complied.
"You must hold on. I saw that elder brother's skills were extraordinary; he will surely return to save you soon. It's all my fault. If it weren't for saving me, you wouldn't be so seriously injured."
Su Cheng was filled with self-reproach. Ever since he met her, Gu Qianying had repeatedly helped him, and this time, she had risked her life.
"You're too kind." Gu Qianying had no strength left and only managed to say this before passing out.
Seeing this, Su Cheng quickly followed her instructions. After much effort, they finally found a room at the inn.
The outside briefly returned to quiet, while Su Cheng stayed by Gu Qianying's bedside. At this moment, he hated that although he came from a family of physicians, he knew no medicine. Seeing the person on the bed unconscious from severe blood loss, he could only continue to wipe her sweat and apply hot towels to her forehead.
"What you're doing will only delay her treatment."
Past midnight, Ouyang Qinglin finally found their lodging.
However, as he entered through the window, he saw Su Cheng fumbling to stop Gu Qianying's bleeding.
"Young hero, I am incompetent." Seeing that he was Gu Qianying's friend, Su Cheng quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.
Ouyang Qinglin glanced at him and pushed him aside.
"You are indeed quite useless."
His words were blunt. Although Su Cheng was displeased, the priority now was to treat Gu Qianying's wounds, and he wouldn't argue with this person at this moment.
The room fell silent. Since Gu Qianying was a woman, it was inconvenient for them to undress her to treat her wounds. After some thought, Ouyang Qinglin could only stop the bleeding through her clothes and then transfer his internal energy to her, allowing Gu Qianying to treat her wounds herself when she woke up.
Outside the prison, only one of the three who had pursued Gu Qianying opened his eyes.
Ouyang Qinglin's sword energy was overbearing. Within a few exchanges, they were no match for him, but that person was truly determined to take their lives.
A flurry of sword light pierced through, and the three fell to the ground. However, one of them, with extraordinary willpower, managed to open his eyes.
He knew he had only mustered the last breath of his life. Since he was ordered by the Grand Tutor, he naturally had to report back.
This person used his sword to prop himself up and slowly walked back towards the prison.
"What? Damn it, to think that woman could still escape like this. She truly shocks this Grand Tutor."
The guard had brought the assassin's words to Su Ye. That person ultimately wouldn't survive, and Su Ye had no intention of saving him.
"Grand Tutor, we absolutely cannot let them live. This woman knows too much, and if she escapes, it will be a significant threat to us."
The guard reminded him, and Su Ye's expression was no better.
"You don't need to lecture me. She is seriously injured, and the city gates are closed. She definitely cannot leave with people. Go immediately and dispatch personnel to search house by house. I want to see her alive, or her corpse."
"Yes, the guard immediately fell silent and left the room."
The people in the room had already left when a pair of hands rested on Su Ye's shoulders.
"Su Lang, can we get through this time?"
The Empress appeared in the room. Su Ye embraced her and comforted her.
"Don't worry, she's just a mere medical girl. Even if she has heaven-defying abilities, I will definitely capture her."
The Empress softened into his embrace, her man always giving her a sense of security, no matter the time.
The two embraced, and the room was filled with a night of passion.
Daybreak arrived. At the inn, with Ouyang Qinglin treating Gu Qianying's injuries, her complexion quickly recovered. Su Cheng had not left and had been guarding by her side.
"What use are you here? I can handle it alone. You can go out."
After transferring internal energy to Gu Qianying, Ouyang Qinglin sat to the side.
Seeing the person on the bed still unconscious, Su Cheng couldn't help but worry.
"Although you don't know her, you are Miss Gu's friend. Why are you driving me away?"
Knowing that Gu Qianying was out of danger, Su Cheng would no longer tolerate being treated with disrespect.