With this statement, Gu Yi and Du Chun finally understood what had just happened.
"Heh?"
Du Chun let out a cold laugh and turned to look at the fat man, her gaze treating him as if he were already dead.
Gu Yi's reaction was the most pronounced. Normally gentle and refined, he was now enraged. He strode up to the fat man, glared up at him, and declared, "The Master once said, 'He who bullies others, he who bullies women, will face divine retribution.' I observe you, young sir, to be corpulent and clumsy, much like a certain peculiar animal. And your eyes… devoid of spirit, with dark circles beneath them, truly indicating a lack of virility. Therefore… this must be your divine retribution."
Gu Yi's rambling speech left the fat man bewildered. Though it contained no vulgarity, it was the most insulting kind of insult, especially targeting a man's pride, something these dissolute youths prided themselves on. The fat man's face immediately changed.
"Damn it! You're calling me impotent?"
Despite his limited education, he understood these cultured insults. The fat man raised his hand, clenched his fist, and punched Gu Yi directly. Gu Yi did not dodge, clutching his abdomen and bending over. He pointed at the fat man, saying, "A gentleman uses his words, not his fists. You..."
"Damn it! What do you mean, words not fists! You're asking for death!"
The fat man attempted to punch Gu Yi again. Before his hand could reach him, a sudden figure blocked his view. He looked up to see the white-haired man standing on the steps. The man smiled and said, "Brother, do not be too hasty. After I have dealt with this bookworm, this young lady can then accompany just the two of us. Would that not be even better?"
The fat man chuckled, completely misinterpreting Du Chun's presence as an attempt to stop him from disciplining the bookworm. He grabbed Gu Yi by the back of his collar, intending to beat him soundly. However, Du Chun, standing before him, expressionlessly grabbed the fat man's wrist and forcefully twisted it. The fat man's wrist dislocated instantly, and he cried out in pain. He glanced back at his subordinates behind him, "What are you waiting for? Don't you see your young master being bullied by these people? Attack! Beat them soundly!"
As soon as the fat man finished speaking, his subordinates all collapsed on the ground. He stared incredulously at Lu Zhu, who held a dagger stained with blood. After her mistress and the other young masters entered the Xia Kingdom, they not only changed into commoner's clothing but also hid their weapons, replacing them with small, concealable blades. Each of them possessed a razor-sharp dagger capable of slicing through iron, including Lu Zhu.
"You... you... you..."
Seeing that Lu Zhu had killed his men, the fat man, after his initial shock, became terrified. It was then that he realized these people were all in league with each other. Without bothering to wipe the sweat from his face, sensing the unfavorable turn of events, the fat man turned and fled.
At this moment, Gu Qianying, who had deliberately brought out a chair, sat leisurely, holding a cup of tea. She raised her eyes slightly and called out, "Lu Zhu!"
Upon hearing Gu Qianying's call, Lu Zhu nodded, turned, and grabbed the fleeing fat man, holding the dagger to his throat. "Where are you running? Did my mistress permit you to run? Kneel!" To insult her mistress was a capital offense. Had her mistress not yet spoken, she would not have dared to do anything to this disgusting scumbag, who would have long since met his end by her blade!
With the cold dagger about to slice his throat, the fat man's legs trembled, and his whole body quivered. He was no longer the imposing figure he had been moments before. When told to kneel, he did so without hesitation, "Please, great heroes, spare me! I... I... I have money on me, take it as you please."
Nangong Li, who had been indoctrinated by Gu Qianying and her companions, along with Gu Yefeng, the nonchalant Duan Xifeng, and Yan Kuan, the Assistant Minister of Dali Temple, returned from hunting in the nearby mountains. The four of them approached the rustic courtyard.
"Oh, what's going on? Has Little Ying taken in another... exceptionally handsome, fat man?"
Duan Xifeng casually tossed the game he had hunted aside, walked up to Gu Qianying, snatched the teacup from her hand, turned, and leaned against a tree, taking a sip. Yan Kuan stepped forward, picked up the game Duan Xifeng had thrown on the ground, placed it in a basket, and then collected the game brought back by the other two, also placing it in the basket. He then went inside to pour Gu Qianying another cup of hot tea, came out, and handed the perfectly warm tea to Gu Qianying before asking, "Who is this person?"
At this moment, Gu Yefeng and Nangong Li also walked over. As the weather had turned cool, Gu Yefeng took off his cloak and draped it over Gu Qianying. He remained silent, but Yan Kuan's question was precisely what he wanted to know. Nangong Li, approaching, glanced at Gu Qianying, who was being doted upon by several men. He let out a cold snort, rolled his eyes, pushed Yan Kuan aside, and walked past him into the house. He was too lazy to concern himself with other people's troubles! As long as Gu Qianying kept her promise to commit suicide before his Ninth Imperial Uncle upon their return to the capital with the treasure, he could generously accompany these people on their journey to these small kingdoms. However... seeing all the men outside surrounding Gu Qianying, how could he not find it so glaringly obvious? His Ninth Imperial Uncle was still lying in bed!
No! Nangong Li, who had just been about to sit down and rest, suddenly stood up again. He quietly walked to the doorway, hid behind the door, and eavesdropped on the commotion outside. Could Gu Qianying truly intend to take in another ugly, fat man? Wouldn't that make his Ninth Imperial Uncle's head even greener than purple? Absolutely not!
Nangong Li stealthily drew the dagger hidden in his boot, a murderous glint in his eyes. He could not kill Du Chun and her group, nor did he have the ability. But that fat man, with his clumsy limbs, looked easy to deal with. Killing him would be effortless. Thinking thus, Nangong Li pressed his ear closer to listen more intently.
Outside, after drinking the hot tea handed to her by Yan Kuan, Gu Qianying looked up at Gu Yefeng and the others. "He is the nephew of the Empress of the Xia Kingdom, the eldest son of the Bai family, Bai Dongqing. Although this person is uneducated and proficient in all forms of debauchery, a useless talent, he is deeply favored by the Empress of the Xia Kingdom. The Empress has had no children for years, and her doting on him has only increased. Whatever this person desires, the Empress will not refuse. Do you all understand now?"
"Qianying, you mean you want to ask the Empress of the Xia Kingdom for something through Bai Dongqing, but what is it you wish to obtain?" Gu Yi looked at Gu Qianying. The others, Gu Yefeng, Du Chun, Duan Xifeng, and Yan Kuan, all turned to look at Gu Qianying as well. They also wanted to understand Gu Qianying's intentions.
"The Yi Ling Pearl is half of the key located at the boundary of the Qiong Ling Mountain of the empire, which is a necessary path for unlocking the treasure."