Ouyang Qinglin's words stunned everyone, and then they all looked towards Gu Qianying.
"You say, our Crown Prince might really have something going on with the Gu family's eldest daughter?"
"Who knows? But, from what I heard just now, it seems like there might be something, but it shouldn't be, right? The Gu family's eldest daughter is someone the Ninth Prince has his eye on?"
"Look at how charming the Gu family's eldest daughter is, to be desired by two of the most noble men in the world at the same time. I wonder how many lifetimes of good fortune the Gu family's eldest daughter has cultivated."
"Heh! Is this cultivated good fortune? I think it's clearly her ability to seduce people!"
Although everyone present dared not discuss loudly for fear of Nangong Mo, the hushed whispers could still be heard.
At this moment, Nangong Mo cast a cold glance, and the discussions among the crowd immediately subsided.
"The National Preceptor jokes. This humble subject's status is low, how could there be any connection between me and the Crown Prince? If we speak of what constitutes 'scum,' while in plays, a man who wrongs a woman in love is called scum, beyond that, in the way of being a person, wickedness and ill-intent are also scum. Therefore, the scum this humble subject speaks of is the latter kind: wicked, ill-intentioned, and so forth."
Although Gu Qianying feared Ouyang Qinglin in her heart, her fear had vanished in an instant as images of her deceased brothers flashed through her mind.
At this moment, Gu Qianying no longer feared Ouyang Qinglin.
"Hahaha, well said, wickedness and ill-intent are scum, hahaha." Ouyang Qinglin laughed heartily, "Miss Gu's eloquent and self-serving words are truly peculiar. I wonder what it feels like to have your sharp tongue cut off."
As he spoke, Ouyang Qinglin raised his hand.
Nangong Mo pulled Gu Qianying even closer to him: "National Preceptor, a tongue is nothing compared to an ear. I recall you are most fond of cutting off others' ears."
As he spoke, a murderous aura emanated from Nangong Mo's eyes, and his words carried a strong threat.
With that, he sternly called out to Bai Qi, who had inexplicably left the crowd and returned: "Why are you still standing there! Quickly, present a gift to the esteemed National Preceptor!"
The glint of swords and flash of blades erupted.
The crowd had not even seen how Bai Qi had made his move.
They only saw Bai Qi draw his sword, flash, and in the next moment, as he sheathed his sword.
Screams of agony accompanied shrieks of terror.
The women present screamed repeatedly.
Those behind Ouyang Qinglin all clutched their ears, collapsing to the ground, screaming one after another.
Ouyang Qinglin's lips curved into a devilish smile, like a blooming chestnut in a hundred bushes, beautiful and vibrant, yet containing poison.
"This gift from the Ninth Prince is greatly to this National Preceptor's liking. In return, this National Preceptor shall also present the Ninth Prince with a gift."
As Ouyang Qinglin finished speaking, a powerful surge of inner force followed, and a gust of wind swept through.
Bang, bang, bang.
Several hidden guards, tasked with protecting Nangong Mo and positioned a meter away from him, all fell to the ground, clutching their chests and spitting out blood.
Among them, the two guards with deeper cultivation were severely injured but still conscious, while the remaining three guards were killed instantly by Ouyang Qinglin's powerful inner force.
Conversely, those standing behind Ouyang Qinglin were completely unharmed, seemingly unaffected.
"National Preceptor, impressive skill!"
Nangong Li chuckled, twirling his fan for a moment. As he gripped the fan handle, the fan surface, which had been inlaid with golden threads and adorned with exquisite ink paintings, had inexplicably transformed into a short sword.
Nangong Li attacked Ouyang Qinglin with the sword.
Everyone quickly retreated a few steps, moving to the side.
As Nangong Li attacked, Ouyang Qinglin smiled wickedly: "Third Prince, you dare to show off your amateur skills before this National Preceptor? Hmph!"
The sharp tip of the sword was about to slice across Ouyang Qinglin's brow, but Ouyang Qinglin swiftly dodged, effortlessly evading the short sword in Nangong Li's hand.
As he turned, he raised his palm.
Bang!
Ouyang Qinglin struck with his palm.
Clang!
The short sword in Nangong Li's hand fell to the ground.
He clutched his shoulder and retreated several steps.
"National Preceptor, though my skills are amateur, they are sufficient to deal with you!"
With that, Nangong Li bent down to pick up the short sword that had fallen to the ground and, with unwavering persistence, attacked Ouyang Qinglin again.
This time, the short sword in his hand had transformed into an iron fan with fine needles, capable of cutting through iron and steel.
It turned out that the folding fan he often played with was a unique hidden weapon called Qing Yu, capable of being a fan, a sword, or hidden needles.
Using such an item to attack someone was, in essence, a "less than gentlemanly" act.
However, Nangong Li never considered himself a gentleman. He only knew that he had been insulted, and he had to get his revenge!
But... before he could get close to Ouyang Qinglin with the iron fan, a powerful surge of inner force repelled him several meters back.
Nangong Li cursed himself for being useless in his heart.
Just as he was contemplating whether to use some underhanded tactics like "monkey stealing the peach" on Ouyang Qinglin, someone behind him said, "His inner energy is profound and his skills are excellent, but he doesn't understand forbidden arts. You can use forbidden arts to deal with him."
Forbidden arts were a novel and ever-changing style of combat, lacking in aesthetic appeal and utterly unfathomable.
Nangong Li paused, then turned to look back at the source of the voice, only to see Gu Qianying standing to Nangong Mo's right, behind him.
It was she who had spoken!
Nangong Mo chuckled: "Miss Gu is joking, how could this Prince know any forbidden arts?"
As he spoke, Nangong Li prepared to act according to his plan.
But at that moment.
Ouyang Qinglin suddenly pushed Nangong Li aside with a palm strike, flashed, and appeared before Gu Qianying.
His lips were still curved into a wicked smile.
"This little lady understands this National Preceptor so well, could it be that you've fallen for this National Preceptor?"
As the teasing words entered his ears, Nangong Mo's eyes filled with murderous intent. His hands, resting on the armrests of his wheelchair, slightly lifted, about to strike Ouyang Qinglin.
Beside him, Ouyang Qinglin, who had been standing before Gu Qianying, suddenly retreated several steps.
Gu Qianying, at some unknown time, had taken Bai Qi's sword and held it to Ouyang Qinglin's head.
"National Preceptor worries too much. This humble subject never likes effeminate individuals who are neither male nor female."
In her past life, ever since she had suffered at Ouyang Qinglin's hands, she had paid close attention to him, not for any other reason than to be able to return the harm he had inflicted upon her tenfold.
The cold poison she had suffered in her past life had caused her pain for half her life, and she had ultimately been unable to have her own children, all of which was thanks to Ouyang Qinglin.
Besides these, in her past life as a general, all her capable soldiers had perished under Ouyang Qinglin's claws. She remembered every single one of these debts clearly.
She had never forgotten these grudges in her entire life!
"Hahaha," Ouyang Qinglin's laughter was wild and wicked, "Miss Gu is indeed beautiful, but her mouth is truly venomous. However, this National Preceptor likes it very much."