"Our tribe is divided into two clans, the Yangshang Clan and the Yinxia Clan. We belong to the Yinxia Clan, and our people are generally the poor common folk."
"The Yangshang Clan consists of noble families, and they also have elders. These people have long been separated from us Yinxia Clan. Unlike us, they seize while we protect."
"If you go to Yinshan Mountain with the hand token, you will alert them. The Yangshang Clan will intercept you on your way, or, they will travel with you to Yinshan Mountain to seize the Demon Token."
"Since the Demon Token has been guarded by us Yinxia Clan for generations, the Yangshang Clan must have the hand token from us Yinxia Clan to open the entrance to Yinshan Mountain. Speaking of this, Elder Tianji looked at Gu Qianying."
"Divine Doctor Gu, there are too many people in this world who desire the Demon Token. It is rumored that the Demon Token can command all demon races, and it is also one of the keys to unlocking legendary treasures."
Elder Tianji stroked his beard, his face etched with a weathered look. "Divine Doctor Gu, I am an old elder now. I only hope that after you obtain the Demon Token, you will not bring disaster to us Yinxia Clan."
Looking at the book in her hands, which contained the entire history of their tribe. Gu Qianying suddenly felt the silver hand token in her hand become incredibly heavy. This hand token not only concerned the matter of saving Ouyang Qinglin but also the fate of the entire Wu tribe. At this moment, she was unsure whether obtaining the Demon Token was more important or stabilizing the current situation of the Wu tribe. The appearance of the hand token symbolized the beginning of conflict and chaos within the Wu tribe. However, without the Demon Token, the next step of their plan could not be carried out. The rescue of Ouyang Qinglin would also be impossible to proceed smoothly.
Gu Qianying closed her eyes. "Esteemed Elder, please rest assured. After we obtain the Demon Token, we will leave immediately. If the Yangshang Clan comes to seize it or provoke us, we will protect you all with all our might. Before we leave, we will also ensure you have a stable life."
Emotion triumphed over reason. At this moment, she chose to continue pursuing the Demon Token and ensure the smooth progress of Ouyang Qinglin's rescue. Ouyang Qinglin was her dear friend, and she could not abandon him. As for the people here, if they were not given stability, she would not stand by idly. She would find a way to balance both.
"Actually, Divine Doctor Gu, you don't need to be so distressed. Although we Yinxia Clan have guarded this place for generations, if the Demon Token is taken by others, it will be a release for our entire tribe. And it just so happens that the person is you." Elder Tianji smiled. "But it's fortunate it's you. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't hand over this hand token even if it cost me my old life!" Elder Tianji spoke righteously, seemingly eager for Gu Qianying and her companions to seize the Demon Token. No, it should be said, he wanted Gu Qianying to possess the Demon Token alone. His words made Gu Qianying frown, but she said nothing.
Having explained everything, Elder Tianji asked a servant to prepare dinner. During the meal, Elder Tianji personally brought the food to Wu Zhiruo's room. As a father, he wanted to dine with his daughter. Lu Zhu came out of her room and dined with Gu Qianying and the others. Meng Yi waited outside the door. During the meal, Nangong Mo was still worried that his wife would accompany them. He specifically held her and spoke some comforting words. Gu Qianying pinched Nangong Mo's cheek, smiled, and nodded without speaking, but many thoughts arose in her mind. Beside them, the Sixth Prince Nangong Li and Luolayata were being affectionate. Before they even finished their meal, they embraced and returned to their room.
In the deep night, at the fifth watch, all was quiet. Wu Zhiruo, seven months pregnant, tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Her personal maid stood guard outside the sleeping chamber. Suddenly, a chilling wind blew. The tightly shut window panes in the room suddenly opened, swinging open and shut with the eerie wind. A strange bell sound approached from afar, and a mass of black mist appeared out of nowhere. As it passed by the maid, she closed her eyes and collapsed. She could sense something unusual in the room. Wu Zhiruo felt no fear; instead, she threw off the covers and sat up. The mass of black mist landed before her. As the mist thinned and dispersed, a faceless dark figure appeared before her. Its appearance, limbs, and feet were indistinguishable, only a black robe fluttered by the bed.
"How is the matter progressing?" His voice carried a strange aura. "Our purpose here is to go to Yinshan Mountain and seize the Demon Token." Wu Zhiruo's voice was no longer as weak as before, her slender jade fingers tightening the corner of the quilt. "The Demon Token? Hmph, they are not worthy!" contemptuous words escaped the dark figure. A small blue and white porcelain medicine bottle appeared out of nowhere before Wu Zhiruo. "I want her flesh and blood to be the medicinal guide for my recovery." Looking at the white jade bottle before her, Wu Zhiruo's jade hand, which was clutching the quilt, trembled violently. The dark figure flashed past her. As he was about to leave, "Brother!" she suddenly called out. The dark figure paused. "Brother, can we spare her? Don't hurt her?"
"Whoosh, whoosh..." An evil wind raged. The strange bell sound in the room rang out again. "Ding, ding, ding..." The sound was so loud it seemed to pierce eardrums. Wu Zhiruo's face turned ashen. She covered her ears as if in pain. The moment she looked up, the black robe enveloped her head, and a skinless, fleshless skeletal arm reached out and gripped her neck. She looked up and met those sinister, green-glowing eyes. At this moment, she saw him clearly within the black robe. No face, no flesh, just a skeleton radiating black energy. "Sister, do you know what you are saying?" The skeletal arm gripping Wu Zhiruo's neck did not exert force; Wu Zhiruo could breathe normally. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was also saddened by her brother's current state. And she knew that all of this was Gu Qianying's doing. That day, her brother, who had lost his physical body, used the highest level of Wu術, the Gu Po technique, to preserve his three souls and six spirits, and found her as she returned to see her father. He also told her the entire story of why her brother Wu Cheng had become this way. Upon hearing about her brother's situation, she was furious and promised her brother that she would return to avenge him. But... she had softened now. "Brother, she saved me and protected the child in my womb. She has been kind to me. I... I..." Before she could finish speaking, the skeletal arm's five fingers suddenly tightened. The feeling of suffocation was palpable. An unusual flush appeared on Wu Zhiruo's pale face. In an instant, the skeletal fingers released her and lifted her delicate chin. "Sister, don't you remember how that man abandoned you?" Mentioning that man, Wu Zhiruo's pupils contracted sharply, and sorrow and grief surged into her heart. Her body trembled, and her heart ached so much she almost fainted. It was as if an old wound had been torn open, and the pain made her lips tremble. She did not speak. The skeletal fingers released her and then landed on her head, stroking her unbound hair. "Sister, remember, no one in this world will be good to you except your brother. I know you love your brother." "You don't want your brother to live in this world like this, do you? You also want to avenge your brother, right?" Wu Zhiruo nodded. "Be good, my dear sister, then do as your brother says. Once I recover my physical body, I will stay by your side and protect you well, and you will never suffer any harm again, okay?" Wu Zhiruo nodded again.