Nangong Li and Luolaya Ta covered their mouths, stopping their screams.
Du Chun sat cross-legged to the side, his cold gaze fixed on the doorway.
Blinding sunlight streamed in.
Upon seeing who the newcomer was, Du Chun and the other two were startled.
"How… how did you get in?"
Gu Qianying and Nangong Li entered together.
After entering, Nangong Li casually closed the door.
"To keep you company!"
Gu Qianying approached the pythons and, without alarming them, sprinkled some powder on their heads. Then, she agilely sidestepped, dodged, and turned to Du Chun.
Through the iron cage, Gu Qianying took out the antidote pill she had prepared and threw one to Du Chun.
"Take this, and the toxins in your body will be cleared."
"I knew that bowl of warm wine was poisoned, so I didn't drink it."
Du Chun, holding the antidote pill in his mouth, casually shoved it into Nangong Li's mouth.
"I know, but the poison in your body is more than just that. You should understand without me saying it."
Du Chun knew very well that there were other toxins remaining in his body, but he never paid them any mind.
Upon hearing that the bowl of warm wine was indeed poisoned, Nangong Li, after swallowing the antidote pill, quickly asked Gu Qianying for another one.
"Ninth Imperial Aunt, my woman hasn't eaten yet! Quickly, give me another one."
Another antidote pill was in Nangong Li's hand. He immediately shoved it into Luolaya Ta's mouth.
After swallowing the antidote pills, both of them felt refreshed.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, quickly kill those pythons and get us out."
Nangong Li was terrified of those pythons.
He hid in Luolaya Ta's embrace, protected by her.
"I told you, we're here to keep you company, not to rescue you."
A knowing smile flickered across Gu Qianying's lips. Before Nangong Li and the others could understand the situation, she nimbly used her hairpin to unlock the iron cage.
Then, she waited slowly.
Nangong Mo stood by, watching quietly.
He allowed Gu Qianying to play with the unlocked cage without taking any further action.
"Click!"
The main door was suddenly kicked open again.
More than a dozen Wu people, each holding their own weapons, rushed in and surrounded Gu Qianying and the others.
At the same time, the pythons coiled not far from the iron cage suddenly became frenzied.
Twisting their massive bodies, they rampaged through the hall, opening their gaping mouths and letting out roaring growls.
Seeing this, the dozen Wu people quickly worked together to capture the pythons, trying to calm them down.
But… it was to no avail.
"Crack…"
"Bang…"
The surrounding valuable furnishings were knocked over and smashed to pieces.
The scene was chaotic.
The Wu clan chief, leaning on his cane, first ordered the Wu people behind him to pacify the pythons before interrogating these outsiders.
However, the current situation was completely beyond his control.
The pythons were still writhing frantically.
Several Wu people who went forward to pacify them were thrown far away.
And at this moment.
Gu Qianying and Nangong Mo stood still, watching quietly.
Nangong Li and Luolaya Ta, trapped in the iron cage, were bewildered.
Du Chun, however, was much quieter.
Observing the frenzied pythons, he was secretly observing the expression of the Wu clan chief.
Finally, when one of the pythons began to bite,
Gu Qianying took out the antidote she had prepared, moved swiftly, and went before the pythons, scattering the powder.
As an unusual scent wafted through the air,
The frenzied, writhing pythons suddenly quieted down.
As if having exhausted their energy, the pythons lowered their heads, collapsed to the ground, and remained motionless.
The Wu people, who had exerted much effort with no success, were dumbfounded.
The Wu clan chief finally had to put aside his pride and asked in a friendly tone, "Who exactly are you? Please state your names, esteemed individuals."
"My second uncle, they are the divine physicians I invited."
A woman in a white dress with a veil on her face approached.
Bells adorned her feet, making a tinkling sound with every step.
Her voice was familiar.
Nangong Li and Luolaya Ta were perplexed, "This… voice… is…"
The woman walked up to the Wu clan chief. The wind blew in from the doorway.
The light veil was lifted by the wind.
The woman's true face was revealed.
"Saintess! It's the Saintess! The Saintess has returned!"
The Wu people present exclaimed.
"We pay homage to the Saintess! May the Saintess bless our Wu clan."
All the Wu people present knelt in unison at the feet of the woman in white.
"Lu Zhu!"
Nangong Li and Luolaya Ta exclaimed simultaneously.
The person before them, whom the Wu people called the "Saintess," was actually Lu Zhu!
Too astonished, Nangong Li bit his finger. Finding it painful, he finally believed what he was seeing.
Lu Zhu, unlike her usual reserved demeanor, exuded a cool aura.
"I have sought medical treatment abroad for many years, and heaven has been quite kind to me. By chance, I met Sister Qianying, who is a skilled physician. Sister Qianying also knew of my eagerness to seek treatment. After bidding farewell at home, I followed Meng Yi here. My second uncle, these are Sister Qianying's friends, who came with her. It's not right to keep them confined like this."
"Quick, quick, what are you waiting for? Release them immediately!"
The Wu clan chief ordered his subordinates.
The lock on the iron cage was opened, and Du Chun and the other two were brought out.
"So they are friends of the divine physician. A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding."
The Wu clan chief smiled broadly, ordered the empty iron cage to be moved away, and then instructed his men to prepare rooms and arrange for food and wine.
"Lu Zhu, you're quite something. So well-hidden, you've astonished me."
Nangong Li glanced at Lu Zhu several times.
Luolaya Ta also looked at Lu Zhu several times.
Who would have thought that the maidservant by Gu Qianying's side was actually the Saintess of the Wu tribe?
"Miss, I'm sorry. Lu Zhu deceived you and concealed her identity."
Gu Qianying patted Lu Zhu's hand, "It's alright, I'm not blaming you."
"Miss, did you already know my identity?"
Lu Zhu was uneasy.
Only before Gu Qianying could she reveal her true self.
And her Miss seemed not surprised by her identity.
Gu Qianying shook her head and nodded.
"When I mentioned the Wu clan, your reaction was strange. At first, I didn't think much of it. Later, when we went down the mountain, the absent-minded words you spoke to me made me suspect your identity was related to the Wu clan. Then, when you went out with Meng Yi on business, Meng Yi took a shortcut back, but you went missing. He only brought back one of your shoes. That was just your diversion."
"So, Miss, you deliberately led Lu Zhu out? Miss, weren't you afraid of being captured and silenced by my second uncle?"
Lu Zhu was a little sad.
Gu Qianying reached out and rubbed her head, "This wasn't a scheme to deliberately draw you out, but to protect you, so that you could stand openly before your people. Lu Zhu, I've long considered you my sister. For my sister, I only wish for your happiness."
Knowing she wasn't being used, Lu Zhu was happy and touched.
"Miss, thank you. You are so good to me."
During the meal.
The Wu clan chief personally accompanied them.
The return of the Saintess, and the arrival of divine physicians, was a great joyous occasion for the Wu tribe.
The tribesmen rejoiced together.
Cheers could be heard from outside the door.
Suddenly.
The door was pushed open violently. Atawusi, the daughter of the Wu clan chief, swaggered in.
"Father, that little bitch Wu Meng is back!"