It was an exquisitely crafted bamboo dragonfly carved from agarwood.
Gu Qianying held it in her hand and smiled at Meng Qinghua, "Thank you, I like it very much."
Meng Qinghua tidied up inside the bamboo house. Cai Xia and Lan Qingqing had rushed over after receiving the letter.
Previously, they were two delicate girls, but now, both dressed in plain white, each holding a sword, with their hair simply tied up, they were heroic and spirited, possessing a unique charm.
By the time they arrived, they already knew what they were supposed to do.
After handing over the affairs of the pavilion to Meng Qinghua, the two women, before even meeting their mistress Gu Qianying, went about their tasks.
Trained and disciplined, they were no longer the same as before.
The day Meng Qinghua left the Poison Doctor's Saint Pavilion.
Gu Qianying personally saw him off.
The Sixth Prince, Nangong Li, also arrived.
The three of them rode horses, and outside the city, at a three-way fork.
Gu Qianying was dressed in red, her head covered with a veil.
Nangong Li was dressed in black robes, his head covered with a bamboo hat.
Meng Qinghua, however, was straightforward, clad in a green robe, needing no disguise.
"Meng Qinghua, you just leave like this, and I didn't even react."
Nangong Li was speaking the truth.
He had received news of Meng Qinghua's departure early in the morning.
He was completely bewildered.
Since his "rebirth," he had been hiding within the Poison Doctor's Saint Pavilion, improving himself.
And within the Poison Doctor's Saint Pavilion, the person he interacted with the most was Meng Qinghua.
Naturally, he had developed feelings for him.
Meng Qinghua's sudden departure made him quite sad.
"Without me, no one will manage you, you can drink as you please."
Meng Qinghua smiled at Nangong Li.
"Hmph!"
Nangong Li took off his bamboo hat and gave him a glare, "As if I would listen to you. I wished you would just get lost already."
Despite his words, Nangong Li casually tossed the jade pendant from his waist into Meng Qinghua's hand, "This thing is useless to me now, I'm giving it to you as a memento, so when you think of me, you can see it and remember me."
With that said.
Nangong Li put on his bamboo hat, turned, and rode away.
Meng Qinghua was leaving, he wasn't sad, he was just leaving.
It wasn't as if he had died, they would meet again in the future.
But what was with the tears in the corner of his eyes?
Hmm, he must have gotten sand in his eyes, which was why he was tearing up!
Yes, that was it!
On the road.
Nangong Li kept comforting himself.
Looking at Nangong Li's retreating back.
Meng Qinghua's lips curved into a smile. He withdrew his gaze and looked at Gu Qianying, "The Sixth Prince is not suited for courtly struggles. His temperament is more suited to being a leisurely prince. Don't force him to do things he dislikes, can you?"
He bore the responsibility of his family. He could hide for a while, but not forever. Eventually, he would return to his family and shoulder their responsibilities.
And among these people, Gu Qianying had a score to settle, and Ouyang Qinglin also needed to take on his own responsibilities.
Others should and would do the same.
Only among these people could the Sixth Prince Nangong Li live a life of ease and freedom.
And such a life was something they could not envy.
"Mm, alright, I understand. I will protect him well."
Gu Qianying promised.
She naturally understood the meaning behind Meng Qinghua's words.
"Qianying, until we meet again."
Meng Qinghua cupped his hands.
"Be careful on your journey."
Gu Qianying nodded and cupped her hands in farewell.
As if suddenly remembering something, Meng Qinghua tightened the reins, turned his head, and said, "Qianying, I always felt that A'Mo would return. You don't need to be too sad. The fact that he could disguise himself as Xiao Linzi and stay by your side shows that he couldn't rest easy about you. With a connection, he would naturally care about many things. Likewise, because he cares about you, he wouldn't just leave you like this."
"What did you say?"
Gu Qianying was extremely shocked.
Seeing Gu Qianying's surprised expression.
Meng Qinghua frowned, "Qianying, you don't mean you don't know that Xiao Linzi is Nangong Mo? I thought you already knew?"
A moment later.
In the suburbs, Gu Qianying rode her horse, galloping on the road back to the city.
The wind blew against her face, and the red robe she wore fluttered in the wind.
She rode her horse very fast, weaving through streets and alleys like the wind.
Passersby dodged to avoid her.
A woman who was about to curse looked up and only saw a woman on horseback, her face obscured by a veil, her retreating back gradually disappearing.
At this moment, the usually calm and rational Gu Qianying, like a madwoman, returned to the bamboo house in the back mountain of the Poison Doctor's Saint Pavilion.
She wanted to search for traces of Nangong Mo's departure here.
After searching around, she found no trace of Nangong Mo.
All the disciples in the Poison Doctor's Saint Pavilion were curious, cautiously peeking over here.
But no one dared to step forward to ask what had happened to their sect leader.
The entire pavilion, inside and out, had been turned upside down.
Gu Qianying found nothing.
She sat barefoot outside the bamboo house, at the place where she used to drink with Nangong Mo.
Her mind was filled with images of her and Nangong Mo, including him in his identity as Xiao Linzi, and their time together.
So, Nangong Mo really wasn't dead, he had been here all along.
So, Nangong Mo was Xiao Linzi.
He had been right in front of her all along.
And where had he gone now?
Where was he?
She missed him so much!
Tears streamed down her cheeks, her eyes red, she just sat there, lost in thought.
She sat like that for most of the day.
Lan Qingqing and Cai Xia, after finishing their tasks, rushed over. Neither of them dared to approach, they just quietly stayed by her side.
Cai Xia couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned to notify others.
She didn't know what sad thing her mistress had encountered.
But she knew very well that now, her mistress needed company, especially from her good friends who were close to her master.
Just like her, when she was in a bad mood, she would find a few good friends, eat and drink together, and chat, and her mood would improve.
And her mistress had many true friends.
After a long while.
The others, having received the news, all arrived.
Ouyang Qinglin, the Grand Preceptor of the court, arrived on horseback, dressed in red, holding a jar of wine.
Du Chun, who had feigned illness in the palace and temporarily handed over his duties to the imperial physicians,
After evading Nangong Qi's surveillance, also left the palace and arrived at the Poison Doctor's Saint Pavilion on horseback.
He was dressed in white, his white hair tied up, fluttering in the wind. He also carried a jar of good wine when he arrived.
Another person, Yan Kuan, dressed in a crescent-colored robe, arrived in a carriage. He didn't bring wine but brought a few small dishes.
Gu Yi arrived not in a carriage or on horseback, but riding a donkey, which he mostly led.
He was dressed in plain robes, and brought no wine or small dishes, but he did bring several small pastries that Gu Qianying liked.
They were all made by famous pastry chefs in the capital.
Among these people, Nangong Li did not appear.
Gu Yefeng was still in the military camp, cleaning up the mess.
Old General Gu naturally accompanied him.
Ouyang Qinglin, Du Chun, Yan Kuan, and Gu Yi, after arriving at the bamboo house of the Poison Doctor's Saint Pavilion.
None of them asked Gu Qianying what had happened, or why she was so sad.
Instead, as soon as they sat down, they started drinking, feasting, and vowed not to return until they were drunk. No one asked any further questions.
While drinking, no one spoke, they just drank.
After three rounds of drinks, Gu Qianying stood up unsteadily, holding a wine jar, and looking at everyone, she laughed heartily, "I am very happy. Fortunately, you are all here with me. The moonlight tonight is exceptionally beautiful. My dear brothers, why don't we become sworn siblings?"
Sworn siblings?
Everyone, and some of them, absolutely refused.
But why Gu Qianying was so sad this time, and why she was staring blankly and crying outside the bamboo house.
Ouyang Qinglin and the others were not fools. After sending people to investigate and inquire, they naturally learned the truth.
And the truth they learned was that Nangong Mo was not dead, but alive?
Some were happy, some were worried.
However, in the end, Ouyang Qinglin and the others became sworn siblings with Gu Qianying under the moonlight.
Love between men and women can bring pain, hurt, and perhaps betrayal.
But in the martial world, the bond of sworn brotherhood is taken seriously by everyone, and it is hoped that it will last a lifetime.
Ouyang Qinglin, Yan Kuan, Du Chun, Gu Yi, and Gu Qianying, the five of them thus became sworn siblings, becoming sworn brothers and sisters.
While drinking, someone said he wanted to venture into the martial world, and others also said they wanted to travel around.
Most of the five wished to cast aside their self-imposed identities and visit places they had never been before.
Of course, this would be after completing their respective missions and avenging their grievances.
When the five were drinking heartily, someone suggested that the five of them should create their own sect.
A place where the five of them could cast aside their self-imposed identities and drink together.
And this place would not need to adhere to the rules of the court, nor would it need to consider those matters of love and hate.
It would only be a place for hearty drinking, chatting, and casting all worries aside.
And such a place would need to be powerful enough.
After much deliberation, the five decided to create their own sect, the Juesha Sect.
And the five of them became the Five Masters of Juesha.
And who would have thought that because of their drunken words that day,
The Juesha Sect was thus established, and such a new sect caused a huge stir in the martial world!
But who could have imagined such a day would come?
Gu Qianying and the other four got thoroughly drunk in the bamboo house.
Cai Xia and Lan Qingqing took care of Gu Qianying all night.
The others were taken back by their respective subordinates.
Gu Yi was dragged back by his donkey, slumped over its back.
That night, in her sleep, Gu Qianying kept calling out a name.
"Nangong Mo, where are you? Please come back, I miss you so much."
Lan Qingqing, who had just wiped Gu Qianying's face, sighed. After tucking Gu Qianying in, she shook her head and followed Cai Xia out of the room.
She knew that Gu Qianying was missing Nangong Mo.
If it were her back then, she would have been jealous, but now, her feelings for Nangong Mo were gone.
If she had any, she felt a bit sorry for Du Chun.
Looking up at the dim moonlight, Lan Qingqing finally returned to her room and stayed alone for a long time.
In the main hall, the bedroom.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared in the room.
As the light dispersed, a white figure stood by the bedside.
"You silly girl, drunk again!"