A woman in tattered clothes cradled a child, accompanied by two other women in blue and white dresses.
Behind the three women stood a man in white robes.
All of them bore whip marks on their faces, the blood long since dried.
Nangong Xuanning and her daughter, whom she hadn't seen in years, along with Lan Qingqing, Caixia, and Leng, the white-robed youth covered in blood.
Seeing their pale, gaunt, and blood-stained faces,
Gu Qianying clenched her fists.
Nangong Cong, that scoundrel! How cruelly he treated her people!
He deserved to die!
Lan Qingqing, Caixia, Nangong Xuanning and her daughter, and Leng had their mouths gagged.
The Imperial Guards holding them were rough, forcing their heads down and kicking them to their knees.
"Nangong Cong, you truly deserve to die!"
Gu Qianying's voice was as cold as ice.
Seeing the rage in her eyes, Nangong Cong was in high spirits. He gestured behind him, "Look at them, they have private matters to discuss with Miss Gu. Hurry up and let them have their reunion."
As he spoke, a sinister smile spread across Nangong Cong's lips. Standing against the light, his raised chin revealed his viciously distorted face more clearly.
The young emperor, clutched in Meng Shi's arms, shivered and burrowed deeper into her embrace, too terrified to look at Nangong Cong.
The same fear was evident in Gu Zi Yi (daughter of Gu Ye Feng), hiding in Nangong Xuanning's arms.
The gag was removed from their mouths.
They all turned to look at Gu Qianying.
After so many years, their first reunion was under such circumstances.
Nangong Xuanning's eyes reddened, "Qianying... Qianying... I finally see you."
Her voice was choked with emotion, her tongue trembling slightly.
The little girl hiding in her arms turned and glanced at Gu Qianying.
She remained silent, but her timid, innocent eyes seemed to plead for help.
Gu Qianying looked at her.
The thin, sallow face was dirty, her hair disheveled, and her clothes ragged.
Seeing Gu Zi Yi in such a state pained Gu Qianying.
She had never imagined she would meet her brother's daughter for the first time in such a miserable condition.
A hint of coldness flickered in her eyes as Gu Qianying looked at Nangong Cong, "Prince Guo has truly sent me a great gift!"
"Sect Leader Gu, I have prepared this great gift for you for a long time. Do you like it? Hahaha!"
Nangong Cong held his chin high, brimming with pride.
"Sect Leader... Sect Leader... you don't need to worry about us... We lost the Poisonous Doctor's Pavilion, we deserve to die, we have failed you, Sect Leader. Please punish us."
Lan Qingqing and Caixia knelt on the ground.
They knelt facing Gu Qianying's position.
Beside them, the white-robed youth Leng, covered in blood with a face as pale as paper, swallowed the blood in his mouth and, like Lan Qingqing and Caixia, knelt directly towards Gu Qianying's location. "Sect Leader, my life is insignificant. I beg Sect Leader to allow me to die."
Nangong Cong kept them here only to use them to threaten their Sect Leader.
His life belonged to the Sect Leader, and he would rather die than have the Sect Leader show leniency because of him.
"We beg Sect Leader to allow us to die."
Lan Qingqing, Caixia, and Leng said in unison.
Though kneeling, their backs were held straight.
"Nangong Cong, release them, or I will ensure you die a terrible death!"
Gu Qianying gripped her Scarlet Blood Saber.
Nangong Cong sneered, unmoved.
"Ha! Look at your people, so loyal to you. If I were you, I would be moved too. Unfortunately, they followed the wrong master.
As he spoke, Nangong Cong glanced at Lan Qingqing and the others, "Look at the master you follow, she doesn't care about your lives at all. She only cares about herself."
"Clang!"
The sound of a long saber hitting the ground echoed.
Lan Qingqing, Caixia, Leng, and Nangong Xuanning looked towards Gu Qianying.
Lan Qingqing, Caixia, and Nangong Xuanning began to cry.
The white-robed youth Leng's eyes turned red.
"Sect Leader..."
"Qianying..."
"Sect Leader..."
"Sect Leader Gu, that's more like it. After all, they are people who have followed you for a long time. Sect Leader Gu still has a conscience."
Nangong Cong looked at the Scarlet Blood Saber Gu Qianying had thrown at her feet, his mood greatly improved.
"Release them, and this Sect Leader will deal with them as she sees fit."
Gu Qianying spoke coldly and took a step forward.
"Qianying... don't go... don't go..."
Meng Shi grabbed Gu Qianying's sleeve.
The young emperor clutched Gu Qianying's finger, "Godmother, he is very scary. Godmother, don't go."
The young emperor's eyes were also red.
"Sect Leader Gu, discarding your weapon is nothing. You are such a powerful person, Sect Leader Gu. I believe that even without the weapon in your hand, you are still very formidable."
Nangong Cong's words carried a hidden meaning.
"Do you want me to do this for you to release them?"
Gu Qianying stopped, her gaze fixed on Nangong Cong.
Nangong Cong smiled and raised his hand. Someone behind him handed him a sword.
He took the sword and threw it at Gu Qianying's feet.
"Sever your own meridians, destroy your demonic power, and I will release them."
"Sect Leader... No!"
Lan Qingqing, Caixia, and Leng shouted.
Nangong Xuanning shook her head, crying, "Qianying, you can't. You can't be so foolish. Qianying, don't worry about us, just leave quickly."
Ignoring the pleas from Lan Qingqing and the others, Gu Qianying took two steps forward and bent down to pick up the dagger from the ground.
Meng Shi, standing behind her, grabbed her arm, "Qianying, no, are you crazy?"
Severing meridians and destroying demonic power would render one incapable of self-care.
"I know what I'm doing."
Gu Qianying shook off Meng Shi and picked up the dagger.
The sharp tip of the blade glided across her arm, one by one...