With that statement, Luo Laya Zhu's face turned ashen, a flicker of panic in her eyes.
"Qian Ying... I don't know what you're talking about. Qian Ying... my child is gone, he's gone, I'm so heartbroken... *sob sob*..."
Luo Laya Zhu refused to admit anything, maintaining her facade of fragility and utter grief.
Gu Qian Ying watched her performance silently.
Suddenly, she stood up, leaping lightly to stand on the table alongside Luo Laya Zhu. Her slender, jade-like fingers shot out, gripping Luo Laya Zhu by the neck.
Her voice was icy.
"I could allow you to approach us with your intentions. I could allow you to use Qiu Ling'er against us, simply because you are the woman my nephew, Nangong Li, fell in love with. But you should never, ever have touched my man. He is my bottom line, and you have crossed it. Your only fate is death!"
Her fingers tightened by degrees, a bloodthirsty killing intent glinting in Gu Qian Ying's eyes.
Suddenly.
Luo Laya Zhu loosened the white silk in her hand, flinging it towards Gu Qian Ying as a sharp dagger appeared in her other hand.
Gripping the dagger, she fiercely thrust it towards Gu Qian Ying's chest. Gu Qian Ying released her, arching her body backward, dodging to the side. With a turn of her head, Luo Laya Zhu had already leaped off the table, using her agility to fly out of the door.
Gu Qian Ying's cold gaze sharpened, and she pursued closely.
As she raised her palm, demonic power erupted, and several black threads instantly coiled around Luo Laya Zhu.
Having had her identity exposed, Luo Laya Zhu no longer concealed her abilities.
"Since you all know now, then you shall all die!"
As the dagger spun in her palm, it transformed from short to long, the short dagger becoming a long sword, which also pulsed with wisps of blue spiritual energy.
Luo Laya Zhu wielded the long sword, slashing left and right, quickly breaking free from the restraint of the black threads.
Her feet seemed to tread on the wind as she faced Gu Qian Ying. The hand not holding the sword gathered blue spiritual energy, which instantly formed a blazing fireball, striking fiercely at Gu Qian Ying.
Instantly, a fierce wind swept through, and a powerful spiritual energy spread around Gu Qian Ying.
"Spiritual Flame Fire? You're actually a Level Nine Spirit Alchemist? Heh, interesting!"
Gu Qian Ying's eyes narrowed. She retreated a few steps, raising her palm as the Scarlet Blood Blade appeared within it.
She gathered two-thirds of the demonic power within her body onto the blade, gripping the Scarlet Blood Blade with both hands and slashing down fiercely.
As they clashed with the Spiritual Flame, a barrier seemed to divide the sky around the two of them.
Wu Zi, Leng, Jiaolong A Mu, along with many elite guards and evil spirits, rushed out to investigate. They were startled to see the two women fighting in mid-air.
"Sect Master!"
The white-clothed youth, Leng, was the first to leap high with his sword, intending to lend a hand.
Following him were Du Chun and many elite guards, all drawing their swords.
However... Gu Qian Ying commanded coldly, "All of you, stand down. This person will be dealt with by this Sect Master alone!"
As her words fell, Gu Qian Ying looked at Luo Laya Zhu opposite her. "So what if you're a Level Nine Spirit Alchemist! Today, your life is mine!"
Releasing the Scarlet Blood Blade, she used a wicked art to summon a clone. The clone, like her shadow, grasped the Scarlet Blood Blade.
Gu Qian Ying's main body moved with lightning speed, instantly appearing before Luo Laya Zhu. As Luo Laya Zhu's pupils widened in shock, Gu Qian Ying raised her palm and struck her.
The spiritual energy within Luo Laya Zhu weakened, and the Spiritual Flame Fire in her hand also diminished accordingly.
The clone returned to her side, and Gu Qian Ying grasped the Scarlet Blood Blade, slashing it horizontally.
As she turned, the Spiritual Flame Fire vanished instantly.
Her feet landing steadily, Luo Laya Zhu slowly slid down from mid-air, crashing to the ground.
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Luo Laya Zhu lay on the ground with a pale face. She flipped over, struggling to get up.
At this moment, several guards rushed over, holding their swords to her neck. She was unable to move.
Gu Qian Ying removed her black cloak, tossing it to the maid Wu Zi, and slowly walked towards Luo Laya Zhu.
As she approached, several guards knelt down and moved aside.
Luo Laya Zhu, lying on the ground, looked up at the person before her.
Blood spread from the corner of her mouth. She spat, "Pah," spitting the blood onto the toe of Gu Qian Ying's shoe, and flashed a venomous smile. "Gu Qian Ying, you think you've won? Hahaha, no, you haven't won, you've only defeated me. But you will never win against my sister. You are no match for her."
"You're not even one-thousandth of her. Do you know who she is?"
Gu Qian Ying looked at her with a cold face, remaining silent, her aura chilling.
Luo Laya Zhu didn't care what Gu Qian Ying would say. She stared intently at Gu Qian Ying. "Hahaha, Gu Qian Ying, let me tell you, she is the woman your man loves the most. If I hadn't killed my sister, the one with your man now would be her, the real Luo Laya Ta! Gu Qian Ying... do you know what you are?"
"You are just her shadow, a shadow! Like me, you can only be her shadow! Hahaha, speaking of which, you are very much like my sister. Even with different appearances, her way of doing things is exactly like yours. Gu Qian Ying, tell me, why did your man fall in love with you?"
"Enough, stop talking!"
Leng stepped forward, grabbing Luo Laya Zhu and slapping her across the face, scolding her angrily.
Although he didn't know about his master's husband's past with other women, he could clearly see that his Sect Master was very unhappy at the moment.
After being slapped by Leng, Luo Laya Zhu's smile deepened.
"Hahaha, Gu Qian Ying... what? Hard to accept, isn't it? Well, knowing you're just a substitute in your man's eyes, anyone would collapse. Gu Qian Ying... enjoy your days as a substitute... I wish you a lifetime of being a substitute until you die... haha..."
Gu Qian Ying crouched down, pinching Luo Laya Zhu's cheeks, looking at her coldly.
"I've suddenly changed my mind. I won't kill you. I'll send you back safely, let you be yourself, be the one cursed by thousands of people in the Southern Barbarian Kingdom. Didn't you say you've had enough of living as a shadow? Then fine, just be yourself. I want to see how the Southern Barbarian people will treat you when you appear before them as Luo Laya Zhu. Will they chop you into meat paste, or will they use you for a ritual sacrifice?"
"Gu Qian Ying... you!"
Luo Laya Zhu's face turned ashen.
As she released Luo Laya Zhu, Gu Qian Ying deliberately lingered on Luo Laya Zhu's wrist for a moment.
Her eyes flickered.
Indeed!
Luo Laya Zhu was not pregnant at all.
"Take her away and guard her well. At the appointed time, Leng, you will personally escort her back to the Southern Barbarian Kingdom and hand her over to the Southern Barbarian Emperor."
Leng knelt on one knee and accepted the order, "Your subordinate obeys."
"Gu Qian Ying, you... you can't do this to me... you bitch..."
Before Luo Laya Zhu could finish her words, Leng knocked her unconscious with a punch.
Gu Qian Ying glanced back at Luo Laya Zhu, who was being dragged away by two guards.
She withdrew her gaze, stood in the courtyard, and looked towards the southeast.
Luo Laya Zhu had come to the Central Plains under the identity of Luo Laya Ta.
During this period, the Emperor of the Southern Barbarian Kingdom had received news of Luo Laya Ta's presence here.
If Luo Laya Ta were killed here, it would inevitably cause conflict between the Southern Barbarian Kingdom and the Eastern Victory Kingdom.
She and Nangong Mo had been away from the Eastern Victory Kingdom for many days. As the Regent and Princess Regent of the Eastern Victory Kingdom, they could no longer assist Empress Meng and the young emperor.
At this moment, they could not afford to cause more trouble for the mother and son.
However... what exactly had happened between the real Luo Laya Ta and Nangong Mo?
At this moment, her mind was filled with Luo Laya Zhu's words.
No!
She believed in Nangong Mo's feelings for her.
She placed her hand on her lower abdomen.
Gu Qian Ying's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Child, I believe in your father."
Recalling her thoughts, Gu Qian Ying turned and saw the small maidservant trembling in the corner.
That maidservant was someone who had been by Luo Laya Zhu's side.
In a moment, she walked towards the little maidservant.
The little maidservant looked up and saw a figure in red, not daring to look at Gu Qian Ying's face.
"Please, Ninth Princess Consort, spare this servant's life."
The little maidservant knelt and kowtowed.
Gu Qian Ying looked at her. "I'll give you a chance to save your life. Do you want it?"
"Whatever the Ninth Princess Consort commands."