"You know, the way you were speaking so seriously just now, I almost believed you.
I thought you were actually that capable.
But you didn't even notice this. You still want to be my master? Isn't that laughable?"
Gu Qianying's heart jolted. She hadn't expected to be tricked like this.
It was true, in her heart, even if Lu Zhu was under ač (gu) curse, her true nature shouldn't have changed.
She hadn't expected Lu Zhu to be so ruthless in calculating against her. To be precise, she herself had been too careless.
Seeing Gu Qianying injured on the ground, Su Cheng's heart tightened.
Although getting close to Gu Qianying might pose a danger to Xiao Yihao, he couldn't afford to worry about that anymore.
After all, if something were to happen to Gu Qianying, he and Xiao Yihao might not survive.
So, Su Cheng, holding Xiao Yihao, prepared to move towards Gu Qianying.
However, as soon as Su Cheng took a step, the men Gu Qianying had knocked down earlier had, at some unknown time, surrounded her.
One of them even held a dagger to her throat.
Su Cheng felt a chill on his neck.
"You'd better not move. Once our Demoness is done with that woman, we'll decide what to do with you."
Su Cheng knew he couldn't act rashly. No matter how capable he was, he was still just one person, and he had Xiao Yihao in his arms.
If he made a single mistake, Xiao Yihao might be in danger.
Therefore, Su Cheng had to halt in place for the time being.
In his heart, he was strategizing how to escape and, if possible, protect Gu Qianying by her side.
On the other side, Lu Zhu had swallowed a pill she carried.
Then, she slowly stood up and walked towards Gu Qianying.
"Lu Zhu, I don't believe it. I really don't believe it."
As she said this, tears began to well up in Gu Qianying's eyes.
How deep their past affection had been. The person she had treated as a sister was now trying to eliminate her completely.
Clearly, Lu Zhu saw Gu Qianying's reaction.
A strange ripple of sadness inexplicably surged in her heart, but she still shook her head.
Why would she have such strange thoughts? She and this woman didn't even know each other.
"Lu Zhu, wake up! I know you've been framed, that you've been poisoned by someone else's č (gu).
If you truly want to kill me, aren't you afraid of falling into a trap set by villains and regretting it later?"
Gu Qianying knew that explaining too much was useless. It was better to take a gamble and appeal to Lu Zhu's heart.
The closer Lu Zhu got to Gu Qianying, the stronger the discomfort and reluctance in her heart became.
At the same time, she believed that when she had sparred with the woman before her, Gu Qianying had indeed been holding back.
After all, Gu Qianying's final move had shown Lu Zhu her true strength, which was indeed superior to her own.
If Gu Qianying had truly considered her an enemy, there would have been no need to prolong the fight.
Could it be that what she said was true?
"Why are you so afraid of hurting me?"
Hearing Lu Zhu's question, a sliver of hope ignited in Gu Qianying's heart.
"Lu Zhu, I told you, it's because you are my sister, my family.
How could I bear to harm someone so close to me?
Do you remember? Once, I was distracted during martial arts practice because I was playing around, and Master punished me by making me kneel and forbidding me from eating.
You secretly brought me biscuits. You were punished by Master and they wanted to use the family's disciplinary methods on you.
I couldn't bear for you to be hurt because of me, so I immediately threw myself onto you.
It was because of that incident that our bond grew even stronger, and we became inseparable."
Hearing Gu Qianying's words, Lu Zhu's mind flashed with some blurry fragments.
And her head began to ache.
"Why? I can't remember anything. Who is that girl in my mind?"
However, the more she tried to recall, the more excruciating her headache became.
She clutched her head tightly with both hands.
Gu Qianying showed concern, "Lu Zhu, what's wrong? Have you remembered something?"
"No, I don't believe your words. Did you do something to me?"
Gu Qianying shook her head, "Lu Zhu, what must I do for you to believe me?"
Lu Zhu sneered, "For me to believe you, it's not impossible, but I have a condition."
"What condition? Lu Zhu, just say it. I'll do anything, as long as you can remember our past."
"You'll do anything? You're too confident. Do you know what I want you to do?"
As she spoke, Lu Zhu threw a dagger in front of Gu Qianying.
"If you dare to cut off your arm, I'll believe you're telling the truth."
Gu Qianying was incredulous.
"Your condition is too harsh."
"Didn't you just say you'd do anything I asked?
You keep saying you treat me like your own sister.
And I'm only asking you to cut off an arm, not to take your life, and in return, I'll trust you.
But you're unwilling, and you portray yourself as so noble. The truly harsh one is you."
Indeed, if she truly treated Lu Zhu like her own sister, as she claimed.
Yet, she was still refusing to cut off an arm.
"Lu Zhu, are you telling the truth? If I really cut off an arm, will you believe me?"
"Of course, I'm telling the truth. You must know that you've already been poisoned by me.
If I wanted to kill you, it would be as easy as turning my hand.
Asking you to cut off an arm now is giving you a chance. Don't be ungrateful."
"Qianying, please don't do this. She won't believe you. Qianying, wake up."
From a distance, Su Cheng desperately warned Gu Qianying.
The men surrounding Su Cheng grabbed him by the neck. "You'd better behave, or don't blame us for being impolite."
Then, Lu Zhu pointed at Su Cheng and Xiao Yihao. "And them. I only want your arm. If you agree, I'll let them go too."
Gu Qianying looked up at the sky and took a deep breath.
"Lu Zhu, do you truly want me to do this?"
Gu Qianying looked at Lu Zhu, tears streaming down her face.
This was the last time she would ask this way.
"Yes, don't you want to prove you're my good sister? What's wrong? Are you unwilling now?"
A cold smile curved Lu Zhu's lips.
She wanted to see if the person claiming to be her sister had any sincerity.
"Fine, I'll do as you ask!"