Chapter 502
Du Chun, clad in a white robe with his signature white hair, landed steadily with his sword in hand.
Beside him, Nangong Li, dressed in a black robe with embroidered golden edges and holding a folding fan with a hidden sleeve dart, arrived with Du Chun, their movements swift as the wind.
The other two were Meng Qinghua, in a blue robe, and Ouyang Qinglin, in a striking crimson robe.
These four handsome men, each wielding different weapons, approached with grace and landed firmly before Gu Yefeng.
Both Gu Yefeng and Old General Gu were startled to see them.
"It's you? Why have you come?"
"If Ninth Imperial Aunt is in danger, how could we not come!"
This was Nangong Li's declaration.
"A'Li speaks the truth. Young Master Gu, we are not here for you, but because Qianying is in peril. We will naturally come to lend her a hand."
As he spoke, Meng Qinghua produced a black pill from his sleeve and stepped forward, offering it to Gu Yefeng.
Gu Yefeng was still anxiously searching for any sign of Nangong Xuanning.
"This is an antidote to control the Heart-Devouring Gu. Hurry and administer it to Princess Xuanning. It will keep her safe for the time being, preventing her from going mad and attacking others."
"Thank you!"
Without a doubt about the authenticity of Meng Qinghua's offering, Gu Yefeng took it and turned to find Nangong Xuanning.
Meanwhile, Meng Qinghua, Nangong Li, Du Chun, and Ouyang Qinglin began attending to the injured and near-death individuals who had been bitten, each taking responsibility for a portion of them.
This included the treatment of the maddened Madam Meng, Caixia, and Lan Qingqing.
With the addition of Meng Qinghua and the other three, the chaos in the capital began to subside by more than half. A small number of citizens, who had hidden in their homes out of fear, were still experiencing panic, anger, and grief for their lost loved ones.
During this time, Du Chun, in his capacity as a physician, visited them one by one, offering treatment to those who were injured but too afraid to show themselves.
The other three continued their busy work throughout the streets and alleys.
After several hours, the capital gradually returned to its former tranquility.
Du Chun, Meng Qinghua, Nangong Li, Ouyang Qinglin, Gu Yefeng, and others formed two lines.
"Thank you all for your help today."
The others did not respond to Gu Yefeng, but instead asked in unison, "Gu Qianying, where is she now?"
"You don't know?"
Gu Yefeng looked perplexed.
"We four came because Wu Zi, Qianying's maidservant, wrote a letter. The letter only stated that her mistress was in danger and requested the young masters' assistance."
"Besides that, the letter contained no other information, nor did it specify the nature of Qianying's danger."
"It wasn't written by Qianying herself? Someone else wrote it?"
Gu Yefeng sensed something was amiss. Old General Gu also approached and informed Du Chun and the others.
"Qianying went to the Imperial Palace and has not returned. Nangong Cong and the Empress Dowager, that old hag, were exposed for their collusion. In their desperation, they tried to threaten Qianying through her confidantes. To save them, Qianying voluntarily remained in the palace to negotiate with the Empress Dowager."
"At this time, why would Qianying notify you to deliver yourselves?"
"Furthermore, how did you know about everything happening in the capital? And you even brought the antidote when you arrived?"
Old General Gu also found it very strange, hence his detailed questioning.
"We were unaware of the events in the capital. The antidote we brought was because Qianying had previously sent word, asking me to develop an antidote for any Gu poison. I spent several days refining it before I was able to create what I have here."
Du Chun explained the antidote he had brought.
"So, you're saying Qianying's message was to ask you to develop an antidote for Gu poison, but she didn't personally write to you at any other time. If that's the case... you've been tricked. You should leave quickly!"
Old General Gu's analysis was very sharp.
Du Chun, Meng Qinghua, Nangong Li, and Ouyang Qinglin exchanged glances.
They all reached the same conclusion in their hearts!
Someone had deliberately lured them here!
At this moment, a large contingent of soldiers, armed with swords and sabers, surged from all directions in the distance.
Meng Qinghua turned to look at the charging guards, a cold smile playing on his lips. "It seems we cannot leave today!"
Hearing this, Nangong Li, Du Chun, and the others followed Meng Qinghua's gaze.
In the direction they looked, there was a vast number of guards.
"Well, what rotten luck I've had today, to be surrounded by so many people! Ha!"
Nangong Li waved his fan, saying this with a touch of mockery.
He clearly did not take these "small fries" seriously.
Du Chun also drew his sword, his white hair cascading behind him. His expression remained as gentle as ever, but his words were as cold as ice. "It seems I will have to draw my sword and spill some blood again today!"
"They are merely minor characters, not worthy of us wasting too much time. We must deal with these insignificant gnats quickly!"
Ouyang Qinglin adjusted the reddish thumb ring on his finger.
His eyes, usually intimidating with their crimson hue, showed no change at this moment, yet he was anxious to find Gu Qianying quickly.
He wanted to tell her that he had succeeded in his cultivation, and that he would no longer have to face her with a face like a snake's skin.
He was no longer the Snake Demon.
He no longer needed to drink fresh blood to survive during his episodes.
He finally had the courage to stand by her side and fight alongside her.
"No, no, something is very wrong. If this is a trap set for us, then it is too precise. The person who devised this plan must know us and Qianying's relationships very well, and deliberately lured us here today."
"Don't you think the person behind this is too familiar with us?"
Looking at the guards swarming in from all sides, Du Chun analyzed.
Du Chun was the most meticulous among them.
Upon hearing Du Chun's words, Meng Qinghua, Nangong Li, and Ouyang Qinglin exchanged glances.
"Du Chun, are you suggesting there is a traitor among us?"
Meng Qinghua's thoughts aligned with Du Chun's, but he still voiced the question.
As he asked, he glanced at everyone present, his deep gaze holding a hint of meaning.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Nangong Li fanned himself with his folding fan, glaring at the three ungrateful fellows looking at him.
"Even if my brain were filled with water, I would never betray my Ninth Imperial Aunt. Besides, for the past few years, I've lived with you all in the Yi Jing Pavilion. We ate, slept, and drank together. What? You three ungrateful wretches suspect me of being a traitor?"
"When did you eat and sleep with us? Who was it that became inseparable brothers with that Duan Xifeng fellow after he visited the Yi Jing Pavilion several times? We didn't eat or sleep with you scoundrels during those days."
Meng Qinghua teased Nangong Li with a smile.
Nangong Li's cheeks instantly flushed.
He opened his folding fan to cover his face. "Go to hell! I just wanted to hear about what happened to my Ninth Imperial Aunt in the capital. That Duan is an old friend of mine."
"Indeed, an old friend... a friend who could share a blanket and just chat!"
Meng Qinghua chuckled.
"Or an old friend with whom you could share inner garments."
Du Chun followed Meng Qinghua's lead, adding the remark. Seeing Nangong Li's face turn as red as an apple, he also smiled.
"Nangong Mo, you actually... changed your ways?"
Ouyang Qinglin, who had been in seclusion for his cultivation, was somewhat unfamiliar with external affairs.
However, over the years in the Yi Jing Pavilion, he had gotten along well with Du Chun and the others, and they had become close friends.
But this matter between Nangong Mo and that scoundrel Duan Xifeng was something he was hearing for the first time.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Nangong Li fanned himself, the blush still on his cheeks. "Cut it out, all of you! You just love to tease me. Didn't you say there was a mole among us? Tell me then, who is this mole?"
"No need to guess. Look, who is coming?"
Meng Qinghua pointed towards two figures walking towards them in the distance.
Du Chun, Nangong Li, and Ouyang Qinglin looked in the direction Meng Qinghua was pointing.
Upon seeing the two figures approaching them, all four faces displayed a cold expression.
"So it was you who betrayed Qianying!"