Su Cheng had been home for two days, but due to his status, he had not seen Su Yuxi.
Today, taking advantage of the bustling banquet in the mansion and the servants moving back and forth between the front and back courtyards, he found an opportunity to reach the women's quarters.
Hearing the sound nearby, Meng Qinghua and Su Yuxi quickly averted their gazes and looked towards the source of the sound.
"Su Cheng?"
Although she had returned home, Su Yuxi was unaware that Su Cheng had also returned.
Seeing the unfamiliar man beside his elder sister, Su Cheng hesitated.
Su Yuxi, observing his expression and remembering that they had not yet met, called him over to introduce them.
"This is the benefactor who saved my life, Young Master Meng Qinghua. He is also a good friend of Miss Gu."
"This is my sixth brother."
Upon learning that this person was a friend of Gu Qianying, Su Cheng felt relieved and was surprised that Miss Gu's friends were spread across the Nine Provinces.
The two men clasped their hands in greeting, and then Su Cheng informed Su Yuxi about the recent events in the palace and the reason for his return.
"I never expected that after helping me leave, she would fall into such a predicament."
Upon learning that Gu Qianying had gone through so much, recovering from her injuries only to disappear again, Su Yuxi felt a pang of guilt.
Su Cheng also blamed himself for his powerlessness.
"She, along with my brothers Ouyang, have learned that Miss Gu is in the palace. However, the imperial palace is vast, and our covert search will be fraught with difficulties. We can only coordinate from the inside and outside, allowing us to enter and exit the palace."
Their plan was indeed the best course of action at the moment. Meng Qinghua had an idea and instructed Su Cheng and Ouyang Qinglin to maintain constant contact.
With no mood for admiring plum blossoms anymore, Su Yuxi, having heard Meng Qinghua's request, found him brush and ink.
"With the Empress and Grand Tutor Su holding such power, it will take considerable effort for us few, even with our peerless martial arts, to deal with them. Moreover, we cannot disrupt the court carelessly. For now, we must find allies."
Meng Qinghua shared his thoughts with Su Cheng and subsequently wrote two letters.
One was sent back to the Yi Jing Pavilion, and the other was delivered to the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall.
Meanwhile, he also contacted Nangong Li and others who had come with him and were staying at the inn.
Two days later, two mysterious groups of people quietly entered the territory of the Southern Yi Kingdom.
At this time, the wizard competition in the palace had reached its final stage, the decisive phase, with both the Empress and Grand Tutor Su in attendance at the grand ceremony.
Ouyang Qinglin stood on the ceremonial platform, facing a sorcerer from the Wu Jiang region.
Thinking of how Su Cheng's蠱毒 (gu poison) had troubled Gu Qianying for a long time, he felt a surge of displeasure. Facing these heretics who used蛊術 (gu techniques), he gritted his teeth, vowing to give his opponent a good showing in today's final match.
"Her Majesty the Empress arrives, Grand Tutor arrives."
Following the eunuch's announcement, the Empress walked onto the stage from the side hall, while Grand Tutor Su entered from outside.
During this period, Grand Tutor Su, though not as powerful as the Empress, had always accompanied her. For this competition, he was seated beside her, in a place of honor.
"Our dynasty has always admired sorcerers. Recently, many troublesome matters have arisen in the palace. However, this is the palace, and only the strong can remain. Therefore, both sorcerers, please unleash your ultimate moves and eliminate your opponents."
Unexpectedly, there were no specific tasks for this competition. The Empress's intention was clear: to become a sorcerer, one had to prove their strength. She did not care about the fate of the weaker one.
Upon hearing this, the Wu Jiang sorcerer moved his wrists and looked provocatively at Ouyang Qinglin.
"In that case, fellow sorcerer, our abilities are similar. But if you wish to remain in the palace, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
His eyes glinted with cunning as he took out a delicate jade box from his sleeve.
Ouyang Qinglin did not wish to engage with this person, preferring to see what this sorcerer was capable of.
Everyone's attention turned to the box in the sorcerer's hand. As he opened it, a green worm appeared before them.
"What is that? How disgusting."
The hall was filled with female officials, and the sight of the wriggling worm naturally evoked a sense of revulsion.
They all retreated, but Ouyang Qinglin remained standing, unmoving.
"Is your ability to disgust people by producing such a worm?"
His dismissive words infuriated the sorcerer.
"This is the treasure of my Wu Jiang Gu Worm family. This ten-thousand-year-old Gu worm has been refined by sorcery. It can be used as poison to kill or as medicine to heal."
This item was truly his pride, the sorcerer proudly introduced to the Empress on the stage.
However, Ouyang Qinglin beside him did not seem impressed.
"What power can a mere worm possess? I have no desire to waste words with you. Since it is a competition, are you prepared to use it to save someone or to kill someone?"
His gaze was contemptuous, and his cold tone sent a shiver down one's spine.
Seeing this person's arrogance, the sorcerer drew a short whistle from his sleeve and brought it to his lips.
"Naturally, it is to take your life."
With that, he threw the worm towards Ouyang Qinglin, while simultaneously blowing a strange sound from the whistle.
A piercing sound reached everyone's ears. Although they were not afflicted by the Gu worm, the mere sound caused them discomfort and ringing in their ears.
Several civil officials had already left the hall, and the Grand Tutor was shielding the Empress's ears.
As the whistle sounded, the Gu worm, under command, lunged towards Ouyang Qinglin. It moved like a sticky paste, fixated on its target, attempting to cling to him.
Seeing the venomous creature closing in, Ouyang Qinglin wanted to draw his sword to cut it down. However, remembering that it was a sorcery competition today, he paused, not drawing his sword. Instead, he used his hand to guide the poison worm away from the formation.
As the two made their moves, a chilling wind swept through the hall, and Ouyang Qinglin's eyes turned fierce.
He looked at the sorcerer who was still blowing the whistle and slowly said,
"A mere poisonous worm, and you think to harm me? Today, I shall show you what true sorcery is."
With that, his gaze deepened, and when he looked up again, his pupils were filled with red.
Although he was reluctant to use such sorcery, as it consumed a great deal of energy each time, this person was truly unappreciative. If he did not display his true abilities, everyone in the court would consider him a mere incompetent warrior.
As the color of his eyes changed, the hand seals in Ouyang Qinglin's hands shifted, and he began chanting sorcerous incantations.
His chanting grew louder, and the Gu worm suddenly fell to the ground. After wriggling, it turned and lunged towards the sorcerer.
Seeing his own thousand-year-old Gu worm, which he had fed with his blood, attack him, the sorcerer quickly tried to retract it. However, it was too late, and he was possessed.
The whistle he had blown was imbued with deadly intent. At this moment, the Gu worm burrowed into his flesh. The sorcerer's pupils dilated, and he collapsed onto the ground in agony.
Ouyang Qinglin ceased his hand seals, and the hall returned to its normal state.
The officials who had retreated outside returned to the hall, while the Empress and Grand Tutor Su narrowed their eyes, observing everything.
They had not expected this seemingly weaker man in red to possess such profound sorcery. Thinking of her child's constant crying, the Empress had an idea: she would definitely keep this sorcerer in the palace.