"Another Hundred Poisons Gu," Lu Qingwan mused, her brow furrowed as she recalled the words of the Medicine King Valley Master. "What is the Hundred Poisons Gu? How can you be so certain I have a connection to your daughter because of it?"
"The Hundred Poisons Gu is a same-life Gu raised within the body from a young age. With this Gu, anyone connected by blood, no matter how far apart, can be found. It is also the method by which my Reincarnation Hall distinguishes direct bloodlines."
Upon hearing the purple-clothed man's words, Lu Qingwan was stunned. She looked at Feng Xiwu with a bewildered expression. He replied with a complex look, "Princess Anyang was ambushed by bandits on her way to marry. When Marquis Lu personally went to escort her, only she and two personal maids remained."
Lu Qingwan suddenly understood. "So, within Da Qian, no one actually knows what Princess Anyang looks like, do they?"
They exchanged glances for a moment. Feng Xiwu then spoke, "Does the Reincarnation Hall have a portrait of the Holy Maiden?"
The purple-clothed man nodded quickly, "Naturally, we do."
...
Approximately two quarters of an hour later, Feng Xiwu and Lu Qingwan saw the portrait of the Reincarnation Hall's Holy Maiden, the purple-clothed man's daughter.
Both fell silent.
The portrait was an exact likeness of Princess Anyang of Xiliang, whom everyone in the capital was familiar with.
Lu Qingwan was momentarily confused about her own identity. "If she is my mother, then where is the real Princess Anyang?"
Feng Xiwu dropped a bombshell, "Actually, if it was indeed the Reincarnation Hall's Holy Maiden who was substituted, then it would be more logical for everyone in the marriage procession to have died, with Princess Anyang escaping alone."
Lu Qingwan was speechless. All those powerful guards had met their demise. It was indeed illogical for Princess Anyang, a pampered young lady, to escape with only two maids.
Seeing this, the purple-clothed man grew impatient. "Child, what is the point of your wild speculation here? Where is your mother? Go ask her, and you'll know everything!"
"If I could ask my mother, I wouldn't need you to tell me!" Lu Qingwan retorted sharply. "She's dead, do you hear me? She's dead! You'd best pray my mother isn't your daughter. If she truly had a father like you, I would consider it her misfortune!"
"Presumptuous!" The purple-clothed man's hand shot up. Feng Xiwu quickly shielded Lu Qingwan in his arms.
Lu Qingwan, unafraid, stared coldly at the man. "You don't like what I'm saying? If you want to hear something pleasant, you should have protected her better. I know the Reincarnation Hall is no ordinary place without even inquiring. You are so arrogant, yet we told you repeatedly that we merely stumbled onto your territory, but you attacked us with lethal intent. This isn't the first time you've done something like this, is it? You're so capable, yet your daughter was killed by a few women in the inner chambers and remained hidden for over a decade. Isn't this retribution for your disregard for life?"
The man's hand remained raised in mid-air, neither striking Lu Qingwan's face nor retracting. Once upon a time, his daughter had also been like this, stubbornly protesting his overbearing rule, escaping from his tightest control into the outside world, and never returning. The next news he received was her death.
The purple-clothed man could hardly believe it. "Say that again, what happened to her?"
Lu Qingwan looked at him indifferently. "I can say it ten thousand times, and it will be the same. My mother was murdered over a decade ago, but I, her daughter, only discovered it last month and held her funeral. I was a negligent daughter, and you, a father, are even more so."
From the moment she saw the portrait of the purple-clothed man's daughter, Lu Qingwan knew that her mother was indeed this man's daughter. But so what? He wasn't there when her mother was harmed, and he tried to kill her on their first meeting. Even with a blood connection, she found it difficult to show him any pleasantries.
"Qingyi," the purple-clothed man called out. A man in green robes hurried over. He bowed respectfully, "Master!"
"Go investigate whether the wife of Marquis Zhaolie of Da Qian is Yan'er."
"Senior Sister!" The man in green looked up in shock. The purple-clothed man snarled, "Go!" The man, whose name was Qingyi and who also wore green, quickly retreated.
The purple-clothed man then turned his gaze back to Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu. "You will stay here for now. You cannot leave until the matter is clarified. Moreover, you wouldn't want him to die here because of your momentary anger, would you?" He spoke while looking at Lu Qingwan, clearly noting that Feng Xiwu, despite being a prince, seemed to heed Lu Qingwan's words.
Lu Qingwan certainly didn't want Feng Xiwu to die. However, "You know I'm here at Medicine King Valley to seek medicine. If you don't let me leave, will you give me the medicine?" Her meaning was clear: if you're keeping me here, at least give me the herbs I need.
The purple-clothed man seemed to have a good temper. "What medicine are you seeking?"
"Liu Kun Yu Jin, will you give it to me?" She didn't ask if he had it, for if she did, he could simply say no and avoid the issue. The choice was his to make.
A hint of a smile appeared on the purple-clothed man's cold, unfeeling face. "Liu Kun Yu Jin can indeed cure the Green Zombie Same-Life Gu, but it will cause the carrier immense suffering during the process. You clearly have a better method, so why make him endure such pain?"
Lu Qingwan was puzzled. "What do you consider a better method?"
The purple-clothed man pointed to the winged serpent coiled on her wrist, disguised as a bracelet. "The Tengshe is the king of all Gu. With it, no Gu is a problem."
Lu Qingwan decisively commanded, "Big White, is what he says true?" Big White grumbled discontentedly, but when pressed by Lu Qingwan, he finally huffed, "Yes, it's true. All Gu are noobs before the Tengshe."
Satisfied, Lu Qingwan, supporting Feng Xiwu, commanded the man, "You can have someone show us to the guest rooms."
The purple-clothed man's expression was odd. "You're quite unceremonious."
"Don't forget, we're being forced to stay here. Do you expect me to be grateful?" Politeness was out of the question. Lu Qingwan retorted sharply. "Following your logic, if I were to cut you and then bandage you, would you still need to thank me?"
The man didn't respond. "The Tengshe can cure the Green Zombie Same-Life Gu, but without an antidote for the Ice Silkworm Poison, you..."
"That's none of your concern. Our relationship isn't at a point where you can interfere with my man's illness. Take us to the guest rooms, or let us leave the mountain. Stop with the nonsense, alright?"
The man's face darkened considerably. With a stern expression, he called out, "Chengyi, take them to the guest rooms." Lu Qingwan was speechless. The previous one was called Qingyi, and this one is Chengyi. Could it be that all his disciples were simply named after colors with the addition of 'yi'? As she was musing, a woman in orange slowly approached. "My lords, please follow me."