Last chance

It's obvious without even thinking that the person carrying her from behind was Wan Qiqing.

On the eaves, Gu Yi, who had just landed and steadied himself, suddenly turned around. The unsheathed "Louyue" sword collided with his eyes, emitting a strong light.

The sword vibrated, and a clear whistling sound lingered.

Amidst the flashing sword light, she could no longer see Gu Yi's eyes or expression.

A tidal wave of soldiers was pouring into the palace streets and imperial roads, a dark mass of them raising their bows and arrows, aiming at the two people on the palace eaves.

Wan Qiqing had already carried her away and said leisurely, "Your Excellency is in dire straits now, so you should deal with the chaotic army behind you first."

Gu Yi's figure paused slightly, but in the end, the "Crescent Moon" he drew turned his back and intercepted the soldiers who were firing a barrage of arrows.

Instead of chasing after them, he chose to intercept the chaotic army, creating an opportunity for Wan Qiqing and her to escape.

The shadowy trees and houses on both sides, and the magnificent palace below, all receded rapidly.

It was a very long journey. So long that she almost forgot the heartache, and even forgot how to breathe.

The words Gu Yi had once said to her echoed repeatedly in her mind:

"If one day you leave, forget me. Master... is not an important person."

...

"Your life should have been better than it is here."

When she first arrived at Lanling Hall, she was just like this now, neither eating nor drinking, neither sleeping nor resting, almost in a daze.

Wan Qiqing asked in a friendly tone, "What's your name?"

She remembered that, and stammered, "My name is A-Qiu."

Wan Qiqing smiled and said, "Autumn is the season of death and destruction, located in the west, and governs punishment and killing. It's very good, there's no need to change it. You can still be called A-Qiu from now on."

He added, “From now on, I will be your master. When your master asks you questions, you must answer them truthfully and without concealing anything.”

Upon hearing the word "Master" again, she felt a sense of emptiness and bewilderment in her heart.

He mechanically replied, "Yes."

If Gu Yi hopes to forget him, if this is the place Gu Yi longs for her to return to.

So, she could only nod in agreement.

Wan Qiqing asked softly, "What was the name of the person who used to take care of you, and what did he do?"

She tried her best to search for Gu Yi's image in her mind, but for some reason, after only a day and a night, the image seemed to be gradually fading away.

She asked with difficulty, "Master?" At the same time, her mind was in complete confusion.

A moment later, she heard her own voice say flatly, "Master is Master."

She didn't know why Gu Yi had come, why he was lurking in the abandoned palace of Liyang, or even his name.

If there was anything special about him, it was that he often went out at night. But she didn't think that was something Wan Qiqing particularly needed to know.

She was wary of the man who had abducted her to this place.

Even after removing his mask, he possesses exceptional manners, is gentle and refined, and always has a warm smile. Anyone who sees his true face cannot help but marvel at his unparalleled handsomeness.

Wan Qiqing remained silent, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at her became somewhat complicated.

A handsome young man in white robes on one side hurriedly said, "Master, it's normal that Junior Sister is nervous because she's new here and young, so it's understandable that she can't answer the questions."

This young man was not the one who rode past Jianzhang Palace and fired the rocket. He was taller and had a gentle and refined appearance. He also had a similar elegant and timeless charm to the tall and imposing man in white before him.

However, upon closer inspection, one might find that his unique Han Chinese handsomeness and refined elegance seem to surpass even Wan Qiqing's.

However, Wan Qiqing's deep and striking facial features are etched with the wildness and boldness of his Hu (non-Han) ancestry.

Wan Qiqing glanced at him but didn't respond to his question. Instead, he asked, "You call that person your master. Has he ever taught you anything?"

At this moment, A Qiu's mind was in complete chaos.

She slowly recalled.

Aside from guiding her into a state of relaxation each night with the sound of his flute, helping her to breathe and observe her own rhythm, Gu Yi seemed to have really not taught her anything else.

As for martial arts, Chu Yuanyi once taught her the Wind and Thunder Slash Hand.

Wan Qiqing said slowly, "That person's martial arts skills are extremely high. Did he never teach you?"

As he said this, the boy beside him cried out in surprise, "Master!"

Wanqiqing's wide sleeves fluttered even without wind, and a slender, crystal-clear hand reached out, heading straight for Aqiu's face.

Anyone, even an ordinary person who doesn't know martial arts, would instinctively dodge and retreat.

But A Qiu stood there dumbfounded, neither dodging nor fearing, just staring blankly at Wan Qiqing's palm, which was filled with true energy, as it stretched out in front of her and suddenly expanded.

A moment later, he quietly withdrew.

Not only Wan Qiqing, but even the white-robed youth had an expression of disbelief on his face.

At that time, she was heartbroken and had no time to care about the feelings of others. But now she understood that the shocked expressions of Wan Qiqing and her senior brother Gongyi Xiu were naturally due to her dazed state.

It's one thing if you haven't practiced martial arts before, you can learn later. But if someone is born mentally challenged, that's a real problem.

Wan Qiqing went to great lengths to bring her to Lanling Hall, not to raise a fool; that would only make him a laughingstock.

Gongyi Xiu stretched out his hand and waved it in front of her eyes, saying, "Junior Sister?"

She could clearly see his movements and understood that they meant no harm. Therefore, she moved her lips and responded with a soft "Mmm."

Gongyi Xiu was relieved and said to Wanqi Qing, "Junior sister... should be fine. She was probably just too traumatized, she should recover in a few days."

Wan Qiqing was no longer the gentle and composed man she had been before. With a beaming smile, she said calmly, "Then you will take care of her during this time. When she recovers, bring her to see me."

A harsh metallic clanging sound rang out at the doorway.

After a long period of darkness, the prison doors finally opened, letting in a sliver of sunlight.

Her eyes were sore from the tears she had shed these past few days, and the light that suddenly entered her eyes felt glaring and uncomfortable.

The dullness in his mind seemed to begin to stir again at the sound of the door opening.

The person who entered had steady, long footsteps, but it was not Master Wanqiqing.

He leaned down at her, his eyes gleaming as if he could see right through her.

If it were someone else, they would most likely be unable to withstand that cold, mocking, condescending gaze.

Especially since this person was her fellow disciple.

But she remained silent, her face still pressed against the ground, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Seeing that she did not get the reaction she expected, Mo Yimingyue finally spoke up: "A Qiu, I never thought that we would meet here one day."

Ah Qiu heard it, but still did not make the slightest move or reaction.

It wasn't that she didn't want to, but rather that her mind was still too foggy to figure out Mo Yimingyue's intention in being here.

Mo Yimingyue did something she hadn't expected.

He reached out and brushed away the strands of hair that covered half of her face, then looked at her face more closely again.

A moment later, he released her, letting her hair fall back onto her face, and said calmly, "Looking at you now, I don't think you need to be tortured. I've seen many people in prison, and most death row inmates who are heartbroken look just like you. They're called people who are alive in body but dead in heart."

She heard her own weak voice say, "What other tortures does Master intend to inflict on me?"

Is there any value in extracting a confession from her now?

Mo Yimingyue said casually, "Since entering the palace, everything you have done has been clearly presented in the court, so there is nothing worth interrogating. The so-called torture is just to receive the punishment you deserve. You have repeatedly betrayed the court and defied your master in broad daylight in front of everyone. These accounts will naturally be recorded by the Punishment Hall, and I, as the hall master, will enforce them."

A Qiu gradually regained her senses.

Yes. Xingfeng Hall has always been discerning and impartial. The reason why Mo Yimingyue did not pursue her many mistakes before was not because Wan Qiqing decided to let her go, but because the time was not ripe, and Wan Qiqing still wanted to see if she could achieve anything.

Before everything is settled, whether she is a traitor is still up for debate; it all depends on whether she can ultimately achieve Wan Qiqing's goals.

She should have realized long ago that all actions that went against Wan Qiqing's wishes would be recorded and would come at a price.

Her voice was hoarse and trembling as she said, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for sparing my life."

Mo Yimingyue seemed to sigh and said, "For a top assassin, the former pride of Lanling Hall, what punishment could be more tragic than falling to such a state as you are now?"

Ah Qiu opened her mouth, but ultimately no sound came out.

After a moment, she said with difficulty, "If you don't intend to torture me, then why don't you stay in the palace as your Northern Qiang envoy Xiao Yue, instead of appearing here at this time and place?"

Mo Yimingyue looked her over again and said coldly, "Very good. It seems that your condition has recovered somewhat. At least you can finally speak a few coherent sentences."

He turned his back and said, "At this moment, the Southern Dynasty palace is busy preparing for the surrender ceremony. I, the Northern Qiang envoy, am not here for the time being, and no one will have time to notice."

She thought all her emotions had died, but her heart still pounded when she heard the words "in the Southern Dynasty palace".

She realized with bitterness that, even now, she still cared so much about him and them, about the sky above their heads?

Mo Yimingyue said calmly, "Actually, I came here on my master's orders. He wants me to give you one last chance."

Her heartstrings tightened suddenly.

The feeling of discomfort and tension was not because her master had not given up on her, but because the last chance her master gave her would not be something that could be easily accomplished.

She smiled wryly and said, "Senior brother, can you not tell me?"

Mo Yimingyue finally turned around again, looked at her closely in surprise, and said, "I can hardly believe that you are the A Qiu I know."

She asked weakly, "What kind of person is the 'me' that you, Senior Brother, know?"

Mo Yimingyue's gaze was sharp as she scrutinized the changes in her expression, as if talking to herself: "I never imagined that our junior sister, the master of the Divine Weapon Hall, would be so timid, afraid to face even the slightest possible hope."

Ah Qiu finally let out a bitter laugh and said, "If Second Senior Brother thinks that he can provoke me into having the will to live by using provocation, then he is sorely mistaken."

She raised one hand for Mo Yimingyue to see.

And that hand, which once held firm and sharp, invincible and resolute, was now trembling uncontrollably, even without enemies or pressure.

This is a state where the person has completely lost control.

Mo Yimingyue's expression changed immediately upon seeing this, but she quickly shifted her gaze elsewhere.

After a moment, he said, "But now that Master has given his decree, whether you listen to it or not is probably not up to you."

Ah Qiu stroked his hand and finally said, "Senior brother, please speak."

She added, "Although I don't think I can do anything right now."