Chapter 95 Meeting Gift
Lu Yao flicked her sword finger, and the Ziwei wooden sword drew a golden barrier in the air.
The dark figures that crashed into the barrier turned out to be jet-black Gu worms.
Upon seeing this, Yan Lingxuan raised her red lips slightly, and with a light flick of her slender fingers, the silver bell at her waist moved without wind, emitting a captivating, crisp sound.
"The streamer truly lives up to her reputation." She chuckled, and suddenly three crystal-clear ice silkworm gu sprang from her fingertips. "But this is what makes it interesting."
The Ice Silkworm Gu grew larger as it faced the wind, instantly transforming into three ice crystal chains that carried a bone-chilling cold as they attacked Lu Yao's face.
Lu Yao turned her sword, and the golden barrier suddenly contracted, shattering all the ice chains.
Yan Lingxuan was stunned, "My Ice Silkworm Gu!"
"Is this your gift?" Lu Yao's lips curled into a half-smile. "I once knew a Miao priestess, and your Ice Silkworm Gu is far inferior to hers."
Lu Yao was referring to Yan Lingxuan from a thousand years ago.
Yan Lingxuan was unconvinced. "Impossible. My mother said I am a genius of this generation. She has never seen a Gu technique more powerful than mine."
"Little girl, you're only nineteen. You haven't seen enough." Lu Yao smiled faintly.
"You don't even look twenty!" Yan Lingxuan shouted angrily.
...I forgot that this body is only eighteen years old now, so I can't talk like an old man anymore.
“Actually, I am a thousand-year-old demon,” Lu Yao said seriously.
Lu Yao's thoughts drifted back a thousand years—
Yan Lingxuan and she weren't enemies from the beginning.
Yan Lingxuan was born in the Black Miao tribe deep in the mountains of Miao territory, and has been accompanied by Gu worms since childhood.
On the night she was born, the tribe's sacred Gu broke free from its cocoon, and its blood-red centipede shadow illuminated the Witch Moon Pool.
The tribal shaman used bone divination to predict that this woman would bear the fate of the rise and fall of the Miao region, and whether it would be a blessing or a curse depended on her single thought.
She could communicate with poisonous insects at the age of three and tamed her first golden silkworm gu at the age of seven.
When Yan Lingxuan came of age, she stayed in the Hundred Gu Cave for forty-nine days. When she came out, the legendary Jade Gu King was wrapped around her hair.
It was a small snake, its entire body emerald green like glass, capable of seeing into people's hearts and curing all poisons. From then on, she became the youngest Gu magic priestess in Miao territory.
Although Miao territory is located in a remote corner of southern Xinjiang, it contains secret treasures that the Central Plains dynasties coveted.
Those strange Gu that are born in miasma and those spiritual herbs that grow in poisonous swamps are rare treasures in the Central Plains.
Whenever a caravan traveled south, there were always people secretly trying to uncover the secrets of the Miao village's witchcraft.
Yan Lingxuan stood by the Wuyue Pool, the jade Gu swirling between her fingertips.
The pool reflected the rolling mountains of southern Xinjiang, and also the worry on her brow.
She knew better than anyone that the peace and tranquility of the eighteen Miao villages was nothing more than an illusion before the storm.
“Priest,” the old wizard hobbled over, leaning on his snake-headed staff, “the Seventh Prince’s messenger has arrived again.”
She stroked the Seven Fiends Gu Bell on her wrist, and the silver bell emitted a low hum.
Three days ago, an urgent report came from the border village: the Central Plains cavalry had deployed troops at Qingyao Pass, 300 li away.
"Make them withdraw their troops." She suddenly turned around, her dark eyes gleaming eerily in the moonlight. "I am willing to go to the capital to make plans, but Xiao Yuanxiu must swear a blood oath with me."
On the day she arrived in the capital, Yan Lingxuan was dressed in Miao ethnic costume, and the jade Gu shimmered with an eerie light in the sunlight.
Xiao Yuanxiu personally greeted him.
She thrived in the palace.
Those ministers who opposed Xiao Yuanxiu unknowingly found a silver thread in their hair – it was a puppet Gu she had carefully crafted.
In the imperial court, the highly respected Grand Tutor suddenly burst into manic laughter, the Imperial Censor tore up a memorial in public, and most ridiculously, the Minister of War actually performed a Miao sacrificial dance in front of His Majesty.
"The Gu techniques of Miao territory are indeed well-deserved of their reputation." Xiao Yuanxiu toyed with his wine cup, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "Go and meet the Imperial Preceptor whom Father insisted on appointing. See if she has real skills or is just a charlatan pretending to be mysterious."
Inside the Imperial Observatory, Lu Yao calculated that there would be guests tomorrow.
The next day, an autumn afternoon.
Ginkgo leaves fell softly, carpeting the ground with scattered gold.
As Lu Yao was annotating the celestial phenomena, she sensed something unusual.
It wasn't demonic energy, nor malevolent energy, but rather a kind of pure, refreshing fragrance reminiscent of herbs and trees, mixed with the distinctive, crisp sound of silver bells unique to the Miao region, coming from afar.
She put down her pen and looked up.
A Miao woman stood outside the courtyard gate, her bare feet on fallen leaves, a small, green snake-like creature coiled in her hair, flicking its tongue as it surveyed its surroundings.
The woman was extremely beautiful, with a cinnabar-like mark between her eyebrows that made her skin look as white as snow, but her eyes were as cold as poisoned silver needles.
Lu Yao calmly calculated with her fingers.
The divination result indicates "Gu devours Heaven and Earth".
“The priest has come from afar, why not have a cup of tea?” She poured a cup of freshly roasted Yunwu tea and pushed it to the opposite side of the stone table.
Yan Lingxuan didn't take it, but the jade Gu swam out from her sleeve and probed into the tea soup first.
Lu Yao saw this and smiled slightly: "Afraid I'll poison you?"
“The Imperial Advisor’s tea should naturally be handled with care,” Yan Lingxuan finally spoke.
Lu Yao suddenly found it interesting.
This Miao girl was clearly on guard, yet too proud to show weakness.
She deliberately said, "Xiao Yuanxiu sent you to test me, is that all the courage you have?"
Sure enough, Yan Lingxuan's eyes sharpened, and the silver bell on her wrist moved without any wind.
In an instant, three Ice Silkworm Gu sprang from her fingertips, heading straight for Lu Yao's face!
Lu Yao didn't even draw her sword, she just flicked her finger—
bite!
Water droplets in the teacup condensed into ice needles in mid-air, pinning the Gu worm to the ground.
Yan Lingxuan's pupils suddenly contracted.
“Now,” Lu Yao flicked her sleeve, shattering the ice needles, and the Gu worms landed safely back in the other person’s palm, “can we finally have some tea?”
She saw Yan Lingxuan purse her lips, the jade Gu swirling restlessly near her ear. Her eyes were filled with resentment, yet also concealed a hidden amazement.
Like a cat with its fur standing on end.
Lu Yao inexplicably thought of the stray cat in the Imperial Garden that always stole her snacks.
"Your Gu technique is quite good," she suddenly said. "It's a pity that such talent has been wasted."
Yan Lingxuan scoffed, "Is the Imperial Advisor flattering me?"
"I'm just stating the facts." Lu Yao took a sip of tea, raised her eyes, and said, "I didn't realize you could tolerate being controlled by Xiao Yuanxiu. Why didn't you poison him to death with Gu poison back then?"
"After poisoning him, what's the next step? Find a legitimate reason for the emperor to pacify my Miao region?" Yan Lingxuan retorted.
“You care a lot about Miao territory.” Lu Yao gazed at her.
“Of course, Miao territory is my home.” Yan Lingxuan gently stroked the jade Gu with her fingertips, her tone unusually gentle. “My mother and father are there, and the elders who treat me like their own child.”
"The Gu will devour heaven and earth, and will also be devoured by heaven and earth. The rise and fall of Miao territory rests on your shoulders. This is the divination the elders performed for you at the time of your birth."
“…That’s right.” Yan Lingxuan was surprised. This was the result of the divination by the great shaman back then, and no one except a few elders in Miao territory knew about it.
This imperial advisor is no ordinary person.
"This is not an auspicious omen. Aren't they afraid that the Miao region will be destroyed by you?"
“My mother believes in me.” Yan Lingxuan suddenly interrupted, her eyes flashing with a stubborn light. “She said I am the hope of Miao territory.”
Lu Yao was slightly taken aback.
Both women were born with ominous prophecies, yet this Miao girl was able to gain the trust of the entire tribe.
Lu Yao lowered her eyes, concealing the fleeting envy in her gaze.
She was homeless.
“Xiao Yuanxiu is not a wise ruler,” Lu Yao couldn’t help but remind him, her eyes clear as a mirror. “Serving him will ultimately harm Miao territory.”
"Before entering the capital, I swore a blood oath with him, there's no turning back." Yan Lingxuan stood up with a cold smile, her silver bells tinkling. "The Grand Preceptor is indeed powerful, but for the sake of Miao territory, I will fight for it. Let's rely on our own abilities."
Lu Yao smiled at her: "Well said, each according to their own ability! I respect your choice."
The tea has gone cold.
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