The final battle
When Ren Xiangxiang appeared at the door with the antidote, He Wenwen was stunned for a moment.
The scene from that day involuntarily surfaced in his mind. He was in a daze and didn't know how much time had passed. He was shivering from the cold, but was suddenly warmed by the person who entered his field of vision.
He Wenwen stared at her for a long time, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkwardly silent.
"You're back." Unexpectedly, He Wenwen was able to say such a normal sentence, which made Ren Xiangxiang feel even more at a loss.
However, Ren Xiangxiang quickly remembered the graves in the courtyard and immediately felt relieved.
"Yes, I've made the Gu-Extermination Needle." Ren Xiangxiang looked calmly at He Wenwen, whose face was still somewhat pale on the bed. The dark circles under her eyes had faded a little after she had slept.
Upon hearing the words "Gu-Slaying Needle," He Wenwen didn't show much surprise and nodded as expected.
"With the Gu-Slaying Needles and the antidotes you made before, I've concocted an antidote for the Gu King's poison. I just tested it on Senior Brother Qi Zheng. Here, take this." Ren Xiangxiang stepped forward and handed the antidote she had painstakingly made to the other person.
He Wenwen could also see the obvious haggardness on Ren Xiangxiang's face, and she must have gone through just as much as she had.
"For the sake of the Gu-Slaying Needle, I lost friends and family, I lost so much. If I had known earlier that the Gu-Slaying Needle would cost me so many important people, I definitely wouldn't have made it this far. But along the way, whenever I regretted it, a voice inside always told me that I had no way back..."
“Brother Wen, from the day the demonic Gu appeared, we have no way out. This is a battle where it’s either you die or I die. Every life lost will eventually become a sharp blade aimed at the Gu King. I can only move forward bravely. I must kill the Gu King with my own hands. I must kill him. I must kill him!”
Ren Xiangxiang became more and more agitated as she spoke, tears welling up in her eyes, but her gaze remained as hard as cold iron, filled with a determination to die.
In her memory, He Wenwen had never seen such intense hatred on Ren Xiangxiang's face. That kind of hatred, which was so intense that it cut to the bone and made her want to tear the other person to pieces, was as if it had been engraved into her very bones and had become the only belief that supported her to keep going.
In an instant, He Wenwen was infected by Ren Xiangxiang, and her grief turned into a raging fire of hatred.
He swallowed the antidote in one gulp, muttering through gritted teeth, "Gu King."
Time passed unusually slowly. The sky was overcast today, and as it was almost afternoon, light snowflakes suddenly began to fall.
A cold wind howled, scattering snowflakes everywhere. The fallen leaves lay scattered on the ground, unattended. Fuyi stood in the courtyard, looking up into the distance.
Suddenly, I saw a small black dot flying towards us.
Buzzing—
That was a mosquito unique to Qiling Mountain. I don't know how long it had been flying, but it looked very weak. After circling the courtyard once, it landed in Fuyi's palm.
The words that appeared were: The time has come.
Fu Yi's pupils trembled slightly, and the next second, her expression changed, and she immediately headed in one direction.
Ren Xiangxiang and He Wenwen have worked together to develop a more effective antidote for the Gu King's poison. Lan Qizheng has awakened, but his injuries are too severe, and he spends a lot of time in a coma. He is currently being cared for by Xu Caiyou.
The Gu-Slaying Needle seems to be able to control Gu worms. The Gu worms they captured to make antidotes lost their activity as soon as they came into contact with the Gu-Slaying Needle.
“Master said that the Gu-Slaying Needle can restrain the Gu King, and that must be true.” Ren Xiangxiang said solemnly, “It’s just that the Gu King is too strong. If we want to kill him with the Gu-Slaying Needle, we will need the cooperation of the demon race.”
"You're planning to use demon-borrowing magic?" He Wenwen saw through her thoughts at a glance.
Ren Xiangxiang looked up and met his gaze. The result was self-evident. If she could not transform into a demon, it would be difficult for her to even get close to the Gu King with her current body. How could she kill him?
After a moment of contemplation, He Wenwen finally said as if she had made up her mind, "Give me the Gu-Slaying Needle, and I only need one day."
Ren Xiangxiang didn't know what he wanted to do, but whatever he did, it was definitely to help her, so she gave him the Gu-repelling needle without thinking too much.
He Wenwen was taken aback by Ren Xiangxiang's quick agreement, and a bitter smile crept onto her lips.
"Let's go. There's no point in staying; we'll only cause trouble."
He Wenwen took the Gu-Slaying Needle and immediately gave him an order to leave, still speaking in such an unpleasant manner.
"Hmph!" Ren Xiangxiang snorted and walked away without looking back.
When she could no longer hear any sound, He Wenwen slowly turned around, gazing at the gradually disappearing figure with a sense of loss.
...
"Xiangxiang!" Fuyi encountered Ren Xiangxiang halfway and shouted excitedly, "Husang, Husang sent a message."
Although the mosquito's voice didn't specify who sent it, Fuyi was quite certain it was sent by Husang, because only Husang had mentioned to her that the time wasn't right yet, and now the time was.
"Speaking of which, Quesang is indeed a bit different from other controlled demons," Ren Xiangxiang muttered to herself. "Sister Lei Wan also said that if she were to die and Quesang were still believable, could it be that he wasn't completely controlled?"
Fu Yi nodded. "It's possible. When I fought him later, the weapon he was wielding was Lei Wan's Sleeve Flying Chain, not his Shenyun. At that time, Shenyun was on him."
"So what does that mean...?"
The two exchanged a glance, and Ren Xiangxiang said uncertainly, "Could it be that there's something wrong with the Gu King?"
This discovery was immediately reported to She Liuying, because Kou Qiyu was still seriously injured and Lan Fengguang had died, leaving only She Liuying on the Demon Master's side.
On the other hand, Xiao Litian of the demon race still has the strength to fight, while Ye Honglanzhi, Le Qing, and Fu Yi are all injured. The only one who is not injured is Mo You, who returned not long ago.
Upon receiving the unusual news about the Gu King, She Liuying glanced at Ren Xiangxiang with some concern. This time, no matter what she said, she probably couldn't stop Ren Xiangxiang's decision, especially since she now held the Gu-Slaying Needle.
They had little chance of winning against the Gu King; only the Gu-Slaying Needle offered them a glimmer of hope.
"Whether the news is true or false, the Gu King should not have recovered yet, otherwise he wouldn't have remained inactive for so long." Xiao Litian planned to finish the battle quickly. Given his current condition, dragging it out would only be detrimental to him.
“I have no objection.” Le Qing’s face was pale and her breathing was unsteady, clearly indicating that she was still recovering from serious injuries. “We don’t have that much time. By the time the Gu King recovers, we will all be dead.”
Ye Honglanzhi didn't speak, but simply nodded quietly.
"Count me in this time." A voice suddenly came from behind. It was the green-clad youth named Ye Mei who had run out of Kou Qiyu's map earlier.
"I'd like to see the demonic gu that even Shadow Eyes couldn't kill." Ye Mei's tone was arrogant, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.
Although the people didn't know him well, they didn't object because he was one of their own.
Shadow Dove is not suited for combat, so she will stay and take care of Kou Qiyu.
Kou Xiaobai, influenced by Xichi, also wanted to go help this time. On the other hand, Wu Fei, with bruises around his eyes, clearly had been beaten up, and he also shakily went to help.
Kou Huai stayed far away. He didn't think he had much ability and it was better to stay on the dangerous peaks and keep watch. He had witnessed the Gu King's abilities before, and he would only be a sitting duck if he went there, so he decided not to cause trouble for everyone.
“But I need another day. How about tomorrow?” Ren Xiangxiang pondered for a moment before speaking.
She looked solemnly at Ren Xiangxiang's pale and delicate face, feeling both reluctant and heartbroken. In a daze, she seemed to think of that child, in the dark cave, his eyes as bright as the sword in his hand, but he had lost his mind. Until the moment before his death, his beautiful phoenix eyes were filled with both grievance and deep reluctance. Finally, he closed his eyes in her arms.
She Liuying took a deep breath and turned her head away. "Xiangxiang, have you thought this through? The other party is the Gu King."
“I know, Mother.” Ren Xiangxiang’s gaze was firm. “I killed the Gu King.”
As soon as he finished speaking, She Liuying knew that it would be a waste of breath to say anything more. He closed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then sighed.
“Then I will go with you.”
"No." Ren Xiangxiang refused outright. "The perilous peaks cannot be left without a demon master to oversee the situation. Mother, you cannot go." She paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, the Demon-Slaying Arrow is useless against the Gu King. You must stay here."
“Yes, Uncle-Master, Master has fallen, and Uncle-Master Lan and Uncle-Master Xu are both dead. You…” Kou Xiaobai added in a low voice.
“Mother, listen to me. Right now is the time when the Gu King is at its weakest, and also the time when the Dangerous Peak is at its weakest. If the Gu King separates from the woman in white again like last time, the Dangerous Peak cannot be left unattended.” Ren Xiangxiang analyzed logically. Seeing that She Liuying was wavering, she continued, “Besides, I am not alone, Mother. I am different from a half-demon, you know that.”
"The use of demon-borrowing techniques is strictly prohibited," Sheliuying emphasized immediately.
Ren Xiangxiang just smiled and did not respond.
"So who stays and who goes?" Wu Fei cautiously interjected.
As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell silent, but Yue Qing, who was the first to react, said, "Of course I'm going."
Then she glanced at Xiao Litian. Yingmou was dead, and Xiao Litian was undoubtedly the one in charge. Mo You and Fuyi then made their statements, including Xiao Feilian, Xichi, and Hu Feng, who were also going to kill the Gu King.
“Besides the Gu King, someone else needs to restrain that woman in white,” Kou Xiaobai interjected. “Now that everyone is either injured or dead, what’s the point of hiding any longer?”
"You're right." Hu Feng said, kicking Wu Fei, who looked unwilling. "Are you going or not?"
"What do you mean, 'go or not go'? Do you think this is a spring outing?" Wu Fei rolled his eyes at Hu Feng with a bitter face, looked around, scratched his head, and said, "By the way, where's Kou Huai? Wouldn't it be a pity if he didn't go?"
As they talked, everyone started discussing whether to stay or leave.
Kou Huai, who was lounging in the courtyard, suddenly sneezed a few times. He rubbed his nose, looked at the snowflakes fluttering in the air, and muttered to himself, "Am I not dressed warmly enough? Have I caught a cold? That shouldn't be the case."
The next day, the weather became even more gloomy, a thin layer of white frost covered the ground, and the cold wind was biting. Ren Xiangxiang was woken up early in the morning by Mo You, who said that He Wenwen had come.
He Wenwen did not enter the courtyard. She glanced at Mo You expressionlessly, then turned her gaze back to Ren Xiangxiang.
"Here, take this."
As He Wenwen spoke, he stuffed a newly made demon claw into Ren Xiangxiang's arms. The ring finger of the right claw had a hidden mechanism, which was the improved Gu-Slaying Needle. Moreover, the Gu-Slaying Needle could be taken out of the demon claw and turned into a weapon similar to a dagger.
"I saw that you were quite comfortable using the Demon Claw, so I made this. I coated both the Gu-Slaying Needle and the Demon Claw with poison, but I don't know if it will work. This is all I can do."
After He Wenwen finished speaking, as if unwilling to stay any longer, she turned around and was about to leave.
"Didn't you sleep all night?" Ren Xiangxiang suddenly shouted, "Go back and rest! Don't worry, I will avenge your master and me, and I will kill the Gu King!"
He Wenwen paused, then gave a half-smile and a snort, "Remember what you said."
Ren Xiangxiang hugged the demon claw and finally smiled. Although He Wenwen didn't turn around, she nodded emphatically, "I know, thank you, Brother Wenwen."
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