No longer related
As Gu Yi spoke each word, Wan Qiqing's expression grew colder and colder, until finally, his handsome face was covered with a layer of ice and snow.
Finally, he gave A Qiu, who was hiding behind Gu Yi, a very cold look, and said indifferently, "Fine. I hereby declare that the Divine Weapon Hall Master, Lanling Jing Ke, is no longer related to this sect from today onwards, and I will no longer concern myself with her affairs."
After saying that, he asked again, "May I go now?"
He didn't even glance at A Qiu again.
Gu Yi nodded slightly and said, "Please, Hall Master." He then stepped aside to make way, but still silently protected the area where A Qiu was.
Wan Qiqing walked past him with his head held high, not giving him another glance.
Suddenly remembering something, A Qiu hurriedly knelt down, took out the "Assassination of Qin" from his sleeve, raised it above his head with both hands, and said, "'Assassination of Qin' is a heirloom of Lanling Hall. A Qiu dares not hold it any longer. Please ask Venerable Wanqi to take it back."
She suddenly realized that whether it was when Wan Qiqing struck her twice back then, or when she was taken back to the Xingfeng Hall prison this time, Wan Qiqing had never taken back such an important token as the assassination of Qin.
Wan Qiqing then turned around, glanced at her indifferently, and said, "It's just a piece of scrap metal. If you're used to it, then keep using it."
She then scoffed, "Right now you're so dependent on this man surnamed Gu, but men in this world are the most fickle. He can abandon you once or twice, or even three or four times. Perhaps one day you'll find that you still have to rely on yourself."
A Qiu knelt on the spot, completely stunned by Wan Qiqing's unexpected words. He stood there, hands raised, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
Wanqiqing swept past the crowd and drifted away without looking back, disappearing into the mountains and forests.
Among the group, Gongyi Xiu was the first to speak. He coughed and said, "Excuse me, Junior Tutor, I have some personal matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."
A Qiu knew that he would definitely chase after Wan Qiqing to explain, and Gu Yi did not stop him, but simply nodded slightly.
Next was Sima Yao, who cupped her hands to Gu Yi and said, "I will first take Chief Shangguan to heal her wounds." Then she helped Shangguan Yuqi into the carriage and drove away herself.
Before leaving, Shangguan Yuqi looked pale, but still glanced at A Qiu with a worried look.
Then Rong Yu left. She hesitated, glancing at Gu Yi, then at A Qiu, wanting to say something but ultimately saying nothing and leaving silently.
At this moment, apart from A Qiu and Gu Yi, only Si Kongzhao remained in the room.
Sikong Zhao sheathed his double maces, hesitated for a moment, but finally walked up to Gu Yi and said, word by word, "This humble general dares to remind the young master of something."
A Qiu was right behind Gu Yi, but Sikong Zhao didn't try to hide it from her, and said clearly:
"Don't forget what you promised His Majesty."
She emphasized her words, as if she wanted A-Qiu to hear them clearly.
What did Gu Yi promise Xie Lang?
The thought had barely crossed A Qiu's mind when Sikong Zhao clasped his hands in a fist salute to her. Remembering the kindness he had shown her last time, she immediately returned the salute, and Sikong Zhao walked away.
A Qiu quickly organized her thoughts.
When she was forced to leave Jianzhang Palace, it was Sikong Zhao who conveyed the message. He also told her that this was Gu Yi's intention.
The word "also" implies that someone else had raised this idea before, but Gu Yi simply did not object.
Who else can represent the entire Jianzhang power center to offer opinions, and even Gu Yi cannot object?
Inside the Yunlong Hall, the figure lying on the sickbed, coughing incessantly, gradually became clearer.
It's Xie Lang.
She recalled the meaningful look in Xie Lang's eyes when he saw her from his sickbed when she first returned to Jianzhang Palace alone.
That look was menacing.
They already knew her background, but they tolerated her for the sake of Gu Yi.
Ultimately, those who were active in the center of power in the Southern Dynasties and accepted by them were all from aristocratic families that had been rooted in Jianzhang for generations. They were familiar with each other's families, had clear backgrounds, and knew each other well, which is why they had genuine trust and cooperation.
Even if his background is innocent, Xie Lang would never accept an outsider, a musician from outside the palace, suddenly becoming the protagonist and partner, let alone the fact that this musician is an assassin infiltrated by Lanling Hall.
However, Gu Yi had already passed away, and he did indeed need a symbol like "the successor of the young master" to stabilize people's hearts. Her true energy, which originated from the same source as Gu Yi's, could also help him stabilize his heart and heal his old ailments, thus playing a role on behalf of Gu Yi in this respect.
But now that the person in question has returned, Xie Lang certainly doesn't think there's any need for her to stay.
Therefore, he ordered their expulsion, and Gu Yi did not object.
It was less of an "expulsion" and more of a "polite send-off," and they even went so far as to send the Imperial Guard Commander, Sikong Zhao, to escort her out of the palace. For an emperor like Xie Lang, this was considered extremely polite and dignified.
Although it was unclear why Gu Yi had arrived in time, it was evident from Sikong Zhao's words that Gu Yi had promised Xie Lang something, which was why Xie Lang had agreed to let him come.
As for why Gu Yi needed Xie Lang's permission to rescue her, the answer is obvious: it was because the Imperial Guard's top expert, Rong Yu, and the Imperial Guard's commander, Sikong Zhao, were also dispatched.
Both of these men were Xie Lang's confidants, and could be said to be the people Xie Lang trusted most.
Gu Yi must have anticipated that his mission to rescue Wan Qiqing wouldn't be a one-on-one duel, but rather a confrontation with a larger group of Lanling Hall disciples. Even in a one-on-one duel, Gu Yi and Wan Qiqing were evenly matched; his purpose wasn't to fight for victory but to save lives. Therefore, to ensure everything went smoothly, the palace dispatched these two experts.
But this is both an aid and a surveillance.
At this moment, Sikong Zhao was standing by the roadside dozens of feet away, his back to the two of them, as silent as a stone pillar.
Rong Yu was surely waiting in a more distant place, but he did not show himself.
Sikong Zhao could have avoided the situation like Rong Yu, but she didn't. Her words to Gu Yi before leaving, and her current attitude, clearly indicated to A Qiu that she was sent by Xie Lang to monitor Gu Yi.
This is a warning to A-Qiu not to make any reckless remarks or do anything rash.
Upon realizing this, A Qiu understood everything perfectly.
Even though everyone except Sikong Zhao had left and the surroundings were deserted, Gu Yi still stood in front without turning around.
At this moment, A Qiu looked at his back and was filled with mixed feelings.
His hair color finally returned to its normal black, and even the silver strands that used to be there were no longer any.
She also remembered that during her time in Jianzhang, even when he was not fully recovered, he had secretly protected her in the guise of "Lord Liyang".
Gu Yi is back.
Even earlier, when she was still a child, the days she spent with this person in the ruined palace of Liyang were still vivid in her mind.
Gu Yi returned then, returning to her heart.
Her heart felt tender, yet also filled with bitterness and pain.
This is the person she never wanted to leave or say goodbye to in her life; he is her beginning and her destiny.
As long as he comes back, as long as I see him, all the loneliness and long nights I've experienced alone will be nothing.
The puzzle of her memory was finally complete.
It turns out that the most important piece that was missing before was his name.
"Gu Yi".
At this moment, she finally called out the name again, solemnly.
Gu Yi trembled slightly upon hearing her call, but still did not turn around.
From the moment Gu Yi appeared here until now, apart from his initial words, "Don't do anything foolish," he hasn't said a single word to her, nor has he ever looked at her directly.
Although his trip was clearly for her.
"Gu Yi".
She called his name again, her voice trembling.
Gu Yi finally spoke, his voice low and deep, as if he couldn't understand, and mumbled, "A Qiu?"
Tears finally welled up in her eyes.
But she tried her best to control herself, and with the sharpness and precision of a dagger, she said, word by word, "Thank you."
Gu Yi's voice was somewhat surprised: "Why?"
She said quickly, but also loudly, "Thank you for coming to save me this time. I think I've been causing you trouble all along. You have so many things to worry about, and I..."
Her voice choked, but she said resolutely, "Just now, Venerable Wanqi drew a line between us, and we will never have anything to do with each other again. This is also what I wanted to tell you."
"Gu Yi, from this day forward, I am no longer your disciple, and you never taught me anything in the first place. From now on, we owe each other nothing and go our separate ways."
She suppressed her heartache and reluctance, finally uttered those words, then covered her face, turned around, and ran away.
When she passed by Sikong Zhao, he acted as if he didn't see her and didn't stop her.
Upon hearing the last sentence, Gu Yi immediately turned around in astonishment, only to see her running away into the distance.
He felt as if he had a thousand words to say, but they were stuck in his chest and he couldn't utter them. He instinctively pushed off with his feet, wanting to chase after her, but was blocked by Sikong Zhao in the middle of the road.
Sikong Zhao looked at him, but there was no smile in his eyes.
"Young Master, all matters concerning the surrender are still awaiting your decision in the palace. The delegation must depart in three days."
She added, "On the bright side, she's finally free."
Gu Yi couldn't utter another word.
At this moment, the heavy burden on my shoulders and the weight in my heart are all at a critical juncture where a single move can affect the whole situation.
The entanglement between him and her was too complicated and too tender; no matter what, now was not the right time to resolve it.
He saved her and then took her freedom for the rest of her life from Wan Qiqing.
At least for now, that should be enough.
A Qiu ran for two or three miles before gradually catching his breath and slowing down.
She felt her face covered in tears, but the pain in her heart only intensified.
I will never see him again. From now on, we will be strangers, with no connection whatsoever.
She had distracted him and disturbed his mind; she knew all of this.
Before she came into his life, he had always been well. People said that the young master Gu Yi was indifferent to women and was diligent and self-disciplined. She now understood that it was because he took the world as his responsibility and could not afford to be distracted or slack in the slightest.
He wouldn't choose her; instead, he would simply let her go far away, to a safe place, so she could roam freely in the vast sky.
But that would never be by his side.
The throbbing between his brows told her that as she ran away, he was also setting off in the opposite direction, heading further and further away.
Perhaps in the future, when the Northern Qiang formally surrender and a new dynasty is established, he will indeed head north to the new capital of the Celestial Empire: Luoyang, or Chang'an. Even if he is not the Grand Preceptor of the new dynasty, an equally important position will await him.
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