Chapter 948 Dragon One Returns (Two Updates)
Gu Changqing carried Gu Jiao on his back, struggling to climb the jagged cliff face. The fierce wind blowing up from the bottom of the cliff was almost blowing them away. Under such extreme conditions, he could not use his internal strength at all, and could only rely on his brute strength to carry his sister up little by little.
Soon, his right hand also became a bloody mess.
His blood and flesh were left on the cliff, and the bloody handprints were shocking in the dark night.
They had fallen very deep, and it was unknown how long it would take to climb back up. The wind was strong, the humidity was high, and the temperature was low. Gu Changqing was worried that she would get cold, so he said to her, "Jiaojiao, don't go to sleep yet."
"Um."
Gu Jiao responded groggily.
Gu Changqing asked, "Are you sleepy?"
Gu Jiao blinked her sleepy eyes: "Ah? Yeah, a little."
Her sudden drowsiness was unlike her usual physical condition, and Gu Changqing asked worriedly, "Are you seriously injured?"
"I don't." Gu Jiao shook her head. She had been feeling sleepy lately, probably because of her pregnancy.
Gu Changqing grabbed onto a protruding rock: "Then you go to sleep. I'll wake you up when we get to the top."
He slowly channeled his inner energy into her to maintain her body temperature.
Human potential is truly limitless. At first, I couldn't even unleash my inner strength, but now I have.
However, that's all I can do; climbing still requires brute force.
Gu Jiao felt a comfortable warmth in her body, and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
She mumbled incoherently, "Gu Changqing, I have good news to tell you."
Hearing her soft, dreamlike voice, Gu Changqing smiled and asked, "What good news?"
With her eyes closed, Gu Jiao said in a half-awake state, "I'm pregnant."
Gu Changqing was so shocked that his body trembled, and he was at a loss for what to do. He almost lost his grip and even kicked two stones off the ground!
Once he had a firm grip, his eyes widened like copper bells.
What did she just say?
Are you expecting a baby?
He's going to be an uncle?
...
Halfway up the mountain, the major guardians arrived together.
Duke Anguo lay helplessly on the edge of the cliff, gazing into the bottomless abyss.
The two guardians stood slightly behind him, occasionally glancing down.
The Third Protector approached, glanced at the corpse on the ground, and asked the Second Protector, "Second Protector, what exactly happened? Who injured my Sword Pavilion disciple? And this person, wasn't he supposed to be sent to the ferry? Why is he still here? By the way, where is the Seventh Protector?"
The second protector said solemnly, "I just came from the front, and the seventh brother is already dead."
"What?" the three protectors exclaimed in shock.
The others were also taken aback.
There was no one else around, and everyone's gaze fell unanimously on the Duke of Anguo, who was filled with grief and indignation.
However, since Duke Anguo was disabled, the group quickly abandoned the idea.
The First Protector asked, "Second Brother, what exactly happened?"
The second protector took two steps back to the side, put his hands behind his back, and sighed, saying, "She is the adopted daughter of the Duke of Anguo."
The third protector, in a fit of excitement, strode forward and grabbed the second brother's arm: "She's here? She killed these people? Where is she?"
The second protector glanced at the cliff beside him and sighed again: "They fell."
Everyone: "..."
The second protector explained, "At the time, I didn't know who she was. I thought she was Duke Anguo's secret guard, so... I slapped her."
The angle of that palm strike was calculated extremely carefully; it could have killed Gu Jiao on the spot. It was only because Duke Anguo risked his life to protect her that she, instead of falling to her death from the ground or hitting a rock, fell off the cliff.
The Great Protector frowned: "If she dies, we'll never get that box again—"
The Eight Protectors, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward and pointed their ears toward the cliff: "Listen! There's movement down there!"
The second protector recalled, "Someone just jumped down, I don't know if it was..."
The three guardians, being impatient, interrupted him: "What do you mean, 'is it'? Saving lives is the priority! Quick! Get the rope!"
There happened to be a rope on the ground that had been used to bind Duke Anguo, but it wasn't long enough. So the Eighth Protector went ahead and got the longest rope, tied a knot in it, and threw it down.
"Is this the place?" the three protectors asked.
“It’s impossible to determine.” The Great Protector frowned. “The wind is too strong down there, and the sound is being scattered, making it difficult to pinpoint the location.”
The three guardians shouted into the bottomless abyss, "Hey—are the people down there still alive? Make a sound!"
Gu Changqing heard the sound coming from above, but the wind direction had changed. It was no longer blowing from bottom to top, but instead blowing from top to bottom. Whenever he looked up, the strong wind would blow him so hard that he couldn't make a sound.
Suddenly, Xiao Jiu, which was circling in the sky, let out a sharp cry, swooped down, grabbed one end of the rope, and flew towards Gu Jiao and Gu Changqing against the fierce wind.
The strong wind broke its wings.
It didn't stop.
It handed the rope to Gu Changqing.
Gu Changqing looked up at the sky and tugged at the rope.
The three guardians felt the force on the ropes and their eyes lit up: "It moved! It moved!"
It's not the kind of movement where you're swaying back and forth in the wind, it's more like a pulling motion.
Someone's caught them!
The Grand Protector hurriedly ordered, "Quick! Pull the person up!"
The second and third guardians joined forces, and the fourth guardian also came to help. The three great masters pulled the rope with all their might.
Gu Changqing felt a tremendous pulling force. He grabbed the rope with his right hand and grabbed Xiao Jiu, who was falling due to exhaustion, with his left hand, and quickly climbed up to the mountainside!
The two climbed up safely. Gu Changqing lay down on the ground, while Gu Jiao lay steadily on his back.
The second protector was the first to rush over, check Gu Jiao's breathing, and when he saw that Gu Jiao was still breathing, he breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, he was the one who pushed the person off the cliff, so if something really happened, he would be held responsible.
As for the other person, he didn't care whether he lived or died.
Duke Anguo braced himself on his elbows and slowly moved over: "Changqing, how are you? How is Jiaojiao?"
Gu Changqing took a breath and said, "Jiaojiao is fine, she's asleep."
Duke Anguo touched Gu Jiao's face and hands; her face was cool, but her hands were warm.
Jiaojiao is alright...she's alright...
The Duke of Anguo felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and his eyes reddened slightly because of Gu Jiao's miraculous survival.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on Gu Changqing's hands, and his heart skipped a beat: "Changqing!"
"I'm fine, don't worry." Gu Changqing quickly removed his hand and stood up with Gu Jiao on his back.
Gu Jiao slept soundly on his back.
This realization brought him comfort.
This shows that in her heart, she can trust him wholeheartedly.
His eyes trembled slightly as he thought of what she had said to him at the bottom of the cliff.
He was completely unaware that she was pregnant.
Even though she was pregnant, she still risked her life to protect the people around her.
He tilted his head slightly and whispered to her as she slept, "Brother will take you down the mountain."
He turned to Duke Anguo and said, "Duke, please go to the rock behind first."
“Alright.” Duke Anguo nodded and, with Gu Changqing’s help, sat down behind the rock.
Then Gu Changqing gently put Gu Jiao down and let her lean on Duke Anguo's shoulder.
This matter was caused by the Second Elder, who stepped forward and said to Gu Changqing, "Boy, you can't leave here. Put him down, and I can make you suffer less!"
Gu Changqing emerged from behind the rock, drew his long sword, and coldly looked at the group, saying, "No one can take my sister away!"
"Enough with the nonsense! Take this!" The Second Elder swung his sword and attacked Gu Changqing.
Sword Pavilion is renowned for its swordsmanship. This kid actually dared to use a sword in front of him. He's practically showing off his skills in front of an expert!
As weapons clashed, each move was deadly, and neither side gave the other any chance of survival.
Gu Changqing was a junior and a native of a lower country, so the guardians of the Sword Pavilion didn't take him seriously. It was already an honor for the second guardian to deal with him, so the others naturally wouldn't interfere.
But as they watched from the sidelines, their expressions began to change.
The Third Protector: "Twenty moves have passed, why hasn't the Second Elder captured this brat yet?"
The Four Protectors exclaimed, "This kid is incredibly skilled in combat!"
The Fifth Protector: "His moves aren't anything special, it's just..."
He just has a ruthless streak.
He is a master at unleashing his potential through willpower.
The Eighth Protector said, "This person is very suitable to join our Sword Pavilion. If he receives our guidance, given time, he may become another talented master in our sect."
Third Elder: "Does the Eighth Elder mean to spare his life and offer him amnesty?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Changqing deliberately revealed an opening to lure the Second Elder into attacking. In the end, he countered by grabbing the Second Elder's sword and then thrust his sword into the Second Elder's abdomen.
The Second Elder struck Gu Changqing's shoulder with a palm, using the force to break free from Gu Changqing's restraint. At the same time, his own body was also separated from Gu Changqing's longsword.
He took several steps back, using his longsword to brace himself against the ground as he nearly collapsed.
"Second Protector!"
The men's expressions changed drastically.
Clearly, they hadn't expected that the dignified Protector of the Sword Pavilion would lose to a young man.
"I'll have a go at you!" The Eighth Protector leaped forward.
The chief protector spoke up: "Sixth brother, fifth brother, you two come at us too! Forget about chivalry now, just kill him quickly and get down to business!"
The three men surrounded and attacked Gu Changqing.
All three were no less skilled than An Hun, and when they attacked together, Gu Changqing was suppressed.
His hands were already injured at the bottom of the cliff, and he had been carrying Gu Jiao up the cliff for a long time. His physical strength and internal energy were severely depleted. If he were to fight against the three Dark Souls, he would have almost no chance of winning.
His back was slashed open by the Five Protectors, his brocade robes were torn, and crimson blood splattered out.
Gu Jiao, who was fast asleep, frowned slightly.
Gu Changqing told himself he couldn't give up; he still had to take his sister home.
"Aren't you going to surrender yet? You've got some backbone!"
"Fifth Brother, stop wasting words with him, kill him! Eighth Brother, cut off his escape route!"
Gu Changqing was attacked from both sides, and the Sixth Protector seized the opportunity to leap up and thrust his long sword fiercely towards his back.
*Pfft*
A sharp blade pierced through his body, penetrating his entire chest from his back!
The Sixth Protector looked down in disbelief at the spearhead that had pierced through his chest cavity and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Sixth Brother!"
"Six Protectors!"
The five protectors and the eight protectors called out in unison.
Under the moonlight, Gu Jiao, who had woken up at some point, stood behind the Sixth Protector, holding a red-tasseled spear and with icy eyes.
This happened so fast that even the Great Protector and others watching didn't have time to react.
They all believed that the Sixth Protector's sword would surely pierce Gu Changqing.
Who would have thought that the Six Protectors would be stabbed in the back?
Gu Jiao swiftly pulled out the red-tasseled spear, and blood splattered onto her cold little face.
A fierce wind swept up from the bottom of the cliff, howling and whipping her red battle suit.
His battle armor blazed like fire, as if it had drunk the blood of his enemies.
On the dusty, sandy ground, a safety charm, still warm from human touch, lay forlornly.
Gu Jiao stepped on it, her murderous gaze sharp as she looked at everyone present.
Everyone was stunned by her murderous aura. Unlike her aura when she arrived, although she was also killing, she now carried a domineering aura that could destroy the world, as if she were a demon returning from purgatory, ready to slaughter the entire Hidden Sword Manor until not a single piece of armor was left and not a blade of grass was left alive.
Taking advantage of the situation, Gu Changqing swung his sword to force back the stunned Fifth and Eighth Protectors. He knelt on one knee, supporting his body with his long sword, and looked back at Gu Jiao, whose eyes were cold. His gaze swept over the peace talisman she had stepped on, and landed on her lower abdomen protected by her armor. His fist clenched tighter and tighter.
The Third Protector frowned and asked, "What's wrong with her? She seems strange."
The Great Protector asked with a grave expression, "Don't you guys think that her current state... is somewhat similar to the state of Dark Soul and the others when they lost control?"
The three protectors' expressions changed: "Could it be that she was also poisoned by the purple gromwell?"
The Great Protector said coldly, "Seize her!"
The fifth brother was the first to rush over. People poisoned by purple grass are not so easy to kill. Therefore, they don't need to hold back and can attack as many times as they can. If they cripple her, it is her own fault!
An astonishing thing happened: Gu Jiao severed the Fifth Protector's longsword with a single spear thrust, then flipped in mid-air, her long leg slamming down and kicking the Fifth Protector in the head, instantly knocking him to his knees!
"Fifth Brother!" The men's expressions changed drastically!
What incredible speed! What terrifying power!
The Eighth Protector launched a sneak attack on Gu Jiao, but Gu Jiao didn't even turn her head. Instead, she retaliated with a shot that pierced the Eighth Protector's shoulder!
Then, using the momentum, Gu Jiao grabbed the red-tasseled spear and leaped backward, hooking her toes around the Fifth Protector's chin and kicking him hard off the cliff!
The Great Protector roared in fury: "Attack together!"
The rest of the group, including the injured Second Protector, all rushed towards Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao stood in front of Gu Changqing and said, word by word, "You, move aside."
Gu Changqing's arm trembled as he gripped the longsword tightly: "Jiaojiao..."
Gu Jiao grabbed the injured Gu Changqing, stepped onto the stone wall, and threw him to the Duke of Anguo behind the rocks.
The battle was fierce, with sandstorms swirling in the air and flashes of swords and spears in the darkness. Gu Jiao was like a soulless killing machine, and one by one, the guardians fell to her red-tasseled spear.
"The Eighth and Ninth Forms of Xuanyuan!"
The Grand Protector's eyes widened as he watched Gu Jiao unleash the Xuanyuan Spear Technique: "You are—"
*Pfft*
Gu Jiao's red-tasseled spear pierced through his internal organs!
The Great Protector fell to the ground with his eyes wide open, never uttering that title until his death.
Eight guardians were killed, leaving only the second guardian, who was severely injured by Gu Changqing.
Because of his serious injuries, he was unable to rush to the front, but instead survived until the end.
He had no strength left to fight. Looking at the corpses of his fellow disciples, he was overwhelmed with shock and grief, and for a moment he didn't know who to care for.
"The Three Protectors... The Three Protectors..."
"Eighth Protector... wake up..."
"Fourth brother..."
"Fifth brother..."
"Great Protector... Great Protector... Great Protector!"
His voice was choked with sobs and fear.
Gu Jiao dragged her blood-stained red-tasseled spear to him. Her whole body was soaked in the blood of the Sword Pavilion, not a single dry spot. The thick blood aura stirred up endless violent energy within her.
Gu Changqing clutched his chest and cried out to her, "Jiaojiao...don't kill her..."
Gu Jiao couldn't hear.
She raised the red-tasseled spear in her hand with a murderous aura.
In the blink of an eye, an old man in white robes descended from the sky, bringing a chilling killing intent with his palm as he struck Gu Jiao.
Gu Changqing leaped forward and took the blow for Gu Jiao.
He fell heavily to the ground, spitting out blood everywhere.
This person's skill is too great, far surpassing that of Dark Soul!
The two protectors, as if grasping at a last straw before drowning, cried out in a hoarse voice, "Venerable White Tiger!"
The four Venerable Ones of the Sword Pavilion: Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise.
Gu Jiao suddenly turned around and looked coldly at the person who had come in.
Gu Changqing then looked at Gu Jiao. She couldn't fight anymore... She was too exhausted... If she continued fighting... she and the baby in her womb would be in danger...
The White Tiger Venerable stood beside the Second Protector, glanced at him, and sneered, "What use are you if you can't even handle a little girl!"
The two guardians lowered their heads.
The White Tiger Venerable said calmly, "Girl, I don't want to kill you. As long as you come with me obediently, I can let them go."
Gu Jiao said coldly, "Prepare to die."
The White Tiger Venerable scoffed disdainfully: "If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to drink the penalty cup!"
He had witnessed Gu Jiao's strength and acknowledged her power, but she had just gone through a battle and was suffering from a great loss of stamina. Moreover, the more out of control she became, the greater the loss of energy she would experience.
She didn't have much strength left.
I don't even need to draw my sword. Just wear her down for a couple of moves, and she'll faint on her own!
This is the advantage of having a large number of people!
Relying on his superior lightness skill, Venerable White Tiger induced Gu Jiao to exhaust her last bit of strength, but just at that moment, a loud bang suddenly came from the sky.
The terrible force grazed his shoulder, and a burning pain spread throughout his arm.
He landed beside a large tree not far away, looking at his injured shoulder. It wasn't a laceration, but an open wound that looked bloody and gruesome.
"Tsk, it's just a scratch, what a pity."
Accompanied by a cynical sigh, Shangguan Qing swaggered over, carrying a musket.
Although he was alone, the aura he exuded was like that of a thousand troops.
This is probably due to her father's genes.
"Can you give way?"
Behind him, Xiao Heng, who was completely blocked from view, spoke calmly.
"Oh." Shangguan Qing promptly made way for his bratty younger brother.
Xiao Heng glanced around and strode towards Gu Jiao.
Shangguan Qing, staring at Gu Jiao who was radiating murderous intent and whose allegiance was indistinguishable from enemy's, shouted to his bratty younger brother, "Hey! Danger!"
Xiao Heng rushed to Gu Jiao's side without hesitation and grasped her hand that was holding the red-tasseled spear: "Jiao Jiao!"
Gu Jiao's hands were trembling.
The White Tiger Venerable looked at the two of them with a dangerous gaze.
Shangguan Qing pointed his musket at him and said, "Don't move, or I'll shoot you dead!"
Xiao Heng raised his hand and touched her face: "Jiaojiao...it's me...Aheng..."
Shangguan Qing gritted his teeth and said, "You come here first! She doesn't recognize anyone anymore! She'll hurt you!"
Xiao Heng gave Gu Jiao a deep look, then pulled the completely out-of-control Gu Jiao into his arms.
Shangguan Qing's expression changed drastically: "Are you crazy!"
Gu Jiao raised the red-tasseled spear in her hand, the spearhead gleaming coldly in the moonlight, reflecting in her bloodthirsty eyes.
Shangguan Qing cried out in a low voice, "Brother!"
The spear fell, piercing the Second Protector who was attempting a sneak attack from behind Xiao Heng.
Gu Jiao exhausted her last bit of strength, her vision went black and she collapsed, her red-tasseled spear crashing heavily to the ground.
Xiao Heng wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly: "Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao!"
Shangguan Qing glanced at the unconscious Gu Jiao, the seriously injured Gu Changqing, and the Duke of Anguo who had been drugged, and felt a sense of foreboding. These two people were trying to take three others away; the situation was not optimistic.
To make matters worse, three other Venerable Ones also arrived at this side gate; they had come after hearing the sound of muskets.
All four were masters of light-footed martial arts, and with the cover of night, a single musket could not kill them.
Shangguan Qing, clutching the musket, was filled with despair: "It's over, it's completely over. We're all going to die here..."
“I’ll deal with that musket,” said Venerable White Tiger.
Xuanwu, the youngest yet already a Venerable, said, "Leave that girl to me."
The two attacked simultaneously.
The White Tiger Venerable used his lightness skill and the terrain to restrain Shangguan Qing's musket. The Black Tortoise Venerable lightly touched the ground with his toes, flew up, and reached out his demonic claws to grab Xiao Heng's shoulder, intending to pull him and Gu Jiao apart and throw them off the cliff!
At the critical moment, a chilling sword aura burst forth with unstoppable force, its killing intent permeating the entire mountain. Xuanwu Venerable's brow twitched, and before he could react, his sleeve was severed by the sword aura.
Almost at the same moment, a tall and strong figure descended from the sky and kicked him in the chest!
He was forced back several steps!
The figure, wielding a longsword with a peacock feather gleaming in the cold light, stood arrogantly and aloof in front of Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao.
Several venerable ones all looked at him.
Venerable Xuanwu raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, frowned, and asked, "Who are you—"
His thin, cold lips parted slightly: "Long Yi."
Long Yi is here! Do you have any monthly passes?
(End of this chapter)
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