The eagle let out a miserable cry and plummeted down the cliff. Qi Guze and the Ghost Doctor helped each other to the sacred herb. The sacred herb emitted an even more dazzling and magical light.
Qi Guze reached out and gently plucked the sacred herb. At that moment, he felt as if he had grasped the entire world.
"We've finally harvested the sacred herb!" the Ghost Doctor exclaimed joyfully.
Qi Guze smiled and said, "Then let's head back quickly."
"Yes!" The soldiers from Dongsang were also very happy, and they began to return to the city.
On the winding road leading to the Eastern Sang Kingdom's palace, a simple carriage moved quietly. Inside, Qi Guze and the Ghost Doctor sat facing each other, an indescribable atmosphere filling the space between them.
Qi Guze, with a sharp edge hidden between his brows; Ghost Doctor, a legendary and unpredictable healer, with eyes as deep as the sea.
The carriage swayed gently, its wheels rolling over the potholes in the road, making a "gurgling" sound, as if telling a story.
Qi Guze's gaze lingered on the Ghost Doctor's face, his usually calm eyes now filled with a hint of inquiry and doubt. He parted his lips slightly, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable firmness, "Why didn't you tell me before that you were adopted by the Kang King of Dongsang Kingdom?"
The Ghost Doctor seemed to have anticipated this question. He slightly turned his head, his gaze peering through the gaps in the carriage towards the distance. There, the vast land met the sky, a scene of utter tranquility.
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "That's all in the past, and I don't want to bring it up." His words revealed a deep weariness and alienation.
Qi Guze wasn't the type to pry into other people's privacy, but at this moment he felt a strange sense of attachment. He wanted to understand this comrade-in-arms more deeply, to learn about his past, his pain, and his secrets.
So he chose to press further, "Where did your adoptive father go?"
This question seemed to touch a chord deep within the Ghost Doctor's heart; his hand trembled slightly, and a barely perceptible trace of grief flashed in his eyes. He took a deep breath, his voice low and hoarse, "He's dead."
Those three simple words seemed to have used all their strength. A brief silence fell over the carriage, with only the sound of horses' hooves and wheels echoing in the air.
Qi Guze sensed a suffocating atmosphere; he knew this question touched a raw nerve with the Ghost Doctor. Looking at his companion's cold and distant expression, he knew some things he might never learn from him.
Just as Qi Guze was about to change the subject, a violent jolt suddenly struck. The carriage jolted violently, almost overturning. The two reacted quickly and steadied themselves.
Immediately afterwards, the sound of metal clanging came from outside the carriage, mixed with the neighing of horses. A look of alertness flashed in Qi Guze's eyes. He quickly leaped to the carriage entrance and lifted the curtain.
What came into view was a chaotic battlefield. Dozens of men in black were fiercely fighting with soldiers from the Eastern Sang Kingdom, blood splattering and the clash of swords creating a brutal scene.
Qi Guze immediately recognized that the men in black were no ordinary people. Their movements were agile and their attacks ruthless; they were clearly well-trained assassins. Qi Guze's heart sank. He knew these people hadn't just happened to be passing by. Their target was clear—the sacred herb hidden in the carriage.
This sacred herb was a rare and precious plant they had painstakingly searched for, possessing the power to bring the dead back to life. However, this news spread like wildfire, attracting countless greedy eyes.
Qi Guze turned to look at the Ghost Doctor inside the carriage. The doctor's eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions—anger, sorrow, and determination. He knew this news was the biggest crisis of their trip, but it also ignited their indomitable fighting spirit.
"It seems we've been targeted," the Ghost Doctor said calmly, without a trace of panic in his voice.
He quickly retrieved a first-aid kit from the corner of the carriage, preparing for the impending battle.
Qi Guze took a deep breath and gripped his longsword tightly. "These men in black have a clear objective; they've come for the sacred herb." He looked at the Ghost Doctor with unwavering determination. "We must go all out and not let them succeed."
Qi Guze, sword in hand, stood firm in his gaze, showing no fear on his face. He moved with agility and displayed superb swordsmanship. His mere presence in the battle immediately drew the attention of the men in black and the soldiers of Dongsang Kingdom.
The Ghost Doctor, however, is different. He uses poison needles, striking with incredible speed, making him impossible to defend against. His poison needles not only poison but also instantly incapacitate opponents.
His poison needle technique was an extremely mysterious and unique skill in the martial arts world. The two groups immediately joined the battle between the man in black and the soldiers of Dongsang Kingdom.
Seeing the two experts arrive to help, the soldiers of Dongsang felt more at ease and confident. They had initially been at a disadvantage, but now, with the assistance of these two masters, their chances of victory were much greater.
The battle continued, with Qi Guze and the Ghost Doctor displaying their strength. Qi Guze's longsword moved like a silver dragon, weaving through the men in black, each strike forcing his enemies back several steps.
The Ghost Doctor's poison needles are even more terrifying to his enemies. Although his poison needles are small, once they pierce an enemy, the enemy will instantly lose his fighting ability.
The two sides immediately clashed. Qi Guze spotted the leader of the men in black, lunged forward, and thrust his longsword straight at the man's throat. The leader was no pushover either; he quickly retreated a few steps, dodging Qi Guze's attack.
But Qi Guze didn't give up. He continued the pursuit and finally captured the leader of the men in black. The other men in black panicked when they saw their leader had been captured.
Immediately afterward, all the other men in black fled. The soldiers of Dongsang Kingdom wanted to give chase, but Qi Guze ordered them all to stop and not scatter, lest the sacred herb be stolen.
Although the soldiers of Dongsang were unwilling, they still obeyed Qi Guze's orders. The Dongsang soldiers had no choice but to return.
Qi Guze pressed the tip of his sword against the leader's neck and coldly asked, "Why are you stopping us?" His eyes were sharp as an eagle's as he stared directly at the other's face.
The leader, however, remained unconcerned. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips as he spat and glared fiercely at Qi Guze, but he did not answer.
An indescribable chilling atmosphere filled the air. The once noisy scene fell silent, save for the soft clatter of swords against necks. The surrounding men in black remained motionless, seemingly stunned by the spectacle.
At this moment, the Ghost Doctor stepped forward, his tone indifferent: "I'll ask you one more time, why are you stopping us?"
He held a poisoned needle in his hand, its light gleaming eerily. However, the leader remained silent, his eyes revealing only disdain and mockery.
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