Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 124: Puppet (Extra 1800 words, asking for monthly passes!)

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Puppet (Extra 1800 words, asking for monthly passes!)

The swordsman, or rather the man called Gu Qingying, silently stood up, gazing intently at the old man.

His right hand had already reached for the hilt of the long saber he carried on his back. With the reputation of the Lonely Goose Saber, a strike from this saber would end the lives of ninety-nine percent of the martial artists in Jianghu.

But, in the end, he did not draw his saber; instead, he sat back down, looking utterly dejected.

"Anger should not provoke the sword, now I’m rather curious to hear your story," said the old man.

The old man passed over a roasted bun.

Gu Qingying took it without a word of thanks and ate it.

Leaning against the wall, his face covered in stubble, he displayed a nostalgic expression: "I remember, it was spring back then. My aunt was the one who treated me best in the family. After she married into the Lingnan Wang Family, I would visit every year... In Lingnan, the most renowned was not the Wang Family, but rather the Song family. Their Fei E Sword is a unique and supreme martial art listed on the famed roster. It is said that all who have seen the sword are now dead, and the Song Family Master is well-known on the celestial rankings because of this sword... Though I am not very talented, my martial skills have greatly improved this time, and I was prepared to challenge a few of the Song Family Disciples..."

...

He still remembered that day, when the setting sun was as red as blood.

Gu Qingying rode atop a white horse, holding sugar-coated haws and a windmill prepared for his aunt’s young boy.

This little brother loved clinging to him and playing the most.

From afar, he could see the Wang Family Castle.

The people of the Wang Clan had built the castle as a place to live, where everyone practiced martial arts, ensuring they could protect themselves even amid great chaos.

The gates of the Wang Family Castle were usually open, and like always, he entered. Wang Xiao’er, who was on gate duty, greeted him warmly: "Mr. Gu is here again."

Within the castle were the homes of various clan members and even some small shops, creating a self-sufficient community.

Gu Qingying paid no attention to these and headed straight for the central Wang Family Mansion; his aunt had married into the direct line of the Wang Family.

He dismounted in front of the Wang Family Mansion and tied up his horse.

Normally, Elder Wang, who guarded the gate, would have come over long ago to greet him obsequiously.

But this time, there was no one to welcome him from inside the mansion, and this caused a sinking feeling in Gu Qingying’s heart.

He stepped forward, intending to knock with the brass tiger-head knocker.

However, he found the door was not locked; a gentle push, and it opened.

With a sense of foreboding, Gu Qingying, hand on his Lonely Goose Saber, entered the Wang Family Mansion.

His Lonely Goose Saber was not famed for nothing; once, with a single stroke, he had cut off the wings of seven flies in mid-flight without killing them, showing the profound subtlety of his swordsmanship.

This time, emboldened by his skill, he was prepared to find out what had happened in the Wang Family Mansion.

As Gu Qingying entered, he immediately felt that something was amiss.

It seemed as though a weight had been placed upon him, but upon closer inspection, he found nothing.

Walking through the hall, a man approached—it was the Wang Family Master, Wang Xuanying.

He was already over sixty years old, yet his face appeared middle-aged, except for his graying hair. Upon seeing him, a somewhat stiff smile appeared on his face.

"Paying respects to Senior Wang, I am here to see my aunt."

Gu Qingying duly performed the etiquette of a junior, his eyes darting sideways, trying to discern any oddities. Yet the man in front of him seemed normal in every aspect, pulse and heartbeat included, save for a rigid indifference in his expression.

"If that’s the case, go ahead," said Wang Xuanying with a wave of his hand.

Gu Qingying took his leave, knowing full well the whereabouts of his aunt’s room and went straight there.

All along the way, he saw no maids or servants, which only added to his astonishment.

"Aunt!"

He called out as he reached the room.

Bang!

A thud sounded as a porcelain bowl smashed against the doorframe, scattering fragments.

"What’s happened?"

Gu Qingying, gripping his Lonely Goose Saber tightly, burst into the room and saw a woman in her thirties with disheveled hair and blood-red eyes, staring fiercely in his direction.

Even though her demeanor was somewhat mad, Gu Qingying still recognized her as his aunt, Gu Huan.

"Auntie, Auntie, what’s wrong with you? It’s Qingying."

He called out, his eyes slightly red, "How did I not know that Auntie had fallen ill?"

In his heart, he felt even more guilty, ’It seems that Senior Wang has become mentally absent due to worry over his daughter-in-law’s illness. Dismissing the servants, was it to prevent gossip from spreading about Auntie’s mad behavior? They had good intentions, and I misunderstood them...’

"Are you... Qingying?"

Gu Huan stared blankly at Gu Qingying, stepped forward, and grasped his face, her expression suddenly turning to panic, "Quick... get away!"

"Auntie! What exactly happened?"

Tears streamed down Gu Qingying’s face, "If there’s any trouble, just tell me."

Slap!

Before he could finish speaking, three bloody scratches appeared on his face, made by Gu Huan’s hand, her expression ferocious, "No... you’re not Qingying! You’re not him!"

"I am, when I was little, I loved the sugar cakes you made the most, and I always had to sneak some away..."

Gu Qingying hurriedly said.

"Are you, really Little Ying?" Gu Huan’s mad gaze sobered up slightly, but then filled with intense fear, "This place is wrong... Grandfather changed, Grandmother changed, and then... Jinjue changed too!"

Jinjue was her husband.

Her expression turned to fear, confused, and then a scream, "That thing... I don’t know... I don’t know... get away from me!"

Gu Huan grabbed Gu Qingying, whispered four words into his ear, and then pushed him out of the door, slamming it shut with force.

"Auntie..."

Gu Qingying caressed the scratches on his face, realizing immediately that Auntie had given him important information.

It looked like the Wang Family had encountered a formidable enemy, someone adept in the Disguise Technique, who had replaced many people in the mansion? And they were pressuring Auntie for the whereabouts of something?

In that case, this place was indeed a den of dragons and a pit of tigers!

Even Auntie had to feign madness as a means of self-preservation.

’They seem to be after a treasure. The place Auntie told me, could it be where it’s hidden? No matter what, I must leave this place first to contend with the enemy... Even if I seek help from another family, I must come back to save them.’

Gu Qingying wiped away his tears and turned to leave.

But as he was about to leave the Wang Residence, he saw a person blocking the gate.

The man in his thirties held a high-quality steel longsword, that was his uncle by marriage, the Snow Blade Wang Jinjue!

This man was highly skilled in martial arts, known for not needing a second sword to kill; the Snow Blade in his hand was a sharp weapon, capable of cutting through hair without leaving a trace of blood.

"Where is it?"

Wang Jinjue blocked the entrance, his voice coming out indistinct.

"You are not my uncle, or you wouldn’t ask me such a foolish question."

How could the uncle not know of his own family’s heirloom?

Gu Qingying was certain and swung his saber at him.

His Lonely Goose Saber was not famous for nothing. At this moment he cut down with a stroke that was fast, precise, ruthless, and fierce, a rare match in the Jianghu.

Clang!

The sound of a blade being unsheathed rang out.

It was Wang Jinjue drawing the Snow Blade, clashing hard with the Lonely Goose Saber.

The sound of metal striking metal erupted. Gu Qingying had no time to think and saw several rays of sword light striking toward him, actually performing the Wang Family Swordsmanship!

He was incredibly startled, but his Lonely Goose Saber instinctively countered the moves, and he shouted, "Who are you really? How do you know the Wang Family martial arts?"

"Me? I am Wang Jinjue!"

Wang Jinjue let out a strange laugh, his sword aiming straight for his life.

Gu Qingying surged into battle, on the brink of life and death. However, he suddenly felt dazed, seeming to see above the Wang Family Mansion, delicate threads like cobwebs, semi-transparent and long.

These threads drifted gently, giving him the illusion they were alive.

They wafted down, entering into Wang Jinjue’s limbs, and even merging into his body, manipulating him as if he were a puppet...

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