“Gu… Gu Xiqiao?” Hua Jingya was thrown onto the ground in an ungraceful manner. It was only then that she got a good glimpse of that person’s face. A horrified scream echoed through the suburbs.
Night had already befallen the Imperial Capital. Although there were street lights around, Hua Jingya could not see clearly her abductor’s face despite her standing only five meters away. She did make out a pale face and a pair of familiar ink dark eyes.
Standing in front of her, her abductor towered over Hua Jingya
Hua Jingya slowly tried to get up on her feet. However, it was an effort in futility as her legs felt like they were electrocuted once more. The girl who was smiling sweetly at her played with a ball of purple electric sparks in her palms. It was at this moment that Hua Jingya understood how terrifying her foe was. And yet, she steadied herself. “Miss Gu, doing this will only earn you the Hua family’s vengeance.”
Gu Xiqiao narrowed her eyes. The sparks in her hand flickered more intensely. Wide-eyed, Hua Jingya kept her eyes glued onto that ball of lightning in horror.
The paralyzing pain that she anticipated did not arrive. Hua Jingya slowly peeled her eyelids open to see yet another figure standing in front of her.
“Does this young lady not understand that people from the ancient martial arts world are forbidden from interfering with the secular world?” Shi Haizhe slowly raised his head, taking a good look at the pretty face of the girl who was standing before him. A split-second later, his expression tensed up.
A glow returned to Hua Jingya’s eyes. It was as if she had seen the final straw that would save her life. Hastily, she clung onto the man’s clothes.
Gu Xiqiao furrowed her brows. “How troublesome.”
She raised her hand and swiftly deployed a barrier.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
After a couple of dull thuds, she brushed her hands clean as if announcing that her work here was done and that she was satisfied. The hem of her coat drew an arc in the air, into which she climbed. What was left a second later was just a trail where she once stood.
Shi Haizhe froze up instantly. All he could do was watch Gu Xiqiao abuse Hua Jingya. He was stopped by an invisible barrier the moment he tried to reach out and stop the poor woman’s ordeal.
Since when did such a terrifying character start roaming around the Imperial Capital? Shi Haizhe was baffled by both the sparks in that girl’s hand as well as this unbreakable barrier she had casted on his body. Peering in the direction of where she left, a blinding ray emerged in his eyes.
Even Murong Miaoxue paled in comparison to her skills. She seemed to be pretty young. For such a young one to possess such great strength, if she wasn’t a part of the ancient martial arts world, she probably was a member of the reclusive aristocrats.
Suddenly, the wails of police sirens filled the air. Two patrol cars stopped beside him. The policemen that emerged from their vehicles were here to bring Hua Jingya away.
It was after this that Shi Haizhe discovered the barrier around him had disintegrated. He stood there for a while in a dazed state before laughing to himself quietly.
That girl from before probably casted this barrier on him to stop him from saving a damsel in distress. Still, astonishment swelled up in his chest after his laughter. To be able to maintain control over her barrier over such distances, and with so much precision as well! This was his first time experiencing such a thing.
“Sir! Please save me!” Hua Jingya was still clinging onto Shi Haizhe’s clothes, as if he was a piece of driftwood out in the middle of the ocean.
Shi Haizhe glanced down at her and slowly, he brushed her hand off. “Pardon me but may I know the reason for this young lady’s arrest?” Recalling Gu Xiqiao’s eyes, Shi Haizhe thought that she wasn’t the type of person who would push an innocent civilian around.
The problem most likely stemmed with this woman who was clinging onto him.
Although it was standard protocol not to leak any information out, the policeman sensed Shi Haizhe’s dignified aura and so he was willing to let loose some bits of information. “Well, for starters, illegally concocting a drug-like stimulant, murdering two innocent people and subsequently taking over their property… stuff that’ll guarantee her life imprisonment without parole!”
Even as a policeman, he had never seen such a vicious woman before. He looked down at Hua Jingya with disgust in his eyes.
Every word the policeman said made Hua Jingya’s face grow paler. There was only one thought in her mind at the moment. It’s all over. They knew now! They knew about her now! The image she had painstakingly kept up has been utterly shattered now! Then the Hua family… her family probably knew about this too!
Hua Jingya collapsed onto the ground, paying no heed to the pain as she did so. What hurt more was the fact that her family most likely would refuse to save her. Unconsciously, she felt that her life was doomed!
It was only now that Hua Jingya started to suspect she had been under Gu Xiqiao’s scrutiny the moment she stepped foot in the Imperial Capital.
Her eyes, which were filled with hope and anticipation now turned into despair and regret.
Swiftly, the policemen brought Hua Jingya away in cuffs.
Shi Haizhe’s intuition wasn’t far off from the truth it seems. He pulled out his phone and stared at the direction in which Gu Xiqiao had left. Taking in a deep breath, he started thinking to himself, with the Imperial Capital being such a large place, would they ever bump into each other again? Still, there must be rumors about her back in the ancient martial arts world, right? Wrong. Not even a single trace of information was found when he investigated the mysterious Gu Xiqiao after returning to his world.
His phone started ringing. He answered the call as he headed towards a nearby hotel. It was only seconds into the call when his brows became tightly knitted. “Shi Haixuan, weren’t you the one who insisted on withdrawing your marriage into the Baili family? You’re only regretting your decision now, when they’re rising up? How on earth do you think that this will change a thing?!”
He was hung up on after saying that. Shi Haizhe sneered at how shameless Haixuan and the people on his side were.
Shi Haixuan was his half-sister; they had always been at odds with each other.
The reason why she called him was probably due to the rumors currently spreading around the ancient martial arts world. She probably heard that he was close acquaintances with Baili Bin, hence why she called him so abruptly.
Although he had no idea who healed Baili Bin’s legs, no matter from where he viewed it, whether in Baili Bin’s shoes, or from his own family’s perspective, he was thankful for that arcane healer.
***
On the other end of the line, Shi Haixuan slammed her phone into the ground furiously. “Piece of garbage!”
“Now now, calm down Haixuan,” urged the middle-aged woman beside her. “It’s only a rumor. Do you remember? The famed healer, Rong Feishuang said that his legs were incurable. It’s not possible for one’s legs to get cured so suddenly. I say, this is nothing but a hoax.”
“But Mom! Look!” Shi Haixuan presented an image on her phone. “He really is standing up!”
The middle-aged lady snorted at the photo. “So what if he stood up? He spent 7 years just to do this? God knows how long before he starts walking! Who knows? Maybe some adverse side-effects will show up later on? Back then, the only reason why you weren’t married was because of the Baili family’s state of affairs. If not for Baili Bin’s assets, how could I ever possibly agree to your marriage?! My child has the looks, the potential, and skill in ancient martial arts! I’d have to be brain dead if I agreed to her marriage with a bloody cripple!”
It was only then that Shi Haixuan started to calm down. Still, there was worry on her mind. “But it seems like the Baili family’s rising up again.”
Pretty much everyone in the ancient martial arts world already knew about this. Especially after the whole situation at the trial tower.
All her friends had nothing but praise and admiration for Baili Bin whenever they spoke of him. Shi Haixuan was a little flustered during their conversation. There was an indescribable sense of regret in her heart.
“The Baili family? They’re nothing but a paper tiger! Look at it this way, as long as our family remains standing, we can crush them anytime we wish to. Don’t worry and just wait till your chance of marriage arrives, alright?” The middle-aged woman patted Shi Haixuan’s head. When she walked out the door though, her eyes were cold and hostile.
***
On the other side, Gu Xiqiao had successfully located an empty room. She snapped her fingers.
Her figure warped in the air and once again, she reappeared in the kitchen at home. The meat that was braising in the casserole was perfectly done. Shutting off the flame, she summoned the pair that was upstairs down for dinner. Turning around, she found Xixi who had just returned from the window.
“Beauty Qiao! They’re too weak!” Apart from Yao Jiamu, no one could survive its three deadly techniques. “But still, Yao Jiamu’s quite the fighter!”
“Are you guys going to continue tomorrow?” asked Gu Xiqiao.
Xixi’s eyes lit up. “Why of course! I’ll teach them a lesson or two!” They should be proud to be taught a lesson by this magnificent beast!
Hua Youlin who overheard Xixi the feather ball speaking, shuddered in fear.
After the meal, Jiang Shuxuan’s phone rang.
Gu Xiqiao was taking a shower upstairs so Hua Youlin answered it for him before passing the device over.
“Shuxuan, is Miss Gu at your place?” It was Baili Bin’s gentle voice. “My grandpa expresses his wish to meet her someday…”
“Nope!” Jiang Shuxuan knew from the get go what Baili Bin was planning. Instantly, his request was shot down.
After hanging up, he thought about how he didn’t have time to play with them because he needed to bring Haha out for a walk later.
What a waste of time.
***
Baili Bin, who was hung up on, looked up at Tang Qingiqu with a helpless expression. “You’re right, he really is adamant about not letting us visit her.”
“Get used to it,” said Tang Qingqiu as he patted his shoulder. “You’ll find out over time that the Jiang Shuxuan of today is completely unlike the Jiang Shuxuan of yesteryear.”
After all, he had experienced this firsthand.
Although disappointed, Murong Feiye still had his own plans. “Qingqiu, prepare a house for me here. I will be staying here long term!”
“Smart move.” Xiao Yun passed by this place frequently, which was why Tang Qingqiu felt that Murong Feiye’s plan was pretty solid. He called Qin Heng immediately. Through whatever means, he absolutely had to secure two houses in this area.
Rong Feishuang was reading through the document Zhu Yuan had sent him. When he heard them talk about this matter, he looked up and said, “Count this old boy in as well.”
“The air here is a little better than the air back home.” Since his grandson’s home had two extra rooms that were empty, it was suitable for him to stay here as well.
Baili Bin who was listening to their exchange remained silent.
“…”
Unbeknownst to the residents of this suburb, they had gained an insanely-talented ancient martial arts team overnight as their neighbors.
***
The next day.
Hua Youlin got up and was about to leave for school when Gu Xiqiao patted his shoulder. “Here, wear this.”
“Oh.” Hua Youlin looked at that gold turtle that exuded a trashy-energy. His entire body felt repulsed by the thing. And yet, he couldn’t turn down Gu Xiqiao, especially after meeting her eyes. Silently, he put the turtle necklace thing around his neck. He said a prayer to God, hoping that he would not turn into the school’s laughing stock later on.
Gu Xiqiao did not go for her regular jog this morning. Instead, she was fiddling with something in the study room.
Jiang Shuxuan was the only one out jogging at the moment. He then bumped into a couple of familiar faces.
Rong Feishuang, Baili Qu, Baili Bin, Murong Feiye, and worse, Tang Qingqiu.
‘Perhaps it’s time for us to move away from this dreaded hellhole?’ thought Jiang Shuxuan to himself.
With two elders present, Jiang Shuxuan had no choice but to greet them.
Rong Feishuang looked at him with glowing eyes. “That person Yi Bing talked about, is she Miss Gu?”
That incident was still fresh in his mind. There were two patients whom he failed to save in his lifetime as a healer. One was Baili Bin and the other was the case which Yi Bing passed over to him. That person was a goner, he thought. Perhaps he would have survived if that girl from yesterday was present?
Jiang Shuxuan paused for a moment. Looking directly at Rong Feishuang, he nodded.
Ah, as expected. Rong Feishuang took in a deep breath to suppress the excitement that was pouring out of his heart.
He was already plenty proud of his disciple, Zhu Yuan. Now, it seems that a girl far more talented than his disciple has appeared.
Tang Qingqiu smiled after hearing Rong Feishuang’s question. “I’ll be off to the company now. Grandpa Baili, Doctor Rong, you guys have a nice long chat. If you’re really interested in Miss Gu, I highly suggest that you search ‘For A Millenium’ on the internet.”
He left the group after that.
Murong Feiye whipped out his phone immediately. He had just finished typing the word “For” when ‘For A Millenium’ popped up in the suggestions bar underneath. Fuelled by curiosity, he quickly tapped said bar.