If she had been hiding in the palace in someone else's body the whole time, then everything would be explained.
"You know how bad Gu Zhong's health was after that day, why are you still looking for her?"
Lingyan snatched the painting from Gu Zhong's hands with dissatisfaction and glared fiercely at Chu Cheng.
"I'll go!"
"I agree to this."
This was the first time Gu Zhong had ignored Ling Yan's words.
"Gu Zhong! What did you promise me today?"
With her phoenix eyes wide open, Ling Yan tried her best to put on a fierce expression and turned to look at Gu Zhong.
"Ayan, it's okay."
Gu Zhong sighed softly and smiled slightly at her.
"no!"
Ling Yan's anger flared up, and her volume increased several times over.
"Uh—I'm counting on you two. It's raining heavily tonight, so it's inconvenient to go out. There's no need to rush this matter. There's still almost a month until the Empress's coronation ceremony, so you can—discuss it slowly."
I'm staying at an inn in town for the next few days. Come find me anytime you have the results.
I'm sorry to have bothered you today, goodbye!
Sensing the faint smell of gunpowder in the air, and to avoid being caught in the crossfire—after all, there had been such a precedent—Chu Cheng decisively chose to leave.
He picked up the rain gear he had dropped on the ground and fled in panic, ignoring the torrential rain outside.
You can't go!
The argument inside the house continued.
Looking at Lingyan's stubborn lips, Gu Zhong felt extremely troubled and could only choose to silence her with his own lips once again.
"Ugh—get away from me. This time, you're not leaving this room without a trace!"
Pushing Gu Zhong away from her, Ling Yan stood up and said fiercely, showing her determination this time.
"But Ah Yan, that demon might be the one I've been searching for all these years—"
Gu Zhong put on a pitiful look, staring at Ling Yan with pleading eyes, trying to awaken the tenderness deep in her soul.
Ling Yan was stunned for a moment. Gu Zhong had told her about the great feud that had wiped out their clan hundreds of years ago.
The patriarch shouldn't have found her tribe, but someone made a prophecy to her—that person is still alive and has most likely become a demon as well.
It tried every means to kill Gu Zhong, from using the patriarch to Gu Xuansheng, it used every possible method.
But it's like a rat in a ditch, hiding and elusive.
Although the demons of the world will eventually perish, as long as they exist, Gu Zhong will not be absolutely safe, not to mention the life-and-death feud between them.
"Maybe not?"
Lingyan softened her tone, but still hesitated to reject the idea.
"Maybe? Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I have to see it for myself."
Gu Zhong's tone was firm, and he was equally unwilling to back down.
"Alright, alright, you can go, but there have to be three rules!"
In the end, Lingyan was defeated.
After all, this is the thing Gu Zhong cares about most, and she can't use the excuse of doing what's best for Gu Zhong to deprive her of her choices and wishes.
"Um?"
"First, I'm going too! Second, you're not allowed out of my sight! Third—you're not allowed to lay a hand on me! I'll be your henchman. How about that?"
Lingyan counted on her fingers, one by one.
There's nothing wrong with this treaty; it just forces Gu Zhong to obediently act as a mascot.
Gu Zhong stared at her with wide eyes, looking at her with a conflicted expression.
"What's wrong? Is it okay?"
The domineering questioner immediately chased after them, and Ling Yan bent down, staring at Gu Zhong with a pressing posture.
"Alright, I'll do as you say, Madam."
After his thoughts raced through his mind, Gu Zhong no longer hesitated, and with a smile, he responded gently.
"real?"
Ling Yan narrowed her eyes, looking at her suspiciously, seemingly not quite believing that the person in front of her would really obey.
"Really! I'm kidding, I'm a puppy, woof woof!"
Gu Zhong immediately struck an exaggerated pose and imitated two dog barks.
"Then let's pack our things tomorrow and go find Chu Cheng—it doesn't look like the rain will stop tonight, hopefully the river won't rise too high—otherwise we probably won't be able to leave the house—"
Lingyan finally let go of the topic and began to ramble on about the torrential rain.
——
As midnight approached, the rivers that had been cascading from the sky gradually transformed into streams, and the sounds of them falling onto the ground and water became softer until they disappeared completely.
The dark clouds dispersed from the night sky, and no one could see where they went.
The gentle moonlight lovingly caressed this water town, illuminating a shimmering expanse of water that, together with the faint lights, created a warm and sweet scene.
A person quietly got off the bed, put on her shoes and socks, and coughed violently in a low voice. She stubbed out a stick of incense by the window and let the ashes fall into the incense burner.
He lit the oil lamp, lowered the handkerchief covering his lips, and a vivid splash of blood glared at him.
Ever since she killed her ancestor, Gu Zhong knew her days were numbered. Her immortality came from the power of demons, and with that source depleted, her life force was extinguished.
This time, in a sense, Xuanhu finally succeeded in killing her.
If the news from Chu City is true, and if all these coincidences are not coincidences, then it is time to come to a conclusion.
However, precisely because it was likely a Xuanhu, Lingyan absolutely could not go with it—her soul was already too weak to withstand further damage.
Having hidden in the palace for so long, having schemed against countless people step by step, and still possessing demonic power—what other trump cards could she possibly pull out? What consequences would it cause? Gu Zhong had no idea.
If she loses this time, it will simply be another cycle; if she wins, everything will be over, but—
—Ayan can't get hurt anymore.
With this belief, Gu Zhong packed his bags and quietly headed into the night.
This time, she was still a jerk who broke her promise.
--------------------
Author's Note:
Gu Xiaogou
Chapter 140 Swordsman and Exorcist (Twenty-Six)
================================
The once bustling royal city is no longer as glorious as it once was. The wide bluestone streets are deserted, with hardly anyone in sight. Occasionally, one or two pedestrians can be seen, but they are all in a hurry.
The once bustling market is now deserted except for a few scattered vendors with worried faces, and hardly any customers visit.
The once bustling restaurants and flower-lined streets now have their doors tightly shut, and the forlorn dust on the doorframes proves that they have been neglected for a long time.
Upon returning to the capital, what I saw inevitably evoked a sense of melancholy.
The battle for the capital that day nearly annihilated this once-glorious city that never sleeps. Now, it is like an old man clinging to life, silently retreating into a corner, its future uncertain.
"On that day, almost all the guards of the capital and the disciples of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion were killed or wounded, and most of the young people who were out seeking pleasure were also gone. It was a devastating blow."
The surviving people were terrified and lived in constant fear, rarely daring to go out. The entire city was not far from becoming a dead city.
The imperial court is currently in a state of silence, unable to come up with any effective solutions, and can only wait for outsiders and time to resolve the issue.
Chu Cheng rode side by side with Gu Zhong on the street. Seeing Gu Zhong's solemn gaze sweeping over the royal city, as if knowing what she was thinking, Chu Cheng immediately spoke up.
The myriad emotions conveyed in this passage are feelings that anyone who sees the present scene or reminisces about the past will experience.
"Things will get better and better."
Gu Zhong sighed softly and pursed his lips.
“Apart from the capital, other places are indeed getting better and better.”
Chu Cheng shook his head, neither confirming nor denying it.
"But—aren't you afraid that when you go back to your little tyrant, he'll make you sleep in the courtyard and guard the gate?"
To ease the suddenly tense atmosphere, he immediately made a sarcastic remark.
"I don't know what will happen to me. But one thing I'm sure of is that you'd better not let Ayan see you again, otherwise—"
A smile returned to Gu Zhong's lips, tinged with a mischievous slyness. She looked at Chu Cheng with ill intent.
Seemingly recalling the tragic scene left unsaid in Gu Zhong's words, Chu Cheng let out a wail, turned his angry gaze to Gu Zhong, and questioned him with absolute certainty.
"You must have done this on purpose!"
Ignoring his question, Gu Zhong cracked his whip and spurred his horse forward.
"Aren't we supposed to be going to the palace tonight? Hurry up!"
——
Unlike the desolation of the city, the king's palace remained as magnificent as ever.
As night falls and the lanterns are lit, the lights in the palaces and halls remain dazzling, making them the most eye-catching feature of the royal city.
Soldiers still patrolled the palace, and palace maids and eunuchs moved about in an orderly manner. This huge palace seemed to be completely unaffected.
Under Chu Cheng's arrangement, Gu Zhong changed into a bulky imperial guard uniform, slightly altered his appearance, and pretended to be a newly enlisted soldier. During a night patrol, he openly entered the palace.