Xu Qiao remained in Baiyu Shan after leaving Jinshui in the small lake, she hid in one of the mountain passes until it was dark, and remained there, crying alone. She didn't sleep anymore, all she felt was pain, as if there were thousands of needles and knives in her skin, trying to tear it bit by bit from the inside. She felt the excruciating pain all night, several times she tried to hit her head against a rock, but her remaining strength was not enough to break her skull.
When the sun started to come, she tried to get out of the dark, looking for a cliff that was steep enough to be able to just jump, but her steps were already very weak. She slipped several times, unable to find a cliff deep enough. Her head ached, the wound from hitting her forehead against a rock told her that she needed someone else to help her end her life.
She returned to the Bai Family's residence, heading straight to Shuqin's place. She didn't see Jinshui there, and the servant who saw her immediately escorted her to meet Shuqin. Xu Qiao didn't remember what happened next as she had already lost consciousness.
She woke up again when she heard the soft sound of a harp playing, bringing peace and calming her mind. She felt no certain pain and found herself lying in a comfortable bed, incense smoke billowing softly near her though she didn't smell any fragrance.
She removed the blanket and tried to get up. The sound of the harp stopped and she faintly saw Shuqin coming closer, handing her a cup of water. After swallowing two sips, she could see clearly that she was in a very clean room. It was Shuqin's room.
"Shuqin Guniang," she called, "how did I get here?"
"I know what happened between you and jiaozhu, so I tried to find you," Shuqin replied softly, "Yuzhi Shi Wu girls searched all the way to the ruins down there, but they couldn't find you. Then you come here with the servant."
"Where's Jinshui Gege?" Xu Qiao asked. "Does he know I'm here?"
"I haven't told him yet," Shuqin said. "You were unconscious for seven days, since then several times it seemed like the poison in your body reacted and kept delirious. I cannot tell him any of this."
"Please don't tell him," Xu Qiao begged. "Shuqin Guniang, that poison is truly terrifying. I remember feeling pain, I remember trying to kill myself but failing. You… can you just kill me?"
"I have never killed anyone, and I don't even like to watch anyone die," Shuqin said. "You are jiaozhu's lover and I have an obligation to look after you. If you like it, you can stay here. I'll take care of you and you don't need to worry about the poison."
"I… I've been unconscious for seven days?" Xu Qiao asked. "No wonder."
She asked Shuqin to get some food for her and then got off the bed as the young shengnu left the room, quickly broke the teacup, and took out the shard, aiming at her own neck.
However, she had yet to gather strength, a long crafted cane came out of nowhere, causing her to drop the broken cup. The same cane then also pulled her to her feet, and a slap flew to her cheek a second later, not hard but quite startling.
"I've already prevented someone who wanted to commit suicide eighteen times, no one can do such fool again in front of me."
The owner of that crafted cane was none other than Gu Chenhui, who instantly pulled Xu Qiao back onto the bed and kept her there. Gu Chenhui's voice just now sounded both angry and disappointed, causing Xu Qiao to only lower her head and didn't dare to stare at her.
Shuqin returned to the room carrying a bowl of porridge, hastily placing the bowl on the table when Xu Qiao's hand was injured by a broken cup. She came closer to treat the wound.
"Xu Guniang, she is laofuren," Shuqin introduced Gu Chenhui to Xu Qiao. "She's been here a few days to see you."
"I actually want to give you a punishment because you have made Jinshui unbelievably sad and heartbroken," Gu Chenhui said more subtly, "only Shuqin continues to protect you, I can also see that you are merely a girl, really makes me wonder how you have that much ability."
Xu Qiao raised her head, hearing from her voice that Gu Chenhui didn't really have any hatred towards her. She already saw that old woman several times, but had never been introduced formally.
"You... you are Jinshui Gege's mother?" she asked innocently. She had heard a lot about the old madam too, knowing that even though she was not Jinshui's biological mother, Gu Chenhui was the one who had arranged Jinshui as the primary descendant of Yumen.
"That's right, I'm Jinshui's mother," Gu Chenhui really liked to be called Jinshui's mother. Her anger was instantly gone and she fall for the girl in front of her more. Witnessing her pale face, she also felt very sad. "Jinshui called you Qiao-er, I guess I can also call you Qiao-er."
Xu Qiao nodded. Her tears fell again. Even Jinshui's stepmother already knew of her presence, but Jinshui was so far away from her.
"Child, I understand," Gu Chenhui said. "You were exposed to a deadly poison because of my reckless disciple. You know staying by Jinshui's side will make him worry about you, not being able to properly carry out his duties as the new leader of Yumen Sect. You chose to say goodbye to him, broke his heart, but you know he at least will not die with you, is that right?"
"I'm sorry," Xu Qiao said. "I really didn't expect Jinshui Gege..." she was unable to say the next words. She already broke Jinshui's heart by saying goodbye to him. "I deserve to die," she said again. "I only thought of myself, never expected Jinshui Gege to...."
Gu Chenhui gave her a hug and let her calm down for a minute.
"It's not your fault," she said. "I will take you to meet my mother. She might be able to help."
"Would dashanzhu be willing to help her?" Shuqin asked expectantly.
Gu Chenhui wasn't sure if her mother can do something, but she took Xu Qiao to the sunset peak and headed for the stone room where Yunian stayed.
"Niang, this is the Xu Guniang I told you about," Gu Chenhui directly said to Yunian. "She is Jinshui's lover. Jinshui seems to be the same as his father who only wants to accept one woman in his life. But this girl is sick. She was poisoned a while ago in Wansui Gu."
"Come closer," the great master said to Xu Qiao. "I'll check your pulse."
Xu Qiao walked slowly, all the way to the black curtain that separated the room. There was no visible figure of the great master, clearly, she was in a part of the room that was not touched by light. Xu Qiao then stretched out her hand.
"Close your eyes," the great master ordered again. Her voice was very soft and soothing. Xu Qiao was not the least bit afraid even though there were rumors that she had heard in her childhood that this great master used to be a demoness with a monstrous appearance, also capable of killing people without batting an eye. She obeyed the order.
What then touched her wrist were a few soft, curling fingers. The soft finger that was checking her veins was icy, and smooth, barely like the hand of an old lady, only the accompanying coldness made Xu Qiao's heart tremble slightly.
"Niang, is there any hope?" Gu Chenhui asked her mother.
"Her pure energy has been poisoned, slowly extinct and the poison has started to spread to every cell of her blood," said Yunian, "the poison works very slowly, but because it has taken a long time, it will soon have results."
Yunian let go of Xu Qiao's hand. Xu Qiao stepped back and only dared to open her eyes when she was beside Gu Chenhui again. The figure of the great master was not visible to her at all, as said by Gu Chenhui that her mother didn't like to show her face to anyone else.
"I cannot help her, but Jinshui can," Yunian said. "Jinshui has to train wuqing xue energy to the highest level, and then his inner energy can almost be said to be on par with mine. I'm old, and can't do much. But he is still young, there is still hope."
Gu Chenhui's face was immediately filled with hope. Xu Qiao also looked at her with the same feeling.
"Niang, are you saying Qiao-er's sickness can still be cured? Jinshui is the one who can save her?" Gu Chenhui asked, really hopeful. She really liked Xu Qiao, if Jinshui could really save that young girl, then she would be very happy. "Wuqing xue of the highest level can be used to save his future wife?"
"Wuqing xue level eight has enormous power, not only can it freely transfer the poison to oneself or others, but can also neutralize it," said Yunian. "Jinshui also has Moying internal energy, he will be able to save his future wife."
Xu Qiao's face felt warm because the grand master and his daughter had both mentioned herself as Jinshui's future wife so calmly. She felt very uncomfortable, of course, but the room wasn't bright enough to show anyone how she felt.
"I will tell Jinshui," said Gu Chenhui.
"Give him time to consider it," Yunian said. "You must also remember, cultivating the eighth level of wuqing xue requires the help of a shengnu. But Jinshui definitely doesn't want to use shengnu, I guess you know what that means too."
Shengnu. Jinshui must train the eighth level of wuqing xue with Shuqin if he wants to save her. Thinking up to this point, naturally made Xu Qiao feel very uneasy.
--
The fire in the octagonal room flared quickly and was extinguished just as quickly. Jinshui took Qingyi out from inside and threw her to the ground.
The flames weren't big enough to burn a human to death, so Jinshui didn't need to worry about Zhang Zheliang's well-being. Qingyi also only suffered from minor burns, only a few on her back which would probably leave some nasty marks. The flames made Qingyi instantly unable to use her qian li xiang wei skills and made her as weak as an ordinary person.
"Because of you, I almost lost my legs," Jinshui spoke in a cold tone. Right now he didn't know whether to hate Qingyi or feel sorry for that girl. "You said my father didn't want me to become the next Yumen leader, based on what? From the start everything was set, nothing would be able to change it."
Qingyi laughed and cried at the same time realizing the results of her own actions. She once influenced Jinshui, telling him that his father never wanted him, nor did his mother want him. Her goal was to undermine Jinshui's belief in the duty of being the primary descendant of Yumen, so that he would step down and leave his friends and his Xu Qiao forever, returned to his old lover.
Qingyi never expected that what she did in Wansui Gu would lead Jinshui to meet Ma Yaolun and be injured and unable to walk for so long. At that time, she couldn't find Jinshui at the right time and take him back. Now she saw that Jinshui didn't even hesitate to injure and act coldly toward her. Jinshui had changed a lot.
"You also asked Liangshan Liu Mo to harm us," Jinshui said again. "You convinced Zhou Sangong to betray his master, killed Yuan Wancui, and also killed one of our friends. You were dissatisfied with me Hua Jinshui alone, but had sacrificed so much. I promised Menggui Shishu I would take care of you for life, but it's impossible to just spare you now."
"I don't need you to take care of me for life," Qingyi replied. "Unless you want me to stay because you really want me, otherwise you don't have to pretend to fulfill your promises." She glanced at Jinshui intently, her mouth continuing to show a sickening smile. "I have fallen into your hands, you may torture me or kill me."
Jinshui brought Qingyi back to his place, grabbed her hand and only let go when they reached the room. He forced her to her knees. Ma Yongtao and his three friends were already waiting there, apparently wanting to report something. Jinshui didn't care about them, he had his men call Zhou Xiangnu and Yanzi, also called Shuqin, then sat on his chair.
"Eh, weren't you the girl who met Laoer last time and made trouble for Wansui Gu?" Fuchang Long recognized Qingyi immediately. "Why are you even here?"
"What's wrong with your clothes?" Li Baixun asked her too. "Were you burned?"
"None of your business." Jinshui said to the Liangshan demons.
"Since when can you act like this to a girl?" Ma Yongtao asked Jinshui. He pulled Li Baixun away from Qingyi, then gave the girl his outer garment to cover up her miserable condition.
Yanzi came a while later, alone, apparently her sister was out with Yang Lei and deliberately avoided everyone.
"Yanzi, could you use your needles to tamper with her memory?" Jinshui directly asked Yanzi.
"Her?" Yanzi glanced at Qingyi, and recognized her as the woman who carried the spirit board at the Jianyin Bang headquarters in Wuzhang City, and also the woman in purple who had appeared during the chaos in Wansui Gu.
"She was the one who convinced your father to start his rebellion in Wansui Gu, and jeopardized your relationship with your grandmaster," Jinshui coldly replied, not showing the slightest bit of mercy. "She had read and tried to memorize the secret manuals in Baiyu Shan. I want you to make her forget about it." He wanted Qingyi to forget him forever.
"I can't," Yanzi said, "Jinshui Gege, using a needle to tamper with her memory… isn't it a bit cruel?"
"I can do it," Zu Ye Niang volunteered, "tampering someone's memory is normal work for us Liangshan Liu Mo."
"Daniang gave you poison so you can't do such atrocities anymore," Jinshui immediately refused, "I asked for the silver worm poison to be eradicated not for the sake of giving you permission to act similarly."
"I'll do it," Ma Yongtao volunteered. "I promise she will only feel a little headache, will not lose her mind or lose her life."
Jinshui nodded her head once. Ma Yongtao's hand lightly touched Qingyi's head. Qingyi's smile disappeared. Her face turned terrible, the veins on her neck seemed to pop out through the skin, and her eyes bulged wide. Half a minute later, the pain was over, but she didn't utter a sound of pain or beg for mercy.
Jinshui watched unblinkingly as if he enjoyed the revenge regardless. Yanzi covered her mouth, and felt cold sweat flowing as she saw Jinshui's ruthless attitude.
When Ma Yongtao released Qingyi, the woman could only limp on the floor. Still alive, but she would no longer be able to harm anyone.
"I've messed up her brain a bit," said Ma Yongtao to Jinshui, "if she still tries to remember the contain of the secret manuals of any kind, she definitely won't be able to memorize it properly, trying to practice it will only hurt herself."
"That will be enough," replied Jinshui. "She has already lost her hypnotic skills, and she will not be able to harm others anymore. Have someone take her to her father in the capital."