Resplendent – Chapter 468

Chapter 468: Murderous Intent

The incense at Anguo Temple thrived not only because of the accuracy of its fortune sticks, but also due to its unique seasonal scenery, which was a major feature of the temple. Jun Li tugged Ding Fang along to draw fortunes, and after a moment’s hesitation, Jun Miao followed.

Gu Ye wasn’t very interested in drawing fortunes, so she wandered through the garden at the back of Anguo Temple with Yue Yuan. It was the season of blooming splendor. Beside the Taihu stones, each shaped differently, a variety of flowers were planted, blooming in full glory and exuding a rich fragrance. 

In the garden, the leaves of the phoenix trees had turned yellow, the maples glowed red, and the pines and cypresses were green. Sunlight streamed down, forming what looked like a series of colorful screens.

Gu Ye grew tired from walking, and Yue Yuan spread a cloth over a Taihu stone, helping the girl to sit. The little girl’s water-blue ruqun shimmered faintly in the sunlight, like a clear spring.

“Eh? Isn’t this Miss Gu! It’s been so long—I’ve missed you!” A voice through clenched teeth came from behind Gu Ye.

She turned and saw a familiar face: a strikingly enchanting visage, fox-like eyes that could steal souls, an alluring gaze, dressed in a wide-sleeved robe of fiery red with the collar open, dark hair falling freely, and a seductive smile at the corner of the mouth.

“Surnamed Gong? What are you doing here?” Gu Ye widened her eyes, looking at him with a hint of surprise.

“How dare you! You must not be disrespectful to our Crown Prince!” One of Gong Lishang’s accompanying officials shouted. The official had a full beard, dark skin, a tall and muscular build, and an imposing presence.

Gu Ye, however, was unimpressed and pouted. “Oh!  You’ve been promoted? Now you’re a Crown Prince, huh? Tsk-tsk… You should thank me for getting you into that position!”

Her medicine had first covered the First Prince of Li Kingdom in red rashes, which then gradually festered. It wasn’t constant festering; one spot would heal while another would start to rot. As soon as a festered area healed, a new one would appear. No matter winter or summer, the First Prince had to remain naked. In summer, he was swarmed by mosquitoes and flies, the stench unbearable. In some areas, if not cleaned in time, white maggots would appear, making it utterly disgusting.

At first, people thought it was due to his immoral private life and that he had contracted a venereal disease. Later, a poison master diagnosed him and declared that he had been poisoned with a rare and strange toxin. 

The First Prince ordered the poison master to find an antidote, but unfortunately, Gu Ye’s poison was so unique that very few in the world could counter it. Even the greatest poison masters were powerless.

Tormented beyond endurance, the First Prince had the poison master executed in a fit of rage, but his illness continued to flare up repeatedly. Months passed, and he was nearly reduced to a single breath of life.

Naturally, the Emperor of Li Kingdom abandoned such a prince. The other princes were mediocre and incompetent, so naturally, the youngest prince, Gong Lishang, emerged and without question secured the position of Crown Prince.

Gong Lishang recalled that month of torment, and his body seemed to start itching again. He stepped back two paces, snorted, and said, “Thank you? Thank you for poisoning me? Or thank you for making me writhe in unbearable itchiness, scratching my skin raw?”

Gu Ye raised her index finger and waved it in front of Gong Lishang. “Neither! You should be thanking me for sparing you, and for not using the same poison your eldest brother suffered from on you.”

Thinking of his elder brother’s horrific condition, a flash of cruelty and murderous intent appeared in Gong Lishang’s eyes. This little girl used poison without leaving a trace. If she couldn’t be used by him, then she was a future threat! It was better to… take advantage of the fact that that man surnamed Ling wasn’t by her side, and have her…

Highly sensitive in all five senses, Gu Ye immediately felt herself engulfed in a wave of murderous intent. She had been wary from the moment she encountered Gong Lishang and had quietly drunk her Top-speed Potion. 

Seeing Gong Lishang and his men closing in on her with ill intentions, she quickly darted away and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Help! Father, help me! Brothers, help! Someone is trying to commit murder on sacred temple grounds!!” Then, she ran off like a gust of wind. 

Yue Yuan, who had been on guard, froze for a moment before fleeing in another direction. She knew she couldn’t keep up with Gu Ye’s speed. Chasing her would only become a burden. Gu Ye was the target; Yue Yuan’s task was to escape and bring reinforcements.

The scenic garden of Anguo Temple was on the back hills and covered a wide area. Since it wasn’t the first or fifteenth day of the month, there weren’t many people around. Gu Ye sprinted wildly across the courtyard, zigzagging from one end to the other. Behind her, a line of Li Kingdom’s skilled shadow guards gave chase using qinggong.

Gu Ye ran while shouting for help. The Li guards couldn’t catch up, and when the Chu brothers rushed over at the noise, all they could hear was her voice and see her distant silhouette.

“Sister, this way! Come to Sixth Brother!” Chu Mushan initially foolishly ran after his sister, but soon realized he couldn’t catch her, nor could the black-clad men behind her. Qinggong was the Chu brothers’ weak point.

Hearing his voice, Gu Ye made a sharp turn and ran back, her speed so fast she nearly collided with the Li shadow guards chasing her. She twisted her body, weaving nimbly between the two guards, screaming, “Help! Oh my gosh, they almost caught me!”

“Don’t be afraid, Sister!” Chu Mubai and Chu Mufeng came rushing from both sides, drawing their blades to confront the two shadow guards chasing Gu Ye. Although young, the two brothers were martial prodigies, among the six brothers their skills ranked near the top.

Gu Ye dashed to Chu Mushan’s side, almost losing control. If Gu Ming hadn’t grabbed her, she would have crashed into the trunk of a paulownia tree. Without a moment to catch her breath, Gu Ye stuffed two pills into the mouths of Chu Mushan and Gu Ming, then spun around and threw a handful of pink powder at the approaching black-clad men.

The black-clad men hastily dodged, but the first three in the line were hit by the powder and instantly collapsed, motionless, leaving their fate—dead or alive—unknown. The remaining five black-clad men exchanged a glance, giving each other a ‘quick and decisive’ look, and lunged at Chu Xiaoliu and his companions.

Chu Mushan and Gu Ming fought desperately, but with too many opponents, all highly skilled, they were stretched thin. If Gu Ye hadn’t been hiding behind them, occasionally sprinkling more powder to make the enemies wary, the three would have been captured long ago.

“Miss—”

“Sister, where are you?” Yue Yuan called for Second and Third Brothers, searching the entire courtyard for Gu Ye. The Crown Prince, who had been with Chu Mutong all along, also arrived with his guards. He wanted to see who in the royal temple of Dongling Kingdom was so audacious as to dare lay hands on the officials’ family.

“Second Brother! Third Brother! Hurry! Brother and Sixth Brother can’t hold them off much longer!” Gu Ye shouted loudly in response to her brothers’ calls. Then she dodged past a black-clad man and said with disdain, “Sixth Brother, your martial skills are too weak. Brother, be careful—don’t get hurt!”