"Yu'er, what's wrong with you?" On the way back, Yan Fei looked at Jin Yu's pale face with concern.
"I was reminded of my mother."
"Wasn't your mother said to have died of illness?"
"When my mother was on her deathbed back then, she looked just like this." Every word was enunciated slowly, and her voice was as low as if she were spitting blood.
Yan Fei looked at her with heartache. At that time, Jin Yu, only six years old, had been like a fool on Tianmen Mountain. She neither laughed nor cried.
Their master said that she had suffered a great shock.
He was told to stay with her all the time. With all the senior brothers doting on her and giving in to her, Jin Yu had gradually forgotten the pain of losing her mother. Now was she going to recall it all?
The Golden Water Palace was located in the highest mountain in Yu Prefecture. The terrain was steep, but the scenery was extremely beautiful, with perilous peaks and precipices everywhere. It was said that the palace master several generations ago had been a prince of the previous dynasty, but later the position had been usurped by his subordinate, Ouyang Long.
The current palace master was Ouyang Long's widow, known in the martial arts world as "Madam Jinhua". She and Ouyang Long had a son, Ouyang Jinse, who was the young master of the Golden Water Palace.
At this moment, only the mother - son pair were in the main hall of the Golden Water Palace. In the golden water pool in front of them was kept the "sacred object" - crocodiles.
Madam Jinhua was sitting by the pool, constantly throwing food into it, which made the crocodiles scramble for it.
"Mother! Why did you send people to assassinate Jin Yu?" Ouyang Jinse had just returned from Liuzhou City when he received news from his subordinate that Madam Jinhua had arranged dozens of killers to assassinate the daughter of the prefect of Liuzhou.
"As soon as you come back, you don't even greet your mother first. Instead, you're scolding me for a woman?" Madam Jinhua was unhurried. She picked up a piece of meat with a pair of long chopsticks and threw it into the pool.
"Why did you give such an order?" Ouyang Jinse couldn't quite understand his mother at this moment.
"Because she is the daughter of Qiu Shuixin."
"You've known this for a long time, haven't you?"
"You've fallen for her." A trace of venom flashed in Madam Jinhua's cold eyes.
"You even secretly asked for her hand in marriage from Tianmen Mountain behind my back."
"Mother, this is my own business." Ouyang Jinse put away all his composure at this moment. When he learned that his mother had given such an order, his heart had been in such a panic. The next moment, he rushed to the Song family. Fortunately, she still had Yan Fei to protect her.
"You can marry anyone, but not the daughter of Qiu Shuixin."
Madam Jinhua's cold words hit Ouyang Jinse's heart one by one, making him sink deeper and deeper into the water.
"The more you like her, the more dangerous she'll be."
Madam Jinhua smiled. Suddenly, she threw the jade chopsticks out. They pierced into the head of a crocodile. Blood floated on the water, and the crocodile was quickly torn apart by the others.
"Mother! If you want to kill Jin Yu, then kill your son first!"
"Rascal!"
...
In autumn, Minshan Mountain was at its most beautiful. The mountain was steep and had many lava caves. Due to the complex terrain, few ordinary people went up the mountain, but it couldn't stop those martial - arts masters.
A figure flashed past in the cave.
"Chen Song, follow that woman." Jin Yu was lying in ambush in the forest and whispered to the person behind her.
At this moment, Yan Fei was closer to the cave and could hear someone talking at the entrance.
"Once this happens, the defense of Liuzhou City will surely be in chaos. Then we can take advantage of the situation."
"By then, only 20,000 men will be needed to capture Qinghe Pass."
Suddenly sensing someone approaching, Yan Fei was afraid of alarming the enemy, so he quietly hid in the forest and motioned to Jin Yu with his eyes to retreat!
Yan Fei took Jin Yu and quickly left Minshan Mountain. Chen Song followed the woman to the mansion of an official in Liuzhou City. Chen Song memorized the woman's face firmly and then left.
"Song Jinyu!" Song Chuyu was patrolling outside Liuzhou City with his soldiers. He had received an order from his father that some martial - arts people had been active in the city recently.
"Why are you here!" Song Chuyu had a headache because of his younger sister. She was so unlike a proper young lady from a noble family.
"I went to Minshan Mountain for a stroll." Song Jinyu felt quite guilty.
"Don't be so reckless! Minshan Mountain is very dangerous." Song Chuyu looked at his younger sister, extremely worried about her safety.
While they were talking, Prince Yu, Zhongli Mingye, suddenly came over.
When Song Jinyu saw Zhongli Mingye, something suddenly flashed through her mind.
The defense of Liuzhou City will surely be in chaos! What could cause such chaos?
The biggest event in Liuzhou City recently was the arrival of Prince Yu.
What if something happened to Prince Yu in Liuzhou?
If he died, the prefect of Liuzhou would be held responsible. Song Chuyu, who was in charge of the defense of Liuzhou City and Qinghe Pass, would be even more severely punished.
By then, the defense of Liuzhou City would surely be in chaos!
Song Jinyu stared at Zhongli Mingye thoughtfully, her mind constantly opening up. Zhongli Mingye felt increasingly helpless under her gaze.
Song Chuyu thought that his sister was infatuated and couldn't take her eyes off the handsome prince. He had to call her softly.
Since she learned that someone was using gu worms to collect essence and blood, Jin Yu had been thinking. Why did they need a large amount of essence and blood?
There must be someone using the essence and blood to raise gu worms. Once the gu worms grew up, they could be used for more powerful purposes.
She had asked Chen Song to investigate if there were any martial - arts people in Liuzhou City for several days. Sure enough, she found that many foreigners had appeared on Minshan Mountain. That's why she had taken action today.
"Your Highness, have you felt tired recently?" Thinking of this, Jin Yu suddenly asked.
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Song. I've been in good health recently." Zhongli Mingye was naturally happy that she cared about him.
"Then please be more vigilant, Your Highness. I've gathered some information on Minshan Mountain."
These words stunned Prince Yu and Song Chuyu. Jin Yu then told them what she had discovered on Minshan Mountain.
This really impressed Zhongli Mingye. He had only thought of her as a daughter of an official, but didn't expect her to have such courage and boldness.
Song Chuyu was furious when he heard this: "You're so bold! I'll tell Father and let him punish you by grounding you!"
"Good brother, I'm just trying to relieve Father's worries!"
Jin Yu originally wanted to investigate her mother's death through the clue of the gu poison, but now she found that some foreigners were up to something in Liuzhou City.
She didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but the prefect of Liuzhou was her father, and the person in charge of the city defense was her brother!
Zhongli Mingye was afraid that Jin Yu would really be punished, so he spoke up for her: "Miss Song is brave and resourceful. She should be rewarded."
"Chuyu, send someone to keep a close eye on Minshan Mountain."
"If there's any movement, kill them without mercy!"
Song Jinyu saw that Zhongli Mingye seemed to understand her intention, so she sneaked away while they were discussing countermeasures.
Zhongli Mingye saw her little action and smiled knowingly. He was overjoyed because of her sudden concern.
...