Gu Changsheng had planned everything well, but there were always some things that ended up beyond her expectations!
That day, after dinner, as usual, Gu Changsheng went to the Medicine Tower to finish checking on the healing Tan Nv, and then she returned to her own Cool Breeze Tower to rest.
With her clothes halfway off, Gu Changsheng’s hands suddenly stiffened in mid-air, and a look of panic immediately appeared on her face.
Gu Changsheng roared and rushed out of Cool Breeze Tower.
Borjigin Nian also heard the noise and leaped out from the adjacent room!
The figures of both flashed continuously within the Gu Residence, heading towards the west side of the estate!
To the west of Gu Residence was the Xilou situated within Yue Xilou, a secluded and quiet two-story building chosen by Yue Xilou herself!
"Something has happened to Yue Xilou!" Although Gu Changsheng had no Inner Strength, speed was her forte; she was slightly ahead of Borjigin Nian in the rush.
Borjigin Nian, upon hearing this, nodded solemnly.
They clearly heard the explosive sound that came and went in an instant—it originated from the direction of Xilou!
At this moment, Yue Xilou was in seclusion at Xilou!
The urgency on Gu Changsheng’s face was unmistakable. She had known the stunningly beautiful Yue Xilou for a long time. Although Yue Xilou had a reputation for being both good and evil in the Itinerant World, she had never harmed them.
On the contrary, she had helped them many times!
Moreover, Gu Changsheng had an intuition that Yue Xilou had a profound connection with the evildoer, Zhou Mu!
Putting aside Thirteenth Lady Du and Elder Mo, it was Zhou Mu’s nearly tolerant attitude toward Yue Xilou that made Gu Changsheng suspect, but since the two of them kept silent on the matter, Gu Changsheng also chose not to ask.
Now, Yue Xilou had been in seclusion for two months, yet the place of her seclusion was emitting explosive sounds, raising Gu Changsheng’s heart with high anxiety.
Their figures flew swiftly; Gu Changsheng had never regretted so much why she had built such a large estate!
When Gu Changsheng and Borjigin Nian finally saw Xilou from afar, their faces had already darkened.
The originally beautiful and splendid small Xilou, at this moment, had its window lattices shattered and the window papers scattered all over the ground.
"Kid, are you okay?" Borjigin Nian quickly stepped forward, helped the boy guarding the door, and asked anxiously.
Gu Changsheng followed closely, lifted his pulse impatiently with her hand; after a while, she spoke in a grave voice, "He’s fine; he’s just been knocked out by the shock. Put him aside!"
Having said that, Gu Changsheng stood up and walked inside Xilou.
She wanted to check on Yue Xilou’s condition!
"Gu Changsheng!" Having settled the gatekeeper boy, Borjigin Nian called out in panic, and turned to grab Gu Changsheng’s sleeve, stared at her with deep, fierce eyes, and spoke dramatically, "Gu Changsheng, are you mad! Didn’t you see the state of Xilou? Do you know how much Inner Strength it would take to destroy a building ? Even my master may not be able to do it! I cannot let you go in!"
Gu Changsheng’s face was grave, her brows tightly furrowed, yet she shook her head resolutely.
Flower Peacock was her friend! No! They lived and ate together every day, fought shoulder to shoulder in battles! More like a family than friends!
"I must go in! I can’t just watch Flower Peacock be in danger!"
Although Borjigin Nian typically admired handsome men, she was still rational; hearing this, she immediately blocked Gu Changsheng and said in disbelief, "Gu Changsheng, you are mad! You don’t know the terror of one who has gone into demonic cultivation! Even with your expertise in poisons, it’s useless. His Inner Strength has soared; a mere wave of his hand, and you can’t withstand it!" Borjigin Nian shook her head determinedly, worry filling her eyes, "I can’t let you go in. If something happens to you, I can’t explain it to my master! Gu Changsheng, listen to me, let’s find my master. His Inner Strength is profound; he must have a way!"
Another blast, and the powerful swing of Inner Strength, carrying debris from the window lattices, swept outward.
Gu Changsheng and Borjigin Nian were forced back a few steps by this wave of Inner Strength before they could steady themselves.
The intense sound of furniture crashing continued to emanate from inside...
"There’s no time left..." Gu Changsheng stared unblinkingly at Xilou, urgency burning in her eyes.
There was no time to seek help from the evildoer!
At this rate, even if Flower Peacock didn’t undergo demonic cultivation and die from a Body Explosion, Xilou would still be leveled to the ground!
Hearing the clamor from within the residence, Gu Changsheng’s eyes flashed with urgency as he bellowed at those behind him, "Ning Er, Si Xi, block them until I come out!"
Without time to think too much, Gu Changsheng took advantage of Borjigin Nian’s distraction, soared past her, and dashed toward the broken door of Xilou.
Borjigin Nian waved away the dust in front of her only to see the figure of Gu Changsheng flying away. Her eyes filled with bloodshot urgency as she exclaimed, "Gu Changsheng!"
For the sake of friendship, ready to endure any hardship, Borjigin Nian, without a second thought, steeled her heart and followed suit!
Inside Xilou, everything was a mess.
Cabinets, chairs, and tables were all shaken up, pushed against the walls, but Gu Changsheng did not have time to look carefully and walked straight toward the Quite Room where Flower Peacock was in seclusion!
"Get out!" Gu Changsheng snapped coldly when he saw Borjigin Nian.
Gu Changsheng did not know the extent of Flower Peacock’s condition!
If possession by demonic forces was truly as horrific as Borjigin Nian had said, then she absolutely should not let her take the risk with him!
Borjigin Nian had already saved her once, and she did not want to owe her yet another time!
Upon hearing this, Borjigin Nian raised her neck and promptly refused, "No!"
"This is my family matter, it has nothing to do with you! Get out!" Gu Changsheng growled desperately.
"I have already come inside, how could I possibly leave now? Friends share life and death together!" Borjigin Nian stated firmly.
Gu Changsheng turned around, and under the moonlight from outside, looked at the proud girl before him. He could hear the anxious voices of Ning Er and Si Xi outside, as well as the crying woos of the little steamed bun...
At this moment, the one by her side was a friend!
Gu Changsheng slowly extended his hand and grasped Borjigin Nian’s small hand.
Under the faint moonlight, the two of them clasped hands tightly, shared a smile, and continued toward the direction of the Quite Room.
The deeper they went inside, the dimmer the moonlight became. Flower Peacock loved luxury, and the Luminous Pearls placed in the corridors were gone, Gu Changsheng, holding Borjigin Nian’s hand, slowly approached the Quite Room along the wall.
It was pitch black all around, so dark they could not see their hands in front of them, and could not make out anything at all.
"Flower Peacock? Flower Peacock, where are you?" Gu Changsheng carefully stepped forward, his medicine pouch already open.
"It’s useless, Gu Changsheng. Those possessed by demonic forces can’t hear us speaking!" Borjigin Nian said heavily, shaking her head.
As they approached the Quite Room, the fluctuations of Inner Strength grew stronger, and Gu Changsheng felt as if the air pressure was dropping, a suffocating sensation!
This was the Inner Strength!
Too contrary to the heavens, too terrifying, too illogical, and scientifically impossible!
"Flower Peacock, where are you? Can you hear me speaking?" Gu Changsheng clenched her teeth, adjusted her breathing, and step by step resolutely moved forward.
Borjigin Nian, seeing her determination to keep calling out, shook her head helplessly and step by step followed.
At this moment, outside Xilou, there was total chaos.
Si Xi, holding the continuously crying and struggling little steamed bun—Gu Ze—looked anxiously at the main door of Xilou.
"Ning Er, let me pass, I want to die together with my wife!" Dong Lei charged at Ning Er, who was blocking his way with a pair of cleavers, "My wife saved me, fed me, clothed me, and gave me a home. You fear death, but I don’t. Even if it means death, I want to die in front of my wife, so let me through!"
Ning Er, his face grim, was forced to brutally attack when he saw Dong Lei’s relentless determination, swinging a hand-chop straight toward Dong Lei’s wrist.
The cleaver in Dong Lei’s hand clanged to the ground, which made him burst into tears immediately.
"Don’t worry, if my wife is in trouble, we’ll all die!" Ning Er said tight-lipped, his eyes fiercely fixed on the door of Xilou.
They all knew the terrifying nature of being possessed by demonic forces!
They were even more astonished by the high level of Inner Strength Flower Peacock possessed after her possession, such massive Inner Strength that even their Family Head did not have!
"Everyone, retreat! Back to the Asylum Cave!" Si Xi, tears brimming in his eyes, still commanded sternly.
Lord Yuan Bao had instructed him, his mistress valued her family more than her own life!
The possessed recognize no kin, and he could only help once he had ensured these people were safe!
"No! I want to accompany my wife!" Dong Lei bellowed, picked up the cleaver from the ground, and rushed inside again.
"Knock her out!" Si Xi commanded without hesitation.
Kun Nu, who had been standing by quietly, quickly acted upon hearing this, swiftly knocked Dong Lei out, and then carried him on his shoulder.
"Sir, please persuade them to take cover for a while so we can come back and help my mistress!" Si Xi turned to the anxious Mr. Ban Shan, bowed deeply, and earnestly pleaded.
"Follow me, everyone!" Mr. Ban Shan clenched his teeth, finally nodded, took over the little steamed bun in his arms, and headed toward the back garden.
There, his daughter had constructed the Asylum Cave beneath a faux mountain, made entirely of refined steel, which could be locked from inside but could not be opened from outside!
A Scholar of no practical use was all he could be at that moment, praying that his beloved daughter and the others would remain unharmed...